Republicans were having a hard time getting fired up in the opening portion of Tuesday’s program. But when Army veteran Leslie Smith rose to tell her story of recovering from a nearly fatal blood disorder, the crowd went wild, but not over her speech.
Cameras flashed and delegates cheered as President George H. W. Bush and wife Barbara were spotted entering the convention hall, she sporting a powder blue suit, the former president in pinstripes. They smiled, waved and pointed to the crowd, which gave them a standing ovation lasting a few minutes. They sat down, and Smith told her tale, followed shortly by a video tribute to the 41st president.
