Gary Kimler

President George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State (2005-2009), teamed up again for several hours on Thursday afternoon, this time in Lakeland as the keynote speakers for Southeastern University’s 5th Annual National Leadership Forum. It was President Bush’s second visit to the 87-acre campus. He and Mrs. Laura Bush were keynoters for the 2010 Forum.

An enthusiastic audience of ministry and business persons, as well as Southeastern University students, staff and faculty, heard first from Dr. Rice, then from President Bush, as they talked frankly about a wide range of topics from their service in the Executive Branch to current world events.

Then the Bush-Rice team sat for a Q-and-A discussion led by Southeastern’s president, Dr. Kent Ingle. This session was historic in that it was the first time President Bush and Dr. Rice had been interviewed together since they left office.