George H.W. Bush visited York County in Sept. 1988 in his bid for election against Michael Dukakis. In 1992, President Bush visited northern York County for a political fundraiser in Monaghan Township. His efforts brought $800,000 to U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's campaign. The president endorsed Specter, commenting: "This is not a normal kind of endorsement. I really mean it." (For a list of past presidential visits, click here. Background posts: Battle of New Orleans hero slides into York and
Coin designer signs his D.E. on all his handiwork and Hillary Clinton's rally site in York a little odd.
On the campaign trail in 1988, Bush visited York, and his wife, Barbara, split off to visit Crispus Attucks Community Center's Day Care Center.
The Republican candidate gave a 20-minute speech before 4,500 assembled at the Colonial Courthouse.
It was a fairly standard visit by a presidential candidate.
One of the most interesting parts involved meticulous prep work for the visit.
According to the York Daily Record:
"A Secret Service agent accompanied city employee Paul Stabley as Stabley wielded manhole covers shut.Stabley did as he was told, but thought it was overkill.
"Someone would have to be pretty determined," he said, noting that the manhole covers lead to a 48-inch sewer pipe. "They wouldn't smell too good when they came out."
Later, when the Secret Service secured the site, an agent was assigned to searching the band instruments. His job included peering into tubas.
For many posts on past presidential visits to York County, click here.
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