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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| George HW Bush's sponsorship of Filipino child detailed in letters | George HW Bush's sponsorship of Filipino child detailed in letters |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A charity has revealed the secret exchanges former US President George HW Bush had with a Filipino boy he sponsored over a 10-year period. | A charity has revealed the secret exchanges former US President George HW Bush had with a Filipino boy he sponsored over a 10-year period. |
| Bush had to use a pseudonym and the boy, seven when the sponsorship started, had no idea who he was. | Bush had to use a pseudonym and the boy, seven when the sponsorship started, had no idea who he was. |
| Bush, under the name George Walker, helped to fund education and meals. | Bush, under the name George Walker, helped to fund education and meals. |
| The boy, Timothy, learned his mentor's identity when he left the scheme at 17 and was stunned, the charity, Compassion International, said. | The boy, Timothy, learned his mentor's identity when he left the scheme at 17 and was stunned, the charity, Compassion International, said. |
| The charity revealed some of the letters to the Colorado Springs Gazette and later in an interview with CNN. | The charity revealed some of the letters to the Colorado Springs Gazette and later in an interview with CNN. |
| Bush, the 41st US president, died in November at the age of 94. | Bush, the 41st US president, died in November at the age of 94. |
| "Dear Timothy, I want to be your new pen pal," Bush said in his first letter in 2002, using the pseudonym, a combination of his first and third names. | "Dear Timothy, I want to be your new pen pal," Bush said in his first letter in 2002, using the pseudonym, a combination of his first and third names. |
| "I am an old man, 77 years old, but I love kids; and though we have not met I love you already," he wrote. | "I am an old man, 77 years old, but I love kids; and though we have not met I love you already," he wrote. |
| "I live in Texas - I will write you from time to time - Good Luck." | "I live in Texas - I will write you from time to time - Good Luck." |
| 'Have you heard of the White House?' | 'Have you heard of the White House?' |
| Compassion International is a Christian, humanitarian charity that helps children living in poverty. | Compassion International is a Christian, humanitarian charity that helps children living in poverty. |
| The former president first learned about its child sponsorship scheme in 2001 during a Christmas concert in Washington. | The former president first learned about its child sponsorship scheme in 2001 during a Christmas concert in Washington. |
| It is thought his identity was kept secret because of concerns Timothy could be targeted if people learned he was corresponding with a former US president. | It is thought his identity was kept secret because of concerns Timothy could be targeted if people learned he was corresponding with a former US president. |
| But this did not stop Bush from dropping hints in his letters, according to the charity's former president, Wess Stafford, who screened all the letters. | But this did not stop Bush from dropping hints in his letters, according to the charity's former president, Wess Stafford, who screened all the letters. |
| "He was known for being a trickster," Mr Stafford told the BBC. | "He was known for being a trickster," Mr Stafford told the BBC. |
| "Timothy, have you ever heard of the White House?" Bush asked in one of his letters. | "Timothy, have you ever heard of the White House?" Bush asked in one of his letters. |
| "That's where the president of the USA lives. I got to go to the White House at Christmas time. Here is a little booklet that I got at the White House in Washington." | "That's where the president of the USA lives. I got to go to the White House at Christmas time. Here is a little booklet that I got at the White House in Washington." |
| Even Bush's family had no idea about the letters until years later, Mr Stafford said. | Even Bush's family had no idea about the letters until years later, Mr Stafford said. |
| He met Bush's son George - also a former US president - at a state dinner in 2008 and told them about the sponsorship. | |
| "Laura teared up," Mr Stafford said of George W Bush's wife. | |
| "George [W Bush] paused for a moment and said 'Yep, that sounds like my Daddy.'" | |
| Along with letters, "Bush 41" also sent presents, including art supplies. | Along with letters, "Bush 41" also sent presents, including art supplies. |
| Bush received messages back from Timothy to thank him for his presents. | Bush received messages back from Timothy to thank him for his presents. |
| "Thank you for not forgetting me. You're so nice and good," read one letter. | "Thank you for not forgetting me. You're so nice and good," read one letter. |
| When Timothy learned who his mentor was he said it was life-changing, although the charity has not been able to get in touch with him since. | When Timothy learned who his mentor was he said it was life-changing, although the charity has not been able to get in touch with him since. |
| "I love that one of the most powerful men in the world, without any fanfare, reached out to one of the poorest children in the world," said Mr Stafford. | |
| "I have a feeling that he did a lot of good things that we don't know about and a lot of things we probably never will." | "I have a feeling that he did a lot of good things that we don't know about and a lot of things we probably never will." |