While Donald Trump has refused to say whether he would accept the results of the November election if he loses, a note from George H.W. Bush’s letter to Bill Clinton from 1993 offers a lesson in how candidates can be gracious in defeat.
During the final debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the GOP nominee declined to tell moderator Chris Wallace whether he would concede the presidential election.
WATCH: Donald Trump refuses to say he’ll accept election results
“I will look at it at the time,” Donald Trump said Wednesday night in Las Vegas. “I will tell you at the time. I will keep you in suspense.”
The question of whether Trump would concede the election stems from his repeated claims that the election is “rigged.” He also accused the media of printing false news stories and that the women accusing him of sexual assault were either lying or planted by Clinton’s campaign.
The uproar over the billionaire businessman has led some on social media to repost images of a letter that former U.S. president George H.W. Bush wrote to Bill Clinton following his election loss.
The handwritten letter, left in the Oval Office in 1993, expressed wishes of “happiness” for Clinton’s future presidency and even kind words for the new president’s family.
“Your success is now our country’s success,” Bush wrote. “I am rooting hard for you.”
READ MORE: 5 things you missed from the final presidential debate
Here is the text in full dated Jan. 20, 1993:
Dear Bill,
When I walked into this office just now I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt four years ago. I know you will feel that, too.
I wish you great happiness here. I never felt the loneliness some Presidents have described.
There will be very tough times, made even more difficult by criticism you may not think is fair. I’m not a very good one to give advice; but just don’t let the critics discourage you or push you off course.
You will be our President when you read this note. I wish you well. I wish your family well.
Your success is now our country’s success. I am rooting for you.
Good luck,
George
WATCH: Clinton calls Trump response to conceding election ‘horrifying’
Clinton described her rival’s refusal to accept the outcome of the election as “horrifying”.
“He is denigrating and he is talking down our democracy,” the former secretary of state said. “And I, for one, am appalled that someone who is the nominee of one of two major parties would take that position.”