5 former presidents attend hurricane relief event

Former presidents from right, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter place their hands on their chest for the national anthem at the opening of a hurricane relief concert in College Station, Texas, on Saturday. | LM Otero/AP

By REBECCA MORIN 10/21/2017 09:27 PM EDT
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With the American flag as a backdrop and surrounded by Texas A&M University singing cadets, all five living former presidents stood on stage together in College Station, Texas, on Saturday night to kick off a benefit concert to help raise money for hurricane victims.

President Donald Trump was not in attendance, but a video of his remarks played.

"There is still work to be done in Texas and Florida. And our friends in Puerto Rico and the American Virgin Islands have only begun to dig their way out of what could be still a calamitous disaster," former President Bill Clinton said in remarks at the "Deep From the Heart: The One America Appeal" hurricane relief event held at Texas A&M University. "But it can be a new beginning if we just do what we ought to do and prove that the heart of America, without regard to race or religion, or political party, is greater than our problems," Former presidents Clinton, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Barack Obama all attended.

"All of us on this stage here tonight could not be prouder of the response of Americans," Obama said. "When they see their neighbors, and their friends, when they see strangers in need, Americans step up. And as heartbreaking as the tragedies that took place here in Texas and in Florida, in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have been, but what we've also seen is the spirit of America at its best."

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http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/21/presidents-hurricane-relief-event-texas-244030