GOP Rep. Burton roasts Bush’s golf game on House floor

Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) said on the House floor Monday that former President George W. Bush was one of the worst putters he’s ever played golf with, and encouraged golfer Jack Nicklaus to give Bush lessons.

“I’d just like to say if Jack Nicklaus might be watching today, I had an opportunity … to play with President George W. Bush, and I’d say to Jack Nicklaus if he were here — you really need to teach him how to putt,” Burton said. “He’s one of the worst putters I’ve ever seen.”

{mosads}Burton spoke during a brief debate about a bill, H.R. 4040, that would award a congressional gold medal to Bush’s would-be golf instructor, Nicklaus. 

Burton’s comments were made light-heartedly, and after describing Bush as a terrible duffer he quickly added, “Mr. President, I hope you forgive me for that.”

But Burton, who will retire at the end of this Congress, then continued to roast the former president over his golf game. 

“We were playing on the 18th hole out at Andrews [Air Force Base], and the President had putted so poorly that he had about a 10-footer left on the last hole, and we gave it to him,” Burton laughed.

The bill honoring Nicklaus was one of four non-controversial bills that were briefly debated Monday evening, and will be passed by recorded vote starting at 6:30 p.m.

Other bills in that group included H.R. 3001, which would award a gold medal to the next-of-kin of Raoul Wallenberg, who helped saved thousands of Jews in Hungary near the end of World War II, and H.R. 1815, providing for the posthumous presentation of a congressional gold medal to singer and actress Lena Horne.

Members also briefly debated H.R. 2452, which would require the minting of gold coins honoring Mark Twain, who reportedly said, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.”