George H.W. Bush gave UVA’s commencement address in 1981. Lots of hand made signs greeted him:
STOP U.S. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIRD WORLD HUNGER AND TORTURE
U.S. GUNS KILL U.S. NUNS
THIRD WORLD RIGHTS
IRA
STOP THE NIXON NONSENSE
HUMAN SERVICES NOT MISSLES
Stop the Nixon nonsense? Nixon had been out of office for seven years.
The text of Bush’s speech is available. Of interest to the Charlottesville City Council, Bush spoke about the importance of basic civility in dealing with each other in public affairs.