Bush visits childhood home in Texas

MIDLAND, Texas, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- President George Bush says it was a "heartwarming experience" to return to his childhood home in Midland, Texas, for the first time in years.

The outgoing head of state visited the Texas city with his wife Laura this weekend. Bush took time to recall a promise he made to his friends and neighbors before becoming the leader of the United States, the Midland (Texas) Reporter-Telegram reported Sunday.

"This is the first time I have been back since I've been the president and it is a very heartwarming experience," Bush said Saturday. "I told my friends here when I left that I wasn't going to change as a person in the politics of Washington."

"I want them to know that even though I had to deal with a lot of tough issues, I'm still the same person they knew before."

The Reporter-Telegram said during their Texas visit, the president and first lady also took time to visit Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, and attended a Republican fundraiser for the Nov. 4 election.