Jerzy Popiełuszko – Vice President George H.W. Bush Visits Slain Priest’s Grave, Poland 1987

During his visit to Poland in September 1987, U.S. Vice President George H.W. Bush took part in a wreath-laying ceremony for Father Jerzy Popieluszko at the St. Stanislaw Kostka Church in Warsaw (September 28, 1987). The visit was covered by the Polish Service of the Voice of America (VOA). Its radio broadcasts were heard by over 70% of the population in Poland. VOA Polish Service director Tadeusz (Ted) Lipien reported on the visit from Warsaw. His recordings and photos were used for this video.

Recordings also included interviews with Zbigniew Bujak, Bronislaw Geremek and Jacek Kuron (not in this video) who later became members of Parliament and government in post-communist Poland. They discussed their earlier meeting with Vice President Bush. Ted Lipien also recorded separate interviews with George H.W. Bush and Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, as well as some Polish communist regime officials and a number of Polish civil society leaders, Catholic priests and ordinary Poles. Some reports from Poland, including interviews with Lech Walesa and Vice President Bush, were used by VOA worldwide English service.