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George H.W. Bush politely shoots down 5-year-old's case for him to eat broccoli

Noted broccoli hater George H.W. Bush received a well-meaning, if unpersuasive, letter from a 5-year-old boy arguing on broccoli's behalf.
/ Source: TODAY

Just because George H.W. Bush isn't the president any more, it doesn't mean you can get him to eat broccoli.

Even if you're an adorable 5-year-old trying to make your case for benefits of the vegetable.

Bush, 92, posted a letter on Twitter from a boy named Cooper extolling the virtues of broccoli in a bid to get him to give it a shot.

"My grama told me that you do not like broccoli and never want it served,'' the boy wrote. "I just want you to know that I love broccoli. Mr. President, broccoli is really good for you. I wish you liked broccoli like I do."

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Bush, some may recall, detests the vegetable to the point that he reportedly banned it from being served on Air Force One during his presidency.

''I do not like broccoli,'' Bush told The New York Times in 1990. ''And I haven't liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I'm President of the United States, and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli!''

Unfortunately, it looks like young Cooper's attempt to get 41 to try a stalk came up short. In his tweet, Bush said he's still not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent.

"His declared love of broccoli is genuine, if also unpersuasive,'' Bush wrote about Cooper's letter.

Now if Cooper wants to talk about the virtues of snazzy colored socks, Bush is all ears.

Follow TODAY.com writer Scott Stump on Twitter.