Photo: ABC news /George H. W. Bush
Former President George Herbert Walker Bush died at his home in Houston after several years of failing health. At 94 years, George Bush Sr. is the longest lived President of the United States, a record he held since last year surpassing President Gerald Ford’s at 93.
In a statement released by his eldest son George W. Bush, he announced the passing of his father, calling him “a man of the highest honor any son or daughter could ask for.”
Full statement: “Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro, and I are saddened to announce that after 94 remarkable years, our dear Dad has died. George H.W. Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for.
The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41’s life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for Dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens.”
George W. Bush
President and Mrs. Trump also issued a statement on Twitter praising the former President’s “sound judgment, common sense and unflappable leadership” with which he guided the nation to the end of the Cold War.
Presidents Clinton and Obama put out statements extolling the remarkable personal achievements of Bush 41 and his strong sense of public service.
Bush 41st on January 20, 1993 left a remarkable note for the then president elect Bill Clinton, barring all the challenges that caused Bush to lose the elections, this note left behind at the Oval Office of the White House for Bill deepened 41st astute statesmanship which is worthy of emulation across the spectrum of leadership. This kind of gesture in academia is called “intellectual humility” and in political circles it “political humility”.
Bush was a World War II veteran, he served in the navy of the United States military campaign in the Pacific during the war.
Bush served in several capacities including Congressman, Director of National Intelligence, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), United Nations Ambassador and Chair of the Republican National Convention. He was Vice President in the two term Reagan Administration which altogether probably gave him the best resume for a Presidential Candidate when he ran for office in 1988.
Bush defeated Democratic Candidate Governor Michael Dukakis to become the 41st President of the United States.
Given his very rich foreign relations experience, Bush was a great contributing factor to the world’s effort to put an end to the 4 decade U.S – Soviet Union Cold War. He was instrumental for the ultimate reunification of Germany after 40 years of political division. During his presidency, he led a coalition of allied countries to drive Iraqi troops out of Kuwait, a mission which saw his approval ratings soar incredibly higher.
At home, Bush compromised with the Democratic controlled Congress and helped pass the Americans With Disability Act in 1991, which is one of the most recent known and supported bipartisan bill in Congress.
In spite of these successes, President Bush went on to lose the 1992 elections which many experts and commentators attributed it to tax increases and a recessional economy during his tenure as 41st.
While out of office, he played a major role in raising funds for victims of natural disaster along with other former presidents.
He is being credited for starting a political dynasty which saw his son George Bush Jr. win the Oval Office in 2000 and Jeb Bush, the Governor’s Mansion of Florida in 2002 even though he refused to acknowledge it as such.
President Trump has declared Wednesday December 5, 2018 to be a day of National mourning.
There will be service at the National Cathedral in Washington on Wednesday after which his body will be flown to back to Houston for a second service and final internment.
GCBM Contributors: Mitchell Amoamah & Scofray Nana Yaw Yeboah
