30
Nov
Obituary: Bush 41
George HW Bush died late Friday at his home in Houston, his son George W Bush announced.
George Herbert Walker Bush was an American statesman, Republican Party politician, congressman, ambassador, Director of Central Intelligence, the 43rd Vice President of the United States from 1981 to 1989, and the 41st President from 1989 to 1993.
George HW Bush postponed the university studies after the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941 and enlisted in the Navy at the age of 18, becoming one of the youngest aviators. After he received his military discharge, he enrolled at Yale University, graduating in 1948 with an undergraduate degree in economics on an accelerated program. George HW Bush moved to West Texas with his family, entered the oil business, and became a millionaire by the age of 40.
In 1971 President Nixon appointed him as ambassador to the United Nations. In 1973 Bush became Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Next year President Gerald Ford appointed him Chief of the Liaison Office in China and later made him the director of Central Intelligence.
In 1980 Bush ran for president but he was defeated in the Republican primary by Ronald Reagan. However, he became vice-president after the ticket’s election, as Reagan’s running mate. In 1988 he defeated Democratic opponent Michael Dukakis, becoming the first incumbent vice-president to be elected president in 152 years. George HW Bush’s presidency is remembered with military operations in Panama and the Persian Gulf, the Berlin Wall fall in 1989, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union on 26th December 1991. Also, he signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which created a trade bloc consisting of the US, Canada, and Mexico. Following an economic recession and the decreased importance of foreign policy in a post-Cold War political climate, Bush lost the 1992 presidential election to Democrat Bill Clinton. After leaving office in 1993, he was involved with humanitarian activities.
He was named after his maternal grandfather George Herbert Walker who was known as ‘Pop’ and therefore, young Bush was called ‘Poppy’ as a tribute to his namesake. During his career in public service, he was known simply as George Bush. With George W Bush’s victory in the 2000 presidential election, he was referred to as ‘George HW Bush’, ‘Bush 41’, or ‘George Bush Sr’. The 41st and 43rd presidents of the United States became the second father-son pair to serve as President, after John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
While still in the Navy, Bush married Barbara Pierce (1925-2018) on 6th January 1945. They had six children. When his wife died on 17th April 2018, George HW Bush had been married to Barbara for 73 years. It was the longest presidential marriage in American history. In 2000 their marriage surpassed the 54-year (1764-1818) marriage of John and Abigail Adams. After Barbara’s death, he released a statement through his spokesman: “We have faith she is in heaven, and we know life will go on – as she would have it”. On his last day, just hours before Bush Sr died, his friend James Baker told him that he was going to heaven. Bush replied: “Good. That’s where I want to go”. Referring to this episode in his Eulogy for his father, George W Bush said: “And in our grief, let us smile, knowing that Dad is hugging Robin and holding Mom’s hand again”. George Bush Sr was 94 years, 171 days old, which makes him the longest-lived president in the history of the United States.
George HW Bush will be remembered for his outstanding political career and business success as well as his inspirational quotes:
“The American Dream means giving it your all, trying your hardest, accomplishing something. And then I’d add to that, giving something back. No definition of a successful life can do anything but include serving others”.
“I think the spirit of America, one American wanting to make another American’s life better, or internationally our desire to see countries do better or people in countries do better, coming from this concept of volunteerism is a very valid and important part of our internal being”.
“I put confidence in the American people, in their ability to sort through what is fair and what is unfair, what is ugly and what is unugly”.
“The anchor in our world today is freedom, holding us steady in times of change, a symbol of hope to all the world”.
“I do not mistrust the future. I do not fear what is ahead. For our problems are large but our heart is greater. Our challenges are great but our will is greater. And if our flaws are endless, God’s love is truly boundless”.
