The 41st President of the United States, George HW Bush, aged 94, passed away on Friday. His family and US President Donald Trump released statements honouring the former President.
The former United States President George HW Bush passed away on November 30. He was the 41st US President and was elected in the year 1989. During his Presidential term, Bush stood as the backbone for the United State through major events in its history like the disintegration of the Soviet bloc and the Iraq War.
In the 1980s, George HW Bush served two terms as the Vice President under President Ronald Reagan prior to winning the Presidential election of 1988. President Bush was highly respected for his ability to maintain a steady head in testing conditions. During the Gulf War, in 1990, George HW Bush built a controversial international coalition, including more than 400,000 US troops, to overthrow Iraqi forces in Kuwait.
Bill Clinton succeeded the former President in the 1992 presidential elections. Post his defeat, the Republican leader became widely respected and was viewed by many as a wise political advisor. In 2000, he became the second American President to witness his son, George W Bush, becoming the President.
George W Bush has released a statement on behalf of the Bush Family saying, “George Herbert Walker Bush, World War II naval aviator, Texas oil pioneer, and 41st President of the United States of America, died on November 30, 2018. He was 94 and is survived by his five children and their spouses, 17 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two siblings. He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Barbara; his second child Pauline Robinson ‘Robin’ Bush; and his brothers Prescott and William or ‘Bucky’ Bush. Funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as is practical.”
US President Donald Trump also released a statement praising the former president. He honoured George HW Bush’s contributions to the United States, acknowledging his “sound judgment, common sense and unflappable leadership”.