George H. W. Bush was remembered Sunday as a loving father who reached out to his son during a time of national mourning, a vanquished…
George H. W. Bush was remembered Sunday as a loving father who reached out to his son during a time of national mourning, a vanquished political opponent who accepted defeat with grace and a commander-in-chief whose time in the White House was marked by poise and dignity.
His eldest son, fellow former GOP President George W. Bush, as well as Democratic ex-presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, explained what the late statesmen did to earn their respect and what he meant to them during a special segment of “60 Minutes.”
“The mission was not George H. W. Bush, the mission was: how do we serve the United States?” Bush said of his 94-year-old father who died Friday. “Dad taught me this. And therefore one of the jobs is to strengthen the institution of the presidency, bring honor to the office. And… clearly George H. W. Bush did that.”
In the candid sit-down with Norah O’Donnell, Bush recalled how his father was at his side during one of his most trying days in office — when he eulogized 9/11 victims during a ceremony at the National Cathedral in Washington — where services will be held Wednesday for his father.
“That was a hard speech to give for starters,” Bush recalled.
His wife, Laura, mom, Barbara and dad all sat in pews close by.
“And I knew not to look down there, to see Laura, mom and dad,” Bush said. “I better focus on this baby, because there’s nothing worse than a blubbering president.”
After he sat down, his dad reached over to grab his hand.
“I felt this hand, it was my dad. It was very comforting. It was just a beautiful gesture,” Bush said.
