President Donald Trump has declared Wednesday a national day of mourning
George H. W. Bush was remembered Sunday by several former members of his administration, including former Vice President Dan Quayle, former secretaries of state James Baker III and Colin Powell, and Dick Cheney, who served as Bush’s defense secretary.
In an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Baker said he spent time with Bush on Friday, the day of his death. Baker said he arrived early in the morning at Bush’s Houston home, where the president ate a big breakfast of eggs, yogurt and fruit drinks. Baker said Bush hadn’t gotten out of bed in “three or four days,” but that based on Bush’s energy Friday morning he thought the president would “bounce back.”
“That last day was really a very, very gentle and peaceful passing for him,” Baker told host Jake Tapper.
Baker said Bush wasn’t ready to go after his wife, Barbara, died earlier this year, but “by the time he got back to Houston from his summer in Kennebunkport (Maine), I think he was ready to go.”
That last day was really a very, very gentle and peaceful passing for him
Baker noted that Bush was his daughter’s godfather and his friend of 60 years. Bush is the reason Baker got into politics, having recruited Baker to help with his Senate campaign after Baker’s first wife died of cancer.
“George Bush was possibly the most kind and considerate person I’ve ever known in my life,” Baker said.
Tapper asked Baker whether the era of civility in politics died with Bush on Friday.
