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George Bush, U.S. President From 1989 To 1993, Dead At Age 94


George Herbert Walker Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush

By RFE/RL

George Bush, the 41st president of the United States, has died at the age of 94, his family said.

Bush, who was president from 1989-93 and later saw his son George W. Bush follow in his footsteps to the White House, died on November 30.

Relatives "are saddened to announce that after 94 remarkable years, our dear Dad has died," George W. Bush said in a statement posted on Twitter by family spokesman Jim McGrath.

McGrath said Bush died at 10:10 p.m. Central U.S. time (5:10 a.m. Prague time on December 1). There was no immediate word on the cause of death.

Bush announced in 2012 that he had vascular Parkinsonism, a condition that limited his mobility.

Bush lived longer than any of his predecessors. Former First Lady Barbara Bush, his wife of 73 years, died on April 17 of this year.

In a statement posted on Twitter on December 1, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump said they "join with a grieving nation to mourn the loss" of Bush.

"Through his essential authenticity, disarming wit, and unwavering commitment to faith, family, and country, President Bush inspired generations of his fellow Americans to public service -- to be, in his words, 'a thousand points of light' illuminating the greatness, hope, and opportunity of America to the world," the president and first lady said.

The U.S. flag at the White House was at half-staff in the dark of night early on December 1.

"America has lost a patriot and humble servant," former President Barack Obama said in a statement, voicing gratitude "not merely for the years he spent as our president but for the more than 70 years he spent in devoted service to the country he loved."

Bush, Obama said, possessed "the qualities that make this country great. Service to others. Commitment to leaving behind something better. Sacrifice in the name of lifting this country closer to its founding ideals."

Former President Bill Clinton praised Bush for his "great long life of service, love and friendship."

In a statement issued early on December 1, Clinton, who defeated Bush in the 1992 presidential election, said he was always struck by Bush's "innate and genuine decency" and by his devotion to his wife Barbara and his family.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said Bush had been a "true partner" in working to bring an end to the Cold War, in comments quoted by Interfax on December 1.

"We had the opportunity to work together during the era of great changes. It was a dramatic period, which required everyone to be tremendously responsible. Its outcome was the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race," Gorbachev was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency.



With reporting by CNN, AP, Reuters, and The Washington Post

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