Former President George H.W. Bush has died at 94
George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, has died at the age of 94. During his presidency from 1989 to 1993, Bush, a Republican, oversaw a handful of foreign policy decisions that would come to define his legacy. He helped navigate the aftermath of the end of the Cold War, and his even-handed approach to diplomacy is credited for facilitating a peaceful breakup of the Soviet Union. He also routed a group of Iraqi invaders from Kuwait in 1991, which, as The New York Times put it, "brought years of American preoccupation with Iraq."
Bush spent more than 40 years serving the public. He was a World War II Navy pilot, a Texas congressman, a U.N. ambassador, chairman of the Republican National Committee, CIA director, vice president under former President Ronald Reagan, and then president. His eldest son, George W. Bush, became the 43rd U.S. president, and his second son, Jeb Bush, served as governor of Florida.
In his later years, Bush Senior was diagnosed with Parkinson's and was in and out of the hospital for various health problems, including bronchitis and a blood infection. According to the Times, Bush Junior solicited ideas for his eulogy in 2013, but the elder Bush bounced back. "George H.W. Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for," Bush Junior said in a statement. He died at his Houston home on Friday, Nov. 30.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Bush Senior lived longer than any other U.S. president, CNBC reports. His wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, died just under eight months ago at the age of 92.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jessica Hullinger is a writer and former deputy editor of The Week Digital. Originally from the American Midwest, she completed a degree in journalism at Indiana University Bloomington before relocating to New York City, where she pursued a career in media. After joining The Week as an intern in 2010, she served as the title’s audience development manager, senior editor and deputy editor, as well as a regular guest on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. Her writing has featured in other publications including Popular Science, Fast Company, Fortune, and Self magazine, and she loves covering science and climate-related issues.
-
The Christmas quiz 2024
From the magazine Test your grasp of current affairs and general knowledge with our quiz
By The Week UK Published
-
People of the year 2024
In the Spotlight Remember the people who hit the headlines this year?
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: December 25, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Putin says Russia isn't weakened by Syria setback
Speed Read Russia had been one of the key backers of Syria's ousted Assad regime
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Georgia DA Fani Willis removed from Trump case
Speed Read Willis had been prosecuting the election interference case against the president-elect
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Democrats blame 'President Musk' for looming shutdown
Speed Read The House of Representatives rejected a spending package that would've funding the government into 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump, Musk sink spending bill, teeing up shutdown
Speed Read House Republicans abandoned the bill at the behest of the two men
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress reaches spending deal to avert shutdown
Speed Read The bill would fund the government through March 14, 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Luigi Mangione charged with murder, terrorism
Speed Read Magnione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ex-FBI informant pleads guilty to lying about Bidens
Speed Read Alexander Smirnov claimed that President Joe Biden and his son Hunter were involved in a bribery scheme with Ukrainian energy company Burisma
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
South Korea impeaches president, eyes charges
Speed Read Yoon Suk Yeol faces investigations on potential insurrection and abuse of power charges
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published