Editorial: George H.W. Bush — a president, father of a political dynasty and war hero

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Official portrait of George H. W. Bush, former President of the United States of America.

Editorial Board

The title of President of the United States is one of the most prestigious titles in the world.

George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, passed away Friday night in his Texas home at the age of 94.

President H.W. Bush served from Jan. 20, 1989 to Jan. 20, 1993, after losing a re-election campaign to Bill Clinton. On the official White House website, it describes the former president’s term as “[bringing] to the White House a dedication to traditional American values and a determination to direct them toward making the United States ‘a kinder and gentler nation’ in the face of a dramatically changing world.”

In what some consider one of Bush’s biggest achievements, the one-term president lead the liberation of Kuwait during the Gulf War. Bush was able to get congressional support and sent 425,000 troops to the Middle East, where they were joined by 118,000 troops from other allied nations. By the time the dust settled, the allies had driven the invading forces out of Kuwait.

From a policy standpoint, Bush signed may bills that any American citizen, regardless of political affiliation, would consider to be important legislation: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reauthorized the Clean Air Act, the U.S./Russia nuclear agreement and the 1991 Civil Rights Act, to name a few.

Even after his presidency, Bush continued to attempt to do what is best for the American people. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Bush never endorsed Trump. However, in a time of great divide, it was announced that Bush requested that current President Donald Trump attend his funeral.

“We’ll be spending three days of mourning and three days of celebrating a really great man’s life,” Trump said. He also designated Wednesday as a national day of mourning.

The public will be able to pay their respects from 7:30-8:45ET, Wednesday in the rotunda in the U.S. Capitol building. There will also be a service for family and friends at 11:00ET in the National Cathedral. The former president will be laid to rest on the grounds of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas.