WORLD Bush Sr’s farewell to son: ’ I love you’
FORMER US president George H. W. Bush’s last words were “I love you, too” – spoken in response to his eldest son, former President George W. Bush, in a phone call at the weekend.
The elder Bush’s longtime friend and former secretary of state, James Baker, revealed the departed leader’s final hours. Mr Bush, who was 94, died in his Houston home with son Neil and several friends and family members in the room. His other children spoke to him by phone in the last few minutes of his life.
This included the 43rd president, who praised him as a “wonderful dad”.
“It was as gentle a passing as I think you could ever expect anyone to have,” Mr Baker said. “And he was ready.”
The news came as tributes poured in from around the world, with global leaders honouring him for his role in helping end the Cold War.
Mr Bush, the 41st US president, also routed President Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi army in the 1991 Gulf War but lost his chance for a second term in the White House after breaking a no- new- taxes pledge.
The last leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, with whom Mr Bush signed a strategic arms reduction treaty, said many of his memories were linked with the former US president.
“We happened to work together in years of great changes. It was a dramatic time demanding huge responsibility from everyone,” Mr Gorbachev said.
US President Donald Trump said Mr Bush was “a high- quality man” who led an “exemplary” life.
“He was a very fine man. I met him on numerous occasions. He was just a high- quality man who truly loved his family,” Mr Trump said.
In Houston, people left flowers at iron gates leading to the street of Mr Bush Sr’s home and at a bronze statue of him in a city park.
The White House said a state funeral was being arranged at the National Cathedral in Washington. The President also designated a national day of mourning on Wednesday and ordered the lowering of the American flag for 30 days.
Former presidents remembered Bush as a leader of grace and humility.
Barack Obama described Bush as “a patriot and humble servant”, while Bill Clinton, who beat Mr Bush in the 1992 presidential election, recalled his “great long life of service”.