--- title: George Herbert Walker Bush 1924-2018 description: The 41st President and father of the 43rd left a lasting legacy of service canonical: https://time.com/5472305/george-herbert-walker-bush-1924-2018/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-12-06T11:55:05.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-13T08:16:47.818Z article:section: Politics og:title: George Herbert Walker Bush 1924-2018 og:description: The 41st President and father of the 43rd left a lasting legacy of service og:url: https://time.com/5472305/george-herbert-walker-bush-1924-2018/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt50cb73d65a65ef2f/6987a2d2e20a87170ea87813/bush-in-prague.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1500 og:image:height: 844 og:image:alt: Bush-in-Prague og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: George Herbert Walker Bush 1924-2018 twitter:description: The 41st President and father of the 43rd left a lasting legacy of service twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt50cb73d65a65ef2f/6987a2d2e20a87170ea87813/bush-in-prague.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # George Herbert Walker Bush 1924-2018 > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=153bf8c4-25c0-45da-98d1-035948ea6941&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: In Memoriam: George H.W. Bush [Watch (HLS stream): In Memoriam: George H.W. Bush](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Ml94wTOD.m3u8) (4:00)  _Published 2018-12-01. In Memoriam: George H.W. Bush_ by [David Von Drehle](https://time.com/author/david-von-drehle/) ## David Von Drehle Dec 6, 2018 11:55 AM UTC by [David Von Drehle](https://time.com/author/david-von-drehle/) ## David Von Drehle Dec 6, 2018 11:55 AM UTC George H.W. Bush, the careful and pragmatic manager of the Cold War’s final dramas, had nearly every tool a great president needs. He had fire and drive, which are indispensable to a great statesman. From his glamorous youth through his momentous single term as 41st President of the United States, Bush was consumed, in the words of one biographer, by “an almost insatiable ambition and competitiveness.” He had experience, gained over decades in private business and public service. He had good judgment, cultivating the quality that Aristotle called “practical wisdom,” but which Bush referred to as “prudence.” He had the courage to make difficult decisions. He was discerning in his choice of strong advisers, and was comfortable with dissenting views. Bush was a natural born leader. All of which points to the riddle of his life: why did his presidency end in rejection? _To read the full story,_ [_click here_](http://time.com/longform/president-george-hw-bush-dead/)_._ ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] Let me start with my exoneration with the grandparents out there. You are our living link to the past. Tell your grandchildren the story of struggles, ways at home and abroad, of sacrifices Freely made for freedom sake and tell them your own stories as well because every American has a story to tell. [ MUSIC ] I'm gonna work my heart out From now until election day to defeat my opponent and to help return sound constitutional government to all the people. [ MUSIC ] Read my lips, no new taxes. [ APPLAUSE ] I will keep America moving forward, always forward. Forward. For a better America. For an endless, enduring dream, and a thousand points of light. This is my mission and I will complete it. [ APPLAUSE ] So help me God. The totalitarian era is passing. It's old ideas blown away like leaves from an ancient Lifeless tree. A new breeze is blowing. And a nation refreshed by freedom stands ready to push on. There's new ground to be broken and new action to be Taken. Saddam Hussein's unprovoked invasion, his ruthless, systematic rape of a peaceful neighbor violated everything the community of nations holds dear. [ MUSIC ] The world has said this aggression would not stand and it will not stand. The coalition used overwhelming air power to defeat a brutal dictator and free a nation. [ SOUND ] Our armed forces Fought with honor and valor and as President I can report to the nation aggression is defeated the war is over. [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] That there is no animosity, the Cold War days are over. If it is possible I wanna continue to build a lasting basis for US- Soviet cooperation. For a more peaceful future for all mankind. Let's go Bush. Let's go Bush. Let's go Bush. President Bush is in trouble and the economy is the reason. [ MUSIC ] He was daring and courageous. Always seeking new adventures and new challenges. He was humble and quick to Share Credit. He deflected attention from himself and refused to brag about his accomplishments. He trusted others and Inspire their loyalty and above all he found joy in his family and his faith. Nothing made him happier than being surrounded by his wife. [ MUSIC ] Children and grandchildren. In a place where he hd so many wonderful memories. [ MUSIC ] George W Bush set an example for many people in many ways. He is determined to live his life to the fullest to the very end [ MUSIC ] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5472305/george-herbert-walker-bush-1924-2018/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5472305/george-herbert-walker-bush-1924-2018/"},"headline":"George Herbert Walker Bush 1924-2018","datePublished":"2018-12-06T11:55:05.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-13T08:16:47.818Z","description":"The 41st President and father of the 43rd left a lasting legacy of service","url":"https://time.com/5472305/george-herbert-walker-bush-1924-2018/","keywords":[],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt50cb73d65a65ef2f/6987a2d2e20a87170ea87813/bush-in-prague.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"David Von Drehle","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/david-von-drehle/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt50cb73d65a65ef2f/6987a2d2e20a87170ea87813/bush-in-prague.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Bush-in-Prague","caption":"President George H.W. 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