President George H.W. Bush's last words to his son were: 'I love you, too' - NBC News
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By Peter Alexander and Phil Helsel
President George H.W. Bush told his son George W. Bush “I love you” in his last words before the former leader of the county died on Friday, a source close to the Bush family said Saturday.
The last words of the 41st president were first reported by the New York Times. The source said that President George W. Bush was on speakerphone with his father to wish him goodbye as Bush Sr.'s health was failing.
George W. Bush told his father that he had been a “wonderful dad” and that he loved him, and George H.W. Bush replied “I love you, too,” with his last words.
George H.W. Bush, 94, died on Friday. He had a disease similar to Parkinson's.
Dec. 1, 201801:43
The Times reported that Bush’s health had been fading in the past several days, and his former secretary of state and longtime friend James A. Baker III arrived at his Houston home to check on him.
Bush grew alert and reportedly asked Baker, "Where are we going, Bake?" and Baker replied "We're going to heaven," the Times reported.
"That's where I want to go," Bush said, according to the Times. He died 13 hours later, surrounded by friends and members of his family, the newspaper reported.
Baker told the Times that "It was as gentle a passing as I think you could ever expect anyone to have. And he was ready."
In a statement issued after Bush’s death, Baker called him a person who "led with strength, integrity, compassion and humility" and whose legacy "will be forever etched in the history of America and the world. It is a lifelong record of selfless patriotic service to our nation."
"His passion was a deep love of family and our country," Baker said. "It was my pleasure and great joy to have had him as my special friend for more than 60 years."
Former President George H.W. Bush, left, and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III share a moment as they talk about the Gulf War and liberation of Kuwait during an interview on Jan. 18, 2011, in Houston.David J. Phillip / AP file
Jeb Bush tweeted Saturday that "I already miss the greatest human being that I will ever know. Love you Dad!"
His son, Jeb Bush Jr., said nothing gave his grandfather more joy than service to others. "His leadership taught us to be kinder and gentler, to love each other," Jeb Bush Jr. said. "We will miss him dearly."
Bush will lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington beginning on Monday, and the public will be able to pay their respects through Wednesday morning, it was announced by Congressional leaders.
Dec. 1, 201806:58
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will attend a state funeral which is being arranged, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said.
Wednesday will be declared a national day of mourning for the former president, she said.
Peter Alexander
Emmy Award-winning journalist Peter Alexander was named NBC News White House Correspondent in December 2012. His reports appear across all platforms of NBC News, including “NBC Nightly News,” “Today,” “Meet the Press,” “Rock Center,” "Dateline," MSNBC and NBCNews.com.
Prior to joining the NBC News White House team, Alexander led the network’s on-the-ground coverage of the 2012 Republican presidential race, following GOP nominee Mitt Romney on the trail through Election Day. Alexander’s reporting earned recognition as one of POLITICO’s “10 Breakout Reporters of 2012.”
Since arriving at NBC News in 2004, Alexander has covered numerous international stories — from Iraq’s historic election in 2005 to the death of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, and the tsunami in Indonesia. He has filed reports from Afghanistan, the Galapagos Islands, Gaza, Israel, Laos and Mexico. Alexander’s work also includes environmental reporting from the Northwest Passage in the Arctic, and reports on the deeply personal story of his sister, Rebecca, who has Usher Syndrome, type III — a rare genetic disorder that's robbing her of her vision and her hearing.
Alexander has covered numerous breaking news events, including anchoring live coverage of the "Miracle on the Hudson" and the "Tragedy at Virginia Tech." In 2010, he reported on the international controversy surrounding Wikileaks and its founder Julian Assange. In addition to his news responsibilities, Alexander has also served as an NBC Sports host, and covered both the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.
Before NBC News, Alexander worked as the lead reporter and substitute evening anchor at KCPQ-TV in Seattle, WA. During the 2000 presidential campaign and election, Alexander interviewed President George W. Bush, former Vice President Al Gore and Sen. John McCain. Prior to KCPQ-TV, Alexander worked at KHQ-TV in Spokane, WA. and WKYT-TV in Lexington, KY.
A recipient of the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award, Alexander has also been recognized by the Associated Press, the Radio-Television News Directors Association and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Alexander graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. He lives outside Washington, DC with his wife, WJLA-TV anchor Alison Starling.
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