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Richard Carson / Reuters file
Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush stands during the national anthem at an NFL game in Houston on Nov. 4.
Former President George H.W. Bush has been hospitalized in Houston with bronchitis.
Bush, 88, has been suffering from a severe cough, and he’s been in and out of the hospital for the last couple of weeks. He was admitted out of "an abundance of caution" due to his age, a source close to the family told NBC News.
"President Bush has been in and out of The Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center being treated for complications related to his bronchitis. He is in stable condition, and is expected to be released within the next 72 hours," Methodist Hospital said in a statement Thursday.
Bronchitis is a common condition in which the bronchial tubes in the lungs become inflamed and produce mucus, which creates the need to cough, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can turn serious in people with weak immune systems, including children and the elderly. Symptoms such as chest pain, weakness and coughing typically last two weeks, but can linger for as much as two months.
The former president’s illness, though concerning, shouldn’t be life-threatening, said Dr. Zab Mosenifar, medical director of the Women’s Guild Lung Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Bronchitis in the elderly is “very, very common,” he said, but also very treatable.
It’s possible the illness could progress to pneumonia, a frequent complication of bronchitis, which would require antibiotics and further treatment.
“As far as I know, he doesn’t have history of smoking,” Mosenifar said. “He is a healthy person and he should do fine.”
Bush served as the 41st president of the United States from 1989-1993, the capstone of a long career of public service. He lost his first bid for the Republican nomination for presidency in 1980, at which time Ronald Reagan chose him to be his running mate. He went on to serve two terms as Reagan’s vice president.
Bush had been a Texas Republican member of the House of Representatives in the 1960s and 1970s and head of the CIA from 1976-1977. The organization’s headquarters in Langley, Va., was later renamed the “George Bush Center for Intelligence.”
Before moving to Texas, where Bush made money in oil and petroleum, Bush served as a combat pilot during World War II and attended Yale University. He got married in 1945.
Bush and his wife, Barbara, had six children; one, Robin, died as a child, according to his official WhiteHouse.gov biography. His son George W. Bush became the 43rd president of the United States; another son, Jeb Bush, was governor of Florida for nearly a decade, and is considered a top contender for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
Bush has had an active post-presidential life. He teamed up with Bill Clinton to raise money for the victims of the Asian tsunami in late 2004. That effort was so successful, the two former presidents did the same for Katrina victims in 2005.
NBC News' JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report.
Robert Sullivan / AFP - Getty Images
Leader of an American political dynasty, George Bush's influence was felt beyond his terms as president and vice president. Take a look back at his life and career.
Leave a Comment:
Class act.
When we slip off the cliff we will all be wishing for Bush 1 and 2 back in the whitehouse.
SH##$&*ED!Are you kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELL, 'll go dig up DICK NIXON myself uuuuugh the horror of that thought! 2F#$&*%ING BUSHES are you crazy?!
The people you see on here denigrating Bush, dont know anything about the man, and are repeating what they heard at the bar, or in some other social setting where their acceptance is tantamount. Research, thought and learning about different presidents is not what they are about. they are about being accepted into a moronic group they hang with when let out of their mothers basement.
Unlike you, we the smart people depend on real facts to base our judgements on. Not the Faux News Networks owned by Bushes buddy Murdoch.
See what I mean? They never fail to prove your point for you.
and you are a fool this guy was far from being a good president he left this country in economic mess and during debates remember the looking at the watch thing this guy cared about the higher class and you know it everybody sugar coating sh.t because he is sick tell that to the Katrina victims remember what his wife said about those people he is also good friends with dick Cheney so I totally disagree with your comment you are just as selfish as this guy is good luck smuk
Joey, are you high?
President George H.W. Bush left office 12 YEARS before hurricane Katrina.
Whats disturbing, is that these types vote in the morons american society has to deal with, just because they fell for lies about free stuff coming if they vote for the liars.
Robert v when you S#%&#*heads lose your grip on america and its politics all of a sudden eveyone else is the fool. people have woke up to the bs thats been expoused over the last 30 years by the so-called RIGHT!
3567
Robert, gun sales are up just like in Obamas first term, because they are afraid Obama is going to take their guns. Yes people fall for all the lies. This lie is getting a lot of sales for the gun makers. BTW I still have my gun and never give it a second thought that anyone is going to take it.lol
I agree these fools making up lies as they go along people in my area even if they are broke spending every last penny to buy ammo and guns real idiots but you would have to be an idiot to follow these repuke loosers
No Joey, we're just standing up against the DemoKKKrat Nazi party and their War Against Women and Minorities.
It's all those years of bad presidency catching up to him.
It is all those years of faithful service to our nation catching up to him.
Vern........is that you Dick Cheney?
wishing you a very speedy recovery!!! god be with you and your family!!! have a wonderful and blessed christmas with your family!!!
Amen.
Geez, Vern, why don't you go the hospital and give him a blow job?
If one candidate offers more opportunities via freedom, for people to get ahead in life,
and another offers guarantees and free stuff via govt legislation, the morons you see on here
bashing Bush vote for the free stuff. The irony is, they are being used by the liars who promised
it in the first place, because nothing is free and costs something. Fact of life.
Yup.
No?? Take a look at whats happening in Europe. The free stuff is being taken away.
Lot of ink for ex-pres. Exactly what did he accomplice while in office? Guess not much if it isn't memorable. He does qualify for medicare?
The only thing 77 I can remember is "read my lips" no new taxes which wasn't true, he did raise taxes.
The only thing bad I can say about him is that he didn't do a very good job of bringing up George W. But my guess is that a lot of it is the fault of George W. himself. I have much more respect for him than I do for his son.
I have been reading the posts. Those that call others names because of having differing opinions are in my opinion worthless. I think people can say what they have to say without name calling. I have alot more respect for opinions based on fact whether I agree with that opinion or not. I am interested in facts from all kinds of different people. Mean spiritedness turns me off.
DL, some people have dificulty expressing themselves. When both democrats and republicans alike are millionaires it's hard not to get frustrated . As a result we have the name calling. The big money democrats, you have to give them credit, are willing to raise taxes. The republicans, understandably want tax cuts for the rich because they ARE the rich. Thats like voting to give yourself a decrease in pay. What we need is term limits , but that would be distributing the wealth with others and they are not going to stand for that. Obama is in effect asking congress to pay more taxes and that like asking a kid to eat his spinach.
that's the only way to get across to you selfish pr.cks
Documentary called "Dark Legacy" about CIA...George Bush...Kennedy..very interesting....
I didn't think vampires got sick. Now his son George W. there is a true American Hero.
I'm still waiting for this ex-President to recant his vile statement (twice) that non-believers could NOT be US citizens nor patriotic.
I'm not making this up. I'd like to see him tell that to those of no faith in the troops who protect this country for all citizens, believers or non.
I hope he gets better so he can apologize some day.
-A veteran's son.
I second that there are a lot of good men and women that are non believers serving see there is a lot of people on here playing dumb to the facts this guy was a real az.hole and still is
Well, I don't know the man personally so I have no reason to besmirch him directly; I only know what he said publically. And publically, as a politician, he said something that is difficult to reconcile with his otherwise gentlemanly persona.
Where is Vern?
I pray he gets well soon. He is a good man and was a good president during his time.
Amen.
H.W.was a azzhole and his son was a much bigger azzhole.Even Laura Bush couldn't wait to get away from George.I hope the whole family drops dead,exept for there kids.And i could say that because we still have,well, whats left of it,a Constitution.At least there will be a demacrat speaking for the country for awhile.Im not a hateful person,but i also dont care either,if they all die,i will just considerate it a good budget cut.
DITTO....The Criminals BUSH....Started with Prescott and will probably end with Jezzabell...I meant Jeb
Actually W.T.F you sound like an idiot! What kind of a human being are you to hope for someone’s death. How can you proclaim to not be hateful and spit out such rhetoric as hoping of someone’s demise? Of course you would want a democrat speaking for you, if I had to guess, I would say you are actually one of those people that is more saying at least we have a black man to speak for us, it's just that you are too cowardly to do it. And yes, I'm saying that on the context of your writing and of stereotypes, I'm sure others will find this offensive, but this is directed to you and not anyone else.
I agree, Jerry.
I voted for Bush, both Senior and Jr. would vote for another Bush as well. I added that because I'm tired of reading the ads some of the most ungrateful people have posted on here.
What I mean by Ungrateful is all the down talking a man as he's in the hospital. Imagine that as your grandfather, would you talk so negatively? The man isn't President anymore, but he's a man that has dedicated his entire life to the United States. (More than I can say about any of his Democrat counterparts) Did Obama ever serve in the military, how about Clinton? Yes you demorcrats=pukes who criticize the republican party as they lie in a hospital bed, have some f*&*ing compassion.
If all you can muster is your resentment of the man, you will never be half to man any of these people who have been in office will be. (And, that's not a compliment to them, I don't hold many in high regard either)
Since so many brought politics into this conversation, As a democrat what is your obsession with putting people who have never served in the military into a position that labels them as "Commander and Chief"?
You can all argue about the Bush family, but both of these men have verified military history, whether you recognize their service or not, the United States does/ and did. End of story.
~What makes a patriot? the willingness to sacrifice your life to preserve the way of life you believe in~
Oh Puhleez...If G W Bush "Served" in the military then my ass is a wind instrument and I can play "Flight of the Bumblebees " with it.. And if you'd vote for another Bush , then you are part of the problem...And FYI , I aline my self with either party , as they both equally disgust me
@Jerry: Your ideal of a patriot seems spot-on. GHW's military service may be documented but he served his own agendas and those of the militay industrial complex, not the ones in the best interest of the US. GW's military service isn't fully documented, regardless what you've heard. Presidents don't become "Commander in Chief" unless war is officially declared by Congress. People resent GHW for many legitimate reasons. I honestly can't recall GHW ever doing anything beneficial for this country. He may appear to be the last "clean" president only because he never got caught, and kept his CIA minions on short leashes. Don't confuse the bipartisan paradigm of Demopublicans as they're all one in the same. Whether you agree with me or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is the TRUE history of GHW and what he's done in the past that has led to the problems this country faces today. Those problems aren't isolated to US borders. Before you completely disregard my statements, do a little research and see how the Bushs are tied into security failures and certain offices that were directly targeted in the WTC towers on 9/11. You will see GHW is no patriot of the US.
I'm part of the problem, I don't see that. The real problem is people who vote on the BS ideals of what is said on Fox News, or MSNBC, or CNN, or what they read on Facebook. Or even more from those people that believe that their favorite celebrity endorsement somehow must be correct.
McJagger ~ Before you comment, check your posts, at least make a legitimate effort to look intelligent, something you failed miserably at.
I've seen the conspiracy theory reports, how about the security failures of Clinton who had Bin Laden in his sights and only sent a couple of missiles in to attempt to kill Bin Laden. Don't spout that BS Conspiracy theory crap my direction. There were flaws under the Bush administration I'll give you that. Now, I'm not going to sit here and attempt to rip up your comments your entitled them, as much as the other guy before you, his comments were ludicrous and offered no valuable substance.
@ Jerry: Odd thing about those "Conspiracy Theories" is they often prove true. Believe it or not, the Clintons, Bushs, and Bin Ladens are friends. Bin Laden died of kidney failure in December of 2001. FOX news, for what they're worth, broadcast the story on Dec. 26th 2001 and later rescinded the story the same day and it was never heard of again. The WTC towers were targeted for reasons related to gold, financial records, and people who knew certain things. Search Stratesec, Marvin Bush, and Wirt Walker III. Apples don't fall far from the tree.
Jerry thorne: Killing Usama bin Laden wouldn't have stopped the attack on 9/11/2001 from happening. If you really wanted to save those 3000 Americans, you needed to kill Dick Cheney before he became Vice president. have you ever even bothered to watch WTC#7 implode?
I hope the President has a speedy recovery. He is truly the last President that didn't bring shame, division, or disgrace to the office of President of the United States. After him, every president has gotten worse. Bush Jr. was worse than Clinton, and obama is worst of all. It really makes me fear who will buy their way into the office in 2016.
Yup. The utter disgrace of Slick Willie shoving a cigar up the vagina of someone's daughter...in the White House.
And Barack Hussein is even worse.
Maybe when he gets better he can go hunting with Dick Cheney...;-)~
anybody that can crash land one of those crates they called airplanes in wwii and walk or swim away from it is a helluva man in my book. speedy recovery, sir.
Amen.
get well soon mr prez.
the negative commentors, i wonder who they believed a better prez, the one who served this great country or those that got elected because of .....?
I am just a tad confused Mr President. You live in Maine but are hospitalized in Texas? What if it leaves the Union what happens to the compund ?
Wonderful news!
Ditto.........like the rich give a crap about others...........good news
Hell is awaiting Mr. President.
It's George H.W. Bush that's in the hospital, not Slick Willie or Barack Hussein.
Shut up assole Vern
I don't really care, him and the son never cared for poor people without health insurance, they just worried for they personal interests creating a fake information to invade Iraq. He suppose receive the same service no ensured people have.