President George H.W. Bush Has Died At Age 94; Trump To Meet With Schumer And Pelosi Tuesday.
CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR:  7: 00 in the East and Saturday, December 1st, becoming quite a memorable day. Thank you so much for being with us, I'm Christi Paul.</s>VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Victor Blackwell and we're following breaking news. The 41st president of the United States, George Herbert Walker Bush, has died. He was the patriarch of an American family, a dynasty. His political career spanned four decades. George H.W. Bush was a man known for his generosity, kindness, but also his competitive spirit. A spirit on display in each political race he entered regardless of political success or failure, his inherent modesty meant showing little emotion, even when the public wanted to see more. Behind that stoic front was a deeply spiritual man who was admittedly emotional in private. President George H.W. Bush was born into privilege but had a spirit of service. He and his wife, Barbara Bush, also raised their children with those same values.</s>PAUL: CNN's Kaylee Hartung is in Houston right now. The city is honoring the former president, of course, and getting reaction from the people there. Kaylee, good morning.</s>KAYLEE HARTUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Victor and Christi, as Houston's mayor has said, he was one of our most esteemed and relatable neighbors. You can only imagine many Houstonians waking up this morning to the news of George H.W. Bush's passing and recognizing they will never again see him at an Astros game here, supporting the baseball team, or at a Texans football game here in Houston. Houston's Mayor Sylvester Turner, saying George and Barbara Bush were boosters of everything Houston. And that will be a hole that will be left in this community. And we're also, of course, hearing from the Bush family: Jeb Bush tweeting this morning, "already miss him." Of course, there was a statement from George W. Bush overnight, very soon after 41's passing saying, "Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro and I are saddened to announce that after 94 remarkable years, our dear dad has died. George H.W. Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for. The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41's life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for dad and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens." George H.W. Bush also leaves behind 17 grandchildren. We're hearing from George Prescott Bush, one of the grandsons tweeting: "My grandfather was the greatest man I ever knew. His life spanned the American century. He fought in World War II, took part in the Texas oil boom, served out a distinguished career in public service including serving as president during the final days of the Cold War." You know, perspective there from some of the people who knew him best. And in the coming days, we anticipate the Bush family gathering here in Houston where George and Barbara called home since 1993. As Houston's mayor said, they could have called anywhere home following their departure from the White House, but they came back here to this beloved city where his political career actually began. Now, the family has not announced official plans in the coming days, though, we anticipate a few events. You could only imagine that there will be a day or two in Washington for this former president to be remembered. As we have seen former presidents before him lie in state in the U.S. Capitol, most recently Senator John McCain. You have a visual of what that could be like, as well as perhaps a state funeral in Washington's National Cathedral. And then, with Barbara Bush's funeral so fresh in our memories, just little more than seven months ago -- her life was celebrated at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, just a couple of blocks from the home they shared here; that church was a big part of their lives. But again, we don't know firm details from the family as to how he will be remembered, but we anticipate many days ahead for his life and memory to be celebrated.</s>BLACKWELL: Absolutely. Kaylee Hartung, we will await those details. Thank you so much.</s>PAUL: And when you really think about it, think about the fact that we have lost this president. Bush 41's passing, it marks -- almost a jolting era.</s>BLACKWELL: Yes. Yes, the last president having served in World War II and the oldest living president in American history. He leaves behind not only a significant legacy but a political dynasty, although he did not like the word. It has changed the American political landscape. CNN's Jamie Gangel has more.</s>GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So, help me God.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Congratulations.</s>G.H.W. BUSH: Thank you.</s>JAMIE GANGEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: George H.W. Bush may have sat in the oval office for just four years, but his legacy will last for generations. In foreign policy --</s>G.H.W. BUSH: This will not stand, this aggression against Kuwait.</s>GANGEL: Bush's coalition-building during desert storm was unprecedented, uniting nearly 40 countries and ending the conflict in a matter of weeks. A playbook for all presidents that followed.</s>JAMES EAKER, PRESIDENT BUSH'S SECRETARY OF STATE: If you want to know how to a war, take a look at the way George Bush fought the first gulf war.</s>GANGEL: The Cold War ended on his watch, without a shot taken or a bomb dropped.</s>COLIN POWELL, PRESIDENT BUSH'S JOINT CHIEF CHAIRMAN: He didn't gloat because he would not be in his nature to gloat at someone else's misfortune.</s>GANGEL: That same diplomatic restraint also shown when the iron curtain collapsed.</s>CONDOLEEZZA RICE, PRESIDENT BUSH'S SOVIET SPECIALIST: On the day that the Berlin wall came down, we all went over to the oval office to tell President Bush that he had to go to Berlin.</s>GANGEL: You wanted him to go.</s>RICE: I wanted him to go to Berlin.</s>GANGEL: And he said --</s>RICE: And he said, what would I do? Dance on the wall? He said, this is a German moment. I thought, the president of the United States to step back, this is a German moment.</s>BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think he deserves credit for getting the world off in the right direction at the end of the Cold War. The Cold War being over without an excuse to pack up and go home, it was an excuse to build a new world of cooperation. Time will prove that he was right in wanting an integrated, cooperative world of strong security but lots of freedom, lots of democracy, lots of interaction between people.</s>GANGEL: On the domestic front, Bush is credited for making improvements to the Clean Air Act and signing the Americans with Disabilities Act. Critical legislation that revolutionized access for millions including Bush himself when he suffered from Parkinson's disease in his final years.</s>PIERCE BUSH, PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH'S GRANDSON: That community, I think, holds my grandfather up here -- he wasn't their likely hero. You know, they have all these big, kind of, liberal advocates that advocated for their movement. But my grandfather is the guy who got it done. It's not just through things like wheelchair access but it's changing the culture of how people with disabilities, you know, can shine and let their abilities shine and have jobs in places where they might not have jobs. So, I think that's an awesome legacy.</s>GANGEL: Another legacy, many will remember Bush for this.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just because you're an old guy, you don't have to sit around drooling in the corner. Get out and do something. Get out and enjoy life.</s>GANGEL: Bush did that, jumping over and over and over again, even for his 90th birthday.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think the reason he did it is because he's got a young heart. And that it's the thrill of the jump, and once he did it the first time, became a natural for the next four or five times.</s>GANGEL: And while Bush 41 disliked the word "dynasty," no question he was thrilled --</s>G.W. BUSH: I George Walker Bush do solemnly swear --</s>GANGEL: When his oldest son became the 43rd president of the United States.</s>G.W. BUSH: He felt a sense of pride and I was grateful for that. I was happy that he was happy.</s>GANGEL: Did he give you any advice?</s>G.W. BUSH: No, no. And he was guarded about giving me advice, unless I asked for it.</s>GANGEL: But for many, Bush 41 will long be remembered for what he did after the White House.</s>NEIL BUSH, PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH'S SON: The family legacy isn't about who's president or first lady or governor. The family legacy is the legacy of service.</s>GANGEL: He turned a campaign vision into a post-presidential mission statement.</s>G.H.W. BUSH: I want a kinder and gentler nation, like 1,000 points of light in a broad and peaceful sky.</s>GANGEL: That call prompted millions to volunteer. And Bush and wife, Barbara, did their part, too: Helping to raise an estimated $1 billion for charity.</s>JEB BUSH, PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH'S SON: It does fit my dad's philosophy that the definition of a successful person is not just about how much money you make or the Ws on your -- in your column, it's about helping others. It's about acting on your heart.</s>GANGEL: Is there a phrase that you think embodies him?</s>N. BUSH: I would say it is service above self.</s>GANGEL: A legacy that led him to receive the highest civilian award in the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.</s>BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: His life is a testament that public service is a noble calling. We honor George Herbert Walker Bush for service to America that spanned nearly 70 years.</s>BLACKWELL: Joining us now: CNN Presidential Historian and former Director of the Nixon Presidential Library, Tim Neftali. Also wrote, "George H.W. Bush," this part of the American president series, "The 41st President." Tim, welcome back to the show. Let's start here. You know, you wrote this book, and you wrote that he was better prepared for the challenges facing the United States at the end of the Cold War than any other, why?</s>TIM NEFTALI, CNN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY: Well, George Herbert Walker Bush had been vice president, he had been the head of the CIA, he had been the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations and he had represented our country in China. So, he had more hands-on foreign policy experience than any previous occupant of the White House with the possible exception of Dwight Eisenhower because of what he had done in World War II. So, there was no better prepared person for the diplomatic peace of the end of -- ending of the Cold War than George Herbert Walker Bush. We were uniquely blessed that this was the man who was in the oval office at the time when you needed to help guide Mikhail Gorbachev through his soft landing of the Soviet Empire.</s>PAUL: What do you think is different about politics today because of George H.W. Bush?</s>NEFTALI: Well, this is -- I mean, this is a day of celebration of a life. He lived over 94 years. He lost his dear wife, they were so close. And in many ways, now, he has the chance to join her. So, this is a time for celebration. Now, if you talk politics --</s>PAUL: Well, I don't mean --</s>NERTALI: No, no... No, no, no, I'm going to answer because it's extremely important, his legacy. He was beaten by his own party. He's not re-elected. Partly, of course, because of the strength of Bill Clinton, but it was a three-man race. And it was a three-man race because many people in the Republican Party were angry at him for not keeping his promise not to raise taxes. But he decided that he had to. That Reaganomics had led to such a huge deficit that there was no way to close the gap without raising taxes. Now, what he wanted was a pragmatic conservatism. And there was huge pushback and that pushback led to Newt Gingrich's revolt and the contract with America. And the contract with America is the basis for the partisanship at least on the right in our country. So, what happens to George Bush is actually the beginning of the story of the change of the Republican Party. So, his legacy is very, very important for understanding in part why we are, where we are right now.</s>BLACKWELL: Yes, someone earlier today reminded us of the men of the year cover from Time Magazine, the foreign policy George H.W. Bush versus the H.W. Bush in domestically as it relates to the economic challenges, the recession, and so forth. And he took that 92 loss understandably very hard --</s>NEFTALI: Very, very hard.</s>BLACKWELL: How did that shape him moving forward?</s>NEFTALI: Well, the great thing about this man was he, he had this internal drive. So, he didn't disappear. That energy didn't dissipate. He, he found a way to volunteer. He kept being interested in politics. He was very interested in his sons' political careers. He basically passed the torch to the family, though, he didn't call it the dynasty. He did believe in the family. He passed the political torch to his sons: Jeb and George W. He watched from afar but was there with advice when they ask for it. He didn't disappear but he decided that his political career was over.</s>PAUL: All right. Tim Neftali, always learn something from you. Always appreciate your perspective. Thank you so much for being here.</s>NEFTALI: Thank you both.</s>PAUL: Absolutely.</s>BLACKWELL: So, the White House is offering praise for former President Bush. We've got live pictures here from Washington. This is the flag atop the White House at half-staff as one would expect for the passing of a U.S. President. This is a statement from the president and the first lady.</s>PAUL: Yes, they say, "Through his essential authenticity, disarming wit, and unwavering commitment to faith, family, and country, President Bush inspired generations of his fellow Americans to public service. To be, in his words, a thousand points of light illuminating the greatness, hope, and opportunity of America to the world." Abby Phillip is with us from Buenos Aires, that's where the president is at the moment attending the G20 summit. What are you hearing there about President Bush's passing? What are the conversations being held?</s>ABBY PHILLIP, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Victor and Christ. President Trump is here in Buenos Aires on the world stage for meetings with world leaders, but this news coming overnight prompted a statement from the White House. And then this morning, as everyone is waking up here in Buenos Aires and in Washington, President Trump issued a personal tweet saying, "President George H.W. Bush led a long, successful and beautiful life. Whenever I was with him, I saw his absolute joy for life and true pride in his family. His accomplishments were great from beginning to end. He was a truly wonderful man and will be missed by all." That statement coming in addition to what you just read, coming out of the White House last night. And it's interesting, Victor and Christi, because President Trump and George H.W. Bush did not really have much of a relationship. George H.W. Bush was critical of President Trump, and President Trump, his White House, his aides, responded back in kind. But I think what you're seeing here is something we don't see often from President Trump, which is taking a moment of graciousness to honor the legacy of a former president, a former Republican president. And we also saw Melania Trump who represented the Trump administration at the funeral of Barbara Bush earlier this year, issuing her own condolences on Twitter saying, it's -- very simply, "My heart goes out to the entire Bush family." Melania Trump often taking her own course and not just signing on to something coming out of this White House. So, I think you're seeing really, a very genuine expression of condolences coming from this White House from both the president and the first lady in as personal a term as you can get. We will see President Trump in just a few hours later this morning where I expect we'll get more, Victor and Christi.</s>BLACKWELL: All right, Abby Phillip for us in Buenos Aires. Thanks so much.</s>PAUL: Thanks, Abby. There is other news that we're following this morning, as well. President Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen apparently had been expecting to be protected by the president if he faced any charges. We'll talk about that.</s>BLACKWELL: And we'll continue with remembrances of President George H.W. Bush who has passed away at the age of 94 and his ability to reach across the aisle, apparent from this speech. Watch.</s>G.H.W. BUSH: President Clinton beat me like a drum back in 1992 and then we became friends. And some of his friends look at him and they say, have you lost it with this crazy guy? And some of mine look at it and they say, it's just the same thing, what are you doing with Clinton? And just because you run against someone does not mean you have to be enemies. Politics does not have to be mean and ugly.