They were not only father and son, but they were also Presidents of The United States, a situation that has only happened once before in American history when nearly two hundred years ago John Adams and John Quincy Adams served as Commander in Chief. George W. Bush delivered a eulogy for his father that was poignant, and at times light. But emotions overcame him near the end. Here is a portion of what he said:
“When the history books are written, they will say that George H.W. Bush was a great President of the United States. A diplomat of unmatched skill. A commander-in-chief of formidable accomplishment, and a gentleman who executed the duties of his office with dignity and honor. In his inaugural address, the 41st President of the United States said this:
We cannot hope only to leave our children a bigger car, a bigger bank account, we must hope to give them a sense of what it means to be a loyal friend, a loving parent, a citizen who leaves his home, his neighborhood and town better than he found it. What do we want the men and women who work with us to say when we are no longer there? That we were more driven to succeed than anyone around us or that we stopped to ask if a sick child had gotten better and stayed a moment there to trade a word of friendship.
Well, dad, we’re going to remember you for exactly that and much more, and we’re going to miss you.”
Watch Bush’s full eulogy above.