Originally Posted: June 12, 2018
Jeff Engle, Center for Presidential History was interviewed for this article.
After Barbara Bush died in April, there were fears that her husband, former president George H.W. Bush, might die, too. He was hospitalized with a blood infection the day after Barbara’s funeral.
But on Tuesday, Bush made history by becoming the first former president to reach the age of 94.
Gerald Ford died at 93 years and 165 days. Ronald Reagan lived for 93 years and 120 days. Jimmy Carter, born four months after Bush, will turn 94 on Oct. 1.
Bush will mark his birthday with his family in Kennebunkport, Maine, though it’s unlikely he will be able to jump out of a plane, as he did on his 90th, 85th and 80th birthdays. He was hospitalized over Memorial Day for low blood pressure and fatigue but was released on June 4.
Four days later, Bush celebrated what would have been his wife’s 93rd birthday by tweeting about her service to others. The Bushes, who had six children, were married for 73 years, the longest presidential marriage in U.S. history.
On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Bush family tweeted a message from the former president that included a heartfelt thank you for the birthday wishes.
“Although I have seen them all, I can no longer answer them all,” Bush’s message read. “My 94-year-old hands would rebel. Just know I appreciated hearing from you.” READ MORE