Patriotism that transse setrans party and ideology. Im lester holt. Thank you for being with us. Last year there was only a tiny sense of time left, of sand running through the glass. This year i must confess im more aware of that. No fear, no apprehension, just a feeling like lets go. Theres so much to do and there might not be a lot of time left. Im a man who sees life in terms of missions. World war ii veteran, texas oilman, member of congress. U. N. Ambassador, Republican Party chairman, envoy to china. Cia director, Vice President to Ronald Reagan. A father who gave unconditional love. A grandfather devoted to his grandchildren and a beloved husband of the sweetheart he married a lifetime ago. Ive held my family very close and my heart break and my joy. Hello. Im lester holt. Thank you for joining us as we take a look back at the life of George Herbert walker bush and hear from him in his own words. George bush was raised to serve. Politics and Public Service were in his blood, inherited from his father and passed on to his children. Heres brian williams. George Herbert Walker bush came from great wealth and privilege but he was also taught early on about obligation. Yes, i was privilege. If i got sick, my dad would pay a hospital bill. We were far more privileged in the values we got from our parents, right and wrong, help others, kindness. As a teenager, he excelled at andover, an upper crust new england prep school. He graduated in 1942 and joined the navy to become a Fighter Pilot in world war ii. The time i was in the service was critically important to me because i came out of it admittedly privileged background. Next thing i know i was thrown into combat or going to preflight school. I was 18. Just turned 18. He barely escaped death after being shot down. He was rescued by a navy submarine. The whole scene captured on film. I think i matured during those days. I think i became a man from that experience. He returned home to proud parents. His father Prescott Bush was a successful investment banker. And to his sweetheart barbara pierce. They married in 1945. He enrolled in yale. And in 1946 with the birth of george w. , he became a father himself. He was a standout at yale, captain of the baseball team, graduating in 1948. But he left his new england roots and with family help got into the oil business in texas. Hello, everybody. Im Prescott Bush, republican candidate for the United States senate. In 1950, Prescott Bush got into what would become the family business, politics, running for the senate from connecticut. In this Early Campaign ad, the emphasis was on family. I hope all of you have as much fun and happiness in your family life as we do. My father was totally honest, totally committed to service per se. And that inspired me, not just there, but in his whole life. Prescott bush lost in 1950, but won a senate seat two years later as reported on election night. Prescott bush mr. Bush is a new York Investment baker. Bush will be in the senate as a republican. In texas, george bush prospered and built a family. George w. Later recalled it as a happy childhood. I grew up in midland, texas. Ive got a lot of fond memories of midland. Through the 1950s, Prescott Bush became a solid member of the republican establishment. He was a friend and some time golfing partner of president eisenhower. In 1960 Richard Nixon campaigned in connecticut and press bush was on hand. How are you . Nixon lost to john f. Kennedy in 1960. Two years later citing poor health senator Prescott Bush chose not to run for reelection. With his father out of politics, george bush wanted in, and in 1964 george bush ran for the senate. 40yearold george bush, an outgoing young man who smiles easily and has been a vigorous campaigner. His campaign ads were reminiscent of his fathers. George bush republican candidate for the United States senate. I certainly hope and ill bet you do too that our children can grow up knowing what freedom really is. 18yearold george w. Bush, then a student at yale as his father had been, came home to help with the campaign, the beginning of his political education. His father was running as a conservative. I believe we must stop the on rush of big government. The United Nations has been a disappointed failure. But the Political Landscape was transformed by the assassination of john f. Kennedy. In 1964, Lyndon Johnson of texas won the white house in a landslide. Before coming in here, i sat around for a few minutes trying to think desperately to think of somebody i could blame for this. After due meditation, i regretfully concluded that there was no one else to blame but me. In fact, bushs political career was just beginning. In 1966, he ran for a house seat and won. In family photos at the capital, the eldest son, 21yearold george w. Bush. At yale he felt out of step with the liberal atmosphere of the 1960s. He graduated in 1968. That same year Richard Nixon was running for president. He sought out congressman george bush to help with the campaign, even briefly considered him as a running mate. Two years later bush took aim at the senate with nixon campaigning for him. Weve got to think of what man is best for america and george bush in my opinion is the best man for america. As it turned out, nixons support in that 1970 race was not enough. I have only one regret and that is that i lost. George bush was out of a job but not for long. The fact that one door has been closed for him opens another door. Coming up, rising through the ranks to claim the ultimate prize. The office of the president of the United States. Place, the xfinity xfi gateway. And its strengthened by xfi pods, which plug in to extend the wifi even farther, past anything that stands in its way. Well almost anything. Leave no room behind with xfi pods. Simple. Easy. Awesome. Click or visit a retail store today. George bush became useful in president in part by being useful to the president s who preceded him, men who served, include i including ford and nixon, who saw something in bush and gave him a place on the national stage. So help me god. George bush, the texas congressman who ran for the senate this year and lost is president nixons choice to be the next American Ambassador to the United Nations. Bush is an oil millionaire and a political conservative. In 1971, the political resume of George Herbert walker bush consisted of two terms in congress and two failed senate campaigns. But Richard Nixon saw promise. The world will be a better place in which to live because of what dedicated men like george bush do at the United Nations. Thank you, mr. President , for this great honor. Bush was a controversial choice for the job of u. N. Ambassador. He was inexperienced but enthusiastic. But you got dream a little. Weve got figure out how we can get more support for this organization. He immersed himself in the big issues of the day, the middle east, china versus taiwan, he served the president faithfully though nixon seemed to think bush should be tougher as he indicated in this phone call in 1971. I want you to hit it strongly and toughly. Is that clear . Just take the gloves off and crack it because you know exactly what weve done, okay . Fine. All right. Ambassador george bush. George bush at the 1972 gop National Convention with 26yearold george w and then nixon aide donald rumsfeld. A happy moment followed just weeks later by the death of the man george bush called his hero and mentor. Prescott bush died october 8th, 1972, never knowing the heights his son and grandson would some day reach. In the political world, a reelected president nixon had another new job for george bush. Mr. Nixon named george bush to be the new chairman of the Republican National committee replacing senator robert dole of kansas. I think its important work and i look forward to getting involved in it. It was a job that bush did not seek and did not want. Nevertheless, he shared his fathers sense of duty. And the president wants you to do something, under my kind of system of civics, you ought to do it. Bushs loyalty to nixon was soon tested by the biggest scandal in american political history. Watergate, Republican National chairman george bush said that president nixon understands the watergate problem fully and will clear it up totally. He did not elaborate. Im concerned about it. Deeply. Mainly for the system. I dont want to go home at night and see my young kids turned off of this political process by some illegal or allegedly illegal or close to illegal acts. You try being chairman of the Republican Party during the watergate days. You talk about a ghastly assignment. A horrible time. Hasnt all this made your job much more difficult . Its complicated the heck out of my job. But the loser is not the Republican Party. The loser is the system. I retain a bake confidence that the president is indeed telling the truth about his lack of involvement, about his involvement in this whole bedamned mess. In the end of course, it became clear that nixon was not telling the truth about watergate, not to george bush or anyone else. George and barbara bush were on hand for nixons farewell and gerald fords swearing in. So help me god. Ford had to pick a Vice President and george bush was a leading contender. Hi, how are you all. But it was Nelson Rockefeller of new york who got the job instead. All in all, its a first class choice. Lets face it, i was flattered to be in that league. Ford did offer bush a choice of diplomatic assignments and george bush picked china. Put it this way, im darn happy about it. George and barbara bush enjoyed the assignment in china but it lasted barely a year flow it is my intention to nominate ambassador bush to be director of the Central Intelligence agency. Bush himself was stunned by the news. After being on hand for president fords visit to china and a meeting with chairman mao tsetung, bush headed home to a storm of controversy. Many considered bush too political to run the embattled cia. Yes, i have been in politics. I served four years in congress. I served two years as the chairman of my party, and i have no apology whatsoever for either service. Some thought ford would make bush his running mate the following year. Bush dismissed the idea. I think one would have to be hallucinating if he thought this was a stepping stone to becoming Vice President. But he didnt want to rule it out either. I cannot in all honesty tell you that i would not accept. And i dont think, gentlemen, that any american should be asked to say he would not accept. The Senate Approved bush for the cia but not before president ford promised in writing not to put him on ticket in 1976. Right then, his career in politics seemed to be all but over. I cant confess to being clairvoyant but i foresaw the minute the telegram came that has altered my life that this undoubtedly spelled the end of a, you know, a near term political future except maybe some kind of you know, long shot lightning striking kind of an opportunity to be tapped for some higher office. Welcome to the cia. Thank you for coming. George bush was sworn in today as the new director of Central Intelligence. So help me god. The politically sensitive job as head of the cia in 1976 took George Herbert walker bush out of the running as gerald fords running mate. A job that went instead to bob dole. But if it was a disappointment to mr. Bush, it was also an opportunity. My goal is to run this agency properly in the future. Learning from the past but not dwelling on it. It was his fifth new job in nine years but bush proved many of his doubters wrong becoming one of the most popular and effective directors of the modern day cia, a building which today bears his name. Cia i love one year only. But i love defending the culture at a time when everybody was down on it. During the 1976 campaign, it fell to cia director bush to provide intelligence brief together democratic candidate jimmy carter. When carter beat president ford, bush was again out of a job. George bush has told jimmy carter he will quit as director of the cia on january 20th, inauguration day. Were told that bush was willing to stay on but carter gave him no encouragement. George bush today declared himself a candidate for the republican nomination for president. Bush wanted jimmy carters job, but first hed have to fight Ronald Reagan for the gop nomination. He was asked his opinion of reagan. I think he would be a good president , much better than carter. But i would be a better president. Thats the point ive got to get across. The bush resume proved no match for the reagan revolution. Ronald reagan won the nomination and appeared ready to make history by picking a former president gerald ford as his running mate. Once again, george bushs political career seemed to be over till this electrifying moment. I have asked and i am recommending to this convention that tomorrow when the session reconvenes that george bush be nominated. Were not sure where george bush is, but lightning certainly struck him tonight. In an instant, the future had changed for the entire bush family. Reagan had salvaged george bushs political future and that very likely kept the door open for a political future for george w. Bush. All i can say is that were overwhelmed and grateful for your expression of confidence. I accept. Bush pledged his loyalty to Ronald Reagan and in this moment captured by nbc news cameras, he introduced him to his son. In one frame, three future president s. George bush had aimed for the presidency. By gladly settling for number two, he made himself Ronald Reagans loyal heir apparent. George bush ran against Ronald Reagan and lost. But he remade himself becoming a model Vice President. Loyal, dedicated, and gladly subservient. Biding his time hoping his chance would come again. It did. That part of the story when we continue. I George Herbert walker bush do solemnly swear that i will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States. President reagan, on behalf of our nation, i thank you for the wonderful things that you have done for america. Ive spoken of a thousand points of light, of all the Community Organizations that are spread like stars throughout the nation doing good, for a new breeze is blowing and a world refreshed by freedom seals reborn for in mans heart if not in fact the day of the dictator is over. A world refreshed by freedom, perhaps some Wishful Thinking on bushs part. Just months into his presidency, a growing Democracy Movement in china was brutally crushed by authorities. The Tiananmen Square massacre targeting students gathered in beijing by the thousands, challenging chinas communist government and demanding democracy, human rights, and political freedom. Hundreds perhaps thousands were killed. Theres been widespread and continuing violence, many casualties and many deaths. And we deplore the decision to use force. And i now call on the chinese leadership publicly as i have in private channels to avoid violence and to return to their previous policy of restraint. This is not the time for an emotional response, but for a reasoned, careful action, i believe the forces of democracies are so powerful and when you see them as recently as this morning, a single student standing in front of a tank and then i might add seeing the tank driver exercise restraint, im convinced that the forces of democracy are going to overcome these unfortunate events in Tiananmen Square. The forces of democracy did not prevail in china and have not to this day. But just five months after the Tiananmen Square massacre, freedom took center stage thousands of miles away in berlin. Good evening. Live from the berlin wall on the most hick night in this walls history. What you see behind me is a celebration of this new policy announced today by the east German Government that now for the First Time Since the wall was erected in 1961, people will be able to move through freely. Let me just say a word about the momentous events in east germany. I was moved as you all were by the pictures of berliners from east and west standing atop the wall with chisels and hammers celebrating the opening of the most vivid symbol of the iron curtain and to be honest with you, i doubted that this would happen in the very first year of this administration. 28 years after the desperate days of 1961, when tanks faced off at checkpoint charlie and that terrible barrier was built, now the east German Government has responded to the wishes of its people. Less than a year later came george bushs biggest challenge as president. And his defining hour. Iraqs invasion of kuwait in august, 1990. At first, bush seemed to hesitate but he soon drew a line in the sand. This will not stand. This will