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Inside Politics

State Funeral for George H.W. Bush. Aired 12-12:30p ET

Aired December 05, 2018 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[12:00:00] BRIAN MULRONEY, FORMER CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: Truly at peace.

As I looked over the waters of Walkers Point on that cold September afternoon in Maine, I was reminded of the lines simple and true that speak to the real nature of George Bush and his love of his wonderful family and precious surroundings. There are wooden ships, there are sailing ships, there are ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships and may they always be.

ALAN SIMPSON, FORMER SENATOR: Relax, George told me I only had ten minutes. He was very direct about it. It wasn't even funny.

Now, I first met my friend, my dear friend, George Bush, in 1962 when my father, Million Simpson, was a member of the United States Senate, and just elected, and I came back to Washington with dad to settle on his new office being vacated by one Senator Prescott Bush, George's father.

Well, then we met again when my parents left Washington and sold their home to a brand spanking new congressman from Texas named George Herbert Walker Bush. So George and Barbara, mom and pop, did that sale on a handshake. Sound familiar?

Then I came to the Senate in 1978, and soon after that Ronald Reagan cornered me and asked me to support him for president. And I said I would, not knowing that my friend, George, would enter the fray. Hearing that, I called and I said, George, I want to tell you, I'd love to help, but I already committed to Ronald Reagan. George's response, well, Al, I'm sorry about that. I probably should have let you know sooner. And actually a guy doesn't get very many calls from a friend who says they can't support him. Sound familiar?

Of course it does, because in George Bush's theme of life, during all the highs and lows, there was a simple credo, what would we do without family and friends? And when he became vice president, our friendship, our enjoyable friendship was refreshed and the four of us had many, many pleasant times together.

And my life in Washington was rather tumultuous. I went from the A social list to the Z and never came back to the A. In one dark period, I was feeling awful low, and all my wounds were self-inflicted, all of them. And George called me early one morning, always early in the morning, country music playing in the background, and he said, ah, I see the media is shooting you pretty full of holes. Actually, he said it a bit more pungently than that. And he said, why don't we go up to Camp David? You and Ann come over and we'll have a weekend together.

At that time his popularity rating was 93 percent. Mine was 0.93 percent. And so off we went. The media, of course, all gathered as we headed to Marine One. And George said, now wave to your pals over there in the media, Al. And they didn't wave back.

So the next morning he's ranting through all the papers in the U.S. and he looks up and he says, aha, here's the one I've been looking for. A picture of Barbara and Ann and George with his arm and hand on my back. And later we're having a sauna, and I said, George, I am not unmindful as to what you are doing. You are propping up your old wounded duck pal. While you're at the top of your game, you reach out to me while I'm tangled in rich controversy and taking my lumps. And he said, yep. There were staff members, Al, who told me not to do this, but, Al, this is about friendship and loyalty. Sound familiar?

[12:05:35] We had an awful lot of fun too. Always a delight to be in the president's box at the Kennedy Center, off to a play at the National Theater of the Warner (ph) with the Bushs. And outside of the president's box one evening there was a massive six-foot vase with an extraordinary glaze. I hope you know the difference between a vase and a vase. $35. Now, George walked up to it and he said, Al, wait, I think that's a Truscon (ph). I notice that he said this blue-grayish glaze from that period, a clay that could only be found during that era. And I said, no, no, George, the patina there gives me the perception it was possibly older, perhaps of Greek origin with that particular herbal paste before firing. Oh people gathered around mumbling about these expert observers. And Barbara and Ann finally came by and said, get out of here, both of you, get back in that box. Well, we did. Well, it was impressive for a while.

And then, of course, one night the four of us went to see Michael Crawford singing the songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber. All four of us were singing as we went back to the White House. Don't cry for me Argentina, and tidbits from "Phantom of the Opera" and other magic of Weber. And a few days later he's getting hammered by the press for some extraordinarily petty bit of trivia. And suddenly he sings out -- don't cry for me Argentina, the press then wrote that he was finally losing his marbles.

Now, these honored guests right here before us, who have held this noble post, know all of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. He was a class act from birth to death. He housed the strong sinews in mind and body gained from that extraordinary mother. We compared our mothers as velvet hammers, of course, and certainly most awesome fathers. The history books will and are treating him most fairly, while uncovering some other powerful traits, his great competitiveness, his raw courage and his self-discipline.

Recall the Andrews Air Base conclave where congressional participants drafted a remarkable bill that dealt with two-year budgeting, entitlement reform, comprehensive and catastrophic health care, Social Security solvency and much more, but it required a critical ingredient called revenue. Translated into the word "taxes." Translated into the words "read my lips." And the group went to George and said, look, we can get this package done, but we must have some revenue. And he said, and I'll never forget, he said, what I have said on that subject sure puts a hell of a lot of heat on me. And then they all said, yes, but we can get it done and it will be bipartisan. And George said, OK, go for it, but it will be a real punch in the gut.

Bob Dole then, a loyal warrior for George, took it back to the Senate and we won a very strong bipartisan vote. And it went over to the House where his own party turned on him. Surely one of the main factors assuring his return to private life. But he often said, when the really tough choices come, it's the country, not me. It's not about Democrats or Republicans, it's for our country that I have fought for. And he was a man of such great humility, those who travel the high road of humility in Washington, D.C., are not bothered by heavy traffic.

[12:10:26] And he had a very serious flaw known by all close to him. He loved a good joke. The richer, the better. And he throw his head back and gave that great laugh, but he never, ever could remember a punch line. And I mean never.

So the punch line for George Herbert Walker Bush is this, you would have wanted him on your side. He never lost his sense of humor. Humor is the universal solvent against the abrasive elements of life. That's what humor is.

He never hated anyone. He knew what his mother and my mother always knew, hatred corrodes the container it's carried in. The most decent and honorable person I ever met was my friend, George Bush. One of nature's noble men. His epitaph, perhaps just a single letter, the letter "l" for loyalty. It coursed through his blood. Loyalty to his country. Loyalty to his family. Loyalty to his friends. Loyalty to the institutions of government and always, always, always a friend to his friends.

None of us were ready for this day. We mourn his loss from our own lives and what he was to each of us. That is so personal, so intimate, so down inside. It would have been so much easier to celebrate his life with him here, but he is gone, irrevocably gone.

So now we have loosed our grip upon him, but we shall always retain his memory in our hearts. God has come now to take him back. We all knew on one unknown day he would return to his God. But now we give him up. We commend him to your loving hands. Thank you for him. God rest his soul.

RONAN TYNAN (SINGING "LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION"): In the long and honored history of America, there are names that shine like beacons in the night. The patriots whose vision gave us meaning, who kept the lamp of freedom burning bright.

In the long and honored history of America, there are those who paid the last and final price. Who were called upon by chance, or desperate circumstance, to make the ultimate sacrifice.

A grateful nation bows its head in sorrow, and in thanks for guaranteeing our tomorrow. The last full measure of devotion, that's what they gave to the cause. The last full measure of devotion, and through they cannot hear our applause. We honor them forever and keep alive their story, pay tribute to their lives and give them all the glory.

[12:15:23] The last full measure of devotion, beyond the call of duty were their deeds. The last full measure of devotion, they gave their life to serve the greater need.

And for those who did survive, and came back home alive, they join in praise of comrades who were slain. And highly resolved, most highly resoled, that these dead shall not have died in vain.

The last full measure of devotion, beyond the call of duty were their deeds. The last full measure of devotion, he gave himself to serve the greater needs. And for those who did survive, and came back home alive, they join in praise of comrades who were slain, and highly resolved, most highly resolved, that these dead shall not have died in vain.

GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Distinguished guests, including our presidents and first ladies, government officials, foreign dignitaries, and friends, Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro and I and our families thank you all for being here.

I once heard it said of man that the idea is to die young as late as possible. At age 85, a favorite pastime of George H.W. Bush was firing up his boat, The Fidelity, and opening up the three 300 horsepower engines to fly, joyfully fly across the Atlantic with the Secret Service boats straining to keep up.

At age 90, George H.W. Bush parachuted out of an aircraft and landed on the grounds of St. Anne's by the sea in Kennebunkport, Maine. The church where his mom was married and where he worshipped often. Mother liked to say he chose the location just in case the chute didn't open.

In his 90s, he took great delight when his closest pal, James A. Baker, smuggled a bottle of grey goose vodka into his hospital room. Apparently it paired well with the steak Baker had delivered from Morton's.

To his very last days, dad's life was instructive. As he aged, he taught us how grow with dignity, humor and kindness. And when the good Lord finally called, how to meet him with courage and with the joy of the promise of what lies ahead.

[12:20:06] One reason dad knew how to die young is that he almost did it, twice. When he was a teenager, a staph infection nearly took his life. A few years later, he was alone in the Pacific on a life raft, praying that his rescuers would find him before the enemy did. God answered those prayers. It turned out he had other plans for George H.W. Bush. For dad's part, I think those brushes with death made him cherish the gift of life, and he vowed to live every day to the fullest.

Dad was always busy, a man in constant motion, but never too busy to share his love of life with those around him. He taught us to love the outdoors. He loved watching dogs flush a covey. He loved landing the illusive striper. And once confined to a wheelchair, he seemed happiest sitting in his favorite perch on the back porch at Walkers Point contemplating the majesty of the Atlantic. The horizons he saw were bright and hopeful. He was a genuinely optimistic man, and that optimism guided his children and made each of us believe that anything was possible.

He continually broadened his horizons with daring decisions. He was a patriot. After high school, he put college on hold and became a Navy fighter pilot as World War II broke out. Like many of his generation, he never talked about his service, until his time as a public figure forced his hand. We learned of the attack on Chichijima, the mission completed, the shoot down. We learned of the death of his crewmates whom he thought about throughout his entire life. And we learned of the rescue.

And then another audacious decision, he moved his young family from the comforts of the East Coast to Odessa, Texas. He and mom adjusted to their arid surroundings quickly. He was a tolerant man. After all, he was kind and neighborly to the women with whom he, mom and I shared a bathroom in our small duplex, even after he learned their profession, ladies of the night.

Dad could relate to people from all walks of life. He was an empathetic man. He valued character over pedigree, and he was no cynic. He looked for the good in each person and he usually found it.

Dad taught us that public service is noble and necessary, that one can serve with integrity and hold true to the important values like faith and family. He strongly believed that it was important to give back to the community and country in which one lived. He recognized that serving others enriched the giver's soul. To us, his was the brightest of a thousand points of light.

In victory he shared credit. When he lost, he shouldered the blame. He accepted that failure is a part of living a full life, but taught us never to be defined by failure. He showed us how setbacks can strengthen.

None of his disappointments could compare with one of life's greatest tragedies, the loss of a young child. Jeb and I were too young to remember the pain and agony he and mom felt when our three-year-old sister died. We only learned later that dad, a man of quiet faith, prayed for her daily. He was sustained by the love of The Almighty and the real and enduring love of her mom. Dad always believed that one day he would hug his precious Robin again.

He loved to laugh, especially at himself. He could tease and needle but never out of malice. He placed great value on a good joke. That's why he chose Simpson to speak.

On e-mail he had a circle of friends with whom he shared or received the latest jokes. His grading system for the quality of the joke was classic George Bush. The rare 7s and 8s were considered huge winners. Most of them off color. [12:25:06] George Bush knew how to be a true and loyal friend. He nurtured and honored many -- his many friendships with a generous and giving soul. There exists thousands of handwritten notes encouraging or sympathizing or thanking his friends and acquaintances. He had an enormous capacity to give of himself. Many a person would tell you that dad became a mentor and a father figure in their life. He listened and he consoled. He was their friend.

I think of Don Rhodes, Taylor Blanton (ph), Jim Nantz (ph), Arnold Schwarzenegger, and perhaps the unlikeliest of all, the man who defeated him, Bill Clinton. My siblings and I refer to the guys in this group as brothers from other mothers.

He taught us that a day was not meant to be wasted. He played golf at a legendary pace. I always wonder why he insisted on speed golf. He is a good golfer. Well, here's my conclusion. He played fast so that he could move on to the next event, to enjoy the rest of the day, to expend his enormous energy, to live it all. He was born with just two settings, full throttle, then sleep.

He taught us what it means to be a wonderful father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was firm in his principles and supportive as we began to seek our own ways. He encouraged and comforted, but never steered.

We tested his patience. I know I did. But he always responded with the great gift of unconditional love. Last Friday, when I was told he had minutes to live, I called him. The guy answered the phone and he -- I think he can hear you but he hasn't said anything for most of the day. I said, dad, I love you and you've been a wonderful father. And the last words he would ever say on earth were, "I love you too."

To us he was close to perfect, but not totally perfect. His short game was lousy. He wasn't exactly Fred Astaire on the dance floor. The man couldn't stomach vegetables, especially broccoli. And, by the way, he passed these genetic defects along to us.

Finally, every day of his 73 years of marriage, dad taught us all what it means to be a great husband. He married his sweetheart. He adored her. He laughed and cried with her. He was dedicated to her totally.

In his old age, dad enjoyed watching police show reruns. The volume on high. All the while holding mom's hand. After mom died, dad was strong, but all he really wanted to do was hold mom's hand again.

Of course dad taught me another special lesson. He showed me what it means to be a president who serves with integrity, leads with courage and acts with love in his heart for the citizens of our country. 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 were 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.

[12:29:45] Well, dad, we're going to remember you for exactly that and much more, and we're going to miss you. Your decency, sincerity and kind soul will stay with us forever. So through our tears, let us know the blessings of knowing and loving you, a great and noble man, the best father a son or daughter could have.