Right now. Announcer this is nbc nightly news with lester holt reporting tonight from fayetteville, North Carolina. Good evening from one of americas most famous military towns near ft. Bragg, home to the men and women of the 82nd airborne, among others. Behind me, the special operations, an elite airborne. Two days before a new commander in chief takes office, our journey across america brings us to this critical battleground state, which donald trump won. In a emoment, my emotional conversation with the people here about their hopes and fears. But first, well wishers are pouring in for a former president and his wife. The 41st president , George Herbert walker bush in intensive care and his wife, former First Lady Barbara Bush, also admitted as a precaution. We get late details from nbcs Gabe Gutierrez in houston. Reporter tonight, former president george h. W. Bush is stable in the icu following acute breathing problems stemming from pneumonia. Doctors sedated him to clear his airway. Former First Lady Barbara Bush suffering from fatigue and coughing also hospitalized as a precaution. They are as fine a couple as we know and so we want to send our prayers and our love to them. Reporter a family Spokesman Says the oldest living president was first admitted to houston Methodist Hospital on saturday for shortness of breath. Given the advanced age of the former president and mrs. Bush, thats a very serious matter. Reporter eight days ago he sent a letter to president elect trump wishing him well. My doctor says if i sit outside in january, it likely will put me six feet under, bush wrote, but we will be with you in spirit. Its my understanding that all of the family has rushed to houston. Reporter the teenaged sweethearts just celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary. Ive been the luckiest woman in the world, honestly. Reporter bushs public appearances have become rare, the most recent january 7th at a houston playoff game. He went skydiving for his 90th birthday. But this latest hospital stay is his fourth in the last five years. This morning, his granddaughter today show correspondent Jenna Bush Hagger sends her best wishes. How lucky are we that we have people who think about it. Reporter 41 was making very Good Progress until this morning when he took a turn and doctors had to deal with that block age in his lungs. Now well wishes are pouring in from around the world, including tweets by bill clinton and donald trump who thanked him for that letter. Lester . All right, Gabe Gutierrez for us tonight, thank you. In washington this evening, preparations have reached a fev fever pitch outside the capitol as donald trump is sworn in as president of the United States. And fireworks between Donald Trumps key picks over health care and education in america. A dramatic showdown before the same committee. We have it all with tom costello. Tom, good evening. Reporter lester, good evening to you. Tom price is the congressman who is the nominee to be director of health and human services. Controversial with democrats because hes been working to repeal obamacare and hes been buying and selling stocks in medical companies that they claim hes also tried to help or could have tried to help through legislation. On capitol hill today, fireworks over obamacare and the hhs nominees refusal to promise he wont touch medicaid or medicare. You might want to printout president elect trumps statement, i am not going to cut medicare or medicaid. And post that above your desk in your new office. Reporter Senate Democrats taking aim at republican congressman tom price, a surgeon by training whos made it clear he wants to dismantle obamacare. I am very frightened about what you are going to do and so are millions of americans. Reporter price offered few specifics but insisted he wants more access to Affordable Health insurance with more choices. Nobodys interested in pulling a rug out from anybody. Reporter but congressman price is also under fire for trading more than 300,000 in medical stocks while he pushed legislation that could benefit those companies. In addition, last august, buying stock in an Australian Company making a drug to treat ms on the recommendation of another congressman whos a bid shareholder in the company. I directed the broker to purchase the stock but i did it through the broker. You directed the broker to purchase that stock . Yes. Everything weve done is ethical and legal. Reporter if confirmed, price promises to did i vest of all Health Care Related stocks. Meanwhile, asking them to keep the law. Hi, how are you . Reporter logan came from nashville. My concern is that being a cancer survivor with a preexisting condition, i will be denied Affordable Health care. Reporter tonight, the country is waiting to see what the trump plan might be. Tom costello, nbc news, capitol hill. Reporter im Hallie Jackson on capitol hill where the typically tame hearing for education secretary turned fiery last night for betsy devos. The Republican Party that you would be sitting here today . I do think that there would be that possibility. Reporter more concerning to some democrats are devos qualifications or they argue, lack thereof, pointing to this response on the best way to evaluate Student Health scores. Im talking about the debate between profishy and growth, what your thoughts are on that. Well, i was just asking to clarify, then well, this is a subject that has been debated in the Education Community for years. Reporter devos biggest stumble, on guns in schools. You cant say definitively today that guns shouldnt be in schools . Reporter i will refer back to senator enzy and the school that he was talking about in wyoming. I think probably there i would imagine that theres probably a gun in the school to protect from potential grizzlies. Potential grizzlies going viral overnight. If confirmed, devos would likely shape education policy through school choice, including voucher programs, something donald trump supports. The new administration pledging to put 20 billion towards school choice, eventually hoping to provide it for every lowincome child. He picked betsy devos because he thinks she can help make that happen. Reporter Hallie Jackson, nbc news, washington. Meantime, at the white house, president obama stepped before cameras to answer questions for the final time before he leaves office pushing back on criticism of one of his final major moves as president. And leaving disappointed democrats with a parting message. Nbc News White House correspondent Kristen Welker was there. Reporter at his final press conference, president obama defending one of his last decisions, commuting the sentence of soldier chelsea manning, who leaked tens and thousands of documents to wikileaks. Critics say it sends a signal of weakness. Chelsea manning has served a tough prison sentence. I feel very comfortable that justice has been served. Reporter and while the president declined to comment on another controversy, more than 50 democratic lawmakers who say theyll boycott Donald Trumps inauguration all i know, im going to be there. So is michelle. Reporter mr. Obama did reveal what would bring him off the side lines and back into the political fray, challenges to what he calls the nations core values. If i saw systematic discrimination being ratified in some fashion and for me, at least, id put in that category efforts to round up kids who have grown up here and for all practical purposes are American Kids and send them someplace else. Reporter and in a not so subtle shot at president elect trumps frequent criticism of the press, mr. Obama touted the importance of a strong press corps. Youre not supposed to be sing toe fants. Youre supposed to ask me tough questions. Our democracy needs you. Reporter reflective in his final moments, the president acknowledging even his daughters were initially disappointed in the Election Results but have moved on. They dont mope. Reporter now the man who won the white house on the promise of hope and change leaves it asking disillusioned democrats to hold on to that optimism. And sometimes i get mad and frustrated like everybody else does, but at my core, i think were going to be okay. Reporter the next time we expect to hear from president obama, he will no longer be president. Hell give one final farewell on friday after the inauguration. Moments later, the obamas will take off for vacation to palm springs. Lester . Kristen welker at the white house tonight, thank you. Nasa and noaa scientists today declared 2016 the hottest year on record. Its the thirdrecord breaking year in a row with rising temperatures. The news comes the same day that president elect trumps to head the epa scott pruitt says that he doesnt believe that Climate Change is a hoax breaking from some of trumps past statements and acknowledges that human activity has an impact. Now to our journey across america, which has taken us this week from california to michigan and tonight to North Carolina to a city where many will call donald trump not just president but their commander in chief. Nearby is forth bragg, home to 50,000 active troops and home to some of the most elite fighting forces. The military is part of fayettevilles dna. Around here the saying goes, when the president dials 911, the phone rings at ft. Bragg. They have watched their family and neighbors answer that call countless times which is why the person making that call, the kmantder in chief, matters so much. Im excited. I feel very hopeful about his plans for the military. Reporter mallory mayors husband will soon be deployed to a combat zone. My hope is that donald trump will build the military back up and make it what it should be because right now we dont have adequate troop numbers to combat the threats. Reporter but clinton supporter, cynthia, a veteran herself, worries whether donald trump will keep his promises to americas veterans. Her husband has been serving for 23 years and her 14yearold son wants to enlist, too. Cynthia, how do you feel about him in charge of the military and some of the things he said about what he wants to do . Im fearful, you know, when he says things like hes not going to listen to people that are on the ground. What was your advice be . Take care of the veterans. I met my husband before he entered the military. And what you do is you give the military this optimistic, gungho, willing to lay his life on the line soldier and then at the end, what im going to get back is a broken, angry person. This life is hard. You have to want it. You dont do 20 years for pay. You believe in something that is bigger than yourself. And, you know, you just want to know that youre going to be taken care of at the end of it. Its not just the military on the minds of people here. Youve got a preexisting condition. I do. You suffer with epilepsy . Yes. This 31yearold has two children. Her husband is a general manager at a local restaurant in town. They are insured under the Affordable Care act. What does it mean for you when you hear the conversation about repealing obamacare . Ive had a positive experience with it, being able to afford doctor visits and mris and my prescriptions that i need daily just to live. Throwing it all out the window and starting over from scratch, i just dont think that thats the answer. Bill mcmillan has concerns about the overall rising cost of health care. He runs a nonprofit that donates its proceeds to local charities and can no longer afford insurance for his employees. I lost my Health Insurance and now ive still got over half my staff that doesnt have Health Insurance. Should government take on that responsibility, providing health care . No. Thats not thats not what the governments intended to do. The differences are sharp but the patriotism in fayetteville frames an undying democracy that transcends partisan politics. Im hopeful. You know, a lot of people that supported hillary, they say, notmypresident. He will be my president and i want him to succeed, because if he fails, we fail. Our journey takes us to washington, d. C. , tomorrow as we begin our coverage of the inauguration of donald trump as the 45th president of the United States and we hope you will join us for live coverage on friday. Still ahead, speaking out, 18 years ago she was kidnapped at birth. Now shes opening up about her life with the alleged abductor she believed was her mother and the biological parents she met only days ago. Also, flash floods, driving a major city to halt. A city yeah, so moms got this cold. Hashtag stuffy nose. Hashtag no sleep. I got it. Hashtag mouthbreather. Yep. Weve got a mouthbreather. Well, just put on a breathe right strip and. Pow it instantly opens your nose up to 38 more than Cold Medicine alone. So you can breathe. And sleep. Shut your mouth and say goodnight mouthbreathers. Breathe right. Were back now with a young woman breaking her silence for the first time today about being at the center of a kidnapping case that captivated the nation. As weve been telling you, she was abducted just hours after she was born and found alive 18 years later. The woman who raised her as her own now under arrest. Nbcs Miguel Almaguer has the interview. It was like the regular stereotype mother daughter relationship. It was perfect to me. Reporter the last time Alexis Manigo saw the woman who raised her, 51yearold Gloria Williams was behind bars. It hurt me more that she was in cuffs so that moment right there is just so surreal for me. Reporter transferred from South Carolina to florida and in court today, williams faces kidnapping charges. I understand that one mistake but everything that came out of it was not bad. Reporter Alexis Manigo was born Kamiyah Mobley 18 Years Ago Police say she was kidnapped by williams hours after she was born. Do you think your mom kidnapped you . Its not about what i think. Reporter is she capable of doing Something Like that . I dont want to talk about that. Reporter now alexis is getting to know her biological parents. They felt like family, just kind of distant, like we havent seen each other in a while, like that. Reporter new Police Records now reveal alexis told a friend a year and a half ago she had been kidnapped as a baby. She doesnt want to do or say anything that could potentially affect the criminal case. Reporter tonight, alexis is torn. A teenager curious to know the family she was stolen from and desperate to keep the mother she has always known. I love her still. Reporter do you blame her . Huhuh. No, sir, i dont. Reporter Miguel Almaguer, nbc news, columbia, south caroli if you could see your cough, its just a cough. Sfx woman coughing youd see how often you cough all day. And so would everyone else. Robitussin 12 hour delivers fast, powerful cough relief that lasts up to 12 hours. Robitussin 12 hour cough relief, because its never just a cough. You may know what its like to deal with high. And low blood sugar. Januvia sitagliptin is a oncedaily pill that, along with diet and exercise, helps lower blood sugar. Januvia works when your blood sugar is high and works less when your blood sugar is low, because it works by enhancing your bodys own ability to lower blood sugar. Plus januvia, by itself, is not likely to cause weight gain or low blood sugar hypoglycemia . Januvia should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Tell your doctor if you have a history of pancreatitis. 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Meet the newest members of the Baseball Hall of fame. Three new inductees including jeff bagwell, tim raines, the speed sister best known for his time with the expos getting in his last year of eligibility and Ivan Pudge Rodriguez who played for the rangers and tigers. They will all be officially inducted in cooperstown this july. When we come back, that was then, this is now. How the white house ha with my moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, the possibility of a flare was almost always on my mind. Thinking about what to avoid, where to go. And how to deal with my uc. To me, that was normal. Until i talked to my doctor. She told me that humira helps people like me get uc under control and keep it under control when certain medications havent worked well enough. Humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. 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Reporter barack obama has occupied the focus of many a camera. We, though, view him through the lens of our own expectations, our dreams, our biases. Imagine how any of us would have faired under the circumstances. You are president of the United States, commander in chief, leader of the free world but also comforter in chief, scold and cheerleader, father, husband, wearer of weird shirts and turkey pardoner. You are hereby pardoned. Reporter weve watched him pence sif and watched him preach. We have even heard him sing. Im so in love with you reporter but the job does something to you. There is a waieight, theres a responsibility that cant be measured. Their faces are like an odometer of human experiences. Over the years, you see them rack up the miles. The job is never a breeze. There is always conflict, a worlds worth of cares and concerns and no matter who they are, over time it shows. There may be victories and triumphs but no one leaves with so to survive, you grow a thick skin and as thick as it may be, we can still see right through it. Harry smith, nbc news, new york. Thats going to do it for us on a wednesday night. Im lester holt reporting from fayetteville, North Carolina. For all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching and good night. Clooney baby mystery. Are they or arent they expecting twins . Now on extra. Extra, extra. George and amals pregnancy headlines. The frenzy of rumors theyre expecting two babies. We break dowwe break down every. New photos, j. Los date night with drake. Is the surprise couple getting serious . Donald trump versus tom ford. Why the president elect is blasting the famous designer. We reveal who will dress melania for the inauguration. Then ive got fox news sean hannity taking on the backlash. What do you think of members of congress not attending the inauguration . Stay home. Who cares . Plus im Melania Trump at fashion. Melanias extra guest reporter. The trumps through years. Watch extra or youre fired. Kim kardashians new oceans 8 shocker. Is she really shooting a jewelry heist scene just months after her terrifying paris robbery . Plus, mrs. Matthew mcconaughey on the butt scene. Its good. Now on extra. Its happening. Its happening. From