Are always important, but never more so important than the time that were living in. We heard former president bill clinton use the words total class. And we heard former president barack obama, a democrat, say a gentleman. And i think civility, his graciousness, the way he handled himself is a role model we all will miss. Jamie, dana, thank you. This is cnn breaking news. Im don lemon. It is the top of the hour. Here is our breaking news. The 41st president of the United States, george h. W. Bush has died at the age of 94. The flag at the white house flying at halfstaff right now as flowers pile up outside the bush home in houston, texas. Tributes are pouring in from President Trump and former president S Barack Obama and bill clinton. As well as former Vice President al gore and condoleezza rice, james baker, and so many more. The nation mourning the man who devoted his life to service to his country and to his family. Cnns john king now with the story of george h. W. Bush, the polit
in college station at his presidential library. don, it is several days ahead here in houston to remember the president, and of course in washington also. this will be a very personal experience for so many people here in houston who came to know him and love him. and we will follow. houston tonight at the bush residence. we appreciate that. and we should, as jeff zeleny said before. his family members are remembering him with a smile, and they want us to as well. george h.w. bush was the 41st president and the father of the 43rd. cnn s wolf blitzer has a revealing portrait of father and son in the white house. always an honor to be introduced by president of the united states, especially when he is your dad. reporter: it s only happened once before, the country s second president john adams saw his son john quincy adams become sixth president.
including president in the final days of the cold war. in houston right now and talking to people to see how the city is honoring the president now. victor, christy. we re outside the bush residence, the home he shared with barbara, the home she took her last breath just last april. here in houston we re remind bide the mayor that following their departure this couple could have lived can anywhere but they chose to come back where his political career began as he was chair of the harris coun county republican party. and became beloved themselves here. as the mayor said george h.w. bush became our most esteemed and relatable neighbor. you would see them behind home plate at astros games, texans
a memorial growing outside the residence, and you said people have been coming out and looking across the street at the residence. and i m not sure if folks are gathering. it is late. it s 2:30 in the morning there. that s right, don. i will say there are more members of the media in the streets surrounding the bush residence than there are onlookers. but you there will be people in this neighborhood familiar with both george h.w. bush and his late wife barbara, who will wake up to this news in the morning and recognize that their neighbors they came to know across the street aren t there. that that chapter has ended for the bush family here in the tanglewood neighborhood. we were reminded tonight in a statement by the mayor of houston that the bushes could have gone anywhere when they left the white house, but in 1993, they chose to make this their beloved city their home. the place where his political career began when he was the chairman of the harris county republican party. and
baseball game, at a texans football game, maybe at his favorite tex-mex restaurant, or his favorite pizza joint. but you feel the sense of loss and mourning here in the city of houston, today, and we know that will continue for some time. we re outside the bush residence, the home that george and barbara shared together for many years. the same home that she took her final breaths in. and you can see the wreaths that have been put on the gate, leading into the neighborhood, a large american flag, when this memorial began, in the early morning hours, there was one single small american flag, a gentleman came here, brought the larger one, saying i saw that small one on television and i knew we could do better. that is the representation that the people here of houston want for their former president. in houston for us, kaly, thank you, very, very much. joining us now, cnn special