Transcript for George H. W. Bush reflects on the strength drawn from family

In a statement from the trump white house tonight of the passing of president George H.W. Bush, through his essential authenticity and disarming wit and wavering faith to family and country, president bush inspired generations of his fellow Americans to public service, to be in his words, a thousand points of light. Illuminating the greatness, hope and opportunity to America. Our hearts ache with his loss and we with the American people send our prayers to the entire bush family as we honor the and legacy of 41. A statement from the trump white house. In 2012, Diane sawyer had the privilege of sitting down with former president bush on the eve of his 88th birthday to talk about the strength he gets from his family and what awaits us at the journey here on Earth and the power of the place that has been a sanctuary for the bush family. Their summer compound at the Kun bunk port, Maine. I see the power and the wonders of the sea. I see my boat. I love going on a boat and I feel totally relaxed here in Maine by the coast. Is it a good time? In life? Yeah, it is a good time. And Barbara makes a lot of that for the family. Family means everything to me. Is there something you want to make sure that you say to them? Make sure that they know even though you have great grandchildren. We're love them and I think they know that. There is a great granddaughter here on the point. Beautiful little girl and have a worry that I won't see her grow much older, but it's not a worry in the sense of feeling cheated out of something. I don't know where I would be in life if I wasn't blessed with a lot of kids and grandkids and family, including Barbara. It's very lucky. Friendship. Family and friends. Even though you grew up in a very comfortable life, there was a sense of responsibility to the rest of the world. There should be. We have been given a lot and been blessed when you look around and compare life to others and how lucky you have been. You must feel responsibility to others and believe in serving others. That's a fundamental tenet in my life. You talked recently about how tough it was after the reelection campaign. After losing? Yes. Yeah. It was not easy. You are out there trying your hardest. My feeling is I had a feeling of letting down a lot of people that worked for me and our administration. You have this ghastly feeling that you let them down. You get over it and you go on with your life. You have always been an optimist. That's right. You have to continue to be. I am an optimist about and about everything that lies ahead. After 67 years, what have you learned about Mrs. Bush? Oh, boy. I learned a lot about her, but she just is so kind and into everything and the leader of our family. She's an amazing spirit. Amazing unselfish spirit. She -- too bad the grandkids aren't here, you can ask them about her. I just sit there and watch her interact with the family. She is just wonderful. Every night, there she is. We say our prayers and go to sleep. Never go to bed angry and stay angry. Never stay angry. That's good advice for married folks. You are in a fight, you have fights, I'm sure. Don't go to sleep being angry. Our thanks to Diane sawyer.

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