George H.W. Bush taken to hospital by ambulance
Fred Barbash
Updated
Former president George H.W. Bush was taken by ambulance to a Houston hospital tonight after experiencing shortness of breath, according to a spokesman.
In a brief statement, Jim McGrath, a spokesman for the 41st president, said that Bush, 90, will be held for observation as a precaution at Houston Methodist Hospital. Bush was hospitalized at Houston Methodist in March 2013 for bronchitis and complications.
Bush has had heart problems since 1991, when he was president. At that time, he entered the hospital with an irregular heartbeat and was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, a thyroid condition.
But Bush celebrated his 90th birthday in June with a tandem parachute jump near his summer home in Maine.
His most recent public appearance was in November at Texas A&M University. He attended with his son, former president George W. Bush.
Bush was president from Jan. 20, 1989, through Jan. 20, 1993.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz, with President Obama on vacation in Kailua, Hawaii, issued a statement saying Obama “has been made aware that President Bush was admitted to the hospital. President Obama and the First Lady send their good wishes to the former President and the entire Bush family during this holiday season.”