After more than a month in hospital battling bronchitis, former US president George H.W. Bush has taken a turn for the worse and is in intensive care with a “stubborn fever,” a spokesman has said.“He’s had a series of setbacks now that have landed him in guarded condition in the intensive care unit,” spokesman Jim McGrath told AFP news agency.“Early last week it was really looking good, but then it seemed a couple of dominoes started falling and it was taking us in the wrong direction.”The 88-year-old was first admitted to Methodist Hospital in Houston on November 7 for bronchitis treatment and released on November 19. But he was readmitted on November 23 after his cough flared up once more.Doctors had initially hoped to have the elder statesman home for Christmas, but he was instead forced to spend the holiday in the hospital, where he was joined by his wife Barbara, son Neil and grandson Pierce.“I wouldn’t say he was able to celebrate it in the traditional sense,” McGrath said. “His family was with him, and he’s conscious and he’s able to engage in humorous banter with his doctor.”Bush, a Republican, served just a single term in the White House from 1989 to 1993, despite sending US forces to victory in Iraq in the first Gulf War, expelling Saddam Hussein’s forces from Kuwait.He was seen as a moderate, low-key president compared to the showmen Ronald Reagan, who preceded him, and Bill Clinton, who followed, but respect for his hard-edged realism in foreign policy has grown since his defeat.Domestically, he suffered a loss of support among his own conservative base after being forced to abandon his campaign vow: “Read my lips. No new taxes.”During his time in public service, he also served as vice president, congressman and director of the Central Intelligence Agency.Although he was dogged by a reputation as a wimp and his standing suffered in difficult economic times for the United States, he heads an impressive political dynasty that may yet have a future in high office.
