REUTERS/Adrees Latif
- 2018 witnessed the deaths of several internationally-renowned figures who, for the past century, shaped the world’s political stage for good or bad.
- Here are 10 of the most prominent politicians, civil rights leaders, dictators, and activists who passed away this year.
George H.W. Bush
Matt Sayles, File via AP
George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, died at the age of 94 in Houston on November 30th.
Bush, who went by “41” to avoid confusion with son and former president George W. Bush, was a devoted public servant who joined the US armed forces at 18, flying 58 missions during World War II.
After being honorably discharged in 1945, the Yale graduate served as Texas congressman, CIA director, and vice president under Ronald Reagan before becoming president in 1989.
As president, he oversaw the end of the Cold War and made foreign policy his priority, conducting military operations in the Persian Gulf and Panama. He lost his bid for reelection to Bill Clinton in 1993.
He is survived by his five children, 17 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two siblings. Barbara Bush, his wife of 73 years, died on April 2018.
John McCain
Carolyn Kaster/AP
John McCain, Republican senator from Arizona, died on August 25, 2018 at the age of 81 due to complications stemming from an aggressive form of brain cancer.
An internationally-known Vietnam War hero, McCain was imprisoned and brutally tortured for six years by North Vietnamese forces who shot down his plane in 1967. After his release, McCain received two Purple Hearts and became a politician, winning an Arizona congressional seat in 1982.
He went on to run for Senate, ultimately being reelected five times, most recently in 2016. Known as a “maverick” for his ability to compromise between parties, McCain was the 2008 Republican nominee for president. After losing to Barack Obama, he returned to the Senate and continued serving even after being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2016.
A staunch critic of Donald Trump, McCain cast a remarkable vote against the repeal of Obamacare, his last signature political moment.
Barbara Bush
Scott Olson/Getty Images
The former first lady and wife of George H.W. Bush died in her Houston home on April 17, 2018, at the age of 92.
Barbara Bush first met the future president at the age of 16, marrying him four years later. Together they had six children, including former president George W. Bush. As George’s political career blossomed, Barbara remained by his side, moving with him around the country and the world.
As first lady, Barbara was known for her charitable work leading the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. After leaving the White House in 1993, she continued her philanthropic work and split her time between Texas and Maine.
She supported the presidential campaigns of her sons George and Jeb in 2000 and 2016, respectively, and was widely respected for her dedication to her family.
Her marriage to Bush Sr. was the longest in US presidential history and was famed for its ongoing dedication — after 73 years of marriage, they still said “I love you” every night.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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- 9 celebrities who visited Trump in the White House in 2018
- 21 scandals that rocked the Trump administration in 2018
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