Ex-President George H.W. Bush Hospitalized Over Christmas

Former President George H.W. Bush won’t be home for Christmas, remaining in the hospital because of a fever.

Plans to send the 88-year-old to his Houston home for the holidays were put on hold after he developed the fever. Bush was hospitalized Nov. 23 with bronchitis. No date has been set for his discharge.

“We were hoping to get him out but he’s just got a few setbacks that they think they’ve got a handle on,” said his spokesman, Jim McGrath. “Doctors express confidence that they have the situation under control and are cautiously optimistic going forward.”

Bush had a lingering cough and remained in the hospital to improve his strength. Then came some “low-energy days” and the fever, McGrath said.

“It’s been one thing after another,” McGrath said. “He’s just had a couple of steps backward.”

Bush is the nation’s 41st president and father of the 43rd president, George W. Bush.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Washington at jsalant@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jeanne Cummings at jcummings21@bloomberg.net.