Painful cough keeps George H.W. Bush hospitalized

The highlight of the day, though, was the Houston Texans' 24-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans, a win that secured the Texans a spot in the NFL playoffs. Just a few weeks ago, Bush was spotted at a Texans' game.

"He was keeping track of when kickoff was and we were following the game there for a little bit," McGrath said.

In general, McGrath said, the former president's spirits are good.

"He's joking with the doctors and the nurses so he's not nearly in the same level of discomfort he was in just a few days ago," McGrath said.

Still, since he was released previously and then readmitted because the cough did not go away, there is a sense he should stay put until the cough disappears entirely, he added.

"A little bit is an abundance of caution, but a lot of it has to do with he still has the cough," McGrath said.

The former president was a naval aviator in World War II — at one point the youngest in the Navy — and was shot down over the Pacific. He achieved notoriety in retirement for skydiving on at least three of his birthdays since leaving the White House in 1992.

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