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‘41’ reasons to celebrate for George H. W. Bush

From left: Michael Lombardo, Jerry Weintraub, Richard Plepler, George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush, Sheila Nevins, and Eric Kessler.

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO

From left: Michael Lombardo, Jerry Weintraub, Richard Plepler, George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush, Sheila Nevins, and Eric Kessler.

Surrounded by about 200 friends and family, former president George H.W. Bush watched – and apparently enjoyed – a screening of “41,” the new HBO documentary about his life, on the occasion of his 88th birthday. “I’m glad my mother isn’t here to see it,” Bush told reporters. “She would have said, ‘George, it’s all about you.’ She always taught us to not talk about ourselves.” The screening, held on the grounds of St. Ann’s Church, was followed by a clambake reception at Walker’s Point, the longtime summer residence of the Bush clan. Guests included former president George W. Bush, two of 41’s other children, Neil and Doro, granddaughter Lauren Bush-Lauren and her husband, David Lauren, filmmakers Jerry Weintraub and Jeff Roth, former Bush administration officials Andy Card, Marlin Fitzwater, and Brent Scowcroft, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, and HBO CEO Bill Nelson.