George H.W. Bush honored with JFK Profile in Courage Award

WASHINGTON, May 4 (UPI) -- George H.W. Bush famously declared, "Read my lips: no new taxes," at the Republican National Convention back in 1988.

But he reneged on that promise as president in 1990, when he brokered a bipartisan budget compromise that helped reduce the deficit but contributed to his 1992 reelection loss.

"America's gain was President Bush's loss," John F. Kennedy's grandson, Jack Schlossberg, said during a Sunday ceremony honoring Bush with the 2014 Profile in Courage Award.

"His decision to put country above party and political prospects make him an example of a modern profile in courage that is all too rare," Schlossberg said.

Lauren Bush Lauren was on hand to accept the award on behalf of her grandfather, now 89.

“Candidly speaking, my grandfather didn’t want to raise taxes in 1990, but in our constitutional system of governance Congress also gets a say -- and besides that, he felt he owed the American people action and results,” she said.

She also read a statement from Bush.

“At age 89 and seven-eighths, let me assure you kind words really do matter,” he said in a statement. “Thank you again for remembering what our team tried to do, lo, those many years ago.”