The John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston honored Bush yesterday with a 2014 John F Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.
The award crossed generations and political parties. It was given by Jack Schlossberg, son of the late Democratic president's daughter, Caroline Kennedy, to Lauren Bush, granddaughter of the former Republican president.
Conservatives denounced Bush for raising taxes, breaking a key promise in his 1988 White House campaign. He lost his 1992 re-election bid to Bill Clinton.