Former President George H.W. Bush, 90, was taken to Houston Methodist Hospital as a precaution after experiencing shortness of breath on Tuesday night. VPC

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00:02 Former President Bush is in the hospital behind me right
 00:05 now. Here in Houston accidents and his staff tells us that
 00:08 he will now be spending the night here. For observation. Now
 00:12 as we said this statement from the office of George H.
 00:15 W. Bush says he was brought here by ambulance. As a
 00:18 precaution after having some shortness of breath earlier this evening. You
 00:22 may remember the former president who is now ninety years old.
 00:26 Spent Christmas at Houston Methodist two years ago was well back
 00:29 in 2012. At that time it was for a fever and
 00:32 weakness that developed. Following a monthlong cost something like bronchitis. Bush
 00:37 41 as is often called last appeared in public at the
 00:41 George bush presidential library at Texas a and M last month.
 00:45 At that time he was in a wheelchair but certainly smiling
 00:48 a lot and was in good spirits and will be saying
 00:50 on how the ringing the latest developments on the former president's
 00:55 condition as we get that coming. And about the same time
 00:58 President Bush was being taken to the hospital and his wife
 01:00 Barbara Bush. Was entertaining children at the hobbies. And laying his
 01:06 finger aside of his nose and giving a nod up the
 01:10 chimney he rose. Mrs. bush joined a very familiar face that
 01:14 is Houston Texans star JJ watt. In a reading of twas
 01:18 the night before Christmas before the performance of the rockets radio
 01:21 city Christmas spectacular earlier tonight.

Former president George H.W. Bush smiles at the crowd before an NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Cincinnati Bengals, Nov. 23, 2014, in Houston.(Photo: David J. Phillip, AP)

George H.W. Bush, 90, was taken to the Houston Methodist Hospital Tuesday in an ambulance as a precaution after the former president began to experience shortness of breath, his staff said in a statement.

"President Bush was taken by ambulance to the Houston Methodist Hospital as a precaution after experiencing a shortness of breath earlier this evening," the statement said. "The former president, age 90, will be held for observation, again as a precaution."

Bush is the oldest-living former president and vice president. He is also the last living former president who is a veteran of World War II.

White House spokesman Eric Schultz said President Obama had been made aware of the situation.

"President Obama and the first lady send their good wishes to the former president and the entire Bush family during this holiday season," Schultz said.

Bush spent nearly two months in the same hospital and was discharged in January 2013, after treatment for a bronchitis-related cough and other health issues.

Bush, who can no longer use his legs, most recently appeared seated in a wheelchair at an event in November at Texas A&M University with his son, former president George W. Bush.

In June, the elder Bush celebrated his 90th birthday by making a tandem parachute jump near his summer home in Maine.

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