George Bush

president george bush
forty-first president of the united states

interesting facts
George Bush saw hope for an end to the post-World War II division of Europe.

quote
"Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise"
"Any definition of a successful life must include 'helping others'."

biography
Coming from a family with a tradition of public service, George Herbert Walker Bush felt the responsibility to make his contribution both in time of war and in peace. Born in Milton, Massachusetts, on June 12, 1924, he became a student leader at Phillips Academy in Andover. On his 18th birthday he enlisted in the armed forces. The youngest pilot in the Navy when he received his wings, he flew 58 combat missions during World War II. On one mission over the Pacific as a torpedo bomber pilot he was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire and was rescued from the water by a U. S. submarine. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in action.

In September 1945 Bush was released from active duty and entered Yale University, where he played first base on the varsity baseball team and joined the exclusive Skull and Bones society. Bush completed college in three years, receiving a degree in economics.

The Bushes' first child--George, Jr.--was born in 1946. Their other children were John (also called Jeb, born in 1953), Neil (1955), Marvin (1956), and Dorothy (1959). Tragedy struck their family in 1953 when their daughter Robin died of leukemia at age 3.

In 1953 Bush cofounded Zapata Petroleum Corporation, which took over Bush-Overby, and he served as director of the company until 1959. Zapata Offshore Company, a manufacturer of offshore drilling equipment, was developed as a subsidiary in 1954, and Bush was its president from 1956 to 1964 and chairman of the board from 1964 to 1966. The subsidiary became completely independent in 1958, and Bush moved its headquarters and his home to Houston. (He sold his interest in Zapata in the late 1960s.)

Although he had turned down an offer from his father's investment firm in 1948 rather than live in the older man's shadow, George Bush became active in politics after Prescott Bush retired from Congress. On a leave of absence from Zapata in 1964 he sought and won the Republican nomination for the United States Senate. His campaign emphasized support for the Republican presidential candidate, Barry M. Goldwater. He was against the federal civil rights legislation under consideration at the time, and he called for the country to withdraw from the UN if the organization admitted mainland China as a member. Although Bush lost, his 43.5 percent of the vote was considered significant for a Republican in Texas.

Bush's next political goal was a seat in the United States House of Representatives. In 1966 he became the first Republican to represent Houston in Congress. He was named to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, an achievement for a freshman legislator. He supported some liberal causes, such as legislation that gave 18-year-olds the vote and abolished the military draft. Bush was in favor of an open-housing bill that his own constituents were against.

In 1970 Bush gave up his seat in the House in order to run again for the Senate. His opponent was also a Texas conservative--Lloyd Bentsen, the former member of the House who later became Dukakis' running mate. Bentsen won easily in 1970 despite campaign help for Bush from President Richard M. Nixon.

In 1980 Bush campaigned for the Republican nomination for President. He lost, but was chosen as a running mate by Ronald Reagan. As Vice President, Bush had responsibility in several domestic areas, including Federal deregulation and anti-drug programs, and visited scores of foreign countries. In 1988 Bush won the Republican nomination for President and, with Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana as his running mate, he defeated Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis in the general election.

Bush faced a dramatically changing world, as the Cold War ended after 40 bitter years, the Communist empire broke up, and the Berlin Wall fell. The Soviet Union ceased to exist; and reformist President Mikhail Gor bachev, whom Bush had supported, resigned. While Bush hailed the march of democracy, he insisted on restraint in U. S. policy toward the group of new nations.

In other areas of foreign policy, President Bush sent American troops into Panama to overthrow the corrupt regime of General Manuel Noriega, who was threatening the security of the canal and the Americans living there. Noriega was brought to the United States for trial as a drug trafficker.

Bush's greatest test came when Iraqi President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, then threatened to move into Saudi Arabia. Vowing to free Kuwait, Bush rallied the United Nations, the U. S. people, and Congress and sent 425,000 American troops. They were joined by 118,000 troops from allied nations. After weeks of air and missile bombardment, the 100-hour land battle dubbed Desert Storm routed Iraq's million-man army.

Despite unprecedented popularity from this military and diplomatic triumph, Bush was unable to withstand discontent at home from a faltering economy, rising violence in inner cities, and continued high deficit spending. In 1992 he lost his bid for reelection to Democrat William Clinton.