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'''George Herbert Walker Bush''' (born June 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts) is a [[World War II]] veteran who served as the 43rd [[Vice President of the United States of America|Vice President]] of the [[United States]] from 1981 to 1989 and the 41st [[President of the United States]], serving January 20, 1989 - January 20, 1993.        

'''George Herbert Walker Bush''' (born June 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts) is a [[World War II]] veteran who served as the 43rd [[Vice President of the United States of America|Vice President]] of the [[United States]] from 1981 to 1989 and the 41st [[President of the United States]], serving January 20, 1989 - January 20, 1993.   He was a moderate conservative who carried on most of the policies of the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan Administration]], and presided over victories in 1989 in the [[Cold War]] over the Soviet Union and in the [[Gulf War]] in 1991 against Iraq. His popularity soared after these foreign policy triumphs, but he had little interest in domestic policies and the voters lost interest in him; he was badly defeated for reelection in 1992.

During most of his public career, George Bush served other presidents loyally in a number of important positions. Not until 1988, after eight years as vice president under [[Ronald Reagan]], did Bush step into the limelight as the Republican nominee for president. The pre-presidential Bush was often described as the public figure with the perfect resumé, but he was also known as "the man who left no footprints," because there was little evidence of what he had accomplished in his many public capacities.

During most of his public career, George Bush served other presidents loyally in a number of important positions. Not until 1988, after eight years as vice president under [[Ronald Reagan]], did Bush step into the limelight as the Republican nominee for president. The pre-presidential Bush was often described as the public figure with the perfect resumé, but he was also known as "the man who left no footprints," because there was little evidence of what he had accomplished in his many public capacities.  Even when his son [[George W. Bush]] was president (2001-2009), he avoided the limelight.  

In 1988 he was elected president, defeating a [[liberal]] [[Democrat]] by a landslide. His presidency was defined by two major events. Victory in the [[Cold War]] and the collapse of Soviet [[Communism]], and a triumphant in the 1991 [[Persian Gulf War]]. Despite his [[foreign policy]] triumphs, Bush had troubled relations with the Democrat controlled [[Congress]], and alienated [[conservative]]s by raising taxes after pledging, "Read my lips: No New Taxes.". He was defeated for reelection in 1992 by [[Bill Clinton]], and even when his son [[George W. Bush]] was president (2001-2009), he avoided the limelight.  

In 1988 he was elected president, defeating a liberal Democrat by a landslide. His presidency was defined by two major events. Victory in the [[Cold War]] and the collapse of Soviet [[Communism]], and a triumphant in the 1991 [[Persian Gulf War]]. Despite his [[foreign policy]] triumphs, Bush had troubled relations with the Democrat controlled [[Congress]], and alienated [[conservative]]s by raising taxes after pledging, "Read my lips: No New Taxes.". He was defeated for reelection in 1992 by [[Bill Clinton]].  

== Early life ==

== Early life ==

George Bush was born in Milton, [[Massachusetts]] to [[Prescott Bush]] and Dorothy Walker, on June 12, 1924. His father was a wealthy investment banker and later a partner in the [[Wall Street]] firm of Brown Brothers, Harriman and Company. Prescott Bush was also a two-term [[Republican Party|Republican]] senator from [[Connecticut]] from 1952 to 1963.  

George Bush, scion of an old New England [[Yankee]] family, was born in Milton, Massachusetts to [[Prescott Bush]] and Dorothy Walker, on June 12, 1924. His father was a wealthy investment banker and later a partner in the [[Wall Street]] firm of Brown Brothers, Harriman and Company. Prescott Bush was a powerful two-term Republican senator from [[Connecticut]] from 1952 to 1963.  

Bush's maternal grandfather, for whom he was named, was George Herbert Walker, a wealthy businessman and important figure in American golf history.  

Bush's maternal grandfather, for whom he was named, was George Herbert Walker, a wealthy businessman and important figure in American golf history.  

With his sister and three brothers, Bush was raised in Greenwich, [[Connecticut]]. George Bush attended Greenwich Country Day School before entering Phillips Academy from 1936 to 1942 in Andover, [[Massachusetts]]. At Andover, he played Varsity baseball, was captain of the basketball and soccer teams, and president of the senior class. He was also a member of an exclusive fraternity called the A.U.V, or "Auctoritas, Unitas, Veritas" – Latin for "Authority, Unity, Truth". His roommate at the boarding school was a young man named Edward G. Hooker. It was at Phillips Academy that Bush learned of the surprise attack on [[Pearl Harbor]] on December 7, 1941.

With his sister and three brothers, Bush was raised in Greenwich, [[Connecticut]]. George Bush attended Greenwich Country Day School before entering Phillips Academy from 1936 to 1942 in Andover, [[Massachusetts]]. At Andover, he played Varsity baseball, was captain of the basketball and soccer teams, and president of the senior class.  

 

== Military career ==  

== Military career ==  

[[Image:3.jpg|left|thumb|200px|U.S. Navy Pilot George Bush in the cockpit of an Avenger (1942-1945)]] When George Bush graduated from Andover, he had already been admitted to [[Yale University]], but the United States had entered [[World War II]], and he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve on his 18th birthday instead. After completing the 10-month course, he was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve at [[Corpus Christi]] at 18 years old, which made him the youngest naval aviator to that date.

[[Image:3.jpg|left|thumb|200px|U.S. Navy Pilot George Bush in the cockpit of an Avenger (1942-1945)]] When George Bush graduated from Andover, he had already been admitted to [[Yale University]], but the United States had entered [[World War II]], and he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve on his 18th birthday instead. After completing the 10-month course, he was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve at [[Corpus Christi]] at 18 years old, which made him the youngest naval aviator to that date.

Bush won the Iowa caucus to start the primary season. However, Reagan came back to decisively win the following [[New Hampshire]] primary. With a growing popularity among the Republican voting base, Reagan won most of the remaining primaries and the nomination.  

Bush won the Iowa caucus to start the primary season. However, Reagan came back to decisively win the following [[New Hampshire]] primary. With a growing popularity among the Republican voting base, Reagan won most of the remaining primaries and the nomination.  

After some preliminary discussion of choosing former President Gerald Ford as his running mate, the original "dream" ticket, Reagan selected Bush as his Vice President, placing him on the winning Republican Presidential ticket of 1980 when current President [[Jimmy Carter]] was handidly defeated. [[Image:Reagan_and_HWBush.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Vice President George H.W. Bush with President Ronald Reagan]]

After some preliminary discussion of choosing former President Gerald Ford as his running mate, the original "dream" ticket, Reagan selected Bush as his Vice President, placing him on the winning Republican Presidential ticket of 1980 when current President [[Jimmy Carter]] was handily defeated. [[Image:Reagan_and_HWBush.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Vice President George H.W. Bush with President Ronald Reagan]]

== Vice presidency ==

== Vice presidency ==

''Main Article: [[United States presidential election, 1988]]''

''Main Article: [[United States presidential election, 1988]]''

In 1988, after seven years as Vice President, Bush ran for President. Though considered the early front-runner for the nomination, Bush came in third in the Iowa caucus, beaten by winner U.S. Senator [[Bob Dole]] and runner-up televangelist [[Pat Robertson]].  Reagan himself remainded neutral in the contest, choosing not to support any individual candidate. Bush was able to rebound to win the New Hampshire primary, much as Reagan had done against him 8 years earlier. Once the multiple-state primaries such as [[Super Tuesday]] began, Bush's organizational strength and fundraising lead were impossible for the other candidates to match, and the nomination was his.  

In 1988, after seven years as Vice President, Bush ran for President. Though considered the early front-runner for the nomination, Bush came in third in the Iowa caucus, beaten by winner U.S. Senator [[Bob Dole]] and runner-up televangelist [[Pat Robertson]].  Reagan himself remained neutral in the contest, choosing not to support any individual candidate. Bush was able to rebound to win the New Hampshire primary, much as Reagan had done against him 8 years earlier. Once the multiple-state primaries such as [[Super Tuesday]] began, Bush's organizational strength and fundraising lead were impossible for the other candidates to match, and the nomination was his.  

Leading up to the 1988 [[Republican National Convention]], there was much speculation as to Bush's choice of running mate. Bush chose little-known U.S. Senator [[Dan Quayle]] of [[Indiana]]. On the eve of the convention, Bush trailed Democratic nominee [[Michael Dukakis]], then [[Massachusetts]] governor, by double digits in many polls. He was aided during the convention by Reagan's speech, which eloquently passed the baton to Bush as the next leader of America and his own man.  Bush had been dogged by the "wimp" moniker by the press and Reagan's speech was part of the process to remove that.  When it came his turn to speak at the convention, Bush, often criticized for his lack of eloquence compared to Reagan, surprised many by giving possibly the best speech of his public career, widely known as the "Thousand points of light" speech for his use of that phrase to describe his vision of American community. Bush's acceptance speech and a generally well-managed Convention catapulted him ahead of Dukakis in the polls, and he held the lead for the rest of the race. Bush's acceptance speech at the convention included the pledge, "Read my lips: no new taxes."

Leading up to the 1988 [[Republican National Convention]], there was much speculation as to Bush's choice of running mate. Bush chose little-known U.S. Senator [[Dan Quayle]] of [[Indiana]]. On the eve of the convention, Bush trailed Democratic nominee [[Michael Dukakis]], then [[Massachusetts]] governor, by double digits in many polls. He was aided during the convention by Reagan's speech, which eloquently passed the baton to Bush as the next leader of America and his own man.  Bush had been dogged by the "wimp" moniker by the press and Reagan's speech was part of the process to remove that.  When it came his turn to speak at the convention, Bush, often criticized for his lack of eloquence compared to Reagan, surprised many by giving possibly the best speech of his public career, widely known as the "Thousand points of light" speech for his use of that phrase to describe his vision of American community. Bush's acceptance speech and a generally well-managed Convention catapulted him ahead of Dukakis in the polls, and he held the lead for the rest of the race. Bush's acceptance speech at the convention included the pledge, "Read my lips: no new taxes."

[[Image:Bush_and_Gorbachev_sign_agreements.jpg|left|thumb|275px|President Bush and President Gorbachev sign United States/Soviet Union agreements in the East Room of the White House, Washington, DC. 06/01/90]]

[[Image:Bush_and_Gorbachev_sign_agreements.jpg|left|thumb|275px|President Bush and President Gorbachev sign United States/Soviet Union agreements in the East Room of the White House, Washington, DC. 06/01/90]]

==Foreign Policy==

==Foreign Policy: A New World Order==

 

Foreign policy drove the Bush presidency from its first days. In his January 20, 1989 Inaugural Address upon taking the Presidency, Bush said:

Foreign policy drove the Bush presidency from its first days. In his January 20, 1989 Inaugural Address upon taking the Presidency, Bush said:

:''"I come before you and assume the Presidency at a moment rich with promise. We live in a peaceful, prosperous time, but we can make it better. For a new breeze is blowing, and a world refreshed by freedom seems reborn; for in man's heart, if not in fact, the day of the dictator is over. The totalitarian era is passing, its old ideas blown away like leaves from an ancient, lifeless tree. A new breeze is blowing, and a nation refreshed by freedom stands ready to push on. There is new ground to be broken, and new action to be taken."''

His Presidency was extraordinarily eventful from a foreign policy standpoint. Over the course of four years the [[Cold War]] ended, [[Germany]] reunified, the [[Soviet Union]] collapsed, American troops intervened in [[Panama]] to remove a criminal dictator and in [[Somalia]] to save people from starvation, and the United States led a coalition victory in the Persian [[Gulf War]] in [[Iraq]].

His Presidency was extraordinarily eventful from a foreign policy standpoint. Over the course of four years the [[Cold War]] ended, [[Germany]] reunified, the [[Soviet Union]] collapsed, American troops intervened in [[Panama]] to over trough a criminal dictator and in [[Somalia]] to save people from starvation, and the [[United States]] led a coalition victory in the Persian [[Gulf War]] in [[Iraq]].

He differed from Reagan in some minor ways.<ref> See Maynard (2008)</ref> Most important, Bush upgraded the influence of the National Security Council and made its head Brent Scowcroft his most trusted advisor on international relations. Reagan had relegated the National Security Advisor to a more passive role.  Second he brought in a new team of top foreign policy officials, headed by his Secretary of State and long-time friend [[James Baker]]. (Baker had been Reagan's top aide in domestic affairs), Third, he concentrated on how to slowly ease Russia out of its dominant position in Eastern Europe without causing a violent backlash in Russia, thus allowing the peaceful takeover of [[East Germany]] by [[West Germany]].<ref> West Germany paid Russia many billions to take its soldiers home.</ref>  Likewise Bush refused to proclaim "victory" in the Cold War and tried to keep [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] in power as long as possible despite his fading popularity in Moscow. When the serio-comic [[Boris Yeltsin]] replaced Gorbachev in late 1991, Bush humored him and helped him stay in power as well.

=== End of Cold War ===

=== End of Cold War ===

=== Invasion of Panama ===

=== Invasion of Panama ===

[[Image:Ghwbush.jpg|right|thumb|275px|President Bush meets with Defense Secretary [[Richard Cheney]] and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman [[Colin Powell]], 08/15/90]]

[[Image:Ghwbush.jpg|right|thumb|275px|President Bush meets with Defense Secretary [[Richard Cheney]] and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman [[Colin Powell]], 08/15/90]]

As President, Bush continued Reagan's [[war on drugs]]. In 1989 he ordered 24,000 United States troops into [[Panama]] to capture one time anti-communist ally General [[Manuel Noriega]], the dictator of Panama, and return him to the United States to face drug charges after Noriega made comments that could be interpreted as threatening the United States. Noreiga eluded the first effort to capture him and reached the Vatican embassy where he sought asylum.  After a standoff which included 24 hour high powered lights and a constant blaring of the Billy Ray Cyrus song ''Achy Breaky Heart'' at the embassy, a deal was reached where Noreiga was released to United States custody. U.S. troops then helped Panamanians hold elections and organize a new government. In 1992, Noriega was sentenced to serve 40 years in prison.

As President, Bush continued Reagan's [[war on drugs]]. In 1989 he ordered 24,000 United States troops into [[Panama]] to capture one time anti-communist ally General [[Manuel Noriega]], the dictator of Panama, and return him to the United States to face drug charges after Noriega threatened American servicemen.  U.S. troops then helped Panamanians hold elections and organize a new government. In 1992, an American court sentenced Noriega to serve 40 years in prison in the U.S., where he is now.

=== Persian Gulf War ===

=== Persian Gulf War ===

[[Image:20.jpg|right|thumb|275px|President Bush talks with the troops in Saudi Arabia, 11/22/90]] Leading up to the first [[Gulf War]], on September 11, 1990 President Bush addressing the United Nations stated: ''Out of these troubled times, our fifth objective -- a New World Order -- can emerge: a new era'' thus becoming the first President of the United States of America to openly state and work toward global governance.

[[Image:20.jpg|right|thumb|275px|President Bush talks with the troops in Saudi Arabia, 11/22/90]] Leading up to the first [[Gulf War]], on September 11, 1990 President Bush addressing the United Nations stated: ''Out of these troubled times, our fifth objective -- a New World Order -- can emerge: a new era'' thus becoming the first President of the United States of America to openly state and work toward global governance.

As President, Bush is perhaps best known for leading the United Nations coalition in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. In 1990, led by [[Saddam Hussein]], [[Iraq]] invaded its oil-rich neighbor to the south, [[Kuwait]]. The broad coalition sought the limited objective of removing Iraqi forces from Kuwait and ensure that Iraq did not invade [[Saudi Arabia]]. Bush summed up his and the entire free world's position succinctly when he said, "This aggression will not stand," and "this is not a war for oil. This is war against aggression."  

Bush is best known for leading the United Nations coalition in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. In 1990, led by [[Saddam Hussein]], [[Iraq]] invaded its oil-rich neighbor to the south, [[Kuwait]]. The broad coalition sought the limited objective of removing Iraqi forces from Kuwait and ensure that Iraq did not invade [[Saudi Arabia]]. Bush summed up his and the entire free world's position succinctly when he said, "This aggression will not stand," and "this is not a war for oil. This is war against aggression."  

Along with troops from the United States, Canadian, [[Europe]], and Arab Nations, President Bush launched "operation desert storm" in which dozens of cruise missiles and laser guided bombs fell on Iraq, destroying its air defenses, bridges, artillery, and other military targets. Then the coalition launched a massive ground attack, were fewer then 300 coalition forces were killed with the war lasting just 100 hours. President Bush achieved his stated objectives of liberating Kuwait and forcing Iraqi withdrawal. President Bush's popularity rating in America soared during and immediately after the success of the military operations and American troops returned home to cheering crowds.  

Along with troops from the United States, Canadian, [[Europe]], and Arab Nations, President Bush launched "operation desert storm" in which dozens of cruise missiles and laser guided bombs fell on Iraq, destroying its air defenses, bridges, artillery, and other military targets. Then the coalition launched a massive ground attack, were fewer then 300 coalition forces were killed with the war lasting just 100 hours. President Bush achieved his stated objectives of liberating Kuwait and forcing Iraqi withdrawal. President Bush's popularity rating in America soared during and immediately after the success of the military operations and American troops returned home to cheering crowds.  

* Hiro, Dilip. ''Desert Shield to Desert Storm: The Second Gulf War'' (1992)

* Hiro, Dilip. ''Desert Shield to Desert Storm: The Second Gulf War'' (1992)

*  Levy, Peter B. ''Encyclopedia of the Reagan-Bush Years'' (1996) 461pp [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=77341841 online edition]

*  Levy, Peter B. ''Encyclopedia of the Reagan-Bush Years'' (1996) 461pp [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=77341841 online edition]

*  Naftali, Timothy. ''George H. W. Bush: The American Presidents Series: The 41st President, 1989-1993'' (2007). short survey [http://www.amazon.com/George-Bush-Presidents-President-1989-1993/dp/0805069666/ref=pd_sim_b_title_2 excerpt and text search]

*  Naftali, Timothy. ''George H. W. Bush: The American Presidents Series: The 41st President, 1989-1993'' (2007). short survey [http://www.amazon.com/George-Bush-Presidents-President-1989-1993/dp/0805069666/ref=pd_sim_b_title_2 excerpt and text search]

* Rose, Richard. ''The Postmodern President: George Bush Meets the World'' (1991) [http://www.questia.com/read/98398503 online edition]  

* Rose, Richard. ''The Postmodern President: George Bush Meets the World'' (1991) [http://www.questia.com/read/98398503 online edition]