GEORGE H. W. GEORGE H. W. BUSHBUSH

The 41The 41stst President of President of the United States of the United States of

AmericaAmerica1989-19931989-1993

BACKGROUND:Born in Milton, Massachusetts,

on June 12, 1924he 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 January 1945 he married Barbara Pierce. They had six children– George (W- former President)- Robin (who died as a child), John (known as Jeb), Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy.

At Yale University he was captain of the baseball team and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

After graduation Bush embarked on a career in the oil industry of West Texas

There he founded his oil company and by 1980 reported an estimated wealth of $1.4 million.

His father, Prescott, was a Senator from Connecticut.

In the 1960s, Bush won two contests for a Texas Republican seat in the House of Representatives, but lost two bids for a Senate seat.

was appointed to a series of high-level positions:Ambassador to the United Nations

Chairman of the Republican National Committee

Headed the U.S. liaison office in Beijing before becoming Director of Central Intelligence

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.

George Herbert Walker Bush became president on Jan. 20, 1989, with his theme harmony and conciliation after the often-turbulent Reagan years.

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 Gorbachev, 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.

Bush's early Cabinet choices reflected a pragmatic desire for an efficient, nonideological government. And with his usual cautious instinct, in 1990 he nominated to the Supreme Court the scholarly David H. Souter, with broadly conservative views.

IN HIS FIRST YEAR:Lebanese Hostage CrisisThe Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska

Ongoing War against Drug Trafficking

Invasion of PanamaHis public approval soared

following the invasion of Panama in late 1989

In a few speeches he stated why he went:

Safeguarding the lives of U.S. citizens in Panama.

- 35,000 Americans living there. numerous clashes between U.S. and Panamanian forces; one American had been killed a few days earlier and several incidents of harassment

Defending Democracy and Human Rights in Panama

Earlier that year Noriega (Their leader) had nullified presidential elections that had been won by candidates from opposition parties

Combating Drug TraffickingPanama had become a center for

drug money laundering and a transit point for drug trafficking to the United States and Europe. Noriega had been singled out for direct involvement in these drug trafficking operations.

Protecting the integrity of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties

U.S. political establishment claimed that Noriega threatened the neutrality of the Panama Canal

United States had the right under the treaties to intervene militarily to protect the canal.

A Mass Grave of Panamian Casualties.

SECOND YEAR

A staggering budget deficit and the savings and loan crisis (1980’s continuation) caused the president's popularity to dip sharply

This plunge followed Bush's recantation of his campaign “no new taxes” pledge as he sat down with congressional leaders to tame the budget deficit and deal with a faltering economy.

Third YearEmerged as the leader of an

international coalition of Western democracies, Japan, and even some Arab states that came together to free Kuwait following an invasion of the country by Iraq in Aug1990

The coalition forces defeated Iraq in only a little more than a month after Operation Desert Storm was launched on Jan. 16–17, 1991, and a nation grateful at feeling the end of the “Vietnam syndrome” gave the president an 89% approval rating

High rating fell as the year went on, as doubts persisted about the war's outcome—Iraqi president Saddam Hussein remained in power and persistently avoided complying with the terms of the peace treaty

In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace talks began in late 1991.

Pressure for this came from his Secretary of State James A. Baker

1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START): signed in July with Soviet president Mikhail S. Gorbachev at their fourth summit conference, marking the end of the long weapons buildup

Lost 1992 bid for reelection to William J. Clinton in a race between Clinton, Bush, and Perot