George W. Bush (b.1946)
43rd President of the United States (2001-2009)
He was preceded in the Presidency by Bill Clinton and defeated Al Gore in the 2000 Presidential election. Choosing Dick Cheney as his Vice-President, he served two terms in office for the Republican Party before being succeeded by Barack Obama. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but from 1949 grew up in Midland and Houston, Texas, while his father (George Bush Sr., 41st President of the United States) was working in the oil industry. After attending Phillips Academy, Andover, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in history from Yale University (1968) before serving as a pilot with the Texas Air National Guard. After his military service, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School (the only US president to have done so) and with mixed success pursued various business ventures in the oil industry in Texas.
In 1989, he became managing general partner of the Texas Rangers baseball team, a role that significantly raised his public profile. He entered politics in 1994 and served two terms as Governor of Texas (1995-2000), emphasizing educational reform, tax cuts, and bi-partisan cooperation. His political success in Texas, combined with his family name, positioned him for a presidential run despite earlier publicized problems with alcohol abuse and allegations of insider trading involving the Harken Energy Corporation.
The 2000 Presidential Election between Bush and the Democratic nominee, Al Gore, was one of the closest and most controversial in American history, ultimately decided by the Supreme Court after disputes over Florida's vote count. Bush won the Electoral College by 271-266 despite losing the popular vote by over 540,000 votes.
In 1989, he became managing general partner of the Texas Rangers baseball team, a role that significantly raised his public profile. He entered politics in 1994 and served two terms as Governor of Texas (1995-2000), emphasizing educational reform, tax cuts, and bi-partisan cooperation. His political success in Texas, combined with his family name, positioned him for a presidential run despite earlier publicized problems with alcohol abuse and allegations of insider trading involving the Harken Energy Corporation.
The 2000 Presidential Election between Bush and the Democratic nominee, Al Gore, was one of the closest and most controversial in American history, ultimately decided by the Supreme Court after disputes over Florida's vote count. Bush won the Electoral College by 271-266 despite losing the popular vote by over 540,000 votes.
As president, domestically, he implemented significant tax cuts and the "No Child Left Behind" education reform. But, Bush's presidency was defined by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which occurred less than eight months into his first term. His response included launching the highly controversial War on Terror by invading Afghanistan in 2001, and then Iraq in 2003, considered an illegal war of aggression under international law as it was carried out without the explicit approval of the U.N. Security Council.
His second term faced considerable domestic challenges including the response to Hurricane Katrina (2005) and the 2008 financial crisis. Bush left office in January 2009 with low approval ratings but has since engaged in humanitarian work, painting, and writing. He remains active in charitable causes and maintains a more favorable public image in retirement. In 1977, he married Laura (Welch) Bush and they have two children.
His second term faced considerable domestic challenges including the response to Hurricane Katrina (2005) and the 2008 financial crisis. Bush left office in January 2009 with low approval ratings but has since engaged in humanitarian work, painting, and writing. He remains active in charitable causes and maintains a more favorable public image in retirement. In 1977, he married Laura (Welch) Bush and they have two children.
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