Quick Facts
Also Known As: George Herbert Walker Bush
Died At Age: 94
Family:Spouse/Ex-: Barbara Bush
father: Prescott Bush
mother: Dorothy Walker Bush
siblings: Jonathan Bush, Nancy Walker Bush Ellis, Prescott Bush Jr., William H. T. Bush
children: Dorothy Bush Koch, George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, Marvin Bush, Neil Bush, Robin Bush
Born Country: United States
Presidents
Political Leaders
Height: 6'2" (188 cm), 6'2" Males
political ideology: Political party - Republican
Died on: November 30, 2018
place of death: Houston, Texas, United States
Personality: ISTJ
Cause of Death: Parkinson's Disease
U.S. State: Massachusetts
Diseases & Disabilities: Parkinson's Disease
Founder/Co-Founder: Resolution Trust Corporation, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, North American Free Trade Agreement, HRG Group, Points of Light
More Facts
education: Yale University
awards: 2011 - Presidential Medal of Freedom
Air Medal
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1
What were some key events during George H. W. Bush's presidency?
Some key events during George H. W. Bush's presidency include the Gulf War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act into law.
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2
How did George H. W. Bush handle the economy during his presidency?
George H. W. Bush faced economic challenges during his presidency, including a recession. He signed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, which raised taxes in an attempt to address the growing budget deficit.
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3
What was George H. W. Bush's foreign policy approach?
George H. W. Bush's foreign policy approach was characterized by a focus on building international coalitions, as demonstrated during the Gulf War when he assembled a coalition of countries to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.
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4
How did George H. W. Bush contribute to the end of the Cold War?
George H. W. Bush played a role in the end of the Cold War by working closely with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and supporting reforms in Eastern Europe. His administration also navigated the peaceful reunification of Germany.
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5
What was George H. W. Bush's stance on environmental issues?
George H. W. Bush signed the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 into law, which aimed to reduce air pollution. He also attended the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, where he pledged to combat climate change.
Childhood & Early Life
George Herbert Walker Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts on June 12, 1924 to Prescott Sheldon Bush and Dorothy Bush. Prescott was an investment banker and a Senator from Connecticut and Dorothy was from a prominent family.
He received his schooling from the Greenwich Country Day School and later went to Phillips Academy in Massachusetts where he held many leadership posts.
On his 18th birthday he joined the US Navy and served as a naval aviator during the World War II. At that time he was the youngest naval aviator.
He resumed his studies after the end of war. Following in his father’s footsteps, he graduated from Yale University in 1948 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in economics. At Yale he was the president of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Skull and Bones secret society.
He shifted to Texas after rejecting a position in his father’s firm and began working as an oil field supplies salesman for Dresser Industries. He later co-founded the Bush-Overbey Oil Development Company (1951) and the Zapata Petroleum Corporation (1953).
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Career
By 1964 George H.W. Bush was a millionaire and started nurturing political ambitions. He became the Chairman of the Republican Party for Harris County, Texas, the same year.
In 1964, he contested for a U.S. Senate seat from Texas but lost to Democrat Ralph Yarborough in 1964.
In 1966 he was elected to the US House of Representatives from Texas and he served for two terms. He gave up this seat in 1970 to run for Senate but lost.
Over the next few years he served in several prestigious positions including US Ambassador to the United Nations (1971–73), Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1973), US Envoy to China, Director of the Central Intelligence (1976–77) and the Director of the Council on Foreign Relations (1977–79).
In 1980, he campaigned for the Republican nomination for President but lost to Ronald Reagan. He became the Vice-President under Reagan and when the latter was re-elected in 1984, George H. W. Bush again held the same office.
He won the 1988 Presidential election after defeating the Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis and became the first serving Vice President to be elected as President since 1836 and the first person to succeed someone from his own party since 1929.
George H. W. Bush assumed the office on January 20, 1989 and he became the was inaugurated as the 41st US President.
During his tenure he witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the end of the Cold War after 40 years.
In 1989 he directed ‘Operation Just Cause’—the US invasion of Panama to catch the corrupt leader Manuel Noriega, end his dictatorship in the state and then bring him to the US where he would be tried for drug trafficking.
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His government passed many important legislations. These include: the Americans with Disabilities Act, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, Clean Air Act and the Immigration Act.
In 1990 he ordered the ‘Operation Desert Storm’ after Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. The operation was backed by the United Nations and the mission was accomplished with the liberation of Kuwait. In the US, Bush’s popularity reached new heights.
After the failure of a United Nations Operation in Somalia 1 (UNOSOM 1), Bush brought in his military to help in the humanitarian cause of feeding the starving Somalia citizens. But after the death of several US marines, he received severe criticism.
At the end of his first term he announced he would contest in the re-election in 1992, possibly reflecting on his worldwide success. However, he lost to Democrat Bill Clinton who succeeded him as President of the US.
He returned to Houston with his family after retiring. From 1993 to 1999 he served as the chairman to the board of trustees for Eisenhower Fellowships, and from 2007 to 2009 was chairman of the National Constitution Center.
Major Works
In 1990 Saddam Hussein led Iraq to invade Kuwait for its huge oil reserves and later demanded control over half of the country. George H. W. Bush believed it was unfair and asked several European and Arab countries to oppose it, and led the formation of a coalition of allied nations. The coalition forces registered a decisive victory and drove the Iraqi military from Kuwait. Bush’s popularity rose considerably following this incident.
Awards & Achievements
George H. W. Bush was given the Distinguished Flying Cross for his services during the Second World War and the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement’s National Space Trophy for his leadership in the US space programs.
In 1991, the US Navy Memorial Foundation presented him with its Lone Sailor award and in 1993 he was made an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath by Queen Elizabeth II.
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Personal Life & Legacy
George H. W. Bush married Barbara Pierce in 1945 and the couple had six children, namely, George W. Bush, Robin Bush, Jeb Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin P. Bush and Dorothy Bush Koch.
George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush were married for 73 years till the death of Barbara Bush on April 17, 2018
George H. W. Bush died on December 1, 2018, at the age of 94, in Houston.
Facts About George H. W. Bush
Bush was known for his love of fast food, particularly his favorite snack of pork rinds.
He had a unique hobby of collecting colorful and whimsical socks, often wearing them to add a fun touch to his formal attire.
Bush was a big fan of the sport of fishing and enjoyed spending time on his boat, Fidelity, to relax and unwind.
He was a talented skydiver and even celebrated his 75th, 80th, and 85th birthdays by skydiving.
Bush had a beloved service dog named Sully who provided him with companionship and assistance in his later years.
