George H. W. Bush believed that America should be "a force for good in the world" and "a kinder, gentler nation." He had a long career of public service, including serving as a naval aviator in World War II, being elected to Congress, serving as Ambassador to the UN and China, and being Vice President under Ronald Reagan before being elected President in 1988. As President, he oversaw the end of the Cold War and led a coalition that successfully drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait in the Gulf War.

1. “The US should be a force for good in the world.”
“America ought to be a kinder, gentler nation.”

2. George H. W. Bush
Best Prepare President
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Mr. Simoneau & Mr. Reed
March 2009

3. Early Years in the Bush’s Family
• June 12, 1924, Milton, Mass
• Lived in Washington, DC. Son of a US
Senator, Prescott Bush, R-Connecticut.
• High School at Phillips Exeter
Academy, Milton, MA. Elite private
school
• Family mansion on Walker Point in
Kennepunkport, Maine.

4. Decorated Pilot
• Enlisted in US Navy on his 18th birthday
• Youngest pilot ever to earn his wings.
• Served on the USS San Jacinto
• 58 combat missions vs Japanese
• Shot down, rescued by a US submarine
• Distinguished Flying Cross

5. Marriage & Family Life
• Barbara, Jan. ‘45
• Started his family while at Yale
• 6 children, George W. the eldest
son.
• Jeb Bush, R. Gov of Florida

6. College Education at Yale
• GI Bill of Rights after W II.
• 3 year graduate of Yale
University, Hartford, CT
• Phi Beta Kappa
• Cpt, 1B, Baseball Team.
College World Series,
Omaha, Neb

7. College World Series
With Babe Ruth at Omaha, Nebraska

8. 1950’s: Texas Oilman & TX Congressman
Invest in oil industry
• Hits a gusher.
• Self-made millionaire
• Moves to Houston, & runs for congress
Midland, Texas

9. Congressman
• 1st Republican ever to be elected from the Houston,
TX district
• Served 2 terms in the House
• Ran twice, unsuccessfully, for a US Senate seat from
Texas.

10. Bush serves as a US Ambassador
first to the United Nations, NYC
latter to China, 1st US Ambassador there
In the 1970’s
Bush also served as
National Chairman of the GOP
(the Grand Old Party)

11. Bush serves as
Reagan’s VP
for 8 years
• De-regulation
• Anti-drug campaign
• Traveled widely around the
world representing the US
1980’s

12. Election of 1988
• Bush & Quayle vs
Mike Dukakis (D)

13. Man of the Year. 1988
Two Themes:
• Continuing the
Reagan Era
• Peace & Prosperity

14. Bush I Presidency
• Captures Panama dictator
Manual Ortega.
• US Marines bust Drug cartel
• Iraq invades Kuwait.
• Oil prices explode!
Father Bush & son Bush were both sworn in as president
By the same Chief Justice, William Rehnquist.
He recently passed away from brain cancer.

15. The Gulf War, 1991. US vs Iraq
550,000 US Troops, 125,000 Allies
• Gen. Stormin’ Norman
Schwartkopf
• General Colin Powell
• Not attack Baghdad
• Let Huessein continue in power
• Not occupy Iraq.
• By Dick Cheney? Sec of Def.

16. The Persian Gulf War
• Iraq invades Kuwait
• Grand Coalition.
• US 425,000
• World 118,000
• 3 weeks of bombing
• 100-hr invasion
• Iraq Army is destroyed

17. Looking back on the Gulf War
• Heroic return of US troops
to DC
• Troubled US economy
• Read my lips, no new
taxes.
• Growing deficit.
• GW signs new tax Bill
signed

18. The 7
Sisters

19. Election of 1992
• Incumbent President Bush
runs for re-election
• Dem. Bill Clinton / Al Gore
• Ross Perot, Independence
Party
• Win by a Plurality

20. Bush vs Clinton ‘92
Bush’s defeat & graceful exit.

21. Election of 2000

22. G W H Bush in pictures

23. The USS George H. W. Bush
Most modern aircraft carrier in the US Navy
5,000 men
125 jets
Twin nuclear reactors
One of 13 aircraft carriers
On patrol in the Mediterranean

24. Bush in his Retirement

25. Evaluating the G H W Bush’s
Presidency

26. Bush 1’s Presidential Library

27. Bush Life in Review

28. Bush / Clinton Initiative
• Hurricane Katrina
• AIDS in Africa
• Fighting Malaria

29. Official White House Portrait
• Bush 1 Remembered?