George W. Bush Overview:
| Served as President | 2001 – 2008 |
| Party | Republican |
| Age at inauguration | 54 |
| Born | July 6, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut |
| Married | Laura Lane Welch Bush |
| Children | Jenna, Barbara (twins) |
| Nickname | W (pronounced “dubya”) |
Biography of President George W. Bush:
What is George W. Bush most known for?
George Bush is best known for being president during the September 11th terrorist attacks and ordering the invasion of Afghanistan in retaliation. The United States also invaded Iraq during the Bush presidency and overthrew dictator Saddam Hussein in the Second Gulf War.
George’s father is President George H.W. Bush. Bush. He was the second son of a president to become president, the other being John Adams’ son, John Quincy Adams.
Growing Up
George grew up in Texas with his five brothers and sisters. He was the eldest son and helped comfort his mother Barbara when his sister Robin died of leukemia. George loved sports and his favorite sport was baseball.
He attended high school in Massachusetts and then Yale University, majoring in history. He then earned an MBA from Harvard University in 1975. During the Vietnam War, George served in the Air National Guard and served as an F-102 fighter pilot.
Before He Became President
After earning his MBA, George returned to Texas and entered the energy industry. He also helped his father campaign for president and became a co-owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team. He loved baseball and enjoyed being involved with the team.
In 1994, George decided to follow in his father’s footsteps into politics. He ran for governor of Texas and won. He became a highly popular governor and easily won re-election in his second term in 1998. In 2000, he decided to use his popularity to run for president.
A Close Election
Mr. Bush was at odds with Bill Clinton’s Vice President Al Gore. The election was one of the closest in history. It reached Florida. The votes were counted and recounted. In the end, Bush won the state by just a few hundred votes.
George W. Bush’s Presidency
Immediately after President Bush’s election, the US economy was in trouble. The “dotcom” bubble erupted and many people lost their jobs and savings. But George will face another problem that will overshadow the economy during his presidency.
9/11 Terrorist Attacks
On September 11, 2001, Islamic terrorists known as Al Qaeda hijacked several airliners. Two planes crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City, causing them to collapse, and a third plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. was blown away In Pennsylvania, there was also a fourth hijacked plane that crashed after passengers valiantly tried to take control of the plane.
More than 3,000 people died in the attack. The American people feared more attacks were coming. President Bush decided to go on the offensive to prevent further attacks and capture Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The US immediately launched an invasion of Afghanistan to destroy the terrorist bases.
Iraqi War
President Bush also believed Iraq and its ruler Saddam Hussein were supporting terrorists. His advisers assumed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including chemical and nuclear weapons. When Iraq refused to comply with inspections (which it was supposed to do after its defeat in the first Gulf War), the US invaded.
The initial invasion was successful, but maintaining control of Iraq, rebuilding the country, and forming a new government proved extremely difficult. As losses mount and costs rise, Bush’s popularity begins to wane.
Second Term
Despite the unpopularity of the Iraq War, Mr. Bush won a second term in 2004. The unemployment rate began to improve, dropping to 5% by the end of 2006. In 2007, however, Bush lost support in Congress as Democrats won an overwhelming majority. His unemployment rate began to rise and his popularity reached a record low when he left office.
After Presidency
At the end of his second term, George and his wife Laura moved to Dallas, Texas. He mostly stayed out of public life, but after Haiti was devastated by an earthquake, he worked with President Bill Clinton on a relief effort for Haiti.
Interesting Facts about George W. Bush
Bush is the only president with a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
George’s grandfather, Prescott Bush, was a U.S. Senator.
As governor of Texas, he passed legislation to make Texas the largest wind energy producer in the United States.
He likes Mexican food, chocolate and ice cream. In 2005, a man threw a grenade at him and nearly killed him.
Luckily the grenade did not explode.
During his tenure, George was an avid jogger. He even ran a marathon once.