George W. Bush

George W. Bush
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Name	George W. Bush
Caption	Official portrait, 2003
Order	43rd
Office	President of the United States
Term start	January 20, 2001
Term end	January 20, 2009
Vicepresident	Dick Cheney
Predecessor	Bill Clinton
Successor	Barack Obama
Order2	46th
Office2	Governor of Texas
Term start2	January 17, 1995
Term end2	December 21, 2000
Lieutenant2	Bob Bullock (1995–1999), Rick Perry (1999–2000)
Predecessor2	Ann Richards
Successor2	Rick Perry
Birth name	George Walker Bush
Birth date	6 July 1946
Birth place	New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Party	Republican
Spouse	Laura Welch, 1977
Children	Barbara and Jenna
Education	Yale University (BA), Harvard University (MBA)
Allegiance	United States
Branch	Texas Air National Guard, Alabama Air National Guard
Serviceyears	1968–1974
Rank	First Lieutenant

George W. Bush served as the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009, after previously serving as the 46th Governor of Texas. His presidency was defined by the September 11 attacks and the subsequent War on Terror, which included the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. Domestically, he signed major legislation such as the No Child Left Behind Act and oversaw the response to Hurricane Katrina and the 2007–2008 financial crisis.

Early life and career

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, he is the eldest son of George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush. He was raised primarily in Midland, Texas and Houston, and later earned a degree in history from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. During the Vietnam War, he served as an F-102 pilot in the Texas Air National Guard and the Alabama Air National Guard. His early business career included founding the Arbusto Energy oil company and later becoming a managing partner of the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball franchise. His political career began with an unsuccessful run for the United States House of Representatives in 1978, but he later won the 1994 Texas gubernatorial election, defeating incumbent Ann Richards.

Presidency

His presidency began after a highly contested 2000 election that was ultimately decided by a Supreme Court ruling regarding Florida's electoral votes. The defining event of his tenure was the September 11 attacks by al-Qaeda, which led to the creation of the United States Department of Homeland Security and the authorization of the USA PATRIOT Act. He ordered the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban and, in 2003, the 2003 invasion of Iraq based on intelligence about weapons of mass destruction. Domestically, he signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act, the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, and large tax cuts. His second term was marked by the criticized federal response to Hurricane Katrina, the 2007–2008 financial crisis, and the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Post-presidency

Since leaving the White House, he has focused on writing memoirs, including Decision Points, and painting. He established the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, which houses his presidential library and the George W. Bush Institute, a public policy think tank. He has occasionally engaged in humanitarian work, notably with the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief program he launched, and has made appearances for fellow Republicans, though he has generally remained less active in day-to-day politics than some predecessors. He awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to figures like Bono and collaborated with former President Bill Clinton on disaster relief efforts.

Public image and legacy

His public image remains deeply polarized, often defined by the War on Terror and the Iraq War. Supporters credit him with strong leadership after September 11 attacks and promoting freedom and democracy abroad, while critics point to the protracted conflicts, the Abu Ghraib scandal, and the handling of Hurricane Katrina. His domestic policies, such as the No Child Left Behind Act and the Bush tax cuts, also generate significant debate among economists and educators. Historians' rankings of his presidency have varied, often placing him in the lower tiers, though some assessments have noted a modest reassessment over time regarding his administration's HIV/AIDS initiatives.

Personal life

He married Laura Welch, a former teacher and librarian, in 1977, and they have twin daughters, Barbara Pierce Bush and Jenna Bush Hager. He is a committed Methodist and has spoken openly about how his faith helped him quit drinking alcohol in 1986. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys mountain biking and clearing brush at his Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas. Since his presidency, he has taken up oil painting, producing portraits of world leaders and veterans, and published a book of his artwork titled Portraits of Courage.

Category:Presidents of the United States Category:Governors of Texas Category:1946 births Category:Living people