Vice President George H. W. Bush
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| Vice President George H. W. Bush | |
|---|---|
| Name | George H. W. Bush |
| Birth date | June 12, 1924 |
| Birth place | Milton, Massachusetts |
| Death date | November 30, 2018 |
| Death place | Houston, Texas |
| Office | 43rd Vice President of the United States |
| Term start | January 20, 1981 |
| Term end | January 20, 1989 |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Predecessor | Walter Mondale |
| Successor | Dan Quayle |
| Party | Republican Party |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Children | George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush, Dorothy Bush Koch |
Vice President George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States from 1981 to 1989 under President Ronald Reagan. A veteran of World War II and a graduate of Yale University, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, as United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Bush's vice presidency bridged Conservative Coalition politics, the unfolding Cold War détente, and the domestic debates of the 1980s involving the Reaganomics agenda and American diplomatic posture toward the Soviet Union.
Early life and career
Born in Milton, Massachusetts and raised in Kennebunkport, Maine, Bush was the son of oil company executive Prescott Bush and socialite Dorothy Walker Bush. As a teenager he enlisted in the United States Navy and became one of the youngest naval aviators in World War II, flying missions in the Pacific Theater and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. After service he attended Phillips Academy and later Yale University, where he was a member of the Skull and Bones society and played on the varsity baseball team alongside future public figures. Entering the Texas oil industry during the Post–World War II economic expansion, Bush co-founded Bush-Overbey Oil Development Company and later established himself in Houston energy circles, serving on boards of Dresser Industries and engaging with figures such as H. L. Hunt and A. J. "Doc" McGregor.
Political rise and vice presidential nomination
Bush's political career began with his 1964 candidacy for the United States Senate from Texas, where he lost to Ralph Yarborough. He was elected in 1966 to the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 7th congressional district, aligning with figures like Representative John Tower and Senator Lloyd Bentsen in regional politics. Appointed by President Richard Nixon as Ambassador to the United Nations in 1971, Bush later served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee and as Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office to the People's Republic of China under President Gerald Ford. Named Director of the Central Intelligence Agency by President Jimmy Carter's successor, Gerald Ford's appointments and confirmation debates featured interactions with senators such as Henry Kissinger and Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Bush's national profile culminated when Ronald Reagan selected him as his running mate for the 1980 United States presidential election, pairing Reagan's New Right coalition with Bush's ties to the Moderate Republicans and the eastern establishment.
Vice presidency (1981–1989)
As Vice President, Bush presided over the United States Senate and served on key presidential commissions, often representing the administration at events involving leaders like Margaret Thatcher, Helmut Kohl, and François Mitterrand. He chaired the Office of Soviet and East European Affairs delegations and attended summits such as the Geneva Summit (1985) where Reagan met Mikhail Gorbachev. His vice presidential staff included advisers with ties to Strategic Defense Initiative discussions and to trade policy debates involving the North American Free Trade Agreement precursors. Bush balanced ceremonial duties at the White House with substantive missions to countries including Nicaragua, Poland, and South Korea, often liaising with Pope John Paul II's envoys and with American military commanders like Colin Powell.
Policy initiatives and domestic roles
Domestically, Bush engaged with issues ranging from urban revitalization to homelessness, chairing task forces that interacted with the Department of Health and Human Services leadership and with nonprofit groups such as the United Way and the Urban League. He advocated for volunteerism through partnerships with the Points of Light Foundation and supported education-related initiatives involving National Endowment for the Humanities stakeholders. Bush worked on trade promotion with U.S. Chamber of Commerce executives and met regularly with Congressional leaders including Tip O'Neill and Robert Byrd to advance portions of the Reagan legislative agenda, while occasionally diverging on regulatory questions discussed with Paul Volcker and Alan Greenspan.
Foreign affairs and diplomatic responsibilities
Bush's foreign portfolio was extensive: he conducted high-level diplomacy with figures such as Anwar Sadat's successors in Egypt, negotiated rice and agricultural quotas with officials from Japan and South Korea, and dealt with crises involving Lebanon and the Persian Gulf. He represented the administration at the United Nations General Assembly and coordinated responses to events like the Soviet–Afghan War and the wider Middle East Peace Process. In intelligence oversight, he maintained relations with the Director of Central Intelligence and briefed Congressional committees including the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on covert action and counterterrorism matters involving groups like Hezbollah and Mujahedeen factions.
Relationship with President Ronald Reagan
Bush's relationship with President Reagan combined political partnership and rivalry. They collaborated on major initiatives such as the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 and the administration's defense buildup, while experiencing tensions during events like the Iran–Contra affair where advisors including Oliver North and John Poindexter became focal points. Personal chemistry between Reagan and Bush included frequent consultations in the Cabinet Room and shared appearances with allies such as William F. Buckley Jr. and Edwin Meese, yet Bush also cultivated independent foreign contacts with leaders like Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir.
Transition to 1988 presidential campaign and legacy
Bush used his vice presidency to launch a successful 1988 presidential campaign, capitalizing on endorsements from figures like George H. W. Bush (senior)'s allies, former advisors such as James Baker, and party leaders including Bob Dole and Jack Kemp. His campaign invoked his experience with foreign leaders and his ties to institutions like CIA and United Nations; after winning the 1988 United States presidential election, his vice presidency was reassessed by scholars of Cold War diplomacy, by reporters at outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, and by historians studying the transition from Reagan-era conservatism to post–Cold War policy. Bush's legacy as Vice President is preserved in archival collections at institutions including Yale University, the George Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M University, and in biographies by authors such as Jon Meacham and Connie Milstein.