GEORGE BUSH | 1989-1993
George Bush brought to the White House a dedication to traditional American values and a determination to make the United States "a kinder and gentler nation." In his inaugural address he pledged to use American strength as "a force for good."
George Herbert Walker Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, on June 12, 1924. He became a student leader at Phillips Academy in Andover, and on his 18th birthday he enlisted in the armed forces. The youngest pilot in the navy when he received his wings, he flew 58 combat missions during World War II. While on a mission over the Pacific as a torpedo bomber pilot his plane was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in action.
Bush returned from the war and went to Yale University, where he was captain of the baseball team and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. After graduation Bush embarked on a career in the oil industry of West Texas. He became interested in public service and politics and served two terms as a representative to Congress from Texas. Twice he ran unsuccessfully for the Senate. Then he was appointed to a series of high-level positions, including ambassador to the United Nations, chairman of the Republican National Committee and director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
In 1980 Bush became vice president under Ronald Reagan and in 1988 he won the presidency. As president, Bush faced a dramatically changing world. The Cold War had ended, the Berlin Wall had fallen and the Communist empire was broken up. The Soviet Union ceased to exist, and while Bush hailed the march of democracy, he insisted on restraint in U. S. policy toward the group of new nations. In other areas of foreign policy, he sent American troops into Panama to overthrow the corrupt regime that was threatening the security of the canal.
But Bush's greatest test came when Iraqi President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, then threatened to move into Saudi Arabia. Bush rallied the forces and sent 425,000 American troops. They were joined by 118,000 troops from allied nations. After weeks of air and missile bombardment, the 100-hour land battle, dubbed Desert Storm, routed Iraq's million-man army.
Despite unprecedented popularity from this military and diplomatic triumph, Bush was unable to withstand discontent at home from a faltering economy, rising violence in inner cities, and continued high deficit spending. In 1992 he lost his bid for re-election to Democrat William Clinton.
