George W. Bush

Early Life and Business Career

George Walker Bush was born on July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut, but grew up in Texas. He graduated from Yale University in 1968 and Harvard Business School in 1975, becoming the first president to hold an MBA. Before entering politics, Bush worked in the oil industry, founding Arbusto Energy, and later became managing general partner of the Texas Rangers baseball team. His business ventures had mixed success, but he gained valuable experience that would later inform his political career.

Governor of Texas and Presidential Campaign

Bush served as Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000, implementing education reforms and working with the Democratic-controlled legislature. He won the Republican presidential nomination in 2000 and faced Vice President Al Gore in one of the closest elections in American history. The election was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court in Bush v. Gore, which halted the Florida recount, giving Bush the presidency despite losing the national popular vote by over 500,000 votes.

Response to 9/11 and War on Terror

Bush’s presidency was fundamentally shaped by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. His administration launched the War on Terror, invading Afghanistan to target Al-Qaeda and the Taliban government that harbored them. In 2003, Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq, claiming that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction and posed a threat to American security. The Iraq War became increasingly unpopular as no WMDs were found and casualties mounted, but Bush maintained his commitment to the mission throughout his presidency.

Controversial Decisions and Policies

The Iraq War became Bush’s most controversial legacy, with critics arguing it was based on faulty intelligence and diverted resources from Afghanistan. His administration’s use of enhanced interrogation techniques, including waterboarding, sparked debates about torture and American values. The government’s response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was widely criticized as inadequate, particularly regarding the suffering in New Orleans. Bush also faced criticism for the 2008 financial crisis, though he did sign the initial bank bailout legislation before leaving office.

Bushisms and Lighter Moments

Bush became famous for his verbal stumbles, known as “Bushisms,” including “Is our children learning?” and “I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.” He once famously choked on a pretzel while watching football, briefly losing consciousness. During a 2008 press conference in Iraq, a journalist threw both his shoes at Bush, who ducked with surprising agility and quipped, “All I can report is it is a size 10.” His friendship with Michelle Obama at public events became a beloved internet meme, showing their warm interactions despite political differences.