Historical Figure
George W. Bush
b. 1946
President of the United States from 2001 to 2009
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Biography
George Walker Bush is an American politician, businessman, and former U.S. Air Force officer who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party and the eldest son of the 41st president, George H. W. Bush, he served as the 46th governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.
In Their Own Words (5)
I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country. And I appreciated so very much the frank dialogue.
On Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin, in a press conference with Putin (16 June 2001) , 2001
There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again.
Speech in Nashville, Tennessee, (September 17, 2002), in which the president confused a centuries-old proverb ("Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.") , 2002
What we Republicans should stand for is growth in the economy. We ought to make the pie higher.
Republican primary debate in Columbia, South Carolina (February 15, 2000). , 2000
We must stop the terror. I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers. Thank you. Now watch this drive.
Statements to reporters during an interview on a golf course (August 4, 2002); publicized in the film Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) by Michael Moore, and also quoted at Common Ground (July 2004) , 2002
My pro-life position is I believe there's life. It's not necessarily based in religion. I think there's a life there, therefore the notion of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.
Quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle (January 23, 2001) , 2001
Timeline
The story of George W. Bush, told in moments.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut. His father is a Yale student and future president. His grandfather Prescott is a U.S. senator. George attends Phillips Academy Andover, then Yale, then Harvard Business School. He flies F-102s in the Texas Air National Guard. He'll later describe his years before 40 as "nomadic."
Elected governor of Texas, defeating the popular incumbent Ann Richards. He'd co-owned the Texas Rangers baseball team and turned a $606,000 investment into $15 million. As governor, he reforms education and tort law, and makes Texas the leading producer of wind-generated electricity in the country.
The Supreme Court halts the Florida recount in Bush v. Gore. He becomes the 43rd president with 271 electoral votes. He lost the popular vote to Al Gore by over 500,000. The entire election hinged on 537 votes in Florida.
Sitting in a Florida classroom reading "The Pet Goat" to second graders when Andrew Card whispers: "A second plane hit the second tower. America is under attack." Within a month he orders the invasion of Afghanistan. Within 18 months he signs the Patriot Act and creates the Department of Homeland Security.
Orders the invasion of Iraq, citing weapons of mass destruction. No WMDs are found. The war will last eight years, cost over a trillion dollars, and kill hundreds of thousands. His approval rating peaks at 90% after 9/11 and drops below 30% by the time he leaves office.
Leaves the White House with the lowest approval rating of any departing president in modern polling. Retires to Dallas. Takes up painting. His post-presidency portraits of veterans he sent to war are shown at the Kennedy Center in 2017. He attends every living-presidents gathering.
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