George W. Bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George W. Bush
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Official portrait, 2003
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| 43rd President of the United States | |
| In office January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009 |
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| Vice President | Dick Cheney |
| Preceded by | Bill Clinton |
| Succeeded by | Barack Obama |
| 46th Governor of Texas | |
| In office January 17, 1995 – December 21, 2000 |
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| Lieutenant |
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| Preceded by | Ann Richards |
| Succeeded by | Rick Perry |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Walker Bush
July 6, 1946 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Laura Welch
(m. 1977) |
| Children | |
| Parents | |
| Relatives | Bush family |
| Residences |
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| Education | |
| Civilian awards | Full list |
| Signature |  |
| Website |
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| Nickname | Dubya |
| Military service | |
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| Years of service | 1968–1974 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
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| Military awards |
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George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman. He served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. Before becoming president, he was the 46th governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.
George W. Bush is the oldest son of George H. W. Bush, who was the 41st president. In his twenties, George W. Bush flew warplanes in the Texas Air National Guard. After studying at Harvard Business School, he worked in the oil industry. He later helped own the Texas Rangers baseball team.
In 1994, he was elected governor of Texas. As governor, Bush worked on new laws for education and the justice system. He also helped Texas become a top producer of wind energy. In the 2000 presidential election, he won against Al Gore. This election was very close and involved a decision by the Supreme Court.
During his first term as president, Bush signed a big tax-cut program and an education law called the No Child Left Behind Act. He also started a program called the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to help fight the AIDS epidemic around the world.
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 greatly changed his presidency. These attacks led to the start of the war on terror and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Bush ordered the invasion of Afghanistan to remove the Taliban and find al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. He also signed the Patriot Act to help track suspected terrorists. In 2003, he ordered the invasion of Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power.
In 2004, Bush was re-elected president, winning the popular vote this time. In his second term, he worked on free trade agreements. He appointed John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. Bush faced criticism for how his government handled Hurricane Katrina. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continued, and in 2007, he sent more troops to Iraq. Towards the end of his presidency, the U.S. entered the Great Recession. His administration approved economic programs to help the country's financial system.
After his presidency, Bush returned to Texas and has mostly stayed out of public view. His approval ratings changed a lot during his time in office. They were very high after the September 11 attacks and very low during the financial crisis. Public opinion of him has improved since he left office.
Early Life and Career
George Walker Bush was born on July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut. He was the first child of George H. W. Bush and Barbara Pierce. He grew up in Midland and Houston, Texas. He has four younger siblings: Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy. His younger sister, Robin, died from leukemia when she was three years old. His paternal grandfather, Prescott Bush, was a U.S. senator. His father became the 41st U.S. president.
Education and Family Life
Bush went to public schools in Midland, Texas. He later attended The Kinkaid School in Houston. For high school, he went to Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. He played baseball and was a head cheerleader there.
From 1964 to 1968, Bush attended Yale University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. At Yale, he was also a cheerleader and a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He later joined the secret society Skull and Bones.
In 1973, Bush went to Harvard Business School. He graduated in 1975 with an MBA degree. He is the only U.S. president to have earned an MBA.
In 1977, George Bush met Laura Welch, a schoolteacher and librarian. They married on November 5, 1977. The couple settled in Midland, Texas. On November 25, 1981, they had twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna. Bush became a member of his wife's United Methodist Church. He enjoys reading, playing golf, and painting.
Military and Business Career
In May 1968, Bush joined the Texas Air National Guard. He trained for two years and then flew planes in Houston. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force Reserve in 1974. Bush is the most recent president to have served in the military.
In 1977, Bush started a small oil exploration company called Arbusto Energy. It later merged with other companies. In 1989, Bush helped a group of investors buy the Texas Rangers baseball team. He invested $500,000 and became a managing partner for five years. He was very involved with the team and often sat with fans at games. When he sold his shares in 1998, he earned over $15 million.
Texas Governor (1995–2000)
In 1994, Bush decided to run for governor of Texas. His campaign focused on four main ideas: welfare reform, crime reduction, and improving education. His brother, Jeb Bush, also ran for governor in Florida at the same time.
After winning the Republican primary, Bush ran against the popular Democratic governor, Ann Richards. Bush won the election with 53.5 percent of the vote. As governor, Bush signed a bill that allowed Texans to get permits to carry concealed weapons. He also approved the largest tax cut in Texas history, which was $2 billion.
In 1999, Bush signed a law that required electric companies to buy a certain amount of energy from renewable sources. This helped Texas become a leader in wind power. In 1998, Bush was re-elected governor with a record 69 percent of the vote. He was the first governor in Texas history to serve two four-year terms in a row. His approval ratings were very high.
During his first term, Bush became a focus of national attention as a possible future presidential candidate. After his re-election, he decided to run for president in 2000.
Presidential Campaigns
2000 Presidential Election
Bush presented himself as a "compassionate conservative," suggesting he was more moderate than other Republicans. He campaigned on promises to improve education, cut taxes, and increase the size of the military. The main competition in the Republican primary was with Arizona Senator John McCain. Bush won the Iowa caucuses but lost the New Hampshire primary to McCain. However, he gained momentum and became the front-runner after the South Carolina primary.
On July 25, 2000, Bush chose Dick Cheney as his running mate. Cheney had been a White House chief of staff and Secretary of Defense. Bush and Cheney were officially nominated by the Republican Party at the 2000 Republican National Convention.
The election results on November 7 were very close, especially in Florida. This led to a recount of votes. The outcome was debated in courts for a month. On December 9, the U.S. Supreme Court stopped a statewide hand recount in the controversial Bush v. Gore ruling. The machine recount showed Bush had won Florida by only 537 votes. Although Bush received fewer individual votes nationwide than Al Gore, he won the election with 271 electoral votes to Gore's 266. Bush was the first person since 1888 to win a U.S. presidential election while losing the popular vote.
2004 Presidential Election
In 2004, Bush ran for re-election and had strong support from the Republican Party. He did not face a primary challenge. His campaign manager was Ken Mehlman, and Karl Rove helped plan his political strategy.
The Bush campaign ran advertisements against Democratic candidates, including his main opponent, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. Kerry and other Democrats criticized Bush's handling of the Iraq War and the economy. The Bush campaign argued that Kerry lacked the strong leadership needed for the War on Terror.
In the election, Bush won 31 of the 50 states, getting 286 electoral votes. He also won the popular vote with 50.7 percent.
Presidency (2001–2009)
First Term, 2001–2005
As president, George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act. This was a major law to improve education in schools. He also signed large tax cuts, many of which helped middle and lower-income families. In 2004, he signed the Unborn Victims Of Violence Act. This law meant that if a pregnant woman was murdered, her killer could also be charged with killing the fetus she was carrying.
His first foreign policy challenge came when an American spy plane crashed in China. Bush successfully negotiated for the release of the plane's crew.
Eight months after Bush became president, the September 11 attacks happened. These were a series of terrorist attacks on the United States. Because of this, President Bush declared a "War on Terrorism." He took many steps to prevent future attacks. He ordered an invasion of Afghanistan in 2002. This was because Afghanistan's leaders were helping Osama bin Laden, who was responsible for the September 11 attacks.
Bush also asked Congress to do more to stop terrorism. As a result, Congress created the Department of Homeland Security. This government department works to prevent terrorist attacks and respond to emergencies like floods or diseases. He also signed the Patriot Act, which allowed the government to listen to phone calls to track down terrorists.
After Saddam Hussein refused to cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors, and Congress allowed it, Bush decided to invade Iraq in 2003 with several allies. Saddam Hussein was removed from power, and Iraq began to move towards a democracy.
Second Term, 2005–2009
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the United States. It was one of the most destructive hurricanes in American history, causing many deaths and billions of dollars in damage. George W. Bush signed laws to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
In the Iraq War, no weapons of mass destruction were found, which led to criticism of the Bush administration. Bush decided to send more American troops to Iraq in what was called "the surge." This helped reduce violence in Iraq.
Although the economy was strong for much of his presidency, it began to slow down in early 2008. Bush signed a bill that gave $600 to every American citizen, hoping they would spend the money and prevent a recession (a period of economic decline). Later in 2008, the stock market crashed, and the country entered its worst recession since the Great Depression. Bush helped create a $700 billion bailout program to help large businesses and prevent the recession from getting worse.
Bush supported Republican candidate John McCain in the 2008 presidential election, but Barack Obama won. Bush gave his farewell address during his last days as president. He was succeeded by Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.
Post-Presidency (2009–Present)
Life After the White House
After Barack Obama's inauguration, Bush and his family flew to a homecoming celebration in Midland, Texas. They then returned to their ranch in Crawford, Texas. They also bought a home in Dallas, Texas, where they now live.
Bush has made appearances at various events in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. He attended the opening of the new Cowboys Stadium and threw out the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game. He also threw the first pitch at Game 1 of the 2023 World Series. In 2013, Bush had a successful procedure to treat a heart blockage.
Bush has spoken about the importance of women's participation in politics in other countries. He has also given speeches and attended events, including the funeral of Senator Ted Kennedy. In 2009, he and his wife visited survivors and victims' families after the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.
Books and Public Statements
Bush released his memoirs, Decision Points, in November 2010. In the book, he said his biggest accomplishment was keeping the country safe after 9/11. He also defended his administration's interrogation techniques, saying he would use them again to save lives.
In 2012, Bush wrote the foreword for an economics book called The 4% Solution: Unleashing the Economic Growth America Needs. He also appeared in a video for the 2012 Republican National Convention to support Mitt Romney.
Bush has generally avoided publicly criticizing later presidents. However, he disagreed with President Obama's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq in 2011, calling it a "strategic blunder." In December 2013, Bush traveled with President Obama to the memorial service for Nelson Mandela.
In 2014, Bush published a biography about his father called 41: A Portrait of My Father. In 2015, he said that "boots on the ground" would be needed to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).
During the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries, Bush campaigned for his brother Jeb. However, he did not endorse Donald Trump after Trump won the nomination. Bush and Laura Bush attended Trump's inauguration in 2017.
In February 2017, Bush released a book of his own paintings of veterans called Portraits of Courage. The money from this book goes to the George W. Bush Presidential Center. In August 2017, after a white nationalist rally, Bush spoke about the importance of opposing bigotry and promoting American ideals.
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On September 1, 2018, Bush spoke at the funeral of John McCain. On November 30, his father, George H. W. Bush, passed away. Bush delivered a eulogy at his father's funeral on December 5.
In June 2020, Bush released a statement about the murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed. He wrote that he and Laura Bush were "anguished by the brutal suffocation of George Floyd and disturbed by the injustice and fear that suffocate our country." He also said that "Black people see the repeated violation of their rights without an urgent and adequate response from American institutions."
Bush did not endorse any candidate in the 2020 United States presidential election. He later said he wrote in Condoleezza Rice for president. When Joe Biden won the election, Bush congratulated him and his running mate Kamala Harris. He also congratulated Trump and his supporters.
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On January 6, 2021, after the U.S. Capitol attack, Bush condemned the violence. He said it was "a sickening and heartbreaking sight" and called it an "insurrection." Bush and his wife attended Biden's inauguration on January 20, 2021.
Bush opposed President Biden's decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan. He said it was a "mistake" and could "create a vacuum" for groups that treat women poorly. On the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in 2021, Bush gave a speech at the Flight 93 National Memorial. He praised the heroism of the people on Flight 93 and the American spirit.
Bush condemned the assassination attempt on former President Trump in July 2024. He called it "cowardly." He did not endorse any candidate in the 2024 United States presidential election but congratulated Trump and JD Vance on their victory.
Collaborations and Art
In January 2010, at President Obama's request, Bush and Bill Clinton created the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. This fund raised money for relief efforts after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
On May 2, 2011, President Obama called Bush to tell him that Osama bin Laden had been killed. The Bushes later joined the Obamas in New York City to mark the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
In September 2017, Bush worked with former presidents Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. They formed One America Appeal to help victims of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.
President Bush has a friendly relationship with Michelle Obama. They often sit together at official events. He famously offered her mints during the funerals of John McCain and his own father.
After his presidency, Bush started painting as a hobby. He has painted people, dogs, and still life scenes. He has also painted self-portraits and portraits of world leaders like Vladimir Putin and Tony Blair. In May 2019, he drew a portrait of former South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun for his family.
Legacy
George W. Bush's legacy is still being discussed today. Supporters say his policies prevented another major terrorist attack after 9/11. They also praise programs like the Medicare prescription drug benefit and the AIDS relief program (PEPFAR).
Critics often point to his handling of the Iraq War, especially the failure to find weapons of mass destruction. They also criticize his tax policies, his response to Hurricane Katrina, and his handling of the 2008 financial crisis.
Some historians believe Bush was one of the most important presidents in American history. His presidency saw the largest tax cuts since Ronald Reagan and a significant expansion of the federal government with homeland security reforms. Bush has been shown in many films and TV shows. He has also had nicknames like "Dubya" and "GWB."
Honors and Awards
A street in Tirana, Albania, was renamed after Bush before his visit in 2007. In 2012, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves gave Bush the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana for his work in expanding NATO. Two elementary schools in the U.S. are named after him: one in Stockton, California, and another in St. Paul, Texas.
See also
In Spanish: George W. Bush para niños
