Jeb Bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeb Bush
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Bush in 2015
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| 43rd Governor of Florida | |
| In office January 5, 1999 – January 2, 2007 |
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| Lieutenant | Frank Brogan Toni Jennings |
| Preceded by | Buddy MacKay |
| Succeeded by | Charlie Crist |
| Secretary of the Florida Department of Commerce | |
| In office January 6, 1987 – September 9, 1988 |
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| Governor | Bob Martinez |
| Preceded by | Wayne Mixson |
| Succeeded by | Bill Sutton |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Ellis Bush
February 11, 1953 Midland, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, including George |
| Parents | |
| Relatives | See Bush family |
| Education | University of Texas, Austin (BA) |
| Signature |  |
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush (born February 11, 1953) is an American politician and businessman. He served as the 43rd governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a member of the famous Bush political family. His father was George H. W. Bush, the 41st U.S. President, and his older brother is George W. Bush, the 43rd U.S. President.
Bush grew up in Houston, Texas. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, he moved to Florida. There, he worked in real estate. In 1987, he became Florida's secretary of commerce. He later helped with his father's successful campaign for president in 1988.
In 1994, Bush ran for governor of Florida but lost a very close race. He ran again in 1998 and won, defeating Buddy MacKay. In 2002, he was re-elected, becoming the first Republican governor of Florida to serve two full terms. As governor, he worked on a plan to protect the Everglades, a famous wetland in Florida. He also made major changes to the state's education system.
In 2015, Bush announced he was running for President of the United States. He ended his campaign in February 2016 after the primary elections in the first few states.
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Early Life and Education
Jeb Bush was born on February 11, 1953, in Midland, Texas. His family moved to Houston, Texas when he was six. His nickname, "Jeb," comes from his initials: John Ellis Bush. He has an older brother, George, two younger brothers, Neil and Marvin, and a younger sister, Dorothy.
Like his father and older brother, Bush attended Phillips Academy, a boarding school in Andover, Massachusetts. By his senior year, he was on the honor roll and was the captain of the tennis team.
When he was 17, Bush went to a small village near León, Guanajuato, Mexico. He was part of a student exchange program where he taught English and helped build a school. During his time there, he met his future wife, Columba Garnica Gallo.
Instead of going to Yale University like many in his family, Bush chose the University of Texas at Austin. He graduated with high honors in just two and a half years with a degree in Latin American studies.
Business and Early Political Career
After college, Bush worked for a bank and was sent to Caracas, Venezuela, to help open a new branch. In the 1980s, he moved to Florida and started a career in real estate. He became a partner in a successful real estate development company.
Bush also became involved in politics in Florida. He was the chairman of the Dade County Republican Party. In 1987, Florida's governor, Bob Martinez, appointed Bush as the Secretary of Commerce. He held this job until 1988, when he left to help his father's presidential campaign.
In 1994, Bush ran for governor of Florida but lost a close election to the current governor, Lawton Chiles. After the election, he helped start Florida's first charter school.
Governor of Florida (1999–2007)
Bush ran for governor again in 1998 and won. He was re-elected in 2002, making him the first Republican governor in Florida's history to win two terms in a row.
During his time as governor, his brother, George W. Bush, won the presidency in 2000 after a very close election that included a recount in Florida. Jeb Bush did not take any official part in the recount process.
Economic and Environmental Policies
As governor, Bush's government lowered taxes by billions of dollars. The state's savings, or reserves, grew from $1.3 billion to $9.8 billion. This helped Florida get the highest possible bond rating, which is a measure of how financially healthy the state is.
Bush also focused on the environment. He signed a law in 2000 to help restore the Everglades. This was part of a large, $8 billion project with the U.S. government. His government also bought over one million acres of land to protect it from development.
Education Reforms
Bush made big changes to Florida's education system. His "A+ Plan" created higher standards for schools and required more testing for students. Schools were given grades from A to F based on their performance.
He was a strong supporter of school choice, which allows parents to choose the best school for their children. He started programs that gave families money, called vouchers, to help pay for private schools, especially for students in schools that were not performing well.
Other Actions as Governor
Bush signed Florida's "stand-your-ground" law in 2005. This was the first law of its kind in the country. It allows people to use force to defend themselves without first trying to run away.
He was a supporter of the death penalty, and 21 prisoners were executed while he was governor.
Bush often used his power as governor to veto, or reject, spending he did not agree with. He famously vetoed a plan to build a high-speed train system in Florida. He believed it would cost taxpayers too much money.
2016 Presidential Campaign
For many years, people thought Bush might run for president. On June 15, 2015, he officially announced he was running for the Republican nomination. He presented himself as a problem-solver who could work with different groups of people.
However, his campaign struggled to gain support. After finishing in fourth place in the South Carolina primary election, Bush ended his campaign on February 20, 2016. He later supported Senator Ted Cruz for the nomination.
Political Views
Bush is generally considered a conservative. Here are some of his views on important issues:
- Economy: He supports lower taxes and believes the government should spend less money. He also supports rules that require people on welfare to work.
- Education: He is a strong supporter of charter schools, school vouchers, and standardized testing for students.
- Immigration: He believes that people who are in the U.S. illegally should have a way to gain legal status, but not citizenship, if they meet certain requirements like paying fines and learning English.
- Environment: He has said that the climate is changing but has questioned how much of it is caused by humans.
- Gun Rights: He supports the rights of people to own guns and signed several laws protecting gun owners as governor.
Personal Life
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While on a student exchange program in León, Mexico, in 1970, Bush met Columba Garnica Gallo. They married in 1974. Bush speaks Spanish fluently. The couple lives in Coral Gables, Florida.
They have three children:
- George P., who is also a politician in Texas.
- Noelle, his only daughter.
- Jeb Jr., who works in real estate in Miami.
Bush was raised in the Episcopal Church but converted to Roman Catholicism in 1995.
Images for kids
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Bush greeting President Ronald Reagan in 1986.
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Bush as Florida Secretary of Commerce.
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Bush in Derry, New Hampshire on June 16, 2015.
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Bush's 2016 campaign logo.
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Bush with his father, President George H. W. Bush, greeting British Prime Minister John Major in 1991.
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Bush with his father greeting Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in 1991.
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Bush at the state funeral for his father in December 2018.
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See also
In Spanish: Jeb Bush para niños
