George Herbert Walker Bush was born on June 12, 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts, to Dorothy Walker Bush and Prescott Bush. His father was a Republican Senator for Connecticut, 1952-1962.
On his 18th birthday he enlisted in the armed forces. Bush was the youngest pilot in the Navy when he received his wings. He flew 58 combat missions during World War II. He was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire and was rescued from the water by a U. S. submarine. George Bush was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery for his service to his country.
Bush married Barbara Pierce in January 1945 . They had six children--George, Robin (who died as a child), John (known as Jeb), Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy.
Bush was elected a Senator from Connecticut in 1952. He served two terms as a Representative to Congress from Texas. His resume in public service is consummate: Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Chief of the U. S. Liaison Office in the People's Republic of China, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
In 1980, Ronald Reagan selected George Bush to be his running mate. On January 20, 1981, Mr. Bush was sworn in for the first of two terms as Vice President. It was during this tenure George Bush earned a reputation of loyalty and faith that would enable him to become the 41st president of the United States in 1988.
As Vice President Mr. Bush coordinated Administration efforts to combat international terrorism and wage the international war on drugs.
In 1988 Bush won the Republican nomination for President. He selected distant cousin Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana as his running mate. In November he defeated Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis.
As president George Bush brought to the White House a dedication to traditional American values. He was a precursor to the compassionate conservatism that his son would later peruse toward making the United States "a kinder and gentler nation."
President Bush demonstrated an inclination towards foreign policy, President Bush sent American troops into Panama to overthrow the corrupt regime of General Manuel Noriega. Noriega was brought to the United States for trial as a drug trafficker. He is serving a life sentence.
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1991, then threatened to move into Saudi Arabia. Bush rallied the United Nations, Congress, and the public. Some 425,000 American troops joined by 118,000 troops from allied nations defeated Iraq. The result was the 100-hour land battle dubbed Desert Storm.
Bushes popularity soon waned. Domestic issues as a faltering economy, violence in inner cities, and continued high deficit spending helped Democrat William Clinton defeat bush in his re-election bid 1992.