George H. W. Bush Facts & Worksheets

• In 1970, he gave up his House seat to run for the Senate again but lost to Democrat Lloyd Bentsen. After this, he was appointed US Ambassador to the United Nations, his first major foreign affairs role. There, he dealt with the Soviet Union and China and supported human rights efforts, even when it disagreed with President Nixon.
• In 1972, Bush became chairman of the Republican National Committee. He helped raise money, recruit candidates and promote the party in the media. At that time, the Watergate scandal was happening. Bush first defended Nixon but later worked to protect the Republican Party.
• After Nixon resigned in 1974, Bush became the head of the US office in China. He helped make relations with China better and learnt how important it is to handle international matters carefully. In 1976, President Ford appointed him Director of the CIA, where he worked to restore the agency’s reputation after the Vietnam War and Watergate. He left the CIA when Jimmy Carter became president in 1977. He then ran in the 1980 Republican presidential primaries but lost to Ronald Reagan. However, Reagan chose him as his vice-presidential running mate.
• From 1981 to 1989, Bush served as Vice President. He headed committees on deregulation and drug policies, helped with foreign affairs and represented the administration in Congress. In 1985, he briefly took on the duties of president while Reagan underwent surgery.

Presidency of George H.W. Bush (1989–1993)

• In 1988, George H.W. Bush campaigned for president promising ‘steady, experienced leadership’ and pledged not to raise taxes, famously saying, ‘read my lips: no new taxes’. He chose Senator Dan Quayle as his running mate to appeal to younger and conservative voters. Bush won against Democrat Michael Dukakis by a wide margin in the Electoral College, 426 to 111, helped by attacks on Dukakis’s record and image. He officially became president on 20 January 1989.
• During his term, the Cold War was ending, and communist governments in Eastern Europe were falling. He worked with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on reunifying Germany and reducing nuclear weapons. He also led the US in military actions abroad, sending troops to remove Panama’s leader Manuel Noriega and leading a coalition in the Gulf War to push Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. These successes made him very popular at first, with approval ratings reaching 89% after the Gulf War.
• In 1972, Bush became chairman of the Republican National Committee. He helped raise money, recruit candidates and promote the party in the media. At that time, the Watergate scandal was happening. Bush first defended Nixon but later worked to protect the Republican Party.
• After Nixon resigned in 1974, Bush became the head of the US office in China. He helped make relations with China better and learnt how important it is to handle international matters carefully. In 1976, President Ford appointed him Director of the CIA, where he worked to restore the agency’s reputation after the Vietnam War and Watergate. He left the CIA when Jimmy Carter became president in 1977. He then ran in the 1980 Republican presidential primaries but lost to Ronald Reagan. However, Reagan chose him as his vice-presidential running mate.
• From 1981 to 1989, Bush served as Vice President. He headed committees on deregulation and drug policies, helped with foreign affairs and represented the administration in Congress. In 1985, he briefly took on the duties of president while Reagan underwent surgery.

Presidency (1989–1993)

• In 1988, George H.W. Bush campaigned for president promising ‘steady, experienced leadership’ and pledged not to raise taxes, famously saying, ‘read my lips: no new taxes’. He chose Senator Dan Quayle as his running mate to appeal to younger and conservative voters. Bush won against Democrat Michael Dukakis by a wide margin in the Electoral College, 426 to 111, helped by attacks on Dukakis’s record and image. He officially became president on 20 January 1989.
• During his term, the Cold War was ending, and communist governments in Eastern Europe were falling. He worked with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on reunifying Germany and reducing nuclear weapons. He also led the US in military actions abroad, sending troops to remove Panama’s leader Manuel Noriega and leading a coalition in the Gulf War to push Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. These successes made him very popular at first, with approval ratings reaching 89% after the Gulf War.
• In the United States, the economy got worse, with rising unemployment and a big federal deficit. Bush worked to reduce the deficit, even agreeing to raise taxes, which upset many conservatives. He signed the Americans with Disabilities Act to protect disabled people, passed civil rights laws, and supported education and volunteer work with his ‘thousand points of light’ programme. He also appointed David Souter and Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court and passed laws to protect the environment.
• Bush ran for re-election in 1992. At first, he looked likely to win, but the economy was weak, his popularity went down, and some conservatives were unhappy with his tax decisions. Bill Clinton focused on the economy and won the election. A third-party candidate, Ross Perot, also took votes from both Bush and Clinton.

Domestic Policies:

• Signed the Americans with Disabilities Act to protect disabled people.
• Signed changes to the Clean Air Act to lower pollution.
• Raised taxes on the wealthy and cut spending to reduce the deficit.
• Strengthened workplace protections with the Civil Rights Act of 1991.
• Funded care and treatment for people with HIV/AIDS through the Ryan White Act.
• Signed the Oil Pollution Act to prevent environmental disasters.
• Appointed David Souter and Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court.
• Increased legal immigration and visas for skilled workers.
• Promoted education programmes for teachers and schools that improved results.
• Encouraged volunteer work through the ‘thousand points of light’ programme.

Foreign Policies:

• Worked with Gorbachev during the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe.
• Supported the reunification of Germany and its membership in NATO.
• Signed the START I treaty to reduce nuclear weapons.
• Led the invasion of Panama to remove dictator Manuel Noriega.
• Led the Gulf War to drive Iraq out of Kuwait.
• Worked out the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico.
• Built a partnership with Russia after the Soviet Union collapsed.
• Worked with the United Nations to enforce sanctions and maintain peace.

Post-Presidency

• When he left the White House in 1993, Bush and his wife Barbara built a house in Houston, Texas. He opened a small office there and often went to their holiday home in Kennebunkport, Maine. He also liked travelling to Greece, fishing in Florida and visiting clubs in California. He gave paid speeches and advised some companies, but mostly stayed out of business. He co-wrote a book about foreign policy called A World Transformed, and some of his letters and diary notes were later published.
• In 1993, while visiting Kuwait, Bush was the target of an assassination plan by Iraqi agents. President Bill Clinton fired missiles at Iraqi offices in response. Bush did not speak publicly about it, but he talked privately with Clinton beforehand.
• Bush watched his children’s political careers. In 1994, his sons George W. and Jeb ran for governor in Texas and Florida. George W. won and Jeb lost, though Jeb won later in 1998. Bush also supported George W.’s 2000 presidential campaign, but he did not campaign much or speak at the convention. George W. became president and was re-elected in 2004, making them the second father and son to both be president. 
• Bush spent much of his time helping charities and encouraging volunteers. He worked with Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter to raise money for victims of disasters like the 2004 tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.