Life and times of President George H. W. Bush
Jun 12, 1924: George Herbert Walker Bush is born in Milton, Massachusetts. His father, Prescott Bush is an investment banker; his mother, Dorothy Walker is a daughter of a banker Education: Graduates from Phillips Academy Andover, an exclusive boarding school in Massachusetts, in 1942 1942-45: Serves in Navy as a fighter pilot during World War II. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism after being shot down in Tokyo Bay by Japanese 1945: Marries Barbara Pierce. Enrols at Yale University 1948: Graduates with degree in economics. At Yale he is initiated into secretive Skull and Bones society with name of Magog. After graduation, Bush, Barbara and two-year-old son George W. Bush move to Texas. Bush senior begins working in oil industry 1954: Becomes president of drilling equipment company, Zapata Off-shore Political career: Becomes Republican Party chairman in Harris County, Texas 1964: Bush defeated in his first bid for Senate seat 1966-70: Wins seat in House of Representatives. Serves on Ways and Means Committee. Supports Vietnam War 1970: Serves as ambassador to United Nations during presidency of Richard Nixon, first of a series of high-level positions 1973: Serves as chairman of Republican National Committee. Plays pivotal role during Watergate scandal, urging Nixon to resign after release of White House tapes. Nixon resigns presidency in August 1974 1974: President Gerald Ford appoints Bush as U.S. envoy to People’s Republic of China 1975-76: Serves as Director of Central Intelligence Agency. Family returns to Texas 1979: Iranian students storm U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. Bush announces his candidacy for President 1980: Ronald Reagan wins Republican nomination, Bush is chosen as his running mate 1981-89: Serves as Vice-president. Bush’s reputation is tarnished in 1986 by Iran-contra affair. Scandal involves administration secretly selling arms to Iran to free seven U.S. hostages held by Hezbollah in Lebanon. $18 million from arms sales is diverted to fund anti-communist Contra rebels in Nicaragua Jan 1989: George Bush is sworn in as 41st president of the United States. His Americans with Disabilities Act and Clean Air Act are welcomed as landmark civil rights and environmental legislation Nov: Berlin Wall falls. Bush pushes for German reunification Dec: Bush invades Panama and removes military dictator Manuel Noriega from power Bush meets with Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev at Malta Summit. Meeting is seen as key step towards ending Cold War Aug 1990: Iraq’s President Saddam Hussein invades oil-rich neighbour Kuwait. Bush condemns invasion and rallies coalition of 32 nations to liberate Kuwait Jan 17, 1991: Coalition aircraft attack Iraq. Ground assault to force Iraqi troops out of Kuwait begins on February 24 and lasts exactly 100 hours. Bush’s approval ratings surge Jul: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) is signed by Bush and Gorbachev in Moscow Dec: Soviet Union falls, marking end of Cold War Jan 1993: President Bill Clinton takes office Apr: Plot by Iraqi Intelligence Service to assassinate Bush during visit to Kuwait is foiled Post-presidency: After leaving office, former President Bush works with President Clinton to raise funds following catastrophic tsunami in Southeast Asia and Hurricane Katrina in Gulf of Mexico Jun 12, 2014: Bush marks his 90th birthday with a tandem parachute jump Nov 30, 2018: Former president Bush, age 94, passes away at his home in Houston, Texas. His death comes seven months after that of his wife, former first lady Barbara Bush