Bush, George Herbert Walker (1924-...), served as president of the United States from 1989 to 1993. In 1988, he defeated the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, Governor Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts. In 1992, Bush was defeated in his bid for a second term by Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas, his Democratic opponent. Bush had served as vice president under President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989.
Bush became president at a time when many Americans were uncertain about their country's future. The federal government was badly in debt, the result of several years of budget deficits (shortages). In addition, the value of goods imported into the United States far exceeded the value of exports, leading many people to fear that the nation was becoming a second-rate economic power.
In the 1988 election, Bush took advantage of his association with Reagan, who was an extremely popular president. Bush profited as well from the fact that relations between the United States and the Soviet Union had improved greatly during the Reagan presidency.
As president, Bush led the nation during the Persian Gulf War of 1991, in which the United States and its allies defeated Iraq. He also signed important arms-control agreements with the Soviet Union and, after it broke apart, with Russia and other former Soviet republics. But critics claimed that Bush failed to deal effectively with economic and other problems in the United States.
Bush was the 14th former vice president who became president. Before his election as vice president, Bush had a long career of government service. A Texas Republican, he served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Bush also held several key appointed positions in the national government. These posts included U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (UN) and director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Bush was a successful businessman in the oil industry before entering politics. A native of New England, Bush was drawn to Texas by the booming oil industry. He worked his way up from equipment clerk to become president of an independent offshore oil drilling firm.
Bush liked sports, especially tennis and baseball. He also enjoyed boating, fishing, and spending time with his family at their vacation home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
