President George H.W. Bush January 20, 1989 January 20, 1993 Created & edited by Steve Armstrong SHS, 1994-2006

President Bush Inaugural

Bush’s promises & dilemma “I want a kinder, gentler nation” “Read my lips, no new taxes.” Bush had to push through a tax increase in 1990, something for which he blamed Democrats This would come back to haunt him in 1992 Voter turnout declined even more 50% of registered voters cast ballots

War on illegal drugs Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign expanded into a new executive office of a Drug Czar Worked to create programs to rid the nation of the nation’s illegal drug problem

President Bush meets press

China Rebellion, June 1989 Chinese students staged a rebellion against communism Chinese government responded harshly President Bush only gave a muted response

Berlin Wall fell, Nov 1989

Predicted since 1940s Eastern and western Germany were united after the collapse of the Berlin Wall Several eastern European nations gained their freedom The USSR split into Russia and other free nations

Bush & Gorbachev

Panama Revolt, 1989 Gen. Noriega of Panama was involved in drug smuggling Noriega had been a CIA informant American federal courts indicted Noriega for drug trafficking Noriega was arrested

Bush & Pope John Paul II

Bush & Nelson Mandela

Clean Air Act, 1989 The updated law would reduce acid rain by 50% Pushed for more emissions controls Both Democrats and Republicans supported this law

Americans with Disabilities Bush signed the ADA in July 1989 The ADA mandated that states make more aggressive steps to provide accommodation to provide aid to those with disabilities

Bush came to Montana!!!

A new Air Force One

Iraq invaded Kuwait

Bush & Kuwait Amir

Bush with Joint Chiefs

Bush and Gen. Colin Powell

Bush ordered American forces to Saudi Arabia

Mobilizing for War Bush sent nearly 500,000 troops and support personnel to Saudi Arabia Bush gave Iraqi President Saddam Hussein a deadline to leave Iraq

Bush visited troops

War Plan

Bush announced the war Bush announced that USA air forces attacked Bagdad and other military sites War started on January 16, 1991

War ended February 23

Los Angeles, 1991 Rodney King was beaten by L.A. police Police officers were acquitted of police brutality This set of days of rioting in Los Angeles

Trucker Reginald Denny was nearly beaten to death

Businesses were looted

Rodney King’s request Rodney King asked that the riots cease “Can’t we just get along?” The riots ended America’s racial divide showed its ugly scar once again

Clarence Thomas President Bush nominated Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court Thomas was accused of sexual harassment by a former co-worker The hearings delved into Thomas’s sex life

Thomas was sworn in

Thomas nomination and hearing galvanized women More women ran for state and national office as a result of the Thomas hearings Women were offended at the harsh treatment of women by the men on the Senate confirmation panel

Illegal immigration issues,

And the debate