1. George H. w. Bush

2. Background 41st President 1989-1993. Republican
Born in 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts.
Joined the Navy at 18, after Pearl Harbor
After the war, he attended Yale to study Economics
Later moved to Texas where he found success in the oil industry.
Millionaire by 40.
1945, married Barbara Pierce and had 6 kids, notably George and Jeb.

3. Political Beginnings
1968, Elected to US House of Representative and served two terms.
Later appointed to several important positions:
US ambassador to the United Nations
Director of the CIA –1976
Ran for president but didn’t get the nomination in 1980.
Chosen as Reagan’s VP for both terms

4. Election of 1988 George H.W. Bush (Rep) vs. Michael Dukakis (Dem)
VP: J. Danforth Quayle Potato
Promised to carry out Reagan’s programs
“Read my lips. No new taxes”
Attacked Dukakis as soft on crime.

5. Foreign Affairs: End of the Cold War
Changes in Eastern Europe
Gorbachev declared that he would no longer support communist governments in E. Europe with Soviet forces
Many countries become independent
Soviet Union collapses around 1990 and Boris Yeltsin elected President
Bush makes deals (START I & II) to reduce nukes

6. Persian Gulf War August 1990-February 1991
Iraq President Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait to gain control of oil there.
US gives deadline of January 15, 1991 to withdraw.
Operation Desert Storm (air assaults) begin on Jan 16, 1991.
U.S. led UN sanctioned effort to help Kuwait.
Ground war lasts 5 days in Feb. Entire conflict lasts 42 days
Ends with liberation of Kuwait

7. Panama –Operation Just Cause
Continuation of Reagan’s War on Drugs
Invasion of Panama to oust dictator of Panama, Manuel Noriega
Noriega was using Panama as a drug pipeline to US
US wanted to combat drug trafficking
Noriega captured and brought to US on drug charges
sentenced to 30 years in US prison

8. Domestic Policy Budget Deficit/Taxes
Federal deficits over $250 billion/year- over a trillion added to the national debt.
1990: Congress proposes $133 billion in new taxes
Recession of 1990: increases unemployment and decreases the average family income.
Cut military spending in post Cold War
Savings and Loan scandal
Misuse of funds by savings and loans institutions
$250 billion in bailouts to save weak banks

9. Domestic Policy Supreme Court Appointments
David Souter & Clarence Thomas
Both conservatives—scandal surrounding Thomas
Civil Rights
Rodney King in LA causes race riots 70 killed
Bush fails to take a strong stand in favor of King.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Prohibited discrimination against citizen with physical and mental disabilities