George
W. Bush From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia George Walker Bush 43rd
President of the United States Incumbent In office since January 20,
2001 Vice President(s) Dick Cheney Preceded by Bill Clinton Born July
6, 1946 New Haven, Connecticut, USA Political party Republican Spouse
Laura Welch Bush Religion Methodist Signature George Walker Bush (born
July 6, 1946) is the 43rd President of the United States, inaugurated
on January 20, 2001. He was re-elected in 2004 and is currently serving
his second term. He formerly served as the 46th Governor of Texas from
1995 to 2000. A Republican, he belongs to one of the most politically
influential American families, being the son of former President George
H. W. Bush and elder brother of Jeb Bush, the present Governor of Florida.
Bush was an entrepreneur
in the oil industry in Texas and an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S.
House of Representatives in 1978. After working on his father's presidential
campaign, he purchased a share of the Texas Rangers baseball team, and
in 1994 he was elected Governor of Texas. As governor, Bush worked on
education reform, school finance and tort reform and sponsored the largest
tax cut program in Texas history. Re-elected in 1998, he was one of
the most popular governors in the nation. Bush won the 2000 presidential
election as the Republican candidate in a close and controversial contest,
despite losing the popular vote. As President, Bush pushed through a
$1.3 trillion tax cut program and the No Child Left Behind Act, and
has made efforts to privatize Medicare and Social Security. Bush has
also pushed for socially conservative efforts such as the Partial-Birth
Abortion Ban Act, faith-based welfare initiatives, the Palm Sunday Compromise
and the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment, which aims to federally
restrict marriage rights to marriages between a man and a woman, and
thus prevent recognition of same-sex marriage in the United States.
Following the terrorist
attacks on September 11, 2001, Bush (re)declared a global War on Terrorism
and ordered the invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban and
expel Al-Qaeda.[1] His response to 9/11 led to an immediate surge in
his popularity. Following a failed attempt at convincing Saddam Hussein
diplomatically to yield to further weapons inspections, Bush ordered
an invasion of Iraq, although the inspections that were in progress
at the time had not yet concluded and the specifically designated Weapons
of Mass Destruction that the Coalition of the Willing invaded to capture
have never been found. Following the overthrow of Hussein's regime,
Bush committed the U.S. to establishing democracy in the Middle East,
and specifically in both Afghanistan and Iraq in the short term. A self-described
"war President",[2] Bush won re-election in 2004 after an
intense and heated election campaign, becoming the first candidate to
win a majority vote in 16 years, as well as the largest tally of votes
for any presidential candidate. Since re-election in 2004, Bush has
received increasingly heated criticisms for his management of the war,
as well as domestic issues, which have caused his popularity to decline.
Contents [hide]
1 Early life 2 Governor of Texas 3 2000 presidential election 4 First
term 4.1 Domestic policies 4.1.1 Economic policies 4.2 Foreign policies
4.2.1 Wars 5 Campaign for re-election 6 Second term 6.1 Domestic agenda
6.2 Foreign policy 7 Criticism and public perception 8 See also 9 References
10 External links 10.1 Official 10.2 Speeches: audio and transcripts
Early life Main
articles: Early life of George W. Bush, Professional life of George
W. Bush Lt. George W. Bush in his National Guard uniform.Born in New
Haven, Connecticut, Bush is the eldest son of George H. W. Bush and
his wife Barbara Bush. His family moved to Texas when he was two years
old. He was raised in Midland and Houston, Texas with his four siblings,
Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy. Another younger sister, Robin, died
in 1953 at age three from leukemia.[3] Bush's grandfather, Prescott
Bush, was a U.S. Senator, and his father served as U.S. President from
1989 to 1993. His brother Jeb is a two-term governor of Florida. The
Bush family has long-standing and strong involvement in the U.S. Republican
Party.
Bush attended the
Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and, following in his father's
footsteps, was accepted into Yale University, where he received a Bachelor
of Arts degree in history in 1968. At the same time, he worked in various
Republican campaigns, including his father's 1964 and 1970 Senate campaigns
in Texas. As a college senior, Bush became a member of the secretive
Skull and Bones society. By his own characterization, Bush was an average
student.[4]
In May 1968, at
the height of the ongoing Vietnam War, Bush was accepted into the Texas
Air National Guard. After training, he was assigned to duty in Houston,
flying Convair F-102s out of Ellington Air Force Base.[5] Throughout
his political career, Bush has been criticized over his induction and
period of service. Critics allege that Bush was favorably treated due
to his father's political standing, and that he was irregular in attendance.
Bush took a transfer to the Alabama Air National Guard in 1972 to work
on a Republican senate campaign, and in 1974 he obtained permission
to end his six-year service obligation six months early to attend Harvard
Business School, receiving an honorable discharge.
There are a number
of accounts of substance abuse and otherwise disorderly conduct by Bush
from this time. Bush has described this period of his life as his "nomadic"
period of "irresponsible youth" and admitted to drinking "too
much" in those years.[6] On September 4, 1976, near his family's
summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine, Bush was arrested for driving under
the influence of alcohol, having been drinking with former Australian
world number-one tennis player John Newcombe and his former advisor,
Raphael Rosenast. He pled guilty, was fined $150, and had his driver's
license suspended for 30 days within Maine.[7][8]
After obtaining
an MBA from Harvard, Bush entered the oil industry in Texas, working
in the companies of his father's business allies and contacts. In 1977,
he was introduced by friends to Laura Welch, a young schoolteacher and
librarian. After three months of courting, Bush married Laura and settled
in Midland. His twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, were born in 1981.
Bush also left his family's Episcopalian Church to join his wife's Methodist
Church.
George and Laura
Bush with their daughters, Jenna and Barbara, in 1990.In 1978, Bush
ran for the U.S. House of Representatives from the 19th Congressional
District. Facing Kent Hance of the Democratic Party, Bush stressed his
energy credentials and conservative values in the campaign. However,
Hance also held many conservative views, opposing gun control and strict
regulation; he successfully portrayed Bush as being out of touch with
rural Texans. Bush campaigned hard and was an effective fundraiser,
but lost by 6,000 votes. Hance later became a Republican and donated
money to Bush's campaign for Governor of Texas in 1993.[9]
Bush returned to
the oil industry, becoming a senior partner or chief executive officer
of several ventures, such as Arbusto Energy, Spectrum 7, and Harken
Energy. These ventures suffered from the general decline of oil prices
in the 1980s that had affected the industry and the regional economy,
but he remained active through mergers, acquisitions and consolidations
of his firms. Faced with serious drinking issues and difficulties in
his professional and personal life, Bush abandoned his socializing lifestyle
and began attending church regularly. In 1986, he quit drinking alcohol,
and, following a personal meeting and exchange with Reverend Billy Graham,
he became a born-again Christian.[6] Bush studied the Bible and Christian
philosophy, participating in church and community study groups.
Bush moved with
his family to Washington, D.C. in 1988, to work on his father's campaign
for the U.S. presidency. He worked with Lee Atwater and Doug Wead to
develop and coordinate a political strategy for courting conservative
Christians and evangelical voters, who were seen as key to winning the
nomination and the election. Delivering speeches at rallies and fundraisers,
Bush met with representatives of conservative and religious organizations
on behalf of his father.
Returning to Texas,
Bush purchased a share in the Texas Rangers baseball franchise in April
1989, where he served as managing general partner of the Rangers for
five years. He was active in the team's media relations and in securing
the construction of a new stadium, which opened in 1994 as The Ballpark
in Arlington. Bush actively led the team's projects and regularly attended
its games, often choosing to sit in the open stands with fans. Bush's
role with the Rangers gave him prominent media exposure and attention,
as well as garnering public, business and political support. The Rangers
were mostly successful while Bush led the team. During his tenure, the
Rangers acquired Hall-of-Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, who was popular with
the fans during the last years of his career. The team nearly won its
first division title in 1994, before a strike shortened the season.
Bush presided over the trade of the eventually famous Sammy Sosa. The
eventual sale of Bush's share in the Texas Rangers brought him over
$15 million from his initial $800,000 investment.
George W. Bush is
the first president to have run a marathon. Before running for governor
of Texas he completed the 1993 Houston Marathon in 3:44:52 for a pace
of about 8:36/mile. He had been running since he was 26 and, before
taking office, ran 15 to 30 miles a week.
Governor of Texas
Bush portrait as Governor of Texas.With his father's election in 1988,
speculation had arisen amongst Republicans that Bush would enter the
1990 gubernatorial election, but this was offset by Bush's purchase
of the Rangers baseball team and personal concerns regarding his own
record and profile. Following his success as owner and manager of the
Rangers, Bush declared his candidacy for the 1994 election, even as
his brother Jeb first sought the governorship of Florida. Winning the
Republican primary easily, Bush faced incumbent Governor Ann Richards,
a popular Democrat who was considered the easy favorite, given Bush's
lack of political credentials.
Bush was aided in
his campaign by a close coterie of political advisors that included
Karen Hughes, a former journalist who was his communications advisor;
John Allbaugh, who became his campaign manager, and Karl Rove, a personal
friend and political activist who is believed to have been a strong
influence in encouraging Bush to enter the election. Bush's aides crafted
a campaign strategy that attacked Governor Richards' record on law enforcement,
her political appointments, and her support of liberal political causes.
Bush developed a positive image and message with themes of "personal
responsibility" and "moral leadership". His campaign
focused on issues such as education (seeking more accountability for
schools over student performance), crime, deregulation of the economy,
and tort reform. The Bush campaign was criticized for using controversial
methods to disparage Richards. However, following an impressive performance
in the debates, Bush's popularity grew. He won with 52 percent against
Richards' 47 percent.[10]
As governor, Bush
successfully sponsored legislation for tort reform, increased education
funding, set higher standards for schools, and reformed the criminal
justice system. School finance was considered a sensitive issue at the
time by politicians and the press. The state financed its school system
through property taxes. Seeking to reduce the high rates to benefit
homeowners while increasing general education funding, Bush sought to
create business taxes, but faced vigorous opposition from his own party
and the private sector. Failing to obtain political consensus for his
proposal, Bush used a budget surplus to push through a $2 billion tax-cut
plan, which was the largest in Texas history and cemented Bush's credentials
as a pro-business fiscal conservative.[11]
Bush also pioneered
faith-based welfare programs by extending government funding and support
for religious organizations providing social services such as education,
alcohol and drug abuse prevention, and reduction of domestic violence.
Governor Bush signed a memorandum on April 17, 2000 proclaiming June
10 to be Jesus Day in Texas, a day where he "urge(d) all Texans
to answer the call to serve those in need."[12] Although Bush was
criticized by some for violating the constitutional separation of church
and state, his initiative was consistent with his personal faith and
was popular with most people across the state, especially religious
and social conservatives.
In 1998, Bush won
re-election in a landslide victory with nearly 69% of the vote, becoming
the first Texas governor to be elected for two consecutive four-year
terms (before 1975, the gubernatorial term of office was two years).[13]
2000 presidential
election Main article: United States presidential election, 2000 After
a close campaign, Al Gore greets President-elect Bush at the White House
in late December of 2000.As one of the most popular governors in the
nation, Bush was seen in the media and the Republican Party as a strong
potential contender for the U.S. presidential election in 2000. Bush
had personally envisioned running for the presidency since his re-election,
and upon announcing of his candidacy, he immediately became the Republican
front-runner and raised the largest amount in campaign funds.
Bush labeled himself
a "compassionate conservative", a term coined by University
of Texas professor Marvin Olasky, and his political campaign promised
to "restore honor and dignity to the White House", in reference
to the disenchantment with the incumbent Bill Clinton over his affair
with Monica Lewinsky. Bush proposed lowering taxes in response to a
projected surplus, while promising a balanced budget. He supported participation
of religious charities in federally funded programs, and promoted education
vouchers, national education reform, oil drilling in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge, and structural changes to the United States armed forces.
Bush's foreign policy campaign platform supported a stronger economic
and political relationship with Latin America and especially Mexico,
free trade and reduced involvement in "nation-building" and
other minor military engagements indirectly related to U.S. interests.
Bush also pledged to expand the National Missile Defense initiative
and to reform Social Security and Medicare.
Bush's campaign
was managed by Rove, Hughes and Albaugh, as well as by other political
associates from Texas. He was endorsed by a majority of Republicans
in 38 state legislatures. After winning the Iowa caucus, Bush was handed
a surprising defeat by U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona in the New
Hampshire primary. During his campaign, Bush was criticized for visiting
the controversial Bob Jones University, which bore a reputation for
a bias against Catholicism and a ban on interracial dating.[14] Bush
captured nine of thirteen Super Tuesday state primaries, effectively
clinching the Republican nomination. He chose Dick Cheney, a former
U.S. Representative and Secretary of Defense, as his running mate. His
campaign was endorsed by prominent Republicans such as Donald Rumsfeld
and Colin Powell, who assumed roles as advisors on issues of national
security and foreign relations. While stressing his successful record
as governor of Texas, Bush's campaign attacked the Democratic nominee,
incumbent Vice President Al Gore, over gun control and taxation. Bush
criticized the Kyoto Protocol, championed by Gore, citing the decline
of the industries in the midwestern states, such as West Virginia, and
resulting economic hardships.
In the televised
Republican presidential debate held in Des Moines, Iowa on December
13, 1999, all of the participating candidates were asked "What
political philosopher or thinker do you most identify with and why?"
Unlike the other candidates, who cited former Presidents and other political
figures, Bush responded, "Christ, because he changed my heart."
Bush's appeal to religious values is believed to have aided his election,
since those who said they "attend church weekly" gave him
56% of their vote in 2000 (and 63% of their vote in 2004).[15]
On election day,
November 7, 2000, Bush won key midwestern states such as Ohio, Missouri,
and Arkansas. He also clinched Gore's home state of Tennessee, New Hampshire,
and the erstwhile Democratic bastion of West Virginia. Television networks
initially called the state of Florida for Gore, then withdrew that projection
and later called the state, along with the entire election, for Bush.
Finally, it was declared that the results were too close to call. Sometime
after the networks reported that Bush had won Florida, Gore conceded
the election, and then rescinded that concession less than one hour
later. The vote count, which favored Bush in preliminary tallies, was
contested over allegations of irregularities in the voting and tabulation
processes. Because of Florida state law, a state-wide machine recount
was ordered. Although it narrowed the gap, the recount still left Bush
in the lead. Eventually, four counties in Florida which had large numbers
of presidential undervotes began a manual hand recount of ballots. On
December 8, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that every county with a
large number of undervotes would perform a hand recount. On December
9, in the Bush v. Gore case, the U.S. Supreme Court stopped the statewide
hand recount. The machine recount showed that Bush had won the Florida
vote, giving him 271 electoral votes to Gore's 266; Bush carried 30
of the 50 states.[16]
First term Main
article: George W. Bush's first term as President of the United States
President George W. Bush was regarded by his political opponents and
many in the media as lacking a popular mandate, having lost the popular
vote. Upon assuming office, Bush appointed Andrew Card as his chief
of staff, Karl Rove as his political advisor and Karen Hughes as White
House communications director. He appointed Colin Powell as Secretary
of State, Paul O'Neill as Secretary of the Treasury, and Donald Rumsfeld
as the Secretary of Defense.
His appointment
of former Senator John Ashcroft as Attorney General was intensely criticized
by Democrats because of Ashcroft's opposition of abortion and support
for social and religious conservative causes concerning gay rights and
capital punishment. Despite this, Ashcroft was confirmed, and Bush was
lauded by conservatives.
Domestic policies
Main article: Domestic policy of the George W. Bush administration Bush
signs the No Child Left Behind Act into law.On his first day in office,
Bush moved to block federal aid to foreign groups that offered counseling
or any other assistance to women in obtaining abortions.[17] Bush also
successfully pushed for the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, enacted
in 2003 with bi-partisan support but criticized by pro-choice groups
as incursive on legalized abortion rights.
Days into his first
term, Bush announced his commitment to channeling more federal aid to
faith-based service organizations. At the time, critics feared this
would dissolve the traditional separation of church and state.[18][19]
Bush created the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
to assist faith-based service organizations.
Following a national
furor over the recognition of same-sex marriages in San Francisco and
Massachusetts, Bush announced his opposition to the recognition of same-sex
marriage, but supported allowing states to provide civil unions. He
endorsed the Federal Marriage Amendment to the United States Constitution,
which would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
Bush staunchly opposes
euthanasia. He supported Ashcroft's decision to file suit against the
voter-approved Oregon Death with Dignity Act, which was ultimately decided
by the Supreme Court in favor of the Oregon law.[20] However, as governor
of Texas, Bush had signed a law which gave hospitals the authority to
take terminally ill patients off of life support against the wishes
of their spouse or parents, if the doctors deemed it medically appropriate.[21]
This became an issue in 2005, when the President signed controversial
legislation forwarded and voted on by only three members of the Senate
to initiate federal intervention in the court battle of Terri Schiavo.[22]
Bush's domestic
agenda carried forward themes of increased responsibility for performance
from his days as Texas governor, and he worked hard to lobby the adoption
of the No Child Left Behind Act, with Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy
as chief sponsor. The legislation aims to close the achievement gap,
measures student performance, provides options to parents with students
in low-performing schools, and targets more federal funding to low-income
schools. Bush also increased funding significantly for the National
Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, creating education
programs to strengthen the grounding in science and mathematics for
American high school students.
Bush promoted increased
de-regulation and investment options in social services, leading Republican
efforts to pass the Medicare Act of 2003, which added prescription drug
coverage to Medicare and created Health Savings Accounts, which would
permit people to set aside a portion of their Medicare tax to build
a "nest egg". Bush said the law, estimated to cost US$400
billion over the first 10 years, would give the elderly "better
choices and more control over their health care".[23]
In wake of the Columbia
space shuttle disaster, on January 14, 2004 Bush announced a major re-direction
for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.[24] Known as
the Vision for Space Exploration, it calls for the completion of the
International Space Station by 2010 and the retirement of the space
shuttle while developing a new spacecraft called the Crew Exploration
Vehicle under the title Project Constellation. The CEV would be used
to return American astronauts to the Moon by 2018.
In a televised address
on August 9, 2001, Bush announced a national policy on stem cell research
that authorized funding and research work, with federal restrictions
over the use of human embryos.
Economic policies
Facing opposition in Congress, Bush held town hall-style public meetings
across the nation to increase public support for his plan for a $1.3
trillion tax cut. Bush and his economic advisors argued that unspent
government funds should be returned to taxpayers. With reports of the
threat of recession from Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Bush
argued that such a tax cut would stimulate the economy and create jobs.
In the end, five Senate Democrats crossed party lines to join Republicans
in approving Bush's $1.35 trillion [25] tax cut program — one
of the largest in U.S. history. This was regarded as a major political
victory given Bush's controversial election.
During his first
term, Bush sought and obtained Congressional approval for three major
tax cuts: the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001,
Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, and Jobs and Growth
Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. These cuts reduced taxes for
almost every taxpayer, including reducing the lowest tax bracket, increasing
the child tax credit, and eliminating the so-called "marriage penalty".
Arguably, cuts were distributed disproportionately to higher income
taxpayers through a decrease in marginal rates, but the change in marginal
rates was greater for those of lower income, resulting in an income
tax structure that was more progressive overall. However, complexity
was increased with new categories of income taxed at different rates
and new deductions and credits; at the same time, the number of individuals
subject to the alternative minimum tax increased since it had remained
unchanged.
Federal spending
in constant dollars increased under Bush by 26% in his first four and
one-half years. The tax cuts, a recession, and significant increases
in military and domestic outlays all contributed to record budget deficits.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate based on the Household Survey
started at 4.7% in January 2001, peaked at 6.2% in June 2003, and retreated
to 4.6% in May 2006.[1] The New York Stock Exchange traded for a record
61 consecutive trading sessions above 11,000.
Bush's imposition
of a tariff on imported steel and on Canadian softwood lumber was controversial
in light of his advocacy of free market policies in other areas; this
attracted criticism both from his fellow conservatives and from nations
affected. The steel tariff was later rescinded under pressure from the
World Trade Organization. A negotiated settlement to the softwood lumber
dispute was reached in April 2006, and the historic seven-year deal
was finalized on July 1, 2006.
Foreign policies
Main article: Foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration Bush,
President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, and former Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at the Red Sea Summit in Aqaba, Jordan on
June 4, 2003.Public perceptions of Bush were reputedly of lacking interest
in foreign affairs. However, the Bush Administration implemented major
changes in U.S. foreign policy by withdrawing its participation in the
1998 Kyoto Protocol (although in 1998 the Senate vote to participate
in the treaty was 0 for and 95 against) and the 1972 Anti-Ballistic
Missile Treaty with Russia, in order to pursue national missile defense.[26]
International leaders also criticized the U.S. for withdrawing support
for the International Criminal Court soon after he assumed the presidency.
The U.S. voiced concern that the court could conceivably co-opt the
authority of the United States' judicial system.[27] Although lauded
by Republicans and conservatives, global public opinions rose against
U.S. policies and its status the world's sole superpower, which presented
a hegemonistic image. Bush publicly condemned Kim Jong-Il of North Korea
and his Stalinist regime. Bush also undertook bold actions by expressing
U.S. support for the defense of Taiwan following the stand-off in March
2001 with the People's Republic of China over the crash between an EP-3E
American spyplane and a Chinese air force jet, leading to the detention
of U.S. personnel. In 2003-04, Bush authorized U.S. military intervention
in Haiti and Liberia to restore order and oversee a transition to democracy.
Bush emphasized
a "hands-off" approach to the conflict between Israel and
Palestine in wake of rising violence and the failure of the Clinton
Administration's efforts to negotiate. Bush specifically disowned Palestinian
leader Yasser Arafat for his support of the violence and militant groups,
but following urgings from European leaders, he became the first American
President to embrace a two-state solution envisaging an independent
Palestine existing side-by-side with Israel. Bush sponsored dialogue
between Prime Ministers Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas but continued
his boycott of Arafat. Bush also supported Sharon's unilateral disengagement
plan, and lauded the democratic elections held in Palestine following
Arafat's death.
In his State of
the Union Address in January 2003, Bush outlined a five-year strategy
for global emergency AIDS relief, the President's Emergency Plan For
AIDS Relief. Bush announced $15 billion for this effort—$3 billion
per year for five years—but has requested less in annual budgets,
though some members of Congress have added amendments to increase the
requested amounts. The emergency relief effort is led by U.S. Ambassador
Randall L. Tobias, former CEO of Eli Lilly and Global AIDS Coordinator
at the Department of State. $9 billion is allocated for new programs
in AIDS relief for the 15 countries most affected by HIV/AIDS. Another
$5 billion will go to continuing support of AIDS relief in 100 countries
where the U.S. already has bilateral programs established. An additional
$1 billion will go to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Malaria. Almost one quarter of the $15 billion has gone to religious
groups that tend to emphasize abstinence over condom use.[28] This budget
represents more money contributed to fight AIDS globally than all other
donor countries combined.
Wars President
Bush addresses rescue workers at Ground Zero in New York, September
14, 2001: "I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And
the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon."The
September 11 terrorist attacks were a major turning point in Bush's
life and presidency. Bush was visiting an elementary school in Florida
when Chief of Staff Andrew Card informed him that a plane had crashed
into the World Trade Center in New York City. Following news of a second
plane crashing, Bush left the school and flew to an air base, before
returning to Washington, D.C. in the late afternoon. That evening, he
addressed the nation from the Oval Office, promising a strong response
to the attacks but emphasizing the need for the nation to come together
and comfort the families of the victims. On September 14, he visited
Ground Zero, meeting with Mayor Rudy Giuliani and firefighters, policemen
and volunteers. In a moment captured by press and media, Bush addressed
the roused gathering from atop a heap of rubble:
I can hear you.
The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings
down will hear all of us soon.
In a speech to the
U.S. Congress, Bush declared war on terrorist groups and nations supporting
terrorism across the world, and specifically endorsing the overthrow
of the Taliban regime of Afghanistan, which had been harboring training
camps for Al-Qaeda militants. Bush ordered the invasion of Afghanistan,
which resulted in the overthrow of the Taliban by the Northern Alliance
with the help of U.S. special forces and bombing campaigns. Bush also
backed secret programs to gather intelligence through the monitoring
of bank funds and telephone records, and signed the USA Patriot Act,
which gave law enforcement agencies increased powers.[29]
Following the successful
overthrow of the Taliban, the U.S. also promoted urgent action in Iraq,
stating that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass
destruction (WMD), and that in the post 9-11 world it was too dangerous
to allow unstable regimes to possess weapons that could "potentially
fall into the hands of terrorists." Bush argued that Saddam was
a threat to U.S. security, destabilized the Middle East, inflamed the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and financed terrorists. Central Intelligence
Agency reports asserted that Saddam Hussein had tried to acquire nuclear
material, had not properly accounted for Iraqi biological weapons and
chemical weapons material in violation of U.N. sanctions, and that some
Iraqi missiles had a range greater than allowed by the UN sanctions.[30]
President Bush,
with Naval Flight Officer Lieutenant Ryan Philips, in the flight suit
he wore for his televised arrival and speech aboard the USS Abraham
Lincoln in 2003.- Bush urged the United Nations to enforce Iraqi disarmament
mandates, precipitating a diplomatic crisis. On November 13, 2002, under
UN Security Council Resolution 1441, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei
led UN weapons inspectors in Iraq. There was controversy over the efficacy
of inspections and lapses in Iraqi compliance. UN inspection teams departed
Iraq upon U.S. advisement given four days prior to full-scale hostilities,
despite their requests for more time to complete their tasks.[31] The
U.S. initially sought a UN Security Council resolution authorizing the
use of military force pursuant to Chapter VII of the United Nations
Charter.[32] However, upon facing vigorous opposition from several nations
(primarily France and Germany), the U.S. dropped the bid for UN approval
and began to prepare for war; Benjamin Ferenccz, a former chief prosecutor
of the Nuremberg Trials argued that for these actions Bush, with his
Administration, could be prosecuted for war crimes;[33] also Kofi Annan
and Boutros Boutros-Ghali, as well as several nations, made similar
statements, implying that the attack constitutes a war crime.[34] The
war effort was joined by more than 20 other nations (most notably the
United Kingdom) who were designated the "coalition of the willing".[35]
Military hostilities
commenced on March 20, 2003, to pre-empt Iraqi WMD deployment and remove
Saddam from power, and successfully ended on May 1, 2003, when U.S.
forces took control of Baghdad. The success of U.S. operations increased
Bush's popularity, but the U.S. forces would be challenged by public
disorder, as well as increasing insurgency led by pro-Saddam and Islamist
groups. The Bush Administration was assailed in subsequent months following
the report of the Iraq Survey Group, which apart from a few stockpiles,
did not find the large quantities of weapons that the regime was believed
to possess. The 9/11 Commission report concluded that Saddam's government
was actively attempting to acquire technology that would allow Iraq
to produce WMD as soon as U.N. sanctions were lifted.[36] The Commission
found no credible evidence that Saddam Hussein possessed stockpiles
of WMD. On December 14, 2005, while discussing the WMD issue, Bush stated
that "It is true that much of the intelligence turned out to be
wrong."[37] Critics such as Benjamin Ferenccz, a former chief prosecutor
of the Nuremberg Trials[38], and author Mark Littman[39] have argued
that the invasion of Iraq is illegal under international law and a violation
of the U.N. Charter. However, Bush would remain unwavering when asked
if the war had been worth it, or whether he would have made the same
decision if he had known more. U.S. efforts in Iraq would become the
centrepiece of Bush's expressed vision to promote democracy as a means
to discourage and defeat terrorists, by removing radical regimes and
fostering social and economic development.
Campaign for re-election
George W. Bush speaks at a campaign rally in 2004.Main article: United
States presidential election, 2004 Bush commanded strong support in
the Republican Party and did not encounter a primary challenge. He appointed
Kenneth Mehlman as campaign manager, and the campaign political strategy
was devised by Karl Rove[citation needed]. Bush outlined a 2004 agenda
that included a strong commitment in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,
a renewal of the USA Patriot Act, making the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts
permanent, cutting the budget deficit in half, promoting education,
tort reform social security and national tax reform. Bush emphasized
family values, arguing for the preservation of the institution of marriage
through the Federal Marriage Amendment. In most of his speeches, Bush
also strongly stressed a vision and commitment for spreading freedom
and democracy across the world. Building a strong treasury of campaign
funds, the campaign began running television and radio advertisement
campaigns across the nation against Democratic candidates as well as
Bush's emerging opponent, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. Kerry and
Democrats attacked Bush on the USA Patriot Act and for allegedly failing
to stimulate the economy and job growth, as well as controversies surrounding
Bush's service in the National Guard. Bush emphasized his leadership
in war and national security challenges, evoking the patriotism and
passion aroused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Bush campaign portrayed
Kerry as a staunch liberal who would raise taxes and increase government
control and attacked him for his opposition to a constitutional amendment
banning same-sex marriages. The Bush campaign continuously criticized
Kerry's allegedly contradictory statements on the war in Iraq, citing
his lack of decision and vision for success in the war on terrorism.
Popular conservative politicians like Rudy Guiliani, John McCain, Arnold
Schwarzenegger, and Conservative Democrats such as Zell Miller campaigned
actively for Bush, who traveled across the country delivering speeches
at three to four different locations on most days. The campaign organized
a large group of volunteers and focused its efforts on swing states
such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota.
Bush carried 31 of 50 states for 286 Electoral College votes and collected
the most popular votes ever (62,040,610 votes/50.7%), thanks to the
highest voter turnout since 1968. This was the first time since 1988
that a President had received a popular majority and was the smallest
margin of victory for a re-elected president in American history.
Second term Main
article: George W. Bush's second term as President of the United States
Bush sworn into his second term on January 20, 2005 by Chief Justice
William Rehnquist, watched on by First Lady Laura Bush and their daughters
Barbara and Jenna Bush, as well as Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert.Bush was inaugurated for his
second term on January 20, 2005. The oath of office was administered
by Chief Justice William Rehnquist. Bush's inaugural address centered
mainly on a theme of spreading freedom and democracy around the world:
We are led, by
events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival of liberty
in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other
lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom
in all the world...The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated
work of generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding
it. America's influence is not unlimited, but fortunately for the oppressed,
America's influence is considerable, and we will use it confidently
in freedom's cause...From the perspective of a single day, including
this day of dedication, the issues and questions before our country
are many. From the viewpoint of centuries, the questions that come to
us are narrowed and few. Did our generation advance the cause of freedom?
And did our character bring credit to that cause..?
For his second term,
Bush assembled what is regarded as the most diverse U.S. cabinet in
history, with the appointments of the first Hispanic American U.S. Attorney
General and Commerce Secretary, as well as making Condoleezza Rice the
first African American woman to head the U.S. State Department. Bush
retained Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld, whose dismissal had been demanded
by many in the U.S. Congress. During a visit to the Republic of Georgia
on May 10, 2005, there was an attempt to assassinate Bush by Vladimir
Arutinian, whose live grenade failed to detonate after hitting a girl
and landing in the large crowd 18.6 meters (61 feet) from the podium
where he was delivering a speech. In 2006, Bush would replace long-time
chief of staff Andrew Card with Joshua Bolten and undertake major staff
and cabinet changes to re-vitalize his Administration.
Domestic agenda
Bush in the U.S. Congress to deliver the 2006 State of the Union Address.President
Bush began his second term by outlining a major initiative to reform
Social Security, which was facing record deficit projections beginning
in 2015. Bush made it the centerpiece of his agenda despite contrary
beliefs in the media and in the U.S. Congress, which saw the program
as the "fifth rail of politics," with the American public
being suspicious of any attempt to change it. It was also widely believed
to be the province of the Democratic Party, with Republicans in the
past having been accused of efforts to dismantle or privatize it. In
his 2005 State of the Union Address, Bush discussed the allegedly impending
bankruptcy of the program and attacked political inertia against reform.
He proposed options to permit Americans to divert a portion of their
Social Security tax (FICA) into secured investments, creating a "nest
egg" that would enjoy steady growth. Despite emphasizing safeguards
and remaining open to other plans, Bush's proposal was criticized for
its high cost, and Democrats attacked it as an effort to partially privatize
the system. Bush embarked on a 60-day national tour, campaigning vigorously
for his initiative in public meetings in order to bolster public support.
Bush's initiative failed to generate political momentum in face of rising
concerns over the Iraq War and the budget deficit. In 2006, he would
call upon the Congress to create a bipartisan commission to propose
legislation to reform Medicare and Social Security.
In 2006, Bush shifted
focus to re-emphasize immediate and comprehensive immigration reform.
Going beyond calls from Republicans and conservatives to secure the
border, Bush demanded that Congress create a "temporary guest-worker
program" to allow more than 12 million illegal immigrants to obtain
legal status. Bush continues to argue that the lack of legal status
denies the protections of U.S. laws to millions of people who face dangers
of poverty and exploitation, and penalizes employers despite a demand
for immigrant labor. On May 15, 2006, Bush proposed expanding "Basic
Pilot," an online system to allow employers to easily confirm the
eligibility of new hires; creating a new identification card for all
foreign workers; and increasing penalties for businesses that violate
immigration laws. Bush urged Congress to provide additional funding
for border security, and deployed 6,000 National Guard troops to the
United States-Mexico border.[40]
On June 15, 2006,
Bush created the 75th, and largest, National Monument in US history
and the largest Marine Protected Area in the world with the formation
of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument.[41]
In 2005-06, Bush
emphasized the need for comprehensive energy reform and proposed increased
funding for research and development of renewable sources of energy
such as hydrogen power, nuclear power, ethanol and clean coal technologies.
Bush has proposed the American Competitiveness Initiative which seeks
to support increasing competitiveness of the U.S. economy, with greater
development of advanced technologies, as well as greater education and
support for American students.
Bush appointed First
Lady Laura Bush to oversee an initiative to improve opportunities and
education for inner-city boys.
On August 1, 2005,
in response to a press question about the teaching of intelligent design
versus evolution in public schools, Bush answered, "Both sides
ought to be properly taught . . . so people can understand what the
debate is about. . . . I think that part of education is to expose people
to different schools of thought."[42] Bush did not elaborate his
personal view on intelligent design.
Foreign policy
President George W. Bush, Mexico's President Vicente Fox and Canada's
Prime Minister Stephen Harper stand in front of the Chichen Itza archaeological
ruins March 30, 2006.Bush began his second term with an emphasis on
improving strained relations with European nations. He appointed long-time
advisor Karen Hughes to oversee a global public relations campaign to
improve the image of the U.S. and significantly increased development
aid to countries with a focus on encouraging democracy and human rights.
Bush strongly lauded the pro-democracy struggles in Georgia and Ukraine,
and the election of Mahmoud Abbas as president of the Palestinian Authority.
He led international pressure against Syria to withdraw troops from
Lebanon. During Bush's visit to India, the U.S. formally restored diplomacy
by creating a strategic partnership on economic and nuclear issues.
Bilateral relations with Germany and Canada have also improved following
the election of conservative governments there.
Major progress was
achieved in Iraq immediately following Bush's re-election, with large
turnouts during elections in January and December 2005, as well as in
a referendum to approve a constitution. However, Bush's leadership against
global terrorism and in the war in Iraq has met increasing criticism,
with increasing demands within the U.S. to set a timetable to withdraw
troops from Iraq. Sectarian violence and political deadlock in Iraq
has increased negative impressions of Bush's leadership and the situation
in Iraq, which has led to the deaths of more than 2,500 U.S. soldiers.
Allegations of abuse by U.S. troops have accompanied calls from European
leaders to shut down detention centers in Guantanamo Bay. Bush has firmly
defended his policies and progress in Iraq. He paid a surprise visit
to Iraq following the death of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
and the appointment of a new government.
Criticism and public
perception Main article: Public perception and assessments of George
W. Bush Bush's approval ratings from February 2001 to June 2006. Large
increases in approval followed the September 11 attacks and the beginning
of the 2003 Iraq conflict. These numbers have since steadily decreased.Time
magazine named George W. Bush as its Person of the Year for 2000[43]
and for 2004[44]. Bush began his presidency with approval ratings near
50%.[45] In the time of national crisis following the September 11 attacks,
Bush enjoyed approval ratings of greater than 85%, maintaining 80–90%
approval for four months after the attacks. Since then, his approval
ratings and approval of handling of domestic, economic, and foreign
policy issues have steadily dropped for many reasons. Polls conducted
in early 2006 showed an average of around 40% for Bush, up slightly
from the following September, but still historically low from a President
coming off of his State of the Union Address, which generally provides
a boost. As of May 24, 2006, an average of major polls indicated that
Bush's approval rating stood at 36.8%.[46]
Criticism and caricatures
often portray Bush as lacking intelligence and general awareness of
issues, depending entirely on political advisors. Some even allege that
Vice President Dick Cheney possesses the real control of the U.S. government.
Bush's gaffes while speaking in public, often speaking in crude English,
have been lampooned frequently. At the beginning of his first term,
Bush was portrayed as lacking legitimacy, owing to his having lost the
popular vote. Although working with Democrats such as Ted Kennedy and
Joseph Lieberman on major legislation, Bush has been attacked for allegedly
squandering opportunities for uniting Americans across party lines.[citation
needed] While routinely criticized by Democrats, Bush has also divided
American celebrities, sports and media personalities, many of whom have
engaged in heated criticism of Bush. Activist and filmmaker Michael
Moore's 2004 documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 accused Bush of using public
sentiments following 9/11 for political purposes and lying about the
case for war in Iraq. Apart from Russia, some countries in Eastern Europe
and Israel, peoples across the world have borne negative views on Bush,
who has been targeted by the global anti-war and anti-globalization
campaigns. Bush's policies have also been subject to heated criticism
in the 2002 elections in Germany[47] and the 2003 elections in Canada.[citation
needed] While getting along well with conservative leaders, Bush has
been openly condemned by centrist and liberal politicians such as Gerhard
Schroeder, Jean Chretien and Paul Martin. Diplomatic visits made by
Bush have been characterized by small-scale as well as significant protests.
Foreign media
have often been critical of Bush's foreign policiesIn July 2006, Bush
used the first veto of his presidency against a bill that would granted
federal funding to stem cell research to scientists working with stem
cells derived from discarded human embryos. The bill would have overridden
the president's policy of only allowing federal funding of research
on 21 stem cell lines that existed prior to 2001 [2]
Bush is viewed as
a religious and conservative President. Like Jimmy Carter, he is open
about how his religion often influences his policy decisions. Supporters
of Bush portray him as a God-fearing, compassionate person who has been
bold and decisive in leading the U.S. in wake of terrorist attacks and
security challenges, as well as for protecting so called traditional
family values. Bush has enjoyed strong support amongst Republicans and
Americans holding conservative and pro-military views, and for the 2004
elections, 95-98% of Republicans approved of and voted for Bush, a figure
exceeding the approval of Ronald Reagan. Bush's leadership on national
security and for his war on terrorism following 9/11 have won him emotional
support from a large number of Americans. Bush has also enjoyed strong
personal and working relationships with foreign leaders such as Tony
Blair, John Howard, Junichiro Koizumi, Angela Merkel, Stephen Harper,
and Ehud Olmert, as well as good rapport with Vladimir Putin and Vicente
Fox.