George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America. He previously served as the forty-sixth Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000 and is the eldest son of former United States President George Herbert Walker Bush. He was inaugurated as President on January 20, 2001 and his current term is scheduled to end on January 20, 2009.

After graduating from college, Bush worked in his family's oil businesses. In 1978, he made an unsuccessful run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He later co-owned the Texas Rangers baseball team before returning to politics in a campaign for Governor of Texas. He defeated Ann Richards and was elected Governor of Texas in 1994. Bush was elected to the Presidency in 2000 as the Republican candidate in a close and controversial contest, in which he lost the nationwide popular vote, but won the electoral vote.

As president, Bush signed into law a $1.35 trillion tax cut program in 2001,^[3] and in 2002 the No Child Left Behind Act. In October 2001, after the attacks on September 11, 2001, Bush announced a global War on Terrorism and ordered an invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban, destroy Al-Qaeda, and to capture Osama bin Laden. In March 2003, Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq, asserting that Iraq was in possession of weapons of mass destruction and that the war was necessary for the protection of the United States.^[4][5]

Running in the midst of the Iraq War,^[6] Bush was re-elected on November 2, 2004;^[7] his presidential campaign against Senator John Kerry was successful despite controversy over Bush's prosecution of the Iraq War and domestic issues.^[8][9] After his re-election, Bush received increasingly heated criticism. He has the distinction of having some of the highest and lowest approval ratings of any president in history during his term. His domestic approval has ranged from 90 percent (the highest ever recorded by The Gallup Organization)^[10] immediately after the September 11, 2001 attacks to a low of 24 percent,^[11] with a disapproval rating of 65 percent, the highest level of disfavor for any sitting presidents since Richard Nixon and Harry Truman.^[12] In Europe, Bush tops the list of the most unpopular politicians, with disapproval of 87% in France and Germany, and 88% in Spain.^[13]

The September 11 terrorist attacks were a major turning point in Bush's presidency. 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 the World Trade Center site, meeting with Mayor Rudy Giuliani and firefighters, police officers, and volunteers. Bush addressed the gathering via megaphone while standing on a heap of rubble:

In a September 20, 2001 speech, Bush condemned Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda, and issued the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, where bin Laden was operating, an ultimatum to "hand over the terrorists, or … share in their fate."^[135] Bush announced a global War on Terrorism, and after the Afghan Taliban regime was not forthcoming with Osama bin Laden, he ordered the invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban regime.^[136]

War on Terror

Main article: War on Terrorism

After the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States by the al Qaeda organization of Osama bin Laden and the invasion of Afghanistan in response, Bush announced a global War on Terror in his January 29, 2002 State of the Union address and asserted that an "axis of evil" consisting of North Korea, Iran, and Iraq was "arming to threaten the peace of the world" and "pose[d] a grave and growing danger".^[137] The Bush Administration proceeded to assert a right and intention to engage in preemptive war, also called preventive war, in response to perceived threats.^[138] This would form a basis for what became known as the Bush Doctrine. The broader "War on Terror", allegations of an "axis of evil", and, in particular, the doctrine of preemptive war, began to weaken the unprecedented levels of international and domestic support for Bush and United States action against al Qaeda following the September 11 attacks.^[139]

Some national leaders alleged abuse by U.S. troops and called for the U.S. to shut down detention centers in Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere. Dissent from, and criticism of, Bush's leadership in the War on Terror increased as the war in Iraq expanded.^{[140][141][142]} In 2006, a National Intelligence Estimate expressed the combined opinion of the United States' own intelligence agencies, concluding that the Iraq War had become the "cause celebre for jihadists" and that jihad movement was growing.^[143][144]

Afghanistan

Main article: War in Afghanistan (2001-present)

President George W. Bush and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan appear together in 2006 at a joint news conference at the Presidential Palace in Kabul.

On October 7, 2001, U.S. and Australian forces initiated bombing campaigns that led to the arrival on November 13 of Northern Alliance troops in Kabul. The main goals of the war were to defeat the Taliban, drive al Qaeda out of Afghanistan, and capture key al Qaeda leaders. By December 2001, the UN had installed the Afghan Interim Authority chaired by Hamid Karzai.^[145][146]

Efforts to kill or capture al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden failed as he escaped a battle in December 2001 in the mountainous region of Tora Bora, which the Bush Administration later acknowledged to have resulted from a failure to commit enough U.S. ground troops.^[147] Bin Laden and al Qaeda's number two leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, as well as the leader of the Taliban, Mohammed Omar, remain at large as of December 2007.

Despite the initial success in driving the Taliban from power in Kabul, by early 2003 the Taliban was regrouping, amassing new funds and recruits.^[148] In 2006 the Taliban insurgency appeared larger, fiercer, and better organized than expected, with large-scale allied offensives such as Operation Mountain Thrust attaining limited success.^{[149][150][151]}

Iraq

Main article: Iraq War

Beginning with his January 29, 2002 State of the Union address, President Bush began publicly focusing attention on Iraq, which he labeled as part of an "axis of evil" allied with terrorists and posing "a grave and growing danger" to U.S. interests through possession of "weapons of mass destruction".^[152] In the latter half of 2002, Central Intelligence Agency reports requested by the administration contained conflicting assertions on whether Saddam Hussein was intent on reconstituting nuclear weapons programs, had not properly accounted for Iraqi biological and chemical weapons, and that some Iraqi missiles had a range greater than allowed by the UN sanctions.^[153][154] The question of whether the Bush Administration manipulated or exaggerated the threat and evidence of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction capabilities or attempted to create a tie between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda attacks would eventually become a major point of criticism and controversy for the president.^[155][156] In late 2002 and early 2003, President Bush urged the United Nations to enforce Iraqi disarmament mandates, precipitating a diplomatic crisis. In November 2002, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei led UN weapons inspectors in Iraq, but were forced to depart Iraq four days prior to the U.S. invasion, despite their requests for more time to complete their tasks.^[157] The U.S. initially sought a UN Security Council resolution authorizing the use of military force but dropped the bid for UN approval due to vigorous opposition from several countries.^[158]

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.

The war effort was joined by more than 20 other nations (most notably the United Kingdom), designated the "coalition of the willing".^[159] The invasion of Iraq commenced on March 20, 2003 and the Iraqi military was quickly defeated. Kofi Annan, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, as well as leaders of several nations made statements implying that the attack constituted a war crime.^[160] The capital, Baghdad, fell on April 9, 2003. On May 1, 2003, President Bush declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq. The initial success of U.S. operations had increased President Bush's popularity, but the U.S. and allied forces faced a growing insurgency led by sectarian groups. As the situation deteriorated, Bush's May 1, 2003 "Mission Accomplished" speech would be criticized as premature.^[161] The Bush Administration was also criticized in subsequent months following the report of the Iraq Survey Group, which did not find the large quantities of weapons that the regime was believed to possess. On December 14, 2005, Bush stated that "It is true that much of the intelligence turned out to be wrong."^[162] Bush nevertheless continued to assert the war had been worthwhile and confirmed he would have made the same decision if he had known more.

President Bush shakes hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Iraqi elections and a referendum to approve a constitution were held in January and December 2005. From 2004 through 2007, the situation in Iraq deteriorated further, with some observers arguing that the country was engaged in a full scale civil war.^[163] Bush's policies regarding the war in Iraq met increasing criticism, with demands within the United States to set a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq. In 2006 a National Intelligence Estimate asserted that the Iraq war had increased Islamic radicalism and worsened the terror threat.^[164] The 2006 report of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group led by James Baker, concluded that the situation in Iraq was "grave and deteriorating". While Bush admitted that there were strategic mistakes made in regards to the stability of Iraq, he maintained he would not change the overall Iraq strategy.^[165][166] On January 10, 2007 Bush addressed the U.S. about the situation in Iraq. In his speech he announced the surge of 21,500 more troops for Iraq, as well as a job program for Iraqis, more reconstruction proposals, and US$1.2 billion for these programs.^[167] On May 1, 2007, Bush used his veto for only the second time in his presidency, rejecting a congressional bill setting a deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.^[168]

North Korea

Main article: United States-North Korea relations

Bush publicly condemned Kim Jong-Il of North Korea, naming North Korea one of three states in an "axis of evil," and saying that "[t]he United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons."^[169] Within months, "both countries had walked away from their respective commitments under the U.S.-DPRK Agreed Framework of October 1994."^[170] North Korea's October 9, 2006 detonation of a nuclear device further complicated Bush's foreign policy, which centered for both terms of his presidency on "[preventing] the terrorists and regimes who seek chemical, biological or nuclear weapons from threatening the United States and the world."^[171] Bush condemned North Korea's claims, reaffirmed his commitment to "a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula," and stated that "transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States," for which North Korea would be held accountable.^[172] On May 7, 2007, North Korea agreed to shut down its nuclear reactors immediately pending the release of frozen funds held in a foreign bank account. This was a result of a series of three-way talks initiated by the United States and including China.^[173] On September 2, 2007, North Korea agreed to disclose and dismantle all of its nuclear programs by the end of 2007.^[174]

Assassination attempt

On May 10, 2005, while Bush was giving a speech in the Freedom Square in Tbilisi, Georgia, a live hand grenade was thrown by Vladimir Arutyunian towards the podium where he and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili were seated. It landed in the crowd about 65 feet (20 m) from the podium after hitting a girl; it did not detonate. Arutyunian was arrested in July 2005, confessed, and was convicted and given a life sentence in January 2006.^[175]

Midterm dismissal of U.S. attorneys

Main article: Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy

During Bush's second term, controversy arose over the Department of Justice's unprecedented midterm dismissal of seven United States Attorneys.^[176] The White House maintains the U.S. attorneys were fired due to performance issues.^[177] Gonzales would later resign over the issue, along with other senior members of the Justice Department.^[178][179] Although Congressional investigations have focused on whether the Department of Justice and the White House were using the U.S. Attorney positions for political advantage, no official findings have been released.

On November 29, 2007, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vermont's senior senator, the Democrat Patrick Leahy, stated that there is "significant and uncontroverted evidence that the president had no involvement in these firings." This was a reversal of Leahy's previous demands to know what, if any, role the president played, or knowledge that he had, of the firings.^[180]

Supreme Court Appointments

George W. Bush appointed the following justices to the Supreme Court:

• John Glover Roberts, Jr. - 2005
• Samuel Alito - 2006

Criticism and public perception

Main articles: Criticism of George W. Bush and Public perception of George W. Bush

See also: Fictionalized portrayals of George W. Bush

Domestic perceptions

See also: Movement to impeach George W. Bush

Gallup/USA Today Bush public opinion polling from February 2001 to November 2007. Blue denotes "approve", red "disapprove", and green "unsure". Large increases in approval followed the September 11 attacks, the beginning of the 2003 Iraq conflict, and the capture of Saddam Hussein.

Bush began his presidency with approval ratings near 50 percent;^[181] following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Bush gained an approval rating of greater than 85 percent, maintaining 80–90 percent approval for four months after the attacks. Since then, his approval ratings and approval of his handling of domestic and foreign policy issues have steadily dropped. Bush has received heavy criticism for his handling of the Iraq War, his response to Hurricane Katrina, and to the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse, NSA warrantless surveillance of terrorists or individuals suspected of involvement with terrorist groups, Scooter Libby, and Guantanamo Bay detainment camp controversies.^[182] Additionally, critics have decried his frequent use of signing statements, contending that they are unconstitutional.^[183] The decision of Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) the House Judiciary Chair to hold hearings on Bush’s use of “signing statements”, has been hailed by the president’s critics as a step towards impeachment.^[184]

In the 2004 elections, 95–98 percent of the Republican electorate approved of him. This support waned, however, due mostly to Republicans' growing frustration with Bush on the issues of spending and illegal immigration. Some Republican leaders began criticizing Bush on his policies in Iraq, Iran, and the Palestinian Territories.^[185] Bush's approval rating has been below the 50 percent mark in AP-Ipsos polling since December 2004.^[186]

Polls conducted in 2006 showed an average of 37 percent approval ratings for Bush;^[187] the lowest for any second term president in this point of term since Harry Truman in March 1951, when his approval rating was 28 percent,^[186][188] which contributed to what Bush called the "thumping" of the GOP in the 2006 mid-term elections.^[189] In the average of major polls Bush's approval rating was, as of September 25, 2007, 33.8 percent.^[190] In a Newsweek poll of June 21, 2007, Bush received an approval rating of 26 percent, the lowest point of his presidency, and the second lowest of any president in the last thirty five years, second only to Richard Nixon's record low of 23 percent, seven months before he resigned from office.^[191][192]

Calls for the impeachment of Bush have been made by various groups and individuals, with their reasons usually centering on the NSA warrantless surveillance controversy,^[193] the Bush administration's justification for the war in Iraq,^[194] and violations of the Geneva Conventions.^[195] Opinion polling has shown that about half of Americans would support impeaching Bush if it was found that he had lied about the reasons for the war in Iraq.^[196] In a July 2007 poll, a plurality of registered voters favored the House of Representatives beginning impeachment proceedings against Bush.^[197] The same poll shows that a plurality of all adults oppose such actions.^[197]

Bush's intellectual capacities have been questioned by the news media,^[198] as well as other politicians.^[199][200] Detractors tended to cite the various linguistic errors made by Bush during his public speeches, which are colloquially known as Bushisms.^[201]

Activist and filmmaker Michael Moore released Fahrenheit 9/11 in 2004, making a plethora of accusations against Bush, most notably using public sentiments following 9/11 for political purposes, financial connections between the Bush family and the prominent Saudi Arabian families such as the royal family and the bin Laden family, and lying about the cause for war in Iraq. In 2000 and again in 2004, Time magazine named George W. Bush as its Person of the Year, a title awarded to someone who, "for better or for worse, … has done the most to influence the events of the year."^[202][203] In 2006, Rolling Stone magazine featured an article by historian Sean Wilentz contending Bush is one of the worst presidents in American history.^[204][205]

On November 14, 2007, President Bush topped the annual Film Threat Frigid 50 list of Hollywood's coldest people. President Bush was cited because of the large number of hostile film and television programs that criticized his presidency, and because of the excess number of documentaries that called his domestic and foreign policy judgments into question. "With all due respect to Hollywood, the mighty W is as much a cinema celebrity as the next despotic tyrant," said Film Threat, adding: "President George W. Bush has been a fixture on the big and small screens for the length of his historically tragic run."^[206]

Foreign perceptions

President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan and United States President George W. Bush respond to reporters during a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in late 2006.

Bush has been widely criticized internationally; he was targeted by the global anti-war and anti-globalization campaigns, and criticized for his foreign policy in general. Bush's policies were also the subject of heated criticism in the 2002 elections in Germany and the 2006 elections in Canada.^[207][208] Bush was openly condemned by current and former international leaders such as Gerhard Schröder, Jean Chrétien, Mohammad Khatami, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Romano Prodi, Paul Martin, and particularly Hugo Chávez. Later in Bush's presidency, tensions arose between himself and Vladimir Putin, which has led to a cooling of their relationship.^[209]

Bush has been described as having especially close personal relationships with Tony Blair and Vicente Fox, although formal relations are sometimes strained.^{[210][211][212]}

In 2006, a majority of respondents in 18 of 21 countries surveyed around the world were found to hold an unfavorable opinion of Bush. Respondents indicated that they judged his administration as "negative" for world security.^[213][214] A poll conducted in Britain named Bush the second biggest "threat to world peace" after bin Laden, beating North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il.^[215] According to a poll taken in November 2006, Finns also believed that Bush was the biggest "threat to world peace" after bin Laden. Kim Jong-Il came in third in the poll and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Nasrallah tied for fourth.^[216]

A March 2007 survey of Arab opinion conducted by Zogby International and the University of Maryland found that George W. Bush is the most disliked leader in the Arab world. More than three times as many respondents registered their dislike for Bush as for the second most unpopular leader, Ariel Sharon.^[217] According to a 2006 poll conducted by the Iraq Center for Research and Strategic studies, a majority of Iraqis believe that the U.S. has lost its global credibility as a result of Bush's foreign policies.^[218]

The Pew Research Center's 2007 Global Attitudes poll found that out of 47 countries, only respondents from Israel and some sub-Saharan countries expressed "a lot" or "some" confidence in George W. Bush more than 50% of the time. Of European respondents surveyed, Italy and the Czech Republic expressed 30% or greater confidence in Bush.^[219]

During a June 2007 visit to Albania Bush was greeted with a "rockstar reception" as the Albanian people cheered, shook his hands, and kissed his cheeks. A commemorative stamp was issued for the occasion. Albanian prime minister, Sali Berisha commented that Bush "was [the] greatest and most distinguished guest we have ever had in all times." Albania has troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan and the country's government is highly supportive of American foreign policy.^[220] Along with the "hero's welcome" a huge image of the President now hangs in the middle of the capital city of Tirana flanked by Albanian and American flags.^[221]

Electoral history

Republican Texas gubernatorial primary, 1994^[222]

• George W. Bush - 520,130 (93.32%)
• Ray Hollis - 37,210 (6.68%)

Texas gubernatorial election, 1994^[223]

• George W. Bush (R) - 2,350,994 (53.48%)
• Ann Richards (D) (inc.) - 2,016,928 (45.88%)
• Keary Ehlers (Lib.) - 28,320 (0.64%)

Republican Texas gubernatorial primary, 1998^[224]

• George W. Bush (inc.) - 576,528 (96.60%)
• R.C. Crawford - 20,311 (3.40%)

Texas gubernatorial election, 1998^[225]

• George W. Bush (R) (inc.) - 2,550,821 (68.24%)
• Garry Mauro (D) - 1,165,592 (31.18%)
• Lester Turlington (Lib.) - 20,711 (0.55%)
• Susan Lee Solar (write-in) - 954 (0.03%)

United States presidential election, 2000 (Republican primaries)^[226]:

• George W. Bush - 12,034,676 (62.00%)
• John McCain - 6,061,332 (31.23%)
• Alan Keyes - 985,819 (5.08%)
• Steve Forbes - 171,860 (0.89%)
• Unpledged - 61,246 (0.32%)
• Gary Bauer - 60,709 (0.31%)
• Orrin Hatch - 15,958 (0.08%)
• Al Gore (write-in) - 1,155 (0.01%)
• Bill Bradley (write-in) - 1,025 (0.01%)

United States presidential election, 2000

• George W. Bush/Dick Cheney (R) - 50,460,110 (47.9%) and 271 electoral votes (30 states carried)
• Al Gore/Joe Lieberman (D) - 51,003,926 (48.4%) and 266 electoral votes (20 states and D.C. carried)
• Abstaining - 1 electoral vote (faithless elector from D.C.)
• Ralph Nader/Winona LaDuke (Green) - 2,883,105 (2.7%)
• Pat Buchanan/Ezola B. Foster (Reform) - 449,225 (0.4%)
• Harry Browne/Art Olivier (Libertarian) - 384,516 (0.4%)
• Howard Phillips/Curtis Frazier (Constitution) - 98,022 (0.1%)
• John Hagelin/Nat Goldhaber (Natural Law) - 83,702 (0.1%)

United States presidential election, 2004

• George W. Bush/Dick Cheney (R) (inc.) - 62,040,610 (50.7%) and 286 electoral votes (31 states carried)
• John Kerry/John Edwards (D) - 59,028,111 (48.3%) and 251 electoral votes (19 states and D.C. carried)
• John Edwards (D) - 1 electoral vote (faithless elector from Minnesota)
• Then there's Daddy, what's his story.

• George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12, 1924), was the forty-first President of the United States, serving from 1989 to 1993. Before his presidency, Bush was the forty-third vice president of the United States in the administration of Ronald Reagan.

  Bush was born in Massachusetts to Senator Prescott Bush and Dorothy Walker Bush. He became involved in politics soon after graduating from Yale University, serving as a member of the United States House of Representatives for the 7th district of Texas (1967–1971), the United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1971–1973), chairman of the Republican National Committee (1973–1974), Chief of the United States Liaison Office in the People's Republic of China (1974–1976), and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (1976–1977). After an unsuccessful 1980 presidenial run, Bush was chosen by Ronald Reagan to be vice president. During his tenure (1981–1989), Bush was the first person ever to serve as Acting President of the United States.

  In 1989, Bush succeeded Reagan as president, defeating challenger Michael Dukakis. He is the father of George W. Bush, the 43rd and current president of the United States, and Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida. Upon the death of Gerald Ford in 2006, Bush became the oldest living United States president.