George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, passed away on Friday at the age of 94. Bush had been facing a myriad of health issues in recent years. With the passing of Barbara Bush, his wife of 73 years, back in April it was only a matter of time before he would leave this cruel coil of mortality.
Although Bush grew up surrounded by privilege and wealth, he grew up during a time when this did not exempt one from duty to one's country. Bush would enlist in the U.S. Navy upon graduating from Phillips Academy and become a naval aviator. He served his country with valor in the Pacific Theater earning a Distinguished Flying Cross, the Presidential Unit and three air medals after being shot down near the Bonin Islands in September 1944.
After the end of WWII, Bush spent the next two decades in the oil business which made him a wealthy man in his own right. He would also become a successful political figure in his own right and eclipse his father Prescott's political success as a Republican Senator from Connecticut building his own political base in Texas. After losing his first bid for Congress in 1964, Bush would get elected two years later and win re-election to a second term in 1968. Bush would set his sights on the U.S. Senate in 1970, but would be defeated by Lloyd Bentsen. This would not be the last time the two would square off in the political arena.
Bush would spend the 1970's in various roles - Ambassador to the UN, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, our country's first envoy to Communist China and Director of the CIA. Some resume. The resume was sufficient enough for Bush to seek the GOP nomination for President in 1980. After winning in Iowa, Bush made the critical mistake of refusing to debate the Republican field in New Hampshire and Ronald Reagan would never look back. But Reagan needed Bush and would name him as his VP running mate. The country got a taste of a Bush presidency early in Reagan's term following an assassination attempt in March 1981 despite then Secretary of State Alexander Haig's claims that he was in charge.
But being a two term VP isn't always conducive to winning the presidency. In the 1988 presidential election, Bush sought to become the first sitting VP to be elected President since Martin Van Buren in 1836. Bush would stumble in Iowa finishing behind not only Bob Dole, but Pat Robertson as well. But Bush would rebound and win over Republicans with his convention speech in which he not only said, "Read my lips: no new taxes", but spoke of "a thousand points of light" and seeking "a kinder and gentler nation." Bush would easily defeat Michael Dukakis on election night and become the 41st President of the United States.
Unfortunately, Bush could ill afford to be kind and gentle when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Bush would assemble a coalition which would successfully drive Saddam back to Iraq less than six months later in the Gulf War. This would lead to public approval ratings of over 90%. But this would not last. With the economy in recession and deficits climbing, Bush made went back on his "no new taxes" pledge and made a deal with the Democratic controlled Congress. Many Republicans would never forgive Bush. He would see a primary challenge from former Nixon and Reagan speechwriter Pat Buchanan in the 1992 GOP primaries. During the general election, Bush would lose votes to independent billionaire candidate Ross Perot which were critical in helping Bill Clinton become the first Democrat to win the White House in nearly two decades.
Despite only serving a single term in the White House, Americans would come to have a greater appreciation of Bush's presidency and his image would gradually be rehabilitated. Even if some disagreed with Bush's decision to oust Manuel Noriega while keeping Saddam in power or appointing Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court, people respected Bush as a decent, dignified man who did not seek to make everything about himself. Such qualities are in short supply and stand in stark contrast to the Oval Office's present occupant. In that respect, George H.W. Bush was a kinder and gentler President of the United States. R.I.P.
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