George W. Bush has had one of the most controversial presidencies in recent years. His presidency has no doubt been a tough one with the 9-11 terrorist attacks and war in Iraq plaguing the nation.
Education and Early Political Career
Bush, son of president George H.W. Bush and U.S. senator Prescott Bush, was born into politics. He attended Yale and graduated with a degree in history. After a short stint in the Texas Air National Guard, he attended Harvard to obtain an MBA.
He dabbled in business for a while, owning an oil and gas business, before attempting politics for the first time in 1977. He ran for Congress in western Texas, but was defeated by his opponent.
Texan Governor
It wasn't until 1993 that Bush attempted to run for office again. He went head to head with Democrat Ann Richards, one of the most successful governors in Texas history. Although his opponent was popular, he had a strong team of advisors who created an unbeatable platform for his campaign. He performed well in the debates, and won the election with 52% of the votes.
As governor, Bush spearheaded efforts to increase education funding and offer support for religious organizations. He also reformed the justice system in Texas. In 1998, Bush won re-election with 69% of the vote. He continued his policies based on strong Republican values, and in 1999 announced that he would run for President.
The 2000 Election
Bush relied on his previous campaign managers, Karen Hughes, John Allbaugh and Karl Rove, in his bid for the presidency. After beating out U.S. Senator John McCain for the Republican ticket, Bush and Vice President Al Gore faced off for the White House.
The election took place on November 7, 2000 and was not resolved until December of that year. After a lot of controversy over the state of Florida's electoral votes, Bush was declared the winner with 271 electoral votes. However, he lost the popular election by over 500,000 votes.
The Presidency
Bush's first term was marked by tragedy with the terrorist attacks on September 11th. He successfully pulled the nation together at a time of crisis. His "compassionate conservative" approach appealed to many people and his approval rating soared. His policies focused on eradicating terrorism worldwide and increasing national security, to the detriment of domestic programs.
In March 2002, Bush declared war in Iraq after months of attempted negotiations with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Less than a month later, U.S. Troops successfully overtook the capital of Baghdad. However, military presence in Iraq continues as troops try to keep peace between the citizens and insurgents.
In 2004, Bush was re-elected to the presidency, despite growing concern over the Iraqi occupation. Growing public disapproval and continued increases in the national debt, mostly fueled by military expenses, have marked his second term. Whether you are supportive or critical of George W. Bush, there is no denying his impact on the course of the nation's history.
Josh Spaulding is an Iraq War Veteran who served in Iraq throughout the initial invasion. To read more interesting articles from Josh visit his blog at LifeWithJosh.com where he shares information on everything from passing a U.S. Army PT Test to the health benefits of raw eggs
