George H.W. Bush's Life

George Herbert Walker Bush was born on June 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts. He was the son of Prescott Bush. He attended private schools in Connecticut and Philips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. In 1942, he served in the Navy as a pilot during World War II and received the Distinguished Flying Cross after being shot down over the Pacific in 1944. George Bush married Barbara Pierce in 1945 and together they had six children. One of his daughters died of leukemia at age four. His oldest son, George W. Bush, became Governor of Texas and one of his other sons became Governor of Florida. In 1948 he graduated from Yale University. He was elected to Congress in 1966. In 1974 he was appointed by President Ford as the U.S. liaison officer to the People's Republic of China. Bush was Vice President of the United States for eight years while Ronald Wilson Reagan was Presient of the United States for those of the eight years. George was inaugurated as President on January 20, 1989 after winning the 1988 presidential election. Bush supported democratization in the Soviet Union, which dissolved in 1991, and in Eastern Europe. He raised taxes to combat budget deficits. His popularity diminished in late 1991 due to the economic recession. He lost the re-election bid to Bill Clinton. George Bush and his wife are still living in Texas. Note: Bush was President from 1989 to 1993 and the Vice President was James Danforth "Dan" Quayle.