George W. Bush is the 43rd President of the United States. He was sworn into
office on January 20, 2001, re-elected on November 2, 2004, and sworn in for a
second term on January 20, 2005. Prior to his Presidency, President Bush served
for 6 years as the 46th Governor of the State of Texas, where he earned a
reputation for bipartisanship and as a compassionate conservative who shaped
public policy based on the principles of limited government, personal
responsibility, strong families, and local control.
President Bush was born on July 6, 1946, in New Haven,
Connecticut, and grew up in Midland and Houston, Texas. He received a bachelor’s
degree in history from Yale University in 1968, and then served as an F-102
fighter pilot in the Texas Air National Guard. President Bush received a Master
of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1975. Following
graduation, he moved back to Midland and began a career in the energy business.
After working on his father’s successful 1988 Presidential campaign, President
Bush assembled the group of partners who purchased the Texas Rangers baseball
franchise in 1989. On November 8, 1994, President Bush was elected Governor of
Texas. He became the first Governor in Texas history to be elected to
consecutive 4-year terms when he was re-elected on November 3, 1998.
Since becoming President of the United States in 2001, President Bush has
worked with the Congress to create an ownership society and build a future of
security, prosperity, and opportunity for all Americans. He signed into law tax
relief that helps workers keep more of their hard-earned money, as well as the
most comprehensive education reforms in a generation, the No Child Left Behind
Act of 2001. This legislation is ushering in a new era of accountability,
flexibility, local control, and more choices for parents, affirming our Nation’s
fundamental belief in the promise of every child. President Bush has also worked
to improve healthcare and modernize Medicare, providing the first-ever
prescription drug benefit for seniors; increase homeownership, especially among
minorities; conserve our environment; and increase military strength, pay, and
benefits. Because President Bush believes the strength of America lies in the
hearts and souls of our citizens, he has supported programs that encourage
individuals to help their neighbors in need.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked our Nation. Since
then, President Bush has taken unprecedented steps to protect our homeland and
create a world free from terror. He is grateful for the service and sacrifice of
our brave men and women in uniform and their families. The President is
confident that by helping build free and prosperous societies, our Nation and
our friends and allies will succeed in making America more secure and the world
more peaceful.
President Bush is married to Laura Welch Bush, a former teacher and
librarian, and they have twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna. The Bush family also
includes two dogs, Barney and Miss Beazley, and a cat, Willie.
