Beating Around the Bush
On January 20, 2001, George Walker Bush was inaugurated as President of the United States of America. He is the forty-third and present U.S. President as he got reelected for another term as President of the United States on November 2, 2004. Bush is the first United States President to hold an MBA. Prior to his presidency, he served as the forty-sixth Governor of Texas, holding office from 1995 to 2000.
Background and Education
George Walker Bush was born on July 6, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut.
George Bush attended Philips Andover Academy in Massachusetts and then went to Yale University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in History in 1968. In May 1968 Bush served in the Texas Air National Guard, and in 1975 earned an MBA from Harvard University. After which, he returned to Texas to pursue his career in the oil industry.
On November 5, 1977, Bush got married to Laura Welch. She gave birth to twin daughters Barbara and Jenna on November 25, 1981.
Career Milestones
George Bush was elected to two terms as the 46th Governor of Texas. As governor, he has modified the criminal justice system and sponsored legislation for tort reform. He has also set higher standards for educational institutions as well as boost funds for education. Moreover, he used a budget surplus to materialize a plan to cut taxes worth $2 billion. He also established faith-based welfare programs.
In 2000, he won the presidential election. He was sworn in as President of the United States on January 20, 2001.
He won the reelection obtaining the majority of the popular vote against Senator John Kerry on November 2, 2004.
During his presidency, President Bush laid out various policies to carry out an effective leadership. In February 2002, he announced Clear Skies and Global Climate Change initiatives, and in December 2003, he signed the legislation to execute the main provisions of his Healthy Forests Initiative. In 2006, he proclaimed the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a national monument. Bush has also committed to fight against global warming.
In terms of the economy, President Bush signed into law a $1.35 trillion tax cut program in 2001 that allowed people to save more from their earnings. Between 2002 and 2003, the nation’s productivity grew at the fastest three-year rate in more than fifty years. In September 2003, the lowest unemployment rate of 5.4% was reported since October 2001, and Dow Jones Industrial Average has increased by about 30% since January 2001. In 2003, he signed the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, and in 2005, he signed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.
He also brought about education reform through his No Child Left Behind Act.
President Bush has also implemented strategies to make healthcare more accessible by signing the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. He also created the Health Savings Account. In 2003, he announced the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
Following the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001, Bush has released $5.1 billion to aid in humanitarian recovery and security efforts. He has also laid measures in providing homeland security and promulgated several legislations including: the Airline Transportation Bill, the Terrorism Relief Act, the Terrorism Insurance Act, and the Homeland Security Act.