Biography
American politician, Texas oil millionaire and baseball team owner, from a
noted family, the Republican son of U.S. President George H. W. Bush. With a
strong education platform, he became the governor of Texas in 1998.
After years of being dismissed as a footloose lightweight, at 50 he is
emerging from his dad's shadow. He's taken strong stands against gun
control and teen pregnancy and is in favor of prayer and prison work
gangs. More importantly, even Democrats tend to view him as a
straight-shooter with his mom's candor. "You know where you stand
with him," says Pete Laney, speaker of the Texas House.
In 1977, three months after meeting her, he married Laura Welch (born
11/4/1946), a devout west Texas school librarian. She manages the
household while George is harried by twin teenage daughters, Jenna and
Barbara (born 11/25/1981). If he proves himself up to the task of handling
both Texas and teenagers, he has a chance of becoming the first man since
John Quincy Adams to follow his father into the White House. With brother
Jeb the Governor of Florida as of 11/13/1998, the Bush family may well
become the political dynasty of the 21st century.
George spent some footloose years after college before settling into
responsible marriage and politics. He entered Yale in 1964 and when
Vietnam loomed, joined the Air National Guard. During his later campaigns
for President, aspects of his National Guard service were questioned,
specifically whether he had in fact received special preference as son of
a Congressman and whether he had satisfactorily completed the requirements
and obligations of his National Guard service. He called 1968 to 1973 his
"wandering years," working on a senate campaign, trying out
sales, as a youth advisor to inner-city kids, along with a high share of
drinking and carousing.
After two years at Harvard Business School, Bush earned an MBA in
business administration and set out on his own, 28 years old. He drove to
Midland and straight into the oil business with $20,000 of his own money.
Having a father who was vice-president of the country was all the
connection he needed. Then baseball, buying the Texas Rangers in 1989. His
original investment there of $600,000 could eventually be worth an
estimated $14 million. The drop in oil prices in the early '80s was a
serious set-back, but Bush managed to come out ahead.
Laura was a huge influence on Bush. She inspired him to read and talk
about the Bible, and in 1986 just after his 40th birthday, he quit
drinking from one day to the next. He's learned to take hold of
self-discipline, and to love his public life as a "pol."
The official announcement of his candidacy for the presidential
nomination was made on 6/12/1999 in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Elections were held on 11/07/2000, leading to one of the most dramatic
and confusing contests ever witnessed. When the issue of uncounted ballots
finally went to the Supreme Court, the conclusion was upheld that Bush was
the winner by a number of several hundred votes.
On 12/13/2000, Bush accepted Al Gore's concession speech and became
President-elect.
President Bush's nomination for a second term was made official at
about 8:08 PM on September 1, 2004 at the Republican National Convention
when the Lt. Governor of Maryland pronounced "the ayes have it." Bush
accepted the nomination in his speech at about 10:10 PM EDT on September
2, 2004 in New York, NY (time from observation, not official news report).
Bush won the election with results coming in on November 3, 2004. At
about 11 AM, Senator Kerry, his opponent, called and conceded the
election. At about 3 PM that day in Washington, DC, Bush gave his victory
speech.
At 11:56 AM on January 20, 2005, Bush took the oath of office administered
by Chief Justice Rehnquist. (The time of the oath is taken from personal
observation; BBC News reported that Bush took the oath of office "just
before 1700 GMT").
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