George Bush
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George Herbert Walker Bush (1924 - 2018)

President George Herbert Walker Bush
Born in Milton, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 6 Jan 1945 in First Presbyterian Church, Rye, New Yorkmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 94 in Houston, Texas, United Statesmap
Profile last modified | Created 19 Mar 2009
This page has been accessed 46,854 times.
The Presidential Seal.
George Bush was the President of the United States.
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Preceded by
40th President
Ronald Reagan




Preceded by
42nd Vice President

Walter Mondale
George H W Bush
41st President
of the United States
Presidential Seal
1989 - 1993

43rd Vice President of the United States
Vice-Presidential Seal
1981—1989
Succeeded by
42nd President
Bill Clinton




Succeeded by
44th Vice President

Dan Quayle

Contents

Biography

Notables Project
George Bush is Notable.
George Bush is the descendant of a Huguenot emigrant.

George H. W. Bush was the President of the United States from 1989-1993.[1][2][3]

Family

George Herbert Walker Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, on June 12, 1924 to Prescott and Dorothy Bush.[4][5][3][6][7][8][2] He was named after his two grandfathers.[3]

George's mother was the biggest influence on his life, according to George's wife Barbara, and worked hard to raise her children to be good, modest people.[3] As a young man, George often went by his middle name, Walker.[3] He was also sometimes known as "Poppy", a derivative of his namesake grandfather's nickname, "Pop".[3]

George attended Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts.[9] He graduated there in 1942.[4][5][2] He was an athletic lad who was always willing to help or share with those around him.[3]

Following the news of the building violence in Europe, and the shock of the attack on Pearl Harbor, George enlisted in the Navy as soon as he finished high school, putting his plans of attending Yale on hold.[4][3] He was often referred to as the youngest aviator in the Navy when he received his wings, though he later learned of one young man slightly younger.[2][3] George flew 58 combat missions during World War II.[2] On a mission with his unit, Torpedo Squadron 51, over the Pacific he was shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft fire and was rescued from the water by a U.S. submarine, a far better fate than many of the other men shot down in the same mission.[10][2][3] He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in action.[11][12][5][2]

In January 1945, George married Barbara Pierce.[5] They had six children: George, Pauline Robinson "Robin", John "Jeb", Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy "Doro".[2][3] George W. and Jeb both entered the politics, as well.[3]

George and Barbara's daughter, Robin, died young from leukemia, despite the family doing the best they could to find a solution.[3] The family temporarily moved to New York, staying with family while Robin was treated.[3] George traveled between there and Texas in order to be with her and keep the family businesses running.[3] He kept a picture of her in his desk drawer throughout his presidency.[3]

George attended Yale University and excelled in both his studies and in sports.[2] He graduated from there in 1948.[4] George and Barbara moved their young family to Odessa, Texas where George would start his work in the oil industry.[3]

George and Barbara's marriage lasted 73 years, ending only when she passed away early in 2018.[3]

Endeavors

George was a successful businessman, forming Bush-Overby Oil Development in 1951.[4] He also helped organize Zapata Petroleum Corp in 1953.[4] During that time he watched his father step from business into politics, and the seed for his own transition was planted.[3] He sold his interest in Zapata and worked on his plan to enter the Senate.[3]

George served two terms as a Representative to Congress from Texas, first winning in 1966.[3] He was next appointed to a series of high-level positions: Ambassador to the United Nations by President Nixon[3], Chairman of the Republican National Committee-another Nixon request[3], Chief of the U. S. Liaison Office in the People's Republic of China by President Ford[3], and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency-another Ford appointment[3]. The CIA headquarters at Langley was later named in his honor.[3]

President Bush

George was chosen as the Vice President by Ronald Reagan and served in the role for both terms Reagan was President.[4][3]

Despite the difficulty George had with his personal life being so accessible to the public when serving political roles, George ran for and won the Republican nomination for President in 1988. It was a difficult place to be, following the immensely successful President Reagan. George Bush became the 41st President of the United States.[3] He was elected in 1989 and served until 1993.[2]

President Bush was known for his pragmatism, patience, and drive.[3] His time in the White House landed at the end of the Cold War and the beginnings of upheaval in the Middle East, most notably, Operation Desert Storm.[3] His time also saw the passing of the Americans With Disabilities Act, The Immigration Act of 1990, The Civil Rights Act of 1991, The High Performance Computing Act of 1991, NAFTA, the volunteer program A Thousand Points of Light, as well as Supreme Court Appointments David Souter and Clarence Thomas.[3]

The end of his time as President was clouded with a downturn in the economy, his own depression, and Graves Disease.[3] He lost his bid to be reelected to Bill Clinton.[3]

George lived to see something that had happened only once before, with the Adams Presidential family; his son, George W. Bush, became the 43rd President of the United States, following in his father's footsteps.[3] George Sr was also the last World War II veteran to serve in the Oval Office.[3] His exit from the limelight of politics opened the door for the world to see the congenial, respectful man he was, making connections with former political rivals like Bob Dole and Bill Clinton, and understanding the boundaries between father and son, letting George W. be his own man in the Presidential chair.[3]

Legacy

George Bush died November 30, 2018 at his home in Houston, Texas, seven months after the death of his wife, Barbara.[1][8] He will be buried at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library alongside his wife, Barbara.[3]

George is remembered for the way he lived his life with his beloved wife, Barbara. He smiled and flashed his socks for the camera, went on adventures even into his older years, and always showed himself to be as fun as he was courageous and respectful.[3] He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011. He was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded to him by then President Barack Obama.[3]


Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 Wikipedia contributors, "George H. W. Bush," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Wikipedia: George H. W. Bush (accessed December 3, 2018).
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 "George H.W. Bush", WhiteHouse.gov, accessed 2 Dec 2018
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33 3.34 3.35 3.36 3.37 3.38 Von Drehle, Don, "George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st President of the United States and the Father of the 43rd, Dies at 94", Time Magazine, http://time.com/longform/president-george-hw-bush-dead/, 1 Dec 2018; accessed 4 Dec 2018
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Ancestry.com. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Ancestry Record 1064 #1552
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Barbara Pierce Engaged to Wed: Fiancee of Ensign", New York Times, Barbara Pierce and George Bush, 11 Dec 1943. Accessed via Ancestry.com 2 Dec 2018. Image
  6. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMP3-K6M : accessed 3 December 2018), Walker Bush in household of Prescott S Bush, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 134, sheet 4A, line 24, family 29, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 257; FHL microfilm 2,339,992.
  7. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7B5-FKP : 16 March 2018), George Bush in household of Prescott S Bush, Greenwich Town, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 1-52, sheet 2A, line 27, family 27, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 495.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 02 December 2018), memorial page for George Herbert Walker Bush (12 Jun 1924–30 Nov 2018), Find A Grave: Memorial #4311, citing George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave .
  9. Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1990 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; Year: 1940 Ancestry Record 1265 #427234489
  10. Naval History and Heritage Command Lieutenant George H. W. Bush, USNR
  11. Ancestry.com. U.S. Navy Cruise Books, 1918-2009 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2011. United States Navy; Navy Department Library, Washington, D.C.; Ship Name: USS San Jacinto; Ship Classification: CVL-30; Year(s): 1944-1945 Ancestry Record 2348 #2668906
  12. Ancestry.com. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors. Ancestry Record 2345 #4675615
  • Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1963 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2006. The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger and Crew Manifest of Airplanes Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts; NAI Number: 2674785; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: A3608; NARA Roll Number: 23 Ancestry Record 8745 #10489870
  • Ancestry.com. New York State, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1917-1967 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008. The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; NAI Number: 2848504; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: A3998; NARA Roll Number: 393 Ancestry Record 1277 #6173430
  • Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Year: 1937; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 5955; Line: 22; Page Number: 121 Ancestry Record 7488 #20451991
  • Rechcigl, Miloslav, Jr., "Tthe Moravian Brethren Heritage of th First Lady Barbara Pierce Bush," in: Contributions of the Moravian Brethren to America. Selected Papers from the Conference of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, at the Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, June 8-10, 2007. New York, NY: Publishing House of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, 2008, pp.119-130.
  • https://www.statopontificio.org/ps/fellows.html
  • https://colonialswedes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/SCN-Volume-3-Number-4-Spring-Summer-2006.pdf




Memories: 1
Enter a personal reminiscence or story.
I spoke to President Bush when he was running for President in 1976. He was in Charleston, South Carolina campaining and I went into a room he was waiting in. I said howdy and he nodded. I then saw two men in suits at the door when I exited. They said what the and looked at him and he nodded and waived his hand to them.
posted 7 Dec 2018 by Starr Fenner   [thank Starr]
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His sources for the Distinguished Flying Cross are secondary. I would consider this source primary - https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/presidents/bush.html
posted by Jim Vondrak
Thank you, it is added as a source
posted by Robin Lee
Hi there profile managers!

We plan on featuring George alongside AJ Jacobs, the Example Profile of the Week, in the Connection Finder on January 6th. Between now and then is a good time to take a look at the sources and biography to see if there are updates and improvements that need made, especially those that will bring it up to WikiTree Style Guide standards. We know it's short notice, so don't fret too much. Just do what you can. A Team member will check on the profile Tuesday and make changes as necessary.

Thanks! Abby

posted by Abby (Brown) Glann
please consider adding "He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011."
posted by Gil Davis
Please add this day in history categories for President Bush.
posted by Zachary Jon Smith
If you want to add a succession box for CIA Director, the previous one was on the profile for William Colby. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Colby-1513

Bush was succeeded by Stansfield Turner. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Turner-28711

posted by Mark Burch
edited by Mark Burch
James Weir 1762 and President George W. Bush, Revolutionary War Ancestor

Original Press Release, Office of Sen. Lamar Alexander Date: March 2, 2004 WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander today presented President George W. Bush with a hand-carved wooden bust of James Weir, the president's seventh-generation grandfather, who was a soldier in the decisive Revolutionary War Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780.

"The Battle of Kings Mountain was the turning point in the Revolutionary War in the South," Alexander said. The gathering of 1,000 volunteers at Sycamore Shoals in Carter County, who then crossed the mountain and surprised and defeated the British at Kings Mountain, is one of the great stories of American history."

posted by Dale Berry
Alexander's seventh-generation grandfather, John Alexander, also fought in the historic battle. The senator accepted the bust for the president in September during a production of "The Wataugans" by the Overmountain Victory Trail Association.

According to his pension application, James Weir served under Capts. Robert Edmondson and William Lowry in Col. William Campbell's Washington County Virginia Militia in Sept and Oct of 1780. Wear's Valley, Tenn., which borders the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, carries the namesake of President Bush's ancestry.

Over 1,000 volunteers, including James Weir, gathered on September 25, 1780 for the "Muster of the Overmountain Men," which marked the beginning of the two week campaign that led to the victory at the Battle of Kings Mountain on Octobe

posted by Dale Berry
His full name George Herbert Walker Bush Sr. and is listed on the 1930 census as "Walker"
posted by Carole Taylor
George Bush has the distinction of being the youngest Naval Aviator of all time. He served his country with honor long before he served as her President, also with honor. He is my cousin.
posted by Bob Keniston Jr.
On the flight that was shot down he gave his two crewmen a chance to get out first. When he left the plane, his parachute opened too early and he hit his head on the bomber. When he landed he was bleeding, vomiting, and crying. He had just lived from a burning plane crash but his crew mates had not been so lucky despite extreme measures he took to try and save them. Regarding the two men, he has been quoted as saying "God bless those boys."

Meltzer, Brad, Heroes for my son, pgs 50-51, Harper Collins Publishing

posted by Lisa (Kelsey) Murphy
Can someone check into this: My husband, who was an aviator, fighter pilot questioned the designation of fighter pilot for President Bush (41). GW was a fighter pilot (43). The airplane designation (The TBM Avenger) was a torpedo bomber, which is a different thing). Also it would be more appropriate to designate him as a naval aviator than a fighter pilot. His son should be in the fighter pilot category because he flew the F102 which was the Delta Dagger (The F stands for fighter).

Thank you for looking at this.

posted by Darlene (Scott) Kerr

Rejected matches › George BushGeorge BushGeorge Bush (abt.1905-)

This week's connection theme is the Puritan Great Migration. George is 13 degrees from John Winthrop, 13 degrees from Anne Bradstreet, 13 degrees from John Cotton, 12 degrees from John Eliot, 14 degrees from John Endecott, 13 degrees from Mary Estey, 13 degrees from Thomas Hooker, 12 degrees from Anne Hutchinson, 13 degrees from William Pynchon, 12 degrees from Alice Tilley, 12 degrees from Robert Treat and 13 degrees from Roger Williams on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.