George H. W. Bush said...

"America needs to be a lot more like the Waltons and a lot less like the Simpsons. "

You say...

4 comments to date. The most recent comments:

Mondo Stars editors from Boulder Colorado USA (February 22, 2011)
President George H. W. Bush to be Honored at The Kennedy Center, it was announced on February 22, 2011:

"On March 21st at The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., President George H. W. Bush will be honored for his visionary leadership in the American service movement. President William Jefferson Clinton will be the honorary co-chair and will be joined by President and Mrs. George W. Bush and President Jimmy and Mrs. Carter. The star-studded event will bring together all of the living former presidents at a public celebration for the first time since President Barack Obama took office.

The event, sponsored by Points of Light Institute, will highlight President Bush's legacy and the critical role that voluntary service plays in overcoming the challenges our families, communities and the nation face in the 21st century. George Stevens, Jr., who is responsible for the Kennedy Center Honors and Christmas in Washington programs, will produce the event, along with his son, Michael Stevens.

"Born out of my father's 1989 inaugural address where he spoke of the power of 'Points of Light', Points of Light Institute was launched in 1990 to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world," said Neil Bush, Chairman of the Board for Points of Light Institute. "We help people discover their own ability to step forward and make a difference in their communities – to become individual Points of Light. The Tribute event will not only honor President Bush and the steps that he took during his presidency and post-presidency, but also honor the role that voluntary service plays in the American experience."

Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light Institute remarked, "For the past 20 years, Points of Light Institute has committed itself to helping Americans across the country live out President Bush's call and this vision has been embraced and extended by every president since. For over two decades, we have seen time and again that every individual has the power to make an impact in his community, our country and the world at large. We are honored to be part of this historic event.""

from (April 2, 2010)
Bush is a war hero. That alone is commendable.

from (April 2, 2010)
GHWB is elegant,sweet,humble and reasonably moderate in his views. Those are attractive qualities.

from (January 17, 2009)
He`s confused effete blind to his son`s failure and s sycofant to wealth in oil

See all George H. W. Bush comments.

Your comments about George H. W. Bush

No Broccoli for This Bush!

George Herbert Walker Bush served the United States as President from 1989-1993. He is President George W. Bush's father.

Elder Bush held quite a different view of an invasion in Iraq than his son as expressed in his memoirs, A World Transformed. He writes, "Trying to eliminate Saddam…would have incurred incalculable human and political costs. Apprehending him was probably impossible.. We would have been forced to occupy Baghdad and, in effect, rule Iraq..There was no viable "exit strategy" we could see, violating another of our principles. Furthermore, we had been consciously trying to set a pattern for handling aggression in the post-Cold War world. Going in and occupying Iraq, thus unilaterally exceeding the United Nations' mandate, would have destroyed the precedent of international response to aggression that we hoped to establish. Had we gone the invasion route, the United States could conceivably still be an occupying power in a bitterly hostile land." Written five years ago, it makes one wonder how often these two talk.

Bush was born to Prescott Bush and Dorthy Walker. His father was the U.S. Senator from Connecticut and partner in Brown Brothers Harriman, a prominent investment banking firm. During his studies at Phillips Academy (1936-42), he was captain of the baseball team and a member of A.U.V ("Auctoritas, Unitas, Veritas" -- Latin for "Authority, Unity, Truth").

After graduation from Phillips Academy in June of 1942, he joined the U.S. Navy to study flight training. He was soon promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. By 1944 he had flown 58 combat missions, received the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals, and the Presidential Unity Citation award.

George married Barbara Pierce on January 6, 1945. The couple had six children: George W., Pauline Robinson, John (known as Jeb), Neil, Marvin, and Dorthy Walker. After World War II, Bush had vast dealings in Texas oil exploration. The business was highly speculative, but he had very good success. He secured a position with Dresser Industries. Years later this company merged with Halliburton, whose former CEOs include Dick Cheney, Bush's Secretary of Defense and Vice President of the United States under son George W.

Bush served two terms as a U.S. Representative from Texas. Twice he ran unsuccessfully for the Senate. Then he was appointed to a series of high-level positions: Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Chief of the U. S. Liaison Office in the People's Republic of China, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

In 1980 Bush campaigned for the Republican nomination for President. He lost, but was chosen as a running mate by Ronald Reagan. Bush then served as vice president during the two Reagan terms of the 1980s. In 1988 Bush won the Republican nomination for president and, with Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana as his running mate, he defeated Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis in the general election.

As president, Bush led the United States involvement in the Gulf War (1990-1991), prompted by the decision of Saddam Hussein to invade Kuwait. The United States joined with the United Nations to prevent the forces led by Saddam from invading Saudi Arabia. He called his position in the war an act "against aggression." His popularity rating soared immediatly after the liberation of Kuwait.

In 1992 Bush ran for a second term of office, but was defeated by Bill Clinton. Factors in his defeat include the economic recession of the late 1980s. Another may have been alienating many members of his conservative base by siding with the Democratic party to raise taxes despite a promise not to do so.

At the end of his presidency Bush returned to his home in Houston, Texas and his summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine. He has recently published a book of letters, All the Best, George Bush, and co-authored A World Transformed, a book on foreign policy.

Bush banned broccoli from the White House and Air Force One, saying "I'm president of the United States, and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli!."