George Bush served the country in many ways. He was the forty-first president of the United States. The party he came from was the Republican Party. He also joined the United States Navy, as a pilot, to serve in World War II. He was also Vice President of the United States.

Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts in June 12 , 1924. Even though he was born in Milton he grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. He became the student leader of the Phillips Academy in Andover. After graduating from the Phillips Academy in 1942 he joined the U.S. Navy on his 18^th birthday, and became a pilot. He flew bombing missions against Japan. During World War II, 58 combat missions were flown by him. On one of those missions he was shot down over the Pacific, by a torpedo the Japanese had launched. Two of his crewmen died, but he survived unharmed and was later rescued by a United States submarine. For bravery in action, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. In late 1944, Bush returned to the United States. Everything was going well for George all he needed was to complete his education and a family.

In a couple of weeks he married Barbara Pierce. Together they had 6 children: his 4 sons George, John, Neil, and Marvin, and his 2 daughters Robin and Dorothy. His daughter Robin died at the age of three from Leukemia.

In 1945 Bush entered Yale University. He majored in economics ,and graduated as the captain of the varsity baseball team and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 1948. Bush and his family then moved to Texas. There Bush went into oil business, and worked as a business clerk. Bush cofounded the Zapata Petroleum Company in 1953 and the year after that he became president of the Zapata Offshore company. By the age of 41 he was already a millionare.

Bush was interested in politics because he was inspired by his father. His father was elected a Senator for Connecticut in 1952.

In 1962 Bush became Harris County Republican chairman in the Texas Republican Party in 1962. Bush ran for U.S. Senate in 1964, he was defeated by Ralph Yarborough. In 1966 Bush was elected to the U.S. house of Representatives with the help of former vice-president Richard Nixon. Bush was reelected in 1968.

Bush won a seat in the house. After two terms he gave up his seat and ran for Senator again. He was defeated by Lloyd Bentsen. Bush served as ambassador of the United Nations from 1971 to 1973;chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1973 to 1974:;U.S. envoy to China from 1974 to 1975; and director of the CIA from 1976 to 1977. In 1980, Bush was vice president to Ronald Reagan. Bush received eight years of on-the-job training.

Bush ran for president in 1988.Bush eliminated his to chief rivals quickly. Bush chose U.S. Senator Dan Quail from Indiana as his running mate. Bush’s opponents were Michael Dukakis, Governor of Massachusetts, and former Ronald Reagan. Dukakis failed to give Bush any competition. Bush won the easily, he had 53% of the vote ;40 states and 426 electoral votes.

In 1992 George Bush lost to Democrat William (Bill) Clinton in his bid for reelection. Bush and his Barbara returned to Texas after the ’92 election, built a new house in their old Houston neighborhood, and began their private life again. Bush started to work on memoirs and occasionally gave speeches. In 1994 George, Bush’s oldest son became the governor of Texas.

1. America Online

2. Microsoft Encarta 97 Encyclopedia

3. Internet Explorer