Jeffrey A. Engel is Associate Professor of History and Director of Presidential History Projects at Southern Methodist University.
George Herbert Walker Bush was born on June 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts. He attended Phillips Academy in Andover. At the age of 18, Bush enlisted in the Navy and became the youngest pilot in the Navy when he got his wings. He flew 58 combat missions during World War II and received the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in action when he was shot down during a mission. After the war, Bush attended Yale, and after graduating, began a career in the oil industry. Much like his father before him, Bush became interested in public service and served two terms as the Texas Representative to Congress. He had two unsuccessful runs for a Senate seat before receiving some high profile… assignments. He was appointed as an Ambassador to the United Nations, followed by an appointment as Chairman of the Republican National Convention, the Chief of the United States Liaison Office in the People's Republic of China and finally, Bush became the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. In 1980, Bush tried for the Republican bid for President, but was chosen instead as Reagan's running mate. After serving as Vice President of the United States, Bush won the Republican vote in 1988 for President, running with Dan Quayle and defeating Dukakis for the position of President. During Bush's presidency, he was well favored for his role abroad in Dessert Storm, but Americans were disillusioned with the way things were run domestically. In 1992, Bush lost the reelection to William Jefferson Clinton, a democrat.