"Former President George W. Bush appears to be backing Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), one of the ten Republican House members who sided with Democrats in voting to impeach former President Trump."
Not surprised, but VERY disappointed!
-
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BIGGG Disappointment! Number 1 Swamp Monster!
- Thread starter Wesley Briggman
- Start date
"Former President George W. Bush appears to be backing Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), one of the ten Republican House members who sided with Democrats in voting to impeach former President Trump."
Not surprised, but VERY disappointed!
That is the tip of the iceberg.
George H.W. Bush once said, "If the American People ever find out what we have done, they will chase us down the street and lynch us."
PolitiFact - George H.W. Bush didn’t say if Americans ever found out ‘what we have done’ they would ‘lynch us’
George H.W. Bush once said, "If the American People ever find out what we have done, they will chase us down the street and lynch us."
PolitiFact - George H.W. Bush didn’t say if Americans ever found out ‘what we have done’ they would ‘lynch us’
Does the lion care what the sheep say.
"Former President George W. Bush appears to be backing Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), one of the ten Republican House members who sided with Democrats in voting to impeach former President Trump."
Not surprised, but VERY disappointed!
I am not. He is a RINO, globalist piece of garbage.
"Former President George W. Bush appears to be backing Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), one of the ten Republican House members who sided with Democrats in voting to impeach former President Trump."
Not surprised, but VERY disappointed!
RighteousnessTemperance&
Well-Known Member
OK, just what was this supposed to be? Tip of the iceberg, yes. But the incriminating quote, while possibly true in sentiment, is debunked per the link. RighteousnessTemperance&
Well-Known Member
He very well may eventually, especially if they're saying it to the Shepherd.
So much for heroes:
George H. W. Bush - Key Events | Miller Center
GEORGE H. W. BUSH - KEY EVENTS
January 20, 1989
Bush Inaugurated
George H. W. Bush is inaugurated as the forty-first President.
February 6, 1989
Bank Bail-Out Plan Introduced
President Bush, at a White House press conference, introduces his bail-out plan for troubled savings and loans banks. It provides for the sale of $50 billion in government bonds to finance the bail-out and gives the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) regulatory oversight over S&Ls.
March 14, 1989
Semi-Automatic Rifle Ban
The Bush administration, at the urging of federal drug czar, William Bennett, announces a temporary ban on the importation of semi-automatic rifles, a reversal of President Bush's earlier statements indicating that no restriction on these firearms would be enacted.
March 24, 1989
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
In the worst oil spill on American territory, the Exxon Valdez supertanker runs aground in southeastern Alaska. The tanker dumps 240,000 barrels of oil into the surrounding waters and causes extensive environmental damage.
April 17, 1989
Bush Offers Poland Assistance
President Bush offers a program of special assistance for Poland, whose Communist government has agreed to negotiations with the opposition Solidarity party which produce a plan for free elections. Elections are held in August, 1989, which lead to the end of single-party rule in Poland.
June 4, 1989
Tiananmen Square Massacre
The People's Liberation Army, the military arm of the Chinese government, uses tanks and armored cars to suppress a burgeoning pro-democracy movement that had encamped in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Estimates on the number of demonstrators killed vary between 700 and 2,700.
June 5, 1989
Bush Condemns China’s Actions
In the wake of the Tiananmen Square massacres, President Bush announces a number of condemnatory actions, including the suspension of the sale of American weapons to China.
August 9, 1989
Bail-Out Plan Revised
President Bush signs into law the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, a compromise with Congress on the bail-out of savings and loans. This law differs from Bush's February 6 proposal of financing the bail-out from the Treasury Department through the sale of bonds. It offers $166 billion worth of aid to troubled savings and loans institutions and creates a new government body, the Resolution Trust Company, to oversee the merger or liquidation of troubled banks.
November 9, 1989
Berlin Wall Falls
The Berlin Wall falls, marking the symbolic end of Communist rule in Eastern Europe.
On November 9, 1989, East Germany fully opened its borders, including the imposing gate at the Berlin Wall. Thousands of Germans, from both East and West Germany, climbed over the wall and began to dismantle it with shovels and hammers. The jubilant scene illustrated the great changes taking place with the ending of the Cold War.
Since 1961, the Berlin Wall had stood as a symbolic barrier between the East and West, between communism and democracy: its fall reflected changing international relations. This episode, although memorable, was not the first or last in the relatively swift collapse of communism. Earlier in 1989, Hungary and Austria had opened their border. By spring of 1990, liberal political actors had wrested the governments of Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Lithuania, and Romania from the hands of communist leaders.
The Soviet Union itself, for decades the most powerful adversary of the United States, had been undergoing fundamental political changes throughout the 1980s, shaking its communist foundations. Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev had worked to change the Soviet Union through the doctrines of perestoika (restructuring) and glasnost (opening). He had also worked with Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush to thaw the Cold War.
By December 1991, the Soviet Union had dissolved and Gorbachev had resigned; the Commonwealth of Independent States had replaced the Soviet Union. Many conservative commentators have praised Reagan and Bush for substantially contributing to the fall of communism. These observers say that the tremendous military build-up of the 1980s forced the Soviet Union to spend scanty resources to keep up, which ultimately produced the instability that spelled its end. Others claim that internal developments in the Soviet Union-such as its unsuccessful war with Afghanistan and autonomous rebellions from within-are more to blame: high U.S. spending, they claim, only sapped resources from important domestic programs and meaningful diplomatic conversation.
It is unlikely that this debate will soon be resolved, but the basic triumph of democracy seems inarguable. President George H. W. Bush embraced the geopolitical upheaval cautiously, and he was criticized for failing to give the moment adequate meaning and communicating its import to the American public. However, the President responded cautiously to try to avoid a backlash by hard-liners in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, a stance that well-informed observers applauded.
The dismantling of the Berlin Wall was a poignant illustration of the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War. The world was then faced with restructuring the geopolitical balance that had been in place for more than forty years.
In-Depth Exhibits
The fall of the Berlin Wall
November 17, 1989
Fair Labor Standards Amendments
President Bush signs the Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1989, which by April 1991 would raise the minimum wage to $4.25 an hour. The law was a significant victory for Bush over congressional Democrats, who in the spring of 1989 passed a bill, which President Bush vetoed on June 13, that raised the minimum wage to $4.55.
November 21, 1989
New Anti-Drug Law
President Bush signs a new anti-drug law that provides more than $3 billion for expanded anti-drug programs, including treatment facilities, federal prison expansion, education, and law enforcement.
December 2, 1989
Bush Meets with Gorbachev
President Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev hold their first meeting of Bush's presidency in the harbor of Valetta, Malta, to discuss nuclear disarmament and the strengthening of Soviet-American trade relations. Both leaders announce that the Cold War is effectively over.
In-Depth Exhibits
Gorbachev and the USSR
December 20, 1989
Panama Invasion
American armed forces invade Panama to capture Manuel Antonio Noriega, the country's military dictator. Noriega, who had been indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges, surrendered on January 3, 1990. He was convicted on drug charges on April 9, 1992, and sent to prison.
In-Depth Exhibits
Proving Ground
June 1, 1990
Arms Reduction Agreement
At a summit meeting in Washington, D.C., President Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev sign the broadest arms reduction agreement in two decades. The agreement stipulates that the United States and the Soviet Union scrap 25 percent and 40 percent of their respective nuclear stockpiles.
June 26, 1990
New Taxes Proposed
President Bush, in a written statement released to the press, reneges on his “no new taxes” pledge from the 1988 presidential campaign by stating that in order to solve the deficit problem, tax increases might be necessary for the 1991 fiscal year.
July 26, 1990
Americans with Disabilities Act
President Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act, which affects over 43 million Americans and forbids discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and transportation.
August 2, 1990
Iraq Invades Kuwait
Iraq invades Kuwait. President Bush strongly condemns Iraq's actions, setting the stage for an American response.
In-Depth Exhibits
The Gulf War
October 3, 1990
German States Reunite
Seven months after East Germans overwhelmingly approve reunification, the two German states are formally reunited.
October 22, 1990
Civil Rights Act Vetoed
President Bush vetoes the Civil Rights Act of 1990, stating that the bill would “introduce the destructive force of quotas into our nation's employment system.”
November 5, 1990
Budget Law Signed
President Bush signs a budget law intended to reduce the federal budget by almost $500 billion over the next five years. The law includes $140 billion dollars in new taxes.
November 8, 1990
U.S. Troops in Saudi Arabia
President Bush increases the number of American troops in Saudi Arabia to 400,000.
November 15, 1990
Clean Air Act Signed
President Bush signs the Clean Air Act of 1990, which tightens air pollution standards and seeks to reduce urban smog, cut acid rain pollution by one-half, and eliminate industrial emissions of toxic chemicals by the end of the 20th century.
November 19, 1990
CFE Treaty
The United States, Canada, and twenty other European nations sign the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE). The CFE limits NATO and Warsaw Pact weapons holdings and caps the American troop presence in Central Europe at 195,000.
George H. W. Bush - Key Events | Miller Center
GEORGE H. W. BUSH - KEY EVENTS
January 20, 1989
Bush Inaugurated
George H. W. Bush is inaugurated as the forty-first President.
February 6, 1989
Bank Bail-Out Plan Introduced
President Bush, at a White House press conference, introduces his bail-out plan for troubled savings and loans banks. It provides for the sale of $50 billion in government bonds to finance the bail-out and gives the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) regulatory oversight over S&Ls.
March 14, 1989
Semi-Automatic Rifle Ban
The Bush administration, at the urging of federal drug czar, William Bennett, announces a temporary ban on the importation of semi-automatic rifles, a reversal of President Bush's earlier statements indicating that no restriction on these firearms would be enacted.
March 24, 1989
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
In the worst oil spill on American territory, the Exxon Valdez supertanker runs aground in southeastern Alaska. The tanker dumps 240,000 barrels of oil into the surrounding waters and causes extensive environmental damage.
April 17, 1989
Bush Offers Poland Assistance
President Bush offers a program of special assistance for Poland, whose Communist government has agreed to negotiations with the opposition Solidarity party which produce a plan for free elections. Elections are held in August, 1989, which lead to the end of single-party rule in Poland.
June 4, 1989
Tiananmen Square Massacre
The People's Liberation Army, the military arm of the Chinese government, uses tanks and armored cars to suppress a burgeoning pro-democracy movement that had encamped in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Estimates on the number of demonstrators killed vary between 700 and 2,700.
June 5, 1989
Bush Condemns China’s Actions
In the wake of the Tiananmen Square massacres, President Bush announces a number of condemnatory actions, including the suspension of the sale of American weapons to China.
August 9, 1989
Bail-Out Plan Revised
President Bush signs into law the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, a compromise with Congress on the bail-out of savings and loans. This law differs from Bush's February 6 proposal of financing the bail-out from the Treasury Department through the sale of bonds. It offers $166 billion worth of aid to troubled savings and loans institutions and creates a new government body, the Resolution Trust Company, to oversee the merger or liquidation of troubled banks.
November 9, 1989
Berlin Wall Falls
The Berlin Wall falls, marking the symbolic end of Communist rule in Eastern Europe.
On November 9, 1989, East Germany fully opened its borders, including the imposing gate at the Berlin Wall. Thousands of Germans, from both East and West Germany, climbed over the wall and began to dismantle it with shovels and hammers. The jubilant scene illustrated the great changes taking place with the ending of the Cold War.
Since 1961, the Berlin Wall had stood as a symbolic barrier between the East and West, between communism and democracy: its fall reflected changing international relations. This episode, although memorable, was not the first or last in the relatively swift collapse of communism. Earlier in 1989, Hungary and Austria had opened their border. By spring of 1990, liberal political actors had wrested the governments of Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Lithuania, and Romania from the hands of communist leaders.
The Soviet Union itself, for decades the most powerful adversary of the United States, had been undergoing fundamental political changes throughout the 1980s, shaking its communist foundations. Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev had worked to change the Soviet Union through the doctrines of perestoika (restructuring) and glasnost (opening). He had also worked with Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush to thaw the Cold War.
By December 1991, the Soviet Union had dissolved and Gorbachev had resigned; the Commonwealth of Independent States had replaced the Soviet Union. Many conservative commentators have praised Reagan and Bush for substantially contributing to the fall of communism. These observers say that the tremendous military build-up of the 1980s forced the Soviet Union to spend scanty resources to keep up, which ultimately produced the instability that spelled its end. Others claim that internal developments in the Soviet Union-such as its unsuccessful war with Afghanistan and autonomous rebellions from within-are more to blame: high U.S. spending, they claim, only sapped resources from important domestic programs and meaningful diplomatic conversation.
It is unlikely that this debate will soon be resolved, but the basic triumph of democracy seems inarguable. President George H. W. Bush embraced the geopolitical upheaval cautiously, and he was criticized for failing to give the moment adequate meaning and communicating its import to the American public. However, the President responded cautiously to try to avoid a backlash by hard-liners in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, a stance that well-informed observers applauded.
The dismantling of the Berlin Wall was a poignant illustration of the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War. The world was then faced with restructuring the geopolitical balance that had been in place for more than forty years.
In-Depth Exhibits
The fall of the Berlin Wall
November 17, 1989
Fair Labor Standards Amendments
President Bush signs the Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1989, which by April 1991 would raise the minimum wage to $4.25 an hour. The law was a significant victory for Bush over congressional Democrats, who in the spring of 1989 passed a bill, which President Bush vetoed on June 13, that raised the minimum wage to $4.55.
November 21, 1989
New Anti-Drug Law
President Bush signs a new anti-drug law that provides more than $3 billion for expanded anti-drug programs, including treatment facilities, federal prison expansion, education, and law enforcement.
December 2, 1989
Bush Meets with Gorbachev
President Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev hold their first meeting of Bush's presidency in the harbor of Valetta, Malta, to discuss nuclear disarmament and the strengthening of Soviet-American trade relations. Both leaders announce that the Cold War is effectively over.
In-Depth Exhibits
Gorbachev and the USSR
December 20, 1989
Panama Invasion
American armed forces invade Panama to capture Manuel Antonio Noriega, the country's military dictator. Noriega, who had been indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges, surrendered on January 3, 1990. He was convicted on drug charges on April 9, 1992, and sent to prison.
In-Depth Exhibits
Proving Ground
June 1, 1990
Arms Reduction Agreement
At a summit meeting in Washington, D.C., President Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev sign the broadest arms reduction agreement in two decades. The agreement stipulates that the United States and the Soviet Union scrap 25 percent and 40 percent of their respective nuclear stockpiles.
June 26, 1990
New Taxes Proposed
President Bush, in a written statement released to the press, reneges on his “no new taxes” pledge from the 1988 presidential campaign by stating that in order to solve the deficit problem, tax increases might be necessary for the 1991 fiscal year.
July 26, 1990
Americans with Disabilities Act
President Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act, which affects over 43 million Americans and forbids discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and transportation.
August 2, 1990
Iraq Invades Kuwait
Iraq invades Kuwait. President Bush strongly condemns Iraq's actions, setting the stage for an American response.
In-Depth Exhibits
The Gulf War
October 3, 1990
German States Reunite
Seven months after East Germans overwhelmingly approve reunification, the two German states are formally reunited.
October 22, 1990
Civil Rights Act Vetoed
President Bush vetoes the Civil Rights Act of 1990, stating that the bill would “introduce the destructive force of quotas into our nation's employment system.”
November 5, 1990
Budget Law Signed
President Bush signs a budget law intended to reduce the federal budget by almost $500 billion over the next five years. The law includes $140 billion dollars in new taxes.
November 8, 1990
U.S. Troops in Saudi Arabia
President Bush increases the number of American troops in Saudi Arabia to 400,000.
November 15, 1990
Clean Air Act Signed
President Bush signs the Clean Air Act of 1990, which tightens air pollution standards and seeks to reduce urban smog, cut acid rain pollution by one-half, and eliminate industrial emissions of toxic chemicals by the end of the 20th century.
November 19, 1990
CFE Treaty
The United States, Canada, and twenty other European nations sign the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE). The CFE limits NATO and Warsaw Pact weapons holdings and caps the American troop presence in Central Europe at 195,000.
November 29, 1990
Immigration Act of 1990
President Bush signs the Immigration Act of 1990, the most extensive revision to immigration law in more than a half century. The new law allows for the admission of 700,000 aliens each year.
January 17, 1991
Persian Gulf War Begins
The Persian Gulf War, code-named Operation Desert Storm, begins with a massive, American-led air attack on Iraq.
Early on the morning of January 17, 1991, coalition forces led by the United States launched air strikes against Iraq. These strikes signaled the beginning of the military phase of the Persian Gulf War.
In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, a neighboring country. Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein, had long argued with Kuwait over the rights to certain oil-rich lands. He had been preparing to invade Kuwait for several weeks, but when the attack came-on August 2, 1990-it nevertheless surprised much of the world. Several countries in the Middle East had assured the United States that Hussein was massing his troops only to bluff Kuwait into meeting his demands. When the Iraqi leader sent 140,000 troops storming toward-and quickly taking-the Kuwaiti capital, President George H.W. Bush responded.
The United States quickly intervened for a number of reasons. By invading Kuwait, Saddam Hussein gained control over a vast amount of the world's oil supply, which gave him the potential to wreak havoc with U.S. energy policy and oil prices. Bush also drew vivid parallels between Saddam Hussein and Adolf Hitler in the 1930s: a decisive, early blow to Saddam's imperialist ambitions, the President believed, would forestall another “Munich,” preventing the outbreak of a more serious crisis later on. Finally, political and military theorists thought that a show of U.S. military resolve would improve America's international credibility-especially in this first major crisis of the post-Cold War era-and boost confidence in a military still trying to throw off the legacy of the Vietnam War.
President Bush and his administrative team were extraordinarily active, and extraordinarily successful, in building an international coalition to counter the Iraqi aggression. Perhaps the most impressive feat of international diplomacy was President Bush's ability either to neutralize or win outright the support of traditionally hostile China and Russia, together with many countries of the Middle East. He also persuaded Israel to stay out of the coalition, which made it possible for Middle Eastern countries to join without seeming to unite with Israel.
The United Nations first approved the use of sanctions and a U.S.-led defensive posture, designed to deter Saddam Hussein from advancing any further and to persuade him to pull back from Kuwait. In November, the U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 678 authorizing member states to use “all necessary means” to remove Iraq from Kuwait if Iraq had not withdraw all of its forces by January 15, 1991. The U.S. plan to forcibly remove Iraqi troops from Kuwait was dubbed Operation Desert Storm and included an effective mixture of air power and overwhelming ground forces, including the use of 500,000 U.S. troops. Once the deadline passed and Iraq had not withdrawn from Kuwait, the U.S.-led coalition quickly overpowered the Iraqi military, and on February 28th, the coalition declared a cease-fire.
When the war ended, President Bush had very high approval ratings for his conduct of the war and his success in coalition building. However, he endured criticism for failing to remove Saddam Hussein from power and destroy the Iraqi military. That stance left Kurds and Shiites who were sympathetic to the United States at the mercy of a vengeful Iraqi government, but President Bush apparently feared the consequences of Saddam Hussein's unknown replacement-and a geopolitically destabilized region-even more than Saddam himself.
In-Depth Exhibits
The Gulf War
February 24, 1991
Ground Troops Begin Operations
Ground troops, including a large contingent of American soldiers, begin operations in Operation Desert Storm.
February 27, 1991
Ground Offensive Called Off
After liberating Kuwait, coalition troops advance rapidly into Iraqi territory, encountering no resistance. President Bush, deciding that the war's objectives had been met, calls off the ground offensive.
July 10, 1991
South African Sanctions Removed
President Bush lifts most American sanctions against the Republic of South Africa, saying that the movement to end apartheid is now “irreversible.”
July 31, 1991
START-I Signed
President Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev meet in Moscow to sign a nuclear arms reduction treaty (START-I) which calls for both nations to make significant reductions in the number of nuclear warheads in their respective arsenals.
October 15, 1991
Senate Confirms Thomas
Clarence Thomas, President Bush's nominee to replace retiring Justice Thurgood Marshall on the Supreme Court, is confirmed by the Senate in a close 52-48 vote. Thomas' confirmation hearings focus on charges of sexual harassment made by Anita F. Hill, a law professor and former colleague of Thomas.
November 21, 1991
1991 Civil Rights Act
President Bush signs the Civil Rights Act of 1991, making it easier for employees to sue employers on grounds of discrimination.
December 31, 1991
Soviet Union Dissolves
The constituent republics of the Soviet Union dissolve the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
January 10, 1992
Unemployment Rises
The Labor Department announces that the unemployment rose to 7.1 percent in December 1991, the highest mark in over five years.
February 1, 1992
Bush Meets With Yeltsin
At the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, President Bush and Russian president Boris Yeltsin meet to discuss U.S.-Russian relations and officially declare the end of the Cold War.
February 18, 1992
Bush Wins Primary
President Bush wins the New Hampshire primary but faces a strong challenge from conservative media personality Patrick Buchanan. The conservative wing of the Republican Party supports Buchanan, revealing a division within the party.
Immigration Act of 1990
President Bush signs the Immigration Act of 1990, the most extensive revision to immigration law in more than a half century. The new law allows for the admission of 700,000 aliens each year.
January 17, 1991
Persian Gulf War Begins
The Persian Gulf War, code-named Operation Desert Storm, begins with a massive, American-led air attack on Iraq.
Early on the morning of January 17, 1991, coalition forces led by the United States launched air strikes against Iraq. These strikes signaled the beginning of the military phase of the Persian Gulf War.
In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, a neighboring country. Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein, had long argued with Kuwait over the rights to certain oil-rich lands. He had been preparing to invade Kuwait for several weeks, but when the attack came-on August 2, 1990-it nevertheless surprised much of the world. Several countries in the Middle East had assured the United States that Hussein was massing his troops only to bluff Kuwait into meeting his demands. When the Iraqi leader sent 140,000 troops storming toward-and quickly taking-the Kuwaiti capital, President George H.W. Bush responded.
The United States quickly intervened for a number of reasons. By invading Kuwait, Saddam Hussein gained control over a vast amount of the world's oil supply, which gave him the potential to wreak havoc with U.S. energy policy and oil prices. Bush also drew vivid parallels between Saddam Hussein and Adolf Hitler in the 1930s: a decisive, early blow to Saddam's imperialist ambitions, the President believed, would forestall another “Munich,” preventing the outbreak of a more serious crisis later on. Finally, political and military theorists thought that a show of U.S. military resolve would improve America's international credibility-especially in this first major crisis of the post-Cold War era-and boost confidence in a military still trying to throw off the legacy of the Vietnam War.
President Bush and his administrative team were extraordinarily active, and extraordinarily successful, in building an international coalition to counter the Iraqi aggression. Perhaps the most impressive feat of international diplomacy was President Bush's ability either to neutralize or win outright the support of traditionally hostile China and Russia, together with many countries of the Middle East. He also persuaded Israel to stay out of the coalition, which made it possible for Middle Eastern countries to join without seeming to unite with Israel.
The United Nations first approved the use of sanctions and a U.S.-led defensive posture, designed to deter Saddam Hussein from advancing any further and to persuade him to pull back from Kuwait. In November, the U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 678 authorizing member states to use “all necessary means” to remove Iraq from Kuwait if Iraq had not withdraw all of its forces by January 15, 1991. The U.S. plan to forcibly remove Iraqi troops from Kuwait was dubbed Operation Desert Storm and included an effective mixture of air power and overwhelming ground forces, including the use of 500,000 U.S. troops. Once the deadline passed and Iraq had not withdrawn from Kuwait, the U.S.-led coalition quickly overpowered the Iraqi military, and on February 28th, the coalition declared a cease-fire.
When the war ended, President Bush had very high approval ratings for his conduct of the war and his success in coalition building. However, he endured criticism for failing to remove Saddam Hussein from power and destroy the Iraqi military. That stance left Kurds and Shiites who were sympathetic to the United States at the mercy of a vengeful Iraqi government, but President Bush apparently feared the consequences of Saddam Hussein's unknown replacement-and a geopolitically destabilized region-even more than Saddam himself.
In-Depth Exhibits
The Gulf War
February 24, 1991
Ground Troops Begin Operations
Ground troops, including a large contingent of American soldiers, begin operations in Operation Desert Storm.
February 27, 1991
Ground Offensive Called Off
After liberating Kuwait, coalition troops advance rapidly into Iraqi territory, encountering no resistance. President Bush, deciding that the war's objectives had been met, calls off the ground offensive.
July 10, 1991
South African Sanctions Removed
President Bush lifts most American sanctions against the Republic of South Africa, saying that the movement to end apartheid is now “irreversible.”
July 31, 1991
START-I Signed
President Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev meet in Moscow to sign a nuclear arms reduction treaty (START-I) which calls for both nations to make significant reductions in the number of nuclear warheads in their respective arsenals.
October 15, 1991
Senate Confirms Thomas
Clarence Thomas, President Bush's nominee to replace retiring Justice Thurgood Marshall on the Supreme Court, is confirmed by the Senate in a close 52-48 vote. Thomas' confirmation hearings focus on charges of sexual harassment made by Anita F. Hill, a law professor and former colleague of Thomas.
November 21, 1991
1991 Civil Rights Act
President Bush signs the Civil Rights Act of 1991, making it easier for employees to sue employers on grounds of discrimination.
December 31, 1991
Soviet Union Dissolves
The constituent republics of the Soviet Union dissolve the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
January 10, 1992
Unemployment Rises
The Labor Department announces that the unemployment rose to 7.1 percent in December 1991, the highest mark in over five years.
February 1, 1992
Bush Meets With Yeltsin
At the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, President Bush and Russian president Boris Yeltsin meet to discuss U.S.-Russian relations and officially declare the end of the Cold War.
February 18, 1992
Bush Wins Primary
President Bush wins the New Hampshire primary but faces a strong challenge from conservative media personality Patrick Buchanan. The conservative wing of the Republican Party supports Buchanan, revealing a division within the party.
April 1, 1992
Soviet Union Aid Proposed
President Bush announces an aid plan of $24 billion to spur democratic and a free market reforms in the former Soviet Union.
May 23, 1992
Nuclear Arms Reduction Agreements
The United States signs agreements with Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, ensuring the continued participation of these nations in the nuclear arms reduction treaties signed by the U.S.S.R. before its collapse in late 1991.
June 12, 1992
Bush Attends Earth Summit
Speaking at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, President Bush announces that the United States will not sign a treaty designed to protect rare and endangered animals and plants, saying that it would retard the development of technology and the protection of ideas. The United States does sign the Framework Convention on Climate Change aimed at preventing further global warming.
June 16, 1992
U.S.-Russian Nuclear Agreement
President Bush and President Yeltsin announce an agreement by which the United States and Russia reduce their nuclear warheads to between 3,000 and 3,500 by the year 2003.
June 22, 1992
Supplemental Appropriations Act Signed
President Bush signs a supplemental appropriations act that provides aid to inner cities, specifically Los Angeles, which is trying to recover from the Rodney King riots of April 1992.
July 3, 1992
Unemployment Compensation Amendments
President Bush signs the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992, extending coverage to the unemployed for 26 weeks, following their initial 26 weeks of benefits. The previous day, the Labor Department announced that the unemployment rate had reached 7.8 percent, its highest level since 1984.
August 19, 1992
Republicans Nominate Bush
The Republican Party nominates President George Bush for a second term as President. The party also re-nominates Vice-President Dan Quayle. There is some evidence that the Bush team had considered replacing Quayle on the Republican ticket.
November 3, 1992
Clinton Wins Election
Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, a Democrat, is elected President after defeating President Bush and Ross Perot, an independent from Texas. Clinton wins 43 percent of the vote and 370 Electoral College votes, to Bush's 38 percent and 168, and Perot's 19 percent and 0.
December 9, 1992
Troops Land in Somalia
American troops land in Somalia as part of the UN-sponsored “Operation Restore Hope.” The humanitarian mission's first goal was to ensure the distribution of food and medical aid and supplies to suffering Somalis. Somalia had been wracked by starvation, drought, and violence.
January 20, 1993
Bush Leaves White House
President Bush and his wife Barbara fly home to Houston, Texas.
Soviet Union Aid Proposed
President Bush announces an aid plan of $24 billion to spur democratic and a free market reforms in the former Soviet Union.
May 23, 1992
Nuclear Arms Reduction Agreements
The United States signs agreements with Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, ensuring the continued participation of these nations in the nuclear arms reduction treaties signed by the U.S.S.R. before its collapse in late 1991.
June 12, 1992
Bush Attends Earth Summit
Speaking at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, President Bush announces that the United States will not sign a treaty designed to protect rare and endangered animals and plants, saying that it would retard the development of technology and the protection of ideas. The United States does sign the Framework Convention on Climate Change aimed at preventing further global warming.
June 16, 1992
U.S.-Russian Nuclear Agreement
President Bush and President Yeltsin announce an agreement by which the United States and Russia reduce their nuclear warheads to between 3,000 and 3,500 by the year 2003.
June 22, 1992
Supplemental Appropriations Act Signed
President Bush signs a supplemental appropriations act that provides aid to inner cities, specifically Los Angeles, which is trying to recover from the Rodney King riots of April 1992.
July 3, 1992
Unemployment Compensation Amendments
President Bush signs the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992, extending coverage to the unemployed for 26 weeks, following their initial 26 weeks of benefits. The previous day, the Labor Department announced that the unemployment rate had reached 7.8 percent, its highest level since 1984.
August 19, 1992
Republicans Nominate Bush
The Republican Party nominates President George Bush for a second term as President. The party also re-nominates Vice-President Dan Quayle. There is some evidence that the Bush team had considered replacing Quayle on the Republican ticket.
November 3, 1992
Clinton Wins Election
Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, a Democrat, is elected President after defeating President Bush and Ross Perot, an independent from Texas. Clinton wins 43 percent of the vote and 370 Electoral College votes, to Bush's 38 percent and 168, and Perot's 19 percent and 0.
December 9, 1992
Troops Land in Somalia
American troops land in Somalia as part of the UN-sponsored “Operation Restore Hope.” The humanitarian mission's first goal was to ensure the distribution of food and medical aid and supplies to suffering Somalis. Somalia had been wracked by starvation, drought, and violence.
January 20, 1993
Bush Leaves White House
President Bush and his wife Barbara fly home to Houston, Texas.
Son of the Bush
George W. Bush - Key Events | Miller Center
GEORGE W. BUSH - KEY EVENTS
November 7, 2000
Contested election
Americans vote in the 2000 presidential election. Vote differentials in several states are exceedingly close, with the Democratic and Republican candidates disputing many of those counts, leaving the final result inconclusive.
December 12, 2000
Supreme Court halts recount
In a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court stops the recount of votes in several contested Florida counties. The Democratic candidate, Vice President Albert Gore Jr., concedes the election, leaving Governor George W. Bush of Texas, the Republican candidate, as President-elect.
January 20, 2001
George W. Bush inaugurated
George W. Bush is inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States. He is the second son of a President to occupy the Oval Office, the first being John Quincy Adams in 1825.
January 22, 2001
Bush bans abortion aid
In one of his first policy decisions, President Bush decides to reinstate the ban on aid to international groups performing or counseling on abortion. The ban was initiated by former President Ronald Reagan but is not enforced during the administration of President Bill Clinton.
January 29, 2001
Deregulating religious charities
By executive order, President Bush creates the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The new office will work to ease regulations on religious charities and promote grass-roots efforts to tackle community issues such as aid to the poor and disadvantaged.
February 16, 2001
Attacking Iraq
United States airplanes attack Iraqi radar sites to enforce a “no-fly zone.” Bush calls the military action a “routine mission.”
March 29, 2001
Kyoto Protocol rejected
The Bush administration affirms its decision to abandon ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty signed by 180 countries to reduce global warming that set limits on industrial emissions.
April 1, 2001
Spy plane downed over South China Sea
A U.S. spy plane flying over the South China Sea is clipped by a Chinese fighter jet, forcing the American plane to make an emergency landing on Chinese soil. The incident strains diplomatic ties between the two nations as the United States demands that China return both the plane and its crew to American authorities.
04/04/2001: Journalists review recount
The Miami Herald and USA Today release a comprehensive review of the 2000 presidential election recount efforts in Florida. The review shows that even if Democratic candidate Al Gore had succeeded in getting the recounts he wanted, President Bush would have won Florida by 1,665 votes.
April 25, 2001
Bush backs Taiwan over China
President Bush signals a change in relations with China by officially pledging military support for Taiwan in the event of an attack by China. This is the first time a presidential administration has publicly acknowledged a position that had previously been implicitly accepted.
June 7, 2001
Trillion dollar tax cut
President Bush signs a $1.35 trillion tax cut into law. Although the amount falls short of the $1.60 trillion the administration has been seeking, the bill does slash income tax rates across the board and provides for the gradual elimination of the estate tax.
August 9, 2001
Halting stem cell research
President Bush addresses the nation, outlining his plans for the federal funding of stem cell research. The new policy allows for continued government funding of existing research on already extracted stem cells but prohibits the extraction of additional stem cells from human embryos for further research.
September 11, 2001
September 11 Terrorist Attacks
On September 11, 2001, the United States endured a deadly attack when terrorists hijacked four commercial planes and intentionally crashed them. The hijackers flew the first three planes into important targets: both towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon building in Washington, D.C. The fourth plane, which some speculated was headed for the White House, crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Passengers aboard the plane, talking on their cell phones, learned what the hijackers intended to do and with astonishing heroism tried to overtake the hijackers, saving the fourth target and sacrificing their lives.
Police and fire department personnel in New York City rushed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center after the planes crashed into them to begin rescuing victims from the burning towers. Their colleagues assisting matters outside- like all Americans- were shocked and horrified to see those towers collapse, killing hundreds of the rescue workers and thousands of people who had been trapped inside. Total casualties from September 11, 2001, were nearly 3,000 people.
President George W. Bush spoke passionately of “disbelief, terrible sadness and quiet, unyielding anger.” He pledged that the government would bring the persons responsible for the hijacking to justice. It soon became clear that Al Qaeda, a loosely-knit Sunni Islamic extremist organization, was responsible for the attacks. Al Qaeda's founder was former Saudi citizen and millionaire Osama bin Laden. After Afghanistan's ruling elite—the Taliban—refused to surrender bin Laden, who was a guest in their country, President Bush swiftly gathered international support for the use of military force in Afghanistan to shatter the strength of Al Qaeda.
September 11, 2001, is a date that no American is likely ever to forget. Many Americans spent the day glued to their televisions, as terrible images of lives lost and property destroyed marched across the screens. Mingled with those pictures were others, equally memorable: scenes of magnificent courage, sacrifice, and hope. As a defining moment in modern United States history, September 11, 2001 has justly been compared with December 7, 1941, the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The words of President Franklin Roosevelt more than half a century ago are most appropriate: it is a date that surely will live in infamy.
George W. Bush - Key Events | Miller Center
GEORGE W. BUSH - KEY EVENTS
November 7, 2000
Contested election
Americans vote in the 2000 presidential election. Vote differentials in several states are exceedingly close, with the Democratic and Republican candidates disputing many of those counts, leaving the final result inconclusive.
December 12, 2000
Supreme Court halts recount
In a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court stops the recount of votes in several contested Florida counties. The Democratic candidate, Vice President Albert Gore Jr., concedes the election, leaving Governor George W. Bush of Texas, the Republican candidate, as President-elect.
January 20, 2001
George W. Bush inaugurated
George W. Bush is inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States. He is the second son of a President to occupy the Oval Office, the first being John Quincy Adams in 1825.
January 22, 2001
Bush bans abortion aid
In one of his first policy decisions, President Bush decides to reinstate the ban on aid to international groups performing or counseling on abortion. The ban was initiated by former President Ronald Reagan but is not enforced during the administration of President Bill Clinton.
January 29, 2001
Deregulating religious charities
By executive order, President Bush creates the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The new office will work to ease regulations on religious charities and promote grass-roots efforts to tackle community issues such as aid to the poor and disadvantaged.
February 16, 2001
Attacking Iraq
United States airplanes attack Iraqi radar sites to enforce a “no-fly zone.” Bush calls the military action a “routine mission.”
March 29, 2001
Kyoto Protocol rejected
The Bush administration affirms its decision to abandon ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty signed by 180 countries to reduce global warming that set limits on industrial emissions.
April 1, 2001
Spy plane downed over South China Sea
A U.S. spy plane flying over the South China Sea is clipped by a Chinese fighter jet, forcing the American plane to make an emergency landing on Chinese soil. The incident strains diplomatic ties between the two nations as the United States demands that China return both the plane and its crew to American authorities.
04/04/2001: Journalists review recount
The Miami Herald and USA Today release a comprehensive review of the 2000 presidential election recount efforts in Florida. The review shows that even if Democratic candidate Al Gore had succeeded in getting the recounts he wanted, President Bush would have won Florida by 1,665 votes.
April 25, 2001
Bush backs Taiwan over China
President Bush signals a change in relations with China by officially pledging military support for Taiwan in the event of an attack by China. This is the first time a presidential administration has publicly acknowledged a position that had previously been implicitly accepted.
June 7, 2001
Trillion dollar tax cut
President Bush signs a $1.35 trillion tax cut into law. Although the amount falls short of the $1.60 trillion the administration has been seeking, the bill does slash income tax rates across the board and provides for the gradual elimination of the estate tax.
August 9, 2001
Halting stem cell research
President Bush addresses the nation, outlining his plans for the federal funding of stem cell research. The new policy allows for continued government funding of existing research on already extracted stem cells but prohibits the extraction of additional stem cells from human embryos for further research.
September 11, 2001
September 11 Terrorist Attacks
On September 11, 2001, the United States endured a deadly attack when terrorists hijacked four commercial planes and intentionally crashed them. The hijackers flew the first three planes into important targets: both towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon building in Washington, D.C. The fourth plane, which some speculated was headed for the White House, crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Passengers aboard the plane, talking on their cell phones, learned what the hijackers intended to do and with astonishing heroism tried to overtake the hijackers, saving the fourth target and sacrificing their lives.
Police and fire department personnel in New York City rushed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center after the planes crashed into them to begin rescuing victims from the burning towers. Their colleagues assisting matters outside- like all Americans- were shocked and horrified to see those towers collapse, killing hundreds of the rescue workers and thousands of people who had been trapped inside. Total casualties from September 11, 2001, were nearly 3,000 people.
President George W. Bush spoke passionately of “disbelief, terrible sadness and quiet, unyielding anger.” He pledged that the government would bring the persons responsible for the hijacking to justice. It soon became clear that Al Qaeda, a loosely-knit Sunni Islamic extremist organization, was responsible for the attacks. Al Qaeda's founder was former Saudi citizen and millionaire Osama bin Laden. After Afghanistan's ruling elite—the Taliban—refused to surrender bin Laden, who was a guest in their country, President Bush swiftly gathered international support for the use of military force in Afghanistan to shatter the strength of Al Qaeda.
September 11, 2001, is a date that no American is likely ever to forget. Many Americans spent the day glued to their televisions, as terrible images of lives lost and property destroyed marched across the screens. Mingled with those pictures were others, equally memorable: scenes of magnificent courage, sacrifice, and hope. As a defining moment in modern United States history, September 11, 2001 has justly been compared with December 7, 1941, the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The words of President Franklin Roosevelt more than half a century ago are most appropriate: it is a date that surely will live in infamy.
In-Depth Exhibits
September 11 Terrorist Attacks
September 20, 2001
Targeting bin Laden; Tom Ridge appointed to Homeland Security
President Bush appears before a joint session of Congress to outline the administration’s plans to defeat world terrorism, singling out Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda organization as the primary targets of such a policy. He states that every nation must take sides in the international conflict against worldwide terrorist networks; he also warns Americans to prepare for a protracted campaign against terrorism. The President then appoints Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge to the new cabinet-level post of director of the Office of Homeland Security. Governor Ridge will coordinate the efforts of more than forty federal agencies to secure the United States against future terrorist attacks.
October 7, 2001
Operation “Enduring Freedom”
Speaking from the Treaty Room of the White House, President Bush announces the commencement of military action in Afghanistan, an operation code-named “Enduring Freedom.”
Operation Enduring Freedom Begins
On October 7, 2001, President George W. Bush announced that the United States had begun military action in Afghanistan. The military operation was code-named Enduring Freedom.
“On my order, U.S. forces have begun strikes on terrorist camps of Al Qaeda and the military installations of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan,” Bush said in a somber, televised address from the White House Treaty Room. The air assaults, he said, were joined by Britain, with assorted intelligence efforts and logistical support coming from several other nations, including France, Germany, Australia, and Canada.
The United States had turned its attention to Afghanistan shortly after the September 11 terrorist attacks because the Taliban regime had provided sanctuary to Al Qaeda, the terrorist organization responsible for the attacks. The United States demanded that the Taliban surrender Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda. When the Taliban refused, the United States together with allies launched an attack against the Taliban.
Apparently anticipating a U.S. attack, Al Qaeda had, a few days before the attacks, assassinated Ahmad Shah Massoud, the leader of an anti-Taliban rebel force known as the Northern Alliance. It was widely believed that without Massoud, the Northern Alliance would fracture as a fighting force. Instead, the Northern Alliance fought against the Taliban, bolstered by U.S. warplanes and U.S. Special Forces. First it ousted the Taliban from the city of Mazar Al-Sharif on the northern frontier and then from the capital city of Kabul. By mid-March 2002, the Taliban had been removed from power, and the Al Qaeda network in Afghanistan was severely damaged.
A fledgling democracy was installed in Afghanistan, but even before that country was truly pacified, the Bush administration had turned its attention to Iraq and its dictator Saddam Hussein. With U.S. attention diverted, Afghanistan was left in a precarious state, threatened by instability, violence, and a possible Taliban resurgence.
October 17, 2001
D.C. Anthrax scare
The Capital shuts down amidst an Anthrax scare. Persons in Florida and New York have already tested positive for the frequently fatal bacteria. Bush calls for $1.5 billion to fight bioterrorism.
December 2, 2001
Enron files bankruptcy
The Enron Corporation files for Chapter Eleven bankruptcy protection, the largest bankruptcy case in American history. The beleaguered company, once the world’s premier energy trading and services firm, files for court protection after watching its stock price plummet as a result of accounting issues relating to its operations. Earlier in the year, discoveries reveal that Enron’s chief financial officer engaged in partnerships which allowed the company to hide half a billion dollars worth of debt. The Bush administration has ties to key Enron executives, including CEO Kenneth Lay, but denies any involvement in the scandal.
December 13, 2001
Withdrawal from Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
After conferring with the National Security Council, President Bush notifies Russia of his intention to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Meetings with Russian president Vladimir Putin fail to establish an agreement between the two nations. In June 2002, the United States officially withdraws from the Treaty, allowing it to conduct anti-missile defense tests.
January 8, 2002
No Child Left Behind
President Bush signs an education reform bill with bipartisan support; this reauthorized the Johnson-era Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Known as the No Child Left Behind Act, it offers local authorities greater flexibility in spending federal dollars, but requires standardized math and reading tests.
January 29, 2002
Bush delivers State of the Union
In his State of the Union address, President Bush warns that the war against terrorism is only beginning. Specifically citing North Korea, Iran, and Iraq, Bush speaks of “an axis of evil” threatening world peace.
March 22, 2002
Israeli-Palestine relations
Bush renews his call on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to end attacks on Israel, indicating that a meeting with Vice President Dick Cheney could still take place if Arafat yielded to American demands. Cheney, on a trip to the Middle East, refuses to meet with Arafat in the current environment. Meanwhile, Arafat remains penned in Ramallah by Israeli threats since December. On March 29, Israeli troops will take over most of his headquarters.
September 11 Terrorist Attacks
September 20, 2001
Targeting bin Laden; Tom Ridge appointed to Homeland Security
President Bush appears before a joint session of Congress to outline the administration’s plans to defeat world terrorism, singling out Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda organization as the primary targets of such a policy. He states that every nation must take sides in the international conflict against worldwide terrorist networks; he also warns Americans to prepare for a protracted campaign against terrorism. The President then appoints Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge to the new cabinet-level post of director of the Office of Homeland Security. Governor Ridge will coordinate the efforts of more than forty federal agencies to secure the United States against future terrorist attacks.
October 7, 2001
Operation “Enduring Freedom”
Speaking from the Treaty Room of the White House, President Bush announces the commencement of military action in Afghanistan, an operation code-named “Enduring Freedom.”
Operation Enduring Freedom Begins
On October 7, 2001, President George W. Bush announced that the United States had begun military action in Afghanistan. The military operation was code-named Enduring Freedom.
“On my order, U.S. forces have begun strikes on terrorist camps of Al Qaeda and the military installations of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan,” Bush said in a somber, televised address from the White House Treaty Room. The air assaults, he said, were joined by Britain, with assorted intelligence efforts and logistical support coming from several other nations, including France, Germany, Australia, and Canada.
The United States had turned its attention to Afghanistan shortly after the September 11 terrorist attacks because the Taliban regime had provided sanctuary to Al Qaeda, the terrorist organization responsible for the attacks. The United States demanded that the Taliban surrender Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda. When the Taliban refused, the United States together with allies launched an attack against the Taliban.
Apparently anticipating a U.S. attack, Al Qaeda had, a few days before the attacks, assassinated Ahmad Shah Massoud, the leader of an anti-Taliban rebel force known as the Northern Alliance. It was widely believed that without Massoud, the Northern Alliance would fracture as a fighting force. Instead, the Northern Alliance fought against the Taliban, bolstered by U.S. warplanes and U.S. Special Forces. First it ousted the Taliban from the city of Mazar Al-Sharif on the northern frontier and then from the capital city of Kabul. By mid-March 2002, the Taliban had been removed from power, and the Al Qaeda network in Afghanistan was severely damaged.
A fledgling democracy was installed in Afghanistan, but even before that country was truly pacified, the Bush administration had turned its attention to Iraq and its dictator Saddam Hussein. With U.S. attention diverted, Afghanistan was left in a precarious state, threatened by instability, violence, and a possible Taliban resurgence.
October 17, 2001
D.C. Anthrax scare
The Capital shuts down amidst an Anthrax scare. Persons in Florida and New York have already tested positive for the frequently fatal bacteria. Bush calls for $1.5 billion to fight bioterrorism.
December 2, 2001
Enron files bankruptcy
The Enron Corporation files for Chapter Eleven bankruptcy protection, the largest bankruptcy case in American history. The beleaguered company, once the world’s premier energy trading and services firm, files for court protection after watching its stock price plummet as a result of accounting issues relating to its operations. Earlier in the year, discoveries reveal that Enron’s chief financial officer engaged in partnerships which allowed the company to hide half a billion dollars worth of debt. The Bush administration has ties to key Enron executives, including CEO Kenneth Lay, but denies any involvement in the scandal.
December 13, 2001
Withdrawal from Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
After conferring with the National Security Council, President Bush notifies Russia of his intention to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Meetings with Russian president Vladimir Putin fail to establish an agreement between the two nations. In June 2002, the United States officially withdraws from the Treaty, allowing it to conduct anti-missile defense tests.
January 8, 2002
No Child Left Behind
President Bush signs an education reform bill with bipartisan support; this reauthorized the Johnson-era Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Known as the No Child Left Behind Act, it offers local authorities greater flexibility in spending federal dollars, but requires standardized math and reading tests.
January 29, 2002
Bush delivers State of the Union
In his State of the Union address, President Bush warns that the war against terrorism is only beginning. Specifically citing North Korea, Iran, and Iraq, Bush speaks of “an axis of evil” threatening world peace.
March 22, 2002
Israeli-Palestine relations
Bush renews his call on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to end attacks on Israel, indicating that a meeting with Vice President Dick Cheney could still take place if Arafat yielded to American demands. Cheney, on a trip to the Middle East, refuses to meet with Arafat in the current environment. Meanwhile, Arafat remains penned in Ramallah by Israeli threats since December. On March 29, Israeli troops will take over most of his headquarters.
Colin Powell travels to Middle East
Secretary of State Colin Powell travels to the Middle East for talks with Israel and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
May 12, 2002
Jimmy Carter travels to Cuba, visits Castro
Former President Jimmy Carter travels to Cuba for a tour and visit with Cuban President Fidel Castro. His arrival marks the first trip by an American President in forty years. On May 20, President Bush announces that the forty-year-old trade embargo against Cuba will continue until conditions, including free and fair elections, are met.
May 16, 2002
Searching for signs of 9/11
Congress presses the Bush administration for further information about warnings of the September 11, 2001, attacks. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice holds a briefing, maintaining, “I don’t think that anybody could have predicted that these people would take an airplane and slam it into the World Trade Center, take another one and slam it into the Pentagon.” She insists that there was no lapse in intelligence.
May 24, 2002
Bush-Putin nuclear treaty
At the Kremlin, President Bush and Russian president Vladimir Putin sign a nuclear arms treaty, vowing to reduce their nations’ arsenals by two-thirds over the next ten years.
Bush expands Homeland Security
In a televised address to the nation, President Bush announces broad changes to security departments in charge of protecting the nation from terrorism. The Office of Homeland Security will now coordinate a wide range of functions and oversee more than 100 organizations. The announcement follows criticism of the FBI and CIA for failing to prevent the September 11 attacks.
June 24, 2002
Bush calls for new Palestinian leadership
President Bush calls for the Palestinian people to replace Yasser Arafat, head of the Palestinian Authority and leader of the Palestinian cause for more than thirty years. Bush states that “when the Palestinians have new leaders, institutions and security arrangements, the U.S. will support the creation of a Palestinian state.”
July 8, 2002
Curbing corporate abuses
Following the Enron and WorldCom scandals, in which both companies claimed profits which turned out to be highly inflated, President Bush calls for new laws on corporate abuse. On July 10, the Dow Jones index drops below 9,000, its largest one-day loss since September 2001.
September 4, 2002
Action against Iraq
Seeking support for action against Iraq, President Bush addresses Congress, identifying Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein as “a serious threat.” Bush mentions the concept of a regime change and announces the visit of British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the days to come. House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-TX) calls action in Iraq “inevitable.”
September 12, 2002
Bush addresses UN Security Council
President Bush addresses the United Nations’ Security Council, making his case for military action to enforce UN resolutions in Iraq. Additionally, he warns that the United States will move alone if the Council does not act. In the coming days, Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell will continue to press the Security Council for a resolution against Iraq. France, Germany, and Russia, all permanent members of the Security Council, express severe reservations.
October 10, 2002
Congress authorizes force against Iraq
A bipartisan Senate vote of 77-23 gives authorization to Bush to use force against Iraq. The Senate vote follows a similar vote of 296-133 in the House in support of the bill.
November 5, 2002
Republicans gain seats
In a sweeping mid-term election victory, Republicans gain control of the Senate and maintain their edge in the House.
December 20, 2002
Arms inspections in Iraq
Following a United Nations report issued by arms inspectors indicating that Iraq remained in violation of Security Council Resolution 1441, Bush speaks out again against Iraq. Inspections in Iraq continue.
January 7, 2003
Further tax cuts
Bush reveals a tax-cut plan of $674 billion over ten years. He suggests that the plan will stimulate the U.S. economy, end the recession, and create jobs. Democrats dismiss the plan as financially irresponsible and favorable to the rich.
February 1, 2003
Columbia shuttle explosion
The seven-member crew of the shuttle Columbia dies in an explosion in space. Debris falls in Texas.
February 12, 2003
North Korea’s nuclear capabilities
CIA director George Tenet announces that North Korea possesses a nuclear ballistic missile capable of hitting the United States. In the following weeks, reports emerge which suggest that North Korea will soon possess the ability to create a nuclear arsenal.
Secretary of State Colin Powell travels to the Middle East for talks with Israel and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
May 12, 2002
Jimmy Carter travels to Cuba, visits Castro
Former President Jimmy Carter travels to Cuba for a tour and visit with Cuban President Fidel Castro. His arrival marks the first trip by an American President in forty years. On May 20, President Bush announces that the forty-year-old trade embargo against Cuba will continue until conditions, including free and fair elections, are met.
May 16, 2002
Searching for signs of 9/11
Congress presses the Bush administration for further information about warnings of the September 11, 2001, attacks. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice holds a briefing, maintaining, “I don’t think that anybody could have predicted that these people would take an airplane and slam it into the World Trade Center, take another one and slam it into the Pentagon.” She insists that there was no lapse in intelligence.
May 24, 2002
Bush-Putin nuclear treaty
At the Kremlin, President Bush and Russian president Vladimir Putin sign a nuclear arms treaty, vowing to reduce their nations’ arsenals by two-thirds over the next ten years.
Bush expands Homeland Security
In a televised address to the nation, President Bush announces broad changes to security departments in charge of protecting the nation from terrorism. The Office of Homeland Security will now coordinate a wide range of functions and oversee more than 100 organizations. The announcement follows criticism of the FBI and CIA for failing to prevent the September 11 attacks.
June 24, 2002
Bush calls for new Palestinian leadership
President Bush calls for the Palestinian people to replace Yasser Arafat, head of the Palestinian Authority and leader of the Palestinian cause for more than thirty years. Bush states that “when the Palestinians have new leaders, institutions and security arrangements, the U.S. will support the creation of a Palestinian state.”
July 8, 2002
Curbing corporate abuses
Following the Enron and WorldCom scandals, in which both companies claimed profits which turned out to be highly inflated, President Bush calls for new laws on corporate abuse. On July 10, the Dow Jones index drops below 9,000, its largest one-day loss since September 2001.
September 4, 2002
Action against Iraq
Seeking support for action against Iraq, President Bush addresses Congress, identifying Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein as “a serious threat.” Bush mentions the concept of a regime change and announces the visit of British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the days to come. House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-TX) calls action in Iraq “inevitable.”
September 12, 2002
Bush addresses UN Security Council
President Bush addresses the United Nations’ Security Council, making his case for military action to enforce UN resolutions in Iraq. Additionally, he warns that the United States will move alone if the Council does not act. In the coming days, Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell will continue to press the Security Council for a resolution against Iraq. France, Germany, and Russia, all permanent members of the Security Council, express severe reservations.
October 10, 2002
Congress authorizes force against Iraq
A bipartisan Senate vote of 77-23 gives authorization to Bush to use force against Iraq. The Senate vote follows a similar vote of 296-133 in the House in support of the bill.
November 5, 2002
Republicans gain seats
In a sweeping mid-term election victory, Republicans gain control of the Senate and maintain their edge in the House.
December 20, 2002
Arms inspections in Iraq
Following a United Nations report issued by arms inspectors indicating that Iraq remained in violation of Security Council Resolution 1441, Bush speaks out again against Iraq. Inspections in Iraq continue.
January 7, 2003
Further tax cuts
Bush reveals a tax-cut plan of $674 billion over ten years. He suggests that the plan will stimulate the U.S. economy, end the recession, and create jobs. Democrats dismiss the plan as financially irresponsible and favorable to the rich.
February 1, 2003
Columbia shuttle explosion
The seven-member crew of the shuttle Columbia dies in an explosion in space. Debris falls in Texas.
February 12, 2003
North Korea’s nuclear capabilities
CIA director George Tenet announces that North Korea possesses a nuclear ballistic missile capable of hitting the United States. In the following weeks, reports emerge which suggest that North Korea will soon possess the ability to create a nuclear arsenal.
March 16, 2003
Taking military action in Iraq
After months of debate in the United Nations Security Council, President Bush announces the U.S. intention to move against Iraq with its coalition of allies. Bush issues an ultimatum for military action, giving Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and his sons forty-eight hours to leave Iraq.
March 19, 2003
Bush declares war with Iraq
The 8:00 p.m. deadline for Hussein to leave Iraq passes. At 10:15 p.m., Bush addresses the nation and informs the American people that the United States is at war with Iraq.
March 25, 2003
Tax cuts reduced to fund war
Citing costs of the Iraq War, the Senate approves the reduction of Bush’s tax cut plan to $350 billion, less than half of the original amount.
April 10, 2003
Bush, Blair appeal to Iraqi people
President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair air a joint address on Iraqi television that describes the goals of coalition forces and reassures the Iraqi people that they will be able to live their lives in peace and security in a post-Saddam era.
May 1, 2003
Bush claims “Mission Accomplished”
In a nationally televised address aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, Bush stands in front of a “Mission Accomplished” banner and declares that major combat operations in Iraq are over. He links the Iraq War to the War on Terror and vows to continue searching for banned weapons in Iraq.
May 22, 2003
Iraq sanctions lifted
The UN Security Council votes to lift sanctions on Iraq imposed since the 1991 Gulf War. The resolution gives the United States and United Kingdom control of Iraq until it establishes a legitimate government and authority to use Iraqi oil revenues for humanitarian aid and reconstruction.
May 28, 2003
Bush signs third largest tax cut in history
Bush signs into law his $350 billion tax-cut package, the third-largest in history, in an effort to strengthen the U.S. economy and reverse a trend of increasing unemployment. Congressional Democrats who opposed the bill argued it is skewed towards the wealthy.
June 4, 2003
Bush, Sharon, Abbas meet
Bush meets with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas in Aqaba, Jordan, to discuss implementation of a “road-map” for peace.
June 17, 2003
Federal law enforcement and race
President Bush issues comprehensive guidelines forbidding federal law enforcement agencies from considering race or ethnicity in routine patrol duties. Although more extensive than previous federal law, the guidelines provided clear exceptions for matters of national security and counterterrorism operations.
July 11, 2003
Assumed Iraqi nuclear potential discredited
CIA Director George Tenet accepts full responsibility for the statement in Bush’s 2003 State of the Union Address regarding Iraq’s alleged effort to obtain uranium from Africa, saying its inclusion should not have been approved by the CIA because the intelligence was unsubstantiated and the claim had been discredited.
July 22, 2003
U.S. forces kill Hussein’s sons
U.S. forces kill Saddam Hussein’s two sons Uday and Qusay in Mosul, Iraq. Officials hope that anti-U.S. attacks in Iraq will decrease as a result. Saddam Hussein’s whereabouts are unknown.
July 24, 2003
CCI releases 9/11 findings
The joint Congressional Committee on Intelligence releases an 800-page document on the findings of its inquiry into intelligence failures leading up to the terrorist attacks of September 11, which concludes that intelligence agencies failed to respond to alerts about potential targets and methods. The report faults the NSA, CIA, and the FBI for a breakdown in communications and advocates the creation of a cabinet-level “intelligence czar” to remove obstacles between agencies.
September 30, 2003
Justice Department probes operative leaks
The Justice Department announces a full criminal investigation into allegations that Bush administration officials had leaked the name of a covert CIA operative to the media in July. Bush urges full cooperation with the probe.
October 2, 2003
Weapons Inspector finds no nuclear weapons in Iraq
Chief U.S. Weapons Inspector David Kay reports that his 1,400 member team, the Iraq Survey Group, failed to find any biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons in Iraq. Kay acknowledged that they did find evidence that Iraq sought the capacity to create those weapons in the future. Bush used these findings as validation of his prewar claims that Iraq posed a significant security threat to the United States.
November 5, 2003
Bush bans late term abortions
Bush signs into law a ban on late-term abortion, the first law to ban an abortion procedure since the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court later upholds the ban.
December 8, 2003
Medicare overhaul
Bush signs a landmark bill overhauling Medicare that includes the program’s first prescription drug benefits to begin in 2006 and creates incentives for private insurance companies to cover Medicare subscribers.
December 18, 2003
Iran agrees to weapons inspections
Iran signs an agreement to grant unrestricted access to UN-IAEA weapons inspectors.
January 20, 2004
Bush delivers fourth State of the Union
Bush gives his fourth State of the Union Address, laying out a broad domestic and foreign policy agenda while stressing issues of national security.
Taking military action in Iraq
After months of debate in the United Nations Security Council, President Bush announces the U.S. intention to move against Iraq with its coalition of allies. Bush issues an ultimatum for military action, giving Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and his sons forty-eight hours to leave Iraq.
March 19, 2003
Bush declares war with Iraq
The 8:00 p.m. deadline for Hussein to leave Iraq passes. At 10:15 p.m., Bush addresses the nation and informs the American people that the United States is at war with Iraq.
March 25, 2003
Tax cuts reduced to fund war
Citing costs of the Iraq War, the Senate approves the reduction of Bush’s tax cut plan to $350 billion, less than half of the original amount.
April 10, 2003
Bush, Blair appeal to Iraqi people
President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair air a joint address on Iraqi television that describes the goals of coalition forces and reassures the Iraqi people that they will be able to live their lives in peace and security in a post-Saddam era.
May 1, 2003
Bush claims “Mission Accomplished”
In a nationally televised address aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, Bush stands in front of a “Mission Accomplished” banner and declares that major combat operations in Iraq are over. He links the Iraq War to the War on Terror and vows to continue searching for banned weapons in Iraq.
May 22, 2003
Iraq sanctions lifted
The UN Security Council votes to lift sanctions on Iraq imposed since the 1991 Gulf War. The resolution gives the United States and United Kingdom control of Iraq until it establishes a legitimate government and authority to use Iraqi oil revenues for humanitarian aid and reconstruction.
May 28, 2003
Bush signs third largest tax cut in history
Bush signs into law his $350 billion tax-cut package, the third-largest in history, in an effort to strengthen the U.S. economy and reverse a trend of increasing unemployment. Congressional Democrats who opposed the bill argued it is skewed towards the wealthy.
June 4, 2003
Bush, Sharon, Abbas meet
Bush meets with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas in Aqaba, Jordan, to discuss implementation of a “road-map” for peace.
June 17, 2003
Federal law enforcement and race
President Bush issues comprehensive guidelines forbidding federal law enforcement agencies from considering race or ethnicity in routine patrol duties. Although more extensive than previous federal law, the guidelines provided clear exceptions for matters of national security and counterterrorism operations.
July 11, 2003
Assumed Iraqi nuclear potential discredited
CIA Director George Tenet accepts full responsibility for the statement in Bush’s 2003 State of the Union Address regarding Iraq’s alleged effort to obtain uranium from Africa, saying its inclusion should not have been approved by the CIA because the intelligence was unsubstantiated and the claim had been discredited.
July 22, 2003
U.S. forces kill Hussein’s sons
U.S. forces kill Saddam Hussein’s two sons Uday and Qusay in Mosul, Iraq. Officials hope that anti-U.S. attacks in Iraq will decrease as a result. Saddam Hussein’s whereabouts are unknown.
July 24, 2003
CCI releases 9/11 findings
The joint Congressional Committee on Intelligence releases an 800-page document on the findings of its inquiry into intelligence failures leading up to the terrorist attacks of September 11, which concludes that intelligence agencies failed to respond to alerts about potential targets and methods. The report faults the NSA, CIA, and the FBI for a breakdown in communications and advocates the creation of a cabinet-level “intelligence czar” to remove obstacles between agencies.
September 30, 2003
Justice Department probes operative leaks
The Justice Department announces a full criminal investigation into allegations that Bush administration officials had leaked the name of a covert CIA operative to the media in July. Bush urges full cooperation with the probe.
October 2, 2003
Weapons Inspector finds no nuclear weapons in Iraq
Chief U.S. Weapons Inspector David Kay reports that his 1,400 member team, the Iraq Survey Group, failed to find any biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons in Iraq. Kay acknowledged that they did find evidence that Iraq sought the capacity to create those weapons in the future. Bush used these findings as validation of his prewar claims that Iraq posed a significant security threat to the United States.
November 5, 2003
Bush bans late term abortions
Bush signs into law a ban on late-term abortion, the first law to ban an abortion procedure since the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court later upholds the ban.
December 8, 2003
Medicare overhaul
Bush signs a landmark bill overhauling Medicare that includes the program’s first prescription drug benefits to begin in 2006 and creates incentives for private insurance companies to cover Medicare subscribers.
December 18, 2003
Iran agrees to weapons inspections
Iran signs an agreement to grant unrestricted access to UN-IAEA weapons inspectors.
January 20, 2004
Bush delivers fourth State of the Union
Bush gives his fourth State of the Union Address, laying out a broad domestic and foreign policy agenda while stressing issues of national security.
March 8, 2004
Iraq creates interim constitution
The Iraqi Governing Council signs an interim constitution to provide a framework for establishment of a transitional government.
Shiite, Sunni confrontations
U.S. forces in Iraq confront a violent uprising beginning with Shiite Muslims in Baghdad and spreading to opposing Sunni Muslims in Fallujah, leading to the heaviest fighting since the invasion began in March of 2003.
April 28, 2004
U.S. abuse of Iraqi prisoners
CBS broadcasts photographs of U.S. Army abuse of Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib prison, a facility on the outskirts of Baghdad. Bush and other senior administration officials voice deep disapproval over these abuses.
May 17, 2004
Massachusetts approves same-sex marriage
Massachusetts becomes the first state to offer marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Bush reiterates to Congress his call for a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage.
June 3, 2004
CIA Director Tenet resigns
Bush announces he has accepted the resignation of CIA Director George Tenet, widely blamed for intelligence failures in the months leading up to September 11.
June 8, 2004
Circumventing bans on torture
Attorney General John Ashcroft appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions regarding two leaked government memoranda that contained legal arguments for circumventing U.S. and international bans on torture, specifically for the questioning of terrorist suspects.
June 28, 2004
Formal occupation of Iraq ends
The U.S.-led Coalition for Provisional Authority formerly ends foreign occupation of Iraq, granting the provisional government sovereignty. Still, 130,000 troops remain in Iraq.
September 2, 2004
Republicans nominate Bush
President Bush and Vice President Cheney are renominated as the Republican candidates at the GOP convention in New York City.
September 30, 2004
First Bush-Kerry debate
Bush and Democratic nominee, Senator John Kerry, have their first of three presidential debates, this one focused on national security issues and foreign policy. The Bush administration’s handling of the Iraq War is the main focus.
October 8, 2004
Second Bush-Kerry debate
Bush and Kerry have their second debate in a town-hall format in St. Louis, Missouri.
October 13, 2004
Bush-Kerry in dead heat
Polls show the two candidates in a dead heat as Bush and Kerry meet for their third and final presidential debate on domestic policy.
October 29, 2004
bin-Laden addresses America
Qatar-based television channel Al-Jazeera airs excerpts from a videotape of Osama bin-Laden, leader of the terrorist network al-Qaeda, who addresses the American people; he accepts responsibility for and justifies the September 11th attacks while condemning Bush’s response to them. Many view this tape as an attempt by al-Qaeda to influence the U.S. presidential election.
November 3, 2004
Bush reelected
Bush wins a second term with a close 51 percent of the popular vote and 274 electoral votes to John Kerry’s 252. The Republican Party builds slightly on its majority in the House and Senate.
November 8, 2004
Retaking Fallujah
U.S. troops launch an assault to retake the city of Fallujah, Iraq, in the largest military operation since the initial invasion in March of 2003.
November 15, 2004
Powell Resigns, Rice appointed
Retired Army general and Secretary of State Colin Powell resigns. Bush appoints former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice to the position.
January 20, 2005
Bush inaugurated
President Bush is sworn in for the second term of his presidency.
Bush delivers State of the Union
In his State of the Union, President Bush calls for an historic restructuring of Social Security, allowing workers to use their payroll taxes to invest in the stock market. However, he is unable to move the policy through Congress.
February 17, 2005
Appointing new “Intelligence Czar”
Bush names former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq John Negroponte Director of National Intelligence, a newly created position of “intelligence czar” created in the wake of Congressional investigations into intelligence failures leading up to September 11.
February 20, 2005
Bush takes diplomatic trip to Europe
Bush travels to Europe to meet with French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, and Russian President Vladimir Putin to smooth diplomatic relations after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
March 31, 2005
Schiavo medical case
Terri Schiavo, a Florida woman long-suffering from brain damage, dies following the removal of her feeding tube. Schiavo had been the focus of legal controversy between the wishes of her parents and those of her husband. Ten days earlier, President Bush had signed a law permitting Schiavo’s parents to challenge the removal of her feeding tube in federal court.
June 5, 2005
Hussein to be tried for war crimes
Iraqi government announces that a war crimes trial for Saddam Hussein is likely to begin within the next two months and prosecutors would seek the death penalty.
June 10, 2005
Persuading North Korea to end nuclear pursuit
South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun meets with Bush to discuss efforts to persuade North Korea to join the six-party talks intended to end North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.
June 21, 2005
Human rights in Vietnam
Vietnamese Premier Phan Van Khai meets with Bush to discuss human rights and treatment of ethnic and religious minorities in Vietnam. This marks the first visit by a Vietnamese Premier to the United States since the country reunited under Communist rule in 1975.
June 28, 2005
Senate passes energy bill
The Senate passes an omnibus energy bill aimed at supporting the traditional energy industries of oil and natural gas, but also provide tax incentives for the use of alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power.
July 26, 2005
Discovery launches
The space shuttle Discovery takes off from the Kennedy Space Center on a mission to deliver repairs to the International Space Station. This is the first U.S. space mission since the failed return of the Columbia in 2003.
August 28, 2005
Hurricane Katrina strikes
Hurricane Katrina strikes the Gulf coast of the United States with devastating effects. The storm breaches the levee system in New Orleans, causing massive flooding and destruction of property. The Bush administration is harshly criticized for an inadequate response by the federal government to the storm’s destruction.
September 29, 2005
Roberts appointed Chief Justice
John G. Roberts is confirmed as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Roberts replaces William Rehnquist, who died in office, and is President Bush’s first nominee to the Court.
January 26, 2006
Alito appointed to Supreme Court
The Senate Judiciary Committee approves President Bush’s nomination of Samuel A. Alito, Jr., to the U.S. Supreme Court by a vote of 10-8. Previously, concerns were voiced over the disruption of the court’s ideological balance that would result from conservative Alito’s replacement of moderate Sandra Day O’Connor.
March 21, 2006
Remaining in Iraq
In a White House news conference, President Bush admits for the first time that the complete removal of U.S. troops from Iraq during the remainder of his term is improbable. He continues to assert the fact that progress is being made in the establishment of Iraqi democracy.
May 3, 2006
Bird flu scare
After several cases of avian influenza are reported in Central and Southeast Asia, the Bush administration proposes a plan to minimize losses in the case of a deadly pandemic. The plan includes coordination with the World Health Organization, reorganization of international travel, and the authorization of military assistance in the case of public unrest.
May 4, 2006
Moussaoui convicted
The U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, sentences Zacarias Moussaoui to life in prison without parole for his role in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Moussaoui was the first person to stand trial for the attacks.
June 7, 2006
Senate halts debate on same-sex marriage ban
The Senate votes 49-48 to conclude debate on a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriages in the United States, thereby preventing a vote on the actual passage of the amendment. President Bush had previously expressed support of the proposed amendment.
Iraq creates interim constitution
The Iraqi Governing Council signs an interim constitution to provide a framework for establishment of a transitional government.
Shiite, Sunni confrontations
U.S. forces in Iraq confront a violent uprising beginning with Shiite Muslims in Baghdad and spreading to opposing Sunni Muslims in Fallujah, leading to the heaviest fighting since the invasion began in March of 2003.
April 28, 2004
U.S. abuse of Iraqi prisoners
CBS broadcasts photographs of U.S. Army abuse of Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib prison, a facility on the outskirts of Baghdad. Bush and other senior administration officials voice deep disapproval over these abuses.
May 17, 2004
Massachusetts approves same-sex marriage
Massachusetts becomes the first state to offer marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Bush reiterates to Congress his call for a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage.
June 3, 2004
CIA Director Tenet resigns
Bush announces he has accepted the resignation of CIA Director George Tenet, widely blamed for intelligence failures in the months leading up to September 11.
June 8, 2004
Circumventing bans on torture
Attorney General John Ashcroft appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions regarding two leaked government memoranda that contained legal arguments for circumventing U.S. and international bans on torture, specifically for the questioning of terrorist suspects.
June 28, 2004
Formal occupation of Iraq ends
The U.S.-led Coalition for Provisional Authority formerly ends foreign occupation of Iraq, granting the provisional government sovereignty. Still, 130,000 troops remain in Iraq.
September 2, 2004
Republicans nominate Bush
President Bush and Vice President Cheney are renominated as the Republican candidates at the GOP convention in New York City.
September 30, 2004
First Bush-Kerry debate
Bush and Democratic nominee, Senator John Kerry, have their first of three presidential debates, this one focused on national security issues and foreign policy. The Bush administration’s handling of the Iraq War is the main focus.
October 8, 2004
Second Bush-Kerry debate
Bush and Kerry have their second debate in a town-hall format in St. Louis, Missouri.
October 13, 2004
Bush-Kerry in dead heat
Polls show the two candidates in a dead heat as Bush and Kerry meet for their third and final presidential debate on domestic policy.
October 29, 2004
bin-Laden addresses America
Qatar-based television channel Al-Jazeera airs excerpts from a videotape of Osama bin-Laden, leader of the terrorist network al-Qaeda, who addresses the American people; he accepts responsibility for and justifies the September 11th attacks while condemning Bush’s response to them. Many view this tape as an attempt by al-Qaeda to influence the U.S. presidential election.
November 3, 2004
Bush reelected
Bush wins a second term with a close 51 percent of the popular vote and 274 electoral votes to John Kerry’s 252. The Republican Party builds slightly on its majority in the House and Senate.
November 8, 2004
Retaking Fallujah
U.S. troops launch an assault to retake the city of Fallujah, Iraq, in the largest military operation since the initial invasion in March of 2003.
November 15, 2004
Powell Resigns, Rice appointed
Retired Army general and Secretary of State Colin Powell resigns. Bush appoints former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice to the position.
January 20, 2005
Bush inaugurated
President Bush is sworn in for the second term of his presidency.
Bush delivers State of the Union
In his State of the Union, President Bush calls for an historic restructuring of Social Security, allowing workers to use their payroll taxes to invest in the stock market. However, he is unable to move the policy through Congress.
February 17, 2005
Appointing new “Intelligence Czar”
Bush names former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq John Negroponte Director of National Intelligence, a newly created position of “intelligence czar” created in the wake of Congressional investigations into intelligence failures leading up to September 11.
February 20, 2005
Bush takes diplomatic trip to Europe
Bush travels to Europe to meet with French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, and Russian President Vladimir Putin to smooth diplomatic relations after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
March 31, 2005
Schiavo medical case
Terri Schiavo, a Florida woman long-suffering from brain damage, dies following the removal of her feeding tube. Schiavo had been the focus of legal controversy between the wishes of her parents and those of her husband. Ten days earlier, President Bush had signed a law permitting Schiavo’s parents to challenge the removal of her feeding tube in federal court.
June 5, 2005
Hussein to be tried for war crimes
Iraqi government announces that a war crimes trial for Saddam Hussein is likely to begin within the next two months and prosecutors would seek the death penalty.
June 10, 2005
Persuading North Korea to end nuclear pursuit
South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun meets with Bush to discuss efforts to persuade North Korea to join the six-party talks intended to end North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.
June 21, 2005
Human rights in Vietnam
Vietnamese Premier Phan Van Khai meets with Bush to discuss human rights and treatment of ethnic and religious minorities in Vietnam. This marks the first visit by a Vietnamese Premier to the United States since the country reunited under Communist rule in 1975.
June 28, 2005
Senate passes energy bill
The Senate passes an omnibus energy bill aimed at supporting the traditional energy industries of oil and natural gas, but also provide tax incentives for the use of alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power.
July 26, 2005
Discovery launches
The space shuttle Discovery takes off from the Kennedy Space Center on a mission to deliver repairs to the International Space Station. This is the first U.S. space mission since the failed return of the Columbia in 2003.
August 28, 2005
Hurricane Katrina strikes
Hurricane Katrina strikes the Gulf coast of the United States with devastating effects. The storm breaches the levee system in New Orleans, causing massive flooding and destruction of property. The Bush administration is harshly criticized for an inadequate response by the federal government to the storm’s destruction.
September 29, 2005
Roberts appointed Chief Justice
John G. Roberts is confirmed as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Roberts replaces William Rehnquist, who died in office, and is President Bush’s first nominee to the Court.
January 26, 2006
Alito appointed to Supreme Court
The Senate Judiciary Committee approves President Bush’s nomination of Samuel A. Alito, Jr., to the U.S. Supreme Court by a vote of 10-8. Previously, concerns were voiced over the disruption of the court’s ideological balance that would result from conservative Alito’s replacement of moderate Sandra Day O’Connor.
March 21, 2006
Remaining in Iraq
In a White House news conference, President Bush admits for the first time that the complete removal of U.S. troops from Iraq during the remainder of his term is improbable. He continues to assert the fact that progress is being made in the establishment of Iraqi democracy.
May 3, 2006
Bird flu scare
After several cases of avian influenza are reported in Central and Southeast Asia, the Bush administration proposes a plan to minimize losses in the case of a deadly pandemic. The plan includes coordination with the World Health Organization, reorganization of international travel, and the authorization of military assistance in the case of public unrest.
May 4, 2006
Moussaoui convicted
The U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, sentences Zacarias Moussaoui to life in prison without parole for his role in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Moussaoui was the first person to stand trial for the attacks.
June 7, 2006
Senate halts debate on same-sex marriage ban
The Senate votes 49-48 to conclude debate on a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriages in the United States, thereby preventing a vote on the actual passage of the amendment. President Bush had previously expressed support of the proposed amendment.
July 19, 2006
Bush vetoes stem cell research
President Bush vetoes a bill to lift constraints on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, and subsequently, the House unsuccessfully attempts to override the veto. This is the first veto Bush issues during his administration.
October 26, 2006
Bush approves border fence
President Bush signs a bill providing for the construction of a 700-mile fence along the United States-Mexico border, in an effort to increase border security and stem illegal immigration.
November 7, 2006
Democrats gain seats
Democrats recapture control of the U.S. House and Senate in the midterm elections.
December 30, 2006
Saddam Hussein hanged
Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is hanged in Baghdad, Iraq, after being convicted of crimes against humanity dating back to 1982.
January 4, 2007
Pelosi becomes first woman Speaker
Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, takes office as the first woman Speaker of the House. Democrats assume control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
January 8, 2007
U.S. attacks al-Qaeda in Somalia
The U.S. Air Force launches an air attack on extremist militias and suspected al-Qaeda operatives in Somalia.
January 11, 2007
Increasing troops in Iraq
Bush announces what would be termed a “troop surge” in Iraq in an attempt to increase security in the capital of Baghdad and smother insurgency centers throughout the country.
February 10, 2007
General David Petraeus takes over
General David Petraeus takes over command of the multinational forces in Iraq to oversee the surge.
March 6, 2007
Scooter Libby convicted
Scooter Libby, Vice President Cheney’s Chief of Staff, is convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in the case of CIA operative, Valerie Plame Wilson, whose covert identity was exposed. Bush later commutes Libby’s sentence.
April 16, 2007
Virginia Tech massacre
Seung-Hui Cho kills himself and 32 fellow students at Virginia Tech in the deadliest campus gun rampage in U.S. history. President Bush and the First Lady attend the memorial.
May 1, 2007
Bush vetoes troop removal
Bush vetoes a war spending bill passed by Congress, which set a timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq. Within days Bush reaches a record low approval rating.
June 29, 2007
Supreme Court to hear Guantanamo appeals
The Supreme Court reverses an April decision and agrees to hear appeals from Guantanamo Bay detainees who have not had access to the federal courts.
July 26, 2007
Antiterrorism Bill
Congress passes the Antiterrorism Bill, which will allow for the screening of air and sea cargo and will give more money in government antiterrorism grants to states with the greatest risk for terrorist attacks.
September 17, 2007
Gonzalez resigns, Mukasey appointed AG
President Bush names Michael Mukasey as Attorney General after Alberto Gonzalez announces his resignation.
October 9, 2007
Dow Jones all-time high
The Dow Jones industrial average closes at 14,164, its all-time high. Soon after, it begins a steep decline.
November 27, 2007
Middle East Peace Conference
President Bush hosts a Middle East Peace Conference in Annapolis, Maryland, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
December 19, 2007
Increasing automobile fuel efficiency
Congress passes new energy legislation to increase automobile fuel efficiency standards and mandates increases in biofuel production. The bill passes the House and Senate, and President Bush signs it into law.
January 18, 2008
Bush proposes stimulus package
President Bush proposes a $145 billion stimulus package in response to a housing crisis and rapidly increasing oil prices. The package gives individuals several hundred dollars to facilitate spending, as well as rebates for families with children and tax deductions for businesses in order to jump-start the slowing economy.
January 31, 2008
U.S. strike kills al-Libi
U.S. missile strikes in Pakistan kill a top al-Qaeda leader, Abu Laith al-Libi, who trained terror operatives in the region.
February 1, 2008
Labor Statistics reports drastic job loss
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the U.S. economy lost more than 15,000 jobs during the previous month. Such an elimination of jobs from the economy had not occurred for more than four years.
February 7, 2008
Senate passes stimulus package
The Senate passes a $170-billion stimulus package to give many Americans tax rebates as large as $600 or more, and to implement tax breaks for certain businesses in an effort to head-off impending economic slowdown.
February 11, 2008
Six detainees charged for September 11
Six detainees at Guantanamo Bay who were thought to have had roles in orchestrating the September 11 terrorist attacks are charged with conspiracy, murder in violation of the law of war, terrorism, and other charges. All six face the death penalty in military tribunals.
March 23, 2008
Roadside bomb ups U.S. death toll in Iraq
After a roadside bomb exploded in Baghdad, the U.S. death toll for the war in Iraq reached 4,000.
May 9, 2008
State Department renews controversial defense
The State Department renews a deal with Blackwater Worldwide, the private defense contractor whose guards killed 17 civilians in 2007, to provide defense for U.S. diplomats in the Middle East.
May 22, 2008
Congress overrides veto, pushes Farm Bill
The House and Senate override President Bush’s veto of the Farm Bill, a $307 billion bill which will provide subsidies to farmers. More than $10 billion of the funds will go to expanding nutritional programs such as food stamps. Bush originally vetoed the bill, which he felt to be excessive.
June 3, 2008
Democrats nominate Obama
Democratic candidate Barack Obama secures the party’s nomination for the presidency.
June 5, 2008
Intelligence Committee finds exaggerated evidence
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence finds, after a five-year study, that President Bush and other officials greatly exaggerated the evidence showing that Saddam Hussein held weapons of mass destruction.
June 30, 2008
Army admits inadequacies in Iraq
In a new report issued on the situation in Iraq, the U.S. Army admits that while it was able to adequately topple Hussein’s regime, it did not have the capability to rebuild Iraq into a fully-functioning new country.
September 1, 2008
Iraqi military regains control
U.S. forces hand over control of Anbar Province to the Iraqi military and police, who will now be responsible for maintaining order there.
September 7, 2008
Federal takeover of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
The U.S. government places federal mortgage lenders Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) and Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation) under control of the U.S. Treasury to prevent the institutions from going under and endangering more than half of the country’s mortgages.
October 1, 2008
Senate approves nuclear trade with India
Senate approves an end to the long-standing ban on trading nuclear fuels with India, who will be able to purchase fuel on the market as long as it is for civilian purposes.
Bush vetoes stem cell research
President Bush vetoes a bill to lift constraints on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, and subsequently, the House unsuccessfully attempts to override the veto. This is the first veto Bush issues during his administration.
October 26, 2006
Bush approves border fence
President Bush signs a bill providing for the construction of a 700-mile fence along the United States-Mexico border, in an effort to increase border security and stem illegal immigration.
November 7, 2006
Democrats gain seats
Democrats recapture control of the U.S. House and Senate in the midterm elections.
December 30, 2006
Saddam Hussein hanged
Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is hanged in Baghdad, Iraq, after being convicted of crimes against humanity dating back to 1982.
January 4, 2007
Pelosi becomes first woman Speaker
Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, takes office as the first woman Speaker of the House. Democrats assume control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
January 8, 2007
U.S. attacks al-Qaeda in Somalia
The U.S. Air Force launches an air attack on extremist militias and suspected al-Qaeda operatives in Somalia.
January 11, 2007
Increasing troops in Iraq
Bush announces what would be termed a “troop surge” in Iraq in an attempt to increase security in the capital of Baghdad and smother insurgency centers throughout the country.
February 10, 2007
General David Petraeus takes over
General David Petraeus takes over command of the multinational forces in Iraq to oversee the surge.
March 6, 2007
Scooter Libby convicted
Scooter Libby, Vice President Cheney’s Chief of Staff, is convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in the case of CIA operative, Valerie Plame Wilson, whose covert identity was exposed. Bush later commutes Libby’s sentence.
April 16, 2007
Virginia Tech massacre
Seung-Hui Cho kills himself and 32 fellow students at Virginia Tech in the deadliest campus gun rampage in U.S. history. President Bush and the First Lady attend the memorial.
May 1, 2007
Bush vetoes troop removal
Bush vetoes a war spending bill passed by Congress, which set a timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq. Within days Bush reaches a record low approval rating.
June 29, 2007
Supreme Court to hear Guantanamo appeals
The Supreme Court reverses an April decision and agrees to hear appeals from Guantanamo Bay detainees who have not had access to the federal courts.
July 26, 2007
Antiterrorism Bill
Congress passes the Antiterrorism Bill, which will allow for the screening of air and sea cargo and will give more money in government antiterrorism grants to states with the greatest risk for terrorist attacks.
September 17, 2007
Gonzalez resigns, Mukasey appointed AG
President Bush names Michael Mukasey as Attorney General after Alberto Gonzalez announces his resignation.
October 9, 2007
Dow Jones all-time high
The Dow Jones industrial average closes at 14,164, its all-time high. Soon after, it begins a steep decline.
November 27, 2007
Middle East Peace Conference
President Bush hosts a Middle East Peace Conference in Annapolis, Maryland, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
December 19, 2007
Increasing automobile fuel efficiency
Congress passes new energy legislation to increase automobile fuel efficiency standards and mandates increases in biofuel production. The bill passes the House and Senate, and President Bush signs it into law.
January 18, 2008
Bush proposes stimulus package
President Bush proposes a $145 billion stimulus package in response to a housing crisis and rapidly increasing oil prices. The package gives individuals several hundred dollars to facilitate spending, as well as rebates for families with children and tax deductions for businesses in order to jump-start the slowing economy.
January 31, 2008
U.S. strike kills al-Libi
U.S. missile strikes in Pakistan kill a top al-Qaeda leader, Abu Laith al-Libi, who trained terror operatives in the region.
February 1, 2008
Labor Statistics reports drastic job loss
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the U.S. economy lost more than 15,000 jobs during the previous month. Such an elimination of jobs from the economy had not occurred for more than four years.
February 7, 2008
Senate passes stimulus package
The Senate passes a $170-billion stimulus package to give many Americans tax rebates as large as $600 or more, and to implement tax breaks for certain businesses in an effort to head-off impending economic slowdown.
February 11, 2008
Six detainees charged for September 11
Six detainees at Guantanamo Bay who were thought to have had roles in orchestrating the September 11 terrorist attacks are charged with conspiracy, murder in violation of the law of war, terrorism, and other charges. All six face the death penalty in military tribunals.
March 23, 2008
Roadside bomb ups U.S. death toll in Iraq
After a roadside bomb exploded in Baghdad, the U.S. death toll for the war in Iraq reached 4,000.
May 9, 2008
State Department renews controversial defense
The State Department renews a deal with Blackwater Worldwide, the private defense contractor whose guards killed 17 civilians in 2007, to provide defense for U.S. diplomats in the Middle East.
May 22, 2008
Congress overrides veto, pushes Farm Bill
The House and Senate override President Bush’s veto of the Farm Bill, a $307 billion bill which will provide subsidies to farmers. More than $10 billion of the funds will go to expanding nutritional programs such as food stamps. Bush originally vetoed the bill, which he felt to be excessive.
June 3, 2008
Democrats nominate Obama
Democratic candidate Barack Obama secures the party’s nomination for the presidency.
June 5, 2008
Intelligence Committee finds exaggerated evidence
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence finds, after a five-year study, that President Bush and other officials greatly exaggerated the evidence showing that Saddam Hussein held weapons of mass destruction.
June 30, 2008
Army admits inadequacies in Iraq
In a new report issued on the situation in Iraq, the U.S. Army admits that while it was able to adequately topple Hussein’s regime, it did not have the capability to rebuild Iraq into a fully-functioning new country.
September 1, 2008
Iraqi military regains control
U.S. forces hand over control of Anbar Province to the Iraqi military and police, who will now be responsible for maintaining order there.
September 7, 2008
Federal takeover of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
The U.S. government places federal mortgage lenders Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) and Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation) under control of the U.S. Treasury to prevent the institutions from going under and endangering more than half of the country’s mortgages.
October 1, 2008
Senate approves nuclear trade with India
Senate approves an end to the long-standing ban on trading nuclear fuels with India, who will be able to purchase fuel on the market as long as it is for civilian purposes.
October 3, 2008
Bush signs largest bailout in history
At the onset of financial crisis, President Bush signs a $700 billion bailout plan for failing bank assets, the largest in U.S. history.
October 30, 2008
GDP drops
U.S. gross domestic product drops by 0.3 percent, the first time GDP has shrunk in 17 years.
October 31, 2008
Petraeus takes over Central Command
General David Petraeus takes over as Head of Central Command, overseeing all U.S. military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, and Iran.
November 4, 2008
Barack Obama elected
Barack Obama is elected the next President of the United States in an historic election in which Democrats win in several traditionally Republican states and pick up seats in the House and Senate. Obama is the first black American elected President.
November 25, 2008
Treasury, Federal Reserve agree to buy debt
The Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve agree to provide another $800 billion in lending programs to buy debt insured by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and to provide more small loans to consumers.
December 16, 2008
Interest rates set at 0%
Federal Reserve cuts interest rates to an all-time low of zero percent, down from 1 percent and 0.25 percent earlier in the year as part of a plan to stimulate the economy.
December 19, 2008
Bush bails out GM, Chrysler
President Bush issues a $17.4-billion auto bailout to General Motors and Chrysler to keep the two American automotive giants from going bankrupt.
January 20, 2009
Barack Obama inaugurated
Barack Obama is inaugurated the 44th President of the United States. President Bush leaves Washington, D.C. for Dallas, Texas.
Bush signs largest bailout in history
At the onset of financial crisis, President Bush signs a $700 billion bailout plan for failing bank assets, the largest in U.S. history.
October 30, 2008
GDP drops
U.S. gross domestic product drops by 0.3 percent, the first time GDP has shrunk in 17 years.
October 31, 2008
Petraeus takes over Central Command
General David Petraeus takes over as Head of Central Command, overseeing all U.S. military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, and Iran.
November 4, 2008
Barack Obama elected
Barack Obama is elected the next President of the United States in an historic election in which Democrats win in several traditionally Republican states and pick up seats in the House and Senate. Obama is the first black American elected President.
November 25, 2008
Treasury, Federal Reserve agree to buy debt
The Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve agree to provide another $800 billion in lending programs to buy debt insured by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and to provide more small loans to consumers.
December 16, 2008
Interest rates set at 0%
Federal Reserve cuts interest rates to an all-time low of zero percent, down from 1 percent and 0.25 percent earlier in the year as part of a plan to stimulate the economy.
December 19, 2008
Bush bails out GM, Chrysler
President Bush issues a $17.4-billion auto bailout to General Motors and Chrysler to keep the two American automotive giants from going bankrupt.
January 20, 2009
Barack Obama inaugurated
Barack Obama is inaugurated the 44th President of the United States. President Bush leaves Washington, D.C. for Dallas, Texas.
RighteousnessTemperance&
Well-Known Member
Dick Cheney, Liz's dad, was W's VP. W's brother Jeb was dissed by Trump, albeit rightly so. But perhaps the biggest issue was Trump's criticizing W's invasion of Iraq over WMDs.
They are RINOs, so it is hardly surprising they hate Trump. As an ex-Pres, W has nothing to lose, and he likely sees this as an opportunity to further stick it to Trump and help the RINOs regain control of the GOP.
They are RINOs, so it is hardly surprising they hate Trump. As an ex-Pres, W has nothing to lose, and he likely sees this as an opportunity to further stick it to Trump and help the RINOs regain control of the GOP.
Vindictive, just like he acted when Sadam threatened HW.
W. has nothing to lose except the people of the USA.
How many of our young men were lost to the cry of WMD! WMD!
RighteousnessTemperance&
Well-Known Member
NaaaaHe very well may eventually, especially if they're saying it to the Shepherd.
