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Biography Born in June 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts to Prescott Bush and Dorothy Walker. Bush attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. from 1936-1942. Bush graduated from Phillips in June of 1942. He joined the U.S. Navy on his 18th birthday to become an aviator. After completing the 10-month course, he was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve on June 9, 1943. After finishing flight training school, he was assigned to Torpedo Squadron (VT-51) as photographic officer in Sept. 1943. As part of Air Group 51, his squadron was based on the USS San Jacinto in the spring of 1944. The USS San Jacinto was part of Task Force 58 that participated in operations against Marcus and Wake Islands in May, and then in the Marianas in June. On June 19th the task force triumphed in one of the largest air battles of the war. On his return from the mission Bush's aircraft made a forced water landing. A submarine rescued the young pilot, however his plane was lost, and his navigator had been killed. Bush was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade on August 1st. The USS San Jacinto commenced operations against the Japanese in the Bonin Islands. On Sept. 2, 1944, Bush piloted 1 of 4 aircraft from VT-51 that attacked Japanese installations at Chichi Jima. During their air attack 4 TBM Avengers from VT-51 encountered intense anti-aircraft fire. Bush's aircraft had been hit and caught on fire as he was starting the attack. He completed his attack, dropping bombs on the target, and scoring several damaging hits. Bush flew several miles from the island with his engine on fire, as the crew members bailed out with him. One crew member's parachute failed to open, and he plummeted to his death. After sitting in his lifeboat for 4 hours, Bush was rescued by the submarine USS Finback. For his action, Bush received the Distinguished Flying Cross. Bush returned to the USS San Jacinto in November 1944 and participated in operations on the Philippines. When the USS San Jacinto returned to Guam, the squadron, which had suffered 50% casualties of its pilots, was replaced and sent to the U.S. Bush had flown 58 combat missions for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, 3 Air Medals, and the Presidential Unit Citation. With the surrender of Japan, Bush was discharged in Sept. of 1945. He went on to graduate from Yale University, and on January 6, 1945 he married Barbara Pierce. They have 6 children: George W., Pauline Robinson (Robin) who died in 1953 from Leukemia, John Edward (Jeb), Neil, Marvin, Dorothy Walker. Bush ventured into the oil industry. In 1964 he went into politics by running against Texas's Democratic Senator Ralph Yarborough. Bush lost the 1964 landslide. He was elected in 1966 and 1968 to the House of Representatives from the 7th District in Texas. Bush lost his second attempt at a senate seat in 1970 to Lloyd Bentson. Bush served as Ambassador to the united Nations from 1971-1973. In 1975, Bush was appointed Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In 1977, when the Democrats took office, Bush became Chairman of the First International Bank in Huston. Bush ran for President in 1980 against Ronald Reagan. Reagan came back to decisively win the Presidential nomination. After some discussion, Ronald Reagan chose George Bush to be his Vice President, placing him on the winning Republican ticket of 1980. The Reagan/Bush ticket won again in 1984. In 1988, after 8 years as Vice President, Bush ran for President. Bush chose the little-known Danforth Quayle as his running mate. The Bush-Quayle ticket beat Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentson soundly in the Electoral College by 426 to 111. As President, Bush was best known for leading the U.S. into the 1990-1991 Gulf War. In a foreign policy move that would later be questioned, Bush achieved his stated objectives of "liberating" Kuwait and forcing Iraqi withdrawal, then ordering a cessation of combat operations - allowing Saddam Hussein to remain in power. President Bush's popularity rating soured in America during and immediately following his apparent success of military operations, but later fell dramatically due to an economic recession. Bush's last controversial act in office was to pardon the 6 former government employees implicated in the Iran-Contra (Money for Guns) scandal on Dec.24, 1992, most prominently former Secretary of Defense, Caspar Weinberger. Weinberger had been scheduled to stand trial Jan. 5, 1993 for lying to Congress regarding his knowledge of arms sales to Iran and concealing 1700 pages of his personal diary detailing discussions with other officials about arms sales. Weinberger's private notes contained references to George Bush's endorsement of the secret shipments to Iran. Many believe that by pardoning Weinberger, Bush escaped a possible indictment. There are many contributing factors to Bush's unsuccessful run for a second term as President. One was the recession that had begun in the latter 1980's, another was his raising taxes in 1992 despite his pledge: "Read my lips - No New Taxes" In doing so, Bush alienated many members of his conservative base, losing their support in his re-election. George H. W. Bush left office in 1993. The Bush's split their time between their two homes, one in Huston, TX and one in Kennebunkport, Maine.
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