George W. Bush

From ePedia, the electronic encyclopedia
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States. Prior to his political career, he was an entrepreneur in the oil industry and served as the managing general partner/owner of the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball team. Bush, a member of the Republican Party, was elected 46th Governor of Texas in 1994 and was re-elected in 1998. From there, he moved on to win the nomination of the Republican Party for the 2000 presidential race and ultimately defeated Democratic Vice President Al Gore in a particularly close and controversial [1] general election. In 2004, Bush was elected to a second term, defeating Democratic Senator John Kerry. This term will expire January 20, 2009.

Bush's presidency has been defined by the ongoing War on Terror including the Iraq War following the September 11, 2001 attacks. In the aftermath the U.S. and a multinational force (dubbed the "Coalition of the Willing") took military action in Iraq, overthrowing and capturing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The war proved controversial both in the United States and internationally. In response to the September 11th attacks, Bush and congress created the Department of Homeland Security and increased the powers of law enforcement agencies with the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Bush has also signed into law large tax cuts and a Medicare prescription drug plan. He has appointed two justices to the Supreme Court, including a new Chief Justice. Bush's terms of office coincided with Republican control of the United States Congress, giving him greater control over policy formulation than presidents dealing with an opposition-controlled Congress. While continuing American policy of support for Israel, President Bush became the first U.S. president to also endorse the creation of a Palestinian state. His promise of $15 billion (over 5 years) to Africa for AIDS relief was funded by Congress. In late 2005 and 2006, Bush led the world community in opposition to Iran's announced intention to develop nuclear technology.

Bush is a member and leader of a prominent political family: his father, George H. W. Bush, served as U.S. President for four years and as Vice President for eight, his brother Jeb Bush is the current Governor of Florida, and his grandfather, Prescott Bush, was a Republican United States Senator from Connecticut. Among his family, he acquired the nickname "W" (for his middle initial; later Dubya, a literal spelling of a colloquial pronunciation of the letter), which has become a common public nickname, used both affectionately and pejoratively. He is the second son of a former United States president to become president himself.

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