Events on January 3 in history

In Moscow, Russia, George Bush and Boris Yeltsin sign the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).

George H. W. Bush: A Legacy of Public Service and Transformative Leadership

George Herbert Walker Bush (June 12, 1924 – November 30, 2018) was a pivotal figure in late 20th-century American politics, renowned for his extensive career as an American politician, diplomat, and businessman. He notably served as the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993, navigating a period of significant global change. A long-standing member of the Republican Party, Bush's distinguished public service also included an eight-year tenure as the 43rd Vice President from 1981 to 1989 under President Ronald Reagan. His earlier career encompassed diverse and influential roles, including service in the U.S. House of Representatives, as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and as the Director of Central Intelligence.

Early Life, Military Service, and Entry into Politics

Born in Milton, Massachusetts, and raised primarily in Greenwich, Connecticut, George H. W. Bush's formative years were marked by a commitment to duty and service. He attended Phillips Academy, an elite preparatory school, before enlisting in the United States Navy Reserve on his 18th birthday during World War II. As a young naval aviator, he became one of the youngest pilots in the Navy at the time, flying torpedo bombers and famously surviving being shot down over the Pacific in September 1944. This experience profoundly shaped his perspective on leadership and sacrifice.

After the war, Bush pursued higher education, graduating from Yale University, where he was a member of the Skull and Bones secret society. Following his graduation, he moved to West Texas with his wife, Barbara Pierce Bush, where he embarked on a successful career in the burgeoning oil industry, co-founding the Bush-Overbey Oil Development Company and later serving as president of Zapata Offshore Company. His transition from the business world to public service began with an unsuccessful bid for the United States Senate in 1964. However, his political aspirations were soon realized when he successfully won election to represent Texas's 7th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1966, serving two terms.

Diplomatic Roles and Path to the Vice Presidency

Bush's career trajectory expanded significantly beyond Capitol Hill with a series of crucial appointments. President Richard Nixon appointed him as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in 1971, where he gained valuable experience in international diplomacy. In 1973, he was asked to chair the Republican National Committee during a tumultuous period for the party amidst the Watergate scandal, demonstrating his capacity for leadership under pressure. Following Nixon's resignation, President Gerald Ford appointed Bush in 1974 as the Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office to the People's Republic of China, a highly sensitive diplomatic post responsible for fostering relations with a nation that had only recently opened to the West. In 1976, Ford further entrusted him with the critical role of Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), where he spearheaded efforts to restore morale and public confidence in the agency after a period of intense scrutiny. This diverse portfolio of experience in executive, legislative, and intelligence roles made him an exceptionally qualified candidate for higher office.

In 1980, Bush launched his first campaign for president but was ultimately defeated in the Republican presidential primaries by Ronald Reagan. Recognizing Bush's extensive experience and moderate appeal, Reagan then selected him as his vice presidential running mate. The Reagan-Bush ticket won a landslide victory, and Bush served two terms as Vice President, a period that laid the groundwork for his own presidency.

The Bush Presidency (1989-1993): Navigating a "New World Order"

In the 1988 presidential election, George H. W. Bush successfully defeated Democrat Michael Dukakis, becoming the first incumbent vice president since Martin Van Buren in 1836 to be directly elected to the presidency. His presidency was largely defined by a rapidly evolving global landscape, often referred to by Bush as a "New World Order," marked by the conclusion of the Cold War and the assertion of American leadership on the international stage.

• Foreign Policy Achievements: Foreign policy was the undeniable hallmark of the Bush presidency. He skillfully navigated the final years of the Cold War, witnessing and playing a key role in the historic reunification of Germany in 1990, a complex diplomatic triumph that solidified democratic transitions across Eastern Europe. Bush also presided over two significant military interventions: the 1989 invasion of Panama (Operation Just Cause) to depose dictator Manuel Noriega, and more prominently, the 1991 Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm). The Gulf War involved a massive international coalition that successfully ended Iraq's occupation of Kuwait, restoring the nation's sovereignty with remarkable speed and minimal casualties for the coalition forces.
• Economic and Trade Initiatives: Although not ratified until after he left office, Bush initiated and signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This ambitious pact, designed to eliminate most tariffs and trade barriers between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, aimed to create one of the world's largest free-trade zones, significantly impacting economic relations across North America.
• Domestic Policy and Bipartisan Legislation: Domestically, Bush faced a significant challenge after reneging on his iconic 1988 campaign promise, "Read my lips: no new taxes." Faced with a growing budget deficit, he enacted legislation in 1990 to raise taxes as part of a budget agreement, a decision that generated considerable political fallout despite its justification for fiscal responsibility. Despite this controversy, Bush championed and signed three landmark pieces of bipartisan legislation that continue to shape American society and environmental policy:
  • The **Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990**, which prohibited discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, public services, public accommodations, and telecommunications, profoundly impacting millions of Americans.
  • The **Immigration Act of 1990**, which significantly revised the national origins quota system, increasing the total number of legal immigrants and emphasizing skills-based immigration.
  • The **Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990**, which vastly expanded the scope of environmental regulation, targeting acid rain, urban smog, and toxic air pollution.
  He also successfully appointed two conservative jurists, David Souter (1990) and Clarence Thomas (1991), to the Supreme Court, shaping the future of the nation's judiciary for decades.

Bush's bid for re-election in 1992 was unsuccessful, as he lost to Democrat Bill Clinton. His defeat was attributed to several factors, including an economic recession at home, the political cost of his reversal on the "no new taxes" pledge, and a decreased public emphasis on foreign policy in the post–Cold War political climate, allowing domestic issues to take center stage.

Post-Presidency and Enduring Legacy

After leaving office in 1993, George H. W. Bush remained an active figure, dedicating himself to humanitarian activities, often working in a remarkable partnership with his former opponent, Bill Clinton, on various global relief efforts such as tsunami aid and hurricane relief. His family continued its legacy of public service with the victory of his son, George W. Bush, in the 2000 presidential election. This made them the second father–son pair in American history to serve as the nation's president, following John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Another son, Jeb Bush, unsuccessfully sought the Republican presidential nomination in the 2016 Republican primaries. Historians generally rank George H. W. Bush as an above-average president, particularly commending his foreign policy acumen and his commitment to bipartisan collaboration on significant domestic legislation.

The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty II (START II): A Post-Cold War Initiative

The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty II (START II) represented a critical effort to further reduce nuclear arsenals in the wake of the Cold War. It was a bilateral treaty between the United States and Russia focused on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms.

Key Provisions and Signing

• START II was signed by U.S. President George H. W. Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin on January 3, 1993, just weeks before Bush left office.
• A primary objective of START II was to ban the use of multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) on intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). MIRVs allow a single missile to deliver multiple nuclear warheads to different targets, significantly increasing destructive capability.
• Because of this central provision, the treaty is often cited as the "De-MIRV-ing Agreement," aiming to enhance strategic stability by reducing the incentive for a first strike.

Ratification and Subsequent Withdrawal

• The U.S. Senate ratified START II on January 26, 1996, with a strong vote of 87 to 4, reflecting bipartisan support for nuclear arms reduction.
• Russia ratified START II on April 14, 2000. However, their ratification was made conditional on the preservation of the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, a cornerstone of arms control signed in 1972, which limited missile defense systems.
• The fate of START II was ultimately linked to the ABM Treaty. When the United States announced its withdrawal from the ABM Treaty on June 13, 2002, citing the need to develop missile defenses against new threats, Russia responded by withdrawing from START II just one day later.

Due to these developments, START II never officially entered into effect as a binding international agreement, despite its signing and initial ratification by both parties. Instead, a new agreement, the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT), came into effect, which further reduced the strategic warhead count per country to a range of 1,700 to 2,200.

Frequently Asked Questions about George H. W. Bush and START II

What were some of George H. W. Bush's most significant foreign policy achievements?

President Bush is widely credited for his skillful management of the end of the Cold War, including playing a key role in the peaceful reunification of Germany. He also successfully led the international coalition in the Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm), liberating Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.

Why was the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) important during Bush's presidency?

NAFTA, though not ratified until after his term, was a landmark agreement negotiated and signed by President Bush. It aimed to create a free-trade bloc between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, significantly reducing trade barriers and fostering economic integration across North America.

What major domestic legislation did George H. W. Bush sign?

Despite his "no new taxes" pledge, President Bush signed significant bipartisan legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities; the Immigration Act of 1990; and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, which strengthened environmental regulations.

Why did START II never enter into force?

START II, signed by President Bush and President Yeltsin, was designed to ban MIRVs on ICBMs. Although ratified by both the U.S. and Russia, Russia's ratification was conditional on the preservation of the ABM Treaty. When the U.S. withdrew from the ABM Treaty in 2002, Russia subsequently withdrew from START II, preventing its full implementation. A different agreement, SORT, later took its place.