born july american politician served 43rd president united_states 46th governor texas eldest son barbara born connecticut graduating yale_university worked oil businesses married ran unsuccessfully house_of_representatives shortly later owned texas_rangers baseball team defeating texas gubernatorial election elected president close controversial election fourth president elected receiving fewer popular votes nationwide opponent second president son president having brother governor florida candidate republican presidential nomination presidential election months bush term president september terrorist attacks occurred bush responded known bush doctrine launching war terror international military campaign included war afghanistan iraq war promoted policies economy health care education social security reform constitution prohibit sex marriage signed law broad tax cuts patriot act child left act ban act drug benefits seniors funding aids relief program known tenure saw national debates immigration electronic surveillance torture bush successfully ran election democratic senator relatively close election election bush received increasingly heated criticism political spectrum handling iraq war hurricane katrina challenges amid criticism democratic_party regained control congress elections december united_states entered longest post world war recession referred great recession prompting bush administration obtain congressional passage multiple economic programs intended preserve country financial system nationally bush popular unpopular presidents history having received highest recorded presidential approval ratings wake september attacks lowest approval ratings financial crisis met public protests visits united_kingdom bush left office returning texas purchased home suburban dallas currently public speaker written memoir presidential library opened presidency ranked worst surveys presidential scholars published late 2000s 2010s childhood mid life early life education born july connecticut child bush raised midland houston texas siblings younger sister robin died age grandfather senator connecticut father ronald_reagan vice president 41st president bush english german ancestry distant dutch welsh irish french scottish roots bush attended public schools midland texas family moved houston completed seventh grade went prep school houston years bush attended high school phillips academy boarding school male massachusetts played baseball senior year head cheerleader attended yale_university graduating bachelor_of_arts degree history time cheerleader member serving president fraternity senior year bush member skull bones society senior bush rugby union player yale 1st characterized average student years yale similar average rating system final year beginning fall bush attended earned degree president earned bush commissioned years active duty service training assigned houston flying critics including chairman alleged bush favorably treated father political standing member house_of_representatives citing selection pilot despite low pilot test scores irregular attendance june defense released records bush service remain official archives late early having moved montgomery alabama work unsuccessful campaign republican bush suspended flying failure scheduled physical exam discharged november marriage family personal life backyard friends introduced school teacher librarian bush proposed month courtship married november year couple settled midland texas bush left family join wife november gave birth twin daughters bush graduated high school yale_university austin respectively prior marriage bush multiple episodes alcohol abuse instance september arrested near family summer home maine driving influence alcohol pleaded guilty fined maine driver license briefly suspended bush says wife effect life attributes influence decision alcohol governor texas bush said wife saw elegant beautiful woman turned elegant beautiful smart willing rough edges confess time bush avid reader adult life preferring biographies histories time president bush read bible daily read lincoln biographies years presidency reportedly read books journalist recalls seeing books lying biographies queen_victoria home bush texas include cigar smoking golf leaving white_house bush taken oil painting granddaughter born daughter april named early career bush ran house_of_representatives texas 19th congressional district opponent portrayed touch rural bush lost election votes percent votes cast returned oil industry began series small independent oil exploration companies created later changed company merged larger spectrum bush chairman company hurt decreased oil prices folded inc bush served board directors questions possible insider trading involving arose sec investigation concluded information bush time stock sale sufficient constitute insider trading bush moved family washington work father campaign presidency served campaign adviser liaison media assisted father campaigning country returning texas successful campaign purchased share texas_rangers baseball franchise april served managing general partner years actively led team projects regularly attended games choosing sit open stands fans bush sale shares rangers brought million initial investment december bush seven people named father run father presidential election campaign campaign advisor previous month father asked tell white_house chief staff resign governor texas bush brother sought governorship florida bush declared candidacy texas gubernatorial election campaign focused themes welfare reform reform crime reduction education improvement bush campaign advisers easily winning republican primary bush faced popular democratic incumbent governor course campaign bush pledged sign bill allowing obtain permits carry concealed weapons richards vetoed bill bush signed governor according atlantic monthly race featured rumor lesbian rare instance tactic making public record regional chairman bush campaign allowed inadvertently quoted criticizing richards appointing homosexual activists state jobs atlantic connected lesbian rumor denied involved bush won general election percent richards percent bush budget surplus push texas largest tax cut billion extended government funding organizations providing education dangers alcohol drug use abuse helping reduce domestic violence critics contended tenure texas ranked near environmental supporters pointed efforts raise salaries teachers improve educational test scores bush signed state law electric retailers buy certain energy sources helped texas eventually leading producer wind powered electricity bush won election record percent vote governor texas history elected consecutive year terms texas history governors served year terms constitutional amendment extended terms years starting second term bush promoted faith based organizations enjoyed high approval ratings proclaimed june jesus day texas day urge answer serve need bush term national attention focused potential future presidential candidate following election speculation year decided seek republican presidential nomination presidential campaigns presidential candidacy primary june governor texas bush announced candidacy president united_states incumbent running bush entered large field candidates republican_party presidential nomination consisting john_mccain bush portrayed conservative implying republicans campaigned platform included bringing integrity honor white_house increasing size cutting taxes improving education aiding minorities early race centered bush bush won iowa heavily favored win new_hampshire primary trailed percent lost primary despite bush regained momentum according political observers effectively runner south_carolina primary according boston_globe history campaign new_york_times described campaign general election july bush surprised observers asking white_house chief staff secretary defense running mate serving head bush vice presidential search committee soon bush officially nominated republican_party republican national convention bush continued campaign country touted record governor texas bush campaign criticized democratic opponent incumbent vice president gun control taxation election returns came november bush won states including florida florida outcome led initial went bush outcome tied courts month reaching december controversial bush gore ruling court reversed decision ordering count stopped ordered statewide hand based argument use different standards florida counties violated fourteenth amendment machine showed bush won florida vote margin votes million cast received fewer individual votes gore nationwide bush won election receiving electoral votes gore gore statewide victories electoral votes gore pledged rendering official tally bush person win american presidential election fewer national votes candidate presidential candidacy bush commanded broad support republican_party encounter primary challenge appointed campaign manager political strategy devised bush republican platform included strong commitment wars iraq afghanistan support usa patriot act renewed shift policy constitutional amendments banning abortion sex marriage reforming create private investment accounts creation ownership society opposing mandatory carbon emissions controls bush called implementation guest worker program immigrants criticized conservatives bush campaign advertised democratic candidates including bush emerging opponent massachusetts senator democrats attacked bush iraq war accused failing stimulate economy job growth bush campaign portrayed staunch liberal raise taxes increase size government bush campaign continuously criticized seemingly contradictory statements war iraq argued lacked vision necessary success war terror election bush carried states receiving total electoral votes won absolute majority popular vote percent opponent percent previous president win absolute majority popular vote bush father election additionally time election republican president elected alongside elected republican presidency bush originally outlined ambitious domestic agenda priorities significantly altered following september terrorist attacks wars waged afghanistan iraq significant domestic debates immigration healthcare economic policy treatment terrorist year period bush high approval ratings steadily declined disapproval numbers increased significantly united_states entered longest post world war recession domestic policy economic policy bush took office period economic recession wake dot bubble terrorist attacks impacted economy bush administration increased federal government spending percent revenues increased individual income tax revenues increased percent corporate tax revenues percent customs duties percent defense spending increased percent domestic spending percent spending percent social security percent income security spending percent adjusted revenues rose percent spending percent increase spending predecessor number economic regulation governmental workers increased surplus fiscal year billion consecutive surplus largest surplus bush budget estimated surplus years facing congressional opposition bush held style meetings order increase public support plan tax cut program largest tax cuts history bush argued government funds returned saying surplus government money surplus people money chairman warned recession bush stated tax cut stimulate economy create jobs treasury secretary opposed tax cuts basis contribute budget undermine disputes claim bush book openly disagreed planned tax cuts economy showed signs improvement job growth remained tax cut program passed year years grew average annual rate percent past business cycles bush entered office jones industrial average average peaked october bush left office average lowest levels presidency unemployment originally rose percent january percent june subsequently dropped percent july adjusted inflation median household income dropped professor noted median real tax household income went poverty rate increased percent percent peaking percent october increases spending national debt risen increase percent debt debt accumulated result known bush tax cuts increased national security spending march senator barack_obama said voted raising debt ceiling fact today debate raising america debt limit sign leadership failure end bush presidency unemployment climbed percent december united_states entered longest post world war recession included housing market correction mortgage crisis soaring oil prices declining dollar value february jobs lost year record aid situation bush signed billion economic package intended improve economic situation sending tax checks americans providing tax breaks struggling businesses bush administration pushed significantly increased regulation years regulations passed house died senate republican senators influential members feared agency created regulations merely mimicking private sector risky practices september crisis beginning government takeover followed collapse federal billion world governments determined situation worst financial crisis great depression additional regulation housing market beneficial according chairman bush proposed financial rescue plan buy large portion mortgage market economist said helped bush administration folks treasury currency look issues closely additionally helped congress held hearings november jobs lost marked largest loss jobs united_states years reported months million jobs lost end lost total million jobs education health bush undertook number educational priorities increasing funding years office creating education programs strengthen grounding science mathematics american high school students funding cut cut years rising inflation administration early major initiatives child left act aimed measure close gap rich poor student performance provide options parents students low performing schools target federal funding low income schools landmark education initiative passed broad support including senator massachusetts signed law bush early contend initiative successful cited fact students performed significantly better state reading math tests bush signed child left law critics argue focus high stakes testing outcomes elected bush signed law drug benefit program according resulted greatest expansion america welfare state years bill costs approached bush opposed vetoed legislation added democrats war funding bill passed congress legislation significantly expanded federally funded health care benefits plans children low income families million million children funded increase cigarette tax bush viewed legislation health care asserted program benefit families making year need help social services social security following republican efforts pass act bush signed bill included major changes program providing assistance paying drugs relying private insurance delivery benefits retired persons lobby group worked program gave endorsement bush said law estimated cost billion years elderly better choices control health care bush began second term outlining major initiative reform facing record deficit projections beginning bush centerpiece domestic agenda despite opposition congress state union address bush discussed potential impending bankruptcy program outlined new program included partial system personal accounts options permit americans divert portion tax secured investments democrats opposed proposal partially system bush embarked day national tour campaigning initiative media events known conversations social security attempt gain public support public support proposal declined house republican leadership decided reform priority list remainder legislative agenda proposal legislative prospects diminished political fallout hurricane katrina fall democrats gained control houses congress result elections prospect congressional action bush proposal remainder term office environmental policies taking office bush stated opposition protocol amendment seeks impose mandatory targets reducing greenhouse gas emissions citing treaty percent world population cost tens dollars year cited senate voted resolution expressing disapproval protocol bush signed executive order create inter agency task force energy projects later signed executive orders tackle environmental issues bush announced clear skies act aimed clean air act reduce air pollution use emissions trading programs experts argued legislation weakened original legislation allowing higher rates previously legal initiative introduced congress failed committee later bush declared northwestern hawaiian islands national monument creating largest marine reserve date comprises million acres km2 home species fish birds marine animals specific islands hailed leadership protecting incredible area bush said believes global warming real noted problem asserted debate man naturally caused stance global warming remained controversial scientific environmental communities critics alleged administration public reduce carbon emissions deter global warming energy policies state union address bush declared america addicted oil announced increase energy development research state union address bush renewed pledge work diminished reliance foreign oil reducing fossil fuel consumption increasing alternative fuel production amid high gasoline prices bush lifted ban offshore drilling largely symbolic federal law banning offshore drilling bush said means thing standing american people vast oil reserves action bush said june long run solution reduce demand oil promoting alternative energy technologies administration worked congress invest gas saving technologies like advanced batteries hydrogen fuel cells short run american economy continue rely largely oil means need increase supply especially home administration repeatedly called congress expand domestic oil production state union address bush announced commit billion years new international fund promote clean energy technologies fight climate change saying contributions countries fund increase accelerate deployment forms cleaner efficient technologies developing nations like india china help leverage substantial private sector capital making clean energy projects financially attractive announced plans commitment work major economies complete international agreement slow stop eventually reverse growth greenhouse gases stated agreement effective includes commitments major economy gives free ride stem cell research veto federal funding medical research involving creation destruction human embryos forbidden law passage amendment congress signature president bill_clinton bush said supports adult stem cell research supported federal legislation finances adult stem cell research bush support stem cell research august bush signed executive order lifting ban federal funding existing lines stem cells ability existing lines provide adequate medium testing questioned testing original lines approved lines contact mouse cells creates safety issues development approval lines july bush veto power time presidency veto bill repealed amendment permitting federal money research stem cells derived destruction embryo president signed law genetic information act bill aims protect americans discrimination based genetic information comes health insurance employment issue debated years law designed protect citizens genetic research immigration nearly million immigrants came united_states year period nation history half entered illegally bush urged congress allow million illegal immigrants work united_states creation temporary guest worker program bush urged congress provide additional funds border security committed deploying national_guard troops mexico united_states border june bush strongly supported comprehensive immigration reform act written group senators active participation bush administration bill envisioned program illegal immigrants eventual path citizenship establishing guest worker program series border work site enforcement measures reform green card application process introduction point based merit system green cards elimination chain migration diversity immigrant measures bush argued lack legal status denies laws millions people face dangers poverty exploitation employers despite demand immigrant labor bush contended proposed bill amnesty heated public debate followed resulted substantial rift republican_party conservatives opposed amnesty provisions bill eventually defeated senate june motion failed vote bush expressed disappointment defeat signature domestic initiatives bush administration later proposed series immigration enforcement measures require change law september israeli prime minister said bush offered accept palestinian refugees american citizens permanent settlement reached israel hurricane katrina hurricane katrina damaging natural disasters history struck early bush second term katrina formed late august atlantic hurricane season devastated north central gulf_coast united_states particularly new_orleans bush declared state emergency louisiana august mississippi alabama following day authorized manage disaster announcement failed spur agencies action eye hurricane landfall august new_orleans began flood later day bush declared major disaster existed louisiana officially authorizing start federal funds assist recovery effort august secretary declared incident national significance triggering use newly created national response plan days later september national_guard troops entered city new_orleans day bush toured parts louisiana mississippi alabama declared success recovery effort point disaster new_orleans intensified critics charged bush administration role saw flawed response leaders attacked bush having appointed apparently incompetent leaders positions power notably argued federal response limited result iraq war bush act warnings floods bush responded mounting criticism accepting responsibility federal government failures handling emergency argued katrina bush passed political point recover dismissal attorneys bush second term controversy arose dismissal seven united_states attorneys white_house maintained attorneys fired poor performance attorney general later resigned issue senior members issued advisers testify matter bush directed comply right executive privilege bush maintained advisers protected broad executive privilege protection receive advice determined president order legal congressional investigations focused white_house attorney positions political advantage official findings released march congress filed federal lawsuit enforce issued july united_states district court judge ruled bush advisers immune congressional officials resigned testify oath congress included attorney general chief staff liaison white_house aide president senior aide addition legal counsel president deputy chief staff president found contempt congress investigator concluded political considerations play attorney political criminal according prosecutors insufficient evidence pursue prosecution criminal offense foreign policy july bush visited pope presidential campaign bush foreign policy platform included support stronger economic political relationship latin_america especially mexico reduction involvement nation building small scale military engagements administration pursued national missile defense bush advocate china entry state bush referred axis evil including iraq iran north_korea september attacks new_york bush launched war terror united_states military small international coalition invaded afghanistan bush launched invasion iraq searching described war terrorism invasions led regime afghanistan removal power iraq bush began second term emphasis improving strained relations european nations appointed long time adviser oversee global public relations campaign bush lauded pro democracy struggles georgia ukraine march visit india led renewed ties countries reversing decades policy visit focused particularly areas nuclear energy counter terrorism cooperation discussions lead eventually india united states civil nuclear agreement stark contrast stance taken predecessor clinton approach response india nuclear tests sanctions relationship india united_states dramatically improved bush tenure midway bush second term questioned bush retreating freedom democracy agenda highlighted policy changes oil rich soviet central asia address september bush thanked nations world support following september attacks specifically thanked prime minister traveling washington unity purpose america said america friend great_britain september attacks september terrorist attacks major turning point bush presidency evening addressed nation oval office promising strong response attacks emphasized need nation come comfort families victims september visited meeting mayor firefighters police officers volunteers bush addressed gathering standing rubble applause hear rest world hears people knocked buildings hear soon september speech bush condemned organization issued ultimatum regime afghanistan operating hand terrorists share fate war terrorism september bush announced global war terror regime forthcoming bush ordered invasion afghanistan overthrow regime january state asserted axis evil consisting north_korea iran iraq threaten peace world pose grave growing danger asserted right intention wage war war basis bush doctrine weakened unprecedented levels international domestic support united_states followed september attacks dissent criticism bush leadership war terror increased war iraq continued concluded iraq war cause afghanistan invasion october british forces initiated bombing campaigns led arrival troops november main goals war defeat drive afghanistan capture key leaders december pentagon reported defeated cautioned war continue weakening leaders later month installed chaired based figures reported invasion afghanistan end saving million lives decade result improved healthcare greater access humanitarian aid efforts kill capture leader failed escaped battle december mountainous region bush administration later acknowledged resulted failure commit ground troops years bush left office killed forces successor remains large despite initial success driving power early new funds recruits failure showed returned appeared larger better organized expected large scale allied attaining limited success result bush commissioned additional troops country march iraq invasion beginning january state union address bush began publicly focusing attention iraq labeled axis evil allied terrorists posing grave growing danger interests possession weapons mass destruction half cia reports contained intent nuclear weapons programs properly accounting iraqi biological chemical weapons iraqi missiles range greater allowed sanctions manipulated exaggerated threat evidence iraq weapons mass destruction capabilities eventually major point criticism president late early bush urged united_nations enforce iraqi diplomatic crisis november led weapons iraq advised depart country days prior invasion despite requests time complete tasks initially sought resolution authorizing use military force dropped bid approval vigorous opposition countries nations notably united_kingdom designated coalition willing joined united_states invading iraq launched invasion march iraqi military quickly defeated capital baghdad fell april bush declared end major combat operations iraq initial success operations increased popularity allied forces faced growing led groups bush mission accomplished speech later criticized premature situation iraq deteriorated observers arguing scale civil war iraq bush policies met criticism including demands domestically set withdraw troops iraq report led concluded situation iraq grave deteriorating bush admitted strategic mistakes regards stability iraq maintained change overall iraq strategy january free democratic elections held iraq time years according greatest day history country bush praised event saying taken rightful control country destiny led election president prime minister iraq referendum approve constitution iraq held october supported january bush announced surge troops iraq job program reconstruction proposals billion programs bush second veto reject bill setting deadline withdrawal troops saying debate conflict insisting continued presence crucial march bush praised iraqi government bold decision launch calling defining moment history free iraq said carefully weigh recommendations commanding general ambassador proceed end military buildup summer praised legislative achievements including pension law revised law new budget amnesty law provincial powers measure said set stage iraqi elections july american troop deaths reached lowest number war began increased stability iraq bush announced withdrawal additional american forces surveillance following events september bush issued executive order authorizing president included allowing monitor communications suspected terrorists outside parties obtaining warrant required provisions program remained highly classified questioned original legal opinion apply time war program subsequently authorized president basis warrant requirements superseded subsequent passage authorization use military force terrorists program proved controversial critics administration organizations argued illegal august district court judge ruled electronic surveillance program unconstitutional july ruling vacated grounds lacked standing january attorney general informed leaders program president subjected judicial oversight later launched replacement program referred subject oversight program publicly revealed reports washington_post guardian emerged june interrogation policies bush authorized cia use enhanced interrogation techniques cia considered certain enhanced interrogation techniques legal based secret legal opinion arguing terror protected geneva conventions ban torture vice president said enhanced interrogation including torture illegal cia exercised technique certain key terrorist suspects authority given memo attorney general memo later withdrawn permitted assert harsh interrogation tactics unreliable information bush administration believed enhanced provided critical information preserve american lives critics cia officer stated information suspect confess torture bad october bush signed law military commissions act law enacted wake supreme_court decision allows government prosecute unlawful enemy combatants military commission standard trial law denies access corpus bars torture allows president determine constitutes torture march bush vetoed bill expanded congressional oversight intelligence community banned use forms interrogation permitted united_states_army field saying bill congress sent away valuable tools war terror april sued won release secret authorized bush administration interrogation tactics memo detailed specific interrogation tactics including described torture form cia far intense authorized north_korea condemnation bush publicly condemned north_korea naming north_korea states axis evil saying united_states_of_america permit world dangerous regimes threaten world destructive weapons months countries walked away respective commitments agreed framework october north_korea october nuclear device complicated bush foreign policy centered terms presidency preventing terrorists regimes seek chemical biological nuclear weapons threatening united_states world bush condemned north_korea position reaffirmed commitment nuclear free stated transfer nuclear weapons material north_korea states non state entities considered grave threat united_states north_korea held north_korea agreed shut nuclear immediately pending release frozen funds held foreign bank account result series way talks initiated united_states including china september north_korea agreed disclose nuclear programs end north_korea restarted nuclear program threatened attack south_korea june south_korea people north_korea suffered profoundly said adding communism resulted dire poverty mass starvation brutal suppression recent years went suffering compounded leader wasted north_korea precious resources personal nuclear weapons programs syria sanctions bush expanded economic sanctions syria early acting june executive order american bank accounts syria bush order prohibits americans business institutions suspected helping spread weapons mass destruction supportive terrorism separate executive orders signed bush later assets accusing activities undermine legitimate political process lebanon november designated included member lebanon parliament current leader member lebanon government minister environment prime minister colonel senior official cousin syrian president identified close adviser africa bush initiated president emergency plan aids relief program government spent billion project figure includes billion contributed fight aids tuberculosis malaria organization saving estimated million lives according new_york_times correspondent bush stop aids help africa president assassination attempt native georgian born family ethnic threw live hand grenade podium bush speaking freedom square georgia georgian president seated nearby landed crowd feet podium hitting girl detonate arrested july confessed convicted given life sentence january issues bush withdrew support international agreements including anti missile treaty russia signed strategic offensive reductions treaty russia bush emphasized careful approach conflict israel denounced leader support violence sponsored dialogues prime minister president bush supported plan lauded democratic elections held palestine death bush expressed support defense taiwan following stand april incident surveillance aircraft collided jet leading detention personnel bush authorized military intervention haiti protect interests bush condemned militia attacks denounced killings genocide bush said international presence critical opposed referring situation address january bush outlined year strategy global emergency aids relief president emergency plan aids relief bush announced billion effort directly supported life saving treatment million men women children worldwide june bush met prime minister president visit albania bush voiced support independence bush opposed independence august bush said russia invasion country georgia bullying intimidation acceptable ways conduct foreign policy 21st century bush opened winter olympics salt_lake_city departing previous practice stood group athletes ceremonial stand box saying behalf proud determined grateful nation declare open games salt_lake_city celebrating olympic winter games course good trip asia attended summer olympics beijing bush twice invoked section fifth amendment allows president temporarily transfer powers duties office vice president acting president june bush underwent chose section amendment making vice president acting president medical procedure began ended bush minutes later resume presidential powers duties president doctor conducted overall examination said recommended additional time sure effects july bush invoked section response having undergo making vice president acting president bush invoked section reclaimed powers cases bush specifically cited section transferred presidential powers vice president reclaimed powers judicial appointments supreme_court following announcement supreme_court justice retirement july bush nominated succeed september following death chief justice nomination withdrawn bush instead nominated roberts chief justice succeed roberts confirmed senate 17th chief justice september october bush nominated long time white house counsel connor position facing significant opposition parties found ill prepared law asked withdrawn october days later october bush nominated federal judge confirmed january courts addition supreme_court appointments bush appointed judges united_states courts appeals judges united_states district courts numbers total judicial appointments american history ronald_reagan bill_clinton bush experienced number judicial appointment controversies debate confirmation session lasted hours according new_york_times august senate consent existing nominations status quo returning judicial nominations total nominations outset magazine noted senate democrats approaching confirmation hearings set nominees sent senate cites new_york_times saying senate democrats pledged automatically vote confirm bush judicial nominees subject intense scrutiny senate confirmed judicial nominations october february democrats successfully nomination public image perception domestic image bush upbringing accent texas ranch penchant country metaphors contribute american cowboy image think people look think said editor suggested bush accent active choice way distinguishing northeastern intellectuals texas roots supporters detractors pointed country persona reasons support criticism bush parodied media politicians detractors tended cite linguistic errors bush public speeches colloquially referred labeled bush worst president contrast father perceived having troubles overarching theme bush embraced larger visions seen man larger ideas associated huge risks wrote caricature bush dumb bush smart interview playboy new_york_times columnist said points private public doesn want anybody think puts texas act job approval bush began presidency approval ratings near percent september attacks bush gained approval rating percent maintaining percent approval months attacks remained percent term fell low percent second term time magazine named title awarded editors believe influence events year reported percent republican electorate approved bush support waned minority republicans frustration issues spending illegal immigration middle eastern affairs united_states armed forces according survey president strongly supported presidential elections percent military personnel said vote bush percent preferred democratic rival according political scientist studied political military members armed services supported bush found likely complete war iraq bush approval rating went percent mark polling december approval ratings approval handling domestic foreign policy issues steadily dropped bush received heavy criticism handling iraq war response hurricane katrina prisoner abuse surveillance affair detention camp controversies calls bush polls showed americans support action arguments offered usually centered surveillance controversy bush administration justification war iraq alleged violations geneva conventions representative run bush presidential campaign introduced articles floor house_of_representatives bush june speaker declared table polls conducted showed average percent approval ratings bush lowest second term president point term march approval rating percent contributed bush called republican_party mid term elections bush approval rating mid average entire second term percent according beginning final year office bush approval rating dropped low percent largely loss support republicans commenting low poll numbers accusations worst president bush decisions think right united_states based principles frankly don damn polls spring year bush disapproval ratings reached highest recorded president year history poll percent polled april job bush president percent approving majority percent republicans approved job performance polls conducted fall election approval ratings remained record lows percent disapproval ratings ranged percent high percent polling conducted january final job approval rating percent placed par presidents final ratings measured low richard_nixon final approval rating lower percent according new_york_times poll conducted january bush final approval rating office percent lowest american history foreign perceptions bush criticized internationally targeted global anti war anti campaigns administration foreign policy views international community france close ally united_states negative previous american presidents history bush described having especially close personal relationships great_britain mexico formal relations strained leaders president president spanish prime minister president openly criticized president later bush presidency tensions arose led cooling relationship respondents countries surveyed world found hold unfavorable opinion bush respondents indicated judged administration negative world security reported bush presidency attitudes united_states americans favorable world march survey arab opinion conducted found bush disliked leader arab world poll found countries countries respondents express lot confidence confidence bush india israel kenya june visit predominantly muslim albania bush greeted enthusiastically albania population million troops iraq afghanistan country government highly supportive american foreign policy huge image president hung middle capital city flanked american flags local street named shirt statue bush unveiled kilometers northwest bush administration support independence majority endearing troubled relations serbia leading february embassy belgrade official state visit bush awarded order stars presented president places outside united_states bear bush voted street honor president previously known drive street links georgian capital airport city center bush visit months earlier street known situated directly outside renamed bush days visit american president albania june jerusalem small plaza monument bearing dedicated bush president awarded bush order cross work expanding nato criticism bush presidency ranked worst surveys presidential scholars published late 2000s 2010s election bush received increasingly heated criticism political spectrum handling iraq war hurricane katrina challenges amid criticism democratic_party regained control congress elections december united_states entered longest post world war recession referred great recession prompting bush administration obtain congressional passage multiple economic programs intended preserve country financial system nationally bush popular unpopular presidents history having received highest recorded presidential approval ratings wake september attacks lowest approval ratings financial crisis post presidency residence following inauguration barack_obama bush family flew homecoming celebration midland texas following returned ranch texas bought home preston hollow neighborhood dallas texas settled makes regular appearances events dallas area notably conducted opening coin toss dallas game team new stadium arlington april visit texas_rangers game thanked people dallas helping settle met standing ovation attended home playoff game texas_rangers season accompanied father threw ceremonial pitch arlington game world series october august bush successfully treated found annual medical examination reaction shooting dallas police officers bush stated acts violence city night murdering innocent evil lives taken belong protect families communities publications appearances leaving office bush kept relatively low profile public appearances notably release memoirs 10th anniversary september attacks march delivered post presidency speech calgary alberta appeared video report praised troops earning special place american history attended funeral senator bush debut speaker october motivated dallas aftermath fort hood shooting took place november texas bushes paid undisclosed visit survivors victims families day following shooting having contacted base commander requesting visit private involve press coverage bush released memoirs november pre release appearance promoting book bush said considered biggest accomplishment keeping country safe amid real danger greatest failure inability secure passage reform news defending administration enhanced interrogation techniques specifically saying save lives wrote foreword solution economic growth america needs economics book published presented book dallas texas bush appeared nbc tonight jay_leno november lady asked comment publicly obama administration bush said don think good country president criticize successor despite statement saturday april bush criticized president barack_obama meeting venetian hotel las_vegas bush criticized obama handling iran specifically respect sanctions nuclear deal saying think middle_east chaotic imagine looks like grandchildren americans view deal bush attacked obama withdrawal troops iraq calling strategic borrowing term south_carolina senator alongside united_states africa leaders summit bush hosted forum education health african leaders attending summit bush urged african leaders avoid laws treatment hiv aids difficult bush spoken favor increased global participation women politics societal matters foreign countries november bush spoke event business civic leaders george bush presidential library museum raise awareness upcoming washington published biography father called portrait father released november interview published magazine june bush said boots ground needed order defeat islamic state iraq levant isis added people said presidency withdraw american troops iraq chose opposite sending troops order defeat iraq iraq defeated bush asked iran declined answer stating answer gives interpreted president barack_obama bush declined endorse republican nominee didn attend republican national convention formally nominated eve nomination reported bush privately expressed concern current direction republican_party told group aides advisors worried republican president collaborations january president obama request bush bill_clinton established clinton bush haiti fund raise contributions relief recovery efforts following haiti earthquake earlier month president obama called bush restaurant wife inform killed bushes joined new_york_city mark tenth anniversary september terrorist attacks ground zero memorial bush read letter president abraham_lincoln wrote widow lost sons civil war visual art serving president bush began painting hobby subjects included dogs life painted self portraits portraits world leaders including paintings met reception art critics director called portraits painted high amateur mode wrote need based photographic reproduction tell taking found photograph making painting think advised work multiple photographic sources real person little bit going legacy legacy remains contested supporters credit bush policies preventing major terrorist attack occurring praise individual policies drug benefit aids relief program known critics point handling iraq war specifically failure find weapons mass destruction main rationale initial invasion handling tax policy hurricane katrina financial crisis proof unfit president historians commentators hold view bush presidents american history princeton_university scholar described bush presidency said people hate people love think substantive perception time goes huffington_post referred bush noteworthy president said patriot act increased authority executive branch expense judicial opinions searches reasonable evidence bush administration presided largest tax cuts reagan administration homeland security reforms proved significant expansion federal government policies endured administration bush democratic successor barack_obama public reputation improved somewhat presidency ended february reported americans rate worst presidents views positive years left office earlier noted bush ratings public opinion surveys begun rise year left office percent january percent march percent july period remained largely news noted similar trends slight improvement bush personal end presidency april bush approval rating stood percent approval percent disapproval poll jointly conducted washington_post abc highest approval rating december bush achieved notable gains seniors non college whites moderate conservative democrats leaving office disapproved handling economy percent iraq war percent percent approval rating equal president obama polling period cnn poll conducted month found percent americans said bush presidency failure percent republican calling success percent calling success nearly percent democrats calling failure president bush approval rating public seen improvement recent survey opinions historians political scientists presidential scholars conducted ranked 39th presidents survey respondents gave president bush low ratings handling economy communication ability compromise foreign policy accomplishments intelligence
George W. Bush