George W. Bush

George W. Bush, born on July 6, 1946, is an American politician best known for his term as the 43rd President of the United States of America. Bush, along with America’s founding fathers like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, and slavery abolitionist Abraham Lincoln, has become one of America’s most famous presidents because of his often controversial political and legislative views and decisions. From his days in the military to his current political activity, he’s a household name, even two decades after his presidency! Learn more about his life today on his birthday.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

George Walker Bush

Nickname:

43, Dubya, Bush 2.0

Birth date:

July 6, 1946

Age:

77

Zodiac Sign:

Cancer

Height:

6' 2.4"

Relationship Status:

Married

Net Worth:

$75 million

George's Social Media:

Background

George W. Bush is one of America’s most well-known presidents with a long political history and legacy. He has made numerous significant contributions to a wide range of America’s current legislation, particularly in terms of domestic and foreign policy. Bush was born on July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut. His zodiac sign is Cancer. He comes from a long line of politicians on his father’s side. His father, George H.W. Bush, was also an American president, and his paternal grandfather, Prescott Bush, was a Senator representing Connecticut. His family’s political career inspired him to pursue a political career of his own, but only after attending university, joining the military, and working in business.

Bush participated in baseball, rugby, and even cheerleading during his high school and university years. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Yale, an Ivy League university, in 1968. After attending Yale, he received his Master’s in Business Administration from another Ivy League university, Harvard, in 1975. He is the only American president in history who has earned an M.B.A. After graduating from Harvard, he joined the Texas National Air Guard. Six years later, in 1974, he left the Air Force Reserve in Montgomery, Alabama. He then joined the world of business for nearly two decades, first establishing an oil exploration company and then managing the Texas Rangers baseball franchise.

In the 1980s, he entered the world of politics, assisting his father with Bush Snr.’s presidential campaign and then again with his father’s re-election campaign in the early 1990s. In the mid-1990s, he tried his hand at politics, and in 1995, he was elected governor of Texas. He held this position until he was elected President of the United States in 2000. During his first term as president, he responded to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre (also known as the Twin Towers) on September 11, 2001, by implementing a much more authoritative foreign policy that ignited the ‘war on terrorism.’ His policies drew mixed reactions, but he was re-elected for a second term in 2004. He left the White House at the end of his second term in 2009 after Democrat nominee Barack Obama won the presidential election against Senator John McCain. Since then, he has been involved with both domestic and foreign affairs but has maintained a relatively low profile.

Career timeline

1968
The Former President Joins the Military

Bush enters the National Texas Air Guard.

1968
Bush Completes His Undergraduate Degree

He receives his undergraduate degree majoring in History.

1974
He Leaves the Military

Bush is honorably discharged from the Air Force Reserve.

1975
He Receives His Master’s Degree

Bush earns his M.B.A.

1977
Bush Establishes an Oil Exploration Company

He establishes Arbusto Energy.

1995
He Is Elected as Texas Governor

Bush wins against Democrat Ann Richards.

2000
Bush is Elected as President

He wins against his Democrat opponent Al Gore.

2004
He Wins His Re-election Campaign

Bush wins against Democrat John Kerry.

Why We Love George W. Bush

  1. He supports humanitarian H.I.V./A.I.D.S. treatment

    Backed by Michelle Obama and the George W. Bush Institute, Bush urged leaders of African nations at the United States-Africa Leaders Summit to make treatment for H.I.V./A.I.D.S. accessible to their citizens. He encouraged them not to make laws that would make it difficult for patients to seek treatment.

  2. He’s a philanthropist

    In 2010, Bush collaborated with former President Bill Clinton to establish the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund to raise money for relief efforts for victims of the earthquake that happened that year. In 2017, he partnered with several former presidents to collaborate with the One America Appeal organization to aid relief efforts for victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in Texas and the Gulf Coast.

  3. He’s dedicated to upholding American democracy

    In January 2021, the former president denounced anti-democratic sentiments and the actions of fringe political supporters. He urged American citizens to uphold democracy and democratic ideals during former President Donald J. Trump’s call for a recount of the 2020 vote.

5 Surprising Facts

  1. He lost the popular vote

    Bush’s opponent, Al Gore, actually won the popular vote in the 2000 presidential election, but Bush won the Electoral College vote.

  2. He’s an accomplished painter

    Bush enjoys painting portraits, particularly of people and dogs, as well as still-life images.

  3. Inspired Green Day’s album “American Idiot”

    The three-piece rock band wrote the 2004 album based on the events of 9/11 and Bush’s invasion of Iraq.

  4. Bush has been blamed for orchestrating 9/11

    Many conspiracy theorists believe that the C.I.A. planned the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers on Bush’s orders.

  5. A shoe was thrown at him

    A journalist from Iraq threw his shoe at Bush during a press conference in 2008, narrowly missing the then-president.

George W. Bush FAQs

Is Bush’s father still alive?

No, Bush Sr. died in 2018 due to complications from vascular Parkinson’s disease.

What did Bush do in the military?

The former president was a pilot for the Texas National Air Guard during his twenties.

Who was Bush’s election opponent?

Bush ran and won against Democratic Party incumbent Al Gore in 2000.

George W. Bush’s birthday dates

YearDateDay
2024July 6Saturday
2025July 6Sunday
2026July 6Monday
2027July 6Tuesday
2028July 6Thursday

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.