The 41st U.S. President

on


George H.W. Bush

Born: June 12, 1924

Died: November 30, 2018

Term in Office: 1989-1993

My opinion of George Bush (Bush One) was largely unfavorable when he was in office... He was a wealthy oil man, once head of the CIA, the "read my lips... no new taxes" guy. But after his presidency, his work on humanitarian issues, often in partnership with his one-time rival for the office, Bill Clinton, showed him to maybe be a pretty decent human being, his political leanings aside. 

I had forgotten some of the events of his presidency, but in researching them I found some items that you would not associate with a conservative Republican. (Well, yeah, there's the invasion of Panama and the response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, which set up the Persian Gulf War/Desert Storm and a subsequent President's obsession with Saddam Hussein.)

Here are some things, that if you didn't know they occurred on this Bush's watch, you'd think happened under a liberal's time in office:

  • A ban on the importation of semi-automatic guns
  • A 1990 arms reduction agreement with the Soviet Union
  • New taxes proposed (which must've hurt him to propose, after his "read my lips" declaration during his campaign)
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act
  • The Clean Air Act of 1990
  • The Immigration Act of 1990, allowing 700,000 immigrants a year into the country
  • The 1991 Civil Rights Act (which followed his veto of the 1990 Civil Rights Act)
  • A Nuclear Arms Reduction Agreement with the Soviet Union in 1992

Definitely not items you would see coming from a Republican in, say, 2016-2020. (Found at www.millercenter.org, thank you)

But let's get to a list of what the Daily Signal calls "Fun Facts"...

  • In 1943 Bush was the youngest Navy pilot at the time, flying 58 missions during WWII.
  • The "First Dog" Millie, a Springer Spaniel, has been referred to as "the most famous dog in White House history."
  • Bush didn't like broccoli and banned its serving on Air Force One.
  • in 2013 he shaved his head in honor of the son of one of his Secret Service agents, who had leukemia.
  • Starting at the age of 75 he celebrated his birthday by skydiving and did so every fifth birthday, making his fourth jump when he turned 90.

Thanks to this Daily Signal page for these last bits of info (the "Fun Facts").

 

Peace to all, and please pass the broccoli and mayo.

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