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George Herbert Walker Bush 41st President of the United States of America George Herbert Walker Bush was our nation’s 41st President of the United States. Like many of our past leaders, he was no rookie to the political life. Prior to his term as president, Bush had previously held offices as: Vice President for two terms, House of Representatives for two terms, U.S. delegate to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Envoy to China, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (Young, 1). He was a self motivated, courageous man that worked his way into the hearts of Americans. George Bush was born in Milton, Mass., on June 12, 1924 to Dorothy Walker Bush and Prescott Bush. His father, Prescott Bush, was the Republican senator from Connecticut from 1952-1963 (Young, 2). George Bush grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, with is sister and three brothers. On his 18th birthday, he graduated from Phillips Academy, June 12, 1942. Eager to serve his country, Bush enlisted on that same day to the U.S. Navy (Bushlibrary, 1). President Bush received his wings and commission in June 1943 while he was still 18 years old. For a time, he was the navy’s youngest pilot. During his service, he flew torpedo bombers off the USS San Jacinto. On September 2, 1944, his aircraft was hit forcing him to make an emergency landing into the sea. He was the sole survivor of a crew of three, and he was later picked up by a U.S. submarine. For his bravery and honorable acts, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals (Bushlibrary, 1). In an interview, Mr. Bush described the experience of being shot down as the major experience that shaped his life (Interview, 1). After his great success in World War II, George Bush was off to start a family of his own and continue his education. (See attached transcript for Naval Services). In January of 1945, he married Barbara Pierce. Together they had six children: George, Robin (who died as a child from leukemia), John (Jeb), Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy (Whitehouse, 1). In addition to his new family, George also graduated from Yale in only three years as a Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in economics. While he was attending Yale, he found the time to be captain of the baseball team and a member of the Skull and Bones—exclusive secret society (Young, 2).
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