Challenges Faced by George W. Bush: Obstacles and Turning Points

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped George W. Bush's life and career.

George W. Bush served as the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009. Prior to his presidency, he was the 46th Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000. As president, he launched the War on Terror in response to the September 11 attacks, leading to military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Domestically, he enacted education reform legislation known as No Child Left Behind, as well as tax cuts and reforms to Medicare. His presidency was marked by significant events including Hurricane Katrina and the financial crisis of 2008.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1972: Suspension from Flying

In 1972, George W. Bush was suspended from flying for failure to take a scheduled physical exam.

September 4, 1976: Arrest for Driving Under the Influence

On September 4, 1976, George W. Bush was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Kennebunkport, Maine.

1978: Run for U.S. House of Representatives

In 1978, George W. Bush ran for the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 19th congressional district but lost the election to Kent Hance.

February 7, 2001: Shooting near the White House

On February 7, 2001, Robert W. Pickett fired shots from a Taurus .38 Special revolver outside the White House. He was apprehended by a Secret Service agent and charged. He eventually pleaded guilty to firearms violations and assaulting a federal officer, receiving a three-year sentence at the Federal Medical Center, Rochester, followed by three years of probation.

September 11, 2001: September 11 Terrorist Attacks

On September 11, 2001, the terrorist attacks reshaped the Bush administration, leading to the war on terror and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

2001: Opposition to Kyoto Protocol

In 2001, George W. Bush stated his opposition to the Kyoto Protocol, citing that the treaty exempted 80 percent of the world's population and would have cost tens of billions of dollars per year.

2001: Bush's Tax Cut Plan

In 2001, President Bush proposed a $1.35 trillion tax cut program, citing that government surplus was the people's money. Despite warnings from Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan about a potential recession, Bush argued the tax cut would stimulate the economy. Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill expressed concerns about the tax cuts contributing to budget deficits and undermining Social Security.

November 2002: UN Weapons Inspectors in Iraq

In November 2002, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei led UN weapons inspectors in Iraq, but were advised by the U.S. to depart the country four days prior to the U.S. invasion.

March 20, 2003: Invasion of Iraq

On March 20, 2003, the United States, along with a coalition of nations, initiated the invasion of Iraq.

2003: Initiation of President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and Invasion of Iraq

In 2003, George W. Bush initiated the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and ordered the invasion of Iraq.

2003: Clear Skies Act Fails in Congress

In 2003, the Clear Skies Act failed to make it out of committee in Congress.

December 2004: Approval rating dips below 50 percent

In December 2004, President Bush's approval rating dipped below 50 percent in AP-Ipsos polling, and his approval of handling domestic and foreign policy issues steadily declined afterward.

2004: Deterioration of the situation in Iraq

From 2004 until 2007, the situation in Iraq deteriorated further, with some observers arguing that there was a full-scale civil war in Iraq.

2004: Bush's Re-election Campaign

In 2004, George W. Bush sought re-election, supported by the Republican Party. Key figures like Ken Mehlman and Karl Rove managed the campaign. The platform focused on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the USA PATRIOT Act, abortion and same-sex marriage amendments, Social Security reform, an ownership society, and opposition to mandatory carbon emissions controls. A guest worker program for immigrants was also proposed.

May 10, 2005: Hand grenade thrown at President Bush during speech

On May 10, 2005, while President Bush was giving a speech in Freedom Square, Vladimir Arutyunian threw a live Soviet-made RGD-5 hand grenade toward the podium. The grenade landed in the crowd about 61 feet from the podium but did not detonate because it was wrapped tightly in a red tartan handkerchief.

July 2005: Arutyunian arrested for grenade attack

In July 2005, Vladimir Arutyunian was arrested for throwing a live grenade at President Bush on May 10, 2005. During the arrest, Arutyunian killed an Interior Ministry agent.

2005: Hurricane Katrina strikes the Gulf Coast

Hurricane Katrina struck early in George W. Bush's second term and was one of the most damaging natural disasters in U.S. history in 2005. Katrina devastated much of the north-central Gulf Coast of the United States, particularly New Orleans.

2005: Campaigning for Social Security Reform

In 2005, George W. Bush embarked on a 60-day national tour, campaigning for his initiative in media events known as "Conversations on Social Security" in an attempt to gain public support, but public support declined. House Republican leadership decided to drop Social Security reform as a priority, further diminished by fallout from Hurricane Katrina.

2005: Social Security Reform Initiative

In 2005, President Bush outlined a major initiative to reform Social Security, proposing partial privatization, personal Social Security accounts, and options for Americans to divert a portion of their Social Security tax into secured investments. This proposal faced opposition from Democrats.

January 2006: Arutyunian convicted and sentenced to life

In January 2006, Vladimir Arutyunian was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for throwing a live grenade at President Bush on May 10, 2005, and for killing an Interior Ministry agent during his arrest in July 2005.

July 19, 2006: Bush vetoes the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act

On July 19, 2006, George W. Bush used his veto power for the first time in his presidency to veto the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.

August 2006: NSA Surveillance Program Ruled Unconstitutional

In August 2006, a U.S. district court judge ruled that the NSA electronic surveillance program was unconstitutional.

October 9, 2006: North Korea Nuclear Test

On October 9, 2006, North Korea detonated a nuclear device, complicating Bush's foreign policy.

October 17, 2006: Military Commissions Act Signed

On October 17, 2006, President Bush signed the Military Commissions Act of 2006 into law, allowing the U.S. government to prosecute unlawful enemy combatants by military commission.

2006: Funding Cut for NIH

In 2006, funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was cut due to rising inflation, marking the first such cut in 36 years.

2006: Unfavorable Opinion of Bush in Most Countries Surveyed

In 2006, most respondents in 18 of 21 countries surveyed around the world were found to hold an unfavorable opinion of President Bush, judging his administration as negative for world security.

2006: Democratic Party Regains Control of Congress

In 2006, the Democratic Party regained control of Congress in the midterm elections. Polls that same year showed an average of 37 percent approval ratings for Bush.

2006: Iraq Study Group Report

In 2006, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, led by James Baker, issued a report concluding that the situation in Iraq was "grave and deteriorating".

January 10, 2007: Troop Surge in Iraq

On January 10, 2007, President Bush announced a surge of 21,500 more troops for Iraq, along with job programs and reconstruction proposals.

January 2007: Troop Surge in Iraq

In January 2007, George W. Bush launched a surge of troops in Iraq.

January 17, 2007: End of Surveillance Program

On January 17, 2007, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales informed U.S. Senate leaders that the President's Surveillance Program would not be reauthorized.

March 2007: Bush Most Disliked World Leader in Arab Nations

A March 2007 survey of public opinion in six Arab nations conducted by Zogby International and the University of Maryland found that President Bush was the most disliked world leader.

May 1, 2007: Veto of Troop Withdrawal Bill

On May 1, 2007, President Bush vetoed a bill setting a deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

June 28, 2007: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 defeated in the Senate

On June 28, 2007, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 was defeated in the Senate when a cloture motion failed on a 46–53 vote.

July 6, 2007: Surveillance Program Ruling Vacated

On July 6, 2007, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit vacated the ruling that the NSA electronic surveillance program was unconstitutional.

December 2007: The US Enters Recession

In December 2007, the United States entered the longest post–World War II recession.

2007: Financial Crisis and Low Approval Ratings

During 2007, George W. Bush faced one of the lowest approval ratings during the financial crisis.

2007: Deterioration of the situation in Iraq

From 2004 until 2007, the situation in Iraq deteriorated further, with some observers arguing that there was a full-scale civil war in Iraq.

2007: Veto of State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Legislation

In 2007, President Bush vetoed State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) legislation, which was added by the Democrats onto a war funding bill and passed by Congress. Bush viewed the legislation as a move toward socialized health care.

2007: Economic Recession

In 2007, the United States entered its longest post-World War II recession, impacting Bush's presidency.

2007: Approval Ratings Hover in Mid-Thirties

Throughout most of 2007, President Bush's approval rating hovered in the mid-thirties, with an average approval rating for his entire second term at 37 percent, according to Gallup.

February 2008: 63,000 Jobs Lost

In February 2008, 63,000 jobs were lost, a five-year record.

February 2008: Torching of the U.S. embassy in Belgrade

The Bush administration's support for Kosovo's declaration of independence troubled U.S. relations with Serbia, leading to the torching of the U.S. embassy in Belgrade in February 2008.

March 8, 2008: Veto of Intelligence Oversight Bill

On March 8, 2008, President Bush vetoed H.R. 2082, a bill that would have expanded congressional oversight over the intelligence community and banned the use of waterboarding.

April 2008: Disapproval Ratings Reach Record High

In April 2008, President Bush's disapproval ratings reached the highest ever recorded for any president in the 70-year history of the Gallup poll, with 69 percent of those polled disapproving of his job performance.

June 9, 2008: Impeachment Articles Introduced

On June 9, 2008, Representative Dennis Kucinich introduced 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush on the floor of the House of Representatives, focusing on the NSA warrantless surveillance controversy, the justification for the war in Iraq, and alleged violations of the Geneva Conventions.

June 2008: Bush urges Congress to expand domestic oil production

In June 2008, George W. Bush stated that the solution to high oil demand is to reduce demand for oil by promoting alternative energy technologies. He also urged Congress to expand domestic oil production during June 2008.

September 2008: Financial Crisis Intensifies

In September 2008, the financial crisis escalated with the government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the collapse of Lehman Brothers, and an $85 billion federal bailout of American International Group (AIG).

December 14, 2008: Shoe-throwing incident in Baghdad

On December 14, 2008, during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi threw both of his shoes at President Bush. Bush was unharmed, but White House press secretary Dana Perino was bruised. Al-Zaidi was sentenced to a year in prison.

December 2008: Shoe-Throwing Incident in Iraq

During President Bush's last visit to Iraq in December 2008, Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi threw both of his shoes at him during a press conference.

2008: Bush's approval rating drops to 19 percent

By the beginning of 2008, President Bush's final year in office, his approval rating dropped to a low of just 19 percent, largely from the loss of support among Republicans.

2008: Financial Crisis Deepens

In 2008, the financial crisis deepened, further impacting George W. Bush's presidency.

2008: Approval Ratings Remain at Record Lows Before Election

In polls conducted in the fall just before the 2008 election, President Bush's approval ratings remained at record lows, ranging from 19 to 20 percent, while his disapproval ratings ranged from 67 percent to as high as 75 percent.

2009: Final Approval Rating

In polling conducted January 9–11, 2009, President Bush's final job approval rating by Gallup was 34 percent, which placed him on par with Jimmy Carter and Harry S. Truman.

March 2010: Report on False Pretenses

In March 2010, the Center for Public Integrity released a report stating that President Bush's administration had made more than 900 false pretenses in a two-year period about the alleged threat of Iraq against the United States.