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 U.S. President (2001-2009). A Republican and son of President George H.W. Bush, he previously served as the 46th Governor of Texas (1995-2000). His presidency was largely defined by the September 11th terrorist attacks, leading to the launch of the War on Terror, including military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Domestically, he enacted education reform through the No Child Left Behind Act, as well as tax cuts and expansion of Medicare. His administration faced criticism for its handling of Hurricane Katrina and the financial crisis of 2008.
1935: George Mahon Held the District for the Democratic Party
In 1935, George Mahon held the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 19th congressional district for the Democratic Party.
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 DUI
On September 4, 1976, George W. Bush was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol 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.
1991: Gulf War
The continued presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia after the 1991 Gulf War was one of the stated motivations behind the September 11 attacks.
2000: Increased Immigration to the U.S.
From 2000 to 2005, nearly eight million immigrants came to the U.S., marking the highest immigration rate in a five-year period in the nation's history.
2000: Elected President of the United States
In 2000, George W. Bush won the presidential election against Al Gore after a contested Electoral College win.
2000: Fiscal Year 2000 Surplus
In fiscal year 2000, the U.S. experienced a $237 billion surplus, marking the third consecutive surplus and the largest ever recorded.
February 7, 2001: Shooting Incident Near the White House
On February 7, 2001, Robert W. Pickett discharged a number of shots from a revolver "in the general direction" of the White House while Bush was in the residence area.
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.
October 7, 2001: Start of Bombing Campaigns in Afghanistan
On October 7, 2001, U.S. and British forces initiated bombing campaigns in Afghanistan, leading to the arrival of Northern Alliance troops in Kabul on November 13, with the goal of defeating the Taliban and driving al-Qaeda out of Afghanistan.
December 2001: Osama bin Laden Escapes at Tora Bora
In December 2001, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden escaped a battle in the mountainous region of Tora Bora, which the Bush Administration later acknowledged to have resulted from a failure to commit enough U.S. ground troops.
December 2001: Taliban Defeat Reported
In December 2001, the Pentagon reported that the Taliban had been defeated in Afghanistan, but cautioned that the war would continue to weaken Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders. The UN had installed the Afghan Transitional Administration chaired by Hamid Karzai.
2001: Bush's Tax Cut Program in 2001
In 2001, George W. Bush proposed a $1.35 trillion tax cut program, arguing that the surplus was the people's money and should be returned to taxpayers. Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan warned of a recession.
2001: Opposition to Kyoto Protocol in 2001
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.
January 29, 2002: State of the Union Address: Axis of Evil
In his January 29, 2002 State of the Union Address, George W. Bush asserted that an "axis of evil" consisting of North Korea, Iran, and Ba'athist Iraq was "arming to threaten the peace of the world", which became the basis for the Bush Doctrine.
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.
2002: CIA's consideration of Enhanced Interrogation Techniques
Between 2002 and 2003, the CIA considered certain enhanced interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, to be legal based on secret Justice Department legal opinions arguing that terror detainees were not protected by the Geneva Conventions' ban on torture
2002: Clear Skies Act Proposed in 2002
In 2002, George W. Bush proposed the Clear Skies Act, which aimed at amending the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution through emissions trading programs.
March 20, 2003: Invasion of Iraq Launched
On March 20, 2003, the "coalition of the willing", led by the United States, launched the invasion of Iraq.
April 9, 2003: Fall of Baghdad
On April 9, 2003, Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, fell to U.S. forces.
2003: CIA's consideration of Enhanced Interrogation Techniques
Between 2002 and 2003, the CIA considered certain enhanced interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, to be legal based on secret Justice Department legal opinions arguing that terror detainees were not protected by the Geneva Conventions' ban on torture
2003: Taliban Regrouping
By early 2003, the Taliban was regrouping in Afghanistan, amassing new funds and recruits, despite initial success in driving them from power.
2003: Military Intervention in Haiti
From 2003 to 2004, George W. Bush authorized U.S. military intervention in Haiti and Liberia to protect U.S. interests.
2003: Push for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Regulations in 2003
In 2003, the Bush administration pushed for increased regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but the regulations failed in the Senate after passing the House.
2003: Clear Skies Act Fails in 2003
In 2003, the Clear Skies Act failed to make it out of committee in Congress.
2003: Diplomatic Crisis and Iraq War
In late 2002 and early 2003, George W. Bush urged the United Nations to enforce Iraqi disarmament mandates, precipitating a diplomatic crisis and leading to the U.S. invasion of Iraq without UN approval. The Bush administration's claim that the Iraq War was part of the War on Terror had been questioned.
December 2004: Approval Rating Dips Below 50%
In December 2004, President Bush's approval rating fell below 50 percent in AP-Ipsos polling, signaling a decline in public support.
2004: Military Intervention in Liberia
From 2003 to 2004, George W. Bush authorized U.S. military intervention in Haiti and Liberia to protect U.S. interests.
2004: Deterioration of the Situation in Iraq
From 2004, the situation in Iraq deteriorated further, with some observers arguing that there was a full-scale civil war in Iraq.
2004: 2004 Re-election Campaign
In 2004, George W. Bush ran for re-election with broad Republican support, emphasizing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the USA PATRIOT Act, constitutional amendments against abortion and same-sex marriage, Social Security reform, and opposition to mandatory carbon emissions controls. He also proposed a guest worker program for immigrants.
2004: CIA Director Nomination and Purge
In 2004, following George Tenet's resignation, George W. Bush nominated Porter Goss as CIA director and ordered a purge of officers deemed disloyal, leading to the dismissal or resignation of many senior agents. The CIA was later accused of leaking classified information to undermine the 2004 election.
May 10, 2005: Hand Grenade Thrown at President Bush
On May 10, 2005, during a speech in Freedom Square, a live Soviet-made RGD-5 hand grenade was thrown towards President Bush, landing about 61 feet from the podium. It failed to detonate due to a handkerchief wrapped around it.
July 2005: Arutyunian Arrested
In July 2005, Vladimir Arutyunian, who threw the grenade at President Bush in May, was arrested. During the arrest, he killed an Interior Ministry agent.
2005: Increased Immigration to the U.S.
From 2000 to 2005, nearly eight million immigrants came to the U.S., marking the highest immigration rate in a five-year period in the nation's history.
2005: Campaigning for Social Security Reform in 2005
In 2005, George W. Bush embarked on a national tour to campaign for his Social Security reform initiative, but public support declined due to political fallout from Hurricane Katrina.
2005: Social Security Reform Initiative in 2005
In 2005, George W. Bush outlined a major initiative to reform Social Security, including partial privatization and personal Social Security accounts, despite opposition from Congress.
2005: Hurricane Katrina
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina, one of the most damaging natural disasters in U.S. history, devastated much of the north-central Gulf Coast of the United States, particularly New Orleans.
2005: Operation Red Wings Failure
In 2005, the failure of Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan demonstrated that the Taliban had returned.
January 2006: Arutyunian Convicted
In January 2006, Vladimir Arutyunian was convicted and given a life sentence for attempting to assassinate President Bush and killing an Interior Ministry agent.
March 2006: Obama's Criticism of Debt Ceiling in March 2006
In March 2006, then-Senator Barack Obama criticized raising America's debt limit as a sign of leadership failure.
August 2006: Ruling Against NSA Surveillance Program
In August 2006, a U.S. district court judge ruled that the NSA electronic surveillance program was unconstitutional.
October 9, 2006: North Korea's Nuclear Detonation
On October 9, 2006, North Korea's detonation of a nuclear device further complicated Bush's foreign policy.
2006: Call for Temporary Guest-Worker Program
In 2006, George W. Bush urged Congress to allow over twelve million illegal immigrants to work in the U.S. through a "temporary guest-worker program," while also seeking funds for border security and deploying National Guard troops.
2006: Democrats Regain Control of Congress
In 2006, amid Bush's unpopularity, the Democrats regained control of Congress.
2006: Funding Cut for NIH in 2006
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 Worldwide
In 2006, surveys found that most respondents in 18 of 21 countries held an unfavorable opinion of President Bush, judging his administration as negative for world security.
2006: Taliban Insurgency
In 2006, the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan appeared larger, fiercer, and better organized than expected, leading to large-scale allied offensives with limited success.
2006: Iraq Study Group Report
In 2006, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, led by James Baker, concluded that the situation in Iraq was "grave and deteriorating".
January 10, 2007: Troop Surge and Aid Package for Iraq
On January 10, 2007, Bush launched a surge of 21,500 more troops for Iraq, as well as a job program for Iraqis, more reconstruction proposals, and $1.2 billion for these programs.
March 2007: Bush Most Disliked World Leader
A March 2007 survey of public opinion in six Arab nations found that President Bush was the most disliked world leader.
March 2007: Additional Troops to Afghanistan
In March 2007, George W. Bush commissioned 3,500 additional troops to Afghanistan due to the unexpectedly large and fierce Taliban insurgency.
May 1, 2007: Veto of Troop Withdrawal Deadline Bill
On May 1, 2007, Bush used his second-ever veto to reject a bill setting a deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
June 2007: Support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act
From May to June 2007, George W. Bush strongly supported the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, envisioning a legalization program, guest worker program, and enhanced border enforcement.
June 28, 2007: Defeat of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act
On June 28, 2007, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act was defeated in the Senate, causing a rift within the Republican Party and leading George W. Bush to express disappointment over the failure of one of his key domestic initiatives.
December 2007: Start of the Great Recession in December 2007
In December 2007, the United States entered the longest post–World War II recession, due to a housing market correction, a subprime mortgage crisis, soaring oil prices, and other factors.
2007: Continued deterioration of the situation in Iraq
By 2007, the situation in Iraq continued to deteriorate, with some observers arguing that there was a full-scale civil war in Iraq.
2007: Financial Crisis and Low Approval Ratings
In 2007, George W. Bush faced one of his lowest approval ratings during the financial crisis.
2007: Veto of State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 2007
In 2007, George W. Bush vetoed the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) legislation, which would have expanded federally funded healthcare benefits to children of low-income families, viewing it as a move toward socialized health care.
2007: Economic Recession in 2007
In 2007, the United States entered the longest post-World War II recession during George W. Bush's presidency, amidst debates over immigration, healthcare, Social Security, economic policy, and treatment of terrorist detainees. Approval ratings declined, while disapproval numbers increased.
2007: State of the Union Address: Foreign Oil Reduction Pledge
In his 2007 State of the Union Address, George W. Bush renewed his pledge to work toward diminished reliance on foreign oil by reducing fossil fuel consumption and increasing alternative fuel production.
2007: Approval Rating Hovering in the Mid-Thirties
Throughout most of 2007, President Bush's approval rating hovered in the mid-thirties, and contributed to negative sentiment for Bush.
February 2008: Job Losses in February 2008
In February 2008, 63,000 jobs were lost, a five-year record, during the economic recession.
March 10, 2008: Congress Files Lawsuit Over Subpoenas
On March 10, 2008, the Congress filed a federal lawsuit to enforce their issued subpoenas related to the U.S. Attorney firings.
April 2008: Disapproval Ratings Reach Record High
In April 2008, President Bush's disapproval ratings reached the highest ever recorded in the history of the Gallup poll, with 69 percent disapproving of his job performance.
June 9, 2008: Articles of Impeachment Introduced
On June 9, 2008, Representative Dennis Kucinich introduced 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush on the floor of the House of Representatives.
June 2008: Lifting of Offshore Drilling Ban
In June 2008, amid high gasoline prices, George W. Bush lifted a ban on offshore drilling, emphasizing the need for congressional action to access vast oil reserves and promoting alternative energy technologies as a long-term solution.
July 31, 2008: Court Ruling on Congressional Subpoenas
On July 31, 2008, a United States district court judge ruled that George W. Bush's top advisers were not immune from Congressional subpoenas.
September 2008: September 2008 Financial Crisis
In September 2008, the financial crisis became more serious with the government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the collapse of Lehman Brothers, and a federal bailout of AIG for $85 billion.
October 2008: National Debt Rises to $11.3 Trillion in October 2008
By October 2008, the national debt had risen to $11.3 trillion, more than doubling it since 2000.
December 14, 2008: Shoe-Throwing Incident in Baghdad
On December 14, 2008, while in Baghdad, an Iraqi journalist, Muntadhar al-Zaidi, threw both of his shoes at President Bush during a press conference. Bush was not injured, but Dana Perino was bruised.
December 2008: Shoe-Throwing Incident in Iraq
During Bush's last visit to Iraq in December 2008, Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi threw both of his shoes at him during an official press conference.
2008: Approval Rating Drops to 19%
By the beginning of 2008, President Bush's approval rating had dropped to a low of just 19 percent, largely from the loss of support among Republicans.
2008: Bush's Legacy and the 2008 Financial Crisis
George W. Bush's handling of the 2008 financial crisis is seen by critics as proof that he was unfit to be president.
2008: Financial Crisis and Low Approval Ratings
In 2008, George W. Bush faced one of his lowest approval ratings during the financial crisis.
2008: Support for Ukraine and Georgia's NATO Admission
In early 2008, George W. Bush vowed full support for admitting Ukraine and Georgia into NATO, and during the 2008 Russo-Georgian diplomatic crisis, he condemned Russia for recognizing the separatist government of South Ossetia and for invading Georgia.
January 2009: Bush's Favorability Rating
In January 2009, Gallup reported Bush's favorability rating at 40 percent as he left office, marking a low point in public opinion at the end of his presidency.
March 2009: Bush's Favorability Rating
In March 2009, Gallup reported Bush's favorability rating at 35 percent, marking a low point in public opinion shortly after he left office.
May 2009: North Korea Restarts Nuclear Program
By May 2009, North Korea had restarted its nuclear program and threatened to attack South Korea.
2009: Final Approval Rating
In January 2009, at the end of his presidency, George W. Bush had one of the lowest approval ratings of any president in American history.
July 2010: Bush's Favorability Rating Increases
In July 2010, Gallup noted that Bush's favorability rating had risen to 45 percent, a year after he left office. This indicated an initial improvement in public perception as he remained largely out of the news.
2010: Historians Rank Bush Low in Survey
In 2010, a Siena Research Institute survey of historians, political scientists, and presidential scholars ranked George W. Bush 39th out of 43 presidents. Survey respondents gave Bush low ratings in areas like economics, communication, compromise, foreign policy, and intelligence.
February 2012: Gallup Poll on Bush's Reputation
In February 2012, a Gallup poll indicated that "Americans still rate George W. Bush among the worst presidents," although their views had become more positive since he left office. This marked a shift in public perception, though still largely negative.
April 2013: Bush's Approval Rating
In April 2013, a poll conducted for The Washington Post and ABC indicated that Bush's approval rating stood at 47 percent approval and 50 percent disapproval, his highest approval rating since December 2005.
June 12, 2015: Bush discusses ISIS and troop deployment in Iraq
On June 12, 2015, George W. Bush stated that "boots on the ground" were needed to defeat ISIS. He also defended his decision to increase troop deployment in Iraq to defeat Al Qaeda, rather than withdrawing them as some suggested.
2016: Bush Campaigns for Jeb, Expresses Concern Over Republican Party's Direction
In 2016, George W. Bush campaigned for his brother Jeb during the Republican primaries. After Donald Trump won the nomination, Bush expressed concern about the Republican Party's direction and did not endorse Trump, and left his ballot blank during the general election.
June 1, 2020: Bush Addresses George Floyd's Murder
On June 1, 2020, George W. Bush released a statement addressing the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests. He acknowledged racial injustices and called for America to examine its "tragic failures".
January 6, 2021: Bush Denounces U.S. Capitol Attack
On January 6, 2021, George W. Bush condemned the U.S. Capitol attack, calling it an "insurrection" and comparing it to how election results are disputed in a "banana republic".
July 14, 2021: Bush reaffirms opposition to troop withdrawal from Afghanistan
On July 14, 2021, George W. Bush reaffirmed his opposition to President Biden's withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, calling the plan "a mistake".
