home

Vice president Bush was an obvious choice to succeed Ronald Reagan. Bushes low profile encouraged senator Robert Dole and television evangelist Pat Robertson to challenge him for nomination.
   On election day the voters responded to the republican pledge to continue the peace and prosperity of the Reagan era. Bush received 53 percent of the popular vote to Dukakis's 46 percent. Bush took 426 electoral votes to Dukakis's 111. -Born in Milton, Massachusetts on June 12th 1924 -He was the youngest pilot in the navy when he recived his wings (awarded the medal of bravery while in navy) -He also flew 58 combat mission during WW2 -In 1945 he married Barbra pierce -Together they had 6 children (George,Robin,John,Neil,Marvin and Dorothy)



media type="youtube" key="iBhmXNWQyGo" height="344" width="425"

=The New President =

media type="youtube" key="363RukyuDGE" height="344" width="425"  = Bush had brought world wide experiences to the white house. Bush was a pilot in WWII and he was awarded a medal for bravery. He then moved to Texas so he can start a oil business there. He had tried to maintain a balance of continuing the policies of the Reagan years and working more closely with the Democratic-controlled Congress. = = =  = = William Bennett was appointed to be a special "drug czar" to oversee the nation's war on drugs. In 1990 Bennett had resigned because he had said that he thought that drug use had begun to drop, but the flow of drugs coming into our country continued. Bob Martinez had replaced Bennett. Also, William Reilly was appointed to the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When Bush got into office, 17 military plants that manufactured nuclear weapons were closed.
 * Drugs, Education, and the Environment

>>>  Savings and loan institutions were known as S&Ls which had long financed mortgages, or loans, for Americans buying homes. Once the interest rates soared in late 1970s, savings banks were such with low interest, long-term mortgages. The Reagan administration had led a campaign to deregulate S&Ls - that is, to allow them more freedom from government control. Government economists estimated that the cost of bailing out the S&Ls would probably run more that $600 billion over 10 years.
 * The Savings and Loan Crisis

To reduce it, congress and the President needed either to cut spending or raise more money. During the election Bush had firmly pledged not to raise taxes. If they failed to pass a budget by Oct. 1, then the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act woud go into effect. Bush insisted on a tax cut for investors who sold their stocks and bonds at a profit. "Capital gains" tax cut would stimulate the economy. The president finally reached a budget agreement that would cut the deficit by nearly $500 billion over 5 years.
 * Reducing the Deficit

Americans saw the Congress unwilling to make difficult choices on raising taxes or cutting programs. They saw Bush who seemed unable to direct a solution to the budget crisis. In voters reelected most members of Congress, but with little enthusiasm. With the economy heading into a recession, political leaders faced an angry public.
 * The Elections of 1990

1989 the Court struck down a Texas law that had made burning the American flag a crime. Justices ruled that burning the flag in protest was protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. July 1990, Justice William Brennan announced his retirement. Bush nominated a little known New Hampshire judge, David Souter, to take Brennan's place.
 * Flags and the Supreme Court

=The end of the cold war?= -Since the end of World War II, Soviets dominated governments had controlled the nations of eastern Europe. -in 1981, the polish gov't had outlawed solidarity, an independent labor union. -A wall comes down(Germany had built the wall in 1961) to prevent citizan from fleeing to the west. -November 9, 1989 the berlin wal has been taken down!! -Hundreds of east berliners streammed thought the gates to visit the west. -moving toward democracy -(communism spread rapidly through eastern Europe). -Soviet president Gorbachev accepted the movement towards democratic reform in eastern Europe. -1990 the soviets announced that it would allow private ownership of land and businesses. -The American Response -Americans responded enthusiastically to the democratic reform in eastern Europe. -With the cold war possibly coming to a end many members talked about a "peace dividend". -But in the 1990 budget called for only a small reduction in defense spending.



=<span style="color: rgb(0,255,255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; background-color: rgb(128,128,0);">New Directions in Latin America = =<span style="color: rgb(0,255,255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; background-color: rgb(128,128,0);"> = <span style="color: rgb(0,255,255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; background-color: rgb(128,128,0);">-George Bush took less militant approach toward affairs in Nicaragua than Reagan had. -He did not continue to press for military aid to "Contras". -December 20, 1989 President sent american forces into Panama

= Unrest in China =

= A policy Toward South Africa = -The worldwide move toward democracy also seemed to spread to South Africa. -ECONOMIC SANCTIONS or limits on trade and investment to pressure the south african government to end apartheid. -In 1986 congress passed a sanctions bill over president's reagan's veto. -It forbid american investment in south africa of to import south sfrican products. -DIVESTITURE many american were selling their stock in companies that operated in South Africa.

= War Clouds in the Middle East =

-On August 2,1990, his troops invaded neighboring Kuwait, one of the richest oil-producing nations in the Middle East. -

=<span style="background-color: rgb(27,21,188);"><span style="background-color: rgb(138,154,14);"> = =<span style="background-color: rgb(27,21,188);"><span style="background-color: rgb(138,154,14);"> = =<span style="background-color: rgb(27,21,188);"><span style="background-color: rgb(138,154,14);"> = =<span style="background-color: rgb(27,21,188);"><span style="background-color: rgb(138,154,14);"> = =<span style="background-color: rgb(27,21,188);"><span style="background-color: rgb(138,154,14);"> = =<span style="background-color: rgb(27,21,188);"><span style="background-color: rgb(138,154,14);"> = =<span style="background-color: rgb(27,21,188);"><span style="background-color: rgb(138,154,14);"> = =<span style="background-color: rgb(27,21,188);"><span style="background-color: rgb(138,154,14);"> = =<span style="background-color: rgb(27,21,188);"><span style="background-color: rgb(138,154,14);"> = =<span style="background-color: rgb(27,21,188);"><span style="background-color: rgb(138,154,14);"> =