George H. W. Bush was the 41st president of the United States, serving from January 20, 1989, to January 20, 1993. A Republican and former vice president under Ronald Reagan, he led U.S. foreign policy through the end of the Cold War and the Gulf War.
Bush’s presidency is remembered chiefly for its foreign policy: he guided U.S. diplomacy during the collapse of the Soviet bloc, helped manage German reunification, and assembled an international coalition that liberated Kuwait in the 1990–91 Gulf War.
On the domestic front he signed major laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, but his acceptance of a 1990 budget deal that raised taxes despite a campaign pledge hurt his political standing and contributed to his 1992 reelection defeat.
Led international coalition in the 1990–91 Gulf War to liberate Kuwait; Guided U.S. diplomacy during the end of the Cold War and German reunification; Signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law (1990); Signed the Clean Air Act Amendments (1990); Agreed to a 1990 budget deal that included tax increases despite a campaign pledge
Key highlights and dated events associated with this presidency.
Showing 12 of 136 entries.
Boris Yeltsin was elected president of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in the first direct popular vote for that office, defeating Communist Party candidates.
NASA launched Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-40 on June 5, 1991, carrying the Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS-1) laboratory to perform biomedical experiments in microgravity.
On April 6, 1991, President George H. W. Bush authorized U.S. and allied forces to begin Operation Provide Comfort, establishing no-fly zones and delivering humanitarian relief to Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 688, condemning the Iraqi regime's repression of Kurdish and other civilians and calling for immediate humanitarian access to affected areas; the United States supported the measure.
Following the March 17, 1991 Soviet referendum on a proposed new Union treaty, President Bush issued a public statement urging that the vote be respected and expressing support for Mikhail Gorbachev's efforts to achieve a peaceful, negotiated restructuring of the Soviet state.
In early March 1991, Kurdish groups in northern Iraq rebelled and Iraqi government counterattacks by March 5 had driven large numbers of Kurdish civilians toward the Turkish and Iranian borders.
On March 1, 1991, Shia groups and elements of the Iraqi military in southern Iraq rose in widespread revolt against Saddam Hussein’s regime following the end of the Gulf War.
On February 28, President George H. W. Bush announced that coalition forces had achieved their objectives and declared a cease-fire, marking the end of large-scale hostilities in the Gulf War.
Coalition ground units entered Kuwait City on February 27, 1991, reclaiming the capital after Iraqi forces withdrew and setting conditions for restoration of Kuwaiti sovereignty.
On February 26 (continuing into Feb 27), U.S.-led coalition aircraft attacked retreating Iraqi military convoys along the Kuwait–Basra highway, destroying large numbers of vehicles and equipment.
On February 24, coalition forces under U.S. leadership began a large-scale ground assault to expel Iraqi troops from Kuwait, initiating Operation Desert Sabre.
On February 15, 1991, coordinated anti-war demonstrations worldwide drew millions of protesters in dozens of countries, including large marches in U.S. and European cities opposing the Gulf War.