George H. W. Bush
A World War II naval aviator who steered America through the Cold War's end and a decisive military victory in the Persian Gulf.
1924–2018 (age 94)·President of the United States from 1989 to 1993·Birthday: June 12·The Greatest Generation
Biography
George H. W. Bush's life was a study in service, shaped by war, diplomacy, and a deeply held sense of civic duty. The youngest pilot in the U.S. Navy when he enlisted at 18, he was shot down over the Pacific and rescued, an experience that forged a quiet resilience. After the war, he moved to Texas, found success in the oil business, and entered politics. His career was a ladder of appointed and elected offices: Congressman, Ambassador to the UN, envoy to China, CIA Director, and two-term Vice President. His single term as president was a period of immense global transformation. He managed the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union with a steady, cautious hand, avoiding triumphalism. He assembled a vast international coalition to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991, a military success that nonetheless gave way to economic anxieties at home, contributing to his re-election defeat. In later years, he was celebrated for his decency and formed an unexpected friendship with his successor, Bill Clinton.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
George was born in 1924, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When George Was Born
The biggest hits of 1924
#1 Movie
The Sea Hawk
George's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1924Born
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1929Started school
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1937Became a teenager
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Could drive
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1942Could vote
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Turned 21
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1954Turned 30
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 40
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 50
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 60
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 70
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 80
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2018Died at 94
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
Key Achievements
- Led the international coalition that successfully liberated Kuwait during the 1991 Gulf War.
- Signed the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 into law, prohibiting discrimination based on disability.
- Oversaw the peaceful end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany as President.
- Served as the Director of Central Intelligence, restoring morale at the agency after a period of congressional investigation.
Did You Know?
He was the last U.S. president to have served in combat during World War II.
He and his wife Barbara hold the record for the longest marriage of any presidential couple, lasting 73 years.
He famously disliked broccoli and banned it from the menu on Air Force One.
As a young man, he captained the Yale baseball team and played in the first two College World Series.
“Read my lips: no new taxes.”
