Welcome to the Deep Dive. Today we're taking
an in -depth look at a figure whose story is,
well, far more intricate and dynamic than the
headlines often suggest. Definitely. A leader
whose time in office was marked by truly seismic
events. Events that fundamentally reshaped, you
know, our nation and the world. We're talking
about George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the
United States. And his career saw such dramatic
shifts in public perception, didn't it? Makes
him a really compelling subject. It really does.
Our mission today is to unpack the key moments,
the policies, the challenges that defined his
journey. From his Texas governorship? Right,
through his two terms in the White House and
even his influential post presidency. And we're
drawing primarily from a pretty comprehensive
Wikipedia article for this. Yeah, it provides
a good structured factual foundation. Our goal
is really to extract the most important nuggets
of knowledge, explore the different perspectives
presented in the material. And maybe uncover
some surprising facts, too. Exactly. To help
you become truly well -informed about this pivotal
figure in American history. You know, what's
fascinating here is just the sheer breadth of
his experiences even before his national political
career really kicked off. Right. It wasn't just
politics from the start. Not at all. Imagine
flying warplanes, then navigating the complexities
of the oil industry and co -owning a major league
baseball team. Yeah, these weren't just resume
bullet points. They provided a really unique
foundation. They shaped his character, prepared
him for the immense responsibilities ahead. That's
a great point. And we'll try to connect these
diverse early experiences to the larger narrative,
you know, his later decisions, his policies,
helping us understand the evolution of his public
persona and his approach as president. Exactly.
OK, let's untack this then. Let's begin at the
very start with his early life and the foundations
of his career spanning from, what, 1946 to 1994.
Sounds good. George Walker Bush, born July 6,
1946 in New Haven, Connecticut. Eldest son of
George H .W. Bush, the 41st president, of course,
and Barbara Pierce. But raised primarily in Texas,
right? Midland and Houston. Yes. Alongside four
siblings. Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy. And
there was that early family tragedy, too. Yes,
the very sad death of his younger sister, Robin,
from leukemia at just three years old in 1953.
That must have left a lasting mark. Absolutely.
And a very prominent family lineage, of course.
His paternal grandfather, Prescott Bush, was
a U .S. senator from Connecticut. A real political
dynasty in the making there. His ancestry is
quite a mix to English, German, with some Dutch
Welsh Irish French Scottish thrown in. This deep
family history, that early exposure to public
service, it really created a unique upbringing.
And his education followed that varied path,
too. It did, from public schools in Midland,
then the more exclusive Kincaid School in Houston.
And then Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.
That's a pretty elite prep school. Right. And
he showed a lighter side there, played baseball,
was even head cheerleader his senior year. There's
a yearbook photo to prove it. Head cheerleader.
Then Yale University graduated in 68 with a BA
in history. And he continued cheerleading there,
too, was president of his fraternity Delta Kappa
Epsilon and a member of Skull and Bones, played
rugby as well. Though he famously described himself
as just an average student. Yeah, his GPA apparently
wasn't stellar in the first few years. But his
academic journey didn't stop there. He went on
to Harvard Business School from 73 to 75. earning
an MBA, which is actually that's a really distinctive
credential. He's the only U .S. president to
have earned an MBA. Wow. I didn't realize he
was the only one. Yeah. And this whole varied
educational path, you know, elite prep schools,
Ivy League undergrad and the MBA, it really highlights
a blend of maybe privilege, but also a clear
intention to prepare for a career that could
pivot between business and public service. Exactly.
It gave him early exposure to different leadership
environments, a powerful foundation, really.
suggests a practical, maybe results -oriented
mindset emerging early on. And beyond education,
his personal life saw some big developments,
too. Right. There was a brief engagement in 1967.
To Catherine Lee Wolfman. But then, a decade
later, 1977, he met Laura Welch, schoolteacher
and librarian. And it was a quick courtship,
wasn't it? Three months. Yeah, very quick. They
married, settled in Midland, Texas. And there
was a significant personal change around then
to his religious conversion. He left the Episcopal
Church, his family's church, to join Laura's
United Methodist Church. And later they welcomed
their fraternal twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna,
in 1981. Now here's a deeply personal story that
I think sheds some light on his character. His
struggles with alcohol. Yes. He was quite open
about that later. Repeated alcohol abuse before
his marriage. Which led to a DUI arrest in 1976
near Kennebunkport, Maine. Got a fine, brief
license suspension. And he directly attributes
giving up alcohol in 1986 to his wife's influence
and his faith. Right. He said, I believe that
God helped open my eyes, which were closing because
of booze. That personal struggle, that transformation,
it paints a vivid picture of someone confronting
significant personal challenges. And undergoing
a really profound change before entering the
main political spotlight. It suggests a capacity
for self -reflection, maybe a willingness to
change. That journey definitely speaks to a certain
resilience, a trait that would be tested again
and again later on. Absolutely. And interestingly,
his hobbies, his intellectual pursuits, They
offer a more nuanced picture, too, don't they?
Yeah, he's apparently been an avid reader his
whole adult life, liking biographies and histories.
And while president, he read the Bible daily.
But interestingly, near the end of his second
term, he said he wasn't a literalist about its
interpretation. There's that anecdote, too, from
a journalist, Walt Harrington. Oh, yeah. Recalling
a surprisingly diverse collection of books in
Bush's home back when he was an oil man. John
Fowles, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Joyce, Gore
Vidal alongside the biographies. Definitely challenges
any simple caricature of his intellect. It does.
He also enjoyed cigars and golf. And famously,
post presidency, he really got into painting.
Right. Those projects like out of many. One,
the portraits of immigrants and portraits of
courage. His tribute to veterans. A whole different
side emerged there. OK, let's turn to a period
that did draw some controversy. His military
service. Right. May 1968, joined the Air Force,
commissioned into the Texas Air National Guard.
Flew F -102s out of Houston after his active
duty training. But this period sparked criticism,
allegations of favorable treatment because of
his father's political standing. Citing things
like low pilot aptitude test scores. irregular
attendance. Yeah. Though the Department of Defense
released all his service records in 2005, those
questions kind of lingered. He had that temporary
assignment in Alabama while working on a Senate
campaign. And was later suspended from flying
for failing a physical exam, honorably discharged
in 74. Despite the controversy, it's a notable
fact. He's still the most recent president to
have served in the military. It is. And it's
important, I think, to acknowledge both the service
and the controversy surrounding it impartially.
Agreed. His business career also laid some significant
groundwork. Definitely. 1977 established Arbusto
Energy, a small oil exploration company. Which
later evolved, faced challenges with falling
oil prices. And he eventually joined the board
of Harkin Energy Corporation. And there was that
SEC investigation, too. Right. Into possible
insider trading related to a stock sale. Which
ultimately concluded he didn't have sufficient
information for it to count as insider trading.
But, you know, the questions definitely garnered
attention. Moving beyond oil in 1989, he led
that group of investors to buy the Texas Rangers.
Yeah, the Major League Baseball team put in a
significant amount himself. Served as managing
general partner for five years. apparently quite
hands -on, often seen sitting with the fans.
And that venture turned out to be very successful
financially for him. Selling his shares in 98
yielded over $15 million. Wow. He even briefly
considered running for commissioner of baseball.
He did, apparently, in the earlier mid -90s.
So if we connect this, as you said, to the bigger
picture, this varied business background, oil,
sports. It gave him significant personal wealth,
absolutely, but also invaluable public visibility
outside of traditional politics. Experience in
high finance, but also that public facing role
with the Rangers. Exactly. Engaging directly
with the public. It undoubtedly shaped his practical
results oriented image and maybe prepared him
for those broader political roles. Showed an
early comfort with public scrutiny. And before
the governorship, he did make those early political
forays. Right. 1978. Ran for the U .S. House.
Lost that race. His opponent painted him as out
of touch with rural Texans. Then, a decade later,
moved to D .C. to work on his father's 88 presidential
campaign. Advisor, media liaison. Campaigned
extensively. And there's that revealing anecdote.
About his father asking him to tell John Sununu,
the White House chief of staff, that he needed
to resign. Exactly. A delicate task showing trust.
Definitely. A sign of his growing role within
the family's political sphere. Which brings us
right to that pivotal period. His Texas governorship,
1995 to 2000. This really launched him nationally.
It did. He declared his candidacy for the 94
Texas gubernatorial election. His brother Jeb
was running in Florida at the same time. His
campaign was very strategically focused, wasn't
it? Four core themes. Welfare reform. Tort reform.
limiting lawsuits, basically crime reduction
and education improvement. And key advisors like
Karen Hughes, Joal Bow, Karl Rove were central.
He faced a popular Democratic incumbent and Richards,
a formidable opponent. And a key campaign promise
was signing that concealed carry bill, right?
Something Richards had vetoed. Exactly. And he
followed through, signed it into law after becoming
governor. There was also that campaign controversy.
The rumor about Richards linked to Rove. though
Rove denied it. Right, but Bush ultimately won
pretty decisively, 53 .5 % to Richards's 45 .9.
And as governor, he immediately made his fiscal
stance clear, used a budget surplus for Texas's
largest tax cut at the time. $2 billion, signaled
that conservative fiscal approach. But his administration
also focused on social services. Extending funding
for organizations dealing with substance abuse,
domestic violence. Took a tough stance on crime,
too. lowering the age for juveniles to be tried
as adults for serious crimes to 14. And his record
on capital punishment is, well, Stark, presided
over 152 executions. More than any previous governor
in modern U .S. history drew significant criticism,
particularly from figures like Helen Prajan,
who argued he didn't give clemency requests serious
consideration. Environmentally, his administration
faced criticism, too. Texas ranked low in environmental
evaluations then. But supporters would point
to his efforts on teacher salaries, improving
educational test scores. And then there's that
surprising policy often overlooked. In 1999,
he signed a law requiring electric retailers
to buy a certain amount of energy from renewable
sources and RPS. The Renewable Portfolio Standard,
which seems kind of counterintuitive for a Texas
oilman governor. It does, but that law really
helped propel Texas to become the leading producer
of wind -powered electricity in the U .S. eventually.
So putting it all together. His governorship
established a clear conservative record, but
with these fascinating, sometimes unexpected
elements. Absolutely. It really set the stage
for his national ambitions, showed he could win
big, push through significant legislation, and
craft an image distinct from his father's. And
his success led to that overwhelming re -election
in 98. A record 68 % of the vote. First Texas
governor ever elected to two consecutive four
-year terms. During that second term, he... actively
promoted faith -based organizations enjoyed really
high approval ratings. Consistently high. Between
62 and 81 percent. He even proclaimed a Jesus
Day in Texas in 2000. Which certainly signaled
his social conservative credentials. Right. And
this period just solidified his national prominence.
After that strong re -election, speculation intensified.
And within a year, he decided to go for the 2000
Republican presidential nomination. Which brings
us to the campaigns. Starting with that tumultuous
Yeah. In the primary, he initially cultivated
that compassionate conservative image. Trying
for a more centrist appeal maybe than some rivals?
His platform included restoring integrity and
honor to the White House, boosting the military,
cutting taxes, improving education, aiding minorities.
By early 2000, the race really boiled down to
him and Senator John McCain. He won Iowa, but
then McCain pulled off that upset in New Hampshire,
despite Bush being heavily favored. But he regained
momentum quickly, especially after South Carolina.
A primary that became infamous for its negativity,
frankly, described by some papers as a smear
campaign. But it made him the frontrunner. Then
the general election. His VP pick was a bit of
a surprise, wasn't it? Dick Cheney. It was. A
real seasoned Washington insider, former White
House chief of staff, congressman, secretary
of defense. And Cheney had been leading Bush's
own VP search committee. Exactly. A bit ironic.
They were nominated at the 2000 RNC. Bush then
sharply criticized Al Gore, his opponent, particularly
on gun control and taxes. Setting up that clear
ideological contrast. Definitely. And then the
election itself. one of the most disputed, controversial
victories in American history. Oh, absolutely.
November 7th, the initial returns showed Bush
winning Florida, giving him the presidency. But
it was incredibly close, razor -thin margin.
So close, it triggered an automatic recount under
Florida law. The initial machine recount still
favored Bush, but then it just descended into
legal battles for a month. All the way to the
U .S. Supreme Court. And on December 9th, the
court issued that highly controversial Bush v.
Gore ruling. It reversed the Florida Supreme
Court's order for a statewide hand recount. Their
argument was that using different standards in
different counties violated the Equal Protection
Clause. So the machine recount stood. Bush won
Florida by just 537 votes. Out of nearly 6 million
cast, incredible. And despite getting over half
a million fewer popular votes nationwide than
Gore. He won the election with 271 electoral
votes to Gore's 266. Making him the first president
since Benjamin Harrison in 1888 to win with fewer
popular votes. Which immediately raises that
crucial question. How did such a contentious
win, losing the popular vote, shape the narrative
and the immediate challenges for his administration?
That legitimacy question lingered, didn't it?
Even after the Supreme Court decision. Absolutely.
It profoundly influenced how his presidency was
perceived right from day one. Okay, fast forward
four years to 2004. His re -election bid. A very
different scenario this time. He commanded broad
support within the Republican Party, no primary
challenge. Can Millman manage the campaign? Karl
Rove devising strategy. And the platform emphasized
strong commitment to the ongoing wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan, support for the Patriot Act.
A push for constitutional amendments on abortion
and same -sex marriage. Reforming Social Security
with private accounts, creating an ownership
society, opposing mandatory carbon controls.
But also, interestingly, calling for that guest
worker program for immigrants. Yeah, which actually
drew criticism from some conservatives within
his own party. The campaign dynamics in 2004
were incredibly intense. Oh, very. The Bush campaign
advertised heavily against Democrats, mainly
Senator John Kerry, who became the nominee. Kerry
and Democrats attacked Bush on Iraq, the economy,
job growth. And the Bush campaign painted Kerry
as a staunch liberal, attacking his perceived
inconsistencies on the Iraq war, questioning
his decisiveness for the war on terror. There
was also that controversy surrounding the CIA
leadership around them. Right. George Tenet resigned.
Bush nominated Porter Goss. Reports surfaced
that the White House ordered Goss to purge officers
deemed disloyal. Leading to many senior agents
being fired or quitting. Accusations even flew
about the CIA leaking info to influence the election.
Despite all that and the charged climate, the
election outcome was a clear victory for Bush
this time. Carried 31 states. 286 electoral votes.
And crucially, he won an absolute majority of
the popular vote, 50 .7 percent to Kerry's 48
.3. Effectively correcting that popular vote
deficit from 2000. Which is fascinating, right?
That shift from a contested popular vote loss
to a clear popular vote win amidst ongoing wars
and intense domestic debates. It really demonstrates
an evolution in his political appeal. Maybe how
he navigated a deeply divided nation in those
extraordinary times. Rallied support around his
leadership in a crisis period. OK, now we are
at the presidency itself, 2001 to 2009, a period
just unequivocally defined by crisis, policy,
and controversy. Absolutely. He came in with
an ambitious domestic agenda, but his priorities
were, as sources say, significantly altered after
9 -11. Fundamentally altered. His presidency
became largely defined by the wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq. And huge domestic debates, too. Immigration,
health care, Social Security, economic policy,
treatment of detainees. His approval ratings
were a roller coaster. Started near 60 percent.
Surged to 90 percent after 9 -11. but then began
that steady decline, hitting lows like 19 % by
the end of his second term. And adding to all
that, the U .S. entered the longest post -WWII
recession in December 2007. Just further complicating
those final years? Scholars often call this period
the most transformative of his presidency, that
immediate, profound pivot from domestic policy
to national security post -9 -11. It reshaped
everything. dictated key decisions, ultimately
defined much of his legacy. And shifted the fiscal
landscape, too, from surplus to significant debt
due to war costs and tax cuts. Let's delve into
that domestic policy landscape, starting with
the economy, 2001 to 2008. He took office during
a recession, remember? The dot -com bubble had
burst, then 9 -11 hit the economy hard, too.
And his administration saw a massive increase
in federal spending, up 66 % overall. While revenues
increased much slower, about 24%. Defense spending
more than doubled. Domestic spending, Medicare,
Social Security, all saw huge increases. More
spending increase than any president since LBJ,
apparently. A central pillar of his economic
plan was those big tax cuts. The government actually
had a surplus in 2000. $237 billion. His budget
initially projected a $5 .6 trillion surplus
over 10 years. But he successfully pushed for
that $1 .35 trillion tax cut program, one of
the largest ever. Arguing the surplus was the
people's money. Despite warnings from Fed Chair
Alan Greenspan about a recession, Bush argued
the cuts would stimulate the economy. Another
cut passed in 2003. In terms of actual economic
performance, while GDP growth averaged around
2 .1 percent annually, which was less than past
cycles. And the stock market started high, peaked
in 07, then plummeted by the end of his term.
One of only a few presidents to leave the market
lower. The fiscal consequences were pretty stark.
That projected surplus vanished, replaced by
significant deficits and soaring national debt.
Gross debt more than doubled from 2000 to late
2008, hitting $11 .3 trillion. Largely attributed
to those tax cuts and increased national security
spending. Even then, Senator Obama criticized
raising the debt ceiling in 06 as a sign of leadership
failure. Unemployment fluctuated, rose, fell,
then climbed again to 7 .2 % by the end. Immediate
household income actually dropped, adjusted for
inflation, and poverty increased. And then came
the 2008 financial crisis. December 2007. The
start of the longest recession since WWII, triggered
by the housing market correction, subprime mortgages,
soaring oil prices. The impact on jobs was devastating.
Hundreds of thousands lost each month in late
2008, 2 .6 million jobs lost by year end. The
administration responded with a 170 billion dollar
stimulus package rebate checks, tax breaks. Though,
interestingly, they had pushed for more regulation
of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac back in 2003. But
it died in the Senate. Concerns about government
intervention. The crisis escalated dramatically
in September 08. Federal takeover of Fannie and
Freddie, Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, the AIG
bailout. Declared the worst financial crisis
since the Great Depression. The administration
then proposed TARP, the Troubled Asset Relief
Program. That massive rescue plan to buy up toxic
mortgage assets. Some later argued more proactive
regulatory oversight could have helped. Okay,
shifting gears slightly. Education and public
health initiatives. He pursued several educational
agendas. increased funding for NSF and NIH initially,
though NIH faced later cuts, focused on science
and math education. And a cornerstone was No
Child Left Behind in CLBA, signed early 2002
with broad bipartisan support, even Ted Kennedy.
Right. Aim to measure and close achievement gaps,
give options to students in low -performing schools,
target funding to low -income schools. Supporters
cited score improvements. Critics argued it was
underfunded, and the focus on high -stakes testing
was counterproductive. In public health, they
launched a national strategy for pandemic influenza
in 2005. And after re -election, he signed the
Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, created Medicare
Part D, the prescription drug benefit. hailed
by some as the greatest expansion in America's
welfare state in 40 years, though with massive
projected costs. AARP endorsed it. Bush said
it gave seniors better choices. But he later
vetoed the SCIP expansion for children's health
care, argued it was a move toward socialized
medicine. And he signed GINA in 2008, protecting
against genetic discrimination in insurance and
employment. On Social Security reform? Yeah.
That was a major push at the start of the second
term. Yeah. Facing record deficit projections,
he made it the centerpiece of his domestic agenda,
despite big congressional opposition. Talked
about potential bankruptcy, proposed partial
privatization, personal accounts diverting payroll
taxes into investments. Democrats strongly opposed.
He went on that 60 -day national tour, conversations
on Social Security. But support declined, didn't
it? And House Republicans dropped it. Then Hurricane
Katrina hit. further diminishing his prospects.
Environmental and energy policies also generated
a lot of debate. Right at the start, he opposed
the Kyoto Protocol. Citing exemptions for many
countries, costs, concerns, and the fact the
Senate had already voted 95's otters against
it years earlier. Signed orders to streamline
energy projects. Proposed the Clear Skies Act
in 2003 for emissions trading. But critics argued
it would weaken the Clean Air Act. It failed
in committee. But then, In a move praised by
conservationists, he created that huge Papahana
Makuaquia Marine National Monument in Hawaii
in 2006. Protecting millions of acres, thousands
of species, hailed for foresight and leadership.
On climate change itself, he acknowledged global
warming was real and serious, but questioned
the cause, manmade or naturally caused. His administration
faced criticism for allegedly misinforming the
public, not doing enough on carbon emissions.
Energy -wise, 2006 State of the Union declared
America is addicted to oil, launched the Advanced
Energy Initiative for research. Renewed pledges
in 2007 to cut fossil fuel use, boost alternatives,
lifted the executive ban on offshore drilling
in 2008 amid high gas prices. Though that was
largely symbolic, stressed the need for domestic
production, and in 2008 committed $2 billion
to an international clean energy fund. Another
big domestic debate, stem cell research. Right.
He supported adult stem cell research, but opposed
embryonic stem cell research, especially federal
funding involving embryo destruction, which was
already banned by the Dickie -Wicker Amendment.
In August 2001, he signed that order, lifting
the ban for 71 existing stem cell lines. But
scientists questioned if those lines were adequate,
and there were safety concerns about how they
were cultured. Then... July 2006, he used his
first ever veto to reject the Stem Cell Research
Enhancement Act. Which would have repealed Dickie
Wicker and allowed federal funding for research
using destroyed embryos. A significant stand
for him. Immigration debates were also front
and center. Huge influx of immigrants. Nearly
half illegal. from 2000, 2005. In 2006, Bush
pushed Congress for that temporary guest worker
program for the millions already here. Also sought
more border security funds, deployed the National
Guard. Then in 2007, he strongly backed the Comprehensive
Immigration Reform Act, a bipartisan effort.
Really ambitious. Legalization path, guest worker
program, border enforcement, green card reforms.
Bush argued it was necessary that lack of legal
status hurt millions penalized employers, insisted
it wasn't amnesty. But it caused a massive rift
in the Republican Party. Most conservatives hated
the legalization parts. The bill died in the
Senate. Bush expressed disappointment. His administration
then focused on enforcement measures not needing
legislation. And that interesting claim later
by Israeli PM Omer about Bush offering to take
100 ,000 Palestinian refugees if a peace deal
was reached. Wow. Then Hurricane Katrina, August
2005, a truly catastrophic event. devastated
the Gulf Coast, especially New Orleans, after
the levees failed. Bush declared emergencies,
authorized FEMA aid. DHS Secretary Chertoff declared
it an incident of national significance. National
Guard went in, Bush toured, said recovery efforts
were not enough, but the criticism was swift
and brutal. For the inadequate response, right,
allegations of incompetent FEMA leadership, resources
devoted to Iraq. Critics said he didn't act on
warnings. Amidst it all, Bush publicly accepted
full responsibility for the federal government's
failures. Many argue Catrino was a political
tipping point for him. Public perception shifted
dramatically. Absolutely. Later in 2006 came
the controversy over the midterm dismissal of
U .S. attorneys. Seven of them fired. The White
House said it was for poor performance. But it
led to Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez resigning,
along with others. Congress subpoenaed White
House aides Mears and Bolton. Bush invoked executive
privilege, told them not to testify. Justice
Department backed him legally. Investigations
focused on whether the positions were used for
political advantage. Officials resign rather
than testify. Mears and Bolton held in contempt
of Congress. Years later, a DOJ investigator
concluded, politics played a part in some firings,
calling them inappropriately political, but found
insufficient evidence for criminal charges. So
looking back at this whole domestic policy period,
Massive tax cuts, no child left behind, then
Katrina, the financial crisis. It was just a
whirlwind of ambition, achievement and incredibly
intense criticism. These issues were so complex,
so charged, you can see how they shaped public
opinion. Definitely. Now, shifting to foreign
policy. Before 9 -11, his platform was interesting,
stronger ties with Latin America, especially
Mexico, less nation building. Pursued missile
defense, advocated for China joining the WTO.
In his second term, the emphasis shifted to improving
relations with European nations. Appointed Karen
Hughes for global PR, lauded pro -democracy movements
in Georgia, Ukraine. He had some significant
international engagements. That 2006 trip to
India was a big deal. Focused on nuclear energy,
counterterrorism led to the civil nuclear agreement,
a real shift from Clinton's approach after India's
nuclear tests. With Russia signed the sort treaty,
but also withdrew the U .S. from the ABM treaty.
On Israel and Palestinians, he took a careful
line. Denounced Arafat for supporting violence,
but sponsored dialogues between Sharon and Abbas.
Supported Sharon's disengagement plan. After
that 2001 Hanen Island incident with China, he
voiced support for Taiwan's defense, authorized
interventions in Haiti and Liberia to protect
U .S. interests, condemned Darfur killings as
genocide, but opposed ICC referral. And then
Albania. That 2007 visit was remarkable. First
U .S. president to visit. greeted with incredible
enthusiasm. Street named after him, statue unveiled.
He voiced strong support for Kosovo's independence
there, which pleased Albanians, but strained
relations with Serbia, contributing to the embassy
torching in Belgrade. He also pushed hard for
Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO in 2008, despite
Russian opposition, condemned Russia's actions
during the Georgia crisis that summer, famously
saying bullying and intimidation are not acceptable
ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century.
But of course, the defining moment the absolute
turning point was September 11, 2001. The attacks
just decisively reshaped everything, pivoted
the entire administration toward national security.
That evening, he addressed the nation, promised
a strong response, emphasized unity. Three days
later, visited ground zero. That iconic image
standing on the rubble with the megaphone. I
can hear you. The rest of the world hears you.
And the people who knock these buildings down
will hear all of us soon. Powerful moment. Then
the September 20 speech. condemning Bin Laden,
al -Qaeda, issuing the ultimatum to the Taliban
in Afghanistan. Hand over the terrorists or share
in their fate. The Taliban refused. It's worth
noting the presence of U .S. troops in Saudi
Arabia post -Gulf War was a stated motivation
for 9 -11. The U .S. withdrew most troops from
there in 2003. Yeah, 9 -11 truly altered his
presidency's trajectory. That ground zero moment
became symbolic of his early crisis leadership,
and it led directly to the war on terror. His
September 20 speech declared it begins with al
-Qaeda, but it does not end there. Then the 2002
State of the Union address introduced the axis
of evil. North Korea, Iran, Ba 'athist, Iraq,
arming to threaten the peace, posing a grave
and growing danger. And the administration asserted
that right, that intention to wage preemptive
war, preventative war, the Bush doctrine. Aimed
at protecting the U .S. But it definitely weakened
that initial post 9 -11 international support,
didn't it? It did. As the Iraq War continued,
dissent and criticism grew, protests erupted
worldwide. That 2006 national intelligence estimate
concluded the war had become a cause celeb for
jihadists. Fueling recruitment, essentially.
That was the argument. The Afghanistan invasion
began quickly, October 7, 2001. U .S. and British
bombing campaigns. Northern Alliance troops entered
Kabul by November. Goals? Defeat Taliban, drive
out al -Qaeda, capture leaders. By December 2001,
the Pentagon reported the Taliban largely defeated,
but the war would continue. The UN installed
the Afghan Transitional Administration. But a
major setback was bin Laden escaping from Tora
Bora in December 2001. Which the administration
later admitted was due to failure to commit enough
U .S. ground troops. He wasn't killed until 2011.
And despite initial success in Afghanistan, by
early 2003, the Taliban was regrouping. The insurgency
grew. operations like Red Wings failed in 2005.
By 2006, the Taliban seemed larger, fiercer,
and better organized. Leading Bush to send 3
,500 more troops in March 2007, a sign of the
growing challenge there. Which brings us to the
incredibly consequential Iraq invasion in 2003.
Starting with that O2 State of the Union, Bush
focused on Iraq. Part of the Axis of Evil, possessing
WMDs, posing that grave and growing danger. Late
2002, CIA reports asserted Saddam intended to
reconstitute nuclear programs, hadn't accounted
for biochem weapons. And this became a huge point
of criticism. Later contentions the administration
manipulated or exaggerated the WMD threat in
evidence. Late 02, early 03 Bush pushed the UN
to enforce disarmament mandates. Diplomatic crisis
ensued. U .N. weapons inspectors were advised
by the U .S. to leave just days before the invasion,
despite wanting more time. The U .S. dropped
its bid for a U .N. resolution authorizing force
due to strong opposition. And the administration's
claim the Iraq war was part of the war on terror
was questioned by many analysts. Nevertheless,
March 20, 2003, the coalition of the willing
over 20 nations led by the U .S. and U .K. invaded
Iraq. The Iraqi military was quickly defeated.
Baghdad fell April 9. May 1, 2003. Bush declared
the end of major combat operations under that
mission accomplished banner. Boosted his popularity
initially, but that speech was later heavily
criticized as premature. As U .S. and allied
forces faced a growing brutal insurgency led
by sectarian groups. From 2004 to 2007, the situation
deteriorated. Some called it a full -scale civil
war. Criticism mounted, demands for troop withdrawal
grew. The 2006 Iraq study group report called
the situation grave and deteriorating. Bush admitted
strategic mistakes but maintained he wouldn't
change the overall strategy. Hundreds of thousands
of Iraqis died. Amidst the violence, there were
steps toward a new government. Elections in January
2005. First free elections in 50 years. led to
Taliban as president, al -Maliki as PM. A constitution
was approved by referendum later that year. But
challenges continued. January 2007, Bush announced
the surge. 21 ,500 more troops, plus jobs programs,
reconstruction funds. In May 07, he vetoed a
bill setting a withdrawal deadline. By July 2008,
troop deaths were at their lowest. Stability
had increased somewhat, attributed to the surge,
and Bush began withdrawing some forces. Then
came that shoe -throwing incident during his
last visit in December 2008. The Iraqi journalist
yelling it was a farewell kiss for the widows
and orphans. Bush ducked. Post -presidency, that
2010 report claimed the administration made over
900 false pretenses about the Iraqi threat to
justify the war. So, connecting this back. The
decisions around Iraq... the intelligence, the
mission -accomplished moment, the surge that
profoundly shaped his presidency, global politics,
domestic trust. Absolutely. It raises huge questions
about preemptive war, nation -building, and their
long -term consequences. And alongside the wars
came dramatic shifts in surveillance policy post
-9 -11. Bush issued that executive order authorizing
the President's surveillance program, NSA monitoring
communications between suspected terrorists abroad
and parties in the U .S. without a FISA warrant.
A significant departure. DOJ initially questioned
legality, but was reauthorized based on the authorization
for use of military force. Ily controversial.
Critics, the American Bar Association, argued
it was illegal. A district court ruled it unconstitutional
in 2006. But that was vacated on appeal due to
lack of standing. January 2007, A .G. Gonzalez
said it wouldn't be reauthorized by the president,
would get judicial oversight. Then the NSA launched
the replacement program, PRISM. Which wasn't
revealed publicly until 2013. Related to this
were the interrogation policies, the torture
memos. Bush authorized the CIA to use enhanced
interrogation techniques, EATs, including waterboarding.
Critics, like Obama later, called it torture.
Between 2002 -2003, the CIA deemed these legal
based on secret DOJ opinions, arguing terror
detainees weren't protected by Geneva Conventions,
calling the ban an infringement on presidential
war powers. The CIA used these techniques on
key suspects under the authority of the Bybee
memo, though that memo was later withdrawn. The
Army field manuals actually forbid such tactics,
stating they elicit unreliable information, but
the Bush administration believed they provided
critical information to save lives. Critics,
like ex -CIA officer Bob Baer, said info obtained
was suspect. You can get anyone to confess to
anything if a torture is bad enough. October
2006, Bush signed the Military Commissions Act,
allowed prosecuting unlawful enemy combatants
by military commission, not standard trials,
denied habeas corpus, barred torture, but let
the president define torture. Then in March 2008,
he vetoed a bill to expand congressional oversight
and ban techniques like waterboarding, not in
the Army Field Manual, said it would take away
a valuable tool. April 2009, the ACLU won release
of secret memos authorizing the tactics. One
detailed waterboarding, called it torture in
a footnote, said the CIA's version was far more
intense than DOJ authorized. So that balance
between national security and civil liberties
became a defining, intensely debated challenge
of his presidency. Surveillance, interrogation.
The controversy Reverberates today. It raises
profound ethical, legal questions about executive
power in wartime. Shifting focus again, North
Korea. Bush publicly condemned Kim Jong -il,
part of the Axis of Evil, said the U .S. wouldn't
permit the world's most dangerous regimes to
threaten us with the world's most destructive
weapons. Both countries soon walked away from
a 1994 agreement. North Korea's nuclear test
in October 2006 complicated things further. Bush
condemned it, reaffirmed commitment to a nuclear
-free peninsula. warned that any transfer of
nuclear material by North Korea would be considered
a grave threat. But diplomacy did yield some
temporary progress. May 2007, North Korea agreed
to shut down reactors pending release of frozen
funds after three -way talks with China. September
07, they agreed to disclose and dismantle programs.
But by May 2009, they had restarted the program,
threatened South Korea. Post presidency, Bush
continued to criticize their leadership. He also
expanded economic sanctions on Syria. signed
the Syria Accountability Act in 2003. Treasury
later froze assets of Syrian institutions suspected
of WMD proliferation supporting terrorism. Also
froze assets of Lebanese Syrian figures accused
of undermining Lebanon's political process. Okay.
Amidst all these complex security and diplomatic
issues, one truly remarkable achievement stands
out on the foreign policy front. PEPFR, the president's
emergency plan for AIDS relief. announced in
his 2003 State of the Union, a five -year, $15
billion strategy for global emergency AIDS relief.
Directly supported life -saving antiretroviral
treatment for millions worldwide. By 2013, the
U .S. had spent about $44 billion, estimated
to have saved 5 million lives. The New York Times
correspondent Peter Baker wrote Bush did more
to stop AIDS and more to help Africa than any
president before or since. By 2023, PEPFAR was
estimated to have saved over 25 million lives.
Hugely impactful, especially in sub -Saharan
Africa, often called his greatest accomplishment.
And what's fascinating is the near -universal
consensus on this across the political spectrum.
It really stands out as a monumental humanitarian
achievement, a testament to targeted foreign
aid. It raises that question. How can such successes
be replicated in other global health challenges,
demonstrating leadership beyond military means?
His presidency also had a few notable security
incidents involving him personally. February
2001, someone fired shots near the White House.
Pickett was arrested. May 2005, that grenade
attack in Tbilisi, Georgia. Thrown towards the
podium near Bush and Saakashvili. Didn't detonate
because it was wrapped tightly in a handkerchief.
A salient arrested later, killed an agent during
capture, got life. And the 2008 Baghdad shoe
-throwing incident, of course. In terms of judicial
appointments, he left a lasting impact, especially
on the Supreme Court. July 2005, Justice O 'Connor
retired. Bush nominated John Roberts. But then
Chief Justice Rehnquist died in September. So
Bush withdrew Roberts' nomination for O 'Connor
seat, nominated him for Chief Justice instead,
quickly confirmed. To fill O 'Connor's seat,
he then nominated Harriet Myers, White House
counsel. But she withdrew after facing significant
opposition questioning her qualifications. Finally,
October 2005, he nominated Samuel Alito. Confirmed
January 2006. So two Supreme Court appointments,
Roberts and Alito. Plus 62 judges to federal
appeals courts and 261 to district courts. A
significant judicial legacy. Let's talk about
his cultural and political image. That folksy
American cowboy persona. Yeah, his West Texas
upbringing, the accent, vacations at the ranch.
Country metaphors. It all contributed. Piers
Morgan said people looked at him and thought,
John Wayne. He was often parodied, wasn't he?
For linguistic errors, the Bushisms. He was.
Interestingly, compared to his father, who sometimes
seemed to lack an overarching theme, George W.
Bush embraced larger visions, was seen as a man
of bigger ideas, bigger risks. And the perception
of his intelligence. Tony Blair called the dumb
caricature ludicrous, said Bush was very smart.
David Brooks suggested he was 60 IQ points smarter
in private. Put on a Texas act so people wouldn't
think he was smarter than them. An interesting
theory. His job approval ratings in the U .S.,
as we said, were a real roller coaster. Started
near 60 percent, soared to 90 percent after 9
-11, stayed high for months, above 50 percent
most of his first term, times person of the year
twice. Strong Republican support initially, though
it waned later over spending, immigration, Middle
East issues. That 2004 survey shows strong support
in the military. Approval surged again at the
start of the Iraq War, 74 percent, but then began
the steady decline after December 2004. Post
-re -election, criticism mounted over Iraq, Katrina,
prisoner abuse, NSA surveillance, Guantanamo.
Democrats regained Congress in the 2006 midterms,
the thumping, as Bush called it. His approval
averaged just 37 % in 2006, lowest since Truman
for a second -term president at that point, hovered
in the mid -30s most of 2007. By early 2008,
final year, it hit that low of 19%, largely losing
Republican support. Leading to his tennis quote
about not giving a damn about the polls, making
decisions based on principle. There were even
calls for impeachment. Though most polls showed
Americans wouldn't support it. Arguments centered
on NSA surveillance, Iraq justification, Geneva
conventions. Dennis Kucinich introduced articles
of impeachment, but Speaker Pelosi said it was
off the table. April 2008, disapproval hit a
record 69 percent in Gallup history. Just before
the 2008 election, approval remained at record
lows, 19, 20 percent. His final Gallup rating
in Jan 09 was 34 percent, similar to Carter and
Truman. A CBS NYT poll put it at 22 percent,
lowest ever recorded for an outgoing president.
While domestic perceptions struggled, Foreign
perceptions were often even worse, widely criticized
internationally, targeted by anti -war, anti
-globalization movements. Views even in close
allies like France were more negative than from
most previous presidents, though he had close
personal ties with leaders like Tony Blair, Vicente
Fox. But others like Karzai, Chavez, were openly
critical. Tensions grew with Putin. That 2006
survey found most in 18 countries had unfavorable
opinions, saw his administration as negative
for world security. Pew reported global attitudes
toward the U .S. became less favorable during
his presidency. A 2007 Air of Nations survey
found him the most disliked world leader. But
then the exception, Albania. that June 2007 visit,
greeted with extraordinary enthusiasm. Albania
supported U .S. foreign policy, had troops in
Iraq, Afghanistan, the street named after him,
the statue, a unique pocket of warmth. A real
anomaly in the global picture at the time. OK,
let's transition to his post -presidency, 2009
to now. A distinctly different chapter. Definitely.
After Obama's inauguration, he returned to Texas.
Ranch first, then settled in Dallas. Made regular
low -key appearances. coin toss at the Cowboys
Stadium, throwing first pitches at Rangers games,
even the 2023 World Series. Had successful heart
treatment in 2013, issued that statement condemning
the Dallas police shooting violence in 2016.
He's kept a relatively low public profile, especially
regarding direct political commentary. Has spoken
in favor of women's global participation. In
his first post -presidency speech, said Obama.
deserves my silence. Appeared on Colbert Report
praising troops, attended Ted Kennedy's funeral,
even did motivational speaking. Visited Fort
Hood victims privately after the shooting. And
he became an author. Decision Points, his memoirs,
came out in 2010. Identified keeping the country
safe as his biggest accomplishment, failing on
Social Security reform is his greatest failure.
Notably, defended waterboarding KSM said, I'd
do it again to save lives. Also wrote a foreword
for an economics book published 41, a portrait
of my father in 2014 and portraits of courage
in 2017 featuring his veteran paintings. Politically,
his post presidency has been nuanced, often neutral.
Didn't attend the 2012 RNC physically, just appeared
in a video endorsing Romney. Explained on Leno,
he wouldn't criticize his successor, wasn't good
for the country. But he did vocally disagree
with Obama pulling troops from Iraq in 2011,
called it a strategic blunder. In 2015, Tien
says boots on the ground were needed to defeat
ISIS, contrasting with Obama, but declined to
comment on Iran specifically. The 2016 election
was tricky for him, campaigned for Jeb early
on, but refused to endorse Trump, didn't attend
the RNC. Reportedly told AIDS, I'm worried that
I will be the last Republican president. left
his ballot blank, didn't vote for Trump. Though
he, his father, and Jeb did call Trump to congratulate
him after the win, attended Trump's inauguration,
the famous poncho meme moment, allegedly called
the ceremony some weird shit. August 2017, he
and his father jointly condemned the United Right
rally violence. than that powerful October 2017
speech. Noting, bigotry seems emboldened, politics
vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright
fabrication, urging opposition to democratic
threats, widely seen as denouncing Trump without
naming him. Eulogize John McCain in 2018. Delivered
his father's eulogy later that year, sharing
those last words, I love you too. visited South
Korea in 2019 to honor former President Roh Moo
-hyun, drew his portrait. June 2020, statement
on George Floyd's murder, anguished, disturbed
by the injustice and fear, time to examine our
tragic failures, attended John Lewis's funeral,
didn't endorse in 2020, wrote in Condoleezza
Rice, congratulated Biden -Harris, called the
election fundamentally fair, attended Biden's
inauguration. After the January 6th Capitol attack,
joined other former presidents in denouncing
it as an insurrection, like something from a
banana republic. Opposed Biden's Afghanistan
withdrawal, worried about creating vacuum, called
it a mistake. That moving speech at the Flight
93 Memorial on the 9 -11 20th anniversary. Condemned
the 2024 assassination attempt on Trump. Didn't
attend the 24 RNC. No endorsement. Congratulated
Trump fans after their win. attended Trump's
second inauguration. What's really fascinating,
though, is that tradition of former presidents
coming together despite political differences.
It is powerful. His collaborations with Bill
Clinton on the Haiti fund, with Obama and others
on the One America appeal for hurricane victims.
Obama calling him after Bin Laden was killed,
joining the Obamas for the 9 -11 10th anniversary.
And that noted good -natured friendship with
Michelle Obama. Forever seatmates, his partner
in crime at former's gatherings. The mint passing
incidents became famous. It really raises that
question about the evolving role of former presidents,
the camaraderie that can form across party lines.
It does. And his post presidency also saw that
serious artistic pursuit? Painting. Inspired
by Churchill. Subjects ranging from people, dogs,
still life. Portraits of world leaders like Putin
and Blair. Portraits of courage donating proceeds.
Drew that portrait of Roh Mohian. A whole unexpected
dimension. So wrapping up, this deep dive leaves
us with a truly complex, still evolving legacy
for George W. Bush. Constantly debated, reevaluated.
Supporters credit his counter -terrorism policies
with preventing another 9 -11. Praise PEP -Yafar.
Medicare Part D. Critics point to the Iraq War,
the WMD justification failure, tax policy, Katrina
response, climate change stance, handling of
the 2008 financial crisis, even accusations of
war crimes from figures like Ben Ferenc. Despite
the divisions, many historians call him one of
the most consequential presidents. Julian Zelizer
called his presidency transformative, predicting
his perception would become more substantive
over time. Brian Williams called him most noteworthy
president since FDR, citing the Patriot Act's
expansion of executive power, largest tax cuts
since Reagan, biggest government expansion homeland
security since the Great Society, widely portrayed
in media known by nicknames like Dubia. Historical
reception has been dynamic. Scholarly rankings
initially placed him low, like that 2010 Sienna
survey ranking him 39th. Bush himself said history
would judge. He wouldn't be around for it. But
his ranking improved in C -SPAN's 2021 survey,
up to 29th. And U .S. public opinion has significantly
improved since 2009. Gallup noted views becoming
more positive. By 2013, his favorables outweighed
unfavorables for the first time post presidency.
A 2018 CNN poll found 61 percent held a favorable
view, widely interpreted as Democrats viewing
him more favorably in contrast to Trump, an assessment
Bush himself reportedly quipped about. Trump
makes me look pretty good. Foreign perceptions,
though, largely remain highly unfavorable. Remember
that, how can 59 million, 54 thousand, 87 people
be so dumb? Headline. Especially high unfavorables
in Muslim majority countries. Despite that, some
unique honors. That street in Tirana, Albania.
The Estonian Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
for NATO expansion. Two elementary schools named
after him. So the deep dive on George W. Bush,
it really leaves us with this fascinatingly complex,
evolving picture, doesn't it? What stands out
to you about how perceptions have shifted domestically
and internationally, especially recently? It
really is a testament to how history is a living
thing, always being reevaluated, seen through
new lenses, new comparisons. Absolutely. This
deep dive truly illustrates that leadership in
times of crisis leaves an indelible mark and
understanding a presidency means looking beyond
just the immediate reactions. Bush's time was
one of immense challenge, profound change. And
the varied opinions show that dynamic nature
of how history is written and rewritten. Exactly.
From historians initially ranking him low to
a public whose views softened, especially compared
to later figures, it's fascinating. His decision
points, tax cuts, global conflicts, PEPFAR had
far reaching consequences we still feel today
at home and globally, a testament to the immense
weight of the office. So considering all those
dramatic shifts, global events, public sentiment
throughout his career, what do you think is the
single most enduring yet perhaps overlooked aspect
of George W. Bush's legacy that future generations
will continue to grapple with and learn from.