Gov.George W. Bush

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PROFILE

George W. Bush, Republican, of Dallas, Texas.
Current Filed with the FEC to establish a presidential exploratory committee on March 9, 1999.
46th Governor of the State of Texas.  Elected on November 8, 1994, with 53.5 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent Ann Richards.  Re-elected November 3, 1998, with 68.6 percent of the vote, defeating Garry Mauro.
 
Career Co-chairman of the 1996 Republican National Convention.
Managing general partner of the Texas Rangers baseball team, 1989-94.
Moved to Washington to serve as a senior advisor in his father's 1998 campaign.
Republican nominee for U.S. House in 1978 in TX-19 (Midland, Lubbock, Odessa), an open seat. Bush lost by a margin of 53%-47% to Democratic state Senator Kent Hance. 
Founder and CEO of Bush Exploration, an oil and gas company, ran from 1975-87.
 
Military F-102 fighter pilot in the Texas Air National Guard from 1968-73.
 
Education Yale University, bachelor's degree, 1968.  Harvard Business School, MBA, 1975.
 
Family Wife Laura.  Twin daughters Barbara and Jenna.
 
Religion Methodist.
 
Age 54 years old.  Born July 6, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut.  Grew up in Midland and Houston, Texas.


Readings
Books (See The Book Page)
Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose.  February 2000.  SHRUB: THE SHORT BUT HAPPY POLITICAL LIFE OF GEORGE W. BUSH.  New York: Random House.

Elizabeth Mitchell.  January 2000.  W: REVENGE OF THE BUSH DYNASTY.  New York: Hyperion.

George W. Bush.  November 1999.  A CHARGE TO KEEP.  New York: William Morrow.

Bill Minutaglio.  October 1999.  FIRST SON: George W. Bush and the Bush Family Dynasty.  New York: Times Books.

Articles
Washington Post series "Bush's Texas Record"--occasional articles starting October 15, 1999. >

Articles in "The Book on W" issue of National Journal, August 7, 1999.

Seven-part series by Lois Romano and George Lardner Jr. "The Life of George W. Bush."  Washington Post, July 25-31, 1999. >

Articles in "Why W.?" issue of National Review, July 12, 1999.

Articles in "Rising Son" issue of Newsweek, June 21, 1999.

Articles in "President Bush?" issue of Time, June 21, 1999. >

Fred Barnes. "The Annointed One." The Weekly Standard, June 14, 1999. 

Articles in "Who is George W. Bush?" issue of Texas Monthly, June 1999. >

Louis Dubose. "Running on Empty." The Nation, April 26, 1999. >

Dana Milbank. "What 'W' Stands For." The New Republic, April 26-May 3, 1999. >

Jeffrey H. Birnbaum. "The Man Who Could Be President." Fortune, March 29, 1999, p. 72-80. >

Julia Reed.  "Lone Star Stars."  Vogue, February 1999, p. 232-39.

Kenneth T. Walsh. "Can Bush Save the GOP?" U.S. News & World Report, November 16, 1998, p. 18-26.

Sam Howe Verhovek. "Is There Room on a Republican Ticket for Another Bush?" New York Times Magazine, September 13, 1998.

Fred Barnes. "The Heavyweight." The Weekly Standard, September 14, 1998, p. 19-23.

Jonathan Walters.  "The Taming of Texas." Governing, July 1998. >

Paul Burka. "President Bush?" Texas Monthly, July 1998.

Peter Beinart. "The Big Debate." The New Republic, March 16, 1998, p. 21-25. >

Julia Reed. "The Son Also Rises." The Weekly Standard, February 10, 1997, p. 23-27.


Support
Endorsements by Organizations
Newspaper Endorsements
Elected Officials (from the primary period)
In the primaries, George W. Bush received far more endorsements from elected officials than any of the other Republican contenders.  By 3/8/00 Bush had endorsements of 41 current U.S. Senators, at least 175 current U.S. Representatives and Delegates and 27 current Governors

A significant factor that helped put Bush in a commanding position before the primary season began was the early backing of groups of elected officials from around the country.
On March 2, 1999 Gov. Bush told Texas reporters he would be setting up an exploratory committee; he formally announced the committee on March 7. Even before Bush made the announcement, support began to line up.  In February groups of legislators from a number of states made the trek to Austin to encourage him to run; additional elected officials sent letters of encouragement.  After Bush's exploratory announcement the letters continued to arrive (not included below).
Letters from Maryland State Legislators--Mar. 1, 1999
Letter from North Carolina Legislators--Mar. 1, 1999
GOP Governors Endorse Bush for President--Feb. 26, 1999
Letter from Alabama Republican Officials--Feb. 25, 1999
Letters from Massachusetts State Legislators--Feb. 24, 1999
New Mexico Legislators--Feb. 18, 1999
Letter from South Carolina State Representatives--Feb. 17, 1999
Current and Former Members of Congress--Feb. 9, 1999
Letters from Iowa State Legislators--Feb. 8, 1999
California Legislators Endorse Bush for President--Jan. 20, 1999

Independent Expenditures
Technology Leaders' Ad Encouraging Bush to Run--San Jose Mercury News, April 6, 1999

Opposition
The Bush Watch
Democratic National Committee's "Bush Lite"



Speeches
Remarks, Austin, TX--November 26, 2000 >

Barnstorm for Reform--October 23, 2000 >

"Maintaining Prosperity," Green Bay, WI--September 28, 2000 >

Acceptance Speech at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, PA--August 3, 2000 >

Announcement of Dick Cheney as Running Mate, Austin, TX--July 25, 2000 >

"New Prosperity Initiative," Cleveland, Ohio--April 11, 2000 >

Remarks at Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC--February 2, 2000 >

Iowa Straw Poll at Ames, IA--August 14, 1999. >

Bush for President Announcement (first campaign swing), Cedar Rapids, IA--June 12, 1999 >

Exploratory Committee Announcement, Austin, TX--March 7, 1999 >
 
 
 
 

Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.