he had not served as Reagan’s two-term vice presi-
dent, it is unlikely that Bush would have been nomi-
nated and elected president in 1988. Political com-
mentators often claimed that many voters supported
Bush in the 1988 presidential election because they
perceived a Bush presidency as the equivalent of a
third term for Reagan. During his one-term presi-
dency, Bush suffered politically from the perception
of social conservatives and the Religious Right that
he was not sincerely committed to their issue posi-
tions and the perception of many Americans that he
could not understand and effectively respond to
their economic problems. Following as he did in
the footsteps of Reagan, who had been nicknamed
the Great Communicator, Bush suffered by compar-
ison, because his speeches lacked the eloquence and
drama of his predecessor.
Subsequent Events When Iraqi dictator Saddam
Hussein invaded Kuwait in August, 1990, Bush
quickly assembled a multinational coalition that in-
cluded Middle Eastern governments to oppose
Hussein’s occupation of Kuwait and demand his
withdrawal. With the support of the United Nations
and a congressional resolution, Bush ordered air
and ground military operations against Iraqi troops
in Kuwait. Bush refrained from invading Iraq, how-
ever, and the Persian Gulf War ended victoriously
and with few casualties for the United States and its
allies by April, 1991. Bush’s public approval ratings
then approximated 90 percent, higher than that of
any previous president.
Initially confident of being reelected president,
Bush overestimated the influence of the Persian
Gulf War and underestimated the influence of the
1990-1991 economic recession on the 1992 presi-
dential election. In contrast to the Democratic presi-
dential campaign of Bill Clinton, the governor of Ar-
kansas, the Bush campaign seemed unfocused and
listless. Further weakened by greater public concern
with economic issues and the strong independent
presidential candidacy of wealthy businessman Ross
Perot, Bush suffered one of the worst electoral de-
feats of any incumbent president seeking reelection.
He received only 38 percent of the popular vote and
168 electoral votes.
Further Reading
Barilleaux, Ryan J., and Mark J. Rozell.Power and
Prudence: The Presidency of George H. W. Bush. Col-
lege Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2004.
A balanced analysis of the Bush presidency that
emphasizes the influences of incrementalism,
moderation, and caution on its policies and ad-
ministration.
Duffy, Michael, and Dan Goodgame.Marching in
Place: The Status Quo Presidency of George Bush. New
York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. A mostly unfavor-
able analysis of Bush’s presidency, including the
1988 presidential election.
Kelley, Kitty.The Family: The Real Stor y of the Bush
Dynasty. New York: Anchor Books, 2005. An ex-
tensive history of the Bush family that includes
George H. W. Bush’s political career during the
1980’s.
Kolb, Charles.White House Daze: The Unmaking of Do-
mestic Policy in the Bush Years. New York: Free Press,- Explores and provides explanations for the
domestic policy failures of the Bush presidency.
Morrison, Donald, ed.The Winning of the White
House, 1988. New York: Time, 1988. Collection of
articles on the 1988 presidential election; in-
cludes the influence of the Reagan presidency on
the Bush campaign.
Schaller, Michael.Right Turn: American Life in the
Reagan-Bush Era: 1980-1992. New York: Oxford
University Press, 2007. A broad survey of the
social, economic, and political history of the
Reagan-Bush era that highlights major events, is-
sues, and trends during the 1980’s.
Sean J. Savage
See also Atwater, Lee; Business and the economy
in the United States; Cold War; Conservatism in U.S.
politics; Dukakis, Michael; Elections in the United
States, midterm; Elections in the United States,
1980; Elections in the United States, 1984; Elections
in the United States, 1988; Foreign policy of the
United States; Iran-Contra affair; Panama invasion;
Quayle, Dan; Reagan, Ronald; Reagan Revolution;
Reaganomics; Recessions; Sununu, John H.The Eighties in America Bush, George H. W. 155