Years in Office: 2001 to 2009

George W. Bush was born on July 6, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut. His father was George Herbert Walker Bush, the nation's 41st president. Growing up, George liked being the family's eldest son. He had three brothers and one sister. He graduated from Yale in 1968. At the time, the nation was deeply involved in the Vietnam War. George joined the Texas National Guard and learned to fly a combat aircraft.

After attending Harvard Business School, bush returned to Texas in 1975 to set up an oil-drilling company in Midland. In 1977 Bush married Laura Welch, a Midland school librarian. They are the parents of twin girls, Barbra and Jenna.

After his father's 1988 election victory, Bush and his family settled in Dallas. Bush soon tried a new business venture, baseball. He organized a group of investors to bring the American League's Texas Rangers to Dallas.

In 1993, Bush announced his intention to become governor of Texas. With a surprising victory, Bush became the first presidential offspring to be elected governor of a state. Bush was reelected in 1998. People were saying he ought to think about a run for presidency.

Bush marched quickly to the republican nomination. As a presidential candidate he promised more aid to schools and visited more than 100 classrooms. George W. lost the popular vote, but won the Electoral College. His victory over Al Gore had a great meaning for Republicans. It enabled the party to reclaim the White House after 8 years of Democratic rule.