George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, died at the age of 94.
Bush leaves behind a legacy not just as a president, but as a loving father and husband throughout a political career that spanned decades.
"George H.W. Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for," former President and son George W. Bush said in a statement.
Here's the life and legacy of George H.W. Bush in photos:
George H.W. Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, in 1924. He was the second child out of five others.
Wikimedia Commons
Source: USA Today
He grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, and graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.
AP
Source: AP
On June 12, 1942, Bush enlisted in the US Navy as a pilot in World War II.
Wikimedia Commons
Source: USA Today
He became the nation's youngest commissioned pilot at the time at 18-years-old.
Wikimedia Commons
Source: History
During one of his 58 missions, his plane was shot down by Japanese forces. He remained in the aircraft and successfully hit his target before parachuting out. He was eventually rescued by a US submarine.
Wikimedia Commons
Source: History
He served in the Navy until 1945, the same year he married Barbara Pierce.
AP
Source: USA Today
Barbara later told her granddaughter, Jenna Bush Hager, "I could hardly breathe, I thought he was so beautiful."
Ed Kolenovsky/AP
Source: Today
Their marriage, the longest in presidential history, spanned 73 years until Barbara's death in April 2018.
Mark Reinstein/MediaPunch /IPX
Source: Today
The pair had six children, the first being George W. Bush, who would later become the 43rd president of the United States. Robin, Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy followed.
Wikimedia Commons
Source: USA Today
Following his military service and marriage to Barbara, Bush studied economics at Yale University and was captain of the school's baseball team.
AP
Source: History
After graduating, Bush moved to Texas and worked in the oil industry before transitioning to politics in 1964.
Ed Kolenovsky/AP
Source: Texas Tribune
He eventually won a seat in Congress and became the first Houston Republican to serve in the US House.
AP
Source: Texas Tribune
President Richard Nixon appointed Bush as the US ambassador to the United Nations from 1971 to 1973.
Dave Pickoff/AP
Source: History
Bush then served as the chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1974, the same year that Nixon's involvement in the Watergate scandal came to light. Bush issued a public request for Nixon to resign, which he did two days later.
Bob Daugherty/AP
Source: History
President Gerald Ford replaced Nixon and appointed Bush as head of the US Liaison Office in the People's Republic of China.
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Source: History
He filled that position until 1976, when he became the director of the CIA.
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Source: History
Bush resigned from the CIA when Democrat Jimmy Carter became president in 1977.
Dennis Cook/AP
Source: History
In 1980, Bush ran for the Republican nomination in the presidential election. But he was overtaken by the widely-popular Ronald Reagan, who eventually chose him as his running mate. Bush would serve two terms as vice president under Reagan.
Lederhandler/AP
Source: Texas Tribune
He would go on to become the 41st president of the United States in 1989. He chose Daniel Quayle, a senator from Indiana, as his running mate.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Source: History
At the time, the US was in the midst of an economic recession and was affected by a hefty federal budget deficit, which stonewalled his efforts to advance domestic policies.
Doug Mills/AP
Source: History
Foreign policy soon became a central focus in the Bush administration.
Marcy Nighswander/AP
Source: History
At the time of Bush's inauguration, the world was reeling from the Cold War and the Soviet Union was collapsing.
John Gaps III/AP
Source: History
In 1991, Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I), which limited strategic nuclear weapons in both countries and improved US-Soviet relations in the process.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Source: History
In the previous year, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. NATO countries were called upon for aid, and Bush responded with Operation Desert Storm.
AP
Source: History
Although the operation was a precursor to a long-standing conflict with Iraq, the 42-day air offensive successfully defeated Iraqi forces and liberated Kuwait.
Laurent Rebours/AP
Source: History
In one of his more controversial foreign policies in 1989, Bush rolled out Operation Just Cause, a plan to overthrow Panama's corrupt dictator, Manuel Noriega.
AP
Source: History
Noriega was indicted by the US for money laundering and drug trafficking, and was accused of suppressing democracy in Panama.
Carlos Guardia/AP
Source: History
After Noriega's forces shot and killed an off-duty US Marine, Bush authorized Operation Just Cause. Twenty-one-thousand US troops dismantled Panama's forces, forcing Noriega to surrender.
Dennis Cook/AP
Source: History
The operation was denounced by some governing bodies, including the UN, who labeled it as a violation of international law.
John Gaps/AP
Source: History
Back in the US, Bush made a number of strides to improve the lives of Americans.
Ron Edmonds/AP
He signed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, forbidding employers from discriminating against people with disabilities.
Barry Thumma/AP
Source: History
In 1990, he made amendments to the Clean Air Act, which allowed greater precautions to be taken in light of emerging threats to the environment from cars and factories.
Charles Tasnadi/AP
Source: History
During his presidency, Bush appointed Judges Clarence Thomas and David Souter to the Supreme Court.
Doug Mills/AP
Source: Texas Tribune
Despite his initial campaign promise for "no new taxes," he upset many supporters after he mandated an increase to lessen the bloated budget deficit.
Barry Thumma/AP
Source: History
The tax hike didn't work in his favor when he ran for re-election in 1992. He lost to Democratic Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas.
Judi Bottoni/AP
Source: History
Following his re-election loss, Bush and his wife retired in Houston, Texas.
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Source: Texas Tribune
Eight years later, Bush's son, George W. Bush, became president and served two terms.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Source: History
The presidential pair, a father and his son to serve as president, was the second in US history. John and John Quincy Adams previously served as the second and sixth presidents, respectively.
Evan Vucci/AP
Source: History
His presidential library, dedicated in 1997, sits next to Texas A&M University, in College Station, Texas.
David J. Phillip/AP
Source: Texas Tribune
Ten years later, Bush parachuted in with members of the US Army Golden Knights for a re-dedication ceremony at the presidential library,
Sgt. 1st Class Kevin McDaniel/U.S. Army via AP
Source: USA Today
In April 2018, Barbara died at the age of 92.
Evan Vucci/AP
Bush was understandably "heartbroken." In 2011, Bush read from a letter he once wrote to Barbara: "I love you, precious, with all my heart, and to know that you love me means my life."
Charles Krupa/AP
Source: Today
On November 30, eight months after the death of his wife, George H.W. Bush died at the age of 94.
David J. Phillip/AP
Source: Business Insider
He is survived by his five children, 17 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and two siblings.
The White House, Eric Draper/AP
Source: Business Insider
At 94 years old, he was the longest living president in history.
Eric Gay/AP
Source: USA Today
See Also:
- Key moments from George H.W. Bush's legacy
- The 26-year-old American missionary traveled around the world before getting killed by an isolated tribe on a forbidden island
- The isolated tribe that killed a 26-year-old American missionary has been contacted by the outside world at least 11 times before — here's what happened each time
SEE ALSO: Former President George H.W. Bush dies at age 94