George Herbert Walker Bush looked like a shoo-in for the two-term presidency; it would have capped one of the most impressive political resumes in the American history.
For starters who could match this campaign moment, George Bush piloted a plane just like this in World War-II.
He was shot down over the Pacific and remarkably was rescued. The rescue team was caught on film.
He seemed like a charmed life, Bush was the son of a senator, a sports star at Yale and became a millionaire in the oil business.
He went to Washington as a congressman then ambassador to the United Nations and then ambassador of the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency).
By the time Bush ran for national office, there as one knock on him was that he’s dull.
He was tapped by the immensely popular Ronald Reagan to be his vice presidential running mate and that caved the way for his own successful bid for president
Raging a war on drugs at home, helping end the Cold War abroad and leading a successful war against Iraq but then there was an economic recession.
As the economy turned bad, the American public turned on Bush.
Instead of one final triumph, Bush fell into the less distinguished category presidents who failed to win reelection.
The man who always seemed to land on his feet was knocked flat.
Yet Bush’s presidential legacy, it turned out was not complete.
Just eight years after Bush left the White House, his son walked in.
Mr. President Bush’s oldest son went on to win two presidential terms. His other son John Ellis “Jeb” Bush, a successful governor could not pull off a Bush triple play for president.
But it was a remarkable run for the family patriarch. George HW Bush’s ultimate legacy not a one-term presidency but a political dynasty that kept the Bush name at the center of presidential politics for more than 35 years.
-Harleen Sandhu
