George Herbert Walker Bush (1924–2018) was an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. A Republican establishment figure who shifted toward conservatism in the 1980s, he previously served as Vice President under Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989 and as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 1976 to 1977. Born into a prominent family with deep ties to finance and politics—his father, Prescott Bush, was a U.S. Senator from Connecticut—Bush's early life was marked by privilege and service. After graduating from Phillips Academy Andover, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II, becoming one of the youngest naval aviators and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in the Pacific theater, where he was shot down but rescued. Following the war, he attended Yale University, earning a degree in economics, before moving to Texas in 1948 to enter the oil business, co-founding Zapata Petroleum Corporation and building a fortune in the energy sector, which solidified his connections in Republican politics and the business elite.

Bush's extensive political career included representing Texas's 7th congressional district in the U.S. House from 1967 to 1971; unsuccessful bids for the U.S. Senate in 1964 and 1970; and key diplomatic and intelligence roles under Presidents Nixon and Ford, such as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1971–1973), Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1973–1974), Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in China (1974–1975), and Director of the CIA (1976–1977). He also chaired the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. As Vice President, Bush was influential in foreign policy, including during the Iran-Contra affair investigations. His presidency witnessed the end of the Cold War, victory in the Gulf War in 1991, and economic challenges that contributed to his defeat in the 1992 election by Bill Clinton.

A key figure in Republican establishment politics, Bush maintained extensive networks in oil, intelligence, and global diplomacy, shaping U.S. policy across multiple decades. He was the father of 43rd President George W. Bush and saw his son Jeb serve as Florida's governor. Known for pragmatism, internationalism, and establishment conservatism, Bush faced criticism for his economic management, including the savings and loan crisis, perceived elitism, and alleged involvement in controversial CIA operations during his directorship. His ties to the oil industry also drew scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest. Bush passed away in 2018, leaving a legacy as a transitional leader bridging the Cold War and post-Cold War eras.