Few American families have shaped the presidency quite like the Bushes. Two men, one name, and two very different turns in the Oval Office — George H. W. Bush steered the country through the end of the Cold War, while his son George W. Bush faced the upheaval of 9/11 and the War on Terror.

4 related posts

Presidential terms: George W. Bush (2001–2009), George H. W. Bush (1989–1993) ·
Age at death (George H. W. Bush): 94 years (June 12, 1924 – November 30, 2018) ·
9/11 response: Launched War on Terror, invaded Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003) ·
Broccoli stance (George H. W. Bush): Publicly stated dislike in 1990; banned from Air Force One

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • George W. Bush served two full terms as 43rd president (Wikipedia)
  • George H. W. Bush died in 2018 at age 94 (Wikipedia)
  • Both are members of the Bush political family (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact impact of the Iraq War on long-term U.S. foreign policy continues to be debated
  • Whether George W. Bush would publicly endorse same-sex marriage today is not clearly stated
3Timeline signal
  • March 19, 2003: Invasion of Iraq marked a pivot in W. Bush’s presidency (Miller Center)
  • November 30, 2018: Death of George H. W. Bush ended an era (Miller Center)
4What’s next
  • George W. Bush remains active through the Bush Institute and his painting hobby
  • Historical rankings continue to reassess both presidencies

Five key facts that frame the comparison between the two presidents:

Attribute Value
Full names George Walker Bush (son); George Herbert Walker Bush (father)
Years in office Son: 2001–2009; Father: 1989–1993
Political party Both Republican
Military service George H. W. Bush: WWII Navy pilot; George W. Bush: Texas Air National Guard
Vice presidents Dick Cheney (son); Dan Quayle (father)

The implication: both men held the same office but arrived with dramatically different resumes and historical contexts.

What is George W. Bush famous for?

Presidency and domestic policy

  • Served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009 (Wikipedia).
  • Signed the No Child Left Behind Act (Miller Center).
  • Enacted major tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 (Miller Center).

9/11 and War on Terror

George W. Bush’s presidency was transformed by the September 11 attacks. He launched the War on Terror, invading Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 (Miller Center). The response defined his time in office and remains the most frequently cited part of his legacy.

Education and tax cuts

Domestically, Bush pushed through the No Child Left Behind Act, which aimed to raise accountability in schools, and signed Medicare Part D, a prescription drug benefit for seniors (Miller Center).

Bottom line: George W. Bush’s legacy hinges on his response to 9/11 and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — his domestic initiatives like No Child Left Behind rank second to his foreign-policy decisions for historians.

What did George W. Bush do that was controversial?

Iraq War and WMD controversy

The decision to invade Iraq based on alleged weapons of mass destruction that were not found became one of the most controversial aspects of his presidency (Miller Center). The war cost thousands of lives and trillions of dollars, and its justification remains disputed.

Domestic surveillance programs

After 9/11, the Bush administration authorized warrantless wiretapping by the National Security Agency, sparking a debate over civil liberties (Wikipedia).

Hurricane Katrina response

The slow federal response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 drew sharp criticism. Bush’s approval ratings dropped and never fully recovered (Miller Center).

The catch

Many historians argue that the Iraq War’s long-term consequences — including regional instability and a damaged U.S. reputation — overshadow any gains from the initial invasion.

Did George W. Bush support LGBTQ rights?

Federal Marriage Amendment

Bush supported a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage (Wikipedia). He also defended the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, which barred openly gay people from serving in the military.

Post-presidency views

After leaving office, Bush expressed respect for same-sex couples but did not endorse marriage equality. He officiated a wedding for two women in 2013 but described it as a private ceremony, not a political statement.

The trade-off

While Bush’s post-presidency gestures signaled a personal evolution, his administration’s official actions — backing a constitutional ban and retaining Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — place him on the conservative side of the debate.

Timeline

  • June 12, 1924 — George H. W. Bush born
  • July 6, 1946 — George W. Bush born
  • 1989–1993 — George H. W. Bush presidency
  • 2001–2009 — George W. Bush presidency
  • September 11, 2001 — 9/11 terrorist attacks; War on Terror begins
  • March 19, 2003 — Invasion of Iraq
  • November 30, 2018 — Death of George H. W. Bush
  • Present — George W. Bush alive as of 2025, involved in Bush Institute and painting

Clarity: Confirmed facts vs. What remains unclear

Two lists, based on available evidence:

Confirmed facts

  • George W. Bush served two full terms as president
  • George H. W. Bush died in 2018 at age 94
  • Both are members of the Bush political family
  • George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (Wikipedia)
  • George W. Bush appointed John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

  • Exact impact of the Iraq War on long-term U.S. foreign policy continues to be debated
  • Whether George W. Bush would publicly endorse same-sex marriage today is not clearly stated

Quotes from the presidents

“I do not like broccoli. And I haven’t liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I’m President of the United States and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli.”

— George H. W. Bush, 1990, quoted by the Wikipedia entry on George H. W. Bush

“Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.”

— George W. Bush, address to Congress, September 20, 2001 (Miller Center)

Why this matters

The two quotes capture the tonal distance between the Bushes: grandfatherly defiance over a vegetable versus a global ultimatum that launched two decades of war. The contrast is a shortcut to understanding their very different presidencies.

Summary

George H. W. Bush is remembered as a pragmatic foreign-policy steward who managed the end of the Cold War without major conflict, while his son George W. Bush’s legacy remains tied to a war that many consider a mistake. The younger Bush’s response to 9/11 consumed his presidency, shaping how Americans view executive power today.

Related reading: **Pierre Poilievre Riding Results: 2025 Carleton Election** · **Premiers Using Notwithstanding Clause: History & Examples**

Additional sources

scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu, cfr.org, aarp.org, youtube.com

For a deeper look at how their policies diverged, see this analysis of the contrasting legacies of the two Bush presidencies.

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Frequently asked questions

Is George W. Bush still alive?

Yes, George W. Bush is alive as of 2025. He was born July 6, 1946, and remains active through the George W. Bush Institute.

What did George W. Bush do after his presidency?

He returned to Dallas, focused on painting, and established the Bush Institute to promote policy ideas. He also published a memoir, Decision Points.

How are George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush related?

George H. W. Bush (41st president) is the father of George W. Bush (43rd president). They are the only father-son duo to both serve as president since John Adams and John Quincy Adams.

What was the broccoli controversy about?

In 1990, President George H. W. Bush said he disliked broccoli and banned it from Air Force One. The statement sparked a national debate and even a protest from broccoli farmers.

Did George W. Bush cause the Iraq War?

The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 was ordered by President George W. Bush based on the claim that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons were found, and the decision remains highly controversial.

Who were the best U.S. presidents?

Historical rankings vary, but common top-three picks include Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Neither Bush typically ranks in the top ten.

What president did the most for LGBTQ rights?

Many historians credit Barack Obama with the most progress, including the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and support for same-sex marriage. George W. Bush took the opposite position during his presidency.