President George Herbert
Walker Bush
President Bush is a tenth cousin, seven times removed,
to the first President of the United States, George Washington, a 26th cousin,
seven times removed to me. George Herbert Walker Bush is the 6th cousin -11x
removed of Joan, "Joan of Acre," the wife of the 8th great grandson
of Edmund of Woodstock (1301 - 1330), 11th great grandfather of Sir Edward
Southworth, the first husband of Alice Carpenter, my 7th great grandmother. The ancestor in common is English
King Edward I, "Longshanks."
Bush was born June 12, 1924, the
same year that President Calvin
Coolidge delivered the first presidential radio broadcast from the White House
on February 22, 1924.
Source:http://www.kipnotes.com/Calvin%20Coolidge.htm
"George Bush brought to the
White House a dedication to traditional American values and a determination to
direct them toward making the United States "a kinder and gentler
nation." In his Inaugural Address he pledged in "a moment rich with
promise" to use American strength as Òa force for good."
"Coming from a family with a
tradition of public service, George Herbert Walker Bush felt the responsibility
to make his contribution both in time of war and in peace. Born in Milton,
Massachusetts, on June 12, 1924, he became a student leader at Phillips Academy
in Andover. On his 18th birthday he enlisted in the armed forces. The youngest
pilot in the Navy when he received his wings, he flew 58 combat missions during
World War II. On one mission over the Pacific as a torpedo bomber pilot he was
shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft fire and was rescued from the water by a U.
S. submarine. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in
action.
"Bush next turned his energies toward completing
his education and raising a family. In January of 1945, he married Barbara
Pierce. They had six children: George, Robin (who died as a child), John
(known as Jeb), Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy.
"At Yale University, he
excelled both in sports and in his studies; he was captain of the baseball team
and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. After graduation Bush embarked on a career in
the oil industry of West Texas.
At one point, Bush shared in an oil
development partnership with a Mr. Jerome (Jerry) McNair Fullinwider. Besides being business partners, they
were friends. In fact, they were
next door neighbors. So, Jerry had
the opportunity to associate not only with his partner as a future President of
the United States, but he watched the Bush son, George W. Bush, grow up next
door, who also became a U. S. President.
An unusual side light is that Jerry grew up in
Highland Park, a suburb city in Dallas County, housing the culturally and
economical elite of Dallas. He was
a member of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church, which in later years was
where I was on staff as Executive Administrator to the Senior Pastor (1982 Ð
2004). In later years, after the
Bushes became names of national prominence, Jerry and his lovely wife, Leah
moved back to Highland Park and the church. That is when my personal friendship with
them developed.
Jerry and Leah bore three absolutely
beautiful daughters. In the 1980s,
they lived in Highland Park next door to a local business CEO named Dick
Chaney. As things turned out, Dick
Chaney became Vice President for George W. Bush. In addition, H. Ross Perot, a fellow
member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, ran for President as an
independent candidate in 1992. He
lost, but his presence on the ballot probably was the primary reason that
George H.W. Bush lost that election to Bill Clinton.
Ross Perot had a son who married one
of JerryÕs daughters! So, my
friends, Jerry & Leah Fullinwider have the unique experience of having
lived next door to both a President and a Vice President and had a daughter to
marry another Presidential candidate!
WOW! What a family
experience! I count it a real
privilege to be friends with the Fullinwiders and to know Ross Perot. Both of those family was significant
families in the Christian life of Highland Park Presbyterian Church.
"Like his father, Prescott
Bush, who was elected a Senator from Connecticut in 1952, George became
interested in public service and politics. He served two terms as a
Representative to Congress from Texas. Twice he ran unsuccessfully for the
Senate. Then he was appointed to a series of high-level positions: Ambassador
to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Chief of
the U. S. Liaison Office in the People's Republic of China, and Director of the
Central Intelligence Agency.
"In 1980 Bush campaigned for
the Republican nomination for President. He lost, but was chosen as a running
mate by Ronald Reagan. As Vice President, Bush had responsibility in several
domestic areas, including Federal deregulation and anti-drug programs, and visited
scores of foreign countries. In 1988 Bush won the Republican nomination for
President and, with Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana as his running mate, he
defeated Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis in the general election.
"Bush faced a dramatically
changing world, as the Cold War ended after 40 bitter years, the Communist
empire broke up, and the Berlin Wall fell. The Soviet Union ceased to exist;
and reformist President Mikhail Gorbachev, whom Bush had supported, resigned.
While Bush hailed the march of democracy, he insisted on restraint in U. Policy
toward the group of new nations.
"In other areas of foreign
policy, President Bush sent American troops into Panama to overthrow the
corrupt regime of General Manuel Noriega, who was threatening the security of
the canal and the Americans living there. Noriega was brought to the United
States for trial as a drug trafficker.
"Bush's greatest test came when
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, then threatened to move into
Saudi Arabia. Vowing to free Kuwait, Bush rallied the United Nations, the U. S.
people, and Congress and sent 425,000 American troops. They were joined by
118,000 troops from allied nations. After weeks of air and missile bombardment,
the 100-hour land battle dubbed Desert Storm routed Iraq's million-man army.
"Despite unprecedented
popularity from this military and diplomatic triumph, Bush was unable to
withstand discontent at home from a faltering economy, rising violence in inner
cities, and continued high deficit spending. In 1992 he lost his bid for
reelection to Democrat William Clinton."
Source:http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/gb41.html
Compiled by
Dwight Albert (D. A.) Sharpe
805 Derting Road East
Aurora, TX 76078-3712
817-504-6508