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=The Cold War and George H.W. Bush's Presidency=


 * The Election Of 1988**

George H.W. Bush was the candidate running for the Republicans, after serving as Ronald Regan's vice president. For the democrats the Massachusets Governor, Michael Dukakis was the nominee after a long battle with the Reverend Jesse Jackson, whom was also the first African American man to seek presidential nomination. Bush won the election by a big difference of 426 electoral votes to 111.


 * The New President**

Bush brought a lot of change along with him to the White House. He even addressed in his inaugural address "A new breeze is blowing" referencing change in the White House.


 * Drugs, Education, and the Enviroment**

During his 1988 campaign, George Bush spoke strongly about our countries need to control the spread of legal drugs throughout our country. While President, he appointed William Bennett to be the "drug czar" to oversee the nations war on illegal drugs. Bennett resigned in 1990 because he believed the use of drugs among some populations drop, but the spread of drugs into our country still continued. Upon being replaced by Bob Martinez (Former Governor of Florida) bust also decided to chart new programs for the enviroment and education.


 * The Savings And Loan Crisis**

Also known as the S&L's was in response to a rash of savings banks around our nation. During the Regan administration he tried many time to pass bills to allow the banks freedom from government control which was never passed. When the Bush administration took over, they set up federal agencies to take over the failed banks, sell them or sell off their assets. Government economists at that time estimated the cost of the bailout would be around $600 billion within 10 years. Today we still do not know who is responsible for the crash, Regan or Bush?


 * Reducing the Deficit**

During his 1988 campaign, Bush stated "Read My Lips. No New Taxes." Eventually after many nights with debates with congress, Bush proposed a new tax policy. Bush raised taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and gasoline, which estimated a deficit of nearly $5 billion dollars over the next 5 years.


 * The Elections of 1990

During the election of 1990, voters saw a congress unwilling to make difficult choices on raising taxes or cutting programs. In 14 states, voters elected governors from a different party then those whom had been serving us in office. However, in most states 4 out of 10 voters went to the polls.

Flags and the Supreme Court**

In 1989, President Bush was angered by a law passed by the Supreme Court in which, it made it a crime to burn an American Flag which violated the First Amendments freedom of speech. In 1990, the Supreme Court conversed into conservatism. After the resignation of WIlliam Brennan, a little-known New Hampshire Judge, David Souter was appointed judge.


 * The End Of The Cold War?

After World War II, the Soviet Union dominated Eastern Europe. However, on November 9, 1989 they announced the opening of the Berlin Wall which since built in 1961 to prevent citizens from fleeing west. After this, many protests and other forms of demonstrations against communism spread rapidly across Easter Europe.

New Directions In Latin America**

George Bush did not have the same militant approach as Reagan did. Bush decided not to continuing pressing military aid to the contras but instead provided them with food, clothing and medical supplies. After Violeta Chamorro won the election in Nicaragua relations between Nicaragua and the United States changed hastily and remained uncertain. After Manuel Noriega was indicted on federal drug smuggling charges the country became very defiant. In response to this, on December 20, 1989 Bust sent troops into Panama and offered to help rebuild the nation's shattered economy.


 * Unrest In China

After a way of communism struck China in the spring of 1989, dissident Chinese students began a campaign for democratic reforms. Thousands gathered at the Tiananmen Square in the capital city of Bejing. After the regime struck back and army tanks rumbled the square many protestors were killed or arrested and others fled the country. Bush dissaproved of the repression but refused the take strong action against the Chinese government arguing the United States could better influence Chinese behavior by keeping the diplomatic channels open.

A Policy Toward South America**

In the early 1980's the South American Government pursued the policy of apartheid, or seperation of the races. Reagan did not agree with apartheid because it would hurt the majority of black jobs. Instead of apartheid, the Reagan administration adopted the policy known as "contructive engagement." In 1986, the congress passed a bill over Reagan's veto which forbid firms to invest or import goods from South America. The new developments in South America stirred questions about the American Policy but Bush chose to keep the sanctions in place.


 * War Clouds in the Middle East**

After the Iran-Iraq war ended in 1988, the Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein rebuilt his military and began his long string of attacks on August 2, 1990 in Kuwait. After Saddam sent troops into Saudi Arabia, President Bush responded by sending American troops to Saudi Arabia to help stop Saddam and encouraged other countries to send troops to help get Saddam out of Saudi Arabia. In response to this movement, Saddam held many Americans and other foreigners hostage and warned "If the United States or any other country bombs Iraq, these people would die in the attacks."


 * Fugitives in a Desert Drama**

On August 14th, a chemical worker from North Carolina, Jeff Rickert saw his wife in the Kuwaiti airport. With Iraqi soliders all around, a Kuwaiti approached him and said "you don't belong here." The man was essentially risking his life and decided to take Rickert to a villa were he would be safe. While in the villa he saw many Kuwaiti bloody-faced men having there faces beaten off of trucks for helping Americans. A 62 year-old business man from Texas, Bill Mills was able to stay in his 19 story apartment building safely because of his wife, Khadijah who was born in Iran and spoke to any Iran troops who came to search the apartment. After about four months of hiding out he was about to cross Kuwait by car. He passed through 6 Iraqi military checkpoints and was able to make it to the American embassy in Baghdad.


 * War in the Persian Gulf**

While Mills and other Americans waiting to see if they would be allowed to leave Kuwait and Iraq, the threat of war increased. In November of 1990 President Bush was able to convince the United Nations Security Council to declare January 15, 1991 the deadline for Iraq's removal from Kuwait. In preparation for an offensive strike, Bush sent an additional 200,000 troops to the Middle East. Saddam rejected the negotiation but released most of the hostages, including the Americans. After the January 15 deadline approached the Iraqi troops remained in Kuwait. On January 16, 1991 the United States and other United Nation members, including Saudi Arabia and Britain launched air attacks on Iraq. After 6 short weeks Saddam Hussein was defeated.