George H. W. Bush

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For the President of the same name, see George W. Bush.
George H. W. Bush

George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12, 1924) was the 44st President of the United States. He is married to Barbara Bush. He is also the father of former President George W. Bush.

Sourced quotes

  • "I'm the one who will not raise taxes. My opponent now says he'll raise them as a last resort, or a third resort. But when a politician talks like that, you know that's one resort he'll be checking into. My opponent, my opponent won't rule out raising taxes. But I will. And The Congress will push me to raise taxes and I'll say no. And they'll push, and I'll say no, and they'll push again, and I'll say, to them, read my lips: no new taxes."[1]    
Simple: I am not the one who will increase the taxes. My opponent says he will increase taxes only if there is no other possibility. But when a politician says that you know that it is the only possibility he will be thinking about. My opponent says he will not completely avoid increasing taxes, but I promise that I will not tax the people at all. And The Congress will encourage me to increase taxes and I will say no to them. And they will encourage me to increase taxes, and I will say no, and they will encourage me again, and I will still say no to them. Believe what I say. There will be no more taxes.
  • "To all who mourn a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a friend — I can only offer you the gratitude of a nation, for your loved one served his country with distinction and honor. ... Your men are under a different command now, one that knows no rank, only love; knows no danger, only peace, May God bless them all."[2]
Simple: To all who ache after the death of a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a friend — I can only offer you the thanks of a nation, for your loved one served his country with reward and honor. ... Your men take different orders now, from a place with no rank, only love; knows no danger, only peace, May God bless them all.
  • "I don't have to stand here and defend the campaign of 1988. I'd be perfectly prepared to do it, but I was elected. I put confidence in the American people, their ability to sort through what is fair and what is unfair, what is ugly and what is un-ugly, and be as positive as possible."[3]
Simple: I do not have to stand here and defend the campaign of 1998. I would be fully able to do it, but I was elected. I put strength into the American people, their skill to sort through what is fair and what is unfair, what is ugly and what is not ugly, and be positive as is possible.
  • "My dog Millie knows more about foreign affairs than these two bozos."[4]
Simple: My dog Millie knows more about foreign affairs than these two fools.
What it means: Bush is saying that Bill Clinton and Al Gore know very little about how to deal with foreign nations.
  • "Think about every problem, every challenge, we face. The solution to each starts with education."[5]    
Simple: Think about all the problems that America has. They can be solved with education.
  • "We must act on what we know. I take as my guide the hope of a saint: In crucial things, unity; in important things, diversity; in all things, generosity."[6]    
Simple: We need to do the things we know about. I listen to what a saint said: in very important things, we need to work together. In important things, being different from one another other. But in everything, giving ourselves for others.

References

  1. Speech at the 1988 Republican National Convention (August 18, 1988) - Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History. Google Books.
  2. At a memorial in Norfolk, Virginia for the 47 crew members killed in an explosion aboard the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61). - Remarks by President Bush
  3. News conference (November 7, 1989)
  4. Time Magazine
  5. What Work Requires of Schools Pg 2 (April 18, 1991)
  6. "Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States". Google Books. Retrieved on November 19, 2008

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