George Bush Commemorative Coin

"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." President George H. W. Bush

Inspired by his father's public service, George H. W. Bush believed from an early age that it was his duty to contribute to the greater good. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Bush enlisted in the U.S. Navy and, at just 18 years old, was the youngest aviator in Navy history at the time. After the war, Bush graduated from Yale on an accelerated schedule and formed his own oil company, which eventually made him millions. However, he still felt a duty to the public and eventually served in Congress and was named director of the CIA. When Bush failed to win the Republican presidential nomination in 1980, he became Ronald Reagan's Vice President, and won the presidency for himself after Reagan's terms.

As President, Bush focused on foreign policy, striving to remove corrupt dictators from power around the world. Sending troops into Panama, Bush ousted General Manuel Norriega and later faced down Saddam Hussein's attempt to invade Kuwait with a 100-hour war.

After leaving office, Bush settled in Texas with his wife, but continued to serve in numerous non-profit organizations, such as the Eisenhower Fellowships program and Points of Light, an international organization. On November 30, 2018, George H.W. Bush passed away at the age of 94 as the longest-lived president in U.S. history. The nation mourns his loss, but will continue to celebrate his legacy and his decades of public service.