SECTION 4: The George W. Bush Presidency
▲ Bush’s casual style attracted voters in both of his presidential races. By his reelection in 2004, he was often referred to simply as “W.”
dWITNESS HISTORY 
AUDIO
A Two-Term President
In 2005, George W. Bush was sworn in as President for a second term. In his inaugural address, he alluded to a remarkable shift in traditional American foreign policy, saying that the cause of advancing freedom and democracy abroad was sufficient reason for the United States to involve itself in conflict overseas.
“All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.”
—George W. Bush, Second Inaugural
Address, 2005
Objectives
- Assess the outcome of the 2000 presidential election.
- Explain the goals and achievements of George W. Bush’s domestic policy.
- Analyze the impact of terrorist attacks on the United States.
- Summarize the important issues of Bush’s second term.
Terms and People
- George W. Bush
- No Child Left Behind Act
- Taliban
- Patriot Act
- Department of Homeland Security
- WMD
NoteTaking
Reading Skill: Recognize Sequence Record the sequence of events in Bush’s presidency in a flowchart like the one below.
Why It Matters The election of George W. Bush to the presidency assured Republican domination of the White House and Congress. When the United States was attacked on September 11, 2001, Bush would use this unity—along with the support of a galvanized American public—to move the nation in a new direction. Section Focus Question: What was the impact of Bush’s domestic agenda and his response to the terrorist attack against the United States?
An Election Controversy
The year 2000 brought an end to Clinton’s two terms as President. Clinton’s legacy of a strong economy coupled with personal scandal polarized voters. As candidates geared up for the 2000 presidential race, it promised to be a close election.
Three Candidates Run
Clinton’s Vice President, Al Gore, Jr., of Tennessee, ran for the Democrats. Gore selected Connecticut senator Joseph Lieberman as his Vice President, making Lieberman the first Jewish person to be on the ticket of a major party. Gore tried to associate himself with the economic record of the Clinton administration while distancing himself from Clinton’s personal scandals.
The Republicans chose George W. Bush as their candidate. A son of George H.W. Bush and a former governor of Texas, Bush was popular with party leaders, conservatives, and Christian fundamentalists. As governor of Texas, he had been adept at working with Democrats as well as Republicans. Although he was not a gifted orator, he struck many Americans as down-to-earth and sincere.
Consumer advocate Ralph Nader ran for the Green Party. Saying that corporate interests controlled the two major parties, he claimed he alone represented all Americans.
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