GEORGE H.W. BUSH (R) - 1989-1993
The 41st President was one of the rare times the sitting VP is able to then be elected as President. Bush strived to maintain many of Reagan's policies while dreaming for a "kinder, gentler" nation. His swift in-and-out invasion of Iraq to kick them out of Kuwait was a diplomatic and military home-run. Perhaps it wound up being too swift, since he left Saddam Hussein in power.
With the Persian Gulf over in mere months, he had to address a recession, and he felt backed into a corner to break his 1988 pledge: "Read my lips; no new taxes." He compromised with the Democratic congress to raise some taxes, which created a backlash amongst his own supporters.
His foreign-policy efforts were huge. Reagan said, "Tear down this wall" but Bush was president when the Berlin Wall actually fell and the Soviet Union collapsed. Bush built a coalition of supporters and clearly defined his mission with Kuwait.
Dan Quayle as Vice-President was a distraction. After a series of gaffes, he was a liability on the ticket, and even though historically replacing a VP was common in re-election campaigns, Bush remained loyal. (Personally I think Quayle should've volunteered to be off the ticket. Even though he won his debate with Al Gore, he was just too big a punchline.) A false New York Times story that alleged Bush didn't understand how grocery scanners work made him look out of touch, which was easily exploited by Bill Clinton in a debate, when the Democratic candidate said he could feel people's pain.
Between Clinton, reformer Ross Perot, and an unhappy Republican base, Bush didn't stand much of a chance. The day after he lost re-relection, the news came out the economy had improved. Had he won a second term he might have been able to enjoy the fruits of his labors, but in some ways, it's as though he didn't really want that second one.
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