On his 18th birthday he enlisted in the Navy as a pilot and flew combat missions during World War and was shot down where he was rescued from the water by a submarine. The outcome of this he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. During his enlistment he was the youngest Navy pilot to date. On his discharge he worked for an oil-field supply company. Bush became a cofounder of the Zapata Petroleum Corporation. Bush was asked by President Nixon to serve as the chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1973. Bush defended president Nixon on the Watergate matter until it was obvious that the president was not telling the truth. Early in August Bush asked him to resign in a letter, and he did shortly after. In 1975 president Ford asked Bush to assume the role of director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the aftermath of Watergate. His main proposal was an executive order preventing the CIA from committing further violations of that sort.

After president Ford lost his bid for another term Vice President Bush returned to the private sector to a job as chairman of the First National Bank in Houston. As president his place in history was to be the first vice president elected president since Martin Van Buren. Bush's commitment to tax reform pleased the voters and his other economic policies helped to bring about prosperity to the country. A few tests to his term was the American invasion of Panama to rout President Noriega to insure safety of those living in the Panama Canal region, and when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, and he sent American troops which were joined by numerous troops from allied nations. After just a few short weeks the conflict was over due to overwhelming attacks by the combined forces on both land and air. This storm he carried through with strong support of the American people. Even though the was applauded for his handling of foreign affairs the steadily failing economy was a main reason he was not re-elected. Bush returned to private life where he lives with his wife Barbara in Houston, Texas.