Washington (District of Columbia), January 20, 1989:

George Bush takes the oath of office as the 41st President of the United States at the U.S. Capitol.

Washington (District of Columbia), January 20, 1989:

Extract of President Bush's Inaugural Speech.

Washington (District of Columbia), January 31, 1990:

Extract of President Bush's Address before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union. George Bush reminds the « Revolution of '89 [...] which marks the beginning of a new era in the world's affairs ».

George Bush warns against isolationism, which would be a « huge mistake » according to him.

« Read my lips: no new taxes! », the famous George Bush's 1988 presidential campaign leitmotif.

In the fall of 1990, during the Gulf crisis, President Bush broke his pledge on taxes. In his Memories, George Bush emphasize that « [he] had to decide between a compromise on taxes or literally to shut down the government ». But « when push came to shove and our troops were moving overseas, [the administration] needed a fully functioning government »¹.

After these necessary tax increases, President Bush took « a terrible flak on [his] credibility ». This is an explanation of his electoral defeat in 1992.
__________

1. G. Bush and B. Scowcroft, A World Transformed, Knopf, 1st ed. Sept. 1998, p. 380.

« God bless the United States of America ».

Hail to the Chief.