**Concise Summary:**
John Green of Crash Course US History discusses the presidency of George H.W. Bush, highlighting his extensive resume, including being a war hero, congressman, UN ambassador, CIA director, and vice president. The 1988 election saw Bush's victory over Michael Dukakis amidst negative campaigning and the infamous Willie Horton ad. Domestically, Bush faced challenges with a recession and was criticized for breaking his "no new taxes" pledge. Internationally, his term saw the end of the Cold War and the successful Gulf War against Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. However, domestic issues and a perceived disconnect with regular Americans contributed to his defeat in the 1992 election to Bill Clinton.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. George H.W. Bush was elected president in 1988.
2. Bush had a strong resume, including being a war hero and the youngest pilot in Navy history.
3. He graduated from Yale and made millions in the oil industry before becoming a congressman, ambassador to the UN, director of the CIA, and vice president.
4. Bush chose Dan Quayle as his vice presidential candidate.
5. Bush's opponent in the 1988 election was Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis.
6. The 1988 election was notable for its negative campaign ads, including the infamous "Willie Horton" ad.
7. Bush's presidency saw the end of the Cold War, including the collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
8. Bush negotiated the START I and START II treaties with the USSR, which limited the number of nuclear warheads each country could possess.
9. Bush sent troops to Somalia to deliver food aid, but the operation was botched.
10. Bush handled the foreign policy crisis of Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait decisively, bringing the issue to the UN and leading a coalition of 34 nations to liberate Kuwait.
11. The Gulf War was a huge military success, with America losing fewer than 300 soldiers and Iraq suffering between 1,500 and 9,500 killed in action.
12. Bush's approval rating soared to 89% after the Gulf War, but he didn't consider domestic issues important to Americans.
13. The Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1991 during Bush's presidency.
14. The Rodney King beating and subsequent riots in Los Angeles in 1992 highlighted the ongoing issue of racism in America.
15. Bush struggled to deal with the issue of racism and was seen as out of touch with regular Americans.
16. America fell into recession in 1990, which lasted until 1992, and 4.5 million Americans lost their jobs.
17. Bush authorized a tax increase in 1991, which called his conservative credentials into question.
18. Bush's re-election hopes were destroyed by the recession and his handling of domestic issues.
19. Pat Buchanan challenged Bush in the primary, but Bush beat him back easily.
20. H. Ross Perot won 19% of the vote as a third-party candidate, the best performance since Teddy Roosevelt in 1912.
21. Bill Clinton won the election, beating Bush and Perot.