George Walker Bush was born on July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Conn., the first child of future president George H. W. Bush. In 1948, the family moved to Odessa, Tex., where the senior Bush went to work in the oil business. George W. grew up mainly in Midland, Tex., and Houston, and later attended two of his father's alma maters, Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., and Yale. After graduating from Yale with a history degree in 1968, Bush …showed first 75 words of 2153 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2153 total…war beyond "staying the course," the president's approval ratings dipped to their lowest point--40% in Aug. 2005. In early September, the delayed and inept handling of Hurricane Katrina's emergency relief efforts led to widespread criticism of the Bush administration, even among its Republican base. To bolster his image as a strong leader in a crisis--one of the major factors responsible for his reelection--the president acknowledged mistakes in the government's response and promised a massive reconstruction effort.