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Leadership Assignment PHI 305 Grand Canyon University Roy Downing 06/10/2012

Leadership Assignment In this essay I will compare and contrast the leadership styles of Former President Bill Clinton and Former President George H. W. Bush, as well as their scope of influence as two influential historical people. I will look at the qualities, both positive and negative that made them effective leaders and how they will be remembered throughout history. It will summarize their early life, their rise in American politics, their standing with the public and their post presidential lives. Early Life President William Jefferson Clinton was born on August 19, 1946 in Hope, Arkansas. He was raised by his mother, Virginia Dell Cassidy and later his step-father, Roger Clinton. Bill Clinton attended Hot Springs High School he was a star member of the jazz band and excelled both academically and in extra-curricular activities. His interest in politics surfaced in June 1963, as a 17-year-old high school junior when he attended Arkansas Boys State. He earned an invitation to meet President John F. Kennedy at the White House Rose Garden. Bill Clinton attended Georgetown University; Clinton won a highly prestigious Rhodes scholarship to the Oxford University in England. Soon after arriving in England he received a draft selection notice and returned to Arkansas. To avoid the draft Bill enrolled in the ROTC program at the University of Arkansas Law School; however Bill did not attend Law School in the fall he returned to Oxford. Unable to live with the guilt of avoiding the draft Bill Clinton resubmitted his name to the board receiving a draft lottery number high enough to assure that he would not have to serve in Vietnam. After completing his two years of study at Oxford University, Bill entered Yale Law School. At Yale he met Hilary Rodham and they married in 1975 and had a daughter, Chelsea in 1980.

George W. Bush son of Barbara Pierce Bush, and Gorge Herbert Walker Bush was born in New Haven, Connecticut on July 6, 1946. As a child he was a typical boy who just liked to ride his bike. He loved sports, and was always found leading the pack, showing us that even then he was a natural born leader. He attended school elementary school and was an average student. He was raised in a oil town in Texas called Midland. He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts where he was an all-around athlete, playing baseball, basketball and football. He later attended Yale University. In 1968 before graduation, at the end of his draft deferment, George W. Bush enlisted in the Texas Air National Guard and was honorably discharged from the Air Force Reserve on November 21, 1974. After his service he attended Harvard Business School earning a Masters of Business Administration degree in 1975. In 1977 Bush was reintroduced to Laura Welch, they courted for three months and got married in November of 1977. In 1981 they had twin daughters Barbara and Jenna Bush. Political Career After graduating from Yale, the Clintons moved to Arkansas, Bill began teaching at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Law School. In 1974, Bill Clinton lost while running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Clinton was elected state attorney general in 1976. At the age of 32, he became one of the youngest governors in American history. 1982 Clinton once again sought out the governorship, Clinton would hold onto the job for four consecutive terms. From 1986-1987, he served as the chairman of the National Governors Association. In 1992, Bill Clinton won the Democratic nomination for Presidency. On November 3, 1992, Bill Clinton was elected the 42nd President of the United States of America. In 1996 Clinton was elected to a second term in office. In 1998, the Republican-dominated House of Representatives impeached

Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice for his actions in the Lewinsky affair, but the Senate acquitted him on all charges. George W. Bush narrowly won the Electoral College vote in 2000, in one of the closest and most controversial elections in American history. In 1988, George W. Bush moved his family to Washington DC to work on his fathers campaign. He returned to Texas in 1989. In 1994, George W. Bush decided to run for governor of Texas as a Republican. Bush won the election becoming the first child of a U.S. president to be elected a state governor. He won again in 1998 to become the first Texas Governor to hold two consecutive 4 year terms. In 1999 George W. Bush declared his interest in the presidency, winning the Republican presidential nomination. As Election Day 2000 unfolded, there was no clear winner. After more than a month of recounts and legal maneuvering, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the election, giving George Bush the victory. In 2004, George W. Bush ran for reelection. Public Standing The public loved President Bill Clinton for leading their nation to a period of strong economic prosperity, as a nation it enjoyed the lowest unemployment rates in many years, the lowest inflation rate seen in decades, the highest homeownership rates in its history. President Clinton's reputation suffered a huge hit from scandal in his personal life. Bush pushed through a $1.35 trillion tax cut to stimulate the economy, the public thought it favored the wealthy. On September 11, 2001, the war on terror had begun, and President George W. Bush promised the American people that he would do all he could to prevent another terrorist attack. On March 20, 2002, the United States launched a successful invasion of Iraq. Bush personally declared an end to major combat operations on May 1, 2003. The Bush

administration's poor response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans further pushed down his favorability with the people. Many supporters defended him for his strong leadership during one of the countrys most dangerous periods. For some, his folksy image and manner suggested he was "not ready for prime time," politically adept, but not a statesman at a time when the country need one. For others, he was perceived as a president of big ideas who eagerly embraced large visions and the risks involved. His supporters credit him with reestablishing Americas place as the worlds uncontested leader. Post-Presidential Career In 1997, he founded the William J. Clinton Foundation. His most notable projects through the foundation include the Clinton Climate Initiative, Clinton Global Initiative, and the Clinton Foundation Haiti Fund. In 2004, Clinton wrote a bestselling autobiography entitled My Life. Bill Clinton has rejuvenated his image and remains a popular political figure. Bill Clinton has not been sitting idle since his term as president ended. He has been heavily involved in public speaking and even appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. In 2004 he dedicated his presidential library in Little Rock, Arkansas. Bush and his wife settled in Dallas, Texas, where he participated in the building of his presidential library and wrote his memoir "Decision Points." At the request of President Barack Obama, Bush and former president Bill Clinton led private fundraising efforts in the United States for disaster relief, after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Conclusion President Clinton accomplished his main goal of improving the economy. Bill Clinton will always be remembered by the people for many different reasons. Some might remember him as a

wonderful caring president who helped our country pull through the millennium unscathed. Others might only remember him for being involved with numerous personal scandals including drugs, adultery, treason, and fraud. Years down the road when our grandchildren learn about President Clinton, our 46th President will they be taught about how his moral hypocrisy divided a nation? Nine days after the 9/11 attack a presidential speech given from the capitol building by President George W. Bush's speech regained the public's confidence by speaking of justice, public safety, and unity by letting the public knows justice will be delivered. "Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done" (par.5). This quote from Bush shows us why justice is a key topic for bringing America alive. The overall public is enraged and has revenge on its' mind, President Bush shows determination in assuring society that vengeance is on the right path. I read and enjoyed each autobiography; I enjoyed the books because I feel it is important to learn about our presidents and their early life any struggles that they went through to get to where they are today.

Reference: "Afghanistan." Editorial. New York Times 15 Sep. 2001: A26. Bush, George Bush's Speech to the nation, Sept 20 2001 Bush, George W., "President Bush Addresses the Nation." Washingtonpost.com. 20 Sep. 2001. 12 Oct. 01 taken from:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpsrv/nation/specials/attacked/transcripts/busha ddress_092001.html>. Johnston, Robert. "On 2000 election controversy." December 2003. Max, D.T. "The 2,988 Words That Changed a Presidency: An Etymology." New York Times 7 Oct. 2001. Robinson, Bill. Personal interview. 12 Oct.2001. Russell, Richard L. Case 238: American Military Retaliation for Terrorism: Judging the Merits of the 1998 Cruise Missiles Strike in Afghanistan and Sudan. Washington D.C.: Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. The Clinton, Lewinsky scandal. Washington D.C 24 Nov.1998 taken from: http.//www.wisecat.com/ uk/Monica Lewinski.html