November 8, 1988 - Elected 41st president of the United States, with 53.1% of the popular vote and 426 electoral votes.

January 20, 1989 - Sworn in as 41st president of the United States.

December 1989 - Sends American troops to Panama (Operation Just Cause).

August 2, 1990 - Iraq invades Kuwait.

August 7, 1990 - Operation Desert Shield begins.

January 16, 1991 - Operation Desert Storm begins.

February 27, 1991 - Declares victory in Iraq.

November 3, 1992 - Loses the presidential election to Bill Clinton.

December 24, 1992 - Pardons six government officials who had been implicated in the Iran-Contra affair.

January 3, 1993 - Signs the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-II) with Russia.

February 19-21, 2005 - Tours areas in southeast Asia damaged by a tsunami with former President Bill Clinton.

September 1, 2005 - After Hurricane Katrina, Bush and Clinton form the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund.

January 10, 2009 - The USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier is commissioned.

February 15, 2011 - Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom.