George W. Bush — 43rd President of the United States
43rd President of the United States, Republican
George W. Bush
Term: Jan 20, 2001 – Jan 20, 2009
George W. Bush (born 1946) was the forty-third president of the United States, serving from 2001 to 2009. Domestically he signed the No Child Left Behind education law in 2001, added a prescription-drug benefit to Medicare in 2003, and launched PEPFAR, a large-scale global HIV/AIDS relief program. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks shaped much of his presidency, leading to the invasion of Afghanistan and, in 2003, the invasion of Iraq; the stated rationale that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction was not substantiated after the invasion. His second term also coincided with Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2008 financial crisis, a severe global recession.
“Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment. It is the determined choice of trust over cynicism, of community over chaos.”
Gas prices during the Bush presidency
- At inauguration
- $1.47
- Jan 2001
- On leaving
- $1.79
- Jan 2009
- Change
- +21.4%
- +0.7% in 2026 dollars
- Average
- $2.16
- $3.67 in 2026 dollars
- Peak
- $4.09
- Jul 2008
- Low
- $1.13
- Feb 2002
U.S. average, regular grade · Jan 2001 – Dec 2008
Nominal U.S. national averages including taxes (EIA / BLS); regional prices vary widely. Compare all presidencies on Gas Prices by President.
Events during this term
- September 11 attacks and 2001 recession
Recession · Prices fell · Sep 2001 – Dec 2001
During this term: pump price $1.53 → $1.13 (−26.1%)
- Iraq War
War · Prices fell · Mar 2003 – May 2003
During this term: pump price $1.75 → $1.54 (−11.8%)
- Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
Disaster · Prices rose · Aug 2005 – Oct 2005
During this term: pump price $2.51 → $2.79 (+11.1%)
- 2008 oil spike and financial crisis
Recession · Spike, then fall · Jan 2008 – Dec 2008
During this term: pump price $3.05 → $1.69 (−44.6%)