The following is a timeline of the presidency of George W. Bush, from January 1, 2008 to January 20, 2009.
January 2008 January 1 – At Texas State Technical College, President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush wish Americans "a happy and healthy 2008."President and Mrs. Bush Wish Americans, Troops Happy New Year (January 1, 2008) January 2 – President Bush announces his intent to nominate Jamsheed K. Choksy, Dawn Ho Delbanco, Gary D. Glenn, David Hertz, Marvin Bailey Scott, and Carol M. Swain as members of the National Council on the Humanities for terms lasting six years, and Jan Cellucci, William J. Hagenah, and Mark Y. Herring as members of the National Museum and Library Services board for terms lasting five years.Personnel Announcement (January 2, 2008) January 3 – United States National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley announces Bush will travel to the Middle East in five days to give President Bush a chance "to discuss with Israelis and Palestinians their efforts toward a negotiated peace and achievement of the President's vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security."Briefing by National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on the President's Upcoming Trip to the Middle East (January 3, 2008) January 4 – President Bush signs S. 2436 for the establishment of commencement of Commissioner of Internal Revenue terms to have a designated date.President Bush Signs S. 2436 into Law (January 4, 2008) January 7 – President Bush delivers an address at Horace Greeley Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois during the morning.Remarks at Horace Greeley Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois (January 7, 2008) January 8 – President Bush releases a statement noting that the following day will be the third anniversary of the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement in Sudan and states the commitment on the part of the US to continuing to adhere to the agreement.Statement on Peace Efforts in Sudan (January 8, 2008) January 9 – President Bush attends the welcoming ceremony at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel during the afternoon.Remarks at a Welcoming Ceremony in Tel Aviv, Israel (January 9, 2008) January 10 – President Bush delivers an address at the King David Hotel on the peace process in the Middle East during the afternoon.Remarks on the Middle East Peace Process in Jerusalem, Israel (January 10, 2008) January 11 – President Bush visits Yad Vashem during the morning, saying that he hopes those who visit will have "a sobering reminder that evil exists and a call that when we find evil, we must resist it."Remarks During a Visit to Yad Vashem in Jerusalem (January 11, 2008) January 28 – President Bush delivers his final State of the Union Address before a joint session of Congress.President Bush Delivers State of the Union Address (January 28, 2008) January 30 – President Bush delivers an address on trade and the economy at the Robinson Helicopter Company in Torrance, California during the morning.President Bush Discusses Trade and Economy (January 30, 2008) President Bush authorizes federal aid to the state of Indiana after declaring the existence of a major disaster there.Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for Indiana (January 30, 2008) January 31 – President Bush gives a speech on international collaboration against terrorism at Emerald at Queensridge in Las Vegas, Nevada during the morning.President Bush Discusses Global War on Terror in Las Vegas, Nevada (January 31, 2008) President Bush signs the Protect America Act Extension, giving the Protect America Act authority until the upcoming February 16.President Bush Signs H.R. 5104 Into Law (January 31, 2008)
February February 1 – President Bush signs a proclamation declaring February as "American Heart Month" at the Intercontinental HotelPresident Bush Signs Presidential Proclamation in Honor of American Heart Month (February 1, 2008) and delivers an economic speech at Hallmark Cards, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri during the morning.President Bush Discusses Economy in Kansas City (February 1, 2008) First Lady Laura Bush discusses American Heart Month in a radio address.Mrs. Bush's Radio Address to the Nation (February 1, 2008) February 4 – President Bush meets with his cabinet for discussions on the budget in the Cabinet Room during the morning.President Bush Meets with Cabinet, Discusses Budget (February 4, 2008) February 26 – President Bush gives an address on his African trip to the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation at Marriot Wardham Park Hotel in D.C. during the morning.President Bush Discusses Trip to Africa at Leon H. Sullivan Foundation (February 26, 2008) February 27 – President Bush meets with Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Mirek Topolánek in the Oval Office during the morning.President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Topolánek of the Czech Republic (February 27, 2008) President Bush announces Sada Cumber as Presidential Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference in the Oval OfficePresident Bush Meets with Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (February 27, 2008) and meets with 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox in the South LawnPresident Bush Welcomes 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox to White House (February 27, 2008) during the afternoon. February 28 – President Bush holds a news conferencePress Conference of the President (February 28, 2008) and meets with members of his economic group at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. during the morning.President Bush Meets with His Economic Team (February 28, 2008) February 29 – President Bush holds an Oval Office meeting with Secretary General of NATO Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to discuss Afghanistan during the morning.President Bush Meets with Secretary General of NATO Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (February 29, 2008) President Bush signs the Andean Trade Preference Extension Act of 2008, extending the Andean Trade Extension Act through the upcoming December 31, and H.R. 5478, allowing $1 coins to continue minting throughout 2008.President Bush Signs H.R. 5264 and H.R. 5478 into Law (February 29, 2008) President Bush proclaims March 2008 as "Irish-American Heritage Month".Irish-American Heritage Month, 2008 (February 29, 2008)
March
April April 1 – President Bush holds a joint press conference with President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko at the House of Chimaeras in Kyiv, Ukraine.President Bush Participates in Joint Press Availability with President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine (April 1, 2008) April 4 – Noting the fortieth anniversary of the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Bush laments that America was "robbed of one of history's most consequential advocates for equality and civil rights" and calls for both mourning of King's death and celebrating his preaching of "justice and hope" in a statement.Statement by the President on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (April 4, 2008) April 5 – In Croatia, President Bush meets with Prime Minister of Croatia Sanader.President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Sanader of Croatia in Zagreb, Croatia (April 5, 2008) April 26 – President Bush attends the White House Correspondents' Association at the Washington Hilton Hotel in D.C. during the evening.President Bush Attends White House Correspondents' Association Dinner (April 26, 2008) President Bush speaks about the hardships students presently have in acquiring higher forms of education and the policies enacted by the Department of Education in response to this during his radio address.President's Radio Address (April 26, 2008) April 28 – President Bush meets with President of Guatemala Alvaro Colom in the Oval Office during the morning for discussions on relations between their countries, the effectiveness of CAFTA, reforms presently being put in place by the Guatemalan government, and immigration.President Bush Meets with Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom (April 28, 2008) April 29 – President Bush holds a press conference in the Rose Garden during the morning.Press Conference by the President (April 29, 2008) President Bush meets with United Nations Special Representative to Afghanistan Kai Eide in the Oval OfficePresident Bush Meets with Ambassador Eide, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Afghanistan (April 29, 2008) and delivers a speech on National Volunteer Week in the East Room during the afternoon.President Bush Discusses National Volunteer Week (April 29, 2008) April 30 – President Bush hosts a ceremony for the Welcomes 2008 National and State Teachers of the Year in the Rose Garden during the morning.President Bush Welcomes 2008 National and State Teachers of the Year to the White House (April 30, 2008) He welcomes the New York Giants, winners of Super Bowl XLII, in the South Lawn during the afternoon.President Bush Welcomes Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Giants to White House (April 30, 2008)
May
June
July
August August 2 – President Bush discusses gas prices and the effectiveness of Congress in dealing with the issue during his radio address.President's Radio Address (August 2, 2008) August 4 – President Bush delivers a speech at the Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska during the afternoon.President Bush Visits Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Thanks Troops (August 4, 2008) August 5 – President Bush announces his nomination of Mark V. Rosenker for Vice Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.Personnel Announcement (August 5, 2008) August 6 – President Bush meets with Prime Minister of Thailand Samak Sundaravej in the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand during the evening.President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Samak of Thailand (August 6, 2008)
September September 24 – President Bush delivers an address to the nation from the White House on the 2008 financial crisis. September 29 – President Bush delivers an address on financial reform in South Drive during the morning.President Bush Discusses Financial Rescue Legislation (September 29, 2008) September 30 – President Bush delivers a speech on the economy during the morning.President Bush Discusses Economic Rescue Plan (September 30, 2008) President Bush signs the Need-Based Educational Aid Act of 2008 and the Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2008 into law.President Bush Signs H.R. 1777 and H.R. 6984 Into Law (September 30, 2008) President Bush announces his nomination of Robert W. McGowan to be Governor of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal ServicePersonnel Announcement (September 30, 2008) and the nomination is sent to the Senate.Nomination Sent to the Senate (September 30, 2008)
October October 1 – President Bush meets with General David McKiernan in the Oval Office at the White House. President Bush gives public brief remarks on the meeting during the afternoon hours.President Bush Meets with General David McKiernan, Commander for NATO International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (October 1, 2008) October 2 – President Bush meets with American business representatives at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building to discuss the Economic Rescue Package, saying afterward, "the House of Representatives must listen to these voices and get this bill passed so we can get about the business of restoring confidence."President Bush Meets with Representatives of American Businesses on the Economic Rescue Package (October 2, 2008) October 3 – President Bush signs the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. October 4 – President Bush visits his childhood home in Midland, Texas and reflects on his past.President Bush Visits Midland, Texas (October 4, 2008) October 6 – President Bush delivers a speech on the administration's judicial appointments accomplishments and the economy at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza in Cincinnati, Ohio.President Bush Discusses Judicial Accomplishments and Philosophy (October 6, 2008)