The following is a timeline of the presidency of George H. W. Bush from his inauguration as the 41st president of the United States on January 20, 1989, to December 31, 1989.
January January 20 – George H. W. Bush's presidency begins with his inauguration at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.; the oath of office is administered by Chief Justice William Rehnquist. January 21 – President Bush greets White House visitors at the Executive Entrance, speaks to reporters in the Oval Office, and delivers a speech to members of his campaign for the presidency and supporters in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the State Department during the morning hours. January 23 – President Bush calls Mikhail Gorbachev and "other foreign leaders" to thank them for their positive sentiments. In the East Room, Bush attends the swearing in of staff members. Bush meets with United States National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft and White House Chief of Staff John Sununu and afterward phones an anti-abortion rally. January 25 – President Bush announces his nominations of W. Henson Moore for United States Deputy Secretary of Energy, and Susan S. Engeleiter for Administrator of the Small Business Administration. President Bush signs an executive order creating the President's Commission on Federal Ethics Law Reform. January 27 – President Bush holds his first news conference in the Briefing Room of the White House during the morning. President Bush answers questions from reporters on the federal pay raise, relations with Congress, relations between the United States and the Soviet Union, American foreign policy initiatives, minimum wage, the Strategic Defense Initiative, federal pay raise, his first days in office, monetary policy, the saving and loan crisis abortion, tax increases, relations between the United States and Iran, affirmative action, hostages in the Middle East, the war on drugs, and his agenda. James Baker is sworn in as the 61st United States Secretary of State in the East Room of the White House during the afternoon. January 27 – Jack Kemp, while appearing at hearing of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Development Committee, denounces homelessness and the cuts to housing programs implemented under the Reagan administration. January 30 – Elizabeth Dole is sworn in as the 20th United States Secretary of Labor in the Great Hall at the Department of Labor during the morning.
February February 1 – President Bush sends Congress a report on the functions and purposes of the National Space Council. President Bush announces the nomination of Kenneth Winston Starr for Solicitor General of the United States. February 2 – President Bush attends the National Prayer Breakfast taking place within the International Crystal Ballroom at the Washington Hilton Hotel during the evening. President Bush announces the nomination of Richard R. Burt for an Ambassador ranking while serving as United States Negotiator for Strategic Nuclear Arms. February 3 – President Bush delivers remarks on the saving and loan crisis during a morning appearance in the Cabinet Room. Robert A. Mosbacher is sworn in as the 28th United States Secretary of Commerce in the Malcolm Baldrige Great Hall at the Department of Commerce during the morning. President Bush attends a luncheon for business leaders in the East Room during the afternoon. February 4 – The White House releases a statement on the request of Louis Sullivan to have "the executive committee of the board of the Morehouse School of Medicine to grant him an unpaid leave of absence as a professor of medicine." February 6 – Carla Anderson Hills is sworn in as the 10th United States Trade Representative in the Indian Treaty Room during the afternoon. February 7 – Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater says President Bush has "decided against intervening in the proposed acquisition of Monsanto Electronic Materials Company (MEMC) by Huels AG of West Germany." President Bush signs H.J. Res. 129, rescinding proposed pay increases for members of Congress, officials within the executive branch, and federal judges. February 8 – Manuel Lujan, Jr. is sworn in as the 46th United States Secretary of the Interior in the Department of the Interior auditorium during the morning. William K. Reilly is sworn in as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency at Waterside Mall during the morning. In a statement, President Bush announces that he will receive advising from the Economic Policy Council and the Domestic Policy Council "in the formulation, coordination, and implementation of economic and domestic policy." February 9 – President Bush delivers an address before a joint session of the members of Congress outlining his administration goals. February 10 – President Bush meets with Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney in the latter's residence. The two leaders later answer questions from reporters on acid rain, the American economy, agriculture, the environment, Canadian steel exports, and relations between the East and West during the afternoon. February 13 – President Bush addresses the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire in the Armory at the Center of New Hampshire Holiday Inn in Manchester, New Hampshire during the morning. Jack Kemp is sworn in as the 9th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the cafeteria at the Department of Housing and Urban Development during the afternoon. February 14 – President Bush announces the nomination of Roy M. Goodman for membership on the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. February 15 – President Bush addresses the South Carolina State Legislature in the house chamber of the State capitol in Columbia, South Carolina during the morning. President Bush announces the nomination of Richard J. Kerr for deputy director of Central Intelligence. President Bush announces the appointment of Francis S.M. Hodsoll as Executive Associate Director of the Office of Management and Budget and Chief Financial Officer. February 16 – Clayton Yeutter is sworn in as the 23rd United States Secretary of Agriculture on the patio at the Department of Agriculture during the morning. February 17 – President Bush delivers an address to students at Washington University at the university field house in St. Louis, Missouri during the morning. President Bush announces the nominations of Elaine Chao for Deputy Secretary of Transportation, and Sidney Linn Williams for Deputy United States Trade Representative. February 21 – President Bush announces the appointment of William L. Roper for Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and Director of the White House Office of Policy Development. February 22 – President Bush announces the nomination of Robert R. Glauber for Under Secretary of the Treasury. February 24 – President Bush holds his fourth news conference at the residence of the American Ambassador in Tokyo during the evening. President Bush answers questions on the Tower designation, and his physical health. February 26 – President Bush gives a speech during the morning prayer services at Chongmenwen Christian Church reflecting on the changes since his last visit to Beijing. President Bush addresses American Embassy employees on his schedule in Beijing during the afternoon. February 27 – President Bush delivers an address to the National Assembly in the National Assembly Hall in Seoul during the afternoon. The speech is first major address of his to take place in foreign country since his inauguration. February 28 – President Bush answers questions from reporters on the bookstore bombings, human rights, and the Tower nomination in the Cabinet Room during the afternoon. President Bush announces the nominations of Constance Horner for Under Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mary Sheila Gall for Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services (Human Development Services), and Douglas P. Mulholland for Assistant Secretary of State (Intelligence and Research).
March March 1 – President Bush addresses members of the Small Business Legislative Council in the East Room during the afternoon. President Bush announces the appointment of Mark Albrecht for the Director of the staff of the National Space Council. March 2 – President Bush attends a reception for the participants in the National Endowment for the Humanities Teacher-Scholar Program in the East Room during the afternoon. President Bush announces the nomination of William Pelham Barr to be an Assistant Attorney General (Office of Legal Counsel). March 3 – President Bush says the administration is formulating a drug plan and expresses the view that Americans not interested in seeing drugs flow into the United States while in the Oval Office during the afternoon. President Bush addresses the winners of the Westinghouse Science Talent Search during an afternoon appearance at the National Academy of Sciences Building. March 6 – President Bush attends the Annual Conference of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in the Sheraton Ballroom at the Sheraton Washington Hotel during the morning. President Bush announces the nominations of Anthony Joseph Principi to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs at the Veterans Administration, and Gerald L. Olson for Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services (Legislative Affairs). March 7 – President Bush addresses members of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Dining Room at the Department of State during the evening. March 9 – James D. Watkins is sworn in as the 6th United States Secretary of Energy in the cafeteria at the Department of Energy during the morning. March 10 – Louis W. Sullivan is sworn in as the 17th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Great Hall at the Department of Health and Human Services during the morning. President Bush delivers an address to the National Conference of State Legislators at a briefing in Room 450 of the Old Executive Office Building during the morning. President Bush holds his seventh news conference in the Briefing Room during the afternoon. President Bush answers questions from reporters on the Tower nomination, the Cheney designation, the Strategic Defense Initiative, and defense budget as well as policy. President Bush announces the nomination of Michael Hayden Armacost for United States Ambassador to Japan. March 13 – President Bush delivers an address to National Association of Attorneys General members in the Roosevelt Room during the morning. William J. Bennett is sworn in as Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in Room 450 of the Old Executive Office building during the morning. March 14 – President Bush gives a speech to Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith members at a briefing in Room 450 of the Old Executive Office Building during the morning. March 15 – Ed Derwinski is sworn in as the 1st United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the South Lawn during the afternoon. March 16 – President Bush attends a Forum Club-hosted luncheon at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston during the afternoon. President Bush attends the Junior Achievement National Business Hall of Fame Dinner in the ballroom of the International Center during the evening. President Bush announces the nomination of Gilbert E. Carmichael for Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration. March 17 – President Bush holds his eighth news conference aboard Air Force One. President Bush answers questions from reporters on FSX, terrorism, gun control, American hostages in Lebanon, inflation, aid to the Contras, his personal schedule, his visit to Cheyenne Mountain High School, his dog, and his press conferences. President Bush announces the nomination of Kate Leader Moore for Assistant Secretary of Transportation (Budget and Programs).