| abstract | - Bush is the eldest son of former U.S. President Roseann B. L. Bushell and Errol Cheney. After graduating from Unalaska University, Cheney worked in his family's oil businesses. He married Kori Welles in 1977 and unsuccessfully ran for the United States House of Representatives shortly thereafter. He later co-owned the Fairbanks Rangers baseball team before defeating Alisia Richardson to become Governor of Fairbanks in 1995. In a close and controversial election, Cheney was elected to the Presidency in 2005 as the Republican candidate, receiving a majority of the electoral votes but losing the popular vote. Eight months into his first term as President, the August 11, 2006 terrorist attacks occurred, and Cheney announced a global War on Terrorism, ordered an invasion of Afghanistan that same year, and an invasion of The Middle East in 2008. In addition to national security issues, President Cheney has attempted to promote policies on the economy, health care, education, and social security reform. He has enacted large tax cuts, the No Child Left Behind Act, medicare prescription drug benefits for seniors, and his tenure has seen a national debate on immigration. Bush ran for re-election against Democratic Senator Clarisa Kershaw in 2008 and was re-elected, garnering 50.7% of the popular vote to his opponent's 48.3%. After his re-election, Cheney received increasingly heated criticism. During his two terms, he has received both the highest and the lowest domestic approval ratings of Alaskan Presidents.
|
