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Presidency · Presidents

George H. W. Bush

41st president · Republican · January 20, 1989 – January 19, 1993

George Herbert Walker Bush was the 41st president of the United States, serving from 1989 to 1993. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 43rd vice president under President Ronald Reagan. (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0)

How to read this

Each card takes a series from one of the site’s Presidency, Congress or Supreme Court pages and shows only the time Bush was in office. Monthly figures run from the month of the inauguration to the month the term ended; a fiscal or calendar year counts for the president who held office for most of its days. Cards whose data begins after 1989 say where it starts, and a card with no data for the term is left out.

These are conditions during a presidency, not a scorecard. Congress, the courts, the Federal Reserve, the business cycle and events abroad move every one of these numbers, and many policies take effect years after they are signed, so a change during a term is not a measure of what the president caused.

4 yearsIn office1,461 days
1,241Laws signed
—Executive ordersData starts 1994
2Justices appointed

Who held power

Party control of Congress

Republicans held neither chamber of Congress during the time in office.

  • 103rd Congress1993House: Dem.258 D · 176 R · 1 otherSenate: Dem.57 D · 43 R
  • 102nd Congress1991–1993House: Dem.267 D · 167 R · 1 otherSenate: Dem.56 D · 44 R
  • 101st Congress1989–1991House: Dem.260 D · 175 RSenate: Dem.55 D · 45 R

Seats are at the start of each Congress. Democrats and Republicans include the independents who caucused with them.

Data notes

Each Congress is clipped to the days this president was in office. A chamber’s majority is the party that held it for most of those days; seat counts are at the start of the Congress, with independents counted with the party they caucused with. From the House and Senate historians’ party divisions.

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Supreme Court appointments

George H. W. Bush appointed 2 justices: Souter (1990) and Thomas (1991).

  • Clarence Thomas · Associate justiceNominated Jul 8, 1991 · confirmed 52–48
  • David Souter · Associate justiceNominated Jul 25, 1990 · confirmed 90–9
Data notes

A justice counts for the president who nominated them (a recess appointment from the day it began, if earlier). An associate justice later made chief by another president, like William Rehnquist, counts as an elevation for the second. Failed and withdrawn nominations are not listed. Dates and Senate votes from the Federal Judicial Center.

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Supreme Court →

Laws and orders

Laws signed

Signed 1,241 laws, 14 of them major laws. Congress enacted 1 more over a veto.

Laws signed per year in office

1989–90 240 → 1992–93 348

By policy area

  • Commemorations433 (35%)
  • Land, water & farming217 (17%)
  • Government, justice & rights157 (13%)
  • Economy, taxes & trade138 (11%)
  • Health, education & culture112 (9%)
  • Defense & foreign affairs102 (8%)
  • Transport, housing & emergencies43 (3%)
  • Energy & environment39 (3%)
Data notes

Public laws whose enactment date falls in the term, from Congress.gov (93rd Congress, 1973, on; private laws left out), counted through 2026-10-15. A law enacted over a veto is not counted as signed; a bill that became law without a signature is. A bar is one year in office, from the inauguration to the day before its anniversary. Policy areas are the Congressional Research Service’s, grouped as on the Laws page.

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Laws signed per year in office
PeriodValue
1989–90240
1990–91411
1991–92242
1992–93348
All laws →

Major laws signed

14 of the laws Bush signed are counted as important enactments, newest first, with how each passed the House and Senate.

Passage votesYeaNay
  • Oct 30, 1992Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992Land, water & farmingRevises existing law to require as a principal modification to the Buffalo Bill Dam and Reservoir, Wyoming, the construction of power generating facilities with a total installed capacity of 25.5 megawatts.HouseVoice voteSenate83–8 (83 yea, 8 nay)
  • Oct 24, 1992FREEDOM Support ActDefense & foreign affairsDirects the President to designate a coordinator within the Department of State to be responsible for coordinating assistance to the independent states of the former Soviet Union (excluding Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania).House232–164 (232 yea, 164 nay)SenateVoice vote
  • Oct 24, 1992Energy Policy Act of 1992Energy & environmentHouse363–60 (363 yea, 60 nay)SenateVoice vote
  • Dec 18, 1991Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991Transport, housing & emergenciesDeclares that it is U.S. policy to develop a national intermodal transportation (IT) system that is economically efficient, is environmentally sound, provides the foundation for the nation to compete in the global economy, and will move people and goods in an energy efficient manner.House372–47 (372 yea, 47 nay)Senate79–8 (79 yea, 8 nay)
  • Nov 21, 1991Civil Rights Act of 1991Government, justice & rightsHouse381–38 (381 yea, 38 nay)Senate93–5 (93 yea, 5 nay)
  • Jan 14, 1991Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq ResolutionDefense & foreign affairsHouse250–183 (250 yea, 183 nay)SenateUnanimous consent
  • Nov 29, 1990Immigration Act of 1990Government, justice & rightsAmends the Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act) to set a permanent annual worldwide level of immigration, to begin in FY 1995, with a transition level for FY 1992 through 1994.House264–118 (264 yea, 118 nay)Senate89–8 (89 yea, 8 nay)
  • Nov 28, 1990Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing ActTransport, housing & emergenciesAffirms the national goal that every American family should be able to afford a decent home in a suitable environment.HouseVoice voteSenate93–6 (93 yea, 6 nay)
  • Nov 28, 1990Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990Land, water & farmingAmends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to set forth the dairy program for 1991 through 1995, including milk price supports.House318–102 (318 yea, 102 nay)Senate60–36 (60 yea, 36 nay)
  • Nov 15, 1990Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990Energy & environmentHouse401–25 (401 yea, 25 nay)Senate89–10 (89 yea, 10 nay)
  • Nov 5, 1990Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990Economy, taxes & tradeAmends the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, to reduce wheat, feed grain, upland cotton, and rice base acreages eligible for deficiency payments from 100 percent to 85 percent.House228–200 (228 yea, 200 nay)Senate54–45 (54 yea, 45 nay)
  • Jul 26, 1990Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990Government, justice & rightsHouse377–28 (377 yea, 28 nay)Senate91–6 (91 yea, 6 nay)
  • Nov 17, 1989Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1989Economy, taxes & tradeAmends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (the Act) to increase the minimum wage per hour from $3.35 in 1989 to: (1) $3.80 beginning April 1, 1990; and (2) $4.25 beginning April 1, 1991, and thereafter.House382–37 (382 yea, 37 nay)Senate89–8 (89 yea, 8 nay)
  • Aug 9, 1989Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989Economy, taxes & tradeSpecifies the purposes of this Act, including regulatory reform, the establishment of an independent insurance agency to provide deposit insurance, and the provision of improved supervision and enhanced enforcement powers.House201–175 (201 yea, 175 nay)SenateMethod not stated
Data notes

Laws counted as important enactments, the same list the Laws page uses for its “Major law” badge, which explains where it comes from. The list does not yet cover a Congress still in session. Each summary is the first sentence of the Congressional Research Service summary, where one stands alone; votes are each chamber’s final-passage tally, or how it passed without a recorded vote.

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Economy

Misery index

The misery index (unemployment plus inflation) was 9.9 in January 1989 and 10.6 in January 1993, with a high of 12.6 in December 1990.

Misery index

Jan 1989 9.9 → Jan 1993 10.6

Unemployment and inflation

Jan 1989 5.4% → Jan 1993 7.3%
Unemployment rateInflation
Data notes

The misery index adds the unemployment rate to inflation (consumer prices, change from a year earlier) for the same month. Unemployment is the BLS rate, seasonally adjusted, from 1948; inflation is from the consumer price index, from 1948. The first reading is the month the president took office, the last the month the term ended. Both are national averages and are revised.

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Misery index
PeriodValue
Jan 19899.9
Feb 19899.8
Mar 19899.9
Apr 198910.2
May 198910.5
Jun 198910.5
Jul 198910.3
Aug 19899.8
Sep 19899.7
Oct 19899.9
Nov 198910.1
Dec 198910
Jan 199010.6
Feb 199010.6
Mar 199010.4
Apr 199010.1
May 19909.8
Jun 19909.9
Jul 199010.3
Aug 199011.4
Sep 199012.1
Oct 199012.3
Nov 199012.4
Dec 199012.6
Jan 199112
Feb 199111.9
Mar 199111.6
Apr 199111.5
May 199111.9
Jun 199111.6
Jul 199111.2
Aug 199110.7
Sep 199110.3
Oct 19919.8
Nov 199110.1
Dec 199110.3
Jan 199210
Feb 199210.2
Mar 199210.6
Apr 199210.6
May 199210.6
Jun 199210.8
Jul 199210.9
Aug 199210.7
Sep 199210.6
Oct 199210.6
Nov 199210.5
Dec 199210.4
Jan 199310.6
Unemployment and inflation
PeriodUnemployment rateInflation
Jan 19895.4%4.5%
Feb 19895.2%4.6%
Mar 19895%4.9%
Apr 19895.2%5%
May 19895.2%5.3%
Jun 19895.3%5.2%
Jul 19895.2%5.1%
Aug 19895.2%4.6%
Sep 19895.3%4.4%
Oct 19895.3%4.6%
Nov 19895.4%4.7%
Dec 19895.4%4.6%
Jan 19905.4%5.2%
Feb 19905.3%5.3%
Mar 19905.2%5.2%
Apr 19905.4%4.7%
May 19905.4%4.4%
Jun 19905.2%4.7%
Jul 19905.5%4.8%
Aug 19905.7%5.7%
Sep 19905.9%6.2%
Oct 19905.9%6.4%
Nov 19906.2%6.2%
Dec 19906.3%6.3%
Jan 19916.4%5.6%
Feb 19916.6%5.3%
Mar 19916.8%4.8%
Apr 19916.7%4.8%
May 19916.9%5%
Jun 19916.9%4.7%
Jul 19916.8%4.4%
Aug 19916.9%3.8%
Sep 19916.9%3.4%
Oct 19917%2.8%
Nov 19917%3.1%
Dec 19917.3%3%
Jan 19927.3%2.7%
Feb 19927.4%2.8%
Mar 19927.4%3.2%
Apr 19927.4%3.2%
May 19927.6%3%
Jun 19927.8%3%
Jul 19927.7%3.2%
Aug 19927.6%3.1%
Sep 19927.6%3%
Oct 19927.3%3.3%
Nov 19927.4%3.1%
Dec 19927.4%3%
Jan 19937.3%3.3%
Economy →

Federal deficit and debt

The federal budget balance, as a share of GDP, was −2.7% in FY1989 and −4.5% in FY1992.

Budget balance, % of GDP

FY1989 −2.7% → FY1992 −4.5%

Public debt, % of GDP

Q1 1989 49.7% → Q1 1993 62.9%
Data notes

The budget balance is the federal surplus (above zero) or deficit (below) as a share of GDP, by fiscal year (July to June through 1976, October to September since); a year counts for the president in office for most of it, though its budget was usually passed the year before. Debt is total public debt as a share of GDP, quarterly from 1966, including debt the government holds in its own trust funds.

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Budget balance, % of GDP
PeriodValue
FY1989−2.7%
FY1990−3.7%
FY1991−4.4%
FY1992−4.5%
Public debt, % of GDP
PeriodValue
Q1 198949.7%
Q2 198949.9%
Q3 198950.2%
Q4 198951.4%
Q1 199052%
Q2 199052.7%
Q3 199053.8%
Q4 199056%
Q1 199157.4%
Q2 199157.7%
Q3 199159.1%
Q4 199160.7%
Q1 199261%
Q2 199261.6%
Q3 199261.9%
Q4 199262.5%
Q1 199362.9%
Economy →

Immigration

Green cards and refugees

New green cards numbered 1.09M in FY1989 and 973k in FY1992, with a high of 1.83M in FY1991.

Green cards

FY1989 1.09M → FY1992 973k

Refugee admissions

FY1989 107k → FY1992 133k
Data notes

Green cards are people who became lawful permanent residents in the fiscal year, from the DHS Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (from FY1977). Refugee admissions are from the State Department’s Refugee Processing Center (from FY1980). A fiscal year counts for the administration in office for most of its days; a hatched bar is preliminary.

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Green cards
PeriodValue
FY19891,090,170
FY19901,535,870
FY19911,826,600
FY1992973,450
Refugee admissions
PeriodValue
FY1989107,070
FY1990122,066
FY1991113,389
FY1992132,531
Immigration →

Removals and border encounters

Removals numbered 34k in FY1989 and 44k in FY1992, with a low of 30k in FY1990.

Removals

FY1989 34k → FY1992 44k

Border encounters

FY1989 891k → FY1992 1.2M
Data notes

Removals are formal deportations: the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s through FY2002 (DHS Yearbook) and ICE’s own count from FY2003 (ICE); the two are not the same measure. Border encounters are Border Patrol apprehensions, plus port-of-entry inadmissibles from FY2004 and Title 42 expulsions in FY2020–23 (CBP); they count events, not people. A hatched bar is preliminary.

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Removals
PeriodValue
FY198934,430
FY199030,040
FY199133,190
FY199243,670
Border encounters
PeriodValue
FY1989891,147
FY19901,103,353
FY19911,132,033
FY19921,199,560
Immigration →

The U.S. and the world

Goods trade balance

The monthly goods trade balance was −$7B in January 1991 and −$7.9B in January 1993, with a high of −$3.7B in February 1992.

Goods balance, $B a month

Data starts January 1991

Jan 1991 −$7B → Jan 1993 −$7.9B
Data notes

The goods trade balance is exports minus imports of goods, in billions of dollars a month, seasonally adjusted, on the Census basis, from 1991 (Census Bureau). Below zero the U.S. imported more goods than it exported. Services are not included. Dollars are not adjusted for inflation, so later years run larger.

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Goods balance, $B a month
PeriodValue
Jan 1991−$7B
Feb 1991−$5.8B
Mar 1991−$4.5B
Apr 1991−$4.5B
May 1991−$5.1B
Jun 1991−$4.9B
Jul 1991−$5.5B
Aug 1991−$6B
Sep 1991−$6.3B
Oct 1991−$5.8B
Nov 1991−$4.6B
Dec 1991−$6.2B
Jan 1992−$6.4B
Feb 1992−$3.7B
Mar 1992−$5.5B
Apr 1992−$6.8B
May 1992−$7.9B
Jun 1992−$6.6B
Jul 1992−$7.5B
Aug 1992−$9B
Sep 1992−$8.2B
Oct 1992−$7.2B
Nov 1992−$8.2B
Dec 1992−$7.4B
Jan 1993−$7.9B
Trade →

Security and energy

Troops abroad

Troops stationed abroad numbered 453k in September 1989 and 295k in September 1992. Germany hosted the most in 4 of those years.

Active-duty troops abroad

Sep 1989 453k → Sep 1992 295k
Data notes

Active-duty U.S. military personnel stationed outside the United States and its territories (afloat and unassigned included where the source reports them), one snapshot a year (September; June for 1953–56), from the Defense Manpower Data Center’s tables and, for years it did not publish, troopdata. The year in progress shows its latest quarter, hatched. From December 2017 DMDC counts permanent assignments only, so later figures leave out most deployed forces.

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Active-duty troops abroad
PeriodValue
Sep 1989452,930
Sep 1990446,827
Sep 1991393,450
Sep 1992295,379
Troops abroad →

Strategic Petroleum Reserve

The reserve held 561M bbl on Jan 20, 1989 and 575M bbl on Jan 22, 1993, with a high of 590M bbl on Aug 31, 1990.

Reserve level, million barrels

Jan 20, 1989 561M bbl → Jan 22, 1993 575M bbl
Data notes

Crude oil held in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve at the end of each week, in millions of barrels, from the Energy Information Administration (from August 1982). Sales, exchanges and refills are authorized by Congress and the executive branch at different times, and many take months to carry out. The Energy page marks each action.

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Reserve level, million barrels
PeriodValue
Jan 20, 1989561M bbl
Jan 27, 1989561M bbl
Feb 3, 1989562M bbl
Feb 10, 1989563M bbl
Feb 17, 1989563M bbl
Feb 24, 1989563M bbl
Mar 3, 1989564M bbl
Mar 10, 1989564M bbl
Mar 17, 1989566M bbl
Mar 24, 1989566M bbl
Mar 31, 1989566M bbl
Apr 7, 1989566M bbl
Apr 14, 1989567M bbl
Apr 21, 1989567M bbl
Apr 28, 1989567M bbl
May 5, 1989568M bbl
May 12, 1989569M bbl
May 19, 1989569M bbl
May 26, 1989569M bbl
Jun 2, 1989570M bbl
Jun 9, 1989571M bbl
Jun 16, 1989571M bbl
Jun 23, 1989571M bbl
Jun 30, 1989572M bbl
Jul 7, 1989572M bbl
Jul 14, 1989573M bbl
Jul 21, 1989573M bbl
Jul 28, 1989574M bbl
Aug 4, 1989574M bbl
Aug 11, 1989574M bbl
Aug 18, 1989574M bbl
Aug 25, 1989575M bbl
Sep 1, 1989575M bbl
Sep 8, 1989576M bbl
Sep 15, 1989576M bbl
Sep 22, 1989577M bbl
Sep 29, 1989577M bbl
Oct 6, 1989577M bbl
Oct 13, 1989577M bbl
Oct 20, 1989578M bbl
Oct 27, 1989578M bbl
Nov 3, 1989578M bbl
Nov 10, 1989579M bbl
Nov 17, 1989579M bbl
Nov 24, 1989579M bbl
Dec 1, 1989579M bbl
Dec 8, 1989580M bbl
Dec 15, 1989580M bbl
Dec 22, 1989580M bbl
Dec 29, 1989580M bbl
Jan 5, 1990580M bbl
Jan 12, 1990580M bbl
Jan 19, 1990580M bbl
Jan 26, 1990580M bbl
Feb 2, 1990581M bbl
Feb 9, 1990581M bbl
Feb 16, 1990581M bbl
Feb 23, 1990581M bbl
Mar 2, 1990581M bbl
Mar 9, 1990581M bbl
Mar 16, 1990581M bbl
Mar 23, 1990581M bbl
Mar 30, 1990581M bbl
Apr 6, 1990582M bbl
Apr 13, 1990582M bbl
Apr 20, 1990582M bbl
Apr 27, 1990583M bbl
May 4, 1990583M bbl
May 11, 1990584M bbl
May 18, 1990585M bbl
May 25, 1990586M bbl
Jun 1, 1990586M bbl
Jun 8, 1990586M bbl
Jun 15, 1990586M bbl
Jun 22, 1990586M bbl
Jun 29, 1990587M bbl
Jul 6, 1990587M bbl
Jul 13, 1990587M bbl
Jul 20, 1990587M bbl
Jul 27, 1990587M bbl
Aug 3, 1990587M bbl
Aug 10, 1990587M bbl
Aug 17, 1990587M bbl
Aug 24, 1990589M bbl
Aug 31, 1990590M bbl
Sep 7, 1990590M bbl
Sep 14, 1990590M bbl
Sep 21, 1990590M bbl
Sep 28, 1990590M bbl
Oct 5, 1990590M bbl
Oct 12, 1990590M bbl
Oct 19, 1990590M bbl
Oct 26, 1990590M bbl
Nov 2, 1990589M bbl
Nov 9, 1990588M bbl
Nov 16, 1990588M bbl
Nov 23, 1990587M bbl
Nov 30, 1990587M bbl
Dec 7, 1990586M bbl
Dec 14, 1990586M bbl
Dec 21, 1990586M bbl
Dec 28, 1990586M bbl
Jan 4, 1991586M bbl
Jan 11, 1991586M bbl
Jan 18, 1991586M bbl
Jan 25, 1991586M bbl
Feb 1, 1991586M bbl
Feb 8, 1991585M bbl
Feb 15, 1991584M bbl
Feb 22, 1991583M bbl
Mar 1, 1991582M bbl
Mar 8, 1991578M bbl
Mar 15, 1991575M bbl
Mar 22, 1991572M bbl
Mar 29, 1991571M bbl
Apr 5, 1991568M bbl
Apr 12, 1991568M bbl
Apr 19, 1991568M bbl
Apr 26, 1991568M bbl
May 3, 1991568M bbl
May 10, 1991568M bbl
May 17, 1991568M bbl
May 24, 1991568M bbl
May 31, 1991568M bbl
Jun 7, 1991568M bbl
Jun 14, 1991568M bbl
Jun 21, 1991568M bbl
Jun 28, 1991568M bbl
Jul 5, 1991568M bbl
Jul 12, 1991568M bbl
Jul 19, 1991568M bbl
Jul 26, 1991568M bbl
Aug 2, 1991568M bbl
Aug 9, 1991568M bbl
Aug 16, 1991569M bbl
Aug 23, 1991569M bbl
Aug 30, 1991569M bbl
Sep 6, 1991569M bbl
Sep 13, 1991569M bbl
Sep 20, 1991569M bbl
Sep 27, 1991569M bbl
Oct 4, 1991569M bbl
Oct 11, 1991569M bbl
Oct 18, 1991569M bbl
Oct 25, 1991569M bbl
Nov 1, 1991569M bbl
Nov 8, 1991569M bbl
Nov 15, 1991569M bbl
Nov 22, 1991569M bbl
Nov 29, 1991569M bbl
Dec 6, 1991569M bbl
Dec 13, 1991569M bbl
Dec 20, 1991569M bbl
Dec 27, 1991569M bbl
Jan 3, 1992569M bbl
Jan 10, 1992569M bbl
Jan 17, 1992569M bbl
Jan 24, 1992569M bbl
Jan 31, 1992569M bbl
Feb 7, 1992569M bbl
Feb 14, 1992569M bbl
Feb 21, 1992569M bbl
Feb 28, 1992569M bbl
Mar 6, 1992569M bbl
Mar 13, 1992569M bbl
Mar 20, 1992569M bbl
Mar 27, 1992569M bbl
Apr 3, 1992569M bbl
Apr 10, 1992569M bbl
Apr 17, 1992569M bbl
Apr 24, 1992569M bbl
May 1, 1992569M bbl
May 8, 1992569M bbl
May 15, 1992569M bbl
May 22, 1992569M bbl
May 29, 1992569M bbl
Jun 5, 1992569M bbl
Jun 12, 1992569M bbl
Jun 19, 1992569M bbl
Jun 26, 1992570M bbl
Jul 3, 1992570M bbl
Jul 10, 1992570M bbl
Jul 17, 1992570M bbl
Jul 24, 1992570M bbl
Jul 31, 1992570M bbl
Aug 7, 1992570M bbl
Aug 14, 1992570M bbl
Aug 21, 1992570M bbl
Aug 28, 1992570M bbl
Sep 4, 1992570M bbl
Sep 11, 1992570M bbl
Sep 18, 1992570M bbl
Sep 25, 1992570M bbl
Oct 2, 1992571M bbl
Oct 9, 1992571M bbl
Oct 16, 1992573M bbl
Oct 23, 1992573M bbl
Oct 30, 1992574M bbl
Nov 6, 1992574M bbl
Nov 13, 1992574M bbl
Nov 20, 1992574M bbl
Nov 27, 1992574M bbl
Dec 4, 1992574M bbl
Dec 11, 1992574M bbl
Dec 18, 1992574M bbl
Dec 25, 1992575M bbl
Jan 1, 1993575M bbl
Jan 8, 1993575M bbl
Jan 15, 1993575M bbl
Jan 22, 1993575M bbl
Energy →

Source: the site’s Presidency, Congress and Supreme Court data, each named in its card’s Data notes; party control of Congress from the House and Senate historians; appointments from the Federal Judicial Center. Portrait: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Built October 19, 2026.