Republican George W. Bush lost the popular vote to Democrat Al Gore, but became president after a protracted period of ballot recounting, the legitimacy of which was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court. During his first year in office, the apocalyptic terrorist attacks of 9/11 disrupted the nation’s sense of security and ushered in a new era of war on global terrorism. The Bush administration swiftly mounted military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq. During his second term, Bush faced domestic crises that significantly impacted his legacy. His administration’s slow response to the massive devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and to the cataclysmic financial crisis of 2008 caused widespread outrage and sparked interest in change. Bush selected Connecticut portraitist Robert Anderson, with whom he attended Yale University, to create this painting for the National Portrait Gallery. The president requested an informal image, posing in shirtsleeves at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.
43er presidente, 2001–2009
El republicano George W. Bush perdió el voto popular ante el demócrata Al Gore, pero logró la presidencia luego de un prolongado recuento de votos cuya legitimidad terminó por decidirse en el Tribunal Supremo. Durante su primer año en el cargo, los horrendos ataques terroristas del 9/11 trastocaron la noción de seguridad en el país e inauguraron una nueva era de guerra contra el terrorismo global. Su administración desplegó rápidamente operaciones militares en Afganistán e Irak. Durante su segundo término, Bush afrontó crisis nacionales que afectaron su legado notablemente. La lenta respuesta de su administración a la devastación del huracán Katrina en 2005 y al cataclismo financiero de 2008 provocó la indignación general y el interés en un cambio de rumbo. Bush seleccionó a Robert Anderson, retratista de Connecticut y antiguo compañero suyo en la Universidad de Yale, para realizar esta pintura destinada a la National Portrait Gallery. El presidente solicitó una imagen informal y posó en mangas de camisa en Camp David, residencia presidencial de descanso en Maryland.
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of American Fidelity Foundation, J. Thomas and Stefanie Atherton, William S. and Ann Atherton, Dr. Jon C. and Jane G. Axton, Dr. Lee and Sherry Beasley, Thomas A. Cellucci, A. James Clark, Richard H. Collins, Edward and Kaye Cook, Don and Alice Dahlgren, Mr. and Mrs. James L. Easton, Robert Edmund, Robert and Nancy Payne Ellis, Dr. Tom and Cheryl Hewett, Dr. Dodge and Lori Hill, Pete and Shelley Kourtis, Tom and Judy Love, David L. McCombs, Tom and Brenda McDaniel, Herman and LaDonna Meinders, The Norick Family, Kenneth and Gail Ochs, Robert and Sylvia Slater, Richard L. Thurston, Lew and Myra Ward, Dr. James and Susan Wendelken, Jim and Jill Williams
