Remembering President George H.W. Bush
December 4, 2018
Reviewed and Updated by Kelsey Davis,
President George H.W. Bush was a humble and ambitious leader who died on November 30, 2018, at the age of 94. He was responsible for walking the U.S. through important milestones like the Americans with Disabilities Act, Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, and Operation Just Cause. He will be remembered as a veteran, congressman, vice president, legacy leader, and of course, our 41st president.
President George H.W. Bush’s Top Accomplishments
1941: Joined the U.S. Navy and the fight against the attack on Pearl Harbor.
1948: Graduated from Yale University.
1966: Elected into the House of Representatives.
1971: Appointed as Ambassador to the United Nations by President Nixon.
1976: Appointed as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
1981: Elected as Vice President alongside President Ronald Reagan.
1988: Elected as the 41st president of the United States. Fun fact: President George H.W. Bush was the second president, after Martin van Buren, to be elected while sitting as a vice president.
1989: Sent troops to Panama for Operation Just Cause to oust the dictator of an international drug trade.
1990: Signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law.
1990: Negotiated a budget deal to reduce the federal deficit.
1991: Signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
History and Impacts of Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed into law on July 26, 1990, is considered George H.W. Bush’s landmark presidential legislation. The law ensures that individuals with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else and are not discriminated against. This equal opportunity applies to housing accommodations, employment opportunities, public transportation, government services, and telecommunications.
The ADA classifies a disabled person as “a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.”
An estimated 55 million Americans are protected by the ADA and are directly impacted by this life-changing law. Many changes brought by the ADA are seen everywhere we look, including the use of wheelchair-accessible transit, braille in public buildings, closed captioning for television and movies, and fire alarms that can be both heard and seen.
Dual-Eligibility and Special Needs Plans
If you are one of the 55 million Americans protected by the ADA, you may qualify for a Special Needs Plan. These plans are a type of Medicare Advantage plan and help cover doctor, hospital, and prescription drug costs. Plus, you may have a special enrollment period which means you can enroll during almost any time of the year! If you have questions regarding your special needs plan eligibility or plan options, a licensed agent may be able to help! Call us today at 844-431-1832 or fill out this form.
