We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about George W. Bush, and now we’re back with part two! Check out eight more riveting facts about one of the United States’ most misunderstood presidents that you definitely (probably) did not know below. You might be surprised by what you find out!
Number Eight: He Appointed the First African American Woman to a Senior Cabinet Role. Bush may not have been the most forward-thinking person, but one forward-thinking notable thing he did do is to appoint the first ever African American woman to a senior cabinet role in the history of the United States. This woman was Condoleeza Rice, of course.
Number Seven: He Was an Alcoholic Before He Was Married. He was so bad that he was even arrested for a D.U.I. in 1976. He was fined and had his license suspended. He admitted that he was an alcoholic before he married Laura Bush.
Number Six: He Was Almost Impeached. There were several attempts made to impeach Bush throughout his presidency, but the most memorable one occurred in 2008. Congressmen Dennis Kucinich and Robert Wexler introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives 35 separate articles of impeachment. However, speaker Nancy Pelosi ended up declaring that impeachment was “off the table.”
Number Five: He Was Suspended for Failing to Get a Physical. It’s no secret that Bush was a U.S. fighter pilot in the Texas Air National Guard. However, he was actually suspended because he didn’t get his physical.
Number Four: He Paints. Bush has even painted world leaders like Vladimir Putin. Since leaving office, painting has become one of his most notable hobbies.
Number Three: There Was an Assassination Attempt While He Was in Office. This is the most publicized assassination attempt on Bush while he was in office, but it might not be the only one. A Georgian man, Vladimir Arutyunian, threw a grenade toward Bush when he was speaking in 2005. The grenade failed to detonate, and the man was sentenced to life in prison.
Number Two: He Is the Only U.S. President With an MBA. Though you might not think of Bush as a brainiac, he is actually the only president in the history of the United States to have his Master’s of Business Administration.
Number One: He Played Rugby. Though Bush is profoundly American, he actually played rugby – a British sport – while at Yale. He was very good at it, too.