January 2 – President Bush announces his intent to nominate Jamsheed K. Choksy, Dawn Ho Delbanco, Gary D. Glenn,
David Hertz, Marvin Bailey Scott, and
Carol M. Swain as members of the National Council on the Humanities for terms lasting six years, and Jan Cellucci, William J. Hagenah, and Mark Y. Herring as members of the National Museum and Library Services board for terms lasting five years.[2]
January 3 –
United States National Security AdvisorStephen Hadley announces Bush will travel to the
Middle East in five days to give President Bush a chance "to discuss with Israelis and Palestinians their efforts toward a negotiated peace and achievement of the President's vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security."[3]
January 4 – President Bush signs S. 2436 for the establishment of commencement of Commissioner of Internal Revenue terms to have a designated date.[4]
January 7 – President Bush delivers an address at Horace Greeley Elementary School in
Chicago, Illinois during the morning.[5]
January 8 – President Bush releases a statement noting that the following day will be the third anniversary of the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement in Sudan and states the commitment on the part of the US to continuing to adhere to the agreement.[6]
January 9 – President Bush attends the welcoming ceremony at the Ben Gurion International Airport in
Tel Aviv, Israel during the afternoon.[7]
January 10 – President Bush delivers an address at the King David Hotel on the peace process in the Middle East during the afternoon.[8]
January 11 – President Bush visits Yad Vashem during the morning, saying that he hopes those who visit will have "a sobering reminder that evil exists and a call that when we find evil, we must resist it."[9]
January 30 – President Bush delivers an address on trade and the economy at the Robinson Helicopter Company in
Torrance, California during the morning.[11] President Bush authorizes federal aid to the state of
Indiana after declaring the existence of a major disaster there.[12]
January 31 – President Bush gives a speech on international collaboration against terrorism at Emerald at Queensridge in
Las Vegas, Nevada during the morning.[13] President Bush signs the Protect America Act Extension, giving the
Protect America Act authority until the upcoming February 16.[14]
February
February 1 – President Bush signs a proclamation declaring February as "American Heart Month" at the Intercontinental Hotel[15] and delivers an economic speech at Hallmark Cards, Inc. in
Kansas City, Missouri during the morning.[16] First Lady
Laura Bush discusses American Heart Month in a radio address.[17]
February 4 – President Bush meets with his cabinet for discussions on the budget in the Cabinet Room during the morning.[18]
February 26 – President Bush gives an address on his African trip to the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation at Marriot Wardham Park Hotel in D.C. during the morning.[19]
February 27 – President Bush meets with
Prime Minister of the Czech RepublicMirek Topolánek in the Oval Office during the morning.[20] President Bush announces Sada Cumber as Presidential Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference in the Oval Office[21] and meets with 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox in the South Lawn[22] during the afternoon.
February 28 – President Bush holds a news conference[23] and meets with members of his economic group at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. during the morning.[24]
February 29 – President Bush holds an Oval Office meeting with Secretary General of NATO
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to discuss Afghanistan during the morning.[25] President Bush signs the Andean Trade Preference Extension Act of 2008, extending the Andean Trade Extension Act through the upcoming December 31, and H.R. 5478, allowing $1 coins to continue minting throughout 2008.[26] President Bush proclaims March 2008 as "Irish-American Heritage Month".[27]
March
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April 4 – Noting the fortieth anniversary of the 1968
assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Bush laments that America was "robbed of one of history's most consequential advocates for equality and civil rights" and calls for both mourning of King's death and celebrating his preaching of "justice and hope" in a statement.[29]
April 26 – President Bush attends the
White House Correspondents' Association at the Washington Hilton Hotel in D.C. during the evening.[31] President Bush speaks about the hardships students presently have in acquiring higher forms of education and the policies enacted by the
Department of Education in response to this during his radio address.[32]
April 28 – President Bush meets with
President of GuatemalaAlvaro Colom in the Oval Office during the morning for discussions on relations between their countries, the effectiveness of CAFTA, reforms presently being put in place by the Guatemalan government, and immigration.[33]
April 29 – President Bush holds a press conference in the Rose Garden during the morning.[34] President Bush meets with
United Nations Special Representative to
AfghanistanKai Eide in the Oval Office[35] and delivers a speech on National Volunteer Week in the East Room during the afternoon.[36]
April 30 – President Bush hosts a ceremony for the Welcomes 2008 National and State Teachers of the Year in the Rose Garden during the morning.[37] He welcomes the
New York Giants, winners of
Super Bowl XLII, in the South Lawn during the afternoon.[38]
May
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June
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July
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August
August 2 – President Bush discusses gas prices and the effectiveness of Congress in dealing with the issue during his radio address.[39]
August 4 – President Bush delivers a speech at the Eielson Air Force Base in
Alaska during the afternoon.[40]
August 5 – President Bush announces his nomination of Mark V. Rosenker for Vice Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.[41]
September 24 – President Bush delivers an address to the nation from the White House on the
financial crisis.[43]
September 29 – President Bush delivers an address on financial reform in South Drive during the morning.[44]
September 30 – President Bush delivers a speech on the economy during the morning.[45] President Bush signs the Need-Based Educational Aid Act of 2008 and the Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2008 into law.[46] President Bush announces his nomination of Robert W. McGowan to be Governor of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service[47] and the nomination is sent to the Senate.[48]
October
October 1 – President Bush meets with General
David McKiernan in the Oval Office at the White House. President Bush gives public brief remarks on the meeting during the afternoon hours.[49]
October 2 – President Bush meets with American business representatives at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building to discuss the Economic Rescue Package, saying afterward, "the House of Representatives must listen to these voices and get this bill passed so we can get about the business of restoring confidence."[50]
October 4 – President Bush visits his childhood home in
Midland, Texas and reflects on his past.[51]
October 6 – President Bush delivers a speech on the administration's judicial appointments accomplishments and the economy at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza in
Cincinnati, Ohio.[52]
October 30 – President Bush delivers an address at the graduation ceremony for Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agents at the FBI Academy in
Quantico, Virginia during the morning.[55]
November 10 – President Bush meets with President-elect Barack Obama at the Oval Office to discuss the transition of power between the
presidents. White House spokesman
Dana Perino describes the meeting as "friendly" and "relaxed".[56]
November 27 – President Bush favorably comments on the Iraq Council of Representatives approving the Strategic Framework and Security Agreements with the US: "Two years ago, this day seemed unlikely - but the success of the surge and the courage of the Iraqi people set the conditions for these two agreements to be negotiated and approved by the Iraqi parliament."[57]
November 28 – President Bush issues a statement expressing sadness at the loss of American and foreign lives lost in the
Mumbai attacks.[58]
November 29 – President Bush condemns the attacks in
Mumbai, India while speaking on the South Lawn of the White House during the afternoon.[59]
December
December 1 – President Bush delivers a speech on
World AIDS Day in the North Lawn during the morning.[60] President and First Lady Bush speak at a forum on Global Health at Newseum in Washington, D.C. during the morning.[61] President Bush signs the United States Army Commemorative Coin Act of 2008. It requires the Treasury Department to mint and issue coins for the recognition of the US Army being founded in 1775 as well as commemorating the event.[62]
December 3 – First Lady Laura Bush unveils the Christmas decorations at the White House for the eighth and final time.[63]
December 8 – President and First Lady Bush act as hosts for the White House Children's Holiday Reception and Performance in the East Room during the morning.[67] President Bush attends several briefings while in the office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center in the afternoon.[68]
December 9 – President Bush delivers an address on the evolution of American defense at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York during the morning.[69] President Bush issues a statement on
Zimbabwe renewing his call for the removal of the leadership of
Robert Mugabe.[70]
December 17 – President Bush gives a speech at the U.S. Army War College in
Carlisle, Pennsylvania during the afternoon.[72] President Bush designates the day as "Wright Brothers Day".[73]
December 18 – President Bush delivers a speech to the
American Enterprise Institute at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. during the morning.[74]
December 19 – President Bush delivers a speech on auto companies in the Roosevelt Room during the morning.[75] President Bush meets with
President of the State of PalestineMahmoud Abbas in the Oval Office of the White House during the afternoon.[76]
December 20 – President Bush discusses auto companies during his radio address.[77]
January 13 – President Bush holds his last cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room, Bush noting accomplishments of the group, during the morning.[84]
January 15 – President Bush delivers his farewell address in the East Room of the White House.[85]
January 19 — President Bush made phone calls to former and then leaders on his final day in office as president as he prepares to leave for Barack Obama’s inauguration[86]
January 20 – President Bush completes his two terms in office and leaves the White House for the final time as Commander-in-chief.[citation needed]
January 20 –
Barack Obama is
inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States, at noon EST. George W. Bush, who is now former president, returns to
Crawford to begin his post-presidency.[citation needed]