George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st president of the United States, despised broccoli so much that he banned its presence on the White House and the Air Force One. His outspokenness on his anti-broccoli behavior continued even after his presidential term. 

George H.W. Bush hated broccoli so much that in an analysis of his statements, findings stated that he had mentioned broccoli 70 times. His obsessive hatred of the vegetable dates back to his childhood years when his mother forced him to eat it. 

The Early Life and Presidential Term of George H.W. Bush

Known as the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993, George Herbert Walker Bush focused on foreign policy during his term. Born in Milton, Massachusetts, on June 12, 1924, to Prescott and Dorothy Walker Bush, George Bush emerged as the son of a banker and past member of the United States Senate. 

After he graduated from Phillips Academy in 1942, Bush enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve, and soon after, he became the youngest commissioned pilot in the United States. During his involvement in World War II, he flew 58 combat operations and acquired the Distinguished Flying Cross as an indicator of bravery when the Japanese attacked him in Bonin Islands. 

When Bush’s military service concluded, he continued to pursue his education, studying economics at Yale University. Subsequent to his graduation in 1948, he transferred to Texas and occupied himself with a job in the oil industry, making him affluent. Not long after, Bush became the head of an offshore oil drilling company. 

Bush served two terms as the vice president of Ronald Reagan before he became the United States president in 1989. Bush mainly focused on foreign policy and improved America’s relationship with the Soviets. Moreover, he consented to military operations occurring in the Persian Gulf and Panama. (Source: History) 

Bush also provided a military coalition consisting of numerous countries to fight against Iraq when they showed intentions of invading Saudi Arabia. Within Bush’s declaration of war on Iraq, the United States dropped more than 88,000 bombs on Kuwait and Iraq and purposely damaged their essential infrastructures to delay postwar recovery. (Source: The Intercept) 

In addition, Bush’s term brought economic recession to America, which led him to increase tax revenues despite his no new tax promise in his presidential campaign. His actions consequentially led to the loss of the masses’ support. (Source: History)

Bush’s Perpetual Hatred for Broccoli

George H.W. Bush is known for numerous issues during his presidential term, and one of those is his unwavering hatred for a specific green vegetable. During and after his presidential period, George H.W. Bush never failed to express his loathing for broccoli. 

 

I do not like broccoli. And I haven’t liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I’m president of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli!

George H.W. Bush

(Source: ABC News)

Bush’s detest for broccoli went to the point that he banned broccoli in the White House and Air Force One. His outspoken behavior towards his hatred of broccoli continued even after his presidential term. In a 2016 tweet, George H.W. Bush expressed that even a cute letter from a 5-year-old child failed to persuade him to like broccoli.  (Source: Smart Politics)