George H. W. Bush retired from all politics in 1980.
George H. W. Bush . Bush ran for president in 1980 but was defeated in the Republican primary by Ronald Reagan . In 1988 , Bush ran a successful campaign to succeed Reagan as President , defeating Democratic opponent Michael Dukakis . Domestically , Bush reneged on a 1988 campaign promise and , after a struggle with Congress , signed an increase in taxes that Congress had passed . Bush left office in 1993 .