Claim: George W. Bush was a president.

John Ellis `` Jeb '' Bush Sr. -LRB- born February 11 , 1953 -RRB- is an American businessman and politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007 .   Bush , who grew up in Houston , is the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush , and a younger brother of former President George W. Bush . He graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover , Massachusetts , and attended the University of Texas , where he earned a degree in Latin American affairs . In 1980 , he moved to Florida and pursued a career in real estate development , and in 1986 became Florida 's Secretary of Commerce until 1988 . At that time , he joined his father 's successful campaign for the Presidency .   In 1994 , Bush made his first run for office , losing the election for governor by less than two percentage points to the incumbent , Lawton Chiles . Bush ran again in 1998 and defeated Lieutenant Governor Buddy MacKay with 55 percent of the vote . He ran for reelection in 2002 , defeating Bill McBride and winning with 56 percent , to become Florida 's first two-term Republican governor . During his eight years as governor , Bush pushed an ambitious Everglades conservation plan , supported caps for medical malpractice litigation , launched a Medicaid privatization pilot program , and instituted reforms to the state education system , including the issuance of vouchers and promoting school choice .   Bush announced his presidential candidacy on June 15 , 2015 . He suspended his campaign on February 20 , 2016 , shortly after the South Carolina primary and endorsed Senator Ted Cruz on March 23 , 2016 . Bush later made headlines by joining a group of Republicans who opposed the GOP nominee for President , Donald Trump .