His First Act as President

American Minute from William J. Federer

3,000 Americans died when Imperial Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. 20,000 Americans and Filipinos died on Bataan's Death March, where starving prisoners were marched 65 miles in heat and jungles to a disease infested camp. Over 100,000 died retaking Okinawa and Pacific islands. Democrat President Harry S Truman made the controversial decision August 6, 1945, to drop the Atomic Bomb, which is estimated to have prevented an additional one million casualties on both sides.

The year before, SEPTEMBER 2, 1944, a torpedo-bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire while making a run over Bonin Island, 600 miles south of Japan.

The pilot headed out to sea, ejected from his burning plane and was rescued by a submarine. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, graduated from Yale, worked in the Texas oil industry and entered politics, eventually being elected the 41st U.S. President. His name was George H.W. Bush.

President Bush began his Inaugural Address, January 20, 1989, saying: "I have just repeated...the oath taken by George Washington 200 years ago, and the Bible on which I place my hand is the Bible on which he place his...My first act as President is a prayer...Heavenly Father...Make us strong to do Your work...And if our flaws are endless, God's love is truly boundless."

William J. Federer is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and president of Amerisearch, Inc, which is dedicated to researching our American heritage. The American Minute radio feature looks back at events in American history on the dates they occurred, is broadcast daily across the country and read by thousand on the internet.