Bush 's administration included many prominent figures from previous Republican administrations , including Donald Rumsfeld , Dick Cheney , and Colin Powell . Upon taking office , Bush signed a major tax cut , the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 . After the September 11 attacks , the Bush administration launched the Afghanistan War and the War on Terror , a global conflict against al-Qaeda and other groups . In 2003 , the administration launched the Iraq War , which deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein . Despite the growing unpopularity of the Iraq War , Bush defeated Democrat John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election . In the two years after Bush 's re-election , the Jack Abramoff scandals , the administration 's handling of Hurricane Katrina , Bush 's failed attempt to reform Social Security , and the Iraq War 's continued unpopularity all weakened Bush 's public standing . Aided by Bush 's popularity and the Mark Foley scandal , Democrats won control of Congress in the 2006 elections . In 2008 , a collapse in housing prices led to a major financial crisis , which marked the start of a prolonged economic downturn known as the Great Recession . In the 2008 presidential election , held in the midst of the financial crisis , Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican John McCain
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Reagan Era