On July 3 , 1988 , the guided missile cruiser accidentally shot down Iran Air Flight 655 , killing 290 passengers . Bush said that he would " never apologize for the United States of America . Ever . I do n't care what the facts are . " As early as 1985 , Bush had been planning a presidential run ; he entered the Republican primaries for President of the United States in October 1987 . His challengers for the Republican presidential nomination included U.S. Senator Bob Dole of Kansas , U.S. Representative Jack Kemp of New York , former Governor Pete du Pont of Delaware , and conservative Christian televangelist Pat Robertson
Iran Air Flight 655
Iran Air Flight 655
George H. W. Bush