1989    Cold War: In a meeting off the coast of Malta, US President George H. W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev release statements indicating that the cold war between their nations may be coming to an end.

1990    President George H. W. Bush posthumously awards Jesse Owens the Congressional Gold Medal.

1990    George H. W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev sign a treaty to end chemical weapon production.

1990    The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is signed into law by President George H. W. Bush.

1991    Gulf War: U.S. President George H. W. Bush announces that "Kuwait is liberated".

1992    A 'joint understanding' agreement on arms reduction is signed by U.S. President George H. W. Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin (this would be later codified in START II).

1992    Somali Civil War: President George H. W. Bush orders 28,000 US troops to Somalia in Northeast Africa.

1993    In Moscow, George H. W. Bush and Boris Yeltsin sign the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).