User:Coffeeandcrumbs/George H. W. Bush's 1992 trip to Asia

From December 31, 1991, to January 10, 1992, President George H. W. Bush of the United States went on a trip with stops in Australia, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan.

26,000 miles

Departure
Before departing on Air Force One from Andrews Air Force Base, just outside Washington, D.C., Bush made a speech in which he highlighted the mission for the trip. He said: "Let me make very clear the focus of this trip: My highest priority is jobs. I want us to built a foundation for sustained economic growth and an ever-increasing supply of good jobs for American workers." His plane left the United States before dawn on December 30, 1991.

Australia
Bush was the first US president to visit Australia since President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967. He arrived in Sydney on December 31, 1991, in time to see the New Year's fireworks display at Syndey Harbour with the newly elected prime minister, Paul Keating. When the trip was planned earlier in 1991, Bush expected to be hosted by the then prime minister, Bob Hawke, a friend and ally of the US president, who sent 1,000 troops to support the coalition in the Persian Gulf War. On December 19, Keating, the former treasurer of Australia, had defeated Hawke in a second leadership spill of Australian Labor Party to become the prime minister.

The tour of Australia concluded on January 3 when he made his way to Singapore.