Dwight L. Bush, Sr.

Dwight Lamar Bush Sr. (born February 4, 1957) is an American businessman who was the United States Ambassador to Morocco from 2014 to 2017.

Early life and education

Bush was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. One of five siblings, he has credited his parents for "[making] sure that their children could fully participate in the American Dream." He said in 2016, "I show up at Cornell and start to meet scholars. ... If I had not had the Cornell experience, it's highly unlikely I’d be where I am today."

Business career Upon leaving college, Bush took a position with Chase Manhattan Bank, where he worked for the next fifteen years.

Bush has worked with a number of educational and research institutions, including Cornell University, Xavier University of Louisiana, and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, as well as philanthropic organizations such as the GAVI Alliance and its financing arm The Vaccine Fund. A cousin of Valerie Jarrett, a close aide to President Barack Obama, and a step-daughter of Vernon Jordan, a long-time influential figure, Antoinette Cook Bush has well-developed social and business ties in Washington.

Dwight Bush is himself a longtime member of the Democratic Party and over the years has personally contributed over $130,000 to Democratic politicians and organizations.

U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Ambassador Bush with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, meeting King Mohammed VI of Morocco in 2014 Bush was nominated for the position of United States Ambassador to Morocco on August 1, 2013, by President Obama, to fill the spot relinquished by the previous ambassador Samuel L. Kaplan. Bush testified regarding his nomination before the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on September 24, 2013. At the time some fifty ambassadorial appointments were being held up for long delays before confirmation, due to frictions between Obama and the Republican-controlled Senate. Finally on March 13, 2014, Bush's appointment was confirmed by voice vote. He assumed the position of ambassador later that month.

In the role, Bush has sought to continue the positive nature that has long characterized Morocco–United States relations. In a January 2016 interview, Bush said he was optimistic about the future of Morocco, because of its open business climate and due to it being a "moderate, progressive Islamic state ... [that] from a political perspective ... has been ahead of many others in the region."