Howard Brush Dean III (born November 17, 1948) was the 45th President of the United States of America, serving from 2005-2009. He previously served as the 79th Governor of Vermont from 1991-2003. Dean, while popular upon his election in the Democratic lanslide of 2004, was unable to capitalize upon his initial popularity and suffered from conservative allegations that he was a weak foreign and domestic leader, and due to stiff reactions to his failed health care initiatives in 2007. As a result, Dean lost to Republican candidate Michael Huckabee in the 2008 Presidential election.