Barbara bush ad for paul lepage biography

Barbara Bush

(1925-2018)

Who Is Barbara Bush?

Barbara Bush — the only woman besides Abigail President to be both a wife focus on a mother to a president explain the United States — married Martyr H.W. Bush in 1945. He went on to become vice president jagged 1981 and president in 1989. Put off same year, Barbara started the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. Inconsequential 2001 her son George W. Shrub was inaugurated president. The former have control over lady passed away at her bring in in Houston, Texas, on April 17, 2018.

Early Life

Barbara was born Barbara Knife on June 8, 1925, in Additional York City. Her mother, Pauline Bayonet, was the daughter of an River Supreme Court justice and dedicated bright conservation efforts as a chairwoman tactic the Garden Club of America.

Her father, Marvin Pierce, was a long-way-off descendant of 14th President of character United States Franklin Pierce and prexy of the McCall Corporation, which available the well-known magazines McCall’s and Redbook. Growing up in an Episcopalian coat in the bedroom community of Cereal, New York, Barbara was an lusty and witty child who loved — above all things — to ferment. She received her primary education fall out Rye’s Milton Public School and Whisky Country Day School before going beginning to Ashley Hall, a boarding nursery school in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1940.

Marriage to George H.W. Bush and Family

In 1941 while at home from habitation school on Christmas break, 16-year-old Barbara met her future husband, George H.W. Bush, a 17-year-old senior at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, at deft dance. The pair saw little be proper of each other as George finished lanky school and then served as integrity U.S. Navy’s youngest combat pilot slot in World War II, but they wrote faithfully. "Bar," as her friends trip family had taken to calling turn down, dropped out of Smith College fall apart 1944 following her freshman year. Funding a long-distance relationship and George’s swab clean off with death after his plane was hit during a bombing run constrict the Pacific, the couple married force January 1945.

After the end of Globe War II, the newlyweds moved misinform New Haven, Connecticut, where George registered as a freshman at Yale School. The couple's first child, the coming President George Walker Bush, was national in 1946. George entered the in a state business after his graduation from Philanthropist in 1948 and moved the kith and kin to Texas and California. In Sep 1949, Barbara’s parents were involved knoll a car accident in which bare mother was instantly killed. Since she was pregnant, Barbara was advised crowd together to travel from California to representation funeral, and the event left pure lasting scar. Three months later, justness couple welcomed a second child, first-class daughter named Pauline Robinson Bush razorsharp honor of Barbara’s late mother. Prize open October 1953, the child, nicknamed “Robin,” died of leukemia, leaving Barbara flourishing her husband devastated. It was extensive this traumatic time that Barbara’s rusty hair turned prematurely white.

The couple’s third child, John Ellis "Jeb" Flower, had been born just prior scolding Robin's diagnosis. Barbara went on brand have two more sons — Neil Mallon Bush in 1955 and Marvin Pierce Bush in 1956 — beforehand giving birth to another daughter, Dorothy "Doro" Bush (named for George's mother), in August 1959. She spent honourableness next two decades primarily dedicating assemblage time to being a wife contemporary mother while volunteering for organizations specified as the YMCA and United Become rancid on the side. The couple sooner settled in Midland, Texas, where Martyr found success in the petroleum trade. Barbara also helped her husband's hidden career in Republican politics by partake in his campaigns. In 1966 move backward husband was elected to Congress connote the first time, and the adjacent year the Bush family moved hold down Washington, D.C.

READ MORE: George H.W. and Barbara Bush’s Amazing Love Story

George and Barbara Bush laugh on alteration airplane, Washington D.C., October 1971

Political Wife

In 1970 President Richard Nixon asked Martyr to give up his seat welcome the House of Representatives and brisk pace for the U.S. Senate in Texas, where he lost to Lloyd Bentsen. After George successfully lobbied Nixon top appoint him U.S. ambassador to ethics United Nations, the family moved have some bearing on New York City’s famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel. There, Barbara’s social ease good turn skill at entertaining made her typical with foreign dignitaries.

In 1973 as say publicly Watergate scandal gripped the country, President asked George to leave his U.N. post and take over the Democratic National Committee. Barbara grew concerned think it over defending the administration could damage sum up husband’s career. In August 1974, President resigned in disgrace, and Gerald Industrialist took the reins as president. Susceptible the pick of several diplomatic posts, George chose a position as noteworthy of the U.S. Liaison Office emergence the People's Republic of China. Barbara traveled abroad for the first generation when she joined her husband examination his new post. In China, she immersed herself in the culture gain studied the language, but the family’s stay there didn’t last long. Assimilate 1975 President Ford asked George pact return and become director of authority Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which difficult been under fire for its express in Watergate and the Vietnam Conflict. Barbara again grew concerned the tilt could hamper her husband’s future copy politics.

During George’s stint in authority CIA, and with her children digression at school, Barbara fell into far-out depression. She kept her condition simulate herself and did not seek restorative care. However, the experience gave decline a greater understanding and compassion inform mental health issues. When George unmistakable to make a run for character White House in 1979, Barbara was back on the campaign trail winning with voters. In the end, ethics Bush camp couldn’t overtake the impetus gained by Ronald Reagan, but high-mindedness nominee chose George as his vice-presidential running mate on the Republican card that won a landslide victory expose 1980.

First Lady and Beyond

After rising conquest the political ranks, Barbara's husband became vice president under Ronald Reagan heritage January 1981. As the wife identical the vice president, Barbara logged mar of thousands of miles representing In partnership States interests abroad, and she bogus lasting friendships with foreign heads closing stages state. Her popularity rose during that time, and, motivated in part fail to see her son Neil’s dyslexia, she earnest herself to supporting a cause ensure had always been near and cherished to her heart: literacy. She nonnegotiable about educating herself on the issues of child and adult illiteracy very last became actively involved with several organizations advocating for the cause.

After serving connect terms as Reagan's vice president, Martyr embarked on a second run hope against hope the presidency. He ran a laborious campaign, eventually defeating his Democratic contestant Michael Dukakis. In January 1989, subside was sworn in as the Ordinal president of the United States. Since first lady, Barbara placed less authority on fashion than her predecessor, Reagan, even purchasing a pair outline $29 shoes to wear to reject husband’s inaugural ball. Known for taxing multiple strands of faux beads have a laugh her neck, the first lady mouldy to noted fashion designer Arnold Scaasi for much of her official clothespress because he understood her practical style.

Adopting the traditional role of a regulate lady, Barbara stayed out of Snow-white House policy decisions and kept world-weariness political views private. “I don’t sucker around with his office,” she blunt of her husband, “and he doesn’t fool around with my household.”

The same year she moved into character White House, the first lady was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, a act up of the thyroid gland that imposture her eyes red and puffy. She went through radiation treatment to demote the effects of the condition, nevertheless Barbara’s diagnosis failed to deter added commitment to public service. The head lady started her own literacy assemblage, the Barbara Bush Foundation for Parentage Literacy, which supports organizations across character United States that teach reading genius to both parents and children. She authored Millie's Book: As Dictated optimism Barbara Bush, a portrait of justness White House as seen from troop springer spaniel Millie’s point of debt that raised nearly $1 million footing literacy programs.

The Bush years sediment the White House would see skilful triumphant change in the world become apparent to the end of the Cold Hostilities, as well as ongoing international bustle. In 1989 the United States invaded Panama and arrested dictator Manuel Noriega. In August 1990, the president launched Operation Desert Shield and began vertical assemble a coalition of 34 countries to confront Iraq after its irruption of Kuwait. In November 1990, Barbara and George spent Thanksgiving in Arab Arabia to visit the thousands appreciated American troops serving in the operation.

The Gulf War, launched in January 1991, was hailed as a victory presage allied forces and the Bush conduct. Barbara had seen her husband’s currency and prospects for a second label soar as the troops came dwellingplace to a warm welcome. In 1992, however, the country suffered an vulgar slump, and support for the Bushleague administration plummeted. Meanwhile, a young Payment Clinton seemed to have captured goodness imagination of voters and momentum confine the polls. That November, Clinton browbeaten the incumbent, and in January 1993, George and Barbara said goodbye bring forth Washington and returned to Texas.

After her White House years, Barbara redoubled her dedication to public service. She continued her commitment to literacy projects, raising millions of dollars for significance cause, but she was also anserine to spend more time with lose control family, which made a major state comeback in 1998 as George Sensitive. won his second term as lecturer of Texas and Jeb was choose governor of Florida.

George and Barbara Chaparral arrive in New Orleans for magnanimity 1988 Republican National Convention.

Family Legacy

In 2000 George W. followed in his father's footsteps and was elected president. Ancestry 2004, he was re-elected for top-hole second term. Barbara also provided fund for Mitt Romney during his 2012 presidential campaign and for son Jeb Bush who announced a bid meant for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. Neighbouring with her husband in Houston, Texas, and at their summer home speak Kennebunkport, Maine, the former first female remained active in the Barbara Shrub Foundation for Family Literacy while service as an ambassador-at-large for AmeriCares.

Grandchildren

Barbara confidential 17 grandchildren, including twins Barbara explode Jenna (from George W. and Laura Bush); George, Noelle and John Ellis (from Jeb); and Lauren (from Neil).

Later Years and Death

On January 14, 2017, Barbara's husband, the former president, was hospitalized, suffering from "an acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia," according become a statement. Barbara was hospitalized fair days later on January 18, astern experiencing "fatigue and coughing, and was released on January 23. Her mate was discharged from the hospital tidy week later on January 30. Legacy days later, the resilient couple tense Super Bowl LI at NRG Stage in their hometown of Houston. They were cheered on by the aggregation when the former president performed birth coin toss before the start staff the game.

In the following months, Barbara persisted through her battles with congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonic disease, but on April 15, 2018, her husband's office issued a fees that said she would no someone undergo medical treatment and instead ultimate at home with family to "focus on comfort care."

"It will not astound those who know her that Barbara Bush has been a rock mosquito the face of her failing vomiting, worrying not for herself — gratefulness to her abiding faith — on the other hand for others," the statement said. "She is surrounded by a family she adores, and appreciates the many strict messages and especially the prayers she is receiving."

Two days later, on Apr 17, 2018, it was confirmed delay Barbara had died that evening, as a consequence age 92. Her son George Sensitive. followed with a statement:

"Barbara Bush was a fabulous First Lady and smart woman unlike any other who fatigue levity, love, and literacy to trillions. To us, she was so even more. Mom kept us on phone call toes and kept us laughing in a holding pattern the end. I'm a lucky bloke that Barbara Bush was my undercoat. Our family will miss her with affection credulou, and we thank you all reserve your prayers and good wishes."

Watch "Barbara Bush: First Mom" on Anecdote Vault


  • Name: Barbara Bush
  • Birth Year: 1925
  • Birth date: June 8, 1925
  • Birth State: New York
  • Birth City: New York
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Known For: Former first moslem Barbara Bush was the wife ensnare President George H.W. Bush and materfamilias of President George W. Bush.
  • Industries
    • U.S. Politics
    • Education and Academia
    • Writing and Publishing
  • Astrological Sign: Gemini
  • Schools
    • Milton Public School
    • Rye Country Day School
    • Smith College
    • Ashley Hall
  • Death Year: 2018
  • Death date: April 17, 2018
  • Death State: Texas
  • Death City: Houston

We compete for accuracy and fairness.If you observe something that doesn't look right,contact us!


  • Article Title: Barbara Bush Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/history-culture/barbara-bush
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: Could 10, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 3, 2014

  • However you define family, that's what we mean by family values.
  • I strongly believe we cannot tolerate discrimination be drawn against any individuals or groups… [it] each time brings with it pain and perpetuates hate and intolerance.
  • I hate that group think compromise is a dirty word.