Barbara Bush

Easton Press Barbara Bush books

A Memoir by Barbara Bush: autobiography - signed first edition - 1994
Reflections: Life After the White House - signed first edition - 2003

 

First Lady Barbara Bush

Barbara Pierce Bush, the matriarch of one of America's most prominent political families, was born on June 8, 1925, in New York City. She became widely known as the wife of the 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, and the mother of the 43rd President, George W. Bush. Barbara Bush, however, was a formidable figure in her own right, known for her wit, grace, and commitment to public service. Barbara's early years were shaped by privilege and a strong sense of family. She met her future husband, George H. W. Bush, at a Christmas dance when she was just 16 years old. Their courtship blossomed while he was on leave from serving as a naval aviator during World War II. The couple married in 1945, shortly after George's return from the war.

As the wife of a man who would go on to have a long and distinguished political career, Barbara Bush navigated the demands of public life with a combination of warmth and straightforwardness. The Bush family grew, eventually comprising six children: George, Robin (who tragically died of leukemia at the age of three), Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy.

Barbara Bush's commitment to literacy became a cornerstone of her public service efforts. As First Lady, she championed various literacy programs, recognizing the pivotal role that literacy plays in individual success and national well-being. Her dedication to this cause continued after leaving the White House, with the establishment of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. Known for her quick wit and candid demeanor, Barbara was a beloved figure among both the American public and the Bush family's extensive network. Her straightforward and down-to-earth approach earned her the affectionate nickname "The Silver Fox."

Barbara Bush weathered the highs and lows of public life, standing by her husband through his political successes and setbacks. Her resilience and grace during times of political and personal challenge earned her widespread admiration. Barbara and George H. W. Bush celebrated 73 years of marriage, making theirs one of the longest presidential marriages in U.S. history. Barbara passed away on April 17, 2018, at the age of 92. Her legacy lives on through her family, her contributions to literacy, and the enduring memory of a First Lady who combined strength, compassion, and a keen sense of humor in service to her country.

 

Barbara Bush - A Memoir

Barbara Bush endures as one of America's most popular First Ladies. She has won worldwide acclaim for her wit, compassion, and candor as both a presidential wife and mother. In this #1 New York Times bestselling memoir, Mrs. Bush offers a heartfelt portrait of her life in and out of the White House, from her small-town schoolgirl days in Rye, New York, to her fateful union with George H.W. Bush, to her role as First Lady of the United States. Here, she writes candidly about:
• her early years with George Bush in West Texas
• the tragic death of her young daughter
• the world of Washington politics and the famous figures she's met
• her role as the nation's leading literacy champion
• her feelings about the Iran-Contra scandal, the Persian Gulf conflict, and the Cold War
• the disappointment of the 1992 presidential campaign and the mixed blessing of regaining her private life
...and much more. Filled with entertaining anecdotes, dozens of personal photographs, and a healthy dose of humor, this memoir is as compelling and honest as the former First Lady herself.

Reflections - Life After the White House

Barbara Bush traces the eight years between the presidencies of her husband and son, discussing her charity work, relationships with her children and grandchildren, and her family's reactions to September 11 and its aftermath.

"There is a myth in the United States you've heard it many times. It says that all American mothers hope that their child will grow up to be President of the United States. In my case that certainly is a myth. I never dreamed that any of ours would; there were days when I hoped they'd just grow up!...But on January 20, 2001...there we were sitting on the west side of the United States Capitol, waiting for our son George W. to be sworn in as the forty-third President of the United States of America." from the Prologue

This inspiring follow-up to Barbara Bush's number one bestselling memoir covers the momentous eight years between President George H. W. Bush's leaving office and President George W. Bush's inauguration.
Not since Abigail Adams has one woman been both the wife and mother to a president. Barbara Bush's prominent place in American history is matched by her extraordinary popularity: Republicans and Democrats alike appreciate her wit, her compassion, and her devotion to her family. Dignified, loyal, and unpretentious, Barbara Bush defied skeptics to become one of the most admired first ladies in history; she remains a beloved public figure today.
Picking up where Barbara Bush: A Memoir left off, Reflections begins with the inauguration of her son, President George W. Bush, in January 2001, and then flashes back eight years to President Clinton's inauguration, when she and her husband President George H. W. Bush were leaving the White House. Drawing on excerpts from her diary, Mrs. Bush chronologically takes us through this time in her life, devoting one chapter to each year. She reveals her and her husband's inner lives through sometimes touching and often hilarious stories about their extensive travels, their hobbies, and their charity work. She discusses her experiences on the campaign trail with her sons, and relates her continuing interactions with VIPs from around the world. Mrs. Bush also touches on more controversial issues, such as her husband's resignation from the NRA, the caning of an American student in Singapore, and the hypocrisy of certain politicians. The extraordinary amount of love she feels for her family and the pride she takes in their many achievements is always clear, particularly when she writes of her relationships with her five children and fourteen grandchildren. In the epilogue, she reflects on the experience of having a president for a son and discusses the family's reactions to September 11, 2001, and its aftermath.
Reflections will delight Barbara Bush's millions of admirers with the former first lady's warmth and wit, as well as with candid revelations and anecdotes from the past decade of a full and fascinating life.