This is my last month in my Booking It Through History: First Ladies project as I am ending with Barbara Bush. Since the subsequent first ladies are still alive, their story is incomplete. I am ending on the highest of high notes as Barbara Bush is one of the most popular first ladies in history. I already liked and admired her, but after learning more about her, I am one of her biggest fans!
Each month, I’ll detail the life of the first lady and their legacy. Then I’ll share what I learned while studying them, along with ways you can travel in their footsteps through historical sites and museums. I’ll also share books, podcasts, TV shows, and websites where you can learn even more about that first lady. Read all of the way through the blog post or click on the links below to go straight to those sections.
Life
Childhood
Barbara Pierce was born in a hospital on Manhattan’s Lower East Side on June 8, 1925. The third child and second daughter of the handsome Marvin and beautiful Pauline Pierce, Barbara had a glamorous older sister, troublemaker older brother, and sickly little brother which made her the quintessential middle child – a jokester who deflected attention.
Her family traced its roots back to the Mayflower, and President Franklin Pierce was a distant relative. Barbara adored her father but was in constant conflict with mother who favored her older sister and nagged Barbara about her weight. She was horrified when little Barbara walked home from school one day, eating marshmallow fluff with her fingers. Several neighbors called to tell Pauline how cute little Barbara was, but her mother did not find it amusing.
The family lived in Rye, New York where her father commuted into New York City as the publisher of McCall’s magazine. He did well financially but they weren’t wealthy. Barbara was popular in elementary school and led a gang of girls. She was sent to finish her education at Ashley Hall Boarding School in Charleston, South Carolina. She was a mediocre student but had a high IQ. It’s also where she learned to smoke, a vice she wouldn’t give up for twenty-five years.
Courtship and Marriage
She came home for Christmas break in 1941 and attended a high school dance at the Greenwich Country Club. That’s where she met George “Poppy” Bush. Their eyes met across a crowded room, and he asked a friend for an introduction. They danced that night and the following night, thrilling her mother who had researched his old money family.
They wrote letters back and forth between Charleston and Andover, Massachusetts where he was finishing high school. She was sixteen and he was seventeen, too young to get serious, but with the advent of WWII, their courtship sped up.
He enlisted in the Navy while she worked summers at a nearby factory. On her way back to Charleston, she took a train to Raleigh, North Carolina and a cab to meet him in Chapel Hill where they had a magical day. She was invited to spend time with his family at their vacation home in Maine where they secretly got engaged.
After high school, she attended Smith College but was so distracted by her worry over his action in the war that she didn’t make good grades. She dropped out after one year and worried more when George’s plane was shot down over the South Pacific islands. While he was home on leave, they set a wedding date (which had to change several times due to his military leave).
“In wartime, the rules change. You don’t wait until tomorrow to do anything.” Barbara Bush
Barbara and George married on January 6, 1945 in Rye Presbyterian Church. She was 19, and he was 20. She wore a beautiful gown of ivory satin and her mother-in-law’s veil.
They honeymooned in New York City and Sea Island, Georgia at The Cloisters. Their first several months of marriage had her following him from Michigan to Maine to Virginia while he was serving in the Navy. They were in Virginia Beach when V-J Day happened and the war was over. Now they could get on with their lives.
“I married the first man I ever kissed.” Barbara Bush
Family Time
When war ended, George went to Yale University, finishing in only 2.5 years. Barbara came to every one of his baseball games, keeping score for him. They lived in three modest apartments in the three years in New Haven, and she worked part-time at the Yale co-op while auditing a course on American furniture and silver.
Their first son, George Walker Bush, was born on July 6, 1946, and just two years after his birth, the young family moved to Odessa, Texas for George’s new job in an oil company. This began a new adventure for the young family, coming out from under the shadow of their East Coast families.
Barbara enjoyed the adventure of living in wild West Texas and didn’t complain as they moved all around California the following year while she was pregnant again. As long as she was with George and her children, she was happy. In September of 1949, she learned the devastating news that her mother had died in a car accident. Barbara was too pregnant to attend the funeral.
Their daughter, Pauline Robinson “Robin” Bush, was born in California on December 20, 1949. Soon after her birth, George was transferred back to west Texas – this time to Midland. The Bushes bought a house and enjoyed raising their family with the other young people in the little town. Barbara joined the Midland Service League and was thrilled to have another son, Jeb, on February 11, 1953. Life was almost too good.
Just weeks after Jeb’s birth, little three year old Robin was diagnosed with leukemia. Barbara and George were told there was no hope of recovery, but they took Robin back east to be treated by doctors in New York City. They left the boys with friends and relatives in Texas and moved to the Bush family apartment for her treatment. After six months of grueling procedures, little Robin died. Seeing the other families of children undergoing treatment, Barbara gained empathy and respect for those struggling in life. She would remember the kindnesses of friends and strangers and try to pay it back for the rest of her life.
“Because of Robin, George and I love every living human more.” Barbara Bush
The next four years were full of babies as Barbara and George added three more children to their family – Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy “Doro.” George was always on the road for work, leaving Barbara at home as the “enforcer.” There were always scrapes and car pools, broken arms and school plays, to attend to, leaving her resentful at times even though she loved their life.
“Long days and short years.” Barbara Bush on remembering her young motherhood days
The family moved to Houston and gathered a large group of friends and neighbors, hosting weekly Sunday barbeques and enjoying life with their large family. Neil was diagnosed with dyslexia, and Barbara spent years helping him learn to read. She was exceptionally close to George W. and that close bond would remain for their entire lives. Marvin was the sweet child, and little Doro was the apple of her daddy’s eye. They needed another little girl, he told his mother.
Political Wife
In February of 1962, George asked Barbara if she thought he should run to be chair of Harris County GOP. She said, “Sure, how hard can it be?” She found out in the ugly fight where she traveled with him to all 210 precincts in the county. It worked as he won.
Two years later, he ran for a Senate seat but lost in the Democratic landslide of 1964 after JFK’s assassination. In 1966, he won a seat in the US House of Representatives, and the Bush family moved to Washington, DC, buying a home sight unseen from an outgoing senator.
They lived in Spring Valley and loved it. They were very social, continuing their Sunday barbeques. Barbara became good friends with other neighbors, playing tennis and joining in an International Club for assistant ambassadors’ wives.
In the 1968 election, they supported Richard Nixon who along with his wife, Pat, became a friend of the Bushes. She called Pat a “great lady.” Two years later, President Nixon asked George to run for the Senate again but he lost once again.
The president then offered George the United Nations ambassadorship. Barbara and the kids packed up for New York City. She loved living in New York and meeting international guests, going with George on a European tour to meet US ambassadors and on a trip through Africa. They lived in the ambassador’s apartment in Waldorf Towers and entertained regularly. With only Doro still at home, Barbara spent a lot of time volunteering at the same hospital that treated Robin.
They helped with the 1972 Nixon campaign and came back to Washington, DC when George was asked to head the Republican National Committee. Barbara thought it was a tough job but went along with it. She rejoined her clubs, joined new ones (a theatre club), and helped found the Republican Forum to teach about issues.
Personally, it was both a sad time with her father dying in 1969 and a happy time as Jeb married in 1974. She stopped dying her hair in 1970 after a bad dye job (the rumor that it turned white overnight at Robin’s death is untrue).
She was at the White House when President Nixon resigned, and soon, the new president made George the chief of the US Liaison Office in China. With Doro already going to boarding school, Barbara packed up for the biggest adventure of her life. She took her dog with her as they made China their home for a year, traveling throughout the country and hosting diplomats and heads of state. It was the first time it was just the two of them, and she thoroughly enjoyed it.
In November of 1975, they came back to the United States when George was made the head of the CIA by President Ford. His job was demanding and secretive, and it was the first time Barbara felt shut out from his life. She fell into a depression and had a hard time coming out of it. She felt suicidal at times and began volunteering at a local hospice and nursing home to take her mind off herself. She came out of it in 6-8 months. It helped that Jeb made her a grandmother in 1976.
In 1977, she visited China again, becoming only the third American woman to enter Tibet. She went back in 1978 with George’s sister. She loved her time in China.
White House Run
George left the CIA job when Jimmy Carter became president in January of 1977. They moved back to Houston where he was restless. She knew he wanted to run for president even though he didn’t really discuss it with her.
He announced his presidential run on May 1, 1979. The campaign tried to figure out what to do with Barbara, thinking she looked older than George and that she should lose weight. This devastated her and brought up bad memories of her mother’s criticisms. As always, she shrugged it off with self-depricating humor, but George was appalled and put his foot down – Barbara wasn’t changing.
No other wife campaigned more than her during the Republican primary. They worked hard, but ultimately lost the nomination at the convention. They were shocked when their opponent, Ronald Reagan, chose George as his vice presidential pick.
“We’re going to work our tails off for you.” Barbara Bush to Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan was won over by their loyalty, but Nancy didn’t like them. She was insecure about their old money ancestry while Barbara thought that Nancy’s emphasis on looks was like her mother’s barbs from her childhood. The fact that Nancy and Barbara were distantly related as tenth cousins did not change their relationship, and the women only campaigned together once.
Barbara traveled extensively during the bruising campaign, doing needlepoint to keep her hands busy. They were thrilled when the Reagan/Bush ticket won in a landslide.
Second Lady
Barbara was excited to buy new clothes for the Inauguration, going to New York City to shop. However, she forgot that she wasn’t the “mother of the bride” and changed her coat from red to blue at the last minute since Nancy was wearing red. She always tried to stay away from Nancy’s signature red in the eight years as second lady. The blue she wore became known as Bush blue!
The Bushes settled into the vice president’s home at the Naval Observatory, and Barbara resumed her many friendships and commitments in Washington with her schedule packed with events and trips. In the eight years as second lady, she spent over 1600 of the almost 3000 days out of Washington, visiting all fifty states and 65 different countries. She hosted almost 1200 events at the vice president’s home and attended over 1200 other Washington events. She was a busy woman!
On March 30, 1981, she attended two events with Nancy. When she returned home, she learned that the president had been shot. George’s loyalty during this time really cemented his great working relationship with the president, and it made Barbara more sympathetic to Nancy’s feelings.
It still stung when the Bushes were left off of the White House guest lists. For the now infamous event where Princess Diana danced with John Travolta, George and Barbara’s names were added and crossed out several times before they ultimately weren’t invited.
Barbara tried to keep a low profile and never wanted to upstage Nancy. She was a perfect partner for her husband, traveling over 1.3 million miles together on government business. She was ready for the next step.
1988 Election
Even though George was the vice president, it wasn’t a given that he would be the Republican nominee in 1988. The Iowa straw poll was difficult with Bob Dole and Pat Robertson finishing ahead of George. Barbara spoke up in a blunt way to save the campaign.
“I think I’m half Eleanor, half Bess.” Barbara Bush
When he won the nomination, they switched gears to focus on his Democratic opponents, Governor Michael Dukakis and Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman on a major party ticket. Barbara got into a bit of trouble calling Ferraro a word that rhymes with rich, cleverly saying she meant “witch” when pressed.
She gave a moving speech at the Republican National Convention and traveled over 50,000 miles for the campaign. Their hard work paid off when George won by 9%. No sitting vice president had won the presidency since Martin Van Buren in 1836.
“If I win, people are going to fall madly in love with Barbara Bush.” George Bush
First Lady
Barbara Bush was the quintessential first lady. Everyone loved her, calling her the “first grandmother.” She wore a beautiful blue gown to the inauguration and loved moving into the White House.
She marveled at the amazing food and loved how the butlers made her guess which presidential china she was using that day. She knew what it was like to be second lady, so she treated Marilyn Quayle well and made sure she was included in all events. She relied on the White House staff and wasn’t as exacting as Nancy. Her state dinners were warm and personal, just like Barbara.
Her first overseas visit as first lady came just a few weeks into the term for Japan’s Emperor Hirohito’s funeral. She also went back to China and then Korea on the trip.
She chose family illiteracy for her signature cause, raising millions of dollars through fundraisers and her kids’ books about her dogs. She visited literacy programs throughout the country and convened meetings of governors’ wives. She even had a Sunday evening radio show, “Mrs. Bush’s Story Time.” She worked with the Democrats to get the National Literacy Act signed into law. This legacy continues with the Barbara Bush Fund for Family Literacy.
“Everything I worry about would be better if more people could read, write, and comprehend.” Barbara Bush
She also changed public attitudes about AIDS, holding sick babies and hugging people with the disease. She remembered when her friends were afraid of touching Robin when she was sick with leukemia and wanted to change this perception about AIDS. She attended Ryan White’s funeral and supported the administration’s increased funding for AIDS.
She received 100,000 letters a year and set up her main office in the White House hair salon (also the place where her dog gave birth to puppies!). She loved making the decisions about Christmas decorations, picking the on-brand theme with storybook characters for her first Christmas. Her grandchildren visited often, and she loved spending time with them at the White House and Camp David.
The only true controversy happened in 1990 as she was invited to give the commencement address at Wellesley College. Some students protested that she hadn’t accomplished anything on her own, only through her husband, but Barbara handled it with her signature wit and humor. This accusation dogged her throughout her years in the public as she didn’t consider herself a feminist and loved focusing on her family. However, she always stated her beliefs that women should be able to do anything they wanted just like she had done.
“At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent.” Barbara Bush in her Wellesley College commencement address
Barbara’s friendliness helped George in his negotiations to bring about the end of the Cold War. She got along with Raisa Gorbachev unlike Nancy Reagan whose relationship with the Soviet leader’s wife was frosty. Barbara realized that relationships can affect politics and was proud to stand by her husband’s side as the Berlin Wall fell and the USSR broke up.
She was also in the room while the president and his aides were deciding what to do about Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Even though she was doing needlepoint, she was listening and helped provide George a good sounding board as he made the tough decision to go to war. The winter of 1990-91 was tough as they traveled extensively to build a coalition of countries to support the coming war.
They experienced political difficulty in 1990 when George advocated for raising taxes if they could also cut spending. He was excoriated in the press.
“One of the first lessons someone in public life must learn is: THE PRESS HAS THE LAST WORD.” Barbara Bush
In 1989, Barbara was diagnosed with Grave’s disease after experiencing eye issues. Ironically, just a couple years later, George would be diagnosed with the same disease as well as their beloved dog, Millie, being diagnosed with lupus.
Even with her limitations, Barbara campaigned tirelessly in 1992 for George’s reelection.
However, George was affected by his recent diagnosis and was flat-footed, especially when a third party candidate rose up to challenge him. The campaign didn’t have any momentum, and George lost because of the third party candidate, Ross Perot. Bill and Hillary Clinton swept into the White House, and Barbara and George, representing the older generation, were ushered out.
“I truly feel that George is doing what is responsible and right for the country and to heck with politics. There is a life after the White House and both of us are looking forward to it.” Barbara Bush
Post-White House
After returning to their Houston home, Barbara tried to keep George’s spirits up. For the first time since the late 1970s, the Bushes needed to earn money. They soon learned they could earn money from speeches and writing their memoirs. Barbara got a $2.3 million dollar advance from Macmillan, the largest advance it had paid to date. Her highly readable memoir, “Barbara Bush: A Memoir,” was published in 1994 and became a bestseller.
Her 1994 book tour coincided with George W. and Jeb running for governor of their respective states, Texas and Florida. George won while Jeb lost (he would win four years later), and a new generation of Bushes began their political careers. George W. was like Barbara, witty, sharp, and jokey. When he decided to run for president in 2000, she found his presidential campaign more agonizing than her husband’s and she couldn’t watch his debates.
She was shocked when he won the presidency after battling through court cases. She was excited to see the White House again and was kind to the Clintons when she came with George to move in.
Barbara became only the second first lady to become mother of a president; however, the first, Abigail Adams, didn’t live to see JQA become president.
“I plan to be living.” Barbara Bush when asked about her role in history as the second first lady to become the mother of a president
On September 10, 2001, George and Barbara were in Washington, DC and stayed at the White House. They left early the next morning for Minnesota but their plane was grounded in Milwaukee due to the terrorist attacks. They were back in Washington to attend the memorial service for the victims.
As a mother, she would give George W. advice but knew he was up to the job. Her relationship with his wife, Laura, was friendly. Barbara loved Laura’s self-control and calm demeanor, just what her boisterous George W. needed.
Still the nation’s “first grandmother,” Barbara loved being with her grandchildren but didn’t believe in spoiling them. They called her Ganny and knew she was the “enforcer” of rules. She was a tireless supporter of her children and grandchildren and campaigned vigorously when Jeb decided to run for president in 2016 (even though she didn’t want him to run).
She and George continued their charitable work through his Points of Light Foundation and her literacy foundation as well as raising funds for MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She supported George as he jumped out of planes to raise funds on his big birthdays and was his constant companion, especially as their health began to fail. She had various ailments such as congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
She fell at home in March of 2018 and died one month later on April 17, 2018. She had planned her funeral years earlier and joked they’d have to use the small chapel at her home church because no one would show up. She was wrong – her funeral was held at the majestic St. Martin’s Episcopal Church where she had been confirmed in 2015 after attending for decades. She was laid to rest at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas where she was joined just seven months later by George. Their little daughter, Robin, was buried with them.
“George Bush and I have been the two luckiest people in the world, and when all the dust is settled and all the crowds are gone, the things that matter are faith, family, and friends. We have been inordinately blessed, and we know that.” Barbara Bush
Legacy
Barbara Bush is one of the most beloved first ladies for a good reason. She was loved by almost everyone, even those who didn’t like her husband’s politics, and her self-depricating, humble personality made her relatable. She had high approval ratings and is still considered one of the most well-liked first ladies.
Her legacy as the wife of one president and the mother of another is unique in American history with only Abigail Adams joining her in this honor. Barbara didn’t like the use of the word “dynasty” to describe her family and encouraged her children and grandchildren to give back in service since they were so blessed. She believed in hard work and volunteerism, not resting on your name.
She was the down-to-earth first lady that the country needed after the decadent years of the 1980s. No scandals involving her clothes or entertaining; instead, Barbara was known for her warmth and hospitality. She was the first lady, the first mother, the first grandmother, and one of the most admired women in America.
My Time with Barbara
Barbara is the first First Lady that I really remember learning about in real time. I was in my early teens when she was first lady, and I remember her reminding me of my grandmother who died in 1992. I loved her jovial attitude and friendly charm. To me, she seemed like the ideal first lady – a supportive wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and a great representation of what makes America special to the world.
I saw the Bush/Quayle train when it came through my hometown of Kings Mountain, North Carolina in the fall of 1992. It doesn’t look like Barbara was there from my picture, but I remember the excitement of seeing the president.
I also worked on Capitol Hill during the George W. Bush presidency, so I always have a special place in my heart for the Bush family. There wouldn’t have been a Bush “dynasty” if not for Barbara!
Travels with Barbara
Barbara may have come from an old money family from the northeast, but she became a Texan through and through.
Texas
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station
This is the best place to learn about Barbara and see amazing memorabilia and photos from her life. You can also pay your respects at her gravesite. I got to visit in May so look out for a review coming soon!
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Dallas
While focused on her son and his wife as president and first lady, this presidential library tells the story of Geroge W.’s upbringing and his close relationship with Barbara. Read my review of the museum here!
Bush Family Home State Historic Site, Midland
Visit their home in Midland, restored to its 1950s glory! Don’t miss going to the Bush Convention Center in town and seeing the statue of Barbara and George there as well.
Barbara Bush Literary Plaza, Houston
Sit with a statue of Barbara on a bench in the plaza!
Maine
Bush family compound, Kennebunkport
Still owned by the Bush family, you cannot visit but you can see it from afar.
Georgia
The Cloisters, Sea Island
You can stay at the beautiful hotel where George and Barbara honeymooned!
Washington, DC
Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Visit the First Ladies exhibit to see Barbara’s beautiful blue inauguration gown along with her signature three-strand (fake) pearls.
To Learn More
Books to Read:
Links are Amazon affiliate links. Be sure to see my Bookshop.org list for all of the books related to my Booking It Through History: First Ladies project.
Nonfiction:
Barbara Bush: A Memoir by Barbara Bush
This is one of my favorite autobiographies that I have ever read! It’s highly readable and doesn’t pull any punches. She does a wonderful job of walking you through her life using her extensive journals and diaries to remember names, dates, and locations. It’s a time capsule of the latter half of the twentieth century!
Reflections: Life After the White House by Barbara Bush
Written as a supplement nine years after her first memoir, this book focuses on the Bushes after the White House.
Pearls of Wisdom: Little Pieces of Advice (That Go a Long Way) by Barbara Bush
If I ever wished I could get advice from my grandmother, this is the book to read.
The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty by Susan Page
A wonderful and comprehensive biography, the author interviewed Barbara several times and got access to her diaries.
Grace & Steel: Dorothy, Barbara, Laura, and the Women of the Bush Dynasty by J. Randy Taraborrelli
Witness to Dignity: The Life and Faith of George H.W. and Barbara Bush by The Reverend Russell J. Levinson, Jr.
George & Barbara Bush: A Great American Love Story by Ellie LeBlond Sosa and Kelly Anne Chase
TV Shows/Movies/Media
C-SPAN First Ladies: Influence and Image
Podcasts
American FLOTUS: Barbara Bush, Presidential Matriarch featuring Myra Gutin (March 12, 2026)
The White House 1600 Sessions Podcast “The Tradition of First Lady Forever Stamps: Barbara Bush”
The White House 1600 Sessions Podcast “First Lady Barbara Bush” – interview with biographer, Susan Page
Websites
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
The White House Historical Association
- Note there is no ornament for the Bush presidency yet.
Barbara Bush is one of those first ladies that you felt like you really know, that she was just like your own mother or grandmother. I think she would be happy with that legacy.
