Barbara Bush dies at 92
I remember her as a forthright, no-nonsense woman who felt like a breath of fresh air as First Lady—and I was a Democrat back then.
And what a life!
Married at 19 to George Bush, she’d met him at 16 and he was the first man she ever kissed. “When I tell my children that, they just about throw up.”
That’s what I mean by “forthright.”
A stable marriage for 73 years, five surviving children (a sixth died as a child), 17 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, wife to one president and mother to another.
Not a bad run.
RIP, Barbara Bush.
May she rest in peace – and, I agree, Neo, she was a breath of fresh air!
She as a pretty tough mother, going to political allies, as I recall, and leaving the kids with baby sitters. Lady Bird Johnson was far worse, though.
Even Armistead Maupin, the gay, San Franciscan author of the “Tales of the City” series, gave Barbara Bush a break in one of his books.
Maupin came from a North Carolina family rooted in the Confederacy and he would occasionally throw conservatives a bone in his writing.
Condolences to the Bush family. She will be in my prayers tonight.
I am confident that she will rest in peace.
What a life. Engaged in her teens to a war time Naval Aviator, married at 19, and never faltered as they ultimately took their place on the world stage.
Some would point to her as a child of privilege; and, of course, she was. Yet, she voluntarily left that life, ventured forth with her mate to make their own way together.
I guess by modern standards she was not highly educated, and yet she held her place with the most eclectic mixture of personalities imaginable. There is surely a lesson there with respect to how a child is raised and inculcated with character traits, viz a viz the input of formal education.
I am an unabashed Bushophile. I have always admired G.H.W., first as a war time Naval Aviator, who volunteered at the age of 18; and Barbara for the loving support she gave him during that difficult time, and through the rest of her life. They have been a blessing to the country; wonderful examples of service and the characteristics of noblesse oblige in its purest form. Barbara Bush clearly was a steadying force within their partnership.
Barbara Bush, and then Laura, were the two best members of the clan.
Barbara Bush, and then Laura, were the two best members of the clan.
Say what you will about their partners’ political decisions, their partners knew how to choose a mate. As did LBJ.
Barbara Bush’s life represents that of a wife, mother, grandmother, and first lady that was an example of the kind of partner all men need. An exemplar of wives of her generation who never earned a pay check, but had an enormous effect on the lives of her family and her fellow citizens. Too few extoll the work of wives who do so much to free up their husbands for war, business, and politics. I salute her for that. She was wise and knew how to conduct herself with an uncompromising dignity. We may never see another first lady like her. RIP, Silver Fox, RIP.
Well, you are entitled to your opinion, for what it is worth, Aesopfan. I have enormous respect for Barbara and Laura Bush, bordering on outright affection. I believe that they represented the country with grace and style. I also believe that they were strong partners to their husbands and loving Mothers.
On the other hand I think it egregious to post what you obviously meant as a slur on two men who served the country faithfully and honorably. It was George H. W. who was in high profile, high risk positions in war and peace throughout his working life–beginning, of course, when he volunteered for war at 18. It was George W. who picked up the pieces after 911 and led the country through a time of great trauma–despite incessant obstructionism and criticism from lesser folk.
Damn, it is so easy for people to stand on the sideline and throw muck at the people who are out front and doing things.
On the other hand I think it egregious to post what you obviously meant as a slur on two men who served the country faithfully and honorably.
You once stated that I was anti Mormon. Were you doing reverse psychology or something….
I didn’t take Aesop’s comment and put a bunch of assumptions behind what he meant. The internet ain’t your mind control experiment or thought read project, in case you had not noticed Old.
Getting so easily triggered just shows how “exceptional” Americans are.