As a young girl, Barbara Pierce attended Mrs. Covington’s Dance School followed by Milton Public School and Rye Country Day School. At the age of 16, "Bar" as her friends had started to call her went to Ashley Hall, a boarding school in Charleston, South Carolina, where she acted in plays such as "Much Ado About Nothing."

Excerpt from Barbara Bush: A Memoir:

“I was a true square, making good marks and never breaking the rules. I swam a lot and acted in school plays, which I loved. I was so shy at the time and never could have gotten up and given a speech, but somehow acting was different. George still teases me that, as the angel in the Christmas play, I had the only speaking part.”

During the Christmas holiday in 1941, Barbara went to a dance at the Round Hill Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. Jack Wozencraft, one of her childhood friends, introduced her to a boy named George "Poppy" Bush, a senior at Phillips Academy. It was love at first sight. After the attack at Pearl Harbor and the outbreak of World War II, George Bush enlisted in the United States Navy, but wrote Barbara Pierce nearly every day while in flight school.

Excerpt from Barbara Bush: A Memoir:

“It was the Christmas when I was sixteen … I was at a vacation dance in Greenwich, Connecticut, seeing friends I hadn’t seen since summer and wearing a pretty, bright, new red-and-green dress. Jack Wozencraft, a boy I had grown up with, cut in on my dancing partner and took me to meet a wonderful-looking young boy he said wanted to meet me, a boy names Poppy Bush … We rode bikes, went to the beach, played tennis, collected sea glass and seashells, and had marvelous picnics. At night, Poppy and I walked on the rocks and watched the moon come up ... I can’t speak for George Bush, but I fell madly in love. We got secretly engaged.”

News that her finacé George was shot down in September of 1944 shook young Barbara and indeed the entire Bush family. Word quickly followed that George was okay, but his two crew members had tragically perished. Given some time off to recover in Hawaii, George returned to his VT-51 squadron for more combat action, and when the squadron was replaced that December young George was ordered to go home. He arrived on Christmas Eve. "What a Christmas present!” Mrs. Bush later wrote in her Memoirs.

The young couple -- George was 20, Barbara was 19 -- married at First Presbyterian Church in Rye, New York on January 6, 1945. Their honeymoon started in New York City, where they saw "Meet Me in St. Louis" at Radio City Music Hall, and continued at The Cloister Resort on Sea Island, Georgia. During the first eight months of their marriage, the Bushes moved from Michigan, to Maine, to Virginia as George's new squadron training and formation required his presence at different naval bases. George Bush wrote home during this time to his sister, Nancy, declaring: “Marriage exceeds all expectations.”

On July 6, 1946, the young couple’s first child, George Walker, was born. "The baby was a lovely little boy," Mrs. Bush wrote in her Memoirs, "but sad to say, he did not weigh 60 pounds. That is what I had gained and that was what I had to lose."

Meanwhile, the elder George graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Yale 22 months later in May 1948, packed up his red Studebaker, and headed south and west to Texas. "A week after his arrival (in Texas), George finally called to say he had found a tiny place and we should come down," she recalled. "He said it was a sorry little house -- and it was -- but Georgie and I were so excited about being with him. This was an adventure the three of us has signed up for together."

George and Barbara Bush welcomed their second child into the family on December 20, 1949, with the birth of Pauline Robinson (“Robin”), named after Barbara’s mother, Pauline Pierce. "George brought Robin and me home on Christmas Day," Mrs Bush later wrote. "You can't ask for more than that. Daddy gave us a Hoffman television set -- a big, heavy, rectangular thing with a tiny little yellow screen -- and our friends came over for Milton Berle, which was fun."

George was working hard to support his growing family. After several years — and moves — working for Dresser Industries, he went into business with his neighbor John Overbey forming the Bush-Overbey Oil Development Company. This turn of events had George working even harder, and traveling more, to find good oil deals and financing. In 1953, they joined forces with Hugh and Bill Liedtke calling the new company “Zapata” (named for a Marlon Brando movie).

From Mrs. Bush’s Memoirs:

“It was a truly exciting time, a life filled with risk and hope. We moved again, into a slightly bigger house, on West Ohio Street (in Midland), and we all had more babies. For us, it was John Ellis Bush … we called him Jeb.”

When three year-old Robin began acting listless, the Bushes’ pediatrician eventually diagnosed her with leukemia — a fairly unknown condition at the time with few treatment options. Fortunately, George’s uncle, Dr. John Walker, worked at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York City — and though he thought Robin had little chance to survive the disease, he also thought the Bushes should try all available means to extend her life in case of a breakthrough. Blood transfusions and painful bone marrow tests followed, but a cure was not to be. Robin passed away on October 12, 1953.

From Mrs. Bush’s Memoirs:

“It was an extraordinary experience, and in a strange kind of way we learned how lucky we are. We met people there (at Sloan-Kettering Hospital) who had only one child. We had three. We met people who did not love each other. We loved each other very much … We had the most supportive family, and we shared. We had friends who helped us …"

The Bush family continued to grow as Neil Mallon Bush was born to George and Barbara in Midland, Texas. Neil was the fourth of six children and was named after a friend of the family.

Excerpt from Reflections (Author’s Note):

“Our son Neil Mallon Bush was named after the man who took us to Texas in 1948, George’s first boss, Henry Neil Mallon, who was the most heavenly man. To this day, we call Neil ‘Whitney’, often shortened to ‘Whit’. He started out as a ‘Whitney’ because of this blond hair and somewhere along the way it became ‘Whitney’.”

The following year, Marvin Pierce Bush was born in Midland, Texas. Marvin is the youngest son of George and Barbara.

Excerpt from Reflections (Author’s Note):

“Our son Marvin Pierce Bush was named after the most wonderful father anyone ever was lucky enough to have – Marvin Pierce, my dad – whose nickname, of course, all through college was ‘Monk’. You might well wonder why we waited through four sons to name a child after this fine, funny, smart generous-of-sprit, beloved man? Each time we had a baby, we would tell Daddy that if we had a son, we were going to name him Marvin. And he would say, ‘Please don’t.’ He said it was a difficult name … When ‘Marty’ was born and we called Daddy to tell him that we had named the baby Marvin, he seemed hesitant and asked what we were going to call him. We said ‘Marvin’. I’ll never forget it. He was quiet for a while and when he spoke, he was choked up. So all the time, he really wanted a namesake. He would be proud – very proud – of all our sons, but I suspect fine, funny, loyal, smart, generous-of-sprit Marvin would be a favorite.”

In 1959, George was serving president of Zapata Off-Shore Company — a subsidiary of Zapata — when he agreed with the Liedtke brothers to split the company. The Bushes moved to Houston soon thereafter, leaving behind their friends and the community they had served in many ways in in Midland.

From Mrs. Bush’s Memoirs:

“What a different world it was from ours. It was actually a lot of fun, and once again, we made new friends … The house and the baby got finished at the same time. On August 18, 1959, Dorothy Walker Bush — named for George mother — was born … We called her Doro. Aunt Charlotte, who had come down for the birth, told me that when George went to look at Doro in the nursery, she found him with his head against the window, tears of joy running down his face."

In February of 1962, Barbara Bush became engulfed in the first of a lifetime of political campaigns when George agreed to run for chairman of the Harris County Republican Party. "I was so naive," Mrs. Bush later wrote. "I assumed he had been invited to be chairman ... I can't really remember who the opponent was -- maybe I'm purposefully forgetting -- but it was ugly. Harris County, with 210 precincts, is one of the largest in the country. George, usually with me along, managed to visit all of them."

“I tried everything at once,” Mrs. Bush wrote of that move to Washington in early 1967. “I went to briefings at the State Department, Republican meetings, Congressional wives meetings, luncheons and dinners. Texans came to visit at the drop of a hat. George and I decided early on that we should not go to any embassies — there were not votes there. Considering our later life in the diplomatic world, that’s funny. But you have to learn in Washington that you can’t do everything. Like all of life,you have to set your priorities, and it took me a while to discover that.”

As she candidly discusses in her Memoirs, as she turned 50 Barbara Bush started wrestling with deep feelings of being lonely, unhappy and depressed. Following a series of high level presidential appointments as Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Convention, and Ambassador to China, her husband at the time was working incredibly long hours as Director of Central Intelligence. “I could not share in George’s job after years of being so involved; and our children were all gone,” she wrote in her Memoirs. “I was a classic case for depression. My ‘code’ told me you should not think about self, but others. And yet, there I was, wallowing in self-pity. I knew it was wrong, but couldn’t seem to pull out of it. I wish I could pinpoint the day it went away, but I can’t. All I know is after about six months, it just did. I was so lucky."

Despite the demands and visibility of being First Lady, Mrs. Bush called her eight years as wife of the Vice President – from 1981 to 1989 – “the busiest of my life.” In all, she spent 1,629 days and 1.3 million miles traveling away from Washington. While in the Nation’s Capital, she hosted 1,192 events and attended another 1,232 events during the same span.

Excerpt from A Memoir:

I rode to the Capitol with Joan Mondale, driving past crowds of cheering people. For the first time, the Inauguration was to be held on the west side of the Capitol, looking out toward the Mall and the monuments. With thousands watching, and surrounded by family and friends, our dear friend Potter Stewart swore George in as the 43rd vice president of the United States, and Chief Justice Warren Burger swore Ronald Reagan in as the 40th president. We were especially grateful that George’s mother was there to see him sworn in, as she would be in 1989 to see him become president. To add to the excitement and the drama, we got word that the 52 hostages held in Iran were released while President Reagan was giving his Inaugural Address.

Excerpt from A Memoir:

"Loret Ruppe, the able director of the Peace Corps and my dear 90th (Congress) Club friend, invited me to go to Ghana to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the corps. We had the most marvelous trip … We visited several villages where we saw the work our Peace Corps volunteers were doing. There were all ages, shapes, sizes, and colors. What extraordinary men and women. They are the very best aid we give, I believe, for they teach people to do for themselves. It is not a handout, but a hand up. George and I have visited Peace Corps workers around the world. They sometimes live under the most destitute conditions but they always do a great job. I hated leaving them so far from home and tried to either write or call their relatives when I got back to the States."

Accompanying Vice President Bush on a November 1982 trip to Africa, Mrs. Bush got to know Dr. Louis Sullivan, then dean of the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta — who was also part of the U.S. delegation. Together, they participated in a number of education-oriented events including a literacy program and a school graduation. Dr. Sullivan at the time was working to expand the newly independent Morehouse School of Medicine’s programs, and shortly after they returned to the U.S. he asked Mrs. Bush to join their Board of Trustees. She readily accepted, and served on the development committee where her first challenge was recruiting a campaign chairman to raise $10 million for the school.

In February of 2001, while opening the doors of the newly constructed Louis W. Sullivan National Center for Primary Care, President and Mrs. Bush also witnessed the installation of Peter R. MacLeish, Ph.D. as the first “George H.W. and Barbara P. Bush Chair” of the Neuroscience Institute.

Excerpt from A Memoir:

"“It is not easy trying to start and support a medical school. Louis Sullivan did and did it well. It was a constant struggle, especially when we had no alumni to draw from. I traveled with Louis and fellow board member Bob Froehlke to many cities across the United States to fund-raising lunches. The need for a school like Morehouse is very apparent.They are many rural and inner-city areas in our great country that are medically underserved or not served at all. Morehouse doctors are being trained to go into these areas.""

As wife of the Vice President, Barbara Bush crisscrossed the country, visiting literacy programs, schools, and libraries and bringing awareness to the cause of literacy. In the spring of 1984, she wrote a book about her dog called C. Fred’s Story: A Dog's Life, which raised close to $100,000 for literacy organizations. This story follows the life of a golden cocker spaniel, C. Fred, in his experiences traveling to China, at the CIA, and at the Vice President's residence with the Bushes.

Barbara Bush broke precedent at the 1988 Republican National Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, by becoming the first candidate's spouse to address the convention that nominated her husband, focusing on the candidate as a family man.

Excerpt from Barbara Bush’s address:

“Today, August 18, really is a great day. Sixty-eight years ago, today, August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed … giving us, the women of America, the right to vote. Twenty-nine years ago today, one of the happiest days of our lives, our precious girl was born. And we named her Dorothy, after her grandmother Bush, and Dorothy means ‘gift from God’ and that, she certainly has been. This evening, my most beloved husband will accept the nomination of the presidency of the United States of America. What a day!"

Excerpt from A Memoir:

"One of the first things on my agenda was a literacy conference that Susan Porter Rose had organized to be held November 15 at the White House, followed by an honors dinner that evening. I had been bugging Susan about some money that had been given me for literacy, and I was worried about not having a place to put it. She finally had to tell me that this money was going into a new foundation — which was supposed to be a surprise — and that the dinner was not only to honor 17 “learners of the month” but also Barbara Bush … The dinner was put on by ABC, PBS, and Prudential. There were so many stars that evening: Peter Jennings was the host; Pearl Bailey and a group of beguiling children sang a song about teaching children to read; our close friend Loretta Lynn sang “Coal Miners Daughter” and then shared with us the fact that she had had four children by the time she was 17 and reading had not been easy for her … It also was the birth of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy."

In 1988, Vice President Bush prevailed over a crowded GOP primary field to gain the Republican nomination for president and, with Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana as his running mate, defeated Democrats Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts and Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas in the general election. That year, the Bush-Quayle ticket claimed over 53 percent of the popular vote en route to winning 40 states and 426 electoral votes. Mr. Bush was 64 years old when he took the Oath of Office on January 20, 1989.

Excerpt from A Memoir:

Then it was time. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor swore Dan in, and Chief Justice William Rehnquist swore George in. (Although we considered Bill and Nan close friends, we badly missed Potter Stewart.) I held two Bibles: the one George Washington had held 200 years ago when he was sworn in, and the one the House and Senate prayer group had given George, opened at the Beatitudes. I have used a different Bible at each of George’s swearing-ins — one for the United Nations, one for the CIA, two for vice president, and one for president — so each of the children may have one. As the oath was given, I felt as if we were standing still in time. In one awesome moment George Bush became President of the United States of America.

The Barbara Bush Foundation began its formation in the fall of 1988. On November 15, President-elect and Mrs. Bush hosted a dinner for literacy leaders from around the country, and the next day Mrs. Bush met with those willing to help form a Foundation focus on helping the entire family learn to read and write.

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy was officially announced at a White House luncheon on March 6, 1989. Created to support the development and expansion of family literacy programs in settings where parents and children read and learn together, the Foundation’s mission was established to:

• Make literacy as a value in every family in America by helping parents understand that the home is the child’s first school, the parent is the child’s first teacher, and reading is the child’s first subject.
• Break the intergenerational cycle of illiteracy by supporting the development of literacy programs that build families of readers.

The Washington Post called it “The Hug That Says It All.” During a visit to Grandmas’ House, one of the nation's first residences created to care for AIDS-infected infants, Mrs. Bush hugged Lou Tesconi, the director of a Catholic group that runs two houses for AIDS patients — and himself an AIDS patient. That simple gesture sent a powerful message and, as Mrs. Bush recalled in this excerpt from A Memoir, also a great deal of media attention:

“… of everything I did, my March visit to Grandma's House in Washington certainly received the most attention. This is a wonderful place where babies with AIDS are housed, treated, and loved by a fine professional staff and caring volunteers. There I held a precious baby who later died. Unbelievably, this photo made news because, even then, people still thought that touching a person with the virus was dangerous. Along with Burt Lee, George’s doctor, I also met a group of adults with AIDS. It was a wrenching visit. Besides having trouble finding housing and medical care, they all had personal problems. I especially remember a young man who told us that he had been asked to leave his church studies when it was discovered he had AIDS. His parents also had disowned him, and he said he longed to be hugged again by his mother. A poor substitute, I hugged that darling man and did it again in front of the cameras. But what he really needed was family."

First Lady Barbara Bush's second book, Millie's Book: As Dictated to Barbara Bush, was published and released by William Morrow & Company. The New York Times bestseller offered a behind-the-scenes perspective of the First Pooch's life in the White House. It spent more than four months on the bestseller list and raised more than $1 million for the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

Excerpt from Millie’s Book that captures daily life in the White House:

Our life at the White House is pretty heavily scheduled. The alarm goes off at 6 A.M. The Prez says that I go off a few minutes earlier by shaking my ears pretty hard in their faces. In any case, Bar jumps up, throws on her clothes, and races down three flights of stairs, or takes the elevator if she feels a little tired. (She usually feels tired.) She walks me around the South Lawn drive, brings me back in, feeds me, and climbs back into bed to read the papers with The Prez and drink coffee and juice. Between 7 and 7:08, the President and I go off to the Oval Office. I often sit in on the morning briefings. . . . I overheard the Bushes talking the other night. Some discussion about me keeping a lower profile. The media were reporting that I was getting more publicity than some members of the Cabinet. Considering some of my press, maybe they should be grateful.

On June 1, 1990, Barbara Bush addressed the graduating class at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. What started as a seemingly innocuous invitation became the subject of some controversy weeks before when 150 members of the graduating class signed a petition expressing outrage at Mrs. Bush's selection -- stating she did not represent the type of career woman the college seeks to educate. Mrs. Bush defused the situation by inviting Raisa Gorbachev, the wife of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, to join her and by giving what NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw described as "one of the best commencement speeches I've ever heard."

Excerpt of Barbara Bush’s address:

“Cherish your human connections: your relationships with family and friends. For several years, you've had impressed upon you the importance to your career of dedication and hard work, and, of course, that's true. But as important as your obligations as a doctor, lawyer or business leader will be, you are a human being first and those human connections -- with spouses, with children, with friends -- are the most important investments you will ever make. 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 child, a friend, or a parent.”

In the fall of 1990, Mrs. Bush teamed up with ABC Radio Network and the Philadelphia-based Children’s Literacy Initiative to launch “Mrs. Bush’s Storytime.” The radio program included Mrs. Bush, a host of celebrities, and cartoon characters reading children’s books. Broadcast around the country, Mrs. Bush and her friends entertained countless families, encouraging them to read together."

Except from A Memoir:

"The idea was to get families back to reading together and to spread the message about the importance of reading aloud to your children. The second year, stories were made available on cassette tapes through Western Publishing Company, and we tucked into each a how-to pamphlet with hints on reading aloud to your children. I often wondered if anyone listened, but as I write this in the fall of 1993, the fourth year of ‘Mrs. Bush’s Storytime’ is soon to begin on Thanksgiving Day and even will be broadcast to Shanghai, China."

Having already proposed increased funding for literacy programs and continued support for current Federal research efforts and the National Adult Literacy Survey, President Bush (no doubt influenced by his wife’s leadership) signed the National Literacy Act of 1991 into law. Among its provisions were the creation of a multi-agency supported National Institute for Literacy, and a National Workforce Literacy Assistance Collaborative to improve the basic skills of individuals by assisting small- and medium-sized businesses and labor organizations to develop and implement literacy programs.

Excerpt from Barbara Bush: A Memoir:

I must say I got more credit than I deserved (for passage of the law). I heard that George was going to give a pen to me (at the signing ceremony), but before he could Senator (Paul) Simon spoke up and said: “That pen should go to Barbara.” I have donated it to the George Bush Presidential Library Center. In the end, however, it’s not pens and pictures that count; it’s the National Literacy Act that really counts. It was the first piece of legislation … ever enacted specifically for literacy, with the goal of ensuring that every American adult acquires the basic literacy skills necessary to achieve the greatest possible satisfaction professionally and personally.

Barbara and George Bush returned to Houston, Texas after emotional good-byes to the White House staff, to colleagues in the Bush Administration and other friends in Washington, and of course to their children, daughter Doro Koch (and her husband Bobby) and son Marvin (and his wife Margaret) who live in the area.

Diary entry from Barbara Bush: A Memoir:

“We arrived in Houston to a great airport rally and immediately saw so many old friends. We said good-bye to the people who had flown down with us, as most of them were going back to Washington with the plane. Our new life began. We did not expect the welcome we received. Everywhere we looked there were yellow ribbons. Stores and motels had ‘Welcome Home’ on their marquees ... There were even homemade signs on the backs of pickup trucks. People stood and waved flags along the entire route. When we pulled up to our rented house, the neighbors were all out to give us a big welcome. It was so sweet, and made everything brighter and better.”

In February of 1993, Mrs. Bush was elected to the first of two four-year terms she served on the Mayo Foundation Board of Trustees, the highest governing authority at Mayo Clinic. She served with 29 other public representatives, Mayo physicians and administrators in overseeing patient care, medical education and research at all three Mayo Clinic locations. "It's a special pleasure to become part of this distinguished board, which so broadly and caringly serves the public through its outstanding patient care, education and research,'' she said at the time in a statement.

In 2010, Mayo established the George H.W. and Barbara P. Bush Strategic Initiative Fund in Education to recognize their commitment to lifelong learning. The fund created an endowment that advances the standard of education for generations to come by supporting a diverse array of prioritized initiatives -- from high-technology educational tools to instruction in compassionate care.

Excerpt from A Memoir:

“I was thrilled when they invited me to join such a prestigious board, but I quickly realized how much I had to learn. The other members represent the worlds of business, education, law, media and, of course, patient care, healing, treatment, and research. Then there’s me. I’m afraid that so far I only have brought a good name — my husband’s. The Mayo Clinic certainly is one of the best health care facilities in the world."

Founded in 1975 by President Bush’s grade school classmate, Bob McCauley and his wife Leila, Americares today is the world’s leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies, delivering over $500 million in innovative health programs and quality medical aid to more than 90 countries and all 50 U.S. states. From 1984 to 1993, Barbara Bush served as the honorary chairwoman of Americares' "Doctors to All Peoples" program, which sent volunteer physicians on overseas medical missions. In 1993, she became Americares' first — and only — Ambassador-at-Large. Both she and President Bush traveled overseas with Americares many times to help deliver essential medicines, food, shelter and medical supplies for families suffering in the midst of famine, war and natural disasters. “George and I are Americares’ biggest fans,” she wrote in 1993.

Two years after leaving the White House, Barbara Bush released what proved to be the first installment of her memoirs — offering readers “a very private look at a life lived in the public eye for more than twenty-five years … Drawing upon her diary, which she has compiled for more than thirty years, Mrs. Bush takes us behind the scenes of the Persian Gulf conflict and the end of the Cold War … Through the friendships she developed over the years with world leaders and their spouses, we meet and get to know the Gorbachevs, the Thatchers, the Mitterrands, the Mubaraks, and many others. And she tells us why she threw so much of her energy and compassion behind the important cause cause of making more Americans literate …”

George and Barbara Bush celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at The Cloister at Sea Island, Georgia, where they honeymooned in 1945. The following evening, the celebration continued at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, where all the children and grandchildren were present. The Oak Ridge Boys, Michael W. Smith, Vince Gill, Amy Grant and Lee Greenwood performed, along with numerous other good friends.

Excerpt from Reflections:

“I remember thinking, when I’d see those pictures of people in the newspapers celebrating their fiftieth: ‘They are SO old. How can they be having fun?’ And here we were, those ‘old people’ and we were having lots of fun … When we arrived at The Cloister, to add to the surprise, an unbelievable gold bracelet inscribed with our wedding and anniversary dates and initials was in our room. I wear it all the time, and often feel it and think just how lucky I am.”

First opened in 1908, the Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center was re-named in honor of First Lady Barbara Bush in 1995 for her long-standing commitment to children's issues around the world. At the public naming ceremony, Mrs. Bush reminded those in attendance that "children are our future" and providing "a great start to life for all children" is the most basic of needs and priorities. Mrs. Bush’s many visits to the facility were enjoyed by patients and staff alike, and the medical center is grateful for her support and dedication.

Today, the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital (BBCH) is a 95-bed tertiary care pediatric hospital within Maine Medical Center, providing comprehensive services including a PICU, NICU, dedicated pediatric section in the ED, and a 35 bed Inpatient Unit. The BBCH is fully staffed with all major pediatric medical and surgical subspecialties.
More info: https://mainehealth.org/barbara-bush-childrens-hospital/about/barbara-bush

"November 6, 1997, was a very big day for George, as his Library/Museum finally opened," Mrs. Bush wrote in her book Reflections. "I got up at 5:30am and took "Sadie" out for a long walk. The day was absolutely lovely, sunny and bright, with a little chill in the air. Perfect. I was shocked to see that there were many people lining up to go through the metal detectors." That day, President and Mrs. Clinton joined ex-Presidents Ford, Carter, and Bush – together with their spouses and Nancy Reagan and Lady Bird Johnson – in College Station to dedicate the Bush Library and Museum at Texas A&M University. The $80 million facility, built entirely with private funds, houses more than 40 million pages of official papers along with an extensive audiovisual and photographic collection that will be a valuable resource to scholars and citizens for many generations to come. The Bush Center complex, which also encompasses the George Bush School of Government and Public Service, occupies 90 acres.

George W. earned nearly 70 percent of the vote in his 1998 re-election campaign as Texas Governor, while in Florida Jeb claimed 55 percent to defeat Democrat “Buddy” McKay — a Florida state legislator, congressman and Lt. Governor. In 1994, Jeb lost a tough and bitter campaign against Gov. Lawton Chiles, so with the exit polls looking better four years later, with George W. cruising to an easy victory, the elder Bushes flew to Florida to surprise their second son on election night.

Diary excerpt:

“When Jeb walked into the room, I honestly think he was surprised. We all teared up a little. All his family was there, Colu, George P., Noelle and Jebby … We stayed much later than we expected, but Buddy McKay did not concede until 10:10pm. We finally went downstairs, and there was a mob scene in the ballroom. It was so thrilling. We flew home late and very happy."

On January 20, 2001, Barbara Bush joined Abigail Adams as the only two women in American history to be both a wife to, and mother of, a President. "When George W. actually walked down the steps with a distinguished congressional escort, it was breathtaking, and hard for his dad and me to stay composed," Mrs. Bush wrote of the Inauguration ceremony that day. That evening, after the parade at the White House, the new President called his father and asked him to come to the Oval Office. "George lept up, and raced over to the West Wing to greet his son," she continued. "(Chief of Staff) Andy Card described this scene to us two years later ... He said to see the father walk in to greet the new president was very emotional. I would say that this was typical of George W. He knew how much this would mean to his dad, and he wanted to share his first moments in this revered office with him."

An inspiring follow-up to her bestselling memoir, Mrs. Bush picked up where Barbara Bush: A Memoir left off and detailed her family's remarkable and very full life between the 1993 Clinton Inauguration that brought them back to Texas and her son's 2001 Inaguration that put another George Bush in the Oval Office. Drawing on excerpts from her diary, Mrs. Bush chronologically took us through this eventful period in her life, devoting one chapter to each year. She revealed her and her husband’s inner lives through sometimes touching and often hilarious stories about their travels, hobbies and charity work. In the epilogue, she reflected on the experience of having a son serving as president during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and its aftermath.

Excerpt from Doro Bush Koch’s book My Father, My President:

“'To have your family around you,' Mom said, looking back, 'and to celebrate in the House where your son serves as President – that’s not a bad deal.' That night, Dad observed that it was amazing 'to give a speech where you looked back at a life where you fell in love with a special girl, went to war and got shot down, got pulled out of the Pacific Ocean, and somehow went home alive. Then you married that special girl and together set out on an incredible journey marked by tremendous challenges and heartbreak and joy that led to the White House and beyond. Then, to be able to give such a speech in the White House because of what your son had accomplished' … well, let’s just say the tears flowed.”

Designed to be a place of reflection and aesthetic beauty, the Barbara Bush Rose Garden at the Bush Library features roses from the Antique Rose Emporium in nearby Brenham. Approximately 550 roses — including Katy Road, Caldwell Pink, and Old Blush among others — are planted there. The Garden also has four special benches that Mrs. Bush dedicated to two of her siblings — sister Martha Pierce Rafferty, and brother James Robinson Pierce — and two very close family friends, Don Rhodes and Jack Steel.

At the dedication ceremony in the Pavilion, Mrs. Bush asked (though it also could have been interpreted as an instruction) if people saw her out there reading to please leave her alone. The area has become a popular spot for visitors to take photos for special occasions such as weddings, proms and homecomings, and graduations.

Jeb Bush, Jr. and wife Sandra gave birth to a baby girl – Georgia Helena Walker Bush – who has the distinction of being the first grandchild to Jeb and Columba Bush, and the first great-grandchild to George and Barbara Bush. Born seven pounds and nine ounces, Georgia shares the same initials as her great-grandfather.

Nearly 100 people gathered in Kennebunkport for a dedication of Ganny’s Garden located on a portion of the town green near Dock Square, featuring flowers, greens and 17 trees in honor of the Bushes’ 17 grandchildren. (Mrs. Bush’s grandchildren called her “Ganny.”)

A number of town officials, residents and friends of the Bushes attended the ceremony, along with Sen. Susan Collins and Gov. Paul LePage’s wife, Ann, and son, Paul. Many speakers shared memories of Barbara, and after a walk through the garden she thanked all who were there.

“When we first came back after George lost the election, you had a ceremony on this lawn and you made us feel that it was OK to lose and that we were among friends,” she said. “George Bush and I feel at home here.”

Speaking to several hundred literacy educators and advocates in Houston, Mrs. Bush announced she was turning the day-to-day management of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy over to two co-chairs: her daughter, Doro, and her son, Jeb. “This doesn’t mean I will be going away,” she joked. "Too bad.” Mrs. Bush continued to serve as honorary chair for her foundation.

Doro Bush Koch joined her mother at the Houston announcement and said she’s proud to carry on the family legacy of promoting literacy. “As a mother myself, I believe in my heart and in my own experience that parents need to be their children’s best teachers,” Doro said. "For all the discussion about policies and platforms, the true goal is to make literacy a cultural value for every family in the United States.”

The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation was formed in March of 2013 by Neil and Maria Bush to carry forth First Lady Barbara Bush’s legacy in the literacy cause and to focus deeply on breaking the intergenerational cycle of low literacy focusing on the Bush family’s hometown. Founded on Mrs. Bush’s belief, “If you help a person to read, then their opportunities in life will be endless,” the BBHLF’s mission is to improve lives through the power of literacy across Houston – the ability to read, write, speak clearly and think critically. The Foundation serves as a champion across the Greater Houston area, raising awareness for the value and importance of literacy, mobilizing volunteers and resources to build critical capacity of community-based literacy providers, and investing in local literacy programs and services that support children and families to develop strong literacy skills for success.

Please go to www.BushHoustonLiteracy.org for more information.

Updated with new forewords from her five children, Scribner reissued Barbara Bush: A Memoir in both hardcover and paperback just in time for her 90th birthday. The touching, funny, and even surprising letters from George W., Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy Bush offer a new perspective on Barbara Pierce Bush.

George W. wrote that his mother “is a pro at putting people at ease because she herself is at ease.” Jeb called her “an American treasure” and reported that George Bush Sr. refers to her as “the Enforcer.” Marvin imparted a list of Barbara’s lessons: “Be on time,” “Be yourself,” “A sense of humor can be your friend,” and the most important lesson the Bush children learned, “the definition of love.” Neil poignantly shared his childhood struggles with learning to read and the unconditional support he received from his mom, and Doro also touched on Barbara’s literacy advocacy by calling Mom “our very own Miss Rumphius,” in reference to the Barbara Cooney children’s classic.

Mrs. Bush celebrated her 90th birthday in Maine surrounded by family and friends and, of course, helped her cause of literacy by raising $17 million. Dollar General alone donated $7 million to partner with her literacy foundation and XPRIZE to launch the Barbara Bush Foundation Adult Literacy XPRIZE — a global competition challenging teams to develop mobile applications for existing smart devices that result in the greatest increase in literacy skills among participating adult learners in just 12 months. The solutions will overcome key barriers to literacy learning by improving access, while increasing retention, and scaling to meet demand. Mrs. Bush said she hoped the innovative competition would yield “a radical breakthrough” to help an estimated 36 million U.S. adults who read at the third-grade level or lower.

Fifty-four years after her husband first threw his hat into the political ring for elective politics, 90 year-old Barbara Bush ventured back out onto the campaign trail for the final time — going to snowy New Hampshire and South Carolina for her son Jeb as he battled a field of 15 other candidates for the Republican presidential nomination. "Jeb is decent and honest, and everything we need in a president,” she said in New Hampshire. “He is not a bragger. We don’t allow that.” In South Carolina, she said, “He’s steady. He’s honest. He is modest. He's kind … I’m thrilled to be the mother of one of the greatest men I know.” On February 20th, Governor Bush finished fourth in the South Carolina primary and suspended his campaign that same evening.

Members of the Bush family gathered with celebrity authors and entertainers to help raise awareness of the issue of low literacy at a “National Celebration of Reading” hosted by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy at the Library of Congress. Funds raised from the event went to support nationwide programs of the Barbara Bush Foundation, including in the Washington, D.C. area.

Guests enjoyed readings by an outstanding lineup of celebrity authors: former First Lady Laura Bush and Jenna Bush Hager, David Baldacci, A.J. Jacobs and Jon Meacham.

John Cole, Library of Congress Historian, welcomed guests to the event, before being joined onstage by investor and philanthropist David Rubenstein. Rubenstein presented Cole with the Barbara Bush Foundation's "Champion for Literacy" award in recognition of his long career of service supporting literacy for all.

Since its establishment in 1989, the Foundation has hosted more than 60 "Celebration of Reading" events in five cities and four states. This very special National Celebration of Reading—the first to be held in Washington, D.C.—marked the 25th anniversary of the signing of the National Literacy Act by President George H. W. Bush.

Mrs. Bush joined her husband and former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama at the “Deep From the Heart: The One America Appeal” concert hosted by the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation and benefiting the special One America Appeal hurricane recovery fund jointly launched by the former presidents. The concert at Texas A&M’s Reed Arena featured a surprise appearance by Lady Gaga, along with headliners ALABAMA, Texas legends the Gatlin Brothers, four-time Grammy winner Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen; and legendary Grammy-award winning, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer ‘Soul Man’ Sam Moore. Country music icon Lee Greenwood emceed the event, which raised over $2 million.