Former First Lady Barbara Bush passed away at the age of 92. While her death came suddenly, it can’t be said Mrs. Bush didn’t live a long, fulfilling life. She had the honor of being First Lady of the United States, and the mother of another president. That’s quite an accomplishment.
Barbara Bush, the 37th First Lady, wife of George H.W. Bush and the Mother of George W. Bush, has died at the age of 92. She was committed to improving literacy throughout her life. pic.twitter.com/SjSMsQalYH
— Refinery29 (@Refinery29) April 18, 2018
Barbara Bush was beloved by the American people. But here are some interesting facts you might not have known about the matriarch of one of our country’s most significant political families. These are, when you think about it, pretty incredible, and show how complex a woman Barbara Bush was.
1. Barbara Bush’s father was a descendant of Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the United States. Clearly, American politics was a part of her bloodline!
(Photo by Stock Montage/Stock Montage/Getty Images)
2. Barbara and George lost a daughter at the age of 3 to leukemia. Her name was Robin.
“Barbara Bush stayed with her daughter through it all. Like an oak in the wind, she was tossed, but she would not be moved.”
— Richard Ben Cramer on the 1953 death of Pauline Robinson “Robin” Bush from leukemia https://t.co/5CjiszgIua pic.twitter.com/rYotRTpjFV
— John A. Moreno (@morenojohn) April 18, 2018
3. Barbara Bush’s hair turned white when she was young, specifically after the death of her mother and young daughter.
Barbara Bush was affectingly called the “silver fox” but many don’t know that her hair turned prematurely white at 28 when daughter Robin died from leukaemia. https://t.co/c3eAMxSift
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) April 18, 2018
4. Barbara Bush wasn’t the only woman to have been both First Lady and mother to the President of the United States. She shared that honor with Abigail Adams.
(Photo by Stock Montage/Getty Images)
5. Barbara Bush was inspired to promote literacy due to her son’s dyslexia.
#BarbaraBush has passed in her #Houston home. Married 73 years to @GeorgeHWBush, mother of 6, & “grandmother to all”. She founded Houston #LiteracyFoundation in part bc son Neil has #dyslexia. #GodBless #KHOU11 pic.twitter.com/JSXoKJIFF9
— Shern-Min Chow 🙋🏻 (@ShernMinKHOU) April 17, 2018
6. Barbara Bush was suffering from Graves’ disease, an immune disorder that harms the thyroid gland.
I’ll never forget when Barbara Bush sent me a signed thank you letter for volunteering with my mother at the National Graves Disease foundation. I was 8 years old and the letter is framed as an example of an incredible woman full of grace and strength.
— Julia Hartz (@juliahartz) April 16, 2018
7. Bush admitted to suffering from depression later in her life, which led her to focus her energies on addressing mental illness.
Caught part of this interview during ABC’s recap of #BarbaraBush. Her thoughts on depression were easy to relate to.https://t.co/1AAP3qlTHp
— Joshua Birdwell (@EmmaStoneFan24) April 18, 2018
8. When Barbara’s mother died in a car crash, she wasn’t able to attend the funeral due to being pregnant. She was never able to get over the loss. The pain was accentuated by that child, Robin, prematurely dying only a few years after being born.
Barbara Bush really was an incredible woman. She didn’t live a perfectly happy life. She suffered, she faced loss, she experienced much love from her family and her country. We should be grateful that someone like her was there to lend comfort and support to our leaders.
Rest in peace, Barbara Bush.
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