Condolences are pouring in from across the nation for a former First Lady who captured the hearts of so many.
Barbara Bush will be laid to rest this weekend after she passed away Tuesday at the age of 92.
“There is no other Barbara Bush, and that's a testament to the kind of person she was and the impact she's left on so many,” said Scott McClellan of Seattle University, who served as White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush.
McClellan describes a graceful feistiness, humble compassion and loving warmth possessed by Mrs. Bush. It’s something noted by anyone who met her.
“When she walked into a room, she exuded warmth and joy and compassion, and I think it was very contagious in a very naturally, flowing way,” said McClellan. “She never tried to be anyone but who she was. She didn't let public spotlight change her. She had a directness to her that was very infectious; people appreciated it. I think that authenticity that she brought to her public role, was very much a reason why she was so popular with so many people.”
Her popularity made her a huge asset during election season, whether supporting her husband or her sons. McClellan says he remembers she was always willing to hit the campaign trail, even in 2016 for Jeb Bush.
Despite candidly telling NBC Today show “we’ve had enough Bushes” when asked about Jeb Bush’s campaign, she stood by side at campaign events early in the primary season.
“I swore I would never campaign again,” Mrs. Bush told an audience in 2016. “Maybe I should have said ‘read my lips,’” she quipped, a reference to her husband’s 1988 campaign promise.
Known for her quick wit and sense of humor, she was also known for her heart and her actions as First Lady. Media coverage of Mrs. Bush holding an infant with HIV is credited with helping to change the conversation about AIDS in the late 80s.
She’s also remembered for her work on cancer research, having lost a child to leukemia, as well as homelessness, civil rights, and literacy. McClellan describes a legacy shaped by a commitment to country and family.
“She was a devoted mother, first and foremost, and devoted spouse of George H.W. Bush, but just as much as that she was very committed to helping others through her compassion and desire to really help those that were in need. I think that played out most prominently with her commitment to literacy and her efforts there that will far outlive her time on this planet,” he said.
“She knew she had a big platform that could be a force for good and also be a voice for those who might not otherwise have one,” McClellan continued.
