2018 -- H 8108

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF BARBARA PIERCE

BUSH, FORMER FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES

     Introduced By: Representatives Morgan, Mattiello, Quattrocchi, Giarrusso, and
Mendonca

     Date Introduced: April 24, 2018

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that this House has learned of the passing of former

First Lady, Barbara Pierce Bush. She will forever be remembered for her kindness, grace and

class, and for being the matriarch of the Bush Family. One of the highest compliments one can

give to a person who has passed is to say they have had a well-lived life. Barbara Bush certainly

lived up to and fulfilled that high standard. She served her family, her community and our nation

with integrity and dignity and her loss is deeply felt in every corner of our nation; and

     WHEREAS, Barbara Bush was born Barbara Pierce on June 18, 1925, in Manhattan,

New York City, the daughter of Pauline and Marvin Pierce, who was the President of the McCall

Corporation, which published the women's magazines Redbook and McCalls. Mrs. Bush was

raised in the New York suburb of Rye, with her three siblings, Scott, Martha and James. One of

her ancestors was Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Bush met her future husband, George Herbert Walker Bush at the age

of sixteen while attending a dance. After eighteen months of courtship, she and the future

President became engaged, just before he went off to serve as a United States Navy torpedo

bomber pilot in World War II. While serving our nation heroically during the war, he named three

of his planes after her. They were married on January 6, 1945, a marriage that would last 73 years

until her passing; and

     WHEREAS, Barbara and President Bush had six children together, the Honorable

George W. Bush, who would follow his father’s footsteps to become President of the United

States, Robin Bush, who died of Leukemia at the age of three, John Ellis, the Honorable "Jeb"

Bush, Sr., who became the Governor of Florida, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush, and Dorothy Bush

Koch. Through the years, as the Bush family moved across the country and engaged in different

business ventures, they became ensconced within the American political scene with Barbara Bush

the one constant, the anchor of the family, the glue that kept everyone together, and the loving but

occasionally stern presence that kept her loved ones on the straight and narrow. Over time, she

became unequivocally recognized as the family's "Matriarch"; and

     WHEREAS, Barbara Bush became the "Second Lady" of the United States after her

husband was elected Vice President in the 1980 Presidential election. Around this time her son

Neil was diagnosed with dyslexia and she immediately became interested in issues related to

dyslexia illiteracy. She researched and learned about the factors that caused illiteracy and worked

tirelessly to fight this problem. During this period, she wrote a book about her family and donated

all proceeds from the book to literacy charities; and

     WHEREAS, When her husband ran for the Presidency in 1988, Barbara Bush became

only the second candidate's spouse, after Eleanor Roosevelt in 1940, to speak at the national party

convention that nominated her husband. By this point in her life, Mrs. Bush had become

comfortable speaking in public and was widely viewed as being a significant asset in her

husband's successful campaign for President; and

     WHEREAS, As First Lady, Barbara Bush was well-known and widely-admired for her

down-to-earth mannerisms, her self-deprecating sense of humor, the pride she took in her white

hair, and her refusal to be obsessed with designer clothes. She was a woman that any woman or

man could relate to and respect. Mrs. Bush continued her fight against illiteracy as First Lady.

She appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show to raise awareness of the problem and helped to

develop and create the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. She was also very active in

the White House Historical Association, and worked hard to modernize and strengthen the White

House Preservation Fund, which she renamed the White House Endowment Trust. Altogether,

she raised $25 million for its endowment. She also bravely battled Graves Disease while serving

as First Lady, and had become one of the most beloved first ladies in American history, earning a

reputation with the White House staff as being the most friendly and easygoing First Lady they

had ever served; and

     WHEREAS, When her time as First Lady ended, Barbara Bush continued her vital role as

the matriarch of the family and her numerous charitable endeavors. On September 28, 1995, the

Bush Family announced the creation of the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Portland, Maine.

In an emotional gathering, Mrs. Bush recalled the life of her daughter Robin, who had passed

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away of Leukemia at the age of three. Since leaving the White House in 1993, Mrs. Bush has

seen her son, George W. Bush, become President of the United States and has served our nation

as a distinguished and beloved elder stateswoman. She bravely fought numerous illnesses, and the

elegant grace with which she has aged and dealt with her various illnesses and ailments has been

admired by all Americans. Her passing on April 17, 2018, saddened all Americans though we will

always be thankful and grateful for her service to our nation. She most certainly led a life well-

lived; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby extends its deepest condolences on the passing of the Former First

Lady Barbara Bush; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable George H.W. Bush.

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