To help you keep track of who said what, below are brief biographies of the people who sent me a contribution for this book. Sadly, we would have to kill a lot of trees to list everyone’s complete résumé, their awards, the boards on which they serve, or their volunteer work. Just know this is a black-belt, award-winning active group.
41: That would be President Bush. When George W. Bush became President of the United States on January 20, 2001, there was mass confusion when people spoke or wrote about President Bush. Which President Bush? The current one? The former one? It was especially complicated when they were in the same room. To the rescue came Michigan congressman John Dingell, who at the annual Alfalfa Club dinner in Washington, DC, announced his solution to this problem: George H. W. Bush was the forty-first President of the United States, so therefore and henceforth would be called “41.” President George W. Bush was the forty-third President and would be “43.”
Allen, Duane: Lead singer for the Oak Ridge Boys, he was a college student when he first campaigned for President Bush in the 1960s. The Oaks traveled with President Bush during all of his campaigns, and at his request, sang “Amazing Grace” at his funeral service in Houston. He and his wife, Norah Lee, live in Nashville, Tennessee, and have two children and four grandchildren.
Anderson, David: Served as a lead advance representative during President Bush’s term and the reelection campaign. He also served as a senior staff member for the President’s Commission on Base Closures and the President’s Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces. Today David is an entrepreneur who has started several companies, serving as CEO for two of them and working as an executive coach. David and his wife, Debbie, live in Gilbert, Arizona, and have two sons.
Andrews, Elizabeth (Lizzie): Daughter of Neil and Maria Bush, Lizzie is a dermatology resident at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She and her husband, Kevin Joseph, live in New York City.
Baker, James: He served as the sixty-first secretary of state from 1989 to 1992; sixty-seventh secretary of the Treasury from 1985 to 1988; and White House chief of staff for Presidents George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan. He is the only person to run five presidential campaigns for three different candidates. The author of numerous books and chairman of various boards and committees, he is honorary chairman of the James A. Baker III Institute of Public Policy at Rice University. He and his wife, Susan, live in Houston. Between them, they have eight children and nineteen grandchildren.
Bates, David: President Bush’s personal aide from 1978 to 1980, David served Vice President Bush as his deputy chief of staff, and during the presidency as assistant to the President and secretary to the cabinet. From 1994 to 2009, he was managing director and then senior adviser for Public Strategies Inc., a strategic consulting firm. He now is CEO of his own consulting company. He and his wife, Anne, live in San Antonio and have three children and four grandchildren.
Beach, Becky Brady: Aide to Barbara Bush from 1978 to 1982, Becky is CEO of the Puppy Jake Foundation. She and her husband, Charlie, have two children and six grandchildren and live in Rio Verde, Arizona.
Beamish, Rita: A former Associated Press reporter in Los Angeles and then Washington, DC, Rita covered George H. W. Bush’s campaigns and presidency. She also has worked for California newspapers, most recently as an editor at the San Francisco Chronicle. She and her husband, Paul Costello, have two daughters and live in San Mateo, California.
Becker, Edward: He practiced law for nearly ten years before entering seminary to become a Catholic priest. Ordained just before his fortieth birthday, Father Ed currently serves at Holy Trinity Church in Ladera Ranch, California. His sisters call him Eddie; his parishioners call him Father Ed; President and Mrs. Bush called him Father Eddie and were very supportive of his second calling as a Catholic priest.
Behrendt, Theresa “Tee” Elmore: Tee began her fund-raising career working for President Bush at the RNC in 1973 and then served in national roles for both his 1980 and 1988 presidential campaigns. Her current fund-raising initiatives include Newport Preservation and the White House Historical Association’s “1700” project. Tee and her husband, John, divide their time between Boca Grande, Florida; Saratoga Springs, New York; and the Argentine pampas.
Benedi, Antonio: Tony worked in a variety of roles during President Bush’s vice presidency, including as an advance lead and events coordinator, and was deputy director of the Office of Presidential Appointments and Scheduling during his presidency. He is a member of the board and past chairman of the Washington Regional Transplant Community. He and his wife, Maria, live in Springfield, Virginia, and have two sons and one grandchild.
Benson, Jeff W.: A captain in the Navy and a 2003 graduate of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Jeff commanded the destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) while deployed in Japan. He is the first commanding officer of the USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), currently being built in Bath, Maine. Jeff and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Cumberland, Maine, with their three boys and a golden retriever.
Biddle, Susan: Susan was a photojournalist before working for President Bush as one of his White House photographers. She then returned to journalism, working for the Washington Post until she retired. She and her husband, Robert Barkin, live in Silver Spring, Maryland, and have one daughter.
Blanton, Taylor: Taylor worked as a volunteer in President Bush’s first two campaigns in 1964 and 1966. He is retired from the US Department of State and runs an event business in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas with his wife, Martha.
Brady, Phil: During President Bush’s administration, Phil served as general counsel in the Department of Transportation and then as assistant to the President and staff secretary in the White House. Later positions included president of the National Automobile Dealers Association and senior vice president of Government Affairs for Phillips 66. He and his wife, Katie, live in Washington, DC, and have three sons and four grandchildren.
Branch, Catherine: Aide to Barbara Bush from 2014 to 2017, Catherine currently serves as chief of staff to the CEO of Texas Capital Bank, as well as a volunteer for various organizations. She lives in Dallas.
Bringle, Donald: Aide to Vice President Bush from 1983 to 1984, Don graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1976 and spent his Navy career as an F-14 carrier aviator. He retired from the Navy in 1998 and then flew for United Airlines until 2019. He and his wife, Emily, live in New York and have two children.
Brock, Ann: Director of scheduling for First Lady Barbara Bush, after leaving the White House Ann served as the assistant director of the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation and director of the library’s dedication ceremonies. After teaching middle school art in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, she is now retired and living in Oxford, Mississippi, with her dog Houston.
Brokaw, Tom: Coanchor of The Today Show from 1976 to 1982, he then anchored the NBC Nightly News for twenty-two years. He was known as one of the Big Three, along with ABC’s Peter Jennings and CBS’s Dan Rather. He is the author of several books, including The Greatest Generation. He and his wife, Meredith, have three children and spend a great deal of their time at their ranch in Montana.
Buckley, Christopher: A best-selling author and political satirist, Christopher (or Christo, as President Bush called him) was Vice President George Bush’s speechwriter from 1981 until 1983. He and his wife, Katy, live in South Carolina and Connecticut.
Bush, Barbara: First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. She married George Herbert Walker Bush on January 6, 1945. They had six children—George W., Robin, Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Doro. Robin died of leukemia at age three in 1953. Besides her family and friends, her main passion in life was making America more literate. She founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy in 1989. She wrote four books: C. Fred’s Story; Millie’s Book; Barbara Bush: A Memoir; and Reflections: Life After the White House. She died April 17, 2018, at her home in Houston, Texas, with her husband of seventy-three years holding her hand.
Bush, Billy: Billy is the second son of President Bush’s brother Jonathan and Jody Bush. He is a TV journalist and broadcaster who currently hosts the television program Extra. He lives in Los Angeles with his three daughters.
Bush, Jamie: Son of President Bush’s oldest brother, Prescott, and Elizabeth Kauffman Bush, Jamie is a partner in the firm of Bush & Company, which helps families and businesses with family governance issues and succession planning. He also is developing a ministry to help the faith community in Boston engage more meaningfully with people coming out of prison. He and his wife, Sue, live in Boston and have two children and six grandchildren.
Bush, Jody: Jody Bush is the widow of President Bush’s brother Jonathan. They have two sons and ten grandchildren. She splits her time between Hobe Sound, Florida, and North Haven, Maine. Jody is the last surviving member of President Bush’s siblings and their spouses.
Bush, Neil: The third son of George and Barbara Bush, Neil is engaged in international business development while serving to promote family legacies as chairman of Points of Light, the George H. W. Bush US China Relations Foundation, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, and the advisory board of the Bush School of Government and Public Service. He and his wife, Maria, live in Houston and together are the parents of six and grandparents of four.
Bush, Noelle: The daughter of Jeb and Columba Bush, she lives in Orlando, Florida, where she is an operations assistant at the law firm Nelson Mullins. She loves to paint.
Bush, Pierce: Son of Neil and Sharon Bush, Pierce is CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star, the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate agency in the country and the single largest one-to-one youth mentoring organization in the world. He and his wife, Sarahbeth, and their daughter live in Houston.
Card, Andy: Andy was deputy White House chief of staff under President Bush before being named secretary of transportation in 1992. He was White House chief of staff under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006. He got his start in politics serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1975 to 1983. His post–White House career has included serving as acting dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service; as president of Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire; and as chairman of the National Endowment for Democracy from 2018 to 2022. He and his wife, Kathleene, live in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, and have three children and six grandchildren.
Carvey, Dana: A stand-up comedian, Dana is probably best known for his seven seasons as a cast member on NBC’s Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1993, which earned him five Emmy Award nominations. Among his many characters was impersonating President Bush. He’s also a screenwriter, producer, and actor, having starred in numerous movies. He and his wife, Paula, live in Mill Valley, California, and have two sons.
Cary, Mary Kate: A White House speechwriter for President Bush, Mary Kate currently teaches political speechwriting at the University of Virginia. She serves as chair of the advisory board of the George & Barbara Bush Foundation. She and her husband, Rob, live in Charlottesville, Virginia, and have two daughters.
Caughman, Bruce: Retired from the Air Force, Bruce was President Bush’s personal aide from 1990 to 1991, after serving as his Air Force military aide from 1989 to 1990, and as his military aide during Vice President Bush’s last year in office. He currently is a co-owner/chief operating officer of GAME Beverage Group, LLC. He and his wife, Deborah, have three children and three grandchildren and live in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Chambers, Ray: A philanthropist and humanitarian, Ray was the founding chairman of Points of Light and cofounded America’s Promise-Alliance for Youth with Colin Powell. He also was the cofounder of National Mentoring Partnership and of Malaria No More. He was the UN secretary general’s first special envoy for malaria. Currently he serves as ambassador to the World Health Organization for Technology and Health Financing and is chairman of Wesray Social Investments. He and his wife, Patti, live in New Jersey and have three children and six grandchildren.
Cheney, Richard: He served as the forty-sixth vice president of the United States from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush, secretary of defense from 1989 to 1993 under President George H. W. Bush, and represented Wyoming in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1979 to 1989. Cheney also served as White House chief of staff to President Gerald Ford, making him the youngest person in U.S. history to hold that position. He has authored numerous books, held positions on several boards and committees, and served as chairman and CEO of Halliburton. He and his wife, Lynne, live in the Washington, D.C., area. They have two daughters and seven grandchildren.
Cicconi, Jim: Policy assistant to James Baker when he was chief of staff to President Reagan, Jim was deputy chief of staff for President Bush and also served as a senior issues adviser to his presidential campaigns. Jim was a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld law firm, and then general counsel and senior executive vice president at AT&T for eighteen years. Now retired, he and his wife, Trisha, have three daughters and nine grandchildren, all close to them in northern Virginia.
Clinton, William Jefferson: Forty-second President of the United States and a former governor of Arkansas, he also is the founder and board chair of the Clinton Foundation. President Clinton joined forces with former President George H. W. Bush three times to raise money for disaster victims: after the 2004 tsunami in South Asia, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and Hurricane Ike in 2008; and with President George W. Bush in Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. He and his wife, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, have one daughter, Chelsea, and three grandchildren.
Compton, Ann: Assigned to cover the White House for ABC News in 1974, Ann traveled the globe with seven presidents, from Gerald Ford to Barack Obama, during a dramatic forty-year span of American history. She also covered ten presidential campaigns and was elected president of the White House Correspondents’ Association. Ann and her husband, Dr. William Hughes, live in Washington, DC, and have four children and ten grandchildren.
Cooke, Julie: An assistant to Barbara Bush during her husband’s vice presidency, Julie was director of projects for the First Lady from 1989 to 1992. Retired from Washington National Cathedral where she was director for the Cathedral Centennial Celebration, Visitor Programs and Volunteer Services, Julie and her husband, Tom, live in Washington, DC, and have two sons and two granddaughters.
Crawford, Quincy Hicks: Starting as a receptionist in the Office of George Bush, Quincy served as Barbara Bush’s personal aide from 1994 to 1998. She was director of Scheduling and Advance to First Lady Laura Bush from 2001 to 2002. She is currently an executive recruiter for Tangent West. She and her husband, J.T., live in New Orleans with their two sons.
Csorba, Les: Les served in the White House as special assistant to the President in Presidential Personnel (National Security Affairs) and served on the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships during President George W. Bush’s administration. He is the partner in charge (Houston office) of Heidrick & Struggles, where he is an executive coach and advises clients in the energy industry on CEO and board of director succession. He and his wife, Anne, live in Houston and have four children and four grandchildren.
Cutler, Kim Brady: Starting as a volunteer for George Bush for President in 1979, Kim worked for Vice President Bush in his scheduling and advance offices before serving as personal aide to Barbara Bush from 1981 to 1985. She served in a variety of roles for the Bushes over the years, including as director of advance for the First Lady from 1989 to 1991. Now a full-time volunteer, Kim and her husband, Nick, live in Wenham, Massachusetts, and have two children.
DeLorenzo, Dante: Dante started working for the Bush family as a summer lad at Walker’s Point in 2017 and kept that job until he graduated from college. He currently is the personal aide to President George W. Bush and lives in Dallas.
Demarest, David: Currently a lecturer at Stanford University School of Business, David served as communications director of President Bush’s 1988 presidential campaign, then was White House communications director during his presidency. He is married to the former Dianne Burch, enduring the joy of six daughters in their blended family and splitting their time between Sausalito, California, and Houston, Texas.
Dill, Tony: A former Green Beret colonel and the commander of the Army’s Golden Knights during several of President Bush’s parachute jumps, Tony retired from the military after thirty-one years of service. He is now a senior management consultant for the defense industry and forensic security services. He and his wife, Josephine, live in Dawsonville, Georgia, and have three children.
Doerr, Clinton: Dr. Doerr, who specializes in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, coordinated and cared for President and Mrs. Bush both at their home and when hospitalized. He remains in private practice in Houston, where he lives with his wife, Dr. Allison Pritchett, and their two children.
Doublet, Elizabeth Wise: Aide to Mrs. Bush from 1985 to 1987, Elizabeth spent some time living overseas as a foreign correspondent. She now divides her time between France and Washington, DC, with her husband, Jean-Louis, and their two sons.
Dowd, Maureen: Winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary and author of three New York Times bestsellers, Maureen became an op-ed columnist in 1995 for the Times. She lives in Washington, DC.
Dvorsky, George: George has starred on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in regional theaters and in concerts for more than forty years. He is the voice of George H. W. Bush in the audio book of The Man I Knew. He lives in New York City.
Eckstein, John: Dr. Eckstein was President Bush’s primary internist at the Mayo Clinic Arizona from 1994 until 2008. He spent most of his medical career at Mayo but worked in the United States Public Health Service at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, from 1972 to 1974. He and his wife, Diane, live in Phoenix, Arizona, and have two daughters and one granddaughter.
Elliott, Mike: “Big Mike” is a combat veteran who served in the Army for more than twenty-six years. He served his final eleven years as a member of the Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, completing more than sixteen thousand free-fall jumps. After retiring from the military, he founded the All Veteran Group jump team in 2011. He is proud to have completed three tandem jumps with President Bush. Mike has one son and lives in Raeford, North Carolina.
Ellis, Alexander “Hap”: The eldest son of Nancy Bush Ellis, President Bush’s only sister, Hap serves as chairman of the board of directors for the George & Barbara Bush Foundation. He is a cofounding partner in a venture capital firm, RockPort Capital Partners, that focuses on innovative, sustainable energy technologies. Hap and his wife, Robin Rand Ellis, have three sons and nine grandchildren, and they split their time between Boston and Kennebunkport.
Fitzwater, Marlin: Marlin was press secretary to George H. W. Bush when he was Vice President and President, also serving as press secretary to Ronald Reagan. Since leaving the White House, Marlin has written numerous books on various subjects. He and his wife, Melinda, live on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.
Franklin, Barbara Hackman: The twenty-ninth US secretary of commerce, she is CEO of Barbara Franklin Enterprises. Named by TIME as one of “50 Women Who Made Political History,” Barbara led the first White House effort to advance women in the federal government and was an original commissioner of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. She lives in Washington, DC, and thanks to her late husband, Wallace Barnes, has eighteen step-great-grandchildren.
Frechette, Tom: Tom began working for President Bush while in high school as a summer lad on Walker’s Point and then an office intern before serving as his personal aide from 2000 to 2006. He currently is a managing director at Avenue Capital and a member of the George & Barbara Bush Foundation Advisory Council. He lives in New York City with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children.
Gangel, Jamie: Jamie covered President Bush first as national correspondent for NBC’s Today show and then in her present job as special correspondent for CNN. She interviewed President and Mrs. Bush more than a dozen times over the years. She is married to the New York Times best-selling author Daniel Silva. They split their time between Florida and Washington, with their twins, Lily and Nicholas Silva.
Gates, Robert M.: Served as the twenty-second secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011 and is the only secretary of defense in US history to be asked to remain in that office by a newly elected president. Previously Bob was the president of Texas A&M University and before that served as interim dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service. He served President Bush as deputy national security adviser until he became director of Central Intelligence in 1991. The author of numerous books, he and his wife, Becky, live in Sedro Woolley, Washington, and have two children.
Gelb, Bruce: The retired president of Clairol and former vice-chairman of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Bruce headed up the United States Information Agency before President Bush appointed him ambassador to Belgium. A philanthropist, he’s been especially active in the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club. He and his late wife, Lueza, have four children and five grandchildren. He lives in Naples, Florida.
Gibbons, Gene: Former chief White House correspondent for Reuters news agency, Gene covered Presidents Carter through Clinton and was a panelist in one of the presidential debates during the 1992 campaign. Now retired and an avid photographer, Gene and his wife, Becky, have seven children and fourteen grandchildren between them and live in Alexandria, Virginia.
Gillespie, Edward: Ed is the senior executive vice president for External and Legislative Affairs at AT&T. He was chairman of the Republican National Committee in the 2004 election cycle and served as counselor to the President for President George W. Bush in his second term. Ed and his wife, Cathy, have three children and live near George Washington’s historic Mount Vernon in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Gray, C. Boyden: Boyden clerked for Chief Justice Earl Warren before joining the law firm of Wilmer Cutler & Pickering. He served as counsel to George H. W. Bush for twelve years during both the vice presidential and presidential years. President George W. Bush appointed Boyden ambassador to the European Union, after which he continued the work with his law firm, Gray and Associates. Boyden died in 2023. He is survived by one daughter, Eliza, and two grandchildren.
Guerin, Dava: Author of numerous books about wounded warriors, veterans, and first responders, Dava is the former communications director for the US Association of Former Members of Congress. She first met President Bush in Philadelphia when she worked with his advance team on his many visits there. She has been an active participant in the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, including helping to relaunch Mrs. Bush’s Story Time. She lives with her two rescue dogs in Sarasota, Florida.
Hagin, Joe: Joe served as White House deputy chief of staff from January 2001 to July 2008 for President George W. Bush and held the same position from January 2017 to August 2018. For President Bush, his jobs included: deputy assistant to the President from 1989 to 1991; assistant to the Vice President for Legislative Affairs from 1983 to 1985; and as personal aide from 1981 to 1983. He currently is executive vice president of corporate affairs for LG Group, a South Korean multinational corporation. Joe lives in Washington, DC.
Haley, Sondra: From 1983 to 1993, Sondra served in various communications roles in Vice President Bush’s office and the Office of the First Lady, including deputy press secretary to Barbara Bush. Starting in 1993, her career focused on strategic communications, including roles with the Walt Disney Company and the National Basketball Association. Currently she is a principal with the Red Bee Group, living in Southern California.
Hermann, Charles: Chuck was the founding director of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, and then transitioned to chairing the International Affairs Department for fourteen years while holding the Brent Scowcroft Chair in International Policy Studies. He and his wife, Dr. Lorraine Eden Hermann—both retired—have three children and three grandchildren and still call College Station, Texas, home.
Higgins, Hutton Hinson: Aide to Barbara Bush from 2010 to 2014, Hutton currently serves as the director of communications and external relations for the George & Barbara Bush Foundation. She and her husband, Taylor, live in Houston with their three daughters.
Hoffman, Jeff: Working at the Walt Disney Company for more than thirty years, Jeff most recently served as vice president of Disney Worldwide Outreach. In this role, he had global responsibility for Disney’s philanthropy, community relations, and cause marketing activities, including its award-winning employee volunteer program, Disney VoluntEARS. He currently has a consulting business, Jeff Hoffman & Associates, and lives with his husband, Bob Lane, in Long Beach, California.
Holiday, Ede: Served as general counsel to President Bush’s 1988 presidential campaign; as general counsel of the Department of Treasury; and as assistant to the President and secretary of the cabinet. She currently serves on several corporate boards. She and her husband, Terry Adamson, live in Florida and North Carolina and have three children—including two girls born during her White House years—and three grandchildren.
James, Gordon: Gordon officially worked in the White House Office of Advance from 1989 to 1990 but spent years doing volunteer advance work for both Presidents Bush. He now owns Gordon C. James Public Relations. The father of eight children and grandfather of eight grandchildren, he and his wife, Lisa, live in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Johnson, Cynthia: After early careers in social work and advertising, Cynthia became the official photographer for Vice President Bush from the 1980 inauguration to 1984. She then moved to TIME magazine, where, among other things, she covered the White House. Retiring in 2000, she now lives on a farm in rural Virginia.
Kaufman, Ron: Ron started working and campaigning for the Bushes in 1977. At the White House, he was first deputy assistant to the President for personnel and then White House political director. Ron helped build and then sell the government affairs firm Dutko Worldwide. He recently retired from Dentons Worldwide Law, where he served as the senior strategic adviser; and as the treasurer of the Republican National Committee. He has two daughters and five grandchildren and lives in Washington, DC.
Kennedy, Annie: In 2010, Barbara Bush asked Annie to care for the many existing gardens at Walker’s Point and to design new ones. She was known as “Annie the Gardener” until she retired in 2021. She and her husband, Michael Phelps, spend their summers in Kennebunk, Maine, and the winter months in Rome, Italy.
Kilberg, Bobbie Greene: Served as deputy assistant to the President for Public Liaison and as deputy assistant to the President and director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. After twenty-two years, Bobbie recently retired as CEO of the Northern Virginia Technology Council. She and her husband, Bill—both former White House fellows—have five children and sixteen grandchildren and live in McLean, Virginia.
Killblane, Casey Healey: Aide to Barbara Bush from 1987 to 1989, she left Barbara Bush only to marry her husband, Hugh. They live in Davis, Oklahoma, where they have an oil and gas investment company and a property management company, in addition to helping manage the family ranch, Flying L Ranch. They have two sons.
Knight, Barbara: Currently working in communications and marketing for McDermott International, Barbara was deputy White House press secretary for First Lady Laura Bush. From 2004 to 2008, she worked for President and Barbara Bush in Houston. She is married to Jim Knight and lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with their three children.
Koch, Doro Bush: Youngest child of George and Barbara Bush, Doro is the cofounder of BB&R Wellness Consulting; the honorary chairman and a member of the board of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy; and a member of the board of the George & Barbara Bush Foundation. She is the author of My Father, My President. She and her husband, Bobby, live in Bethesda, Maryland, and have four children and two grandchildren.
Koch, Gigi: Daughter of Doro and Bobby Koch, Gigi lives in New York, where she works for NBCUniversal. She loves being outdoors and spending time with her family in Maine, and especially loves her sweet nieces, Dottie and Loulie.
Lamb, Lucy: Just out of college, Lucy joined President Bush’s administration in the White House Advance Office, serving first as a trip coordinator and then as executive assistant to the director of press advance. She finished the term as executive secretary to the US ambassador to Iceland. She currently works for Fairfax County Public Schools. She and her husband, Faron, live in Alexandria, Virginia, and have five daughters and one grandson.
Lamoreaux, Melinda: Melinda began working as a volunteer for both President and Mrs. Bush in 1994. In 2000, she joined President Bush’s staff with administrative and special projects responsibilities. Today Melinda works for the George & Barbara Bush Foundation as the legacy liaison for the Bush Legacy Groups. She and her husband, Scott, have one daughter and live in Houston.
Lapointe, Coleman: After working for President Bush in 2004 as a summer lad and then as an office intern, Coleman was President Bush’s personal aide from 2012 to 2015. He joined Governor Jeb Bush on the campaign trail during his 2016 presidential bid, serving as his personal aide. From 2017 to 2020, Coleman worked at the Pentagon, where he was the director of travel operations for the secretary and deputy secretary of defense. He now works for General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. He and his wife, Sarah, and their son live in Kennebunk, Maine.
Lauren, Lauren Bush: Daughter of Neil Bush and Sharon Bush, she is the founder and CEO of FEED, a social business with a mission to create good products that help feed the world. Since 2007, FEED has been able to provide more than 126 million meals to kids around the world. Lauren lives in New York City with her husband, David, and their three children.
LeFevre, Ashley Bush: The daughter of Neil and Sharon Bush, Ashley lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Julian, where they work in film and TV. She is currently producing a documentary series for Netflix about Twitter. Also a film director, Ashley recently won an Audience Award at the Dallas International Film Festival for The Queen’s New Clothes.
Levenson, Russell J., Jr.: The Reverend Dr. Levenson is the rector of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, the Bushes’ longtime home parish. He officiated at both President and Mrs. Bush’s funeral services in Houston and at President Bush’s state funeral at the National Cathedral. He is the author of Witness to Dignity: The Life and Faith of George H. W. and Barbara Bush. He and his wife, Laura, live in Houston and have three children and two grandchildren.
Lisenby, Nancy: Nancy started volunteering in the Office of George Bush in 1997, becoming a part-time receptionist the next year. In 2000, she became my assistant and among her many jobs was to listen to me vent and help me decipher my own handwriting. She and her husband, John, live in Houston and have three children and ten grandchildren.
Lorelle, Linda: An Emmy- and Gracie Award–winning broadcast journalist, Linda reported on President Bush’s post-presidency as the evening anchor at KPRC-TV in Houston. One of those hair-raising assignments included a tandem skydive with the same Golden Knight who guided President Bush to a safe landing on his eightieth birthday. Linda is CEO and executive producer of Linda Lorelle Media and host of the Our Voices Matter podcast. She and her husband, Lou Gregory, live in Houston with their daughter Lindsey and grand-puppy, Layla.
Maer, Peter: A retired CBS News White House correspondent, Peter covered Presidents Carter through Obama. A winner of numerous awards, he is a visiting fellow on the Presidency & the Press at the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication at Franklin Pierce University. He and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Fairfax, Virginia.
Magaw, John: John began his career as a public servant in 1959 as an Ohio state trooper. He joined the Secret Service in 1967, and was head of President Bush’s Secret Service detail until the President named John director of the Secret Service in 1992. He was head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms from 1993 to 1999 under President Clinton
Major, John: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1990 until 1997, Sir John previously served as foreign secretary and chancellor of the Exchequer in Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet. He retired from the British Parliament in 2001. In 2005, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter—England’s highest award for chivalry, which is in the personal gift of the Sovereign. He and his wife, Dame Norma, have two children and three grandchildren.
McBride, Tim: Serving President Bush in a variety of roles, Tim was his personal aide from 1985 to 1990. In 1990, the US Senate confirmed Tim as assistant secretary of commerce for trade development. He later returned to the White House as assistant to the President for management and administration. Tim currently is president of ST Engineering North America, following a long career of leading global government relationships teams for Fortune 500 companies. Tim and his wife, Anita, live in Washington, DC, and have two children.
McClure, Fred: Fred was President Bush’s assistant for legislative affairs. He has served as CEO of the Bush Presidential Library Foundation and is a member of the board of directors of the George & Barbara Bush Foundation. Currently, Fred is associate vice president of Leadership & Engagement at Texas A&M University. He and his wife, Harriet, live in College Station, Texas, and have two children and three grandchildren.
McCullough, David: One of America’s most beloved and respected historians, David won a Pulitzer Prize for his biographies of John Adams and Harry Truman. He started his writing career as an intern at Sports Illustrated, eventually becoming an editor and writer for the United States Information Agency. His breakout book was The Johnstown Flood, published in 1968. He died in 2022 at age eighty-nine. He and his wife, Rosalee, had four children.
McEntire, Reba: A country music superstar, Reba has sold more than fifty-eight million albums worldwide and has had thirty-five singles hit number one on the music charts. She was named a Kennedy Honors recipient in 2018; is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame; and has won dozens of music awards, including two Grammys and seven Country Music awards. Also an accomplished actress, she was the star and executive producer of her own television series, Reba, and starred on Broadway in Annie Get Your Gun. She currently is a coach on NBC’s The Voice. Reba lives in Nashville and has one son and several stepchildren and step-grandchildren.
McGrath, Jim: Jim started at the White House in 1991 in the correspondence office. He came to Houston to serve as President Bush’s post–White House press secretary and speechwriter; during the Bushes’ funerals in 2018, he oversaw all press operations. The author of several books, Jim currently is co-owner of Begala-McGrath public relations firm. Jim and his wife, Paulina, live in Houston and have three children.
McLane, Drayton: Former owner and CEO of the Houston Astros baseball club, Drayton serves as chairman of the McLane Group. He propelled the McLane Company into a $19 billion enterprise, which merged with Walmart in 1990. He then served as vice-chairman of Walmart until 1994. He and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Temple, Texas, and have two sons and five grandsons.
Meacham, Jon: A presidential historian and professor at Vanderbilt University, Jon is the author of Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush. In 2009, he won the Pulitzer Prize for American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. He and his wife, Keith, live in Nashville, Tennessee, with their three children.
Melley, Diane: Diane, formerly a decades-long IBM senior executive, is a global business leader and pioneering female technologist committed to designing and delivering technology solutions to complex social issues at scale worldwide. In 2001, she was awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship to the European Union and Ireland. Diane and her husband, Brian, live in the Philadelphia suburbs and have two daughters.
Meltzer, Brad: The author of more than fifty books, Brad is a number one New York Times best-selling writer of thrillers such as The Lightning Rod and nonfiction books such as The Nazi Conspiracy. He also is the author of the Ordinary People Change the World kids book series, which inspired the TV show on PBS KIDS, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. He is the host of Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel. He and his wife, Cori Flam, live in Hollywood, Florida, and have three children.
Milano, Bernard: A member of the Points of Light board of directors for twenty years, Bernie recently retired as president of the KPMG Foundation after fifty-eight years with the firm. He has six children and six grandchildren, including two children with his wife, Dr. Sharon Pierson. They live in Allendale, New Jersey.
Mitchell, Brad: A member of the Office of Policy Development for President Bush, Brad was the founding president and CEO of ChainDrugStore.net. Based on his extensive experience working with C-Level and executive groups within major companies, he currently focuses on coaching successful leaders and executive teams. He and his wife, Julia, live in Romulus, New York, and have two children and one granddaughter.
Mohr, Larry: Dr. Mohr was a White House physician to Presidents Reagan and Bush. After his White House service, he joined the faculty of the Medical University of South Carolina where he is a Distinguished University Professor. He and his wife, Linda, live in Charleston, South Carolina, and have one daughter.
Morris, Johnny: Johnny got his start in business selling fishing tackle out of the back of his father’s store before becoming the founder, majority owner, and CEO of Bass Pro Shops. He often is referred to as a modern-day Theodore Roosevelt for his leadership, personal commitment, and dedication to the careful management and use of our natural resources. He and his wife, Jeannie, have four children and seven grandchildren and split their time between Springfield and Branson, Missouri.
Mulberger, Ginny Lampley: Ginny served as special assistant to the President and senior director for Legislative Affairs for the National Security Council from 1989 to 1993. Prior to joining the White House staff, she served as an Air Force officer, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. She cofounded the Scowcroft Group in 1995 with Brent Scowcroft, retiring as the managing partner in 2017. She and her husband, Robb, live in Alexandria, Virginia, and have two children.
Mulroney, Brian: Elected in 1984 and reelected in 1988, Mr. Mulroney was Canada’s eighteenth prime minister. From the Canada-US Acid Rain Treaty, to NAFTA, to the first Gulf War, to the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany, there were very few issues of importance upon which he and President Bush did not work closely. Mr. Mulroney is a successful lawyer and a best-selling author. He and his wife, Mila, live in Montreal and have four children and sixteen grandchildren.
Nantz, Jim: A commentator for CBS Sports, Jim has been the voice of some of America’s biggest sporting events since 1985. The multi–Emmy Award winner and National Sportscaster of the Year is an author of the New York Times bestseller Always by My Side, for which President Bush wrote the foreword. Jim founded the Nantz National Alzheimer Center, in honor of his dad, at Houston Methodist Hospital, to provide hope and treatment for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The father of three children, he lives in Nashville.
Newman, Bonnie J.: Chancellor emeritus of the community college system of New Hampshire, Bonnie previously served as the interim president of the University of New Hampshire; executive dean at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government; and as assistant to the President for management and administration for President Bush. She and her West Highland terrier, Figgy, split their time between New Castle, New Hampshire, and Palm Coast, Florida.
Neumann, Roxann: Roxann began working in Texas Republican politics in the early 1980s. She was executive director of the host committee for the 1990 G7 Economic Summit and has worked on many projects and events with the Office of George Bush over the years. She currently works with Silver Eagle Beverages and John Nau. She and her husband, Tim, live in Houston and have one daughter.
Nunn, Michelle: Michelle is president and CEO of CARE USA, a leading humanitarian organization that fights global poverty and provides lifesaving assistance in emergencies. Prior to CARE, she ran for the US Senate and served as Points of Light CEO from 2007 to 2013. Michelle and her husband, Ron Martin, have two children and live in Atlanta.
Palmer, Arnold: Considered one of the best and most popular golfers to play the game, “the King” won sixty-two PGA tournaments—fifth on the all-time win list—including seven major championships. He was considered a trailblazer, one of the first superstars of sports’ television era. He died in 2016 at age eighty-seven. He and his wife, Winifred, had two children.
Pears, Laura: After working for the 1990 G7 Economic Summit and the 1992 Republican National Convention—both held in Houston—Laura joined President Bush’s staff in 1993 when he returned to Houston. Initially a volunteer, she joined the full-time staff in 1995, working on special events and later serving as director of scheduling. She lives in Houston with her husband, Dan.
Pelosi, Nancy: A Democratic congresswoman from California, she made history in 2007 when she was elected the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, and again in 2019 when she became the first in more than six decades to regain the post. She and her husband, Paul, live in San Francisco and have five children and nine grandchildren.
Peressutti, Gian-Carlo: Aide to President Bush from 1996 to 2000, Gian-Carlo left in 2001 to join the White House staff of George W. Bush as associate director of the Office of Public Liaison. He currently is director of Public Affairs at IFM Investors and serves on the advisory board of the Bush School of Government and Public Service. He lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut, with his wife, Amanda (whom he met on the job in Kennebunkport), and their two daughters.
Perry, Richard: Dr. Perry served as President Bush’s personal physician in Kennebunkport. Now retired, he was on the clinical faculty at Tufts, Brown, and the University of New England and served as medical director for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. He and his wife, Elaine Carlson, live in Cape Porpoise, Maine, and have two daughters and one grandchild.
Petersmeyer, Gregg: A member of President Bush’s senior White House staff, Gregg helped him make Points of Light a hallmark of his presidency. He has contributed to creating and building organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors; is on the Points of Light board; and is chair of America’s Promise Alliance. He and his wife, Julie, live in Bethesda, Maryland, and have four children and six grandchildren.
Pierce, Jim: The son of Barbara Bush’s brother James, Jim is a retired insurance executive, serving the energy industry for forty-five years. He recently penned a book entitled Treachery, a story about Abraham Lincoln’s first eighteen months in office. He and his wife, Dabney, have four children and two grandchildren and live in Houston.
Poepsel, Linda Casey: Linda worked for President Bush for thirty-seven years, first serving in the Vice President’s office in a variety of positions. In the White House, she worked in the chief of staff’s office, and in early 1992, joined newly appointed secretary Andy Card at the Department of Transportation. Post–White House, she was President Bush’s director of correspondence. She and her husband, Jim, live in Houston with their three dogs, including Mrs. Bush’s dogs, Mini-Me and Bibi.
Porter, Roger: The IBM professor of business and government at Harvard University, Roger joined the Harvard faculty in 1977. He served for more than a decade in senior economic policy positions in the White House, including as assistant to the President for economic and domestic policy for President Bush. He and his late wife, Ann, are the parents of four children and ten grandchildren. He lives in Belmont, Massachusetts.
Portman, Rob: Rob served twelve years in the US House, held two cabinet-level jobs in the President George W. Bush administration, and then served two terms in the US Senate from Ohio, choosing not to run again in 2022. He got his start in public service doing volunteer advance work for Vice President Bush, then as associate counsel and deputy assistant and director of the Office of Legislative Affairs for President Bush. He and his wife, Jane, now live full-time in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he is founder and Chair of the Portman Center for Policy Solutions at the University of Cincinnati and is a Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. They are the parents of three children.
Powell, Colin: Born to Jamaican immigrants, General Powell was in the Army for thirty-five years, including serving in Vietnam. After being President Reagan’s national security adviser from 1987 to 1989, he was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Bush from 1989 to 1993. Under President George W. Bush, he served as the sixty-fifth secretary of state from 2001 to 2005, becoming the first African American in that post. In 1997 he was the founding chairman of America’s Promise Alliance, which focused on America’s youth. He died in 2021. He and his wife, Alma, have three children.
Powers, Carol: Having worked as a staff photographer on several major newspapers, including the Palm Beach Post, the Miami Herald, the Washington Times, and the Dallas Morning News, Carol’s career highlight was to be an official White House photographer for President and Mrs. Bush. She and her husband, Don Coyer, live in Vero Beach, Florida, and have one daughter.
Quayle, Dan: He became the forty-fourth vice president of the United States on January 20, 1989. He was elected to the House in 1976 and the Senate in 1980, representing Indiana. Since 2001 he has been chairman of Cerberus Global Investments with more than $60 billion under management. He has written three books and serves on many corporate and charitable boards. He and his wife, Marilyn, live in Paradise Valley, Arizona, and have three children and nine grandchildren.
Raether, Mary Matthews: Starting as the manager of Congressman George Bush’s Houston office, Mary went to Washington in the fall of 1967 to be his legislative assistant. She also worked for the Ways and Means Committee and Congressman Barber B. Conable Jr. before retiring to raise her children and to become a Bush campaign volunteer. President Bush nominated her twice and she was confirmed by the Senate to serve on the National Council on Disability. She and her husband, Carl, have two children and live in McLean, Virginia.
Rice, Condoleezza: She was the national security adviser to President George W. Bush before serving as the sixty-sixth secretary of state from 2005 to 2009, becoming the first African American woman in that role. In the first Bush administration, she was the Soviet specialist on the National Security Council. An accomplished concert pianist, she currently is the director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and lives in Stanford, California.
Rodgers, June Scobee: The widow of Challenger space shuttle commander Richard Scobee, June worked with the lost crew’s families to continue the “Teacher in Space” educational mission. An author, June wrote Silver Linings: My Life Before and After Challenger 7. She recently received the Apollo 50th Education Award, saluting her pioneering work and dedication to motivating our future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce.
Rogich, Sig: Former US ambassador to Iceland, senior assistant to President Bush, and director of advertising for Bush for President in 1988, Sig is a founder of the Rogich Communications Group. He was one of three former directors of the Tuesday Team that created the Ronald Reagan and George Bush “Morning in America” campaign in 1984. He has five children, including three with his wife, Lori. They live in Las Vegas.
Rubenstein, David: Cofounder and cochairman of the Carlyle Group, David is a leader in patriotic philanthropy and is the host of the David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations; Bloomberg Wealth with David Rubenstein; and Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories. He is the author of several books, including The American Story: Conversations with Master Historians. A resident of Maryland, he has three children and two grandchildren.
Ruebling, Diane: Diane met George Bush in 1978 at a Republican Leadership Conference in Indianapolis, the beginning of decades of campaigning and support for the Bush family. Her career encompassed many leadership roles in financial services companies, and over the last decade she has worked as an executive business coach. She served on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services and on the Overseas Private Investment Corporation Board. She and her late husband, Charles, have two children and one grandchild. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Sage, Mary: After volunteering for the 1990 G7 Economic Summit and the 1992 Republican National Convention, both held in Houston, Mary was a full-time volunteer on President Bush’s 1992 campaign. She joined his post–White House staff as a volunteer in 1993, then became the part-time receptionist and office administrator in 1995, overseeing technology issues and serving as liaison between the office and the General Services Administration. Mary has one son and lives in Houston.
Sanders, Kara Babers: Aide to Barbara Bush from 1998 to 2000, Kara lives in Houston with her husband, Dax, where she loves being a stay-at-home mom to their two daughters and dog Pippa.
Schuler, Rob: Rob worked for all of President Bush’s campaigns beginning in 1980. While continuing to work as a volunteer advance man during the administration, he was special assistant to the general counsel at the Department of Energy. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in St. Petersburg, Florida, and have two children.
Scowcroft, Brent: Served as national security adviser to President Bush and President Ford—the only person to have held this position twice. A 1947 graduate of West Point, his Air Force service included postings at West Point; Belgrade, Yugoslavia; US Air Force Academy; Office of the Secretary of Defense; and Joint Chiefs of Staff. He died in 2020 and is survived by his daughter, Karen, and granddaughter, Meghan.
Sheldon, Brooke: Aide to Barbara Bush from 2000 to 2003, Brooke’s career began as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill and then transitioned to coordinating political and social events while working at one of Washington’s top fund-raising, event, and public relations firms. Today she is an events coordinator and consultant and lives on the East Coast.
Sherr, Ron: Ron won his first of many national awards for his artwork at age five for a likeness of Abraham Lincoln. In 1995, his portrait of President Bush was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. He later painted a historic father-son portrait of the two President Bushes. Ron died after a short illness in 2022. He is survived by his wife of thirty-six years, Lois, who resides in Hong Kong, where she owns a luggage design consulting firm. Their son, Alex, lives and works in Shenzhen, China. They compiled and edited Ron’s story for this book.
Sherzer, Amanda Aulds: Aide to Barbara Bush from 2008 to 2010, Amanda is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and writes for faith-based nonprofit organizations. She and her husband, David, live in Colleyville, Texas, with their three children.
Simpson, Alan: Served from 1979 to 1997 as a US senator from Wyoming. He was elected the assistant majority leader in 1984 and served in that capacity for ten years. He wrote Right in the Old Gazoo: A Lifetime of Scrapping with the Press, which chronicles his personal experiences and views of the Fourth Estate; and a biography, Shooting from the Lip. When asked, “Have you lived in Wyoming all your life?” he replied, “Not yet!” He and his wife, Ann, live in Cody, Wyoming, and have three children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Sisley, Evan: Evan was President Bush’s final personal aide and senior medic. Previously he worked as a paramedic and served as a Navy corpsman with the Marine Corps, including a deployment to Afghanistan. He is currently enrolled at the University of New England and is pursuing a master’s of science in physician assistant. He and his husband, Ian, live in Washington DC.
Siv, Sichan: Sichan escaped from Cambodia’s killing fields in 1976 after missing the US evacuation helicopters the year before. He served as a deputy assistant to President Bush at the White House and as an ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush. The author of several books, Sichan lives in San Antonio and was married to Martha Pattillo Siv from Pampa, Texas, for thirty-three years until her liftoff to heaven in 2016.
Slocum, R. C.: Former head football coach at Texas A&M University, R.C. is the winningest coach in A&M history and is in the College Football Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Nel, live in College Station, Texas, where he is a special adviser to the president of Texas A&M.
Smith, Dorrance: Dorrance served in the Bush White House as assistant to the President for Media Affairs. Post-presidency, he produced numerous legacy events for the George & Barbara Bush Foundation and helped coordinate the media for both Bush funerals. Dorrance was an Emmy Award–winning producer for ABC News and Sports, as executive producer of This Week with David Brinkley, Nightline, and five Olympic Games. He and his wife, Tamara, live in Arlington, Virginia, with their two teenage children.
Smith, Michael W.: During his forty years in the music industry, Michael has written and recorded thirty-six number one songs and has won three Grammy Awards, forty-five Dove Awards, and one American Music Award. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and has sold more than fifteen million albums. He has raised funds to battle AIDS in Africa; started Rocketown, a safe haven for young people in Tennessee to meet and find hope; and has helped more than seventy thousand children through Compassion International. Michael and his wife, Deborah, live in Franklin, Tennessee, and have five children and seventeen grandchildren.
Sosa, Ellie LeBlond: The daughter of Doro Koch and Billy LeBlond, Ellie lives in the Washington, DC, area with her husband, Nick, and their two daughters, Dottie and Loulie. She is the coauthor of George and Barbara Bush: A Great American Love Story.
Sosa, Nancy: A Kennebunk Beach friend of President and Mrs. Bush, Nancy volunteers for the nonprofit Operation Shower, providing baby showers for expectant moms whose loved ones are deployed on the USS George H. W. Bush. She cowrote a children’s book with Judi Marchand, based on real-life stories of President Bush, POPPY! A Tale of Leading with Love, with proceeds going to the George & Barbara Bush Foundation. Nancy and her husband, Ignacio, live in Arlington, Virginia, and have two children and two grandchildren.
Sterban, Richard: Previously a backup singer for Elvis Presley, Richard joined the Oak Ridge Boys in 1972. He’s likely most famous for his “oom-pa-pa-oom-pa-pa-mow-mow” bass solo in the 1981 hit single “Elvira.” He and his wife, Donna, live in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and have two daughters. Along with Richard’s three sons from his first marriage, their children have given them seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Stettner, Carolyn: A career intelligence officer, Carolyn specialized in chemical and biological weapons, arms control, and counterterrorism. Her favorite career opportunity was serving on President Bush’s National Security staff with her late husband, James Pavitt, who served as NSC’s special assistant to the President for intelligence. Jim later became the CIA deputy director for operations, or as President Bush called him: Head Spook. Carolyn lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Straus III, Joe: Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019, Joe is chairman of the Texas Forever Forward PAC. He served in the Commerce Department during President Bush’s tenure. He and his wife, Julie, live in San Antonio, Texas, and have two daughters.
Struthers, Sally: Film, television, and theater actress, Sally is known by the older generation as Archie Bunker’s daughter, Gloria, in All in the Family, while younger generations know her as Babette in Gilmore Girls. For thirty-five years she traveled the world for Christian Children’s Fund and then Save the Children on behalf of hungry and disenfranchised children. Sally continues to perform in plays and musicals throughout the country.
Sununu, John H.: Former three-term governor of New Hampshire and White House chief of staff to President Bush, Governor Sununu is the author of The Quiet Man: The Indispensable Presidency of George H. W. Bush. He and his wife, Nancy, live in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, and have eight children and sixteen grandchildren.
Taylor, Kristin Clark: An award-winning author, journalist, and communications strategist, Kristin was special assistant to Vice President Bush for press relations and director of media relations for President Bush. The mother of two children, Kristin lives in suburban Washington, DC.
Teeley, Peter: Peter served as press secretary to Vice President George Bush from 1979 to 1985, and press secretary for the 1980 and 1988 presidential campaigns. He was appointed by President Bush as US representative to UNICEF (1990) and ambassador to Canada (1992). He is the founder of the Children’s Charities Foundation in Washington, DC, which has raised millions of dollars to support more than one hundred charities and provide 55,000 at-risk children with new winter coats. He and his wife, Dr. Victoria Casey, live in Bethesda, Maryland, and have one daughter.
Tiernan, Tom: As a marketing specialist for the US Army, Tom assisted with several of President Bush’s parachute jumps and other events including 41’s eightieth birthday. He retired in 2023 after fifty years of service and lives in Vine Grove, Kentucky. He and his wife, Kay, have two children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Trivette, Paula: A retired lieutenant colonel in the US Army, Paula served as a nurse in the White House Medical Unit for the last year of the Reagan administration and during all of President Bush’s White House years. She and her husband, Bill—also a retired lieutenant colonel—live in Greensboro, North Carolina. They have two active-duty sons and one active-duty daughter-in-law, all lieutenant colonels. They also have five grandchildren, none of whom have yet joined the military.
Untermeyer, Chase: Chase worked for the Bush for Congress campaign in Houston in 1966 and was an intern for Congressman Bush the next two summers. In later life he was a Texas state representative, executive assistant to Vice President Bush, and an assistant secretary of the Navy. During the first Bush administration, he was director of presidential personnel and director of the Voice of America. The second President Bush appointed him US ambassador to Qatar. He and his wife, Diana, who met in the West Wing of the White House, have one daughter and live in Houston.
Updegrove, Mark: Mark is the president and CEO of the LBJ Foundation. He serves as the presidential historian for ABC News and is the author of five books on the presidency, including The Last Republicans: Inside the Extraordinary Relationship Between George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. He and his wife, Amy, live in Austin, Texas, and have four children.
Voelkel, Margaret: A volunteer for President Bush for nearly forty years, Margaret was an anchor in the volunteer room at the Office of George Bush. She and her late husband, Stan, have seven children, thirteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. She lives in Katy, Texas.
Voelkel, Tyson: A decorated combat veteran and a successful business leader, Tyson currently is president of the Texas A&M Foundation. He and his wife, Christi, have three daughters and live in College Station, Texas.
von Eschenbach, Andrew: After twenty-six years as a urologic oncologist serving in various roles at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. von Eschenbach was appointed by President George W. Bush first to be the director of the National Cancer Institute and then commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. He also served as a lieutenant commander in the Navy Medical Corps. Today he is president of Samaritan Health Initiatives. He and his wife, Madelyn, live in Houston and have four children and seven grandchildren.
Walker, Diana: A contract photographer for TIME for many years, Diana has produced three books of her photographs: Public & Private: Twenty Years Photographing the Presidency; The Bigger Picture; and Hillary: The Photographs of Diana Walker. Among her many prizes, she was awarded the Henry Luce Life Achievement Award from TIME, Inc., in 2012. She and her husband, Mallory, live in Washington, DC, and have two sons and five grandchildren.
Walker, Ned: A lifetime professional communicator, Ned most recently served as senior vice president and chief communications officer of Delta Air Lines before his retirement. Prior to his thirty-five-year airline career, he was a television reporter and held several newsroom management positions for KWGN-TV in Denver, Colorado. He and his wife, Jeanne, live in Aspen, Colorado, and have three children.
Webster, William and Lynda: A retired lawyer and federal judge, William H. was director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and director of Central Intelligence. Lynda spent fifteen years as a senior manager in the luxury hotel business; in 1996 she founded the Webster Group, a global event design and production firm. The Websters split their time between Washington, Virginia, and Sun Valley, Idaho.
Weinberg, Armin: Armin was a professor at Baylor College of Medicine, cofounder of the Intercultural Cancer Council, and a founding board member of C-Change. He focused on translating discoveries in cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and control activities to state and national initiatives. He is now an adjunct professor at Rice University, where he mentors students in the medical humanities program. Armin and his wife, Karen, have one daughter and two granddaughters and live in Houston.
Welsh, Mark: Mark is the dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. He spent forty years in the Air Force, the last four as the service’s twentieth chief of staff. He and his wife, Betty, live in College Station, Texas, and have four children and eight grandchildren.
White, Daisy: A special events consultant and coordinator, Daisy was part of the team that organized President Bush’s eightieth birthday party—known as 41@80—as well as many other events celebrating landmark anniversaries. A senior adviser for the George & Barbara Bush Foundation, she and her husband, John, live in College Station, Texas, and have two daughters and five grandchildren.
White, Peggy Swift: Aide to Barbara Bush from 1989 to 1993, Peggy now dedicates her time as a civic volunteer after a career in public relations, corporate communications, and project management. She lives with her husband, Brian, and their puppy Shecky in Chicago and Charleston, South Carolina.
Winchell, Blake: A former campmate of President Bush in the HillBillies Camp at Bohemian Grove, Blake is a director, author, and erstwhile venture capitalist. He and his wife, Lou Ann, live in Park City, Utah, and have three children.
Zanca, Bruce: Now retired, Bruce was a longtime press aide to Vice President and President Bush. Later in life he had a very successful career as a C-suite corporate business executive. He and his wife, Michele, split their time between Bluffton, South Carolina, and Ludlow, Vermont.