Editing Barbara Bush (section)

== Post–White House years ==
=== Retirement ===
Bush described January 20, 1993, the day of [[Bill Clinton]]'s inauguration, as a "tough day" for her and her husband.{{Sfn|Carlin|2016|p=630}} The Bushes felt that George had earned a second term as president, and Barbara blamed the press—which she accused of being pro-Clinton—for his loss.{{Sfn|Gutin|2008|pp=144–146}} She believed that they showed preference for Clinton due to his relative youth.{{Sfn|Beasley|2005|p=199}} The Bushes moved back to Houston, where they lived in a rental home for nine months as they had a new house constructed.{{Sfn|Kilian|2002|p=205}} This new house featured a six-foot-tall brick wall to ensure the family's privacy.{{Sfn|Schneider|Schneider|2010|p=337}}

The day after returning to Houston, the Bushes learned that Nancy Reagan had called into [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] to criticize them, saying that Barbara had lied about not receiving a tour of the White House in 1988 and falsely stating that the Bushes never invited the Reagans to a state dinner. When Nancy later called Barbara to discuss the impromptu interview, Barbara decided that she "didn't feel like playing her game any more." Barbara corrected the falsehoods, and to make Nancy feel guilty, she lied by saying that reporters were harassing her because of the interview. She hung up after saying "don't you ever call me again." The two never spoke again, except for exchanging brief formalities at state events.{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 17}}

After spending eight years as Second Lady and then another four as First Lady, Bush had gone some time without cooking or driving a car, two skills that she was forced to reacquire after leaving the White House.{{Sfn|Schneider|Schneider|2010|p=336}} Though she was able to find more opportunities for relaxation, she remained busy with her various charitable causes, public appearances, and family commitments.{{Sfn|Carlin|2016|p=630}} For the first weeks of retirement, the Bushes—while still wealthy—did not have access to the funds that they once did and were surprised by the [[cost of living]] that they suddenly faced.{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 17}} Later on, between speaking fees and a book deal, Barbara made a considerable amount of money.{{Sfn|Schneider|Schneider|2010|p=336}} Her book, ''[[Barbara Bush: A Memoir]]'', was published in 1994 and stayed at the top of [[The New York Times Best Seller list]] for several weeks.{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 17}}{{Sfn|Gutin|2008|p=148}} That year, two of Bush's sons sought political office: George W. ran to be the [[governor of Texas]], and Jeb ran to be the [[governor of Florida]]. Though she helped the two of them campaign, she found that political attacks against her sons caused her even more stress than those against her husband, and she was unable to watch their respective gubernatorial debates. Jeb lost his election, and George W. was elected governor of Texas.{{Sfn|Gutin|2008|pp=150–151}} Both sons ran for the same offices again in 1998, and both won.{{Sfn|Gutin|2008|p=152}}

George W. went to Barbara for advice when he was considering a presidential campaign in the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 presidential election]]. Rather than giving him an answer, she told him to make up his mind. Later, during a church sermon about accepting the call to do the right thing, she turned to her son and said "he is talking to you", and he was convinced in that moment to run for president.{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 18}} When George W. announced his candidacy, his parents did not take a prominent role in the campaign, so as to avoid overshadowing him or making the election about the [[Bush family|Bush political dynasty]]. Barbara's primary role was traveling with other women associated with the campaign in the "W Stands for Women" tour in an attempt to increase his share of the women's vote.{{Sfn|Gutin|2008|p=153}} After a [[Bush v. Gore|long legal battle]] over the results, her son's opponent [[Al Gore]] conceded the election,{{Sfn|Kilian|2002|p=227}} and Barbara became the second woman after [[Abigail Adams]] to be both the wife and the mother of a U.S. president.{{Sfn|Kilian|2002|p=232}}

=== President's mother ===
[[File:President George W. Bush Visits with Former First Lady Barbara Bush in the Oval Office.jpg|thumb|Barbara Bush with her son in the [[Oval Office]], 2003|alt=Barbara Bush and George W. Bush stand side by side]]
Barbara and George were on a flight when the [[September 11 attacks]] occurred, so their plane was grounded and they were taken by the [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] to a motel.{{Sfn|Gutin|2008|p=155}} The next day, they were given special authorization by their son to fly back to [[Kennebunkport, Maine]].{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 18}} They participated at a prayer service with other former presidents and first ladies on September 14. Bush later expressed that she felt great pride in her son's handling of the crisis.{{Sfn|Gutin|2008|p=155}} The attack also convinced her to reinstate her own personal Secret Service protection, which she had dismissed after leaving the White House.{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 17}}

In 2002 she became an alumna initiate of the Texas Eta chapter of [[Pi Beta Phi]] at [[Texas A&M University]]. Bush chose this university as it was the location of her husband's [[George Bush Presidential Library|Presidential Library]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Becque |first=Fran |date=April 23, 2018 |title="We walk by faith and not by sight" - Saying goodbye to Barbara Pierce Bush |url=https://www.franbecque.com/we-walk-by-faith-and-not-by-sight-saying-goodbye-to-barbara-pierce-bush/ |access-date=October 3, 2019 |website=Fraternity History & More |language=en-US |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404060153/https://www.franbecque.com/we-walk-by-faith-and-not-by-sight-saying-goodbye-to-barbara-pierce-bush/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She was also a member of the [[Junior League]] of Houston.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notable Members - The Association of Junior Leagues International |url=https://www.ajli.org/?nd=p-who-legacy-famous-list |access-date=February 20, 2022 |website=Ajli.org |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205121906/https://www.ajli.org/?nd=p-who-legacy-famous-list |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2003, Bush published another memoir, ''Reflections: Life after the White House''.{{Sfn|Gutin|2008|p=155}}

Tensions between Iraq and the United States grew during her son's presidency, and by 2003 it seemed likely that her son would launch an invasion of Iraq. Barbara and George worried about the possibility of a war.{{Sfn|Gutin|2008|p=156}} Two days before the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], she spoke dismissively of television news reports about the impending conflict. Her supporters argued that she was rejecting conjecture and speculation by reporters, while her critics argued that she was being insensitive about the situation's severity.{{Sfn|Gutin|2008|p=157}} After the invasion, she felt that her son was being unduly influenced by Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]], Vice President [[Dick Cheney]], and Chief of Staff [[Andy Card]]; she repeatedly urged him to reconsider his decisions on Iraq until he sternly rebuked her.{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 18}}
[[File:George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush laugh during George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) christening.jpg|thumb|George and Barbara Bush attend the christening ceremony for the eponymous aircraft carrier {{USS|George H.W. Bush||6}}, 2006.|alt=Barbara and George are seated beside one another among an audience]]
Bush returned to campaigning during the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 presidential election]], giving speeches on her son's behalf when he sought a second term as president. He went on to win reelection.{{Sfn|Gutin|2008|p=157}} She was involved in promoting some of his policy goals in his second term, including a 2005 tour of Florida to promote his [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] reform plan. She generated a controversy during her work supporting victims of [[Hurricane Katrina]] when she made a comment to a radio station about the situation that was deemed insensitive, saying that those affected could stay in Texas because they "were underprivileged anyway".{{Sfn|Gutin|2008|p=158}} The comment reinforced an impression that the Bushes were out of touch.{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 18}}{{Sfn|Gutin|2008|p=158}}

Her involvement in the hurricane relief efforts was further criticized in 2006, when it was revealed that she donated an undisclosed amount of money to the Bush–Clinton Katrina Fund on the condition that the charity do business with an educational software company owned by her son Neil.<ref>{{cite web|first=Cynthia Leonor|last=Garza|url=http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/3742329.html|title=Katrina funds earmarked to pay for Neil Bush's software program|work=Houston Chronicle|date=March 23, 2006|access-date=November 17, 2011|archive-date=June 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628195403/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/3742329.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As George worked with Bill Clinton on various charity projects, the Bushes' views of their former rival softened, and he eventually came to be seen as a member of the family, though Barbara took longer to forgive Clinton's victory in the 1992 election than George did.{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 23}}

On October 3, 2008, Bush and her husband opened the "George and Barbara Bush Center" on the [[University of New England (United States)|University of New England]] waterfront Biddeford Campus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.une.edu/bushcenter |title=The George and Barbara Bush Center |publisher=University of New England in Maine, Tangier and Online |date=October 3, 2008 |access-date=September 7, 2016 |archive-date=September 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917101833/http://www.une.edu/bushcenter |url-status=live }}</ref> The center lays the foundation for the heritage of Barbara Bush in New England and houses "The Bush Legacy Collection", material securing the Bush legacy in Maine, including memorabilia on loan from the [[George Bush Presidential Library|George H. W. Bush Presidential Library]] at [[Texas A&M University]]. Particular attention is given to the family's New England heritage and to Barbara's love for [[Maine]].<ref>{{cite web |date=April 17, 2018 |title=Barbara Bush leaves lasting legacy in Maine |url=http://www.wmtw.com/article/barbara-bush-leaves-lasting-legacy-on-maine/19845497 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404192602/https://www.wmtw.com/article/barbara-bush-leaves-lasting-legacy-on-maine/19845497 |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |access-date=April 17, 2018 |publisher=[[WMTW (TV)|WMTW]]}}</ref>

=== Later life and death ===
[[File:Barbara Bush at LBJ Presidential Library.jpg|thumb|upright|Former First Lady Barbara Bush at the [[LBJ Presidential Library]] in November 2012|alt=Profile of Barbara Bush]]
In their later years, Barbara and George spent each summer in Kennebunkport, spending the remainder of the year in Houston.{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 23}} Bush was hospitalized for abdominal pains and underwent small intestine surgery in November 2008. In 2009, she underwent [[aortic valve]] replacement surgery.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 13, 2009 |title=Former first lady Barbara Bush released from hospital |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/13/barbara-bush-leaves-the-hospital |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324084003/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/13/barbara-bush-leaves-the-hospital/ |archive-date=March 24, 2021 |access-date=May 11, 2012 |website=CNN}}</ref> In 2010, Bush was the subject of controversy when George W. recounted an anecdote that following her miscarriage she had held the fetus in a jar, causing a misconception that she had kept or displayed the remains.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-11-09 |title=Fetus in jar: Bush says he didn't forsee a 'national dialogue' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/barbara-bush-miscarriage-george-bush-memoir-viral-reaction/story?id=12101996 |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=ABC News |language=en |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608163921/https://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/barbara-bush-miscarriage-george-bush-memoir-viral-reaction/story?id=12101996 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rochman |first=Bonnie |date=2010-11-11 |title=George W. Bush, his mom and her fetus: Not so weird after all |url=https://healthland.time.com/2010/11/11/george-w-bush-his-mom-and-her-fetus-not-so-weird-after-all/ |magazine=Time |language=en-US |access-date=2023-06-08 |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608163921/https://healthland.time.com/2010/11/11/george-w-bush-his-mom-and-her-fetus-not-so-weird-after-all/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2015, after several decades of attending Episcopalian services, she was confirmed as a member of the church so she could accept the Dean's Cross award without misrepresenting her faith.{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 23}}

Bush was initially opposed to her son Jeb making a potential bid for the presidency, worrying that he would be weighed down by criticisms of the previous Bush presidencies and saying in 2013 that "we've had enough Bushes".{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 21}} She recanted this statement in 2015, after Jeb began preparing [[Jeb Bush 2016 presidential campaign|his presidential campaign]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-14 |title=Watch Barbara Bush tell son Jeb she's changed her mind about 'enough Bushes' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/watch-barbara-bush-son-jeb-shes-changed-mind/story?id=28975899 |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=ABC News |language=en |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608163919/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/watch-barbara-bush-son-jeb-shes-changed-mind/story?id=28975899 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2015-02-14 |title=Jeb wins the all-important Barbara Bush primary |url=https://time.com/3710183/barbara-bush-jeb-bush-presidential-election/ |magazine=Time |language=en |access-date=2023-06-08 |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608163921/https://time.com/3710183/barbara-bush-jeb-bush-presidential-election/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She campaigned for Jeb during the [[2016 Republican Party presidential primaries|Republican Party primary elections]], describing her son as an honest candidate while criticizing front-runner [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Candace |date=February 5, 2016 |title=Barbara Bush brings her flair to Jeb's New Hampshire campaign |work=ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/barbara-bush-brings-flair-jebs-hampshire-campaign/story?id=36745339 |access-date=June 27, 2020 |archive-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628002213/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/barbara-bush-brings-flair-jebs-hampshire-campaign/story?id=36745339 |url-status=live }}</ref> She was hospitalized in June 2016 after an incident involving her heart, later blaming the incident on the stress that the Trump campaign caused her. On election day, she wrote in Jeb's name. Trump was elected president, and Bush remained critical of him during his presidency.{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 21}}

She was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/politics/news/barbara-bush-dies-dead-former-first-lady-george-h-w-bush-1202756562/|title=Former First Lady Barbara Bush Dies at 92|newspaper=Variety|first=Sarah|last=Ahern|date=April 17, 2018|access-date=December 19, 2023|archive-date=December 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219123235/https://variety.com/2018/politics/news/barbara-bush-dies-dead-former-first-lady-george-h-w-bush-1202756562/|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 16, 2018, she fell and fractured her vertebrae and was hospitalized.{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 23}} On April 15, her family released a statement regarding her failing health, stating that she had chosen to be at home with family, desiring [[Hospice care in the United States|comfort care]] rather than further medical treatment.<ref name="NPR">{{cite web |last=Domonoske |first=Camila |date=April 15, 2018 |title=Former first lady Barbara Bush in failing health, not seeking further treatment |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/15/602650632/former-first-lady-barbara-bush-in-failing-health-not-seeking-further-treatment |access-date=April 15, 2018 |publisher=NPR |archive-date=April 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415014848/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/15/602650632/former-first-lady-barbara-bush-in-failing-health-not-seeking-further-treatment |url-status=live }}</ref> Bush died in her Houston home at the age of 92 on April 17, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/lady-barbara-bush-dies-age-92/story?id=54490037 |title=Former first lady Barbara Bush dies at age 92 |work=ABC News |access-date=June 27, 2020 |archive-date=April 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418101338/http://abcnews.go.com/US/lady-barbara-bush-dies-age-92/story?id=54490037 |url-status=live }}</ref> President Donald Trump ordered flags to [[half-staff]] in her memory.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Betsy |date=2018-04-18 |title=Trump orders flags to half-staff for Barbara Bush {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/17/politics/barbara-bush-flag-half-staff-condolence-book-funeral/index.html |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404171806/https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/17/politics/barbara-bush-flag-half-staff-condolence-book-funeral/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Bush's casket was visited by thousands of admirers, and large crowds greeted the hearse as it passed.{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Introduction}} Her funeral was held at [[St. Martin's Episcopal Church (Houston)|St. Martin's Episcopal Church]] in Houston on April 21, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fernandez |first=Manny |date=2018-04-21 |title=Barbara Bush is remembered at her funeral for her wit and tough love |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/21/us/barbara-bush-funeral.html |access-date=2023-06-11 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611031317/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/21/us/barbara-bush-funeral.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She is buried at the George Bush Presidential Library in [[College Station, Texas]], beside the grave of her daughter Robin. By her request, the funeral was only 90 minutes long: a decision she made after attending the two hour funeral of [[Lady Bird Johnson]].{{Sfn|Page|2019|loc=Chapter 23}} Following Bush's death, a cartoon by Marshall Ramsey, of [[The Clarion-Ledger]], was widely circulated, showing Barbara being greeted by [[Pauline Robinson Bush|Robin]] upon her entry to heaven.<ref name="Ramsey 2018">{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/nation-now/2018/04/19/barbara-bush-cartoon-marshall-ramsey-column/532844002/| title=How the Barbara Bush cartoon took on a life of its own| last=Ramsey| first=Marshall| date=April 19, 2018| work=USA Today| access-date=April 19, 2018| archive-date=April 19, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419215951/https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/nation-now/2018/04/19/barbara-bush-cartoon-marshall-ramsey-column/532844002/| url-status=live}}</ref> Her husband [[Death and state funeral of George H. W. Bush|died seven months later]] on November 30, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-12-01 |title=George Bush Senior dies at the age of 94 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46410225 |access-date=2023-06-08 |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608160731/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46410225 |url-status=live }}</ref>