Former First Lady Barbara Bush died April 17 at age 92. She visited the area in 1994 to speak at the Lakeside Foundation Annual Dinner. The article below recaps her visit and was originally printed December 12, 1994 in Suburban News and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald.
Former First Lady delivers witty speech to crowd of 600
Former First Lady Barbara Bush, known for her wit and compassion, delivered a speech that was true to form at the 1994 Lakeside Foundation Annual Dinner on December 2. She left the crowd of over 600 in stitches, steering clear of politics, yet reiterating her commitment to literacy.
Mrs. Bush spent the day touring Lakeside Memorial Hospital, Lakeside-Beikirch Nursing Home and Lakeside Child Care. “I can see why you were able to generate so much support in the community,” she said. “Lakeside is exactly the kind of community hospital every American would like to have in their neighborhood – a place that combines excellent care and a lot of love.”
Mrs. Bush then went on to “update” everyone on what’s been going on in her and George’s life. “You do remember George, don’t you?” she quipped. She said she’s been busy writing a book of her memoirs, which is now on the best seller’s list along with books by the Pope, Dolly Parton and “the guy from Home Improvement.” “Sounds like the beginning of a really bad joke, doesn’t it?” she asked. George, on the other hand, has yet to finish his book and is having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that his dog, Millie, makes more money than him. Millie’s Book also was on the best seller’s list.
There won’t be any movie deals, however, even though George Bush can see himself played by Clint Eastwood. Mrs. Bush said she lives in daily fear that she would be played by Roseanne Barr. More Saturday Night Live appearances are out, too. George Bush recently played himself, imitating Dana Carvey, imitating George Bush. “The next time I ask him for advice and he says, ‘Not gonna do it. Wouldn’t be prudent,’ I’m going to say, ‘Read my lips, no more Saturday Night Live!’ ”
The only reference Mrs. Bush made to politics was her sons’ involvement in the last election. “We couldn’t be happier to be living in the state where our son will be governor, but he’s already informed me that there will be no special treatment and I’ll have to pay my own parking tickets,” she joked.
Mrs. Bush listed some of the many organizations and causes she and her husband support, but said her number one concern continues to be literacy. “I still strongly believe that if more people could read, write and comprehend, we could solve so many of the other problems that face our nation today.” In all, nearly 90 million Americans function at the lowest literacy level, she added, a figure which is not bound by low income and intelligence levels. The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy focuses on literacy within the family and teaches both adults and children to read. “Parents who can read have children who can read,” she stressed. “There’s nothing more important that you can do for your children than to read to them. It helps them develop an imagination, improves their vocabulary, and instills in them an early love of reading.”
Focusing American literacy on the family allows Mrs. Bush to combine two of her goals, she explained, making Americans more literate and strengthening the family. “George and I have always felt and known that family is the backbone of our society,” she said.
“As parents, we must take time for our children,” Mrs. Bush later stressed. “Although I know that’s easier said than done.” That commitment to children should extend outside of the family to other children, as well, according to Mrs. Bush. “It’s all about being a part of life, giving back to your community some of what you have taken.”
Mrs. Bush concluded her speech with an odd fable in which a woman wondered what heaven and hell would be like. First she went to hell and saw people sitting at an elegant table of food. But the people were unhappy because they had long forks strapped to their arms and were unable to reach them to their mouths to eat. In heaven she saw the same scene but the people were happy because they were feeding each other. “That’s exactly what you are doing in this community, nurturing and taking care of each other.”
