Bush - All the Best, George Bush: My Life in Letters and Other Writings

To Barbara
and all my family,
who have given so much love
and support through these many years

Aga Khan, His Highness Prince Sadruddin I first met Sadruddin when I was at the United Nations and Sadri was the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. We became close friends, and Barbara and I have stayed with him and his charming wife Katie in Geneva. He was a member of the royal Aga Khan family. He died in 2003.

Allday, Martin Martin and I became close friends when we lived in Midland during the 50s. He served as my chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Martin died in 2008.

Allin, The Rev. Jack Jack served as presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, after which he became the winter pastor of my mothers church in Hobe Sound, Fla., and our summer pastor at St. Anns in Kennebunkport. He was a friend and an adviser, and it was a great loss when he died of cancer in 1998.

Allison, James Jr. A newspaperman from Midland, Jimmy was one of my closest political confidants and friends. He ran my 1966 campaign when I was elected to Congress and moved with me to Washington to run my office. He died in 1978 from cancer. His son Jay worked for me at the White House.

Ashley, Thomas Ludlow (Lud) We met at Yale and became the closest of friends. From 1955 until 1981, he was a Democratic congressman from Ohios 9th District. When I was President, he gave me sound advice, and his loyalty and friendship really mattered. My dear friend died in 2010.

Baker, James A. III Jim was perhaps my closest confidant during my political days. I trusted him completely. His appointment as secretary of state was the first I announced after being elected President. My doubles partner in tennis, my friend of more than fifty years, Jim has served our country with great distinction and honor.

Bartlett, Charles A Pulitzer prizewinning journalist and columnist, Charles and his wife Martha used to invite us to their home for movies all through our Washington days. Charlie was a close friend and adviser to President Kennedy, and certainly was the same for me.

Bates, David David became my traveling aide in 1979 and together we saw every airport in America. He also was my able tennis partner and adviser. He served in the White House as Secretary of the Cabinet before going over to Commerce. Hes now a successful lawyer and businessman in San Antonio.

Bemiss, FitzGerald (Gerry) We became the best of friends before 1930 since his family came from Richmond, Virginia, every summer to Kennebunkport. Gerry served for years in the Virginia legislature and became one of the states leading environmentalist and outdoors enthusiasts. Gerry died in 2011.

Blake, Robert A successful rancher and oil man from Lubbock, Texas, Bob helped in all my elections, and when I was President he stayed in close touch keeping me informed of the grass roots opinions of the people in the West Texas area. He died in 2007.

Blanton, Taylor Taylor, a very early campaign worker, was almost a son to us. He worked on all my early campaigns, later joining the Foreign Service where he served with distinction for twenty-four years. He currently lives in San Benito, Texas.

Brady, Nick Nick was head of Dillon, Read & Co. until he was bitten by the public service bug. He served for a brief time in the U.S. Senate and was appointed Secretary of the Treasury by President Reagan in 1988, a position he kept throughout my administration. He and his wife Kitty remain great friends.

Bush, Dorothy Walker My mother, raised in St. Louis, Missouri, was born in Kennebunkport in 1901. She was my guiding light and led us all by example. She excelled in athletics and had a strong faith in God. She was unfailingly kind and gave us all love until the day she died in 1992, just a few weeks after I lost the election.

Bush, George Walker Our oldest child was born July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut, but grew up in Texas where he was successful in the oil business and was managing partner of the Texas Rangers. He served as Governor of Texas from 1995 until he became President of the United States in January 2001. He was re-elected in 2004. He married Midland native Laura Welch in 1977. They have twin daughters Jenna and Barbara.

Bush, John Ellis (Jeb) Jeb was born February 11, 1953, in Midland, Texas. He and his wife, Columba, whom he met in Mexico during a summer internship, moved to Florida in 1981 where he helped start a real estate development company, the Codina Group. He was Governor of Florida from 1999 until 2007 and today is considered one of the leaders in our country on education-related issues. He and Colu have three children: George P., Noelle, and Jeb Jr. Jeb is co-chair of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

Bush, Jonathan My younger brother by four years, Jon and his wife split their time between Connecticut and Maine. A graduate of Yale, Jon was very successful in the investment advisory business. He is a song and dance man and a great joke teller.

Bush, Marvin Pierce Marvin also was born in Midland, Texas, on October 22, 1956. He graduated from the University of Virginia, where he met his wife, Margaret Molster. Marvin is president of Winston Capital Management, LLC, and a managing director and founder of Winston Partners, L.P. He and Margaret live in Arlington, Virginia, and have two children, Marshall and Walker. Like all our children, Marvin is a Point of Light and does a lot of work for Wounded Warriors and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Bush, Neil Mallon Another Midland, Texas, child, born January 22, 1955, Neil and his wife Maria live in Houston, Texas, where Neil is CEO of ATX Oil. They have six children: Lauren, Pierce, Ashley, Lizzie, Pace, and Alexander. Neil is chairman of the board for the Points of Light Institute.

Bush, Prescott S. An imposing man of 6 feet 4 inches, he was perhaps the most powerful influence in my life. By example he taught all five of his kids a great deal about character. He did it through action, not words. He was managing partner of Brown Bros. Harriman & Co. In 1952 he was elected U.S. Senator from Connecticut, serving for ten years. He died of cancer in 1972.

Bush, Prescott S. Jr. Two years older than I am, Pres and I roomed together as kids and were very close. His successful business life was largely spent with Johnson & Higgins, a leader in the insurance field. He died in 2010 and is survived by his wife Beth, who lives outside Boston.

Bush, Robin Our second child, Robin, was born December 20, 1949, while Barbara and I were living for a short period of time in California. When Robin was three, she was diagnosed as having leukemia and died six months later, in 1953. She will always be a part of our life.

Bush, William H.T. (Bucky) Bucky, the youngest of our siblings, was a successful banker in both Hartford, Connecticut, and St. Louis, Missouri, before starting his own financial advisory firm in St. Louis, Bush-ODonnell & Co. He and his wife Patty live in St. Louis. He also is a great musician and joke-teller.

Chambers, C. Fred We met Fred and Marian Chambers in Midland in the early 1950s. We did some oil deals together, but more importantly, became good friends, which continued when we all moved to Houston. Bar named one of our dogs in Freds honor, C. Fred. In our family, thats quite an honor. Fred died in 1989.

Crichton, Flo Flo has been a leader in the Republican Party in Texas and served as a national committeewoman. She was one of my earliest, strongest supporters, along with her husband Holt Atherton until his death. Today, she lives in San Antonio, where she is very active in the community.