Barbara Bush: In Memoriam (1925-2018) - First Lady and First Mom - HISTORY

HISTORY honors First Lady Barbara Bush, only the second woman in history to have been the wife and mother of a president, who died April 17th, 2018 at the age of 92.

FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

RELATED CONTENT

Barbara Bush, noted advocate for family literacy, is also the second woman to have been First Lady to one U.S. president and mother of another. Learn more about her life and work in this mini biography.

Laura Bush championed literacy and education during her time as First Lady of the United States. Find out more about her life and her marriage to George W. Bush in this video.

In November 1976, President Gerald Ford was defeated in his re-election campaign by challenger Jimmy Carter. Because Ford was hoarse from campaigning, First Lady Betty Ford speaks on his behalf, informing the nation that the president officially conceded and offered his congratulations to the new president-elect.

On May 3, 2008, Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, causing major damage and a massive death toll. Speaking from the White House on May 5 in her first press conference, first lady Laura Bush criticizes the country's military government for failure to warn its citizens of the impending storm.

President Lyndon B. Johnson holds a press conference on March 7, 1964, and takes questions on a range of topics, from the pending civil rights bill to the war in Vietnam. Afterward, in a recorded conversation with the president, Lady Bird Johnson evaluates her husband’s performance and awards him a “B+.”

Lara Spencer examines how the role of First Lady has changed over time.

CLOSE

CLOSE

CLOSE

CLOSE