Famous Folks and Their Families: George Herbert Walker Bush and His Mother Dorothy Walker Bush
One of the most important things you do with your children each day is simply to give them the opportunity to live in a family. Don’t underestimate the power of simply being a family.
Think of all the genealogies in the Bible:Â Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah . . . (Matthew 1:2-3).
Family matters.
One of the many things that fascinates me about history is learning about the role family members play in the lives of famous people. I wrote recently about President George Herbert Walker Bush’s parachute jump at age 90. I told you then about a particular day in his presidency when he talked to his mother on the phone. Today I’d like to tell you more about his amazing mother.
Dorothy Walker was born into a wealthy family in Kennebunkport, Maine, in 1901. She grew up in St. Louis, but her family also had a vacation home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
At age 20, Dorothy Walker married Prescott Bush. She named her second son after her father, George Herbert Walker. While her children were growing up, she did volunteer work, including work for the Red Cross. Prescott Bush was a Wall Street businessman who was involved in public service. In 1952 he was elected a Republican Senator from Connecticut, where he served until 1963.
Dorothy Walker grew up in great wealth and privilege, but she taught her children to be devoted to God, to serve others, to be loyal, and to be humble. George Herbert Walker Bush took his mother’s teaching to heart.
I was not surprised to learn that George H. W. Bush is the only modern President who has not written an autobiography. I guess it didn’t seem humble. I’m thankful that his son George W. Bush has written a biography of his father which is due to be released this fall. I look forward to learning more about his mother.
On a vacation in Florida after his election as President in 1988, George H. W. Bush put his arm around his mother and said this to reporters: “I just came to get my instructions from the head of the family here on how to do my job.” The photo below was taken in 1990.
As the homeschool year begins, people may encourage you to get involved in lots of activities. Please don’t let anyone pull you away from the job of mothering. Mothering matters and your mothering will matter for the rest of your life.
Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.
Proverbs 23:22