Barbara Pierce grew up in a rich family. She enjoyed swimming, tennis, and dancing. She met George Bush at a dance when she was 16. He was 17. They were engaged before she graduated high school.

Once married, Barbara devoted herself to George. They had six children. George worked in the oil business. His success led to jobs in the Republican Party.

George became vice-president. Barbara chose literacy, the ability to read, as her cause. It remained important to her when he was elected president. She began a foundation for family literacy. Barbara wrote two children’s books. She gave the books’ profits to literacy causes.

Barbara was one of America’s oldest First Ladies. She had white hair. She did not dress in high style. She walked her dog in her robe and slippers. Americans liked that she was relaxed. She received nearly 3,000 letters a week.

Barbara was unhappy when George was not re-elected. They settled in both Texas and Maine. Barbara continued her work in literacy.

Barbara was active in the political campaigns of their two sons. She helped her son, Jeb Bush. He was elected governor of Florida in 1999.

Barbara’s oldest son, George W. Bush, became president in 2001. That made Barbara only the second woman in U.S. history to be both wife and mother of a president.