Chapter V: The aftermath of Reagan's resignation
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Chapter V: George & Barbara
9:58 PM EST, Thursday, June 18th, 1987
Kennebunkport, ME.
George & Barbara from back in the day
9:58 PM EST, Thursday, June 18th, 1987
Kennebunkport, ME.
George & Barbara from back in the day
The Vice President, his wife of 42 years, Barbara, their children & grandchildren all watched the resignation speech in silence at the family's private compound in Kennebunkport, ME. Barbara sat lifeless on the couch, holding her husband's hand while watching President Reagan announcing his resignation on television. George was also quiet, listening very closely & intently to the parting words of his close friend & onetime rival for the 1980 Republican presidential nomination. Their children & grandchildren all contained their anxieties & composure to themselves, realizing their lives as they knew it---were going to be changed forever. Following Reagan's speech, Bush---who generally liked & respected Ronald Reagan---couldn't help but feel the same indignant rage of feelings that so many Americans. While there was some acceptance of responsibility in terms of dropping the ball when it came to holding people accountable for the Iran-Contra Affair escalating into a disaster including some accounting of the misdeeds of several senior administration officials, George strongly felt Ronnie should've been more honest & upfront from the very beginning.
The US Secret Service quickly surrounded the property, with an increase of agents posted in the frontyard, backyard; the porch; including up & down the street. From this point on, things were not going to be very normal for the Bushes as the trappings of the Presidency was going to fall on the shoulders of George Herbert Walker Bush come July 14th, 1987. Bush, the son of legendary United States Senator Pierce Bush (R-CT) & World War II veteran of the United States Navy, was going to become the nation's 42nd chief executive. Now he was going to remain so. He had to. As the soon-to-be First Family retired to bed, but the Second Couple known by some as "The Original Ride & Die Couple" remained firmly on the couch in virtual silence. Finally, the Vice President spoke up on the situation.
"Barbara, I think we're going to need to begin cleaning house over there as soon as possible" he opined to his wife, "I can already sense there will be eager-beaver ambitious politicians plotting for 1988 in the primaries and I am going to be facing resistance for sure." in reference to Dole & Kemp including several others launching potential campaigns for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination with the speculation swirling former US Secretary of State Alexander Haig planning a bid in the primaries. Barbara was very well versed in the power networking that had been going on in the nation's capital city. While George's political career took off, Barbara quickly immersed herself in multiple projects, which piqued her interests such as various charities & women's groups of the Republican Party. When George was tapped by then-President Nixon to serve as US Ambassador to the United Nations, she formed relationships with prominent diplomats & their spouses in New York City, NY St. During the height of Watergate (which eventually resulted in Nixon's resignation in disgrace), Barbara strongly advised her husband in rejecting the offer of serving as Chairman of the Republican National Committee due to the aggressive heated political climate, but George being George & answering the call to serve the country in any way he could, chose to accept the position which ended up blowing up in his face once revelations revealed that Nixon flat out lied to him about other developments regarding the audio tapes & smoking gun evidence, etc., of the Watergate Scandal.
Then-President Gerald Ford named George to serve as the US Chief Liaison to the People's Republic of China in 1974, when the Bush family relocated to Beijing, China. While there, Barbara enjoyed their time in PRC, often rode bicycles with her husband in exploring cities & regions that few Americans had visited. However, following Ford's assassination on September 5th, 1975 that resulted in the ascension of Nelson Rockefeller to the Presidency, who terminated the Detente Policy with PRC & the Soviet Union including the Halloween Massacre, then-President Rockefeller recalled George back to the United States, where Rockefeller appointed him to serve as Director of Central Intelligence. Because of the ensuing sense of being isolated as well as not being able to achieving her own personal goals while other women were succeeding or surpassing their own goals, Barbara plunged into a depression, but chose not to seek professional help. She decided to deliver speeches & presentations about her time spent in the isolated communist PRC & volunteered at a local hospice.
It was during her six years as Second Lady, which made Barbara a nationally-household name. She took an interest in literacy issues (following her son Neil's diagnosis with dyslexia) & began working hard with several literacy organizations. She also spent time researching & learning about the factors of illiteracy---also believing that homelessness was a contributing factor---& efforts underway in combating both aggressively. As Second Lady of the United States, she traveled throughout the country & the world, either with her husband on official trips or by herself. In 1984, she wrote a children's book 'C. Fred's Story' & donated all of the book's proceeds to literacy charities & organizations.
Back to Kennebunkport: George wondered how would the country respond to his different kind of leadership, "How do you think we'll be accepted by the American people?" Barbara ribbed "George. You know what's also dangerous and concerning? Assuming the Presidency without a good night's sleep." as she turned off the lights and went upstairs, retiring to bed leaving the 44th Vice President of the United States alone in the living room in the glow of the television.
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