You know the name Bush right? It's basically American political royalty. For generations the Bush family has been making headlines shaping policy and well just being a part of American history. But it is more than just presidents and politicians. At the heart of it all it is a family and like any family they have got a story. Let's take a peek into the Bush family tree from presidents to TV hosts and everything in between.
From Senator to Presidents: Tracing the Roots of the Bush Political Dynasty Through Generations
It all started with Prescott Bush Jenna Bush Hager 's great-grandpa. He was not just any guy he was a U.S. Senator for Connecticut back in the day from 1952 to 1963. Before politics though Prescott was a successful banker. He got into Republican politics and that was the start of it all. He married Dorothy Walker and they had five kids. One of those kids was super inspired by Prescott's dedication to public service and you guessed it that was Jenna's grandpa George H.W. Bush.
George H.W. Bush or "H.W." as he is often called really took the family legacy to the next level. He was Ronald Reagan's vice president before becoming the 41st President of the United States in 1989. But even before the White House H.W. had a crazy impressive resume Director of the CIA Ambassador to the U.N. and a U.S. Representative from Texas. People remember him for guiding the country through the end of the Cold War. To Jenna though he was just "Gampy" a loving grandpa who always had time for family despite being super busy.
Barbara and Laura Bush: First Ladies and Mothers Shaping a Family Legacy of Education and Service
You cannot talk about the Bush men without mentioning the incredible Bush women. Barbara Bush Jenna's grandma was a total icon. A beloved First Lady she is one of only two women in history to be both a wife and mother to U.S. Presidents. She was First Lady from 1989 to 1993 and was known for her warmth and grandmotherly vibe. Education was her passion and she started the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy in 1989 to help people learn to read.
Barbara had six kids including Jenna's dad George W. Bush. She sadly lost her daughter Robin at a young age but her other children George Jeb Neil Marvin and Dorothy all grew up to do amazing things. Then there is Laura Bush Jenna's mom. She was First Lady too bringing her own strengths to the role. As a former teacher and librarian education was also her focus. She championed school reform and her love for books definitely influenced Jenna's career as an author. Laura and Jenna even co-wrote children's books together how cool is that?
George W. Bush and Jenna Bush Hager: Following Father's Footsteps in Public Service and Media
Jenna's dad George W. Bush followed in his father's footsteps and became the 43rd President. Before the White House he was the Governor of Texas starting in 1995. His presidency from 2001 to 2009 was largely defined by 9/11 and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Jenna often talks about her dad's fun side even though he was president. She admits he can still embarrass her sometimes like any dad can.
Jenna herself took a different path than politics but she is still very much in the public eye. She is a co-anchor on NBC's TODAY show becoming a household name. Before TV she was known as one of the Bush twins growing up in the White House. She and her twin sister Barbara Pierce Bush are super close. They grew up navigating the unique experience of being raised in a political family together. While Barbara is more into philanthropy and non-profit work Jenna found her calling in journalism. But both sisters are carrying on the family tradition of being impactful figures.
The Bush Cousins and the Legacy Continues: A Sprawling Family Tree of Leaders and Achievers
The Bush family tree keeps growing. Jenna and Barbara are both moms now adding to the next generation. Jenna has three kids with her husband Henry Hager and Barbara has two with her husband Craig Coyne. And Jenna has a whole bunch of cousins 12 in total. Her uncle Jeb Bush former Governor of Florida has three kids including George Prescott Bush who was Texas Land Commissioner. Uncle Neil Bush has three kids too including Lauren Bush Lauren who is well-known for her fashion and philanthropy work and cousin Ashley Walker Bush who is an actress.
Uncle Marvin Bush has two adopted kids and Aunt Dorothy Bush Koch has four. It is a big family. And guess what? Jenna is not the only Bush cousin in the entertainment world. Her cousins Wendy Stapleton and Samuel Bush LeBlond have also joined her on TODAY as guest co-anchors. Wendy is an entrepreneur and co-founder of the Greenwich International Film Festival and Sam hosts a podcast honoring his grandparents George H.W. and Barbara Bush. It seems like service and leadership run deep in the Bush family blood but they are also finding new ways to connect with people through media and entertainment.
Listing Bush Family Members Mentioned in the Article
- Prescott Bush (Great-Grandfather) - U.S. Senator
- George H.W. Bush (Grandfather "Gampy") - 41st U.S. President
- Barbara Bush (Grandmother) - Former First Lady
- George W. Bush (Father) - 43rd U.S. President
- Laura Bush (Mother) - Former First Lady
- Jenna Bush Hager (Article Focus) - TODAY Show Co-anchor
- Barbara Pierce Bush (Twin Sister) - Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
- Jeb Bush (Uncle) - Former Governor of Florida
- Neil Bush (Uncle) - Businessman and Investor
- Marvin Bush (Uncle) - Businessman
- Dorothy Bush Koch (Aunt) - Philanthropist and Author
- George Prescott Bush (Cousin) - Former Texas Land Commissioner
- Lauren Bush Lauren (Cousin) - Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
- Ashley Walker Bush (Cousin) - Actress
- Wendy Stapleton (Cousin) - Entrepreneur and Greenwich International Film Festival Co-founder
- Samuel Bush LeBlond (Cousin) - Podcast Host and Board Member for George and Barbara Bush Foundation
The Bush Legacy: More Than Politics It's About Family and Service Across Generations
So the Bush family is way more than just politics. It is a sprawling family tree filled with people making their mark in different ways. From presidents and senators to TV hosts and entrepreneurs they have got a diverse bunch of people all connected by this strong family legacy. Jenna Bush Hager is a great example of how that legacy continues adapting to new times and new ways to connect with America. Whether you agree with their politics or not it is hard to deny the Bush family's enduring impact on American life and culture. And it all started with that strong family tree rooted in leadership and service.