Leading and Living with Love: Neil Bush

In an interview with China Daily in August, Neil Bush talked about the passing of his mother Barbara.

“Maria (his wife) and I live across the street from my parents’ house. I’d go over every day to talk or to do a puzzle together. She had her routine and would go out to meet her 92-year-old friend for lunch and go to church on Sunday.

“I probably read about 50 books for mom and dad — books about dad, about James Baker, books by dad, and others. The last book I read to my mom was Barbara Bush: A Memoir published by mom in 1994. It reflected on their entire life — dad going to China, running the CIA, running for Senate, running for President twice. It was kind of a joy to remind her, when she was kind of knocking on the doors of heaven, about this incredible life of adventure, her being a great wife and mother to her kids.

“When she passed away, a lot people said to me ‘Oh, I am sorry’. She lived to 92, she had an incredible marriage, saw the world, met interesting people, raised kids, one of which became President. It’s hard to feel sorry for someone who had lived such a great life.”

In a similar vein, Neil Bush chose to celebrate what his father had achieved in his lifetime. He posted a long list of values and legacies Bush left behind, on his personal Facebook account on Dec 1.

“He showed us how to be kind to all, to look for the best in others, to treat everyone with equality and justice, to be grateful for the glories of life, to age with grace and dignity,” Neil posted.

Among the items on the list, he mentioned Bush’s building and promoting China-US relations: “His legacy will live on through the George H. W. Bush China US Relations Foundation, in promoting respectful, collaborative relations between the United States and China. This bilateral relationship has brought great benefit to both sides and will into the future.”

President Bush has become a household name in China because of his proactive promotion of China-US relations before and after his presidency. In an August 2018 interview with China Daily, Neil Bush talked about his father.

“Personal relations were critical to the success of dad’s diplomacy all across the world during his presidency,” he said.

China was a perfect example, he said. In 1989 when President Bush was only six months into office, China-US relations came under a lot of stress.

“But my father did have a very strong personal relationship with Deng Xiaoping. Using his personal relationship with Deng, he sent an envoy to have a serious but confidential conversation about human rights and such, but also emphasize the importance of keeping the relationship on track.

“As a result of that, very quickly everything was back to normal and the relationship continued to flourish. If it was any one of the other presidents, the China-US relationship might have been thrown off track,” he said

Neil Bush had the opportunity to visit Beijing with his siblings when his father was the liaison officer in Beijing.

“We went for four weeks in the summer of 1975, overlapping with July 4. We stayed in Beijing for three weeks then went to Shanghai, Nanjing and Wuxi. My mom took us on a train ride and we ended up on the Bund in Shanghai. It was very different then,” he said.

He remembered that as a family they startled the Chinese people on Changan Street at stop lights, attracting more attention from Chinese people than the animals in Beijing Zoo. “It was amazing to see that people were friendly but so different,” he said.

They rode bikes just like their parents did everywhere in China. The iconic photo of George and Barbara Bush riding bicycles in Tiananmen Square was used as the family Christmas card for 1975.

“That was a famous picture and people still remember him in that context in China,” Neil Bush said.

In 1975 his father also treated them to tailor-made jackets. “He was taken by Chinese cashmere coats. He took us to the famous Hongdu in Beijing where we were fitted for a long and classic Chinese coat. Later dad shipped or brought them home. It was tailored to my body, still fits today. It’s a nice reminder.”

Bush has actively carried on his father’s legacy by running the Bush China US Relations Foundation, as well as Points of Light, both started by President Bush.

With the foundation, Neil Bush has been organizing the biennial conference on US-China relations since 2003. The seventh conference will be held next year in Washington.

“We’ve got exciting themes,” he said. “Next year will be the 40-year anniversary of normalization of US-China diplomatic relations, we will look back where the relationship started, how it has benefited both, the current status and take a look at the future.”

“My father talked about volunteering in 1988 when he ran for president and started Points of Lights. The basic thesis is that the government can’t solve all our problems. We have lots of issues related to poverty, gun violence and family. We need intervention and help for teachers in classes. There are so many ways for individuals to help.”

Neil Bush also chairs the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. “My mom promoted literacy, which is a stepping stone to success in life. If you can’t read you can’t be successful.

“A lot of what I do around Houston is to find ways to lift people through literacy. It’s become part of our family culture. Everyone in our family has found some way and capacity to serve. You don’t necessarily need to be President or First Lady to serve and help.

“My father believed that there is a light, a fire burning inside each of us to cause us to serve. The definition of a successful life must include some service. You live longer and happier if you think of and do something for others.

“I appreciate that dad and mom’s inspiration and impact are global. It’s good to live in love, lean on each other and care for each other. It’s better to lead and live with love,” he said.