Is Barbara the only person in history to have blood ties to more than one president and live through both of their tenures as president? I looked at Abigail Adams and co but it seems that she didn't live through both her husband's and son's presidencies like Barbara.
Perhaps the most influential woman (literally) in American history edit: politically.
Eleanor Roosevelt was distantly related to both presidents Roosevelt (closer to Theodore). She would be an obvious rival for most influential first lady, as well.
Depends a lot on who you believe about FDR and her. I think Barbara Bush probably raised a bit more money and had a bigger impact on more people even if some don’t realize it. The loss of her daughter at a very young age had a profound impact on her charity work.
Rosa Parks, I would argue, was limited to a particular sphere of influence (civil rights), whereas the president's wife may have his ear directly, every day of his entire career, in every field, from diplomacy to economic development to national infrastructure to military strategy to civil rights, theoretically.
And then your son is also the president? Talk about power.
How about Rachel Carson or Louisa May Alcott? Sorry if this is off topic, but I find it fascinating how American history is increasingly viewed through the lens of race relations.
Just to be clear, this was a response to the comment.
I do not have any opinion on Barbara Bush in particular other than knowing that she has a lifetime of experience in top American political circles and has been widely respected for that.
What an impactful life. Very amusing how she told W, as president, to keep his feet off a table one time. And there’s at least a six-figure body count from the needless decisions of her son and husband whose political careers she supported. Very charitable woman as well.
“Why should we hear about body bags and
deaths, and how many, what day it’s going
to happen?” she asked. “Why would I waste
my beautiful mind on something like that?”
Perhaps the most influential woman (literally) in American history edit: politically.