By Carly Miller
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Life in the White House and beyond includes much more than just the politics, said former first lady Laura Bush and her twin daughters Thursday night at Purdue University.
“The people [in the White House] really take it from a historical house to a home,” said daughter Jenna Bush Hager. “They fill it with love.”
The entire Bush family has furthered their careers in public service after leaving the White House, but Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts invited the women to speak on what life was like in the White House and how it has ultimately transformed their lives.
These women of the Bush family have experienced the White House in different ways throughout their life but chose to reflect on very personal moments about being in the public eye. Daughter Barbara Pierce Bush said sharing the same name as her well-known grandmother while also being in the public eye was tricky at times.
“I have the same name as my grandmother, and growing up, that was pretty hilarious because there would be a lot of confusion around who was being called,” said Barbara Pierce Bush.
Barbara Pierce Bush went on to share a story in which she mistakenly showed up to an event where her grandmother was actually expected. She said that she now wears the name proudly after the recent passing of her grandmother.
The lecture ended with a powerful piece of advice from Hager to lead with love that was then followed by a standing ovation from the large audience in Elliott Hall of Music.
Carly Miller 