The Bush twins are sharing some of their memories of growing up in the White House as they promote their new book, Sisters First.
Jenna Bush Hager and her sister Barbara Bush spoke to the New York Times and appeared on the Today show to speak about the book and share some never-before-told stories from their childhood.
Some of the stories were light-hearted and funny, like the time a six-year-old Jenna interrupted her grandfather’s state dinner with the Chinese president wearing an unusual item for clothing.
Jenna explained that her cousin Wendy, who is five years older, told her that maxi pads are for soaking up underarm sweat.
So Jenna, always the attention seeker out of the twins, stuck some on and went downstairs to greet her grandfather George H.W. Bush, who was president at the time and entertaining the Chinese president on a visit.
Barbara Bush (left) and Jenna Bush Hager (right) appeared on the Today show on Tuesday to talk about growing up in the White House
Their parents, former President George Bush and first lady Laura Bush, also sat down for a pre-taped interview in which they talked about how proud they are of their twin daughters
‘I was like, hey, everyone,’ Jenna recalled, holding up her arms.
Jenna said the photojournalists at the White House put down their cameras.
‘They were sweet. They never published those pictures,’ Barbara said.
Other stories were more serious, like the time the twins got caught trying to drink underage shortly after their father was elected.
Jenna and Barbara have just released a book about their relationship called Sisters First
It was May 2001, and the girls tried to order margaritas in Austin. Both were cited by the police.
‘We weren’t that smart,’ Jenna said.
Because their father and grandfather strived to give them a normal childhood, the twins said they thought they could get away with indiscretions that some of their peers could – like using a fake ID to get a drink.
Looking back, Jenna said that was ‘stupid because people recognized us’.
The next day, she says she called her father to apologize. Instead of a scolding, she got sympathy.
‘I called my dad and I said I’m sorry that I embarrassed you. And he said, “No, I’m sorry. I told you to be normal,”‘ Jenna recalled.
Jenna says that phone call has become more important for her as she’s become a mom of two.
‘It was embarrassing. But it also was this great lesson in parenting that you have to allow your children to make mistakes. And we’ve made plenty,’ Jenna said.
Barbara also revealed in the New York Times how her father called or texted her daily after a big break up a few years ago ‘just to check in, just to share the burden with me’.
Both twins reveal in the book that their father wrote them a letter after he decided to go to war in Iraq, apologizing for how that decision might impact their personal lives.
Barbara started to tear up on Megyn Kelly Today as she recalled that letter.
‘I’m about to start to cry,’ Barbara said.
By that point, both girls were in college – Barbara at Yale and Jenna at the University of Texas.
When they were born, Jenna and Barbara’s grandfather George H.W. Bush was president. When they were teens, their father was elected into the White House as well. The twins with their parents at the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, in their early years
Barbara and Jenna are seen in bed with their grandparents in 1987 – two years into his presidency
The twins go to embrace their father after he was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate in August 2000
‘I think that he knew, of course, this may not be a popular decision on any college campus. And the fact that he even considered the implications for us is so who our dad is. Just very aware of others and loving for others,’ she said.
And it turned out that her father was right. Barbara recalls in the book an awkward interaction with a teacher’s assistant at Yale in the lead up to the Iraq War.
‘I went to go meet with one of my T.A.’s at Yale. I hadn’t been getting great grades in the class… So I went to meet with her to find out how to be better and she said to me, “I’ll give you an A if your dad doesn’t go to war in Iraq,”‘ Barbara recalled.
When Matt Lauer asked her how that interaction made her feel, Barbara said she was conflicted.
‘I saw my teacher as an authority figure and I thought she would have seen me as just a student. And so it was uncomfortable for sure. But something that definitely kind of taught me how you use your position, if you’re in a position of power,’ she said.
The twins’ parents also sat down for a pre-taped interview with the Today show, speaking about how proud they are of their two daughters, Jenna now a co-host on Today and Barbara the head of a international foundation.
Above, a recent family portrait. Former President Bush sits at the center flanked by daughter Jenna (left, holding her two-year-old daughter Poppy) and wife Laura (right, holding Jenna’s older daughter Mila, age four). Jenna’s husband Henry Hager is top left and Barbara is top right
Jenna and Barbara kiss a smiling George H.W. Bush in a recent family picture
Grandma Barbara Bush (pictured with the twins above in a throwback picture) allegedly vetoed Jenna’s plans to perform ‘Put on a Happy Face’ at the Republican National Convention when the twins were kids
Mr Bush spoke about how his daughters confronted him when they started hearing rumors that he was going to be running for president.
‘They said, “You know you’re not nearly as cool as you think you are.” And I said, “That’s probably true.” And then one of them said, “You’re not going to win.” And I said, “Yeah but even if I don’t we’ll still have a great family.” And finally Jenna looks at me and says, “Ok, go ahead and run and ruin our life,”‘ Mr Bush said, laughing.
He said it was clear from a young age the kind of personalities that his daughters would have – Jenna the outgoing one and Barbara more reserved.
He recalled how the girls attended a rally for his father in Midland, Texas when they were three.
Jenna kept ‘flirting with the crowd’ and lifting up her skirt while Barbara ‘was kind of taking it in.’
‘She was an observer, Jenna was a participant. It’s kind of a reflection – Barbara’s a little more reserved and Jenna’s pretty outgoing – as an indication of their little personalities,’ he said.
They way Jenna (center) tried to upstage her grandfather at a rally when they were three was an indicator of her outgoing personality, her father said
That wasn’t the only time that Jenna tried to upstage her grandfather. The twins also told the story of how Jenna tried to convince the family to let her perform at the Republican National Convention one year.
‘She had a whole routine,’ Barbara said. ‘She was desperate to be in Les Miserables for the majority of her life and still probably is. But she wanted to sing “Put on a Happy Face” at the Republican National Convention. And she performed for our entire family over lunch.’
‘Who said no?’ Hoda Kotb asked?
‘My grandmother [then first lady Barbara Bush] thought it would be better that she didn’t,’ Barbara said.
The twins also talked about their mother, who they said is a secret ‘Rastafarian’. Barbara recalled the time during high school that she learned the Wailers were playing somewhere in Austin, and how she and her mom sneaked out to watch the show – but ended up leaving before they came on because it got too late to be out on a school night.
Today, Jenna and Barbara continue to have a huge presence in each other’s lives, living just four blocks from each other in New York City.
While Jenna is married and now has two kids, Barbara remains single.
Their mother, former first lady Laura Bush, says she hopes ‘they just continue to have the great life they’ve already had. And that they help people, which they both already have’.
Mr Bush said he’s proud of the women that his girls have grown up to be.
‘When your child is successful in helping others, it makes you feel great. I mean, it’s kind of what parenting is all about. So we’re very proud of our girls,’ he said.
Jenna and Barbara Bush’s book, Sisters First, is now on sale.