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    'The Matriarch' Presents Barbara Bush As Indispensable To Two Bush Presidencies

    Beyond the juicy bits, journalist Susan Page paints a larger portrait of one of the more underappreciated, least understood figures of the last century — one with both insecurities and influence.
    by Jessica Taylor Apr 02, 2019 6 minutes
    Former first lady Barbara Bush is interviewed for 'The Presidents' Gatekeepers' project about the White House Chiefs of Staff at the Bush Library, Oct. 24, 2011 in College Station, Texas.

    Barbara Bush didn't want the title of Susan Page's The Matriarch to be called that.

    The former first lady had instead suggested "The Fat Lady Sings Again" when the USA Today Washington bureau chief and veteran journalist asked her what she thought the title should be. Page conducted several interviews with Bush just ahead of her death almost a year ago.

    It was a classic example of Bush's acerbic wit — just like when she famously cracked in 2013 that "we've had enough Bushes" when asked about the possibility of her son Jeb running for the White House. She would often play down any dynastic elements of her family. Jeb eventually did run (spoiler alert: it didn't go so well) and the former Florida governor wasn't too pleased by her off-the-cuff remarks at the time.

    Much emphasis will be put on the juicy details Page reveals about the depth of Barbara Bush's disdain for President Trump, the man who would wallop Jeb in the 2016

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