Some people picked up hobbies during the pandemic, but Jean Becker wrote a book - and she said she's thankful to former President George H.W. Bush for that.
Becker, chief of staff to the senior Bush for 25 years in his post-presidency, published in June "The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H.W. Bush's Post-Presidency," which details the ups and downs of being a former president from the perspective of a close confidant. The book hit No. 15 on the New York Times bestseller list July 4.
Becker grew up in Audrain County and went on to graduate from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. She serves as a Kinder Institute Advisory Board member with the school's academic center and was recognized by MU as an outstanding alumna.
Her involvement in politics started in Washington, D.C., when after working at USA Today, she got involved in 1987-88 in the Bush campaign. Becker worked for Barbara Bush as her deputy press secretary, then later in Houston as George H.W. Bush's chief of staff from 1994-2018 during his post-White House years.
She spoke on her experience June 4 with the former president at an author event hosted by the George & Barbara Bush Foundation.
It was a project Becker gave a lot of thought before starting.
"I wasn't sure I should write the book; I don't believe in tell-alls," she said. "I didn't want to reveal anything I heard in confidence. But the man left behind so many great stories - he lived a bigger-than-life life. I thought it would almost be criminal not to write."
The book goes through Becker's 25 years with the senior Bush, balancing humorous and serious moments he dealt with while out of office. Some moments, like the political, were unexpected, like the friendship formed between Bush and President Bill Clinton in the 1990s.
Becker said the famous letter George H.W. Bush wrote to Clinton on Jan. 20, 1993, on the day of his swearing into office was the "best example of how President Bush taught us how to live life," taking a tone of civility that makes it stand out among other letters to incoming presidents.
What started as a cordial relationship evolved into a friendship as George W. Bush brought his father and Clinton together to visit countries affected by natural disasters like hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Harvey. Becker said the junior Bush was a "matchmaker" to the friendship that lasted over the remainder of the senior Bush's life.
Becker devoted other parts of the book - in this case, an entire chapter - on things George H.W. Bush was known for, including his greeting to her in the mornings, after already having had a pot of coffee and reading four newspapers that morning: "Jean, I have an idea" was an expression that would scare her.
"It could be something really big, or it could be we should get Fuzzy's (pizza) down the street," Becker said.
She also mentioned her Missouri roots and made an anecdote about wearing her Tiger ears to work one day when MU was in March Madness.
"He said, 'I cannot talk to you with those Tiger ears on,'" she laughed.
George H.W. Bush was a giving person who was a "big idea man" with thoughts on presidential projects and "using his bully pulpit" to serve others. From the coast of Louisiana after Hurricane Rita to shaving his head for a young boy undergoing chemotherapy in 2013, the book is filled with stories of his philanthropic life. One aspect of his career was his humanitarian efforts, for which the Bush family was known, Becker said.
"All of us know about the famous things, but I get the sense there are things in this book that people don't know about," she said. "He knew instinctively the right thing to do."
Becker also details the senior Bush's diagnosis with vascular Parkinson's disease, including his death in November 2018 when she said "the whole country stopped and paid attention" in the midst of intense partisanship in the United States. Around 12 world leaders and various former presidents attended his funeral.
"What was amazing to me was that he died almost 26 years ago the day he lost the election," Becker said. "Prince Charles, Angela Merkel came to the funeral. For one week, (politicians) stopped fighting to pay tribute to him."
She had the responsibility of planning his state funeral, from being at his side during his death to his burial at his presidential library at Texas A&M University. Voice breaking, Becker read the 10 lessons he wrote to a group of young people she includes in the book. Some include "don't brag about yourself, shed a tear when your heart is broken" and "nobody likes an overbearing bigshot."
"George H.W. Bush left a blueprint on how to live life," she said. "He knew how to live life with purpose, with a big heart and he never forgot any definition of a successful life must include serving others."
Becker will be present for a book event about "The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H. W. Bush's Post-Presidency" at 6:30 p.m. July 27 at the Missouri River Regional Library Art Gallery in Jefferson City. Event details can be viewed on MRRL's website, mrrl.org/event/author-talk-jean-becker.