Former First Lady Barbara Bush, who is not pro-life, expanded on the story of President George W. Bush seeing the body of the baby she miscarried and how it impacted his pro-life views.
Bush and former President George H.W. Bush appeared Monday night on CNN’s Larry King Live program and she did not dispute how the younger Bush asked her for permission to include the story in his book but said she did not recall showing Bush the jar.
KING: You also disclose, Barbara — George discloses something very personal about you, which he says you gave him special permission to write about. He wrote that when you once had a miscarriage, you showed him the fetus in the jar.
BARBARA BUSH: No, really, the truth is …
KING: We touched on it before. But we didn’t elaborate.
BARBARA BUSH: I didn’t put it in the jar.
KING: What?
BARBARA BUSH: It’s not in the library. No …
KING: I know.
BARBARA BUSH: George — Paula put it in the jar. And I was shocked when she gave it to him too. But, you know, memories dim a little bit. But, anyway, but he was very …
KING: Were you shocked that he put it in the book?
BARBARA BUSH: No. He asked permission, and I gave him permission. It’s his book. And I think he was trying to say that he and I have a very special relationship. We tease all the time, and that’s not very nice of me, but — you know, you’ve got to tease a little bit. And he teases me unmercifully. But we’re very close.
King didn’t follow up on the conversation further, such as providing more details about Paula’s identity — though it is thought that she was referring to Paula Rendon, the Bush family’s housekeeper.
King eventually asked Barbara, “You had different views on pro-life?” and she responded, “I don’t remember.”
The Bush presidents both differed in views from their wives as Barbara Bush supported abortion and called for the Republican Party to ditch its pro-life platform. Earlier this year, former First lady Laura Bush reiterated her position that abortion should remain legal.
