„She knew they were very close to the Bush family…“
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First lady Melania Trump brought former White House head maitre d‘ George Hannie and White House usher Buddy Carter as her guests to former first lady Barbara Bush’s funeral.
The invite-only event touted guests such as former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and former first lady Hillary Clinton.
USA Today reported Trump invited Hannie and Carter to be her guests because of Bush’s devotion to the White House staff during her years as the first lady.
“She knew they were very close to the Bush family and wanted them to be able to pay their respects,” NBC News‘ Monica Alba tweeted Trump’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said.
Carter began his work at the White House during the Bush administration after working for 15 years at Blair House.
Hannie, who grew up under Jim Crow laws in Alabama, served in the White House for 46 years, starting with former President Lyndon B. Johnson.
“The most memorable moment I had at the White House is seeing my mother walk up North Portico, all alone, to visit me and [former President] George and Barbara Bush in their personal quarters,” Hannie told MSNBC .
Dorothy Bush Koch, George and Barbara’s daughter, lovingly mentioned Hannie in her book. During her private wedding at Camp David, he was among the White House staff members who volunteered to help with the event. She wrote:
I’ll always remember what George Hannie, one of the extraordinary butlers who works at the White House, said to me. As I was thanking him, George spoke up and said, “It’s okay honey, but just don’t do it a third time.” Words to live by!
During the ceremony, former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-Fla.) delivered a eulogy and called his mom their “first and most important teacher.”
He noted that among the lessons she taught them was to treat others how you want to be treated and “love your God with your heart and soul.”
Barbara Bush passed away on Tuesday at the age of 92.
Jenni Fink joined IJR in 2016 as a writer and covers primarily politics and stories about inspiring human beings. She graduated from the University of… more
