Brooke Shields Recounts Unexpected Encounter with George H.W. and Barbara Bush
Actress Brooke Shields recently shared a humorous anecdote about an unanticipated encounter with former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara Bush, which she described as initially “nerve-wracking.”
Story Shared on ‘Today With Jenna And Friends’
During a recent episode of “Today With Jenna And Friends,” Shields, a celebrated actress and former model, recounted the story to Jenna Bush Hager, granddaughter of the former President and First Lady.
Developing a Friendship
Shields revealed that she had cultivated a “warm” friendship with the Bushes in the 1980s, long before their tenure in the White House.
Unexpected Invitation to Kennebunkport
Years later, around 2010, the former president and his wife, both now deceased, extended an invitation to Shields to visit their residence in Kennebunkport, Maine, valued at $13.5 million.
Shields explained, “I was filming a movie in Boston when I received a phone call – the caller’s identity was initially withheld. The voice on the other end said, ‘Excuse me, young lady, I understand you are in the vicinity. If you fail to come to Kennebunkport, you will be in trouble, young lady.'” She continued, “Naturally, it was ‘Papa Bush,’ so I brought my children, and we stayed there.”
An Unforeseen Incident
Desiring to please the 41st President of the United States, whom she deeply respected as a grandfather figure, Shields, a mother of two, traveled to the Walker’s Point estate with her daughters, Rowan and Grier, then approximately six and three years old.
Later that evening, after putting her daughters to sleep, an unexpected event occurred: ocean water began “inundating” the living room of the spacious home.
A Moment of Panic
Shields, rushing to find towels to absorb the water, confessed to Bush Hager that she began to “panic.”
She elaborated, “I was thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, I need to inform someone, but there’s nobody else awake in the house!'”
Interrupting the Bushes
It was then that she decided to go to the Bushes’ bedroom to alert them to the situation. However, she hesitated briefly, knowing they had already retired for the night.
“So, I proceeded to the downstairs bedroom, filled with apprehension,” she admitted, before describing the scene. “They were having their light evening meals on TV trays, settled in their recliner chairs, watching ‘Law & Order: SVU’.”
Finding Them Relaxed
Shields reenacted her reaction by covering her eyes, recalling her surprise at seeing Mrs. Bush “in her dressing gown.”
Still shielding her eyes, she recounted saying, “I just wanted to let you know that I believe the house might be flooding, but I think I have it under control.”
An Unexpectedly Welcoming Response
To her astonishment, Mrs. Bush appeared unperturbed and invited Shields to join them in watching the popular crime drama.
Kneeling between their chairs, the former First Lady wondered aloud if they should seek their houseguest’s opinion on a plot point from the episode.
‘Who Do You Think Did It?’
“She said, ‘George, perhaps Brooke can answer this question… Ask her, ask her,'” Shields remembered. “He then asked, ‘Well, who do you think committed the crime?'”
With that, Shields’ anxiety completely vanished, and the three of them continued watching “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
“I thought to myself, ‘This is an exceptionally special moment in my life,'” she revealed.
A Grandfatherly Figure
Shields further shared how President Bush had become a mentor figure, offering her guidance on relationships during her younger years.
Gratitude and Remembrance
Following the anecdote, Bush Hager expressed her gratitude to her “Today” guest co-host for sharing such a heartwarming story about her grandparents.
Barbara Bush, originally from Queens, New York, passed away in Houston, Texas, in April 2018 at the age of 92.
George H.W. Bush, from Milton, Massachusetts, who served as president from 1989 to 1993, passed away in Houston in November 2018 at the age of 94, just seven months after his wife.