WITH the appearance of Barbara Bush in 1999 and former President George Bush this year, the NTEA has delivered a desirable double to its members.
And if in the future the NTEA can land their son, the 43rd president of the United States, that would be a tremendous troika.
Nailing down the former President hasn't been easy.
Since leaving office, Bush has written two books — A World Transformed, co-authored with General Brent Scowcroft, on foreign policy during his administration, and All The Best, a collection of letters written throughout his life.
He has visited 56 foreign countries, most of the 50 states and has helped to raise millions of dollars for a variety of charitable organizations. President Bush serves as Chairman of the Board of Visitors of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and is honorary chairman of the Points of Light Foundation.
On Nov. 6, 1997, The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum was open to the public. Along with the George Bush School of Government and Public Service, the library is located on the campus of Texas A&M University. It is the 10th Presidential Library in existence.
President Bush's career in politics and public service began in 1963, when he was elected Chairman of the Harris County (Texas) Republican Party. After losing his first campaign for the United States Senate in 1964, he was elected in 1966 to the US House of Representatives from Texas' 7th District and served two terms.
He accepted a series of senior-level appointments following a second unsuccessful try for the Senate in 1970: US Ambassador to the United Nations (1971); Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1973); Chief of the US Liaison Office in China (1974); and Director of Central Intelligence (1976).
In 1980, he lost his bid for the Republican Presidential nomination to Ronald Reagan, but he later accepted a spot on the national ticket and served as Vice President from 1981 to 1989.
Born on June 12, 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts, he became a decorated Naval pilot who flew torpedo bombers during World War II. He then graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University in 1948 with a degree in economics and moved to Texas.
The Bushes have five children and 14 grandchildren. They have been married 56 years and reside in Houston and Kennebunkport, Maine.