Friends of the LBJ Library | Nov, 20 2024 6:30PM - 7:30PM
Based on Becker's recent book, Character Matters: And Other Lessons from George H.W. Bush, David Bates, Jean Becker, and Joe Straus discussed George H.W. Bush’s remarkable life and legacy. Becker, who served as President Bush's Chief of Staff for 30 years, solicited essays from those who knew President Bush—including Bates and Straus—to comprise the book, offering an illuminating and inspiring portrait of our 41st President.
Dr. Mark Lawrence, Professor of History and Walter Prescott Webb Chair in History and Ideas at the University of Texas at Austin, moderated the conversation. The Texas Book Festival will co-host. This program was held at the Lady Bird Johnson Auditorium at the LBJ Presidential Library. Friends of the LBJ Library members at the Individual level and above are invited to attend and must register in advance.
About the Speakers:
David Bates was President Bush’s personal aide from 1978 until 1981. He served President Bush in a variety of roles during the vice presidency and presidency, including Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Cabinet and the Deputy Chief of Staff. From 1994–2009, he was managing director and then senior advisor for Public Strategies Inc., a strategic consulting firm. He now is CEO of his own consulting company. He and his wife Ann live in San Antonio, the parents of three and grandparents of two.
Jean Becker served as chief of staff for President George H.W. Bush for nearly twenty-five years. She’s the editor of Pearls of Wisdom by Barbara Bush and author of the New York Times bestseller The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H.W. Bush’s Post Presidency. Her latest book, Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush, was released in April 2024. Prior to her post as chief of staff, Jean served as deputy press secretary to First Lady Barbara Bush and was a newspaper reporter for 10 years, including a four-year stint at USA TODAY.
The Honorable Joe Straus III was elected to seven terms in the Texas House of Representatives, including five terms as Speaker, from 2009 to 2019. He prioritized public education and workforce readiness, meeting the state’s infrastructure needs, improving mental health care, and balancing the biennial Texas budget amid both prosperous and challenging economic conditions. He won wide acclaim for his inclusive governing style and focus on the core responsibilities of governing. Speaker Straus continues to advocate for pragmatic governing and forward-thinking solutions to the challenges facing the state and nation. He is a Principal with La Cima Partners, LLC, a strategic consulting business, and a Partner in Bennett & Straus, LLC, a San Antonio-based insurance, investments and executive benefits firm.
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