Barbara Bush and Jenna Bush Hager Pen a Letter to Malia and Sasha Obama

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Teaching them how to say goodbye. Malia and Sasha Obama got a very special letter from two women who understand what they are going through as they prepare to leave the White House next week.

Barbara Bush and Jenna Bush Hager penned a letter to the Obama girls, which was published by Time on Thursday. The daughters of former president George W. Bush and Laura Bush recalled showing Malia and Sasha around the White House in 2008 when their father, Barack Obama, had just been sworn in as president.


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“We saw both the light and wariness in your eyes as you gazed at your new home,” the Bush sisters wrote. “The four of us wandered the majestic halls of the house you had no choice but to move in to. When you slid down the banister of the solarium, just as we had done as 8-year-olds and again as 20-year-olds chasing our youth, your joy and laughter were contagious.”

They went on to talk about Malia and Sasha’s many accomplishments and experiences while their father was in office, saying, “You traveled to Liberia and Morocco with your mom to talk with girls about the importance of education—girls who saw themselves in you, saw themselves in your parents, saw who they could become if they continued to study and learn.”

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Barbara and Jenna continued, “We have watched you grow from girls to impressive young women with grace and ease. And through it all you had each other. Just like we did.

Now you are about to join another rarified club, one of former First Children—a position you didn’t seek and one with no guidelines. But you have so much to look forward to. You will be writing the story of your lives, beyond the shadow of your famous parents, yet you will always carry with you the experiences of the past eight years.”


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They even got slightly self-deprecating, saying, “Enjoy college. As most of the world knows, we did.”

The Bush sisters concluded by offering a message of support, saying, “You stood by as your precious parents were reduced to headlines. Your parents, who put you first and who not only showed you but gave you the world. As always, they will be rooting for you as you begin your next chapter. And so will we.”

Michelle Obama recently applauded the Bush family for supporting her family during their transition into office. During her appearance on The Tonight Show this week, the First Lady talked about the former president and his family’s support.


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“The former president, Jenna, Barbara, they were all tremendous and continue to be tremendous supports,” Michelle said. “And that’s so important for people around the country to understand that this democracy is not about party. It’s not about demonizing the other side. We’re all trying to get stuff done and we’ve seen that decency and we’re trying to emulate that decency.”

For more on the Obamas’ final days in office, watch the clip below!

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