Barbara Bush Was Suicidal Due to George’s 12 Year Affair With His Aide

Susan Page wrote in “The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty” that the former first lady, much loved Barbara Bush fell into a deep depression and was suicidal over her husband George’s affair with his aide Jennifer Fitzgerald.

It is alleged that George Bush had an affair with the young aide for 12 years.

When George Bush was assigned to head the CIA in 1975, his wife fell into a depression. Photos posted at the time show the former first lady looking as if she is in pain sitting behind or next to her husband, with Fitzgerald on the other side.

Page writes in the book Barbara Bush found herself in the worst crisis she has faced since her daughter Robin died. Overwhelmed by loneliness and pain, she thought about committing suicide.

Bush admitted that she would pull over when driving because she had an impulse to crash her car into a tree or another vehicle.

The matriarch told the author before her death in April 2018 that she felt awful and would pull to the side of the road so she would not hit a tree. She continued by saying that she was not brave enough to kill herself.

Besides her husband’s affair, Bush was dealing with her children leaving for boarding school and hormone issues caused by menopause. She told Page that used to cry herself to sleep in George’s arms. He encouraged her to seek help for depression.

Barbara Bush often wondered why her husband did not leave her.

The former first president’s affair with his aide who was younger than his wife for seven years was never made public by them. However, everybody in the couple’s circle, including his wife was aware of the affair.

Barbara Bush wrote in her diary after learning about the affair “My opinion is that Fitzgerald hurts George. His eyes glaze over when her name is said. She is everything he wants. He often says the heck with it all.”

The former president denied the affair, but people were shocked when he decided to keep Fitzgerald for ten years on his team.

Barbara Bush told Chase Untermeyer, her husband’s executive assistant that she used to think Fitzgerald was terrible. Now she fees sorry for her.

Fitzgerald was blond and small. She was not considered beautiful or kind by anybody except George, and they were introduced in the 70s by a friend. George’s friend told Page the former first president was automatically captivated by Fitzgerald.

The insider said Fitzgerald was devoted, focused, and flirty with him.

Fitzgerald’s roommate said George Bush called daily to talk to her in 1973. When he accepted a job in China, she was hired as his assistant.

When George was nominated for Vice President in 1980, Jim Baker gave him an ultimatum. He must choose him or Fitzgerald. Bush took a day to answer but chose Baker. However, Bush remained close with Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald is retired and lives in Florida. She told Page that they did not have an affair, and has the most profound admiration and respect for the Bush family.

Written by Barbara Sobel

Sources:

Radar Online: Barbara Bush Revealed Suicidal Thoughts After George’s 12-Year Affair: I ‘Fell Into Darkness’
The Daily Caller: BARBARA BUSH REPORTEDLY CONSIDERED SUICIDE OVER HUSBAND’S ALLEGED AFFAIR
People: Barbara Bush Once Thought About Killing Herself During Secret Depression: ‘I Would Pull Over So I Wouldn’t Hit a Tree

Featured and Top Image Courtesy of George Bush Presidential Library’s Flickr – Creative Commons License