Bush's Engagement in Washington Scene Column Published in Houston Newspaper

In 1966, after George Bush's election to Congress, the Bush family moved to Washington, D.C. In Washington, Barbara Bush's primary focus was to raise her younger children and manage her household, but she also involved herself in the activities of the capital. She attended political briefings and social events, and her attendance at regular events at the White House endeared her to First Lady Lady Bird Johnson. She also started a newspaper column, 'Washington Scene', that was published in Houston. Bush was active in the neighborhood where she lived, befriending prominent neighbors such as Shirley Neil Pettis, Potter Stewart, and Franklin D Roosevelt Jr. The Bushes became known in Washington for the barbecues that they hosted each Sunday, a practice that they carried over from their time in Houston. Andrew Card, a member of the Bush administration, cited Barbara's hosting during this time as a significant factor in George's good relations with members of Congress during his presidency.