Page "Barbara Bush" Paragraph 17

Barbara Bush's eight years as Second Lady allowed her to become a common household name.

She took an interest in adult and childhood literacy issues after her son Neil was diagnosed with dyslexia and began working with several different literacy organizations.

She spent much time researching and learning about the factors that contributed to childhood and adult illiteracy – she believed homelessness was too connected to illiteracy – and the efforts underway to combat both.

She traveled around the country and the world, both with the Vice President on official trips and by herself.

In 1984 she wrote a children's book about her family told from the point of view of her dog C. Fred entitled C. Fred's Story.

She donated all proceeds from the book to literacy charities.

Now comfortable speaking in front of groups, she routinely spoke to promote issues she believed in and became famous for expressing a sense of humor and self-deprecating wit.

During the 1984 presidential campaign, Barbara made headlines when she told the press that she could not say on television what she thought of Vice-Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro, but " it rhymes with rich ".

She later apologized to Ferraro.