Jean Becker and Giovanna McBride Book Signing

Visit the White House Historical Association to meet the authors and get ready for a summer of reading with two signed books hot off the presses! Jean Becker will be signing The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H. W. Bush's Post-Presidency and Giovanna McBride will be signing Gigi at the White House, Thursday, June 24, 3:00–5:00 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public.

Gigi at the White House!

Many children have at least one special opportunity to visit their parents at work, and this was true for Gigi McBride whose mother had a very unique job—she worked at the White House. During the George W. Bush administration, Gigi had many adventures visiting her mother Anita McBride, Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush. Now that she is a college student with a love of children's literature, she decided to share her special memories of her visits to the White House from 2005 to 2009 when she was 4 to 8 years old. She hopes that the book will encourage children to learn more about the White House and life as lived there. With illustrations by artist John Hutton, this book features Gigi’s favorite stories of the fun she had exploring the White House at the Easter Egg Roll, Fourth of July, Halloween, and Christmas, and the friends that she made, including First Lady Laura Bush, the Secret Service, the White House Pastry Chefs, and the White House florist.

About the Author

Giovanna McBride attended high school at Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, Maryland. She is currently studying education at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H. W. Bush’s Post-Presidency

A heartfelt portrait of President George H.W. Bush—and his post-presidential life—by a confidante who knew him well.

As chief of staff, Jean Becker had a ringside seat to the never-boring story of George Herbert Walker Bush’s life post-presidency, including being at his side when he died and subsequently facing the challenge—and great honor—of overseeing his state funeral. Full of heart and wisdom, The Man I Knew is a vibrant behind-the-scenes look into the ups and downs of heading up the office of a former president by one of the people who knew him best. This book tells the story of how, after his devastating loss to Bill Clinton in 1992, President George H.W. Bush rebuilt his life, found a way to make a difference, and how, by the time he died in November 2018, was revered by his country and the world. What happens when you go almost overnight from being the most important and powerful person in the world to a private citizen? The Man I Knew tells just such a story, of one man’s humble journey from president to man of the people.

About the Author

Jean Becker was chief of staff to former President George H. W. Bush from 1994 to 2018. She took a leave of absence in 1999 to edit and research All the Best, George Bush: My Life in Letters and Other Writings. She served as deputy press secretary to first lady Barbara Bush from 1989 to 1992.