Jenna Bush Hager

"Henry Hager" redirects here. For the Pennsylvania state senator, see Henry G. Hager.
Jenna Bush Hager

Prior to her wedding to Henry Hager
Born Jenna Welch Bush
(1981-11-25) November 25, 1981
Dallas, Texas, United States
Alma mater University of Texas at Austin
Occupation Teacher
Author
Correspondent
Religion Episcopal
Spouse(s) Henry Chase Hager (m. 2008)
Children 2
Parent(s) George W. Bush (father)
Laura Bush (mother)
Relatives See Bush family
Website Jenna Bush Hager TODAY Show
Jenna Bush Hager on Twitter

Jenna Welch Bush Hager (born November 25, 1981) is an American teacher, author and journalist. She is the younger of the fraternal twin daughters of the 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, and a granddaughter of the 41st U.S. President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush. She and her sister Barbara were the first twin children of a U.S. president. Hager is an author, an editor-at-large for Southern Living magazine, and correspondent for NBC News.[1]

Early life

Jenna (left) and Barbara Bush with their parents

Hager was named after her maternal grandmother, Jenna Hawkins Welch.[2] While living in Dallas, she and her sister attended Preston Hollow Elementary School and then The Hockaday School. In 1994, after her father was elected Governor of Texas and the family moved to Austin, Texas, Bush was a student at St. Andrew's Episcopal School, and attended Austin High School from 1996 until her graduation in 2000.[3]

She attended the University of Texas at Austin and took summer classes at New York University. She was a legacy member of Kappa Alpha Theta, her mother's sorority. While there, Jenna and her sister Barbara made national headlines when they were both arrested for alcohol-related charges twice within 5 weeks: on April 29, 2001, Jenna was charged with a misdemeanor for possession of alcohol under the age 21 in Austin. On May 29, 2001, Jenna was charged with another misdemeanor—attempting to use a fake ID (with the name Barbara Pierce, her paternal grandmother's maiden name) to purchase alcohol. She pleaded no contest to both charges.[4][5][6][7] Jenna Bush graduated from UT Austin with a degree in English in 2004.

Jenna Bush (second from right) witnesses her father taking the oath on Inauguration Day on January 20, 2005

2004 U.S. presidential election

She had asked her father not to run for president in 2000: "Oh, I just wish you wouldn't run. It's going to change our life." Her father told her that he and her mother needed to live their lives.[8] In the winter of 2003, however, she decided to become involved in the 2004 campaign.[8] In response to this decision, she made media appearances during the summer of 2004 prior to the election. She and her sister made several joint public appearances, including giving a speech to the Republican Convention on August 31, 2004.[9] She made headlines when she was found sticking her tongue out to media photographers at a campaign stop in St. Louis.[10] Jenna and Barbara took turns traveling to swing states with their father and also gave a seven-page interview and photo shoot in Vogue.[2]

Career

Teaching

Before leaving Washington, D.C. in Summer 2006, Hager worked at Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School for a year and a half as a teacher's aide.[11] She took a leave of absence from the Charter School teaching position to work at a shelter as part of an internship for UNICEF's Educational Policy Department in Latin America, specifically in Panama.[12][13] After her internship for UNICEF, Hager returned to her position at the charter school in Washington, D.C.[14] She currently works as a part-time reading coordinator at the SEED Public Charter School in Baltimore, Maryland, and contributes a monthly news story about education for the Today show.[15]

Jenna Hager (left), with her mother, her twin sister, and Elmo, at the Sesame Workshop Fifth Annual Benefit Dinner

Writing

In 2007, Hager began marketing a book proposal with the assistance of Robert B. Barnett, a Washington attorney.[16] The title of the book is Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope and it chronicles her experiences working with UNICEF sponsored charities in Latin America, including visits to drought stricken Paraguay in 2006, while working as an intern for United Nations Children's Fund.[12][17][18][19] HarperCollins announced in March 2007 it would publish the book and it was released September 28, 2007, with an initial printing of 500,000 copies.[20] Her share of the profits will go to UNICEF; the remainder will go to the woman whose life is the basis of the book, assisting in the young woman's continuing education.[21] During the book tour, Hager appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show; during the interview Hager telephoned her parents.[22][23] Hager wrote a second book, in conjunction with her mother, which is designed to encourage children to read.[24] The book, entitled Read All About It!, was published on April 22, 2008, also by HarperCollins.[24]

On November 26, 2012, Hager was named editor-at-large of Southern Living magazine.[25]

NBC News correspondent

In August 2009, NBC hired Hager as a news correspondent for the morning television show Today. Her role is to contribute stories about once a month on issues such as education.[1] On April 19, 2010, Hager interviewed former President Bill Clinton and discussed Haiti and his daughter Chelsea's upcoming marriage.[26] She also helps out with NBC News's Education Nation segments on all platforms of NBC and fills in as co-anchor and "Orange Room anchor" on Today. She is also a contributor and a substitute anchor on NBC Nightly News.

Personal life

Barbara Bush (left), Laura Bush, newlyweds Henry and Jenna Hager, and George W. Bush shortly after the wedding ceremony on May 10, 2008, at the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

After meeting during her father's 2004 presidential campaign, Bush and Henry Chase Hager (born May 9, 1978) became engaged in August 2007. Before proposing, Hager asked President Bush for permission to marry his daughter.[27] Their relationship became public when the two appeared together at a White House dinner for The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall in November 2005. Henry Hager attended St. Christopher's School in Richmond, Virginia, and holds an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia. He worked as a U.S. Department of Commerce aide for Carlos Gutierrez and as a White House aide for Karl Rove.[28] He is the son of former Virginia Republican Party Chairman John H. Hager, who previously served as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and as the U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary under George W. Bush.[29] The wedding took place during a private ceremony on May 10, 2008, at her parents' Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

On December 12, 2012, Henry and Jenna Hager announced on the The Today Show that they were expecting their first child.[30][31][32] Their first daughter, Margaret Laura "Mila" Hager, was born in April 2013, in New York City.[33] Their second daughter was born in August 2015.[34] She is named Poppy Louise Hager, "Poppy" being President George H.W. Bush's childhood nickname and Louise being the middle name of Jenna's mom's mom.[35]

Hager also serves on the board of the Greenwich International Film Festival.[36]

Unlike most of her relatives, Hager is not a member of the Republican Party. While registering to vote in New York, she mistakenly registered with the Independence Party of New York while meaning to declare herself a nonpartisan.[37] In 2010, Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush told People that they preferred not to identify with any political party, stating, "We're both very independent thinkers."[38][39][40]

Ancestry

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 Bauder, David (August 30, 2009). "Former first daughter Jenna Bush joins `Today'". Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Wehrman, Jessica (August 30, 2004). "Jenna, Barbara to be seen and heard". Scripps Howard News Service. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  3. Schumer, Fran (August 3, 2003). "Blackboard: School Choice; Where They Send Their Own". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
  4. "Bush daughters in Texas". USA Today. May 31, 2001. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  5. "Sentence for Bush daughter". BBC News. June 8, 2001. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  6. Walsh, Joan (May 31, 2001). "The first family's alcohol troubles". Salon. San Francisco. Archived from the original on May 9, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  7. "Jenna Bush: Didn't Learn Her Lesson?". The Smoking Gun. Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. 2001. Archived from the original on August 20, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  8. 1 2 "All In The Family". Newsweek. November 15, 2004. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  9. "Remarks by Barbara Bush & Jenna Bush to the 2004 Republican National Convention". The Washington Post. August 31, 2004. Retrieved January 24, 2007.
  10. Alberts, Sheldon (August 16, 2007). "Hard-partying presidential daughter Jenna on the bridal path". Canada.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
  11. Argetsinger, Amy; Roberts, Roxanne (July 3, 2006). "First Twin Jenna Bush may leave D.C. social scene". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012.
  12. 1 2 Getlin, Josh (March 6, 2007). "Jenna Bush to pen book on single mother with HIV". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
  13. Brunskill, Mary K. (March 6, 2007). "HarperCollins Announces Publication Of Jenna Bush's Book For Teens". All Headline News. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012.
  14. Hollandsworth, Skip (November 1, 2007). "Girl Gone Mild". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on October 29, 2007.
  15. Harris, Rachel Lee (August 30, 2009). "Familiar Face on 'Today'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
  16. Paul Bedard (January 19, 2007). "Washington Whispers". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2007.
  17. Maul, Kimberly (September 30, 2007). "First Daughter Jenna Bush Promotes New Book". Fox News Channel. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 13, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  18. Kelly, Keith (January 20, 2007). "1st Book For First Daughter". New York Post. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008.
  19. Johnson, M.L. (September 11, 2007). "Jenna Bush Does Well With Kid Book". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 21, 2008. Retrieved September 12, 2007.
  20. Minzesheimer, Bob (March 6, 2007). "Jenna Bush embarks on book 'Journey'". USA Today.
  21. Thompson, Bob (September 30, 2007). "Jenna Bush talks about book, rumors Interview covers war, wedding". The Washington Post.
  22. "Jenna Bush Rings Up Dad on 'Ellen' Talk Show". Breitbart TV. December 5, 2007. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2007.
  23. "Ellen has guest Jenna Bush call dad". United Press International. December 5, 2007. Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved December 5, 2007.
  24. 1 2 "Jenna Bush dishes on her May 10 wedding--She tells Vogue magazine about her gown, the location". MSNBC. April 15, 2008. Archived from the original on April 19, 2008. Retrieved April 22, 2008.
  25. Puente, Maria (November 26, 2012). "Jenna Bush Hager gets 'Southern Living' job". USA Today. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  26. "Jenna Bush Hager Takes On Bill Clinton". Real Clear Politics. April 19, 2010. Archived from the original on April 22, 2010. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  27. Argetsinger, Amy; Roberts, Roxanne (August 17, 2007). "Jenna and Henry: Now They're Really, Really Official". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 17, 2007.
  28. MCT (August 20, 2007). "First daughter Jenna Bush announces engagement to longtime boyfriend". The BG News. Archived from the original on December 21, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2007.
  29. "Jenna Bush engaged to be married". Daily News. New York. Associated Press. August 16, 2007. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  30. Duerson, Meena (December 12, 2012). "Jenna Bush Hager: 'I'm pregnant!'". The Today Show. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  31. "Jenna Bush pregnant: confirmed on 'Today'". New York Post. December 12, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  32. Nathan, Sara (December 12, 2012). "My grandkid can call me Sir! Former president George W Bush and his wife Laura are thrilled as their little 'popsicle' Jenna Bush Hager confirms she's pregnant". London Daily Mail. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
  33. AP (April 14, 2013). "George W. Bush becomes a grandpa". USA Today. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  34. "Jenna Bush Hager Gives Birth! Today Show Correspondent Welcomes Daughter Poppy Louise Hager". E!#E! Online. August 14, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  35. Eun Kyung Kim, Jenna Bush Hager welcomes second daughter — named after George H.W., Today, August 14, 2015.
  36. Heins, Barbara (April 20, 2014). "Actors Michael Imperioli, Deborah Royce Join Greenwich International Film Festival Board". Greenwich Patch.
  37. Katz, Celeste (September 3, 2014). "Exclusive: Ex-Prez' daughter Jenna Bush Hager mistakenly registered with NY's Independence Party". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  38. Sobieraj Westfall, Sandra (May 17, 2010). "The Bush Twins On Their Own". People Magazine. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  39. Campbell, Colin (September 4, 2014). "George W. Bush's Daughters Are Not Republicans". Business Insider. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  40. Chumley, Cheryl K. (September 5, 2014). "Bush daughters decline Republican label: 'We're both very independent'". The Washington Times. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
Bibliography
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