(Neil Bush had dyslexia.)
John Claiborne Davis, the former headmaster of Sr. Albans said he had the unenviable task of getting Neil into a good college."He was a perfectly charming guy,"recalled Davis."but not a spectacular student.Still, I managed to get him into Tulane because of who his father was.Thank God,Barbara Bush didn't press me to get him into Yale.I think she was quite happy that I swung Tulane for him...Neil earned a bachelor's degree u international relations and then a master's degree in business...How he ever got into graduate school--and finished--I'll never know.At St. Allbans we give out three types of diplomas:One was a diploma with merit,which was for someone at the top of his class.Then there was a diploma with commendation for B+ students and, finally, there was a certificate of graduation with no distinctions whatsoever...That's the certificate Neil got.
"He had applied to Rice first because he said he wanted to bein Texas, Rice is a good school with high academic standards, and they turned him down.So I suggested he apply at Tulane in New Orleans..."
Following graduation from Tulane's business school,Neil campaigned as a full-time volunteer for his father in 1980,working in New Hampshire with former congressman Hugh Gregg. There he met Sharon Lee Smith, a school teacher. They were married in the summer of 1980 at Kennebunkport and moved to Denver so Neil,like his father abd his brother George could get into the oil and gas business.Neil started his apprenticeship with Amoco as a lease negotiator for thirty thousand dollars a year. He planned to follow his father's trajectory--make a fortune and go into politics.He had his heart set on becoming governor of Colorado.
Being the son of the Vice President swung open doors that would have been closed to any other young man without social entree.Neil and Sharon quickly became part of Denver's social scene. Neil played squash at the exclusive Denver Club, and Sharon Bush did volunteer work at the Children's Hospital,the city's most socially prestigious charity.Both were invited to the very best parties.
---Excerpted from "The Family" by Kitty Kelley
John Claiborne Davis, the former headmaster of Sr. Albans said he had the unenviable task of getting Neil into a good college."He was a perfectly charming guy,"recalled Davis."but not a spectacular student.Still, I managed to get him into Tulane because of who his father was.Thank God,Barbara Bush didn't press me to get him into Yale.I think she was quite happy that I swung Tulane for him...Neil earned a bachelor's degree u international relations and then a master's degree in business...How he ever got into graduate school--and finished--I'll never know.At St. Allbans we give out three types of diplomas:One was a diploma with merit,which was for someone at the top of his class.Then there was a diploma with commendation for B+ students and, finally, there was a certificate of graduation with no distinctions whatsoever...That's the certificate Neil got.
"He had applied to Rice first because he said he wanted to bein Texas, Rice is a good school with high academic standards, and they turned him down.So I suggested he apply at Tulane in New Orleans..."
Following graduation from Tulane's business school,Neil campaigned as a full-time volunteer for his father in 1980,working in New Hampshire with former congressman Hugh Gregg. There he met Sharon Lee Smith, a school teacher. They were married in the summer of 1980 at Kennebunkport and moved to Denver so Neil,like his father abd his brother George could get into the oil and gas business.Neil started his apprenticeship with Amoco as a lease negotiator for thirty thousand dollars a year. He planned to follow his father's trajectory--make a fortune and go into politics.He had his heart set on becoming governor of Colorado.
Being the son of the Vice President swung open doors that would have been closed to any other young man without social entree.Neil and Sharon quickly became part of Denver's social scene. Neil played squash at the exclusive Denver Club, and Sharon Bush did volunteer work at the Children's Hospital,the city's most socially prestigious charity.Both were invited to the very best parties.
---Excerpted from "The Family" by Kitty Kelley