Barco Book Presentation

George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
College Station, TX

On April 13, Ambassador Carolina Barco, former Colombian foreign minister, will honor the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum with the donation of a three-volume set of books commemorating the life of her father, past-President Virgilio Barco Vargas. Over the past year, as part of a time-honored tradition to honor former presidents during the year of their one hundredth birthday, Colombia honored Barcos life of public service. The commemorative events and projects, commissioned by the current President Ivn Duque Mrquez, included conferences, an exhibition, podcasts, a documentary, and a three-volume book of Barco's legacy.

Barcos presidential term, 1986-1990, overlapped with the end of George H.W. Bushs vice-presidency and beginning of his presidency. During this time, they developed a strong personal friendship and promoted a strong relationship between their countries. Out of appreciation for President Bush's support for Colombia during their father's presidency, Ambassador Barco and her siblings are donating the historic three-volume set to the Bush Library and two additional biographies.

The three-volume series, entitled Virgilio Barco: A Tribute, is a commemorative set of books edited by renowned political scientist and former Minister and Ambassador Fernando Cepeda Ulloa. The other two books being donated are Barco: Life and Events of a Crucial President and the Violent World He Confronted, written by an English historian from Oxford University, Malcolm Deas, and Virgilio Barco, the Last Liberal, written by a Colombian historian, Leopoldo Villar Borda.

The books will be presented in the orientation theater in the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on April 13, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. The event is open to the public.