Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, son of President George H.W. Bush, told college graduates on Monday not to choose their careers simply based on what their parents do for a living.
But recent signs indicate he may not be taking his own advice.
“We’re seeing more and more that people often model their lives on their parents,” Bush said at the University of South Carolina’s winter commencement. “Their parents went to college, so do they. If their parents married late, so do they...And I can tell you from personal experience, if your parents worked in politics, well, you know the rest.”
Bush’s remarks in the Palmetto State, which holds one of the earliest Republican presidential primaries, came as he continues to contemplate following in the footsteps of his father and brother, President George W. Bush.
Jeb Bush recently announced he would release 250,000 emails from his time as governor and released a new book, signs he may be eyeing a presidential run. And Bush indicated Monday that whatever decision he does come to will not be based on his family’s White House history.
“You don’t have to follow the pattern, you can do what you want to do,” Bush told the graduates. “In fact life is a lot better if you find your own reasons to do your own things. There is no motivation as powerful as wanting to do something for yourself.”
IN-DEPTH
-- Andrew Rafferty