Her life before being married as well as her public and private life after marriage. Barbara bush, with all the posts that you and the president have held over the years, was there one that best prepared you for the white house . And when you became first lady, did you feel prepared . The answer, did i feel prepared . Yes, i really did. First of all, i wasnt elected, so it didnt make that much difference. I did notice, though, the difference between being the Vice President s wife and the president s wife is huge because the Vice President s wife can say anything. Nobody cares. The minute you say one thing as president s wife, youve made the news. So, that was a lesson i had to learn pretty quickly. But, i felt very prepared because wed lived in washington off and on. Our father my fatherinlaw had been a u. S. Senator. Although we had lived in texas, why, i think probably i think i was very comfortable. I had a wonderful loving family and so did george, and i think we felt comfortable. So, i loved being the wife of the Vice President best of all. Why is that . Well, because you could say anything you wanted and nobody cared and you could do a lot of good things. When i got to the white house, you could do even more good things. And the great news is that its continued on. I mean, charities and things im interested in, i can really raise money, raise interest that a normal much smarter person cant do. Going into the white house, what was some of the best advice you got . Lets see. Going into the white house, best advice i got . Keep your mouth closed, i suspect. But nobody dared say that to me. But i dont remember getting too much advice. You know, i had been the president of the senate ladies, and i had a lot of friends. I had done that for eight years. And i went to the senate wives meetings every tuesday morning. I went some tuesdays when they didnt have meetings and had to be hauled home again. I loved that part of life. I loved all my life. Ive been a very lucky person. You open your memoir that you wrote in 94 by saying, i have been very privileged in my life. I have been. And i wrote that because my husband said, youre going to be highly criticized because people are going to say youve lived a life of luxury. And although i lived in a but more privileged than 95 of the country. Mrs. Bush, when did you first meet george bush . I met george at a dance. In those days, the greenwich exchanged christmas dances. And i met him at a christmas dance. And he cut in on me or he didnt. He asked someone to introduce us really. And i had on a red and green dress that my mothers great friend mrs. Lufkin had given her and said, i wonder if barbara would like this dress . It had belonged to some friend of hers. It was pretty. I guess because george asked to meet me, we met there. He came the next night to another dance in rye. That first was in greenwich and cut in on me. And my older brother, he asked him if he would play in a basketball game. Prep schoolboys against the rye high school. And they were murdered incidentally by the rye high school. But george said yes, he would play, and asked me if i would meet him and go out afterwards. And every member of my family came to that basketball game to look at this boy that i had raved over. And when i would come home at night, my mother would say, what did you do . Did you meet, whatever. And my father would say, tell her in the morning. Mother would say they never tell you anything in the morning. And i evidently came home and said, i met this heavenly boy named poppy bush. And my mother knew the next morning exactly who he was, who his family was she should have been the head of the cia. She knew everything. And i must say i feel the same way about him today as i felt then. I can breathe now. Then i couldnt breathe when i was with him. But i can breathe when im with him now. But hes just as fabulous as he was then. Throughout your married life, you moved a lot. 27 times. He couldnt hold a job. But its been fascinating. Really lucky the things weve done. And weve lived in some pretty horrible places. And weve lived in some pretty wonderful places. And i loved almost every one of them. I liked them all because he was there. But some of them were, as everybody knows, we lived in a house with three ladies. One was a child and the other two were ladies of the night. And we shared the bathroom with them which seems inconceivable now. I cant imagine by grandchildren doing that. But they missed some great adventures. George and i had lunch yesterday alone, and we talked about the fact. We had a lot of adventures our grandchildren will never have. They really are privileged. They may not know it, but they are. And they wont have these adventures. Its too bad. I never met a texan until i moved here. I thought they were all like jane withers who was the bad girl compared to Shirley Temple who was the good girl. Anyway, it turned out i loved texas and we chose to live here. Did you know early in your marriage that you were going to become a cocampaigner for offices . No. Never dreamt. I dont think george knew, contrary to popular belief. I think sometimes was i surprised when he announced he was running for president . It didnt just happen like that. It worked up that way. I mean, he was the county chairman. He was a congressman. He was a very successful businessman. It didnt just happen that he said to me one day, im going to run for president. It just was there. But long after we were first married, i mean way long. In fact, when he came back from china to be the head of the cia, that meant end of politics. He would never be president because you couldnt be head of the cia and be president. Oh yeah . You can. In your memoir, you write and this is from your journal in may of 1986 george is obviously the most qualified person for the job of president. Do i want him to run . Absolutely not. Well, this goes to show, told my boys they could never be elected and look at them. So, i guess im a political doubter. I think its a huge sacrifice to run for office. And i think people are very critical of the congress. They may not be doing a great job, but they could do better at home. Theyd have one home, theyd be home with their families. Many of them cant afford a home in washington and a home i just feel like its asking a lot. And i thought he might lose. Of course he did, the senate. But we moved on. How do you develop that thick sk skin, or dont you, for politics, for criticism . Im not good at it. Most people dont dare criticize my children in front of me. But the press, i dont pay any attention to. Just dont like it but i dont pay any attention to it. Dont dare criticize george h. W. Bush, ever. During the 1992 campaign, there was a bumper strip that said annoy the media, reelect bush. I didnt write that, but i might have. I dont remember that. But i do remember when george was running for, i guess president , on the freeway going from new york to connecticut, i saw someone with a sign that said bush for president. I was so excited. And when i got the car, i raced my car up to be close to it. Turned out to be a cousin. I hoped it was a stranger. But nobody knew who he was. Mrs. Bush, did you enjoy campaigning . Yes. I really like people. It was fun. I liked it a lot. Funny things happened. And i really enjoyed it. Partially because i know hes the best man. And i campaigned for george w. Knowing full well he wasnt going to win, and he did. You think theres room for another bush in the white house . I think this is a Great American country, great country, and if we cant find more than two or three families to run for high office, thats silly because there are great governors and great eligible people to run. And i think that the kennedys, clintons, bushs, there are just more families than that. And im not arrogant enough to think that we alone are raising. But were raising Public Servants whether theyre feeding the poor like lauren is, whos fed 68 million children around the world, or barbara whos bringing Global Health to the world, or pierce whos working for big brothers big sisters. But there are a lot of ways to serve. And being president is not the only one. And i would hope that someone else would run, although theres no question in my mind that jeb is the bestqualified person to run for president but i hope he wont because i think hell get all my enemies, all his brothers, all and there are other families. I refuse to accept that this great country isnt raising other wonderful people. Barbara bush, you walk in as first lady. Is it, in a sense, a blank slate where you can create your own agenda . Yes, i guess. Im not sure i know quite what that means. But people are overly nice to me, and i feel it truthly every single day. My friends have to look for parking places. I dont have to look for parking places. My friends very often call me and say would you mind taking me to whatever it is were going to because they have to do those things. They have to wait in line at the airport. Yes, you can create your own plot or plan. And its a great privilege, and you ought to take advantage of it because you can help people. And how do you pick your causes . Well, because i know truthfully that every single problem in america would be better if more people could read, write and comprehend. I just know that. We would be able to compete with the rest of the world. We wouldnt have these children who are committing crimes because their families dont have jobs. They dont have jobs because they cant read. They cant write. They dont understand. So, that was such an easy project to pick. I admit it took me about a half a year to pick it because id always worked and volunteered in hospitals. But theres no question in my mind. And i think every thinking conclusion. Weve got to educate our children and weve got to educate their parents. Its not just a whim. Its a necessity if were going to compete in this world. Was there ever a day in the white house where you just wanted to say, no more, im done, i quit. Never. How could you say that . Youve got, what, 90 people who are only aim in life is to keep you happy and your husbands doing good things and hes doing the right thing. I mean, he knew when he raised those taxes that he was going to lose the election, although he had been 90 approved. He did the right thing. Im very proud of my family that do the right thing. And george bush, both, have done the right thing. Like it or love it. Its 20 years since youve been in the presidency. A lot of talk in washington about between the democrats and republicans. Is it different than it was 20 years ago . A little bit. Weve lived in times george said the democrats are very far to the left and slung back to very far to the right and we get back to where we should be which is talking to each other and civility. And jeb is right about that. Republicans and democrats should be talking about what theyre for, not what theyre against. And i really believe that. And i believe they will again. The white house, the second floor. Can it be a home . Yes. Well, let me put it this way. If you had a home when you went into it, you have a home when you come out of it. Maybe you didnt have a home when you went into it, i dont know about that. But we had a very big, loving family. And when we went back to the white house with george w. , there was all the same fabulous staff. And president obama, when we went this summer to the points of light luncheon he gave for us, in between the luncheon and the giving of the points, the 5,000 point of light, he had all the former staff come. It was like family. I mean, we were loving seeing all the butlers and all the ushers and the flower people. It was just like family. So, yes, they are family. And we were just fortunate enough to have them there for us for our well, the reagans and then georges presidency and then for george w. Is there a sorority of a type among former first ladies or first ladies . Sort of. I think some are closer than others. Lady bird is gone. Pat nixon, gone. Those were i was especially close to those ladies. And of course laura, no question, was the greatest first lady. But were friends. Im a great respecter of mrs. Obama, michelle obama, and what shes doing. Obesity is a huge problem in our country, and shes working on it. And shes getting criticized for it. Government shouldnt tell you what to eat. Well, somebodys got to tell these people what to eat. These children cannot be obese at a young age. Its just not healthy. Its across the country. Its a horrible thing. And weve got to make ourselves brighter, smarter, educated. And along with that, weve got to educate our people on what to eat, and shes growing vegetable gardens and so, i have respect for that. What about your predecessor and your successor . My predecessor, nancy reagan, is a wonderful lady and she worked very hard on drugs. And my successor, of course, was the great secretary of state. So, what did she work on . I guess secretary of state. Maybe she worked on my boy bill. Who knows . Your husband and bill clinton have become good friends. Thats right. My husband, bill clinton and i have become great friends. And bill visits us every summer. And we dont agree politically, but we dont talk politics. And i think youd have to understand, i read someplace before youre critical of someone, you should remember that they did not have the advantages you had as a child, a loving mother and father. Bills father wasnt around. And i think that he thinks of george a little bit like the father he didnt have. And hes very loving to him. And i really appreciate that. And when they went on that long tsunami trip, george told me bill insisted he stay in the bed and bill insisted that he was taken care of. And that was really nice. I love bill clinton. Maybe not his politics, but i love bill clinton. Barbara bush, you brought up your daughterinlaw, laura bush. And when we interviewed her for this series, we talked about a speech that she had given where she compared you to don coral yoan. Windmills . No, from the god father. Oh, thats right. Youve been referred to as the enforcer. What do you think of that . Im not sure im thrilled with laura saying that. I deserve it because george is so you know, anything they do is all right. But someone has to be sure that the standards are kept. And he leads by example. I lead by denying some things. And i am the enforcer. Theres no question about it. Do i like that role . No. Would i rather he had done it . Yes. But it doesnt work that way. 1990, wellesley college. I was there. What was the speech you gave . Wellesley, you say, is not just a place but an idea. It was a difficult speech in that they objected to my speaking because id never done anything in my life, that i had just had a free ride. And they were right. And incidentally, it happened that rice and gorbachev was coming to this country with her husband, and i couldnt leave her. So, i invited her to come speak with me. And i got highly criticized saying, well, she doesnt dare come by herself. And shes bringing her as a protector. And it was a difficult speech. It turned out that there was one student at wellesley from south america who we were treating to this great education and a girl from maine. And the day or two before the speech, the girl from maine called and said, im so embarrassed, mrs. Bush. This is built into a great thing. I was getting calls from president nixon saying you tell those girls to go to the devil and whatever. I mean, i had a lot of people for me. But i didnt want to get into a spitting fight with the girls. But there it was. And rice on the plane going up which was ridiculous. She didnt speak any english. We had an interpreter. I said, do you mind if i work on my speech a little bit. She said, oh, youre giving a speech . I said, well, you are too. She said, oh, i am . And she went into the ladys room. I said to the interpreter, doesnt she know shes giving a speech. He pulled the speech out of his pocket and said, she knows. But i was very lucky with that speech. We worked very, very hard on it. But i had given it at four or five other colleges. That same spring, university of pennsylvania, university in st. Louis, community college, nobody gave a darn. But because of the controversy, same ending, same everything. But it made me, the speech, no question about it. Because of the controversy, people paid attention. Margaret thatcher wrote me and said it was the greatest speech he ever heard. George heard it in the white house. I mean, it was that highly because of controversy. Isnt that too bad. But anyway, i became a great speaker that day. Who knows . Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps and preside over the white house as the president s spouse. And i wish him well. [ cheers and applause ] you brought down the house with your closing line about political spouse and you wish him luck. I do. What would be your advice for a first spouse, a first husband . Same thing i would give a first wife which is be yourself. And see if you can watch your mouth. I had trouble with that. But i would say just be yourself. And take advantage of the opportunity. I mean, you i had lunches for deformed children, heart, arthritis, cancer. Nobody paid any attention except in the hometown where the doctor came from or the sick child came from or the and then you got great publicity out in the country. Thats where it counts. Who cares what sorry the broadcasts say or something. What you care about is that the people know theyre being helped. Barbara bush, what should, in your view, people know about the first lady and her role that we dont know . I dont know what you dont know. Seems to me i know everything about the first lady. I dont i think the first thing the first lady ought to know is she was not elected president. Nor was i elected president. Nor was i elected congress mama wife. I think you ought to know that youre not an elected official but you have an opportunity to do a lot of good things and you ought to take that opportunity. And in fact in your book, you write that i am not too sure the American Public likes the spouse to be too front and center. Well, i think thats probably true. I mean, didnt elect her. But i think they like her to do good things. But and im not too sure they want her to be too front and center. She wasnt elected, contrary to popular belief. What do you remember about your first day in the white house and your last day in the white house . My first day in the white house. Walking in from the receiving, you know, we reviewed the parade. I remember we had huge family, and i remember the twins theyre not going to like this but going with the babysitter down to the Bowling Alley and ordering a meal. We had we were getting ready to go to the balls, and we had the whole family gathered for a very large, sort of buffet meal. And i said, where are the twins . Were all eating. I said, well, theyre in the Bowling Alley. Theyre eating hamburgers. I said, get them up here. We dont order food away. They came right up laughing. I remember being surrounded and seeing everybody off to the balls and how pretty they looked and what fun they were having. I mean, they were tearing2 all over the white house, those