FL 45: Laura Welch Bush (George W

FL 45: Laura Welch Bush (George W. Bush) Laura Welch Bush was reluctant to subject her family to the rigors, criticism, and press intrusion of a presidential campaign. Nevertheless, she supported her husband, George W. Bush, in his bid for the presidency, giving speeches, granting interviews, and traveling the country, sometimes on her own. As First Lady, she sees Lady Bird Johnson and mother-in-law Barbara Bush as important role models. Indeed, like Barbara Bush her special cause is the promotion of reading and literacy. She founded the “Ready to Read, Ready to Learn” initiative that encourages reading among children and their adult companions. She also expanded a program she had initiated as First Lady of Texas, the Texas Book festival, and established first National Book Festival, featuring authors from across the country. In the wake of 9/11 Laura Bush has focused on the need for healing among Americans, especially encouraging families to spend more time together. She also has drawn attention to the conditions Afghani women and children endured under the oppressive Taliban Regime. She also is interested in promoting the arts, adoption and breast cancer awareness as well as services that aid abused and neglected children. More interested in promoting awareness of her social causes and interests, Laura Bush, like her mother-in-law, is not a politically active First Lady. Although she is a political partner to George W. Bush, she is a force neither in the formulation of government policy, nor in decision-making.