Laura Bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laura Bush
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Official portrait, 2005
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| First Lady of the United States | |
| In role January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Hillary Clinton |
| Succeeded by | Michelle Obama |
| First Lady of Texas | |
| In role January 17, 1995 – December 21, 2000 |
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| Governor | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Rita Crocker Clements (1987–1991) |
| Succeeded by | Anita Thigpen Perry |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Laura Lane Welch
November 4, 1946 Midland, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | |
| Education | Southern Methodist University (BS) University of Texas at Austin (MLS) |
| Signature |  |
Laura Lane Welch Bush (born November 4, 1946) is an American educator who served as the First Lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009. She is the wife of George W. Bush, the 43rd U.S. president. Before moving to the White House, she was the First Lady of Texas from 1995 to 2000 while her husband was governor.
Born in Midland, Texas, Laura Bush loved reading from a young age. She graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1968 with a degree in education and became a second-grade teacher. Later, she earned a master's degree in library science from the University of Texas at Austin and worked as a librarian.
She met George W. Bush in 1977, and they married the same year. They have twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna, born in 1981. As first lady, she focused on improving education, promoting literacy, and supporting women's health. She is known for starting the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Laura Lane Welch was born in Midland, Texas, as the only child of Harold and Jenna Welch. Her father was a real estate developer, and her mother worked as a bookkeeper for his business. Her parents encouraged her love of reading. She enjoyed books like Little House on the Prairie and Little Women.
When she was 17, she was in a serious car accident that resulted in the death of her classmate and close friend, Michael Douglas. She was not charged in the incident, which she later described as a very tragic and painful event that caused her to lose her faith for many years.
She graduated from high school in 1964 and attended Southern Methodist University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in education in 1968. She started her career as a teacher in Dallas and later in Houston. In 1973, she earned a master's degree in library science and worked as a librarian in Houston and Austin.
Marriage and Family
Laura met George W. Bush at a friend's barbecue in 1977. They married later that year on November 5. She helped him during his first campaign for the United States Congress in 1978.
On November 25, 1981, Laura gave birth to fraternal twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna. The twins were born five weeks early because Laura developed a serious health problem during her pregnancy.
Laura is known for having a calming and steadying influence on her husband's life. She and her family often spend time at the Bush compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, a family estate where the Bush family has gathered for almost 100 years.
First Lady of Texas
When her husband became the Governor of Texas in 1995, Laura Bush became the state's first lady. She used her position to support causes for women and children, focusing on health, education, and literacy.
She started several programs, including an awareness campaign for parents and programs to encourage families to read together. In 1995, she founded the Texas Book Festival to raise money for public libraries. She also worked to help children who were victims of abuse or neglect.
When her husband decided to run for president in 1999, she supported him. She gained national attention when she gave a major speech at the 2000 Republican National Convention.
First Lady of the United States
Laura Bush became the First Lady of the United States on January 20, 2001. She continued to focus on her interests in education, literacy, and women's health on a national and global level.
Education and the National Book Festival
As first lady, she worked to improve education by helping to recruit good teachers and focusing on early childhood development. In 2001, she partnered with the Library of Congress to start the annual National Book Festival, an event that celebrates books and reading.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, she spoke to the nation to comfort families and children. She told parents to reassure their children that they were safe and loved. She also encouraged parents to limit how much their children saw the upsetting images on television.
She also worked on global education issues. The United Nations named her an honorary ambassador for its Decade of Literacy. In this role, she hosted a conference to encourage literacy efforts around the world.
Women's Health and Rights
Laura Bush was a strong advocate for women's health. In 2003, she joined The Heart Truth campaign to raise awareness about heart disease in women, which is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S.
Her mother, Jenna Welch, is a breast cancer survivor. This inspired Mrs. Bush to become an activist for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. She worked to gain international support for breast cancer research and awareness.
She also spoke out about the rights of women in Afghanistan. In November 2001, she delivered the weekly presidential radio address, becoming the first person other than a president to do so. She used the opportunity to talk about the difficult conditions for women in Afghanistan under the Taliban.
Popularity and Foreign Trips
Laura Bush was one of the most popular first ladies. Polls often showed that a large majority of Americans approved of her. People saw her as a polite, kind, and relatable person. She was also praised for her elegant style and fashion sense.
During her husband's second term, she became more involved in foreign affairs. She traveled to 77 countries during her eight years as first lady. Her trips often focused on raising awareness for HIV/AIDS and malaria, especially in Africa. She also visited the Middle East to promote breast cancer awareness and traveled to Myanmar to support the pro-democracy movement there.
Life After the White House
After leaving the White House in 2009, Laura and George W. Bush moved to Dallas, Texas. She has remained active in public life, focusing on the issues she cared about as first lady.
In 2010, she released her memoir, Spoken from the Heart. She has also co-written children's books with her daughter Jenna. She continues to be involved with the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which includes her husband's presidential library and a public policy institute.
Friendship with Michelle Obama
Laura Bush developed a close friendship with her successor, Michelle Obama. Despite being from different political parties, they have often worked together on projects. They appeared together in Africa for a summit on women's empowerment and co-chaired a campaign to support America's national parks. Mrs. Obama has called Mrs. Bush a friend and a role model.
Advocating for Women and Libraries
Mrs. Bush continues to speak out for the rights of women in Afghanistan. She has written articles and made public appearances to ensure that the progress made by Afghan women is not lost.
She also founded the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries. The foundation provides grants to school libraries across the country to help them buy new books and update their collections. After natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, the foundation has given special grants to help damaged school libraries rebuild.
Images for kids
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Bush appearing alongside Bill Clinton in New York, September 20, 2006
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Laura Bush talks with Raphael Lungo of Zambia as a part of her 2007 African trip.
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Laura Bush with her husband and several other dignitaries from around the world at the funeral of Pope John Paul II
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Bush and her husband attend a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery after the inauguration of Joe Biden.
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Laura Bush and mother in-law, former First Lady Barbara Bush, at the LBJ Presidential Library in 2012
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Bush is awarded the Living Legend Medallion from James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress, for her work in support of the National Book Festival, September 2008.
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See also
In Spanish: Laura Bush para niños
