Laura Bush

First Lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009

Photo by: White House photo by Krisanne Johnson · Public Domain · Wikimedia Commons

Born:November 4, 1946

Age:79

Zodiac Sign:Scorpio

Children:2

Born in:Midland, United States

Languages:English

President Autobiographer Writer Librarian Teacher Politician Children's Writer HIV/AIDS Activist

Signature

Related People

Spouse: George W. Bush(since 1977)

Connections graphExplore the full graph

Photo credits (2)

Laura Bush:
Photo by: White House photo by Krisanne Johnson · Public Domain · Wikimedia Commons
George W. Bush:
Photo by: Eric Draper · Public Domain · Wikimedia Commons

Links

Wikipedia IMDb Facebook X (Twitter)

Famous For

Movies & TV

Spin

Books

Spoken from the Heart

Awards

Library of Congress Living LegendThe Nichols-Chancellor's Medal

Laura Bush

First Lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009

Biography

Laura Lane Welch Bush (née Welch; born November 4, 1946) is an American educator who was the first lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009 as the wife of George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States. Bush was also the first lady of Texas from 1995 to 2000 when her husband was governor. Born in Midland, Texas, Bush graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in education, and took a job as a second grade teacher. After attaining her master's degree in library science at the University of Texas at Austin, she was employed as a librarian. Bush met her future husband, George W. Bush, in 1977, and they were married later that year. The couple had twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna in 1981. Bush's political involvement began during her marriage. She campaigned with her husband during his unsuccessful 1978 run for the United States Congress, and later for his successful Texas gubernatorial campaign. As First Lady of Texas, Bush implemented many initiatives focused on health, education, and literacy. From 1999 to 2000, she aided her husband in campaigning for the presidency in a number of ways, such as delivering a prominent address at the 2000 Republican National Convention, which gained her national attention. She became first lady after her husband was inaugurated as president on January 20, 2001. Polled by the Gallup Organization as one of the most popular first ladies, Bush was involved in national and global concerns during her tenure. She continued to advance her trademark interests of education and literacy by establishing the annual National Book Festival in 2001. She encouraged education on a worldwide scale. She also advanced women's causes through the Heart Truth and Susan G. Komen for the Cure organizations. She represented the United States during her foreign trips, which tended to focus on HIV/AIDS and malaria awareness.

This biography uses content from the Wikipedia article “Laura Bush”, available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.

Quotes

“A love of books, of holding a book, turning its pages, looking at its pictures, and living its fascinating stories goes hand-in-hand with a love of learning.”

— As quoted in "The Gift of Books" in Biography Today : Profiles of People of Interest to Young Readers, Vol. 12, Issue 2 : Laura Bush by Joanne Mattern (2003), p. 17

“Every child in American should have access to a well-stocked school library. … An investment in libraries is an investment in our children's future.”

— As quoted in Biography Today : Profiles of People of Interest to Young Readers, Vol. 12, Issue 2 : Laura Bush by Joanne Mattern (2003), p. 34

“I'm not wild about the term first lady. I'd just like to be called Laura Bush.”

— CBS News (June 24, 2004)

Quotes sourced from the Wikiquote article "Laura Bush", available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.

Photos

Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States from October 2005. White House photo by Krisanne Johnson.

During Mrs. Bush's speech at the Republican National Convention at the Houston Astrodome, her grandson George P. Bush makes remarks about his grandfather

Former First Lady Laura Bush gives introductions during the 2016 Invictus Games Symposium on Invisible Wounds in Orlando, Fla. May 8, 2016. The symposium hosted by Prince Harry and President George W. Bush sought to destigmatize the victims of post-traumatic stress and other injuries that are not regularly visible. (DoD News photo by EJ Hersom)

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visit with former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush Tuesday, December 4, 2018, at the Blair House in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

First Lady Melania Trump poses for a photo with former First Lady Laura Bush and family members Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in the Cross Hall of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

Former president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush make their way to the Capitol Rotunda to attend the 60th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2025. This is only the second time in history that the presidential inauguration has been held indoors due to weather. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Vanessa White)

U.S. service members of the joint forces honor guard provide military honors during the arrival of former President George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, from Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, Texas Dec. 05, 2018. Nearly 4,000 military and civilian personnel from across all branches of the U.S. armed forces, including Reserve and National Guard components, provided ceremonial support during George H. W. Bush’s, the 41st President of the United States state funeral. (Air National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel J. Martinez)

The Front Entrence to Laura Welch Bush Elementary School in Steiner Ranch, Austin, Texas, on November 6, 2023.

Former President, George W. Bush, with wife Laura Bush, depart from the airfield, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Dec. 03, 2018. Military and civilian personnel assigned to Joint Task Force- National Captial Region provided ceremonial and civil affairs support during President George H.W. Bush's state funeral. (DoD Photo by U.S. Army Pfc. Caeli Morris)

Former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush attend state funeral services for former President George H. W. Bush, the 41st president, at Saint Martin Episcopal Church in Spring, Texas, Dec. 6, 2018. Nearly 4,000 military and civilian personnel from across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including Reserve and National Guard components, provided ceremonial support during the state funeral of George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States. (U.S. Army photo by Laura Buchta)