Laura Bush

“AN EVENING WITH THE FORMER FIRST LADY”

Laura Bush was one of the most popular first ladies in American history, and she will be the first to address The Richmond Forum. From her time in the White House to her continuing personal commitment to education, women’s health and human rights, Laura Bush has a unique and wide-ranging perspective that she will share with our audience.  Her much-awaited memoir is scheduled for release in May 2010.

BACKGROUND

The role and duties of the American First Lady are officially undefined, leaving each First Lady since Martha Washington to create her own role, often including hostess, campaigner, public face and more recently, policy advocate. Upon the inauguration of George W. Bush as the 43rd President of the United States, First Lady Laura Bush quickly set about defining her own role by becoming involved in issues of national and global concern, with a particular emphasis on education, health care and human rights.

A former teacher and librarian, Mrs. Bush convened a Summit on Early Childhood Cognitive Development in 2001, providing a forum for prominent scholars and educators to share research on the best ways for parents and caregivers to prepare children for lifelong learning. She is an enthusiastic proponent of teacher recruitment programs such as Teach for America, The New Teacher Project and Troops to Teachers.

Also in 2001, Mrs. Bush joined the Library of Congress to launch the first National Book Festival. The Festival has since grown each year, drawing more than 150,000 book-lovers from across the nation to Washington, D.C. in 2010.

Mrs. Bush's involvement in Afghanistan began in 2001, when she delivered the weekly presidential radio address to call attention to the plight of women and children suffering under the Taliban. In 2005 she made an historic visit to that nation and witnessed firsthand the progress achieved by the Afghan people after the fall of the Taliban regime. She met with President Hamid Karzai and expressed America's continued support for Afghanistan's new democracy, which ensures equal rights for women and men.

In 2006 Mrs. Bush hosted leaders from around the world for the White House Conference on Advancing Global Literacy, showcasing successful literacy programs from a diversity of countries. Today she serves as Honorary Ambassador for the United Nations Literacy Decade.

As the leader of President Bush's Helping America's Youth initiative, Mrs. Bush drew attention to proven programs helping children avoid such risky behaviors as drug and alcohol use, early sexual activity and violence, and highlighting the need for a caring adult role model in every child's life.

Laura Bush was born in Midland, Texas. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Southern Methodist University and a master's degree in library science from the University of Texas. She taught in public schools in Dallas, Houston and Austin and worked as a public school librarian. In 1977, she met and married George Walker Bush. They are the parents of twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna. Their son-in-law, Henry Hager, grew up in Richmond.

Her memoir, Spoken From the Heart, is a New York Times #1 best seller.

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