Laura Bush On Giving Michelle Obama A White House Tour: "I Showed Her The Closets, I Showed Her All The Things That Women Are Interested In"

First Lady Laura Bush talked for the first time about her private meeting with Michelle Obama on Monday. When asked if she shared any White House parenting advice with the future First Lady, Laura Bush responded, "Not really. I think I showed her the closets, I showed her all the things that women are interested in. But I didn't try to give her a lot of advice."

Read on for the rest of the interview with CNN:

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The role of the First Lady is certainly something that I'm sure you discussed with Mrs. Obama earlier this week. How did that visit go? And could you tell us any anecdotes?

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: Well it went great. It was very private, really. It was really much more, I think, two mothers talking about home more in this visit, because of course I showed her the rooms that are our girls' rooms now that I think are the perfect rooms for her girls when they move there.

We talked more about really making the White House a home for a family. And what I know from having lived here and from visiting my mother-in-law when she made this family a home and from reading about all the other families that have lived here is this house really can be a home. And I know that they'll make it that way for their little girls.

QUIJANO: Certainly, there must be some increased pressure, a lot of scrutiny, of course, living in the White House. I was wondering, did you share any advice with her as a mother who has been through it, having had two daughters spending some formative years?

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L. BUSH: Not really. I think I showed her the closets, I showed her all the things that women are interested in. But I didn't try to give her a lot of advice. I know she knows that she can make it home.

And that's what she wants to do.

QUIJANO: Last question then. Your husband, the day after the election, talked about it being a stirring sight to see the Obamas because of the historic nature of having the nation's first African-American president. I wonder if you could share your thoughts on that, as well?

L. BUSH: Well I also think it's very, very important. I think it's important for American history. I think it's a message to everybody in the United States of what's possible. But it's also a message around the world because I know, because I heard from them, that there were leaders in the -- around the world who didn't think the United States would elect an African-American man. And so, I think it's a really important message about our own democracy to people around the world.

QUIJANO: Mrs. Bush, thank you so much.

L. BUSH: Thanks a lot. Thanks a lot.

Comments

[americanalien]

I never thought that I'd have anything positive to say about anyone with the name Bush but Laura Bush is just one of the nicest persons you can find anywhere. She is so decent and measured in her ways, you've just got to respect the woman. Considering the disaster that Bush has been, at least we can say he made one right decision in his entire life.

[BuzzingAlong]

But how can she live with a man like George Bush? Or that Bush family?

[LemonMeringue]

NO CONSCIENCE

[LemonMeringue]

I especially like how well she read those speeches Karl Rove wrote for her every time they had to trot her out to help Bush's approval ratings or the American people got restless about the war. She was a good little trooper, eh?

[fem56]

When we were looking for a house who checked out the closets and storage space? Sorry but women do tend to be more interested in such matters just like men tend to be more interested in the plasma TV or fishing boat or hot car. Men and women are not exactly the same so give it a break. Laura Bush is a wonderful woman and does a lot more than checking out closets.

[willwallace]

theyll look for any reason to get on bush, pathetic

[VOTER]

Huh?

No one has to look far to "get on bush."

NO ONE!

Sweet, quiet Laura will leave the WH a very wealthy woman from
her share of the WAR PROFITS.

Nice.

[TLV]

Oh, poor, poor George. He has suffered so much form the criticism of his public. You want to know what suffering he's caused?

Take a look:
http://www.thewe.cc/thewei/_/images_4/us_terror_state__/babies_fired_upon_by_us_helicopter.jpe

[teddyr]

I think that Laura Bush was being hospitable and trying to make Michelle feel comfortable about her move. I am pro Obama, and I believe Michelle is a brilliant woman with a meaningful career. But it is totally plausible that anyone would want to look at the bedrooms for their children and closet space. It would be an interest of anyone moving into a new home. And while I checked out the drawers in my kitchen, my husband headed straight for the garage, the furnace room, the water-heater and the basement. And we are both college educated. Men and women do have different interests at times. And Laura's girls were heading for college 8 years ago. The Obama girls are small children. Laura Bush had a different set of experiences with grown daughters. Her issues were totally different than Michelles. Must everything turn into a sarcastic jab.

[VOTER]

I'm not offended by Laura Bush's comment but I do consider her to be one
of the sweetest yet most worthless First Ladies ever.

Her reading program became hit and miss. Mostly miss.
Like her mother-in-law's reading program, Laura ran into
libraries losing their funding by her husband's administration.
A few WH Book Fairs became the Program. Public Relations. Period.

During Bush's second term, Laura was going to head up a program for America's
young males. The purpose was to promote education and guidance for their futures.
Nothing happened.

But her largest missed opportunity was not heading up a large effort for a
Volunteer Program aimed at helping our wounded soldiers.

Imagine the good she could have done.

Being gracious and sweet are nice but being a background wallflower when
you have a platform to really help others is a waste.

[THISTLE]

Barbara Bush & Laura Bush tout how important reading is - too bad Barbara Bush never
taught that to her son. Nor did she teach him manners, he talks with his mouth full of
food, doesn't carry a hanky, coughs without covering his mouth, actually is shown spitting
on the grounds of the White House - can you imagine if a Democrat did that - it would
be treason. And Laura Bush with all her talk about "reading," also never taught
her husband how to read.

[TLV]

Having been born to blue-bloods from the East Coast, George sure has stirred things up in that family, hasn't he? No wonder they think he's special. They have never seen anything like him before.

[ArmyCentrist]

Along with Neil's daughter, the Ralph Lauren model who quietly endorsed Obama way back in the primaries, Laura is the only Bush I like. As a native New Orleanian, Babs is on the "kick in the shins on sight" list! Let me catch you around Bourbon and Toulouse, madam!

[FortuneTeller]

I think Laura is the brightest spot in the current administration.

[VOTER]

Not much of a compliment considering her company.

[twokidsonecat]

Only Laura isn't part of the Administration.

[merrrrredith]

Hey guys, what is with the meanness? Go out and get a drink or something. It is what it is, and you don't have to judge every single word. Give it a rest. Jeez.

[Julie02]

I myself, rather adore Laura. She's like a Grandma type to me. She comes from another era so maybe she wouldn't understand that the closet comment would insult some people. I remember how she came to Michelle's defense when she made the "proud" comment, saying that she knew she didn't mean it like the media is portraying. She's been a gracious First Lady.

[chicagomike]

Julie, I couldn't agree more with your comments. As far as W is concerned, to me he's a cross between Alfred E. Neumann and the AntiChrist. But Laura is something else altogether. Unlike her evil mother-in-law, she's never said a mean word about anyone, at least in public. Yes indeed, she came to Michelle's defense over the "proud to be an American for the first time" statement -- and that speaks volumes for her essential fairness and decency. Just today, she stood up and spoke out against the outrageous acid attacks against female students in Afghanistan -- has anyone else even said one thing about that horrible outrage? So she's a bit old-fashioned...so what? The only good thing I can say about this dying presidency is that Laura Bush made a fine and worthy First Lady.

[wijg]

She's also said some kind things about Hillary Clinton...

...“Well of course, I want the woman president to be a Republican woman,” Bush said, when asked whether she was sorry to see Clinton’s campaign end.

“But I will say I watched the campaign and I admired Hillary’s grit and strength,” she said.

“I have to say I had a lot of admiration for her endurance,” she added....

[TLV]

You do what you can, given the circumstances.

[NoSillyName]

She doesn't come from "another era"; she comes from another mindset.

[boogiewoman]

Showed her the closets? Wow thanks Laura. That was a help. Geez could ya leave already!

[twokidsonecat]

Oh, but if you knew what was in those closets, you'd have a totally different opinion.

It could be..
1. all of George's gay friends who haven't come out yet
2. More Bush Skeletons
3.

[willwallace]

typical blog, no decency, glad i wont be as miserable as you the next 8 yrs with Obama as POTUS

[AmyOMerkley]

I think this is really twisting what was otherwise a remarkable visit between two first ladies from different political parties. The Bush's have been very forthcoming in their praise for this family. Laura Bush is interesting. Unless you know what it's like to raise children in an insane, creepy Blue-blood, political power-house family, I'm not really sure you should judge the choices she's made. Say what you will about W, but she has spoken openly about literature, a woman's right to Choose, she's pro gay rights... clearly this woman is her own person inside a dominant family.

She's also the head of the household, no small task when your home is the white house. The way I read her comment, granted it's a little old-fashiony, but she's saying they toured the white house as mothers and women. But, even President-Elect Obama asked to see the girls'bedrooms after his "boy talk" with Bush.

I'm not sure why a strong woman who puts her family and home first is any less strong than a corporate litigator.

[moongal6]

Spot on! Sista!

[BethinIllinois]

WHile everyone has their undies in a bundle -- this article was written, purposely, I believe, to make it seem as though women are only interested in closet space and that this was somehow, a) a slap in the face to Michelle Obama and b) that Laura Bush is a stepford wife. Neither could be further from the truth and truthfully, that's spoke as someone who's not fond of either woman.

You know what -- Michelle needs to know about closet space. And all you people crowing about her Harvard education -- is she using it now? No -- remember -- she's been campaigning. She's not using that high-priced degree, she's raising children, kind of like Laura Bush did. So get off your high horse. Michelle is no better than Laura Bush. And those of you saying she SHOULD be using that degree. Hmmm, that would kind of make her like ... Hillary Clinton! And gosh! Most of you didn't like her too much, either.

Michelle Obama has PUBLICLY said she wants to stay out of the presidential stuff. she has PUBLICLY said her first priority is her girls. So now that there's a story out about that, all you can do is mock the women who make that kind of world possible. And that says something about your smallness of mind.

[payos]

She's not using that high-priced degree, she's raising children, kind of like Laura Bush did.

Sorry one doesn't "use" a degree, high priced or otherwise, in the way you think should be used, because she is not working in a law office or as an administrator in UofChi. A "degree" is what one earns and it is what one does with it, it is the mind, the brain that uses the degree. Your "high-priced" comment belies much the animus you seem to harbor against a certain demography of women.

[willwallace]

a small peek into the HPosts' motivation...stirring it up and looking for any reason to hammer Bush...anyone of them

[DaBluAce]

what got your panties in a bunch? Breathe.....it will be better in the morning!

[wijg]

Agree. I don't understand all the attacks on Laura Bush. Both Michelle and Laura are gracious. I don't understand why we have to compare the two.

[damnadamson]

I love the repressed nature of Laura Bush when asked 'did you talk about the scrutiny and pressure of living in the white house ...

L. BUSH: Not really. I think I showed her the closets, I showed her all the things that women are interested in.

what is it that all women are interested in laura?? good bye bush's !!!

[BannedInBoston]

Did Laura show Michelle all the skeletons in those closets too? ("Whoops, let's look in a different closet!")

[DaBluAce]

funny!

[AmandaBC]

Robotic Stepford wives only talk about the things they were programmed to talk about...

[decolonizeme]

Right, because a Harvard-educated lawyer wouldn't be interested in what her husband is doing.

Goodbye W, goodbye Mrs. W.

[seattledemocrat]

The only reason this woman seems appealing to the right neocon is that she barely has a thought or opinion of her own...just the way they like their women.

I am so excited to see Michelle in this job. She brings intellegence, ideas, and style that will make the White House more exciting than the 2 boring go-to-bed at 9pm folks did while living there.