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

[sunny555]

Remember, Obama said no attacks on his wife. The same should be true of Laura. Sometimes HuffPo headlines sensationalize just a little bit.......­.

[Bitsko]

A masters in library sciences is a terrible thing to waste. You might want to put more olives in the next martini, Ms. Bush.

[hrhkat]

Trust me, she is a complete drunk....s­he drinks alot of beer and alot of vodka, apparently their marriage wont last after they move out....so sad too..she really isnt a bad lady, she only appears with him when she has too...she can barely stand him, and the publics perception of him has really affected her...she does as much traveling as she can to get away...she has allready started packing...­and when they return to texas she is going to pack up and leave for her newly purchased condo...

[oneCTvoter]

And you know this because...­.... please enlighten us all.

[kesiac]

I find Laura Bush hard to hate. When I think of her, I think about how she spoke up for Michelle Obama, and defended the "first time in my life" statement. I thought it was rather gracious.

[NoneyaBizniss]

Thank you for saying that.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

I know exactly what you mean. She's something of an enabler because she hasn't been able to reel in the socio path-in-chief, but I do feel some empathy for her because of things like the "first time in my life" thing. It kinda diffused the media from that whole comment.

[MIVOTE]

Blah! Blah, Blah, blah, blah!

[HHarvey]

I wish I could be a kid living in the white house, what fun that would be!

[ddemos]

Aside from the obvious, what is up w/ Geo. Bush? I just saw him on CNN, and when he said that he had just seen "Pres.-ele­ct Obama", he said it w/ such a condescending smirk. And the other day, talking about the disastrous state of the economy, he was smiling...­what the ...??

[roshni]

he is probably drunk and/or stoned

[motherfather]

Thats because he is d u mb and doesnt know the gravit of anything. They prephim with the days talking points and he just says them. He doesn't understand any of it.

[socialmistfit]

Liberals trust people that cry. Too bad Bush didn't cry all the time, because he would likley have left office as a well-loved liberal himself.

[shirleyfeeney]

Believe it or not, the first thing I looked at when we moved was the closets.

And I'm as liberal as they come. I'm not a cookies and milk, Donna Reed mom, but I am a mom to three.

Lay off Laura Bush...she is a nice lady, whether or not you like her husband. And no one is expecting Michelle Obama to be a Stepford First Lady. Hillary Clinton already broke that mold.

[roshni]

i like Laura just fine.
how she can live with that chump is another issue.....­.......

[kellymc]

Yes - nice enough woman, bad taste in men.

[kozmik]

This is part 1,382,475,097 in my "Advice to Blog Readers" series:

* Try not to get worked up over trivial stories, it's kinda lame.

[NoMercy]

Please people, do you think change is easy?

Give Laura a break.

[HHarvey]

I've always thought Lara Bush was very gracious. I can't believe the mean spirited blogging on here. I'm an Obama supporter, but even I wouldn't take a whack at Mrs. Bush, she doesn't deserve it.

[PortlandSean]

Some of the mean comments here remind me a lot of why I voted against the Republicans. We won, finally, so let's show them a little "change" by taking the high road.

[kesiac]

I know. All Laura did was show Michelle the nice luxurious closets. Geesh. Michelle didnt need her to talk about anything else. Everything is fight worthy. Save the vitriol for matters that matter. YES WE CAN? Yes!

[LucieLee]

The closets? Hmm. Is that what women talk about.....­I'm glad the closets have doors~ sheesh!!! I'm glad that the First Lady and the First Lady in waiting...­had a chance to get together and talk about what moms usually talk about...th­eir kids....fo­rget about the closets!! LOL

[nabrum]

LucieLee & other Laura bashers:

Maybe Laura didn't want to disclose any PRIVATE conversations they had as it is NONE OF OUR BUSINESS and she was gracious enough to keep it to herself by putting off the reporter.

I worked for Obama, but Laura did stick up for Michelle on that "1st time" comment. The Lady is gracious. Give her a break.

Get a grip!

[Clare53]

Thanks for the advice Mrs. Cleaver.

[ElodieStClair]

Uh, Laura... just because you're a Stepford Wife, it doesn't mean that Michelle is.

I have a hunch that Michelle's interests are just a wee bit more sophisticated.

[JulieSA]

You don't know anything about Laura Bush.

[MIVOTE]

Laura married George W. Enough said!

[ElodieStClair]

Yeah, you're right; I'm sorry. I know me and all my friend just love- excuse me- lust closets.

What woman doesn't just obsess on them?

I just can't get enough of closets. They make me feel so... so... womanly. That's right, give me that closet, mmmm, more closet, more closet, more closet.

Okay, now I need a cigarette.

[BabsfromKansas]

Do you think she showed her THE closet next to the Oval Office??