Laura Bush Opens Up (VIDEO): 'There's Great Relief ... When You Leave The White House'

How is life these days for Laura Bush? "Freedom," "relief," and "relaxed" were a few of the words Bush used to describe it in her interview with CBS' Maggie Rodriguez.

Bush has been keeping herself busy at her new digs in Dallas, Texas, writing her memoir and acting as chairwoman for the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. However, a running motif in the interview was the "great feeling of freedom" that comes with leaving the White House, and that she and former President Bush are "both a lot more relaxed."

"There's great relief, believe me, when you leave the White House after serving there for eight years. A lot of responsibility," Bush added.

Bush maintained a sunny disposition for most of the interview, even when it came to her replacement, Michelle Obama, who she said is using her podium as first lady "very well." The one time she expressed disapproval was when Rodriguez touched on President Obama's critiques of the Bush administration:

I can tell you, I don't like that very much. That he would say that, you know, blame everything on George. But I think that really the President of the United States needs to remember the duty that he has and the obligation he has, the responsibility he has to the office. Which is of course to treat it with respect and with dignity. I think that's probably not a really great thing to do. Especially, this is coming from the wife of the former President. So surely you understand me.

On the other hand, Bush was perfectly fine with Dick Cheney's swipes at the Obama administration. "Absolutely. This is a free country, and I think it's important for people to express what they think," Bush said.

WATCH the full CBS interview:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Comments

[spinns17]

ya but you folks left a h.ell of a mess.

[alexunlv]

It is pretty scary. At one point, she comes across as being folky and simple, but then she spews the deadly venom common in the Bush administration. This is the very veil that got these folks elected to office.....a front only.

[rivermouth]

Laura couldn't possibly be more relieved than I am!

[njgal4obama]

Let me see if I have this straight.

It's wrong for the current president to criticize the former president, but it's OK for the former first lady to criticize the current president.

Considering the mess the former president left for the current one, I'd say President Obama has been overly kind and generous toward GWB.

[souroil]

70% of America was relieved the day he left office. Even most of the right wingers I know by 2005
were saying..."Bush isn't my President"

[vascopyjama]

You think you're relieved.

[Rod DK]

Ohh trust me on this: It was a great relief when you left the WH for the rest of the world as well.

[whitegayrepublican]

we know, we know

[Octoberluna]

My mother told me "then say nothing at all" but I never listened to my mother's good advice...this woman is dark in her heart, her soul is black and I can't be sorry I said so, she married evil and she has committed evil...y'all what I mean

[1088]

Spot on!