Laura Welch Bush, 40th First Lady of the United States

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.[1][2][3] Bush previously served as First Lady of Texas from 1995 to 2000. She is married to George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Bush

Brief Biography

She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest. She graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in education and soon took a job as a second grade school teacher. After attaining her Master's degree in Library Science at the University of Texas at Austin, she was employed as a librarian. She met George Walker Bush in 1977 and they were married later that year. The couple had twin daughters born to them in 1981.

Bush's political involvement began with her marriage. She campaigned during her husband's unsuccessful 1978 run for the United States Congress and later his successful Texas gubernatorial campaign. As First Lady of Texas, Bush implemented many initiatives focused on health, education, and literacy. In 1999, she aided her husband in campaigning for the presidency of the United States in a number of ways, most notably delivering a keynote address at the 2000 Republican National Convention, which gained her national attention. She became first lady of the United States after her husband defeated Democrat Al Gore in the controversial 2000 election.

Polled by Gallup as one of the most popular first ladies,[1] Laura Bush was involved in topics of both national and global concern during her tenure. She continued to advance her trademark interests of education and literacy by establishing the semi-annual National Book Festival in 2001 and encouraged education on a worldwide scale. She also advanced women's causes through The Heart Truth and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She represented the United States during her foreign trips, which tended to focus on HIV/AIDS and malaria awareness. In May 2010, Bush released her memoir, Spoken from the Heart, in conjunction with a national tour.

Family

• Parents: only child of Harold Welch (real estate developer) and Jenna Louise Hawkins (bookkeeper)
• Spouse(s): George W. Bush ​(m. 1977)​
• 2 children: Barbara, Jenna
• Bush is of English, French, and Swiss ancestry.[3][9]

References

• https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/first-families/lau...
• https://georgewbushlibrary.smu.edu/en/The-President-and-Family/Laur...
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Bush cites
  • 3. http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=44
  • 9. "The all-American icons with British roots". London Evening Standard. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. link “ The First Lady Laura Bush's great-great grandparents also made voyage from Britain the U.S, in 1865.”
• http://www.wargs.com/political/welch.html
• A Genealogy of the Wives of the American Presidents and Their First Two Generations of Descent, Craig Hart, McFarland, Nov 4, 2004. “Laura Bush.” Page 43-50. GoogleBooks