Bushes highlight post-White House lives at literacy event

HOUSTON (CNN) -- Former President Bush and wife Barbara are adjusting well to their new role as presidential parents but not without a few bumps along the way, at least according to a humorous video presentation Thursday night before a literacy promotion fund-raiser sponsored by the former First Lady.

The video -- which included an appearance by comedian Dana Carvey -- portrayed the elder Bush's troubles in getting people to take his calls or give him the respect and privileges he enjoyed while he was the leader of the free world.

Current President Bush played along after the video, saying he'd be happy to get together with his dad and talk over their problems.

"I have an opening the 27th of September," he said as the audience laughed.

The beaming president and former president and the two first ladies then stood to applause from the audience gathered for the 7th annual "A Celebration of Reading" which raised $2 million for two Barbara Bush literacy organizations.

In his formal remarks, President Bush quoted many of his own verbal gaffes.

"You have to admit in my sentences I go where no man has gone before. The way I see it, I am a boon to the English language," he told the crowd of about 2,000 at the Wortham Theatre in Houston. "I've coined new words like 'misunderestimate' and 'hispanicly.' I've expanded the definition of words themselves using vulcanize when I meant polarize."

But, when it comes to literacy, Bush said he's very serious.

"We all make our contributions to the world and I suppose mine will not be to the literary treasures of the western civilization," Bush said. "But I do hope to contribute in my own way, and one of those ways is to bring closer the day when every child and every American learns to read."

The event hosted readings by Former British Prime Minister John Major, journalist Hugh Sidey, British author P.D. James, and writers Richard Paul Evans and Elizabeth George.

See related sites about Politics

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.