Laura Bush on her first six months in the White House

First lady Laura Bush

Laura Bush talked to CNN's Judy Woodruff on her husband's first six months as president and her first six months as first lady.

WOODRUFF: Ms. Bush, thank you very much for joining us.

BUSH: Thanks, Judy.

WOODRUFF: This is just about the six-month mark for you and your husband. How's it going for you as the first lady?

BUSH: Well, personally, I have to say that it's been so fast, I can't believe it's been six months that we've been here, but we've had a terrific time.

I feel very proud about a lot of things that have happened, and my husband's tax bill, certainly the tax cut, was a huge achievement, and I just hope that his summit on early childhood education last Thursday and Friday at the auditorium at Georgetown University that brought people in from all over the country who are particularly interested in early childhood cognitive development, that was terrific.

VIDEO First lady Laura Bush talks with CNN's Judy Woodruff (Part1) (July 30) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Part 2 -- (July 30) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MORE STORIES First lady plans National Book Festival

WOODRUFF: And today, this book festival.

BUSH: That's right.

WOODRUFF: And what is the purpose of this?

BUSH: Today, we announced the National Book Festival, which will be on Saturday, September 8. I hope people from all over the country will come in for it. We have very, very renowned American writers who will be reading -- there are panel discussions -- on the Capitol grounds and in the Library of Congress building itself. It's just a day for all of us to celebrate American authors and, of course, to celebrate reading. I'm thrilled about it.

WOODRUFF: Now, your conference at the end of last week, the White House Summit, already generated a little bit of controversy.

BUSH: I may not have seen the controversy.

WOODRUFF: Well, you made some remarks about teachers in your experience were not always prepared to teach reading, and there has already been from North Carolina a meeting of the School of Education ...

BUSH: Well, good I hope so. I hope so.

I just wanted to say to teachers everywhere that when you leave college with your teacher's certificate and you go into your first class, if you don't feel prepared, if you feel like there's some things your college education could have done better, it's a good time to write to them and say, "These classes were great and these classes, you know, maybe I could have been prepared in a better way in these other areas."

I think college students, when they graduate, have a lot of influence over their colleges, and it's a good time to let your college know how successful they were in preparing you.

WOODRUFF: Are you surprised already of the capacity for --

BUSH: Controversy?

WOODRUFF: For reaction.

BUSH: I think that really is what surprised me the most, not controversy over issues, of course -- I knew about that -- but the criticism about hair styles or clothes. I don't know why I was taken off guard by that. I should have known.

WOODRUFF: I talked to a couple of people, getting ready for this interview, who have done books on first ladies or who are working on books, and pretty much all of them described you as the most traditional first lady of our modern era -- with the exception, perhaps, of Bess Truman. How do you describe yourself?

BUSH: You know, I think people describe me that way because I was a teacher and a librarian. I had very traditional jobs that women did traditionally have. Now, women choose a lot of other professions. But one thing that I'm having a lot of fun doing and also I think is very important is I'm going around the country talking about how important teaching is and how important it is for women and men to consider teaching as a career again.

We're desperate for teachers. I've had a very interesting time visiting bases, American military bases, in Kosovo when we were just there and Aviano, Italy, and here in this country, in San Diego Naval Yard and Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to talk to troops, retiring troops, about choosing teaching as a career.

So I think there are a lot of reasons people say that. I don't know if that's actually right.

WOODRUFF: One of the other words they use is "low-key." Ms. Bush is a "low-key" first lady. Do you think of yourself as low-key?

BUSH: Well, I think of myself as calm certainly, but I wouldn't say that. I probably haven't sought the press a lot. Maybe I haven't done a lot of interviews, and I think in America that's how people see their political leaders if they are on television a lot, but I'm interviewing with you now, so. All your viewers will.

WOODRUFF: And we're very pleased about that.

Some of these first lady watchers say, "Well, at some point Ms. Bush is going to look around and think about the history of the position, look at the other first ladies..." -- and we're sitting here next to a portrait of Lady Byrd Johnson, who I think you've described as --

BUSH: One of my favorites, certainly.

WOODRUFF: One of your favorites. Jacqueline Kennedy is there. There are several others. Eleanor Roosevelt is here -- and think, "this is such a limited amount of time, I have the potential to make change."

BUSH: Well, I know I have that potential. I was the first lady of the state (Texas). And I actually learned it from one of my predecessors, Gov. Mark White's wife, Linda Gale, who came to lobby the legislature in Texas on an issue that she had worked on as first lady.

And she said to me, "Laura, you just don't know what a forum you have when your husband is governor or president." And I know that. And I think that's why we've already had the very successful early childhood education summit last week and announced the ... the National Book Festival today. So I think I've actually taken very good advantage of the time I've had here.

WOODRUFF: So it's not as if you're going to wake up one morning and say, "Oops, I only have so many days left."

BUSH: Well, I might wake up one morning and think that, but not for a couple of years, I hope.

WOODRUFF: What would you say is the biggest difference for you between Austin, Texas, and Washington?

BUSH: Well, of course, the stage is so much larger. And we still had a lot of privacy. We went out to dinner a lot. We saw our friends a lot. Went to our friend's houses in Austin. And we do that here, but not on such a -- not as often as we had the opportunity in Austin. Yesterday, we did go to the Kennedy Center. We saw "Kiss Me, Kate." And it's just a much larger scale. The number of cars that leave, for instance, when you drive off -- there are a lot more.

WOODRUFF: You mean it's just more of a production...

BUSH: That's right.

WOODRUFF: Have you met anyone in Washington who's particularly either surprised you, impressed you -- maybe even somebody from the other side of the political...

BUSH: Everyday we get to meet people that surprise and impress us, I think -- but certainly meeting Kay Graham (retired Washington Post publisher, who died July 17). She had a dinner for us. And I'm so thankful that we had that opportunity, since she died, that we had that chance before she died to get to meet her. I saw on television her son's eulogy from her funeral. And he said that after everyone read her biography, they were her best friend. And, actually, because of her biography -- which I read -- I did feel like I really knew her, even though I had only one opportunity to be with her at her house -- but certainly meeting people like that.

Tomorrow night, we're going to do "In Performance At The White House," which is the PBS special that different bands or entertainers play. And it'll be run in September. But we're going to have the Marine military band. And one night, we got to go out to the old Marine barracks for the Marine tattoo. And that was fabulous.

And every single day, we have the opportunity to meet really great people and see fabulous things that happen all over our country.

WOODRUFF: I read that the president and you wake up at 5:30 every morning.

BUSH: Especially since that last trip to Europe, when we haven't quite gotten back to our own schedule.

WOODRUFF: And that he brings you coffee. Now, does he make the coffee?

BUSH: He brings coffee. I actually think the coffee is made and he just gets to turn it on when he --

WOODRUFF: Because I was going to ask you...

BUSH: He did make the coffee always before. He can make really good coffee.

WOODRUFF: So do you sit and discuss what's in the newspaper?

BUSH: We read the newspapers. And we discuss it, to some extent. I mean, we're both reading the newspaper as fast as we can. And then he gets up and leaves -- gets dressed and is gone by 7 -- goes over to the West Wing at 7.

WOODRUFF: Do you talk to him, whether it's in the morning or in the evening or weekend, about most of the decisions?

BUSH: I wouldn't say most, because I'm not -- you know, I'm certainly no expert on most of the decisions. I talk to him about education issues, of course. I mean, that's what I've spent my whole life studying or working on or practicing -- and a few other issues.

I think, mainly we discuss what's in the paper and the different glance that we see, the different newspapers have when we read them in the morning.

WOODRUFF: Do you know that you have influence with your husband? When you talk to him about something he's listening? I mean, you described yourself as a good listener, but he listens to you?

BUSH: Sure, of course.

WOODRUFF: I understand.

BUSH: He does. Absolutely. I mean, I can't give you an example. I won't even tell you what we actually discuss. But I know I have influence on him, just like he has influence on me. I mean, we've been married a long time. We have a very close relationship. And, of course, we talk about issues and have influence on each other.

WOODRUFF: You've already said that the two of you have discussed his upcoming decision on embryonic stem cell research. Do you think he's already made up his mind about this?

BUSH: I think he is making up his mind. But I'm not really sure where he is right now on it. I think it's a very serious issue. It's a very serious moral and ethical issue and scientific issue. And he's heard from a lot of different people, a lot of experts in a lot of different fields. And when he makes up his mind, he'll let everyone know.

WOODRUFF: There are those, Mrs. Bush, in the religious community who would say, "Well, if you are pro-life" -- which the president clearly is -- "then this is an easy decision. Just say it's wrong." Why isn't it an easy decision?

BUSH: Well, I think because a lot of those embryos will be destroyed anyway or disposed of anyway, so I think that makes it even more difficult.

But, also, there's certainly a -- I don't know what he's thinking. These are all my own ideas. But there's certainly a life side of it as well, when you think about life that'll -- could be saved by research.

WOODRUFF: And when you hear these passionate advocates. Even Nancy Reagan has spoken up to your husband --

BUSH: Sure.

WOODRUFF: -- here at the White House on behalf of her husband, who has Alzheimer's. ... We've heard about diabetes, Parkinson's.

BUSH: I mean, that's what we hope will come from research. But there's also adult stem cell research. There is umbilical cord research. I mean, there is other research -- other ways to get to the same kind of research.

So we'll just see what he says. I'm certainly no expert on it. I've not been privy to all the advice and experts that he's heard from.

WOODRUFF: So the argument -- I mean, without going on too long here -- the argument that you must have embryonic stem cells --

BUSH: Well, I think the argument is that the president has this opportunity to decide. And I don't have that opportunity.

WOODRUFF: You've said some months ago, about the time of the inauguration, that you would not favor overturning Roe v. Wade (the 1973 Supreme Court case legalizing abortion).

BUSH: You know, in a lot of ways, the president and I agree on a lot of issues that have to do with that. We both think that adoptions should be streamlined and that adoption is a very good alternative. We both believe that abstinence should be taught in schools and that a lot of people -- that everyone should promote abstinence with young people, young teen-agers.

And so we see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues. And the other thing is, after having been married as long as we have, we understand each other's viewpoints. And I know that he is the president; I'm not. And so I certainly, in private, might say some things to him. But I also understand that I don't get that opportunity to make all the decisions.

WOODRUFF: So when you pick up The Washington Post this morning and one of the headlines says, "Administration Moving Toward Supporting Abstinence, Moving Away From Family Planning"...

BUSH: Well, I know the administration does want to support abstinence, absolutely. But that doesn't mean that they wouldn't also support family planning.

WOODRUFF: Do you think that headline of that story was a little overwritten?

BUSH: I didn't read all the story, but probably. A lot of them might be that way.

WOODRUFF: How do you deal with criticism of your husband?

BUSH: Well, it's tough. It really is tough. I think everyone understands how hard it would be to see somebody you love -- your husband or your children -- or anyone criticized. That's very, very hard. But it's also just a fact of life in politics. I mean, you know that from reporting on INSIDE POLITICS every single day. It's just a fact of life.

And sometimes the criticism might be deserved. And a lot of times, it's not.

WOODRUFF: Do you think your skin just gets thicker?

BUSH: No, I don't. I mean, I think it's always hard.

WOODRUFF: Just a couple of other questions, Mrs. Bush, about you.

It's been reported that you smoke. Now, is this correct?

BUSH: That is not correct. I did smoke, though. I used to.

WOODRUFF: When do you give it up?

BUSH: A long time ago.

WOODRUFF: Was it because of the public arena?

BUSH: No, no. It was because of health. I just hiked in the High Sierras in Yosemite for four days and about 40 miles. And I want to be healthy.

WOODRUFF: Do you have any advice for others about good health, about smoking, about any of those?

BUSH: Well, I have the advice for people to exercise. I think that's very important. I think it's really important for Americans. There's a lot of new research that shows we're -- we have very high rates of obesity. And I think it's important to exercise. I think it's important for parents to turn the television off and let their children get up and get exercise and open a good book and read.

WOODRUFF: And what other, in connection -- I'm doubling back a little bit -- you mentioned a moment ago the press and how it slants in one way or another. But in connection with that, do you think you and your family have been allowed the zone of privacy that you wanted as president?

BUSH: Oh, to some extent. But, of course, I think that our children ought to be totally left alone and allowed to have a totally private life. They're not public citizens. They didn't run for office. And we asked early on the press to give them that opportunity. And to some extent, I would say they have, but not like I wish they would.

WOODRUFF: Do you think you can control that?

BUSH: I don't think so. I mean, I certainly have asked a lot. My husband and I both have. And if we never saw their picture in the paper again, we'd be a lot happier.

WOODRUFF: Do you think it's just the press just can't help it itself?

BUSH: I think it's selling magazines and newspaper articles and television at the expense of my children. That's what I think it is.

WOODRUFF: You feel pretty strongly.

BUSH: Yes, I do, of course.

WOODRUFF: Mrs. Laura Bush, we thank you so much for joining us.

BUSH: Thanks.