Laura Bush

Laura's Junior Life

Laura Bush was born on November 4, 1946 as Laura Lane Welch in Midland, Texas. She was an only child born to Harold and Jenna Welch. Laura went to James Bowie Elementary and was a Girl Scout from 2nd to 5th Grade. She took piano lessons for around 4 years, but her favorite hobby has always been reading. After grade school, she attended was San Jacinto Junior High School. Laura wanted to go to SMU (Southern Methodist University), but she still had more high school years ahead of her, so she went to Robert E. Lee High School. One day, something happened that changed her life forever. Laura was seventeen and was driving her car. She went past a stop sign and hit another car. The driver, Michael Douglas, got killed. The next year, Laura got accepted into SMU. In 1968, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in education.

Career and Family

Laura Bush got her first job in Dallas as an elementary school teacher in 1968. The next year, in Houston, she took a job as a second - grade teacher. There, she lived in a complex called the Chateau Dijon. A few years later, Laura went to University of Texas at Austin to become a librarian. She graduated from University of Texas in 1973 with a degree in library science. In the summer of 1977, Laura went home for a visit. Joey and Jan O'Neil, her friends, invited her over for dinner one night. They wanted to introduce her to George W. Bush. As soon as they met, they quickly fell in love with each other. Three months later, they got married on November 5, 1977. Laura Welch Bush left her job and moved back to Midland. George W. Bush began campaigning in 1978 to be a congressman. They traveled all over Texas for a year, but George W. lost that election. Laura and George really wanted to have children, so they decided to adopt children. But before they could, Laura was pregnant with twins! The twins needed to be delivered five weeks before they were due. The twin girls were born on November 25, 1981. The birth of Jenna and Barbara was bid news since their grandfather was the Vice President of the U.S.

Life as First Ladies

For the next several years, Laura and George spent life with their daughters. George ran his own oil company until something happened in 1986. Vice President Bush was planning to run for president and George W. was asked to help with the campaign. George W. 's father won that election and became the 41st president of the U.S. After his father's term was over, George wanted to run for the governor of Texas. On November 8, 1994 George won the election! Laura didn't like speaking in public, but that was her job as First Lady of Texas. "Laura Bush quietly made a big difference in Texas," says the book "Laura Welch Bush, The First Lady." Laura worked on literacy and education projects during her time as the First Lady of Texas. She made many programs such as The Family Literacy Initiative, Reach Out and Read, Texas Ready to Read, and Take Time for Kids magazine. Life was nice for the Bush Family. But in 1998, people started that George W. become a candidate for United States. George and Laura decided they would do it. In 1999, George was well known in the country. Finally, on December 12, 2000, George W. Bush was America's President and Laura Welch Bush was First Lady of the United States of America!

Quotes/Personal Statements

"Laura Bush has contributed to society by helping children, friends, and family in many ways"

- Divya Mathew

“We can overcome evil with greater good”
“Leadership is not about popularity, it is about doing what is right”

Bibliography