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* May 4, 2010, 12:30 PM ET
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 17pt">
‘Oprah Winfrey Show’: Is Laura Bush a Secret Bob Marley Fan?</span></span>
Laura Bush, whose memoir, “Spoken from the Heart,” hits book stores this week, appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” this morning, for what her host billed as the former First Lady’s first interview since leaving the White House. Even with the queen of the intimate, confessional chat, Bush retained her poise and privacy.
The most emotional moments came early on, as Bush recalled the car accident she was in as a teenager that resulted in the death of a high-school friend. But as the subject shifted to George and their courtship, Bush showed a warmer, funnier side. She and George were among the few left in their circle of friends still single as they approached their 30s, Bush admitted. So they almost “had to marry each other, I guess.” And, she touched upon George’s early love of the three Bs: beer, bourbon and B & B (liqueur), though she said she never actually gave him an ultimatum to clean up his act, as has been reported. “George is very disciplined,” she said, and he knew when it was time to quit.
The Bush twins, Jenna and Barbara, appeared, greeting the nation with breathy giggles. Both praised their mother’s memoir, and talked about how much better they now know her. They opened up a bit. Jenna let slip that her mom is a secret Rastafarian and likes to listen to reggae great Bob Marley. Then the girls mocked their mother’s love of cleaning and cleaning products (highlighted during a prerecorded tour of the family’s ranch near Crawford, Tex., when Bush shows off the kitchen and says, “I’m very organized and I like a really organized kitchen.”). They then moved on to tease their dad for his lack of dancing skills, as the audience laughed at clips of the former President dancing on his visits to Africa.
It wasn’t until the final moments of the show that Oprah seemed genuinely surprised—when Bush said that the First Family pays for their food while in the White House.
Right before signing off, Oprah asked about criticism of the former President. That’s been the hardest part, Bush said. “I think it’s discouraging, really, for people who think about running for office, to see the way our office holders are treated by the other side, whoever the other side may be.”
How did they handle the “Saturday Night Live” skits? “Not watching television,” Jenna said. But mostly by heeding the advice she and her sister gave to the Obama girls: remember who your dad is and ignore what others say.
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 17pt">
‘Oprah Winfrey Show’: Is Laura Bush a Secret Bob Marley Fan?</span></span>
Laura Bush, whose memoir, “Spoken from the Heart,” hits book stores this week, appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” this morning, for what her host billed as the former First Lady’s first interview since leaving the White House. Even with the queen of the intimate, confessional chat, Bush retained her poise and privacy.
The most emotional moments came early on, as Bush recalled the car accident she was in as a teenager that resulted in the death of a high-school friend. But as the subject shifted to George and their courtship, Bush showed a warmer, funnier side. She and George were among the few left in their circle of friends still single as they approached their 30s, Bush admitted. So they almost “had to marry each other, I guess.” And, she touched upon George’s early love of the three Bs: beer, bourbon and B & B (liqueur), though she said she never actually gave him an ultimatum to clean up his act, as has been reported. “George is very disciplined,” she said, and he knew when it was time to quit.
The Bush twins, Jenna and Barbara, appeared, greeting the nation with breathy giggles. Both praised their mother’s memoir, and talked about how much better they now know her. They opened up a bit. Jenna let slip that her mom is a secret Rastafarian and likes to listen to reggae great Bob Marley. Then the girls mocked their mother’s love of cleaning and cleaning products (highlighted during a prerecorded tour of the family’s ranch near Crawford, Tex., when Bush shows off the kitchen and says, “I’m very organized and I like a really organized kitchen.”). They then moved on to tease their dad for his lack of dancing skills, as the audience laughed at clips of the former President dancing on his visits to Africa.
It wasn’t until the final moments of the show that Oprah seemed genuinely surprised—when Bush said that the First Family pays for their food while in the White House.
Right before signing off, Oprah asked about criticism of the former President. That’s been the hardest part, Bush said. “I think it’s discouraging, really, for people who think about running for office, to see the way our office holders are treated by the other side, whoever the other side may be.”
How did they handle the “Saturday Night Live” skits? “Not watching television,” Jenna said. But mostly by heeding the advice she and her sister gave to the Obama girls: remember who your dad is and ignore what others say.
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