They're Talking About ... Our Kid

George and Barbara Bush on the highs and lows of having a son in the White House

By Hugh Sidey Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004

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    BUSH: I'm convinced he won't. He says he won't.

    TIME: What would you like to see in the second term?

    BUSH: Peace. Clear, positive solutions to Iraq and the Middle East. What I'd like to see is the President's view of a Palestinian state come true.

    TIME: What about the divide in the country?

    BUSH: As long as you have a major thing like Iraq, which divides, why, it'll be there. But I think if my dream comes true, if the President's dream comes true, these divisions will be far less. And, of course, you've got these domestic issues like revenues and Social Security reform. These are huge problems that the President is trying to face up to, and in a way that's very different from that of any of his predecessors. Social Security, if that's a success, why, that will be enormous in terms of history.

    TIME: Mrs. Bush, what are your personal plans going forward?

    BUSH: She's writing every morning. I don't know what she's writing.

    MRS. BUSH: I'm writing--if this old man doesn't stop talking, I'm through.

    BUSH: All right. I promise--

    MRS. BUSH: I'm trying to write things that I find interesting, and--

    BUSH: You're trying to write a new book.

    MRS. BUSH: Well, I'm surely going to write one if 10 years go by.

    BUSH: If I die, are you going to marry a younger man?

    MRS. BUSH: Darn right.

    BUSH: Don't let him use my golf clubs, though.

    MRS. BUSH: He's a rich young man. He won't use them, because he's lefthanded. Now, go on. That's the oldest joke. When I say, "Now, George, when I die don't let her use my golf clubs," he says, "Don't worry. She's lefthanded."

    TIME: You're going to be on the Inaugural stand again soon. What will you feel?

    MRS. BUSH: I keep wishing that our parents were alive. They would think this was the cat's meow.

    BUSH: They didn't think in terms of grand, you know, leadership-of-the-country terms.

    MRS. BUSH: No. I meant that we would be at the White House with our boy.

    TIME: Last question. The Bush effect or the whole Bush--

    BUSH: Dynasty?

    TIME: The Bush influence. It permeates so much of our national and international life.

    MRS. BUSH: I hope it's a good influence.

    BUSH: I don't really think much about that. It's mind boggling in a sense to think that we're a family that has had, continues to have, an interest in shaping national affairs. But it's not something we spend a lot of time on. I think it's there. But we don't dwell on it. We have a certain standing, not just here but abroad, because of that. But having said all that, again I just keep repeating, I don't try to do anything to enhance that.

    TIME: You must feel that what has transpired suggests this country reflects your values.

    MRS. BUSH: Yes. I think very definitely.

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