Barbara Bush, going strong
Former first lady predicts presidential campaign by another former first lady

By MELANIE TURNER
BEE STAFF WRITER
Last Updated: March 24, 2005, 04:34:28 AM PST

Former first lady Barbara Bush kept her Modesto audience alternately laughing and respectfully nodding Wednesday as she joked about old age and offered advice on long life and a lasting marriage.  And, of course, she got into some politics. She predicted former first lady Hil-lary Rodham Clinton will be the Democratic candidate for president in 2008 — and lose.  But she won't lose to Condoleezza Rice. Bush said she does not believe Rice, her son's secretary of state, will run for president.  She predicted that when the nation does have a female president, she will be a Republican.

Bush, who wore a pale blue suit and her signature pearl necklace, was the keynote speaker at the annual California State University, Stanislaus, Leadership Forum, held at the DoubleTree Hotel. Already, she said, this has been a big year in her family — with the presidential inauguration of son George for a second term and a Jan. 6 celebration of 60 years of marriage to husband George. "We have survived six children, 17 grandchildren, six wars, a book by Kitty Kelley, two presidents, two governors, and big election wins and losses," she said. "Like the Energizer bunny," she said, she and the former president keep going strong. Barbara Bush turns 80 in June, and plans to celebrate with a cruise to the Greek islands. "There's no question, I am the luckiest woman in the world," she said. Quoting singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, she added: "Wrinkles only go where smiles have been. … One look at my face, and you know I've led a happy life."

Stanislaus State student Matt Medina has a question for
former first lady Barbara Bush at an afternoon forum for students.
DEBBIE NODA/THE BEE

'We have survived six children, 17 grandchildren, six wars,
a book by Kitty Kelley, two presidents, two governors,
and big election wins and losses,' former first lady Barbara
Bush, 79, told the audience at the annual California State
University, Stanislaus, Leadership Forum on Wednesday
night in Modesto.

TED BENSON/THE BEE

Bush said she's often asked to share her secrets to a successful marriage. For one, she said, the ability to laugh with each other is important. "You can't stay mad at someone who makes you laugh," she said. Flexibility is important, too, she said, adding that she and George Bush have lived in 30 homes, and at one point considered farming. "It's important to tell your spouse occasionally how you feel about them," she said. She said her husband — "that 80-year-old whirlwind who makes my life sing" — is the greatest thing that ever happened to her.

Her advice for good parenting: Love your children unconditionally, and read to them. Bush's No. 1 cause has been literacy. The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy has awarded about $15million in grants to more than 450 literacy programs in 48 states.

Bush has written several books, including her autobiography, "Barbara Bush: A Memoir," and what she described as a sequel to that, "Reflections." She said she might write another book yet. "There's still so much to write about."

Such as this story: It was fall of 2003 and the former president arrived in Russia in a suit and tie to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was wearing a polo shirt and khakis. At the hotel, George Bush raced upstairs to change into a polo shirt and sweat pants — the only casual pants he had — only to find Putin downstairs in a suit. "So who knows?" she said. "If George keeps on doing all these funny things he does. … No matter how old you are, life never stops being an incredible adventure."

Earlier Wednesday, Bush fielded questions from about 100 students from Stanislaus State, Modesto Junior College and Davis High School. Questions ranged from whether Assyrians in Iraq should get special privileges to how she feels about her husband hanging out with former President Clinton. Frank Johnson, MJC student body president, asked if she had anticipated having two men in her life become president. "No and no," she said. "I never wanted to be anything other than a housewife." Regarding George W. Bush, she said, "Listen, I just hoped he'd grow up. Whether you like him or not, he's tenacious."

But she didn't claim to have all the answers. Velma Toma, a first-generation Assyr-ian student at MJC, asked Bush whether she thinks Assyrians should have special rights in Iraq similar to those American Indians have in the United States. "I shouldn't answer that," she said, "because I have no idea what you're talking about."