mrs. laura bush. [applause] spent good evening, everyone. thanks so much for coming. this has been an incredible turnout and, in fact, eric, as you know, he was on fox news as one of the interviews and i went on facebook and i said when are you going to do this party in washington? he responded right back. if you would be willing to host it las -- [laughter] >> brian mccormick to help, all the cohosts, i don't want to start with names because of will forget all 30 of you that were willing to support this and also your book that is out front so we thank you so much for doing that. we know that we had an incredible turnout. we had responses as you know beyond a waiting list. so we know we run out of books. i was just told, however, we were prepared if that was possible you can still order the book and eric will sign -- nice and big, beautiful. they will go on that page we signed. you can take these entities will be in your book. we don't want you to wait anymore. the books are selling out like crazy at work where they are on sale. we're so proud of you. all the photogra

mr. bush and laura bush. robin is joining us live from pretoria. hit on quite a range of topics, robin. >> reporter: yeah, hi. today we're in pretoria of course monitoring nelson handel la's health. yesterday in zambia with the former president and mrs. bush. but i just had to ask him about his reaction to those edward snowden leaks. do you think he's a traitor? >> i know he damaged the country. the obama administration will deal with it. >> reporter: do you think it's possible for one man to really damage the security of the nation? >> i think he damaged the security of the country. >> reporter: and when it comes to surveillance, there can be understanding of what -- >> i put the program in place to protect the country. and one of the certainties is civil liberties were guaranteed. >> reporter: so you don't think there is a compromise between security and prprivacy? >> i think there needs to be a balance. >> reporter: you don't want to criticize the obama administration. is that something that you've made a decision -- >> it doesn't do any good. i

mrs. laura bush. [applause] >> well, good evening, everyone. thanks so much for coming.his has been an incredible turnout and, in fact, eric -- as you know -- he was on fox news as one of his interviews, and i went on facebook and i said, eric, when are you going to do your party in washington? and he responded right back, well, would you be willing to host it? [laughter] so -- >> immediately. >> so it got this going, and with david, thank you so much for hosting us here at ed lman and brian mccormack who helped, of course, and all the coof hosts who are here, olga, i don't want to start with names because i will forget all 30 of you that were willing to support this and also your book out front. so we thank you so much for doing that. we know that we had an incredible turnout, we could fit about 200 people, we have responses, as you know, beyond a waiting list. so we know we've run out of book bees. i was just told. however, we were prepared that that was possible. you can still order the book, and eric will sign -- these are bookplates. they're nice and big, they're be

laura bush, they had a strong political asset. this is recent proof of that statement. what an unexpected asset that mrs. bush had become. receiving the first barrage of criticism against the sluggishation's response to explicit threat of terrorism prior to september 11. laura bush was summoned to charges.o those she emerged from a low-key trip to reply to her husband's critics. sadsaid that, i think it is that people would play upon the victims families emotions in this way. effect, thatg, in those who question her husband's policies were exploiting the nation's grief. that was pretty tough, worthy of dick cheney. she delivered it in an style.tening and even exception. this is the new laura bush. she played a political role, reminiscent of her controversial predecessor. she was transformed by history. the nation has different expectations, as i've already said. distort memories of saving george washington's portrait from the british fire. or eleanor roosevelt, bringing hitler's bonds and staying in buckingham palace during the blitz on london. she became fdr's eyes, ears, and likes. -- legs. recall jackie katie refusing,

laura bush with edge. hillary clinton different, eleanor roosevelt, different. even to an extent mrs.ng of the carter administration tried to get in on cabinet meetings, tried to be a little more active in policy. that didn't fly too well either. >> we're looking at the former first ladies, and the one that stands out is hillary clinton there. what would be the role of a first -- what would we call them? >> first gentlemen? >> first gentleman, first spouse. we might have to make it gender neutral for a while now that we're going to have women presidents. i think it would be different if it was bill clinton, i don't think it would be a quiet domestic role for sure. he would be an interesting person to start that. >> i don't think he would limit himself to one issue. that was a joke. thank you, joan walsh and ronald reagan. thanks, buddy. we'll be right back after this. probably the car. cause as you get older you start breaking down. i love my car. i want to take care of it. i have a bad wheel - i must say. my car is running quite well. keep your car healthy with the works. $29.95 or l

of course, that was first lady michelle obama and former first lady laura bush joking about the attention given to mrsobama's bangs earlier this year. mrs. obama joined her predecessor in the capital of tanzania on the last day of the obama family's eight-day tour of africa. she helped mrs. bush kick off the summit hosted by the george w. bush institute meeting over there. the two first ladies combined their star power to improving access to education, health services and economic opportunity for women and children across the continent of africa. joining me for a couple minutes to talk about it is msnbc political analyst, ron reagan, and joan walsh. joan, i think one of the reasons, i'm going to say this, an effort of george w. bush, michael gerson pushed him to do this, maybe laura did. the united states really helping to wipe out aids in east africa. really working on it. >> hugely important. also this issue these two women have come together on, chris, hugely important. when we invest in women and girls, those countries do better. the women wait longer to have children, to get married. they get edu

first lady michelle obama joined there by laura bush at the african first ladies summit. mrs. obama said, "nothing prepares you for the role of first lady." as both women dished about making the quick transition to living in the white house. >> i remember walking into that house and i didn't even know where the bathrooms were. but i had to get ready for a ball. it was and i've got to look nice? what door is this? you're opening all these doors? you can't find your toothpaste. you don't know where your kids are. that's day one. (announcer) at scottrade, our clients trade and invest exactly how they want. with scottrade's online banking, i get one view of my bank and brokerage accounts with one login... to easily move my money when i need to. plus, when i call my local scottrade office, i can talk to someone who knows how i trade. because i don't trade like everybody. i trade like me. i'm with scottrade. (announcer) scottrade. awarded five-stars from smartmoney magazine. with olay, here's how. new regenerist eye and lash duo. the cream smooths the look of lids... softens the loo

before michelle obama joined laura bush in opening the african first ladies summit, an event focused on empowering women across the continent. my colleague sat down with mrs bush, and started by asking her about the bond between the first ladies. >> always glad to meet with each other. we know what it is like, all the first ladies sitting on the front row today, including cherie blair, from england. haveow what it is like to your husband the president. there is a certain sorority or club, i think. we have a lot of things we can talk about together that no one else really would understand. >> i sometimes wonder if perhaps because you are a mother, you believe you have a unique connection to the women. >> maybe i feel a connection with women everywhere, but certainly here. we traveled here several times when george was president with our girls. our daughter barbara was so overwhelmed and so moved by what she saw on the very first trip, when we launched cap far -- she went2003, that back to her university and took the course they had on aid, and has founded a nonprofit. >> there are many organizations engaged in the continent, many with a lot of goodwill. ho

laura bush, they had a strong political asset. this is recent proof of that statement. what an unexpected asset that mrs. bush had become. she started receiving the first barrage of criticism against the administration's sluggish response to explicit threat of terrorism prior to september 11. laura bush was summoned to respond to those charges. she emerged from a low-key trip to reply to her husband's critics. she said that, i think it is sad that people would play upon the victims families emotions in this way. she was saying, in effect, that those who question her husband's policies were exploiting the nation's grief. that was pretty tough, worthy of dick cheney. she delivered it in an unthreatening and even style. no one took exception. this is the new laura bush. she played a political role, reminiscent of her controversial predecessor. she was transformed by history. the nation has different expectations, as i've already said. we should distort memories of dolly madison saving george washington's portrait from the british fire. or eleanor roosevelt, bringing hitler's bonds and staying in buckingham palace during the

president bush, laura bush, are going to be here opening a health clinic for girls, focused on the issue of a widening crisis here having to do with cervical cancer and mrs already planning to be at the event with laura bush. there's always been a question can they logistically figure it out and get the current and former presidents together at some point and all indication is some point in the next 24 hours that's going to happen. >> a lot of symbolism in south africa. there's president obama on robben island standing in the cell nelson mandela spent so many years in and going to tanzania where he may meet president bush as well. i'm sorry, you shouldn't stand with a backdrop like that behind you. we have so little sympathy. >> one thing you should do, as a public service for you, we want point out given the time difference between where you are, pui went 4 for 5 and your dodgers beat the phillies. okay. >> buddy, not only that, the last place dodgers just four games back, the nationals are on a roll, so my son is fired up about that. suddenly the all-star break, you know, it's suddenly baseball's fun again in the todd household. we're excited. >> have

laura were in neighboring zambia. >> both presidents being in africa at the same time. >> a special moment when you see these two guys together. >> absolutely. they were renovating a health clinic, mr. and mrs. bush, for cervical cancer screening and treatment. the former president and his wife sat down exclusively with our robyn curnow. >> reporter: he painted the doors and the walls. >> you've got a lot of paint on your face yesterday. >> i really did, yeah. >> reporter: you really got yourself dirty. >> well, i'm here to serve. >> reporter: to serve the women of zambia, who are dying from cervical cancer. and unnecessarily so, says the former president and the first lady. >> are you excited about that? >> fired up. >> do you think people are going to be lining up outside here? >> absolutely. yeah. >> i think women really are. because they know people who've died with cervical cancer. >> reporter: a mission to build on the aids program he set up while president a decade ago. pepfar, or the president's emergency plan for aids relief dramatically reduced the number of aids deaths in africa. with a massive investment of anti-retroviral drugs for the region. >> i'm very proud of the american people

laura bush. and at that event that katherine and i were at together, mrs.?bush said she had read in the newspaper that morning that she was prim. and she said, i don't know what that means. she said, i think it means librarian. [laughter] what's so interesting about it is she's the only first lady in history who went to the white house briefing room, grabbed the microphone herself, and use it had to call for the overthrow of the bermees government. it wasn't exactly shy and retiring. but we developed these myths about first ladies that we really have about all of them, an really starting with martha washington. i think it's the cap though. i've always said the cap did her a disservice. i stay perrianally furious with mount vernon over this. george washington's mount vernon. [laughter] [applause] i mean, yes, i bet he was really taking care of all the food stuff and all of that. at any rate. she, of course, succeeded by the very feisty and somewhat problematic abigail adams whom? and i might say, pat talked about writing about women. we are very lucky with ab

laura bush. and at that event that katherine and i were at together, mrs. bush said she had read in the newspaper that morning that she was prim. and she said, i don't know what that means. she said, i think it means librarian. [laughter] what's so interesting about it is she's the only first lady in history who went to the white house briefing room, grabbed the microphone herself, and use it had to call for the overthrow of the bermees government. it wasn't exactly shy and retiring. but we developed these myths about first ladies that we really have about all of them, really starting with martha washington. i think it's the cap though. i've always said the cap did her a disservice. i stay perinally furious with mount vernon over this. george washington's mount vernon. [laughter] [applause] i mean, yes, i bet he was really taking care of all the food stuff and all of that. at any rate. she, of course, succeeded by the very feisty and somewhat problematic abigail adams whom and i might say, pat talked about writing about women. we are very lucky with abigail

mrs. obama want to go abroad and do that, if she could get away with it. i don't know if we will get an answer. >> i think they can. i think laura bush did an extraordinary job. when hillary gave that speech in not only did my soul stand corrected, but the women who are in that facility who i work with and spend most my time working with, these are women who risk their lives every day in ways that 99% of you in this room can never understand, they took that speech like they took laura bush's address to afghan women and wrapped themselves in it and they went home and they still would encourage. would -- stoodll in courage. tell all the women activists i know in china. they know about that speech. asked women in africa. -- ask women in africa. they know about that speech. we think think about influence, we have to look the on our beyond ourazines -- fashion magazines. we have to look at people who are struggling to find the current to get up to do their jobs and survive. they are of profound importance to them. throughrewdness comes in ways that we do not anticipate. >> let me point out something, there is a distinction to be made. , t

mrs. obama wanted to go abroad and do that if she can get away with it. >> let me tell you one thing about that. i think they can. i think laura bush has done an extraordinary job. i think that when hillary gave that speech in beijing, not only did personal privilege here but the women who were in that facility whom i worked with spend most of my time working with, these are women who risked their lives everyday in ways that 99% of you in this room can never understand. they took that speech like they took laura bush's address to afghan women and they wrapped themselves in it and they went home and they stood in courage. i think to say that they blocked it out in china was true. you don't think it got out in china? tell about all the women activist i know this china that allida works with in china. they know about that speech. ask women in africa who don't have access to radio or television. they know about that speech. when we think about what these women have in terms of influence. we have to look -- beyond our fashion magazines, beyond our voting booths but into the daily lives of people who are struggling to find the courage ev