
During a time when young women in the United States have few role models and Britney Spears' misbehavior is fodder for the airwaves, former First Lady Laura Bush continues to represents American womanhood at its best.
While Mrs. Bush may have been thought of as an old style first lady because although she was a woman with strong opinions, she understood that her place in the White House was to bring dignity to her role as the first lady of the land.
The song, "Stand by your man" might describe the way Ms. Bush supported her husband during his presidency. While she did not favor overturning Roe v. Wade, she did it quietly, with her usual reserve.
Mrs. Bush represented something that is not often seen in a political setting: wholesome, not flashy, and doing little to draw attention to herself. This is not to say that she did not make a stand, such as being against the junta in Burma.
Perhaps Laura Bush learned from the first ladies that preceded her: Mamie Eisenhower, Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, and Rosalyn Carter. She did not have the glamor of Jackie Kennedy but brought the quiet dignity that exemplified her style.
Now that Ms. Bush has returned to private life, she will continue to be remembered as a First Lady who did America proud.