George and Laura: Portrait of an American Marriage

Obviously I didn't pick up this book because I am a fan of the first couple but I'm very interested in marriage in general and specifically, marriage under pressure. I can't imagine any other pressure-cooker more stringent or all-consuming than the White House and I was interested to read one person's interpretation of why George and Laura are still together. More incredibly, for all George's faults, he has never been dogged by rumours of infidelity, the way previous presidents have.

I learned some interesting facts through this book. I didn't know that Laura was responsible for a fatal automobile accident while she was in her teens or that she chain-smokes; I didn't know that both Bush twins have multiple arrests and warnings for show more drinking offenses; I didn't know that President Bush's rise to the top seemed so incredilous to those who had been in politics for a long time. So I found it interesting but ultimately it did not change my opinion of the man, his family or his politics. show less

I picked this one up on the cheap. I figured it would be seriously dated having been written in 2002 (not long into the Bush presidency). I was delighted to be wrong.

The author does a fine job of telling the story of George and Laura. Mostly free from any political statements, the book instead is devoted to just telling the story of two people and how much they mean to one another.

While there isn't much about the subjects after the first year of their presidency (the book closes in early 2002), I found it didn't really matter. The part I found most interesting and fascinating was their early stories and how the details of their lives impacted them later.

The author does a fine job of telling the story of George and Laura. Mostly free from any political statements, the book instead is devoted to just telling the story of two people and how much they mean to one another.

Published the year of midterm elections, this may have well had a politial intent, but it does give some interesting, and probably accurate observations about the recent first couple. Laura is supposed to have claimed she recommended Cheney, or at least chimed in on the recommendation. She supposedly restored much of the decorating of Jackie Kennedy, undone by the previous democratic First Lady. An interesting addition to the first lady literature.

marriage of Laura and George Bush - gives their growing-up years, their college years, campaigning, and having twin daughters