George W. Bush Announces Scholars and Issues for Bush Institute

Speaking Thursday at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, former president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush announced the creation of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, an archive, museum, and policy center to be built on the SMU campus. In a joint address broadcast on the new center's Web site, the Bushes outlined the institute's policy goals and revealed several of the scholars who have signed on.

A museum and archive will contain "hundreds of millions" of images, documents, and e-mails from the Bush presidency, and icons like the bullhorn the former president used to address relief workers after the 9/11 attacks. A policy arm called the Bush Institute will perform research and advocate work in four policy areas: education, global health, human freedom, and economic growth. It will also include a major women's initiative, which Laura Bush said would be integrated with every area of research and activism at the center. The Bushes will host two major conferences next March, one on education leadership and another for Afghan women.

"I strongly believe women will lead the democracy movement in the Middle East, and they will have an ally in the Bush Institute," Bush said of the institute's goal to promote women in leadership both at home and abroad.

In his first domestic announcement since leaving office, the former president briefly addressed several contentious moments of his administration. He said he had been reviewing millions of documents and e-mails while writing his memoirs. "Since I left office I have had a little time to reflect. There were some good days and some tough days, but every day I was honored to represent nation I love."

He said last year's bailout of Wall Street banks went against his free-market principles, but was necessary to "avoid a major global depression."

Scholars who have joined the Bushes include Jim Guthrie, a Vanderbilt professor; Mark Dybul, Bush's former AIDS relief director; and Jim Glassman, a conservative journalist and former undersecretary of state.

The institute will eventually be housed in a building to be constructed on the SMU campus and designed by architect Robert Stern, whose firm has been involved in major building projects at Georgetown University, Harvard Law, and Yale University.

Both of the Bushes promised their constant attention and involvement. "George and I will be personally involved in every aspect of the presidential center," Laura said. George W. Bush said it would be a "platform to continue public service for the rest of our lives, which I hope is a long time."