Free Republic

First Lady 'is White House power broker' By Philip Sherwell in Washington (Filed: 26/03/2006) Laura Bush plays a much greater role in shaping White House policy, appointments and even budgets than previously acknowledged. Mrs Bush, 59, has stayed largely in the background for the past five years. White House advisers have portrayed her as the "non-Hillary" - a reference to her predecessor, Mrs Clinton, who made no secret of her interest in public policy during her eight years as First Lady. Laura Bush admits she and her husband discuss appointments But a different picture of the influence the quietly spoken...