Michelle Obama on George W. Bush: 'I love him to death'
Michelle Obama is opening up about her relationship with George W. Bush, America's 43rd president who preceded her husband in office.
Appearing Thursday on the TODAY show to announce a new initiative aimed to bolster girls, she was asked about her relationship to Bush after video went viral of him giving her a cough drop during the Sept. 1 funeral of the late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain.
"President Bush and I are forever seatmates because of protocol – that's how we sit at all the official functions," Obama said on NBC's "Today" show. "So he is my partner in crime at every major thing where all the formers gather."
Bush was giving his wife, Laura, a cough drop when Obama asked him if she could have one.
She told TODAY that she didn't realize anyone was watching.
I love him to death," Obama added. "He's a wonderful man. He's a funny man."
The relationship between the two has been highlighted as a perfect example of putting country before politics because she's a Democrat and he is a Republican.
Obama was on the NBC program to announce the launch of a program to help empower girls worldwide through education.
The former first lady announced the Global Girls Alliance, which aims to support more than 1,500 grassroots organizations combating the challenges girls encounter in their communities. The alliance will feature social fundraising to help them.
Mrs. Obama made the announcement on Thursday, International Day of the Girl.
She says, "When you educate a girl, you educate a family, a community, a country."
Mrs. Obama spoke about her two daughters and said they're "some of the reasons why this issue means so much" to her. She says she's "so proud" of Sasha and Malia Obama.
She says she and former President Barack Obama have been busy working on books and caring for their daughters.
