Anita McBride on the Importance of Founding First Ladies [Extended Interview]
The Takeout with Major Garrett
CBS News
4.6 • 586 Ratings
🗓️ 25 April 2026
⏱️ 15 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Major speaks with Anita McBride, the former Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, about the role First Ladies have played in early presidential tenures. McBride, who’s also the co-chair of the InPursuit essay series, responds to the pieces of Abigail Adams and Dolly Madison garnered 10-15% more interest than that of the Presidents profiled.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Anita McBride was First Lady Laura Bush's chief of staff from 2005 to 2009. |
| 0:05.0 | She has since carved out an impressive academic career studying the role of First Ladies in American Political Life, |
| 0:12.0 | directing the First Ladies' Initiative at American University here in Washington. |
| 0:17.0 | McBride is also a very big part of the In-Pursuit essay series on significant figures in American history. At McBride is also a very big part of the In Pursuit essay series on significant figures in American history. |
| 0:23.9 | And McBride's gentle but persistent urging in pursuit made sure to include First Ladies in this historical appraisal. |
| 0:32.1 | My conversation with Anita McBride on that essay series, some early First Ladies of Note, |
| 0:37.1 | and the deepening curiosity |
| 0:38.3 | now about what First Ladies do and how they influence history here on the takeout. |
| 0:44.3 | Anita, I'm endlessly fascinated with the In Pursuit Project, and what I've learned is so far, |
| 0:51.3 | small sample size, but it's important. |
| 0:59.3 | The essays about First Ladies drawing more attention than essays about presidents. |
| 1:04.4 | Well, first of all, we're very grateful for your interest in pursuit in helping us promote it because it is getting traction, the essays on both the Presidents and First Ladies. |
| 1:08.7 | But that is a very interesting statistics. And one that |
| 1:12.2 | doesn't surprise me. It may surprise some my colleagues or others, but there is a gap in knowledge |
| 1:18.2 | and a gap in literature on First Ladies, but they are having a moment. People are paying attention |
| 1:23.7 | to their role in history. So I'm thrilled with these numbers. |
| 1:32.8 | And Anita, you have a very sharp perspective on this, having worked as a chief staff to Laura Bush. There is this phrase, and I wonder if you're comfortable with it, |
| 1:37.2 | soft power. It's just power. It's just a different kind. It's an alternate power, it seems to |
| 1:41.7 | me. I love the phrase, soft power. Okay, you do. |
| 1:45.0 | I do, because, you know, it conveys a number of things. |
| 1:48.0 | Here is this unelected position, and we have to be honest about that, right? |
| 1:52.0 | You have to be careful that you're not crossing the line from policy advocate to policymaker. |
... |
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