DARYN KAGAN: Now we get back to our inaugural celebration and Laura Bush, the future first lady, who's appearing at -- this is her special event this morning; an event celebrating great American authors. Let's listen in.</s>LAURA BUSH: ... Vice President-elect Dick Cheney. But finally, I'm honored by the presence of my second grade teacher, Ms. Neggy (ph) who -- in whose class, and by whose example I first began thinking about the rewarding profession of teaching. Years later I did become a teacher and a librarian. And, though I haven't planned a lesson plan in a long time, I will always have tremendous respect for the teachers all across our great nation. Today is truly a librarian's dream. Not only do we get to hear from five respected American authors but also, if anybody in the audience starts to get rowdy, I get to tell them to hush up. We're here to salute America's authors; the men and women whose books line library shelves and enrich our country's proudly diverse culture. Representing this especially august choir of American voices are Steve Ambrose -- Stephen Ambrose, Carol Clark (ph), Mary Higgins Clark, Stanley Crouch and Stephen Harrigan. Please join me in welcoming them.</s>STEPHEN AMBROSE, AUTHOR: Mr. President, Mrs. Barbara Bush, Mr. President-elect -- your wife has just introduced me up here -- Mr. Vice President-elect and Mrs. Cheney, it's wonderful to be here...</s>KAGAN: And this is just as Laura Bush described him, that historian Stephen Ambrose begins to speak. He is one of five American authors selected by the first lady for this event. She is a former librarian; as she said, that gives her the right to tell anybody in the audience to "hush up" as she said in her Texas slang. This is kind of the debut for Mrs. Bush in Washington. This is her event today -- her special event as part of the inauguration festivities.
Laura Bush Hosts American Authors