Transcript: Laura Bush Interview

Sept. 2, 2004 -- As President Bush addresses the nation on the final night on the Republican National Convention, first lady Laura Bush will, as usual, be his main source of support.

In an interview with Peter Jennings, she offered her views on the president's mood leading up to his convention speech, the goals he hopes to achieve and whether she thinks the ads criticizing his opponent John Kerry's record in Vietnam are fair.

The following is an excerpt of that interview:

JENNINGS:The president seems upbeat recently, and it's been a tough year. War, jobs. Does he seem upbeat to you?

BUSH: He is upbeat. You know, times are tough. There's no doubt about it. It's tough when you are in a war like we are in our country, but, you know, Americans are so terrific, they're so decent, they're so generous, they're so supportive of their country, and that's what we see when we campaign around this United States.

JENNINGS: How do you notice when he is really feeling better?

BUSH: He actually doesn't ever really let me know if he's feeling very down. He doesn't show that very much. He's got a lot of resilience. He's funny. He likes to be funny, he likes to laugh, and that's great when times are tough to relieve some anxiety, to be able to laugh and talk.

JENNINGS: He gives a lot of big speeches, but this is a big one.

BUSH: He gives a lot of big speeches. He's given a lot of big ones, but of course this is the big one.

JENNINGS: So …

BUSH: The big convention speech. This will be the speech where he'll have the chance to lay out what he wants to do for the next four years and what's on his heart, and that's what he'll do. He'll talk about how changing times demand government to change, as well.

JENNINGS: Does he get nervous?

BUSH: I don't think he probably does.

JENNINGS: Do you ever get nervous for him?

BUSH: Sure, every time. (Laughs). That's what wives are supposed to do, isn't it? (Laughs).