George W. Bush Presidential Center

The National Governors Association, a formal network of state governors from across the country, navigates the differences we have as Americans. These governors continue to lead by creating conversation and civil disagreements on complex issues. Chris Walsh, director of Freedom and Democracy at the Bush Institute says that “…combining principled leadership with pluralism creates some magic that can inspire others to exemplify the best of America.” Learn more about how leaders can continue to maintain differences while actively engaging in pluralism: bushcenter.org/publications/f…

Healthy democracies thrive when free and fair elections are held to elect our future leaders and policy initiatives. “While only a small subset of people could cast ballots in early America, courageous patriots fought throughout our nation’s history to expand that opportunity to ensure that all citizens are able to vote,” says Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, the Kelly and David Pfeil Fellow at the Bush Institute. Follow the George W. Bush Institute’s Democracy is a Verb series: bushcenter.org/publications/e…

“The war in Iran may cause U.S. gasoline prices at the pump to average more than $4 a gallon for the first time in almost four years, some industry experts predict – even though the United States doesn’t import any oil from Iran,” says Margot Habiby, Deputy Director of Communications at the Bush Institute. Learn more about the global effects of transportation of gas and oil and how it effects Americans today: bushcenter.org/publications/t…

“Americans benefit from a safety net of global systems and agreements every time we fly, receive goods from overseas, or trust a financial institution because of norms supporting every aspect of our lives,” says Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau, the Bradford M. Freeman Managing Director of Global Policy at the Bush Institute. Learn why it’s critical for the United State to continue prioritizing foreign assistance: bushcenter.org/publications/a…

The Bush Institute is committed to the advancement of women around the world. To celebrate International Women's Day, we are proud to highlight the stories of women from the past and present who work for better opportunities in their communities. Read and listen to a collection of these stories: bushcenter.org/publications/a…

The second essay in a twelve-part series exploring the milestone events that formed the American economy examines America’s patent system, which “has created the best incentives for technological innovation the world has ever seen and played a vital, if underappreciated, role in the nation’s economic growth,” says Cullum Clark, Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative fellow. In 1790, Congress passed America’s first patent law to grant inventors temporary monopolies for 14 years. Congress later recognized the need for adjustments, and revisited the concerns three years later. The Patent Act of 1793 stated that new products were considered patentable only when they were “new” as compared to “prior art”. Learn more about America’s patent system and it’s significance to the economy: bushcenter.org/publications/a…

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we highlight the pivotal moments in our nation's history where women embodied democratic principles before laws recognized their rights. “From the founding of our nation onward, women didn’t wait for permission to belong. They acted as citizens and, in doing so, moved the country closer to its constitutional promises,” says Alexis Yelvington, program manager of opportunity at the Bush Institute. Learn more about the women who contributed to our nation and strived for democracy: bushcenter.org/publications/t…

"If Venezuela’s glimpse of democracy is as fleeting as Guanipa’s moments of freedom, the United States will miss a major opportunity to help bring stability, prosperity, and liberty to this nation," says Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, the Kelly and David Pfeil Fellow at the Bush Institute. Learn more: bushcenter.org/publications/v…

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female democratically elected head of state in Africa, was once exiled from her home country of Liberia for her fight for democracy. She continues to champion democratic values and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to maintain peace and promote women's rights in her country. Read more about her 'Struggle for Freedom': bushcenter.org/publications/s…

Following the death of “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, violence erupted across 20 of Mexico's 32 states on Feb. 22. “Effectively combatting Mexico’s cartels and criminal organizations will require a multipronged approach that not only takes imminent security challenges into consideration, but also deeper institutional reforms,” says Jessica Ludwig, fellow of global policy at the Bush Institute. Learn more about how the United States can work with Mexico to combat drugs, security issues, and corruption: bushcenter.org/publications/t…

“Blue Star Support Circle Program outcomes demonstrate improved mental health literacy, reduced isolation, increased confidence in recognizing and responding to mental health crises and strengthened pathways to local VA and community-based care,” says Ryan Callahan, a 2022 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program Scholar and executive vice president of digital innovation at Blue Star Families. Learn more about the Bush Institute's Veteran Wellness Alliance with Blue Star Families: bushcenter.org/publications/m…

The Texas @Rangers are coming to the Bush Museum! Bring your family and join us on March 21 from 2-3 p.m. for an autograph signing with the Texas Rangers legend Elvis Andrus, a photo opportunity with the 2023 World Series trophy, and meet Captain, the Rangers’ beloved mascot. Game Changer: United by Sports, presented by Garry Weber, celebrates how sports unite us across the world and close to home. One part of the exhibit highlights North Texas sports with rotating memorabilia from local teams – now featuring the Texas Rangers! With Opening Day on the horizon, fans are invited to celebrate the Texas Rangers at the Bush Museum. You won't want to miss this action-packed day at the museum. Visit our website today to purchase your tickets: bushcenter.org/events-and-exh…

The pitch-perfect Texas Rangers display is now at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in our special exhibit, Game Changer: United by Sports, presented by Garry Weber! For a limited time, view grand slam items like the hard hat worn by George W. Bush during the construction of The Ballpark in Arlington in the 1990s, the baseball thrown during Kenny Rogers’ perfect game in 1994, and the American League Rawlings Gold Glove Award won by Iván Rodríguez in 2001, along with many other all-star pieces. Plan your visit today before it's gone: bushcenter.org/plan-your-visi…

The city of Fort Worth faces troubling illiteracy rates. “Only 46% of students across all 12 Fort Worth districts read at grade level, according to state data for the 2024-2025 academic year,” says William McKenzie, senior editorial advisor of the Bush Institute. Sgroi and Jacob Sanchez from the @FortWorthReport, focus on in-depth stories about the challenges facing parents, teachers, and administrators across Fort Worth’s 12 independent school districts. Learn more about how journalism can be part of the solution: bushcenter.org/publications/f…

The George W. Bush Presidential Center is happy to announce two exciting additions to our spring lineup! Join Ellen and Clayton Kershaw for a conversation on the power of sports to lift communities, followed by Walter Isaacson discussing The Greatest Sentence Ever Written. It’s also not too late to join the waitlist for the Laura Bush Book Club featuring author Allison Pataki. Due to high demand, you won’t want to wait to secure your spot for these events! Visit our website today to reserve your tickets: bushcenter.org/events-and-exh…

Spring Guided Tours at the Laura W. Bush Native Texas Park are almost back! Starting March 14, 2026 through May 30, 2026, enjoy a free guided tour by North Texas Master Naturalists every Saturday at 10 a.m., weather permitting. 📸 Photo was taken in 2023.

“Cuban fuel shortages, compounded by the U.S. blockade of oil shipments, are rapidly pushing the country closer toward a breaking point as the United States seeks to bring Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canal to the negotiating table to discuss Cuba’s future,” says Jessica Ludwig, fellow of global policy at the Bush Institute. Following the severe strain on fuel shortages, the Cuban government is desperate to remain in control, leading to several arrests of Cuban citizens who continue to speak out against its failure to provide for basic needs. Despite these obstacles, Cuban citizens continue to dream of a democratic country. Read more about why the United States’ goal for negotiation should prioritize a transition to economic freedom in order to strengthen regional stability: bushcenter.org/publications/p…

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will have its first mandatory joint review on July 1. “From Canada to the United States to Mexico, a cohesive approach from north to south acknowledges that bad actors do not respect national borders, and a coordinated approach keeps all of our citizens safer,” says Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau, the Bradford M. Freeman managing director of global policy at the Bush Institute. Read more about why a cohesive North America is beneficial to all: bushcenter.org/publications/t…

The Bush Institute defines pluralism as the commitment of people with varying beliefs and backgrounds to respect one another as equal citizens in a democracy. The new pluralism playbook is designed to help American leaders understand that meaning and put it into practice. Learn how you can practice pluralism in your daily life: bushcenter.org/publications/w…

On this fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Bush Institute reflects on where things stand with Russia and Ukraine and what the West needs to do to help end the worst conflict on the European continent since World War II. With U.S. and European help, Ukraine can still win the war Russia started. Read more from our experts: bushcenter.org/publications/u…