George W. Bush

LEWISVILLE, Texas - Spread upon a table are a sampling of gifts to former President George W. Bush: a purse made of vines from the Thai queen, a Texas Rangers jersey autographed by pitcher Nolan Ryan and a framed mosaic of St. Peter's Basilica from the pope.

WASHINGTON - Former Bush White House official Karl Rove was questioned by House Judiciary Committee lawyers Tuesday on any role he may have played in politically motivated firings of U.S. attorneys.

WOODWARD, Okla. - Former President George W. Bush was greeted by thunderous applause on the Fourth of July as he told thousands of spectators in a rural Oklahoma rodeo arena that the U.S. was "the greatest nation on the face of the earth."

WOODWARD, Okla. - When the middle-of-nowhere town of Woodward invited George W. Bush to its Fourth of July celebration, no one really expected the former president to accept. But he did.

ERIE, Pa. - Former President George W. Bush said Wednesday that he hopes that his successor's plans to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will not compromise domestic security. Bush, though, maintained during an appearance in northwestern Pennsylvania that he would not criticize President Barack Obama, though he did discuss his policies.

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine - Former President George H.W. Bush marked his 85th birthday on Friday the same way he did his 75th and 80th birthdays: He leaped from a plane and zoomed downward at more than 100 mph in freefall before parachuting safely to a spot near his oceanfront home.

DALLAS - A Texas appeals court on Friday overturned a ruling that would have put former President George W. Bush under oath in a dispute involving his presidential library.

MOSCOW - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has sent a telegram wishing former U.S. President George H.W. Bush a happy 85th birthday, saying he deserves to be considered among the "most authoritative" world leaders.

PORTLAND, Maine - Former first lady Barbara Bush has celebrated her 84th birthday by reading to children at the inpatient unit of the Portland hospital that bears her name.

WASHINGTON - Former first lady Laura Bush says she's pleased that President Barack Obama nominated a woman for the Supreme Court.

President Bush on Sunday defended controversial interrogation measures established by his administration, arguing that techniques like water-boarding helped save American lives.

With none of the fanfare that usually attends a landmark bill becoming law, President Bush signed the huge housing rescue bill just after 7 a.m. Wednesday, shortly after he arrived in the Oval Office.