Inspired by the White House term for the President's blue podium, the Bush Center's Blue Goose is the insider update designed for you.

ALUMNI NEWS

Just Announced: Bush-Cheney Alumni Reunion in April 2016

Mark your calendars - the next Bush-Cheney Alumni Reunion is taking place April 15-16, 2016, in Dallas, Texas. President George W. Bush announced the reunion yesterday before a crowd of nearly 500 alumni in Washington, D.C.

The reunion will include all-access tours of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, a special dinner with President and Mrs. Bush, and of course, plenty of time to catch up with fellow alumni and their families.

Stay tuned for more details in the coming months. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Margaret Spellings Named President of University of North Carolina System

On October 23, Margaret Spellings was named President of the University of North Carolina System, effective March 1, 2016. Thanks to her dedication and work, the Bush Center is on course for success today and into the future, and the students of the University of North Carolina system are lucky to be getting such a fearless leader. President Bush had this to say upon her announcement:

Laura and I congratulate our dear friend Margaret Spellings on her unanimous election as President of the University of North Carolina System. Margaret is a strong leader, a role model, and a tireless champion for America's students. She has been among my most trusted confidants for nearly 20 years, including as my chief domestic policy advisor at the White House and as our Nation's eighth Secretary of Education. She has done a spectacular job here in Dallas as President of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, and our loss is the UNC System's gain. Laura and I, along with everyone at the Bush Center, are deeply grateful for her energy, smarts, and good humor. We will miss her and we wish her the very best when she heads to Chapel Hill next March.

Five Questions with Karl Rove

Last week, Karl Rove stopped by the Bush Center -- taking a break from his busy schedule as a FOX News commentator, Wall Street Journal columnist, American Crossroads senior advisor, and author -- to participate on a panel at our annual President's Council gathering. While he was here, we got a few minutes of his time for "Five Questions" with Karl Rove.

What has been the biggest change in campaign management since President Bush's races?

The ability to access large streams of data on which to make decisions has grown. I remember how difficult it was for us to collect the data that we wanted in the 2004 re-election; it involved a lot of hands. Now data can be plopped out of a database and all kinds of interesting connections made.

We would labor hard in 2004, and in 2000 as well, to make certain that we had the right kind of volunteers talking with the right kind of target voters. Now, the ability to map people's social networks and to micro-target volunteers and donors, as well as voters, and match them up accordingly is pretty powerful and easier to do.

How has the speed of today's social and digital-media driven landscape changed campaigns?

I think it's speeding up the campaigns and democratizing them. We're going back to 1802. Now we have a large number of newspapers around the country, only we don't call them newspapers. We call them Twitter feeds, or Snapchat, or Facebook. They allow you to communicate a message to a large number of people and to influence the public dialogue in a pretty profound way.

What is your fondest memory from your time working with President Bush?

Seeing him in action on 9/11 was powerful. And seeing him in New York on 9/14. One of the great joys of working at the White House was seeing him handle the great challenges that the world threw his way. But I think that my fondest memory would be the next time we're together.

What do you miss most about serving in the White House?

My friends. In an environment like that, you grow very close to the people you work with and the ability to interact with them every day, is deeply rewarding. When you don't get to walk into the Mess and make fun of Jim Towey or you don't get to be in a meeting with Margaret Spellings or Josh Bolten and marvel at the caste of their minds... It was a great experience and that's what I miss the most.

What's the best book you've read lately?

I have spent most of my time lately in dusty archives and an enormous growing library of out-of-print books about the Gilded Age for my own new book, so that's where most of my reading has been. I'm reading now a wonderful volume by Joseph Ellis calledRevolutionary Summer, on a critical period in 1776. I also finished a little book called The Richest Man Who Ever Lived, which is about a Reformation banker named Jacob Fugger. I enjoyed that one. And I'm about to read a brand-new book coming out on the marriage of Lyndon and Lady Bird, Lady Bird and Lyndon: The Hidden Story of a Marriage that made a President. It's from Lady Bird's perspective, and it looks pretty good.

Bonus Question: Do you still compete with President Bush for who reads the most?

I've read more, I don't care what he says! I have the trophy to prove it. Rove will return to the Bush Center on December 14 to discuss his newest book The

Triumph of William McKinley: Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters at a special Engage at the Bush Center event. Tickets including a signed copy of the book are available for the event.

Alumni Notes

Congratulations to Annie Presley (Campaign), who recently published her second book with co-author Christy Howard. Their first book, Read This...™ When I'm Deadhas been followed by Read This...™ On Our Anniversary. ... Cheers to Richard Lim(DoL, EOP) who recently authored "Innovation and Invention: Equipping the Army for Current and Future Conflicts" for National Security Watch, a series from the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). We want to hear about all of the exciting things Bush-Cheney Alumni are doing. Please keep us updated at alumni@bushcenter.org.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FROM THE BUSH INSTITUTE

Bush Institute Launching North America Competitiveness Initiative

Next week, the Bush Institute will formally launch our North America Competitiveness Scorecard, comparing the competitive positions of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in the global economy. The Scorecard -- a project of our Economic Growth program -- benchmarks North America's performance in international rankings on issues like business climate, innovation, openness to trade, and good governance against the performance of other major countries and trade groupings.

President Bush will deliver remarks at the official Scorecard unveiling, taking place at the Bush Institute. Other Bush-Cheney Alumni participating in the day's program include former U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins and former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza. You can watch the livestream on Wednesday, November 4 at www.bushcenter.org.

Women's Initiative Fellows and Mentors Meet in Prague

Last week, the Bush Institute's 2015 Women's Initiative Fellows and their mentors traveled to Prague for four days of networking and leadership training. The Fellowship, which is designed to enhance the leadership skills of women around the world with a 2015 focus on women in Tunisia, includes coursework, hands-on skill development, sharing of best-practice models, mentor support, and network-building. Among this year's mentors are Bush-Cheney Alumni Ann-Robin Anthony(Campaign, PIC) and Jenifer Sarver (DoC). The trainings are hosted at the CEELI Institute which works to develop an international, professional community of reformers committed to the rule of law. Through two of their programs offered in Tunisia, the CEELI Institute seeks to train judges in judicial integrity and human rights as well as support and train for the newly established Tunisian Anti-Corruption Agency.

HAPPENING AT THE BUSH CENTER

Holidays at the Bush Center 2015

On November 19, we're excited to usher in the season with Holidays at the Bush Center 2015. This year's holiday festivities will include seasonal specials from theMuseum Store and Café 43, exciting programs for children (and the young at heart!) in the Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Oval Office photos with Santa at select holiday events, and a new special exhibit -- A Season of Stories: Christmas at the White House 2003. If you'll be in DFW for the holidays, we'd love to welcome you. Bush-Cheney Alumni receive two complimentary tickets to the Bush Presidential Library and Museum every year -- request yours today!

Engage at the Bush Center

The Bush Center is excited to add Bush-Cheney Alumnus Karl Rove to the fall/winter Engage at the Bush Center line-up. Rove will join us on Monday, December 14 to discuss his newest book The Triumph of William McKinley: Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters. Tickets for this event include a signed copy of the book and are $30 for Bush Center Members; $45 for Non-Members.

Rove joins a number of Bush-Cheney Alumni on the Engage calendar this fall, including Lea Berman, Ben Bernanke, Anita McBride, and Amy Zantzinger.

Visitwww.bushcenter.org/engage to see the full calendar and purchase your tickets today!

ICYMI: President Bush will participate in the November 8 Engage Event with author Jon Meacham, to discuss a man they both admire: President George H. W. Bush. Reserve your tickets before they sell out!

IN THE NEWS

George W. Bush: Better Health Care in Africa Must Go Beyond HIV October 8 | TIME

Winning Bush Warrior Open 'means everything,' says retired FW Marine September 30 | Dallas Morning News

BIRTHDAYS

As a reminder, birthdays listed here must be submitted by you in order to be included!

Liz Dougherty (EOP) on November 1; William Haldeman (EOP, DoS) on November 2; Matt Kirk (EOP) on November 6; Jo-Anne Prokopowicz Sears (DoS) on November 6; Dee Dee Benkie on November 9; Sean Redmond (DOL, Campaign) on November 9; Kevin Sullivan (DoEd, EOP) on November 9; Misty Marshall (EOP) on November 10; Grant Lebens (DOL, DoEd) on November 11; Erin Shaw Stinner(CFTC, EOP) on November 15; Gordon Whiting (FRTIB) on November 17; Hanna Skandera (DoEd) on November 18; Ivette Diaz (EOP) on November 19; Mary Kay Mantho (HHS) on November 19; Tommy Thompson (HHS) on November 19; Jay Lefkowitz (DoS, EOP) on November 20; Missy DeCamp (EOP) on November 22;Melissa Pardue (HHS, EOP) on November 23; Suzy DeFrancis (HHS, EOP) on November 24; Christine Isett (DoEd) on November 25; Brian McCormack (EOP, DoD) on November 27; Tom Barker (HHS) on November 28; Margaret Spellings(EOP, DoEd, Bush Center) on November 30

Questions or comments? Send them to alumni@bushcenter.org.