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In a few months, moving vans will arrive at the White House to haul George and Laura Bush's belongings back to Texas. After eight turbulent years, the Bushes will be going home.

I strongly suspect the president, whose approval rating is in the pits, longs for his Crawford ranch. He has never seemed entirely at home amid the formality of the White House, an observation confirmed by the numerous days he's spent at his Texas ranch or Camp David.

Yet the person who will probably be happiest to leave the White House is Laura Bush, who never wanted to be first lady from the start. "I know she's making a huge sacrifice," George told reporters with emotion during his first presidential campaign in 2000. Laura worried about losing family privacy and about how she would define her role.

By most accounts, she's performed the role with graciousness and intelligence. Her husband's approval rating is dismal but her own is excellent. She is described as a woman who is a steadying influence on her sometimes brash husband and who is relaxing to be around. Some Americans feel as if they barely know her, but what they know they like.

After eight years of Hillary Clinton as first lady, Laura is probably what the nation needed: a calming influence. That is not meant to deprecate Hillary but to say that Hillary, a policy wonk and lawyer, was an activist who spawned controversy.

Laura, by contrast, prefers to be backdrop. She is a former elementary school librarian with a fondness for books (Dostoevsky is a favorite). One historian described her as "the quietest first lady since Bess Truman.'' (Bess spent more time in Missouri than Washington.)

In recent weeks Laura and George have been eclipsed by the Democratic presidential primary. The Bushes have been doing what outgoing presidents customarily do: traveling overseas and bidding farewell to allies before George leaves office on Jan. 20.

Laura has not been window dressing. She recently went alone to Afghanistan and landed deep in Taliban territory. She met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to confirm America's commitment to Afghanistan. She has criticized the Taliban's repressive treatment of women and children. Her speeches are never acerbic but delivered in a soft Texas drawl.

When she agreed to marry George, he promised that she'd never have to make a speech in public. He reneged on his promise and she has made hundreds, choosing her words carefully.

During her eight years in the White House she's learned the do's and don'ts of living in the glare of scrutiny. She recently came to the defense of two other prominent women, both Democrats, who are living in the public arena and taking heat.

In a recent ABC News interview, Laura defended Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, both of whom have stirred controversy.

Regarding Hillary and having a female president, Laura said: "Of course, I want the woman president to be a Republican woman. But I will say I watched the campaign, and I admire Hillary's grit and strength. And I know what it's like to be in those campaigns and how difficult it is both emotionally and physically."

Regarding Michelle, who landed in hot water and was called unpatriotic after she said that "for the first time in my life, I am really proud of my country," Laura's response showed kindness, understanding and classiness:

"I think she probably meant, 'I'm more proud,' you know, is what she really meant," Laura explained in the ABC interview.

"You have to be really careful in what you say. I mean that's one of the things you learn."

As first lady, Laura has seldom put a wrong foot in front of her. Regardless of what you think of her husband, Laura deserves a salute for making the most of a job she never really wanted.

Rosemary Roberts writes a Friday column. E-mail: rmroberts@triad.rr.com.