In a matter of hours, Laura Bush will be America’s first lady.

Not a fan of George W.? Barbara Burrell, an NIU associate professor of political science, maintains that Bush’s popularity shouldn’t be affected by her husband’s actions in office.

“People should judge the first lady as separate from the president,” Burrell said. “Barbara Bush was rated one of the most popular first ladies during [the elder] George’s 1992 re-election campaign.”

First ladies aren’t often deciding factors in close elections, Burrell said.

“Neither Tipper Gore nor Laura Bush really stood out during the election, so neither really had a significant impact on the tight election. The nation only elects a president,” Burrell said. “Hillary Clinton raised interest from the liberal Democrats and therefore raised a lot of money during her husband’s re-election campaign. And knowing that they had a champion, the Democrats went out to vote for Clinton.”

Laura Bush’s primary struggle will be filling past successful first ladies’ shoes. Her mother-in-law, Barbara, was one of the most popular first ladies ever, receiving a record 85 percent of the nation’s approval ratings at the end of her husband’s term. Hillary Clinton’s strong stances on critical issues haven’t always been as popular, but have nonetheless redefined the first lady’s job.

Past successful and well-liked first ladies have taken different approaches. Barbara Bush, whose goals included improving literacy and early childhood development, avoided speaking out on many controversial issues. But Clinton was a strong voice in reforming health care, Betty Ford endorsed the Equal Rights Amendment and Eleanor Roosevelt strongly fought issues regarding minorities and labor.

Barbara Bush’s high approval rating, in relation to Clinton and Roosevelt’s, may suggest the nation prefers a first lady who doesn’t step into the fire of hot issues.

Burrell’s studies have focused on that question. She wrote “The First Ladyship and Hillary Rodham Clinton,” editions one and two, and “A Woman’s Place in the House: Campaigning for Congress in the Feminist Era.”

In her writings, Burrell explains how Hillary Clinton raised the bar for future first ladies, although they may avoid taking an active role in policies.

“They are being asked to take a much more active role in fundraising and campaigning these days,” Burrell said. “So, if she is qualified, why should it be unacceptable for a first lady to become involved in policy issues?”

Laura Bush maintains she is no policy partner when it comes to the president’s job. Rather, she would like to be a calming influence for her husband and the nation. In a Ladies’ Home Journal interview, Bush said she firmly believes there is more to life than politics.

“The role of the first lady is whatever she wants it to be,” she said. “I’d [fight] in the areas that I’m most interested in, which are literacy, libraries and early childhood.”

Burrell believes that Bush’s backseat attitude toward certain “hot” issues like abortion shouldn’t hurt her popularity.

“Laura’s not going to take a strong stance on controversial issues, and there’s nothing not to like about it,” Burrell said. “There’s no legitimate reason to not like her. Laura Bush is not required to be involved with public policies.”

Even so, one obstacle for Bush is her husband’s involvement in the most indecisive election of all time. George W. Bush’s reputation suffered from allegations that he partied excessively in his youth. He also was questioned over faulty business dealings he allegedly was involved with as Texas governor.

Regardless of ratings or expectations, Laura Bush must step into the light and, in her own way, win the approval of a nation that has placed her and her husband under a microscope.

“I’ll be criticized — that’s just part of the territory,” Bush told Ladies’ Home Journal. “It’s one of the unfortunate parts of the political process.”