as ferris beuller said on his day off, life moves fast and if you don't observe it, you're going to miss it. >> reporter: bush was elected ronald reagan's vice president. eight years later, he sat in the oval office. barbara bush loved living in the white house, keeping diaries of her time there and using them to help write her memoirs. two other books showed her lighter side and a dog's eye view of the executive mansion. mrs. bush knew well her vision of a first lady's role. >> i think the person who has the courage to run for the office is the one you should hear. not the wife or the husband. having said that, of course i told george how i felt. >> reporter: for george and barbara, their more than 60 years together included decades of devotion. this letter to her written by george while he was serving in world war ii.