Family values:

Bush, wife plan to skip daughters' college graduations

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush will skip their twin daughters' college graduations later this month to avoid creating a distraction at the respective schools, the White House said Thursday.

"There are no plans at this time to attend these ceremonies," said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for Laura Bush. "The Bushes felt the focus should be on the students, and not how long the lines are to go through the metal detectors."

Jenna Bush is slated to graduate May 22 from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in English. Barbara Bush graduates May 24 with a bachelor's in humanities from Yale University....

--AP

The family is the foundation of this society. And here's what I know. It's the place where we find deep human fulfillment, and where we find love. It is where character of our nation is shaped, and where values are forged. Families provide us with comfort and encouragement, compassion and hope, mutual support and unconditional love....

We all know that children who are surrounded by love have a strong foundation for success as adults. When someone thinks a child is the most important person in the world, that child will grow up to be confident in their self, and loving toward others....

--President Bush, January 7, 2002

(By the way, here's a picture of the Clintons attending Chelsea's graduation. Ex-Presidents, needless to say, continue to receive Secret Service protection.)