Former President Bush, Rice Meet at SMU

Former President George W. Bush and around 20 members of his administration, including Condoleezza Rice, met at Southern Methodist University yesterday for an "informal strategy session" for the policy institute at Bush's presidential library at SMU, the Daily Campus reports. It was the first of many planning meetings, a spokesman said. According to the Dallas Morning News :

One person who attended the private session said it was clear that the Bushes favor an approach that would fuse academic research with real-world case studies.

Bush foundation officials, who will fund and operate the policy institute, have said they will focus on four core principles: democratic freedom, opportunity, responsibility and compassion.

Foundation officials say they hope to launch preliminary programs this year. They are in the early stages of a $300 million fundraising campaign to raise money for the library complex, which is set to open in 2013.