Thaindian News

Washington, May 7 (IANS) President Barack Obama has achieved a lot in 100 days but his predecessor is not sitting idle either. Former president George W. Bush’s supporters have raised more than $100 million for a library that will house his official papers.
His longtime financial backers have raised the money for a presidential library at Southern Methodist University in Dallas that will house his official papers, the web edition of the Time newsmagazine said, quoting sources close to the 43rd president.

Much of the money was collected in the 100 days or so since Bush left the White House, at a pace much faster than that of his recent predecessors. This, despite the economic downturn.

For comparison, Bill Clinton’s library planners had hoped to receive pledges of $100 million within a year of the end of his presidency, but a scandal delayed the goal for another year, said Skip Rutherford, who chaired the Clinton library committee.

“He’s struck a very positive nerve among a lot of financial sources across the country,” said J. French Hill, a banker and Bush campaigner who leads the fundraising effort in Arkansas.

Bush is focussing on financing and building a suitable presidential library - just like nearly every president who left the White House since Harry Truman. He is also writing his memoirs.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the library is set for November 2010 and organisers hope to open its doors in early 2013.