“The real question is should they be able to work for a salary at the job that they already had,” Bush told CSPAN in a wide-ranging interview that will air as part of the network’s series on the image and influence of First Ladies. ”That’s what we’ll have to come to terms with: Should she have a career during the years her husband is president in addition to serving as first lady?”

The last three first ladies have advanced degrees. Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton are lawyers. Bush has a master’s in library science.

When a woman is elected president, Bush said she could imagine a male presidential spouse continuing his professional career. So why wouldn’t a first lady do the same?