Michelle with her husband and daughters at a campaign event in Iowa last month.

(CNN)— Michelle Obama said Wednesday she was “touched” First Lady Laura Bush came to her defense when her patriotism was questioned.

“There’s a reason why people like [the first lady],” Obama said on ABC’s The View. “She doesn’t fuel the fire.”

Earlier this year at a campaign event Michelle Obama said, "For the first time in my adult life, I'm really proud of my country.”

WATCH Michelle Obama respond to questions of her patriotism

Laura Bush told ABC last week the remarks must have been misinterpreted.

"I think she probably meant 'I'm more proud,'" said the first lady, adding that "you have to be very careful in what you say" when you’re campaigning.

"That's one of the things you learn and that's one of the really difficult parts both of running for president, and for being the spouse of the president, and that is everything you say is looked and in many cases misconstrued."

Obama said Wednesday she had sent The First Lady a note that took her “a while” to write, but wouldn’t divulge any details because she didn’t know whether it had been received yet.

Related: McCain: Treat our wives with respect

Laura Bush addresses the press at the Presidential Palace in Kabul Sunday.

(CNN) – First Lady Laura Bush said Monday that as a veteran of the rigors of the campaign trail herself, she "admired Hillary's grit and strength."

"I know what it’s like to run those campaigns, to be the candidate and how very difficult it is both emotionally and physically,” Bush told ABC News. “It's a huge endurance, process of endurance, and so I'll have to say I have a lot of admiration for her endurance and strength."

"I know it's hard," Mrs. Bush said, "It's hard to do that and I think she did great."

Bush also defended Michelle Obama over a controversial comment that drew criticism from many conservative pundits – but offered caution for the wife of presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

Earlier this year, Michelle Obama told the crowd at a primary season campaign event that "for the first time in my adult life, I'm proud of my country." (WATCH what Michelle Obama said)

Later, she said her remarks had been misinterpreted, and that she had been referring to how proud she was that Americans were engaging in the political process as never before. (WATCH: Michelle Obama responds to her misinterpreted remarks.)

"I think she probably meant 'I'm more proud,'" said Laura Bush Monday, adding that "you have to be very careful in what you say" when you’re campaigning.

"That's one of the things you learn and that's one of the really difficult parts both of running for president, and for being the spouse of the president, and that is everything you say is looked and in many cases misconstrued."

Watch Laura Bush's press conference Monday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – First Lady Laura Bush has spoken out before on Myanmar - mostly through written statements - but Monday's on-camera mini-news conference in the White House briefing room was a first. In the wake of Saturday's deadly cyclone in Myanmar — also known as Burma — Mrs. Bush did not mince words decrying the ruling military junta for its failure to adequately warn residents of the impending danger.

"The response to the cyclone is just the most recent example of the junta's failure to meet its people's basic needs," Mrs. Bush said.

Aides to the First Lady say today's briefing room appearance was originally planned for Tuesday.

That's when President Bush is expected to sign legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel-Prize winning democracy activist currently under house arrest in Myanmar.

Officials say Mrs. Bush decided to push up her appearance, in light of the deadly cyclone over the weekend.

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WASHINGTON (CNN) — First lady Laura Bush was "resting comfortably at the White House" Saturday following a successful surgery to relieve pinched nerves in her neck, according to a statement from her press secretary, Sally McDonough.

McDonough said the 2 1/2-hour procedure was conducted at the George Washington University Hospital by a team led by Dr. Anthony Caputy, chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery and co-director of the Neurological Institute. Dr. Richard Tubb, U.S. Air Force brigadier general and physician to the president, consulted in the procedure, she said.

The procedure, called a posterior cervical foraminotomy, was described as "minimally invasive."

McDonough said the first lady spoke with President Bush, who was aboard Air Force One on his way back from Australia, after the surgery. Bush attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Sydney.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — First lady Laura Bush will undergo outpatient surgery Saturday to relieve pressure on pinched nerves in her neck, the White House announced Friday.

The surgical procedure, called a posterior cervical foraminotomy, was described as minimally invasive.

The White House statement did not say where or when the first lady will undergo the procedure.

President Bush is in Australia for the APEC summit.

Laura and Jenna Bush are writing a book, USA TODAY reports.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The first lady is set to become a first author.

Laura Bush, along with daughter Jenna, are in the process of writing a children's book about a child who does not like reading, USA TODAY reports.

The picture book, to be published next spring by HarperCollins, is inspired by the teaching experiences of both Laura and Jenna. The elder Mrs. Bush is a former public school teacher, while the younger Bush taught in Washington, DC after she graduated college.

The official announcement is expected to come later Thursday.

"It's a book that I've always wanted to write," Laura Bush told USA TODAY. "And it's fun to be able to do it with your daughter."

Laura Bush also told the paper she expects the task to be difficult.

"In a picture book, there are so few words, so each word has to be perfect," she said. Jenna and I know that, and we know that each page should have something to make you want to turn the page. That's the challenge."

Jenna Bush has previously tried her hand as a writer, completing a yet-to-be published book last winter about her experiences working for UNICEF.