Bushes hit the road as public speakers

DALLAS, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, are earning hefty speaking fees that experts say may come to $100,000 for 40 minutes work.

Most recently, Bush appeared at a Get Motivated! seminar in San Antonio, ABC News reported, joining his former secretary of state, retired Gen. Colin Powell, and former NFL player Terry Bradshaw. Laura Bush was the featured speaker Tuesday at the annual dinner of the Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation.

David Sherzer, a Bush spokesman, said the ex-president had 32 speeches on his schedule in 2009, including at least one other for Get Motivated!, an organization that holds inspirational conferences featuring speeches by prominent people on the secrets of success. Sherzer would not say how much Bush is paid.

"He really enjoys it," says Sherzer. "He jokes that he's getting paid or what he did for free for eight years as president."

John LaRosa of Marketdata Enterprises told ABC ex-presidents can expect fees towards the upper end of a scale that can go to $170,000 for the most celebrated speakers.

"It's easy money," LaRosa said. "You get up there and talk for 40 minutes, and then someone gives you $100,000."