Bush's Latest Headache: His Twins

America's first family has its share of parenting headaches with George Bush's twin daughters acting out their resentment at his chosen career with underage drinking binges and other escapades, excerpts from a new book published yesterday said.

Mr Bush's twins, Jenna and Barbara, now 22 and in their final year of college, are described as over-indulged with no interest in the presidency in The Perfect Wife: The Life and Choices of Laura Bush by Ann Gerhart, a Washington Post journalist.

"They are girls born rich, blessed with intelligence, good looks, trust funds, loving parents, boundless opportunities, freedom from many of life's daily vexing challenges," the book says. "Yet they persist in seeing themselves as victims of daddy's job."

The book says both Bushes fell into the trap of spoiling their children because Mrs Bush nearly lost them late in her pregnancy. It suggests that Mr Bush seemed less indulgent than their mother.

Excerpts in yesterday's Washington Post departed from the media convention of granting privacy to the children of previous presidents, including Chelsea Clinton.

Unlike Ms Clinton, who the book notes used her time in the White House to learn about world politics, the Bush daughters are portrayed as having few interests beyond drinking, parties and designer clothing.

They also mistreated their bodyguards, unlike Ms Clinton. Within a month of Mr Bush's inauguration in January 2001, Jenna Bush tried to use her Secret Service guard to free a male friend jailed in Texas for public drunkenness. Later that year she was prosecuted twice for underage drinking, fined and ordered to perform community service.

Even the mood of gravity that descended on America after September 11 did not affect the twins. The book says Jenna could not be located for hours after the attacks because she had given her agent the slip.

It was unclear what the White House makes of their behaviour. The book says it has been reluctant to comment on their scrapes but Mr Bush has expressed some impatience. Mrs Bush has been unfailingly supportive of her daughters.

"I think like every parent if your children are happy then parents are happy. And if they're unhappy, then there is nothing more difficult for parents," she is quoted as saying.