WASHINGTON,
- PRN - GHN News Editor - Former President Bush is making the rounds of
all the talk shows and magazine covers, now gracing the new cover of
AARP magazine, as an elder statesman, with controversies continuing to
follow his career.
- PRN - GHN News Editor - Former President Bush is making the rounds of
all the talk shows and magazine covers, now gracing the new cover of
AARP magazine, as an elder statesman, with controversies continuing to
follow his career.
On
Wednesday, November 10, Bush appeared on the Today Show, interviewed by
Matt Lauer. He has been interviewed and scheduled to be by Larry King,
Oprah and others, underlining during interviews to date that he regrets
for the most part nothing and maintains the principal decisions he made
during his tenure as President were correct and done in good faith.
Matt Lauer. He has been interviewed and scheduled to be by Larry King,
Oprah and others, underlining during interviews to date that he regrets
for the most part nothing and maintains the principal decisions he made
during his tenure as President were correct and done in good faith.
Vice President and Editor Nancy Perry Graham of AARP sat down with President Bush at his Crawford, Texas
ranch for an exclusive interview which unveils surprising truths behind
the man whose public image was defined by an unyielding commitment to
his principles and what he believed was best for the country.
ranch for an exclusive interview which unveils surprising truths behind
the man whose public image was defined by an unyielding commitment to
his principles and what he believed was best for the country.
Standing on the front step of his Texas home, Bush reflects on the most momentous—and controversial— decisions in his life, including wars in IraqAfghanistan, the global financial crisis, substance abuse, and his enduring marriage.
After
stepping out of the media spotlight for the past two years, he also
opens up about his future for the first time, speaking out about his
plans for retirement (he thinks it's an old-fashioned term), his desire
for grandchildren (he's disappointed it hasn't happened yet), regrets
(not finding Osama Bin Laden), and much
more. On how he is planning for the future, President Bush says, "Your
life is just not going to unfold the way you want it to, there will be
surprises, challenges, and therefore the question is how you deal with
the unexpected."
stepping out of the media spotlight for the past two years, he also
opens up about his future for the first time, speaking out about his
plans for retirement (he thinks it's an old-fashioned term), his desire
for grandchildren (he's disappointed it hasn't happened yet), regrets
(not finding Osama Bin Laden), and much
more. On how he is planning for the future, President Bush says, "Your
life is just not going to unfold the way you want it to, there will be
surprises, challenges, and therefore the question is how you deal with
the unexpected."
The following are excerpts from the upcoming AARP The Magazine cover story featuring former President George W. Bush, which covers the six "R"s that define his post-presidential life and are available online NOW at www.aarp.org.
On Reinvention
"It's
a word that doesn't fit into my vocabulary. Reinvention means you're
kind of recreating somebody. Well, I'm the same person, in terms of
values. My priorities haven't changed."
a word that doesn't fit into my vocabulary. Reinvention means you're
kind of recreating somebody. Well, I'm the same person, in terms of
values. My priorities haven't changed."
"I'm
in a transition period from presidency to active citizenry. I want to
go 100 mph again—well, maybe not 100. Maybe 80. I want to live out
principles that became a part of my life in my '40s, '50s and '60s."
in a transition period from presidency to active citizenry. I want to
go 100 mph again—well, maybe not 100. Maybe 80. I want to live out
principles that became a part of my life in my '40s, '50s and '60s."
"I
feel a sense of obligation to our troops and their families because of
the decisions that I made. So I am involved with veterans."
feel a sense of obligation to our troops and their families because of
the decisions that I made. So I am involved with veterans."
On Staying Mum About the Current Political Debate
"I
really think it's important for presidents to exit the stage
gracefully. 'Statesman' gives the impression that every time a major
issue comes up, I'll be popping off. And that's not what's going to
happen."
really think it's important for presidents to exit the stage
gracefully. 'Statesman' gives the impression that every time a major
issue comes up, I'll be popping off. And that's not what's going to
happen."
"Hopefully
I'm sending a signal that will help set a tone. In other words, I think
that not criticizing my successor is a statement unto itself, in terms
of trying to create an environment that people are able to have a
meaningful discussion or debate without trash talk."
I'm sending a signal that will help set a tone. In other words, I think
that not criticizing my successor is a statement unto itself, in terms
of trying to create an environment that people are able to have a
meaningful discussion or debate without trash talk."
On Regrets from His Time in Office
"The
decisions I made are done. And history will judge whether or not they
were correct... so I'm comfortable that I made the best decisions I
possibly could."
decisions I made are done. And history will judge whether or not they
were correct... so I'm comfortable that I made the best decisions I
possibly could."
"We
had an opportunity to reform Social Security in a way that would have
protected people's benefits and created a solvent system. Younger
workers would be confident that the money they were putting into the
system would be available to them when they retired. It was a missed
opportunity. I regret that."
had an opportunity to reform Social Security in a way that would have
protected people's benefits and created a solvent system. Younger
workers would be confident that the money they were putting into the
system would be available to them when they retired. It was a missed
opportunity. I regret that."
"I regret not finding Osama Bin Laden.
I regret the fact that Saddam didn't have weapons of mass destruction
that we thought. I don't regret removing him from power."
I regret the fact that Saddam didn't have weapons of mass destruction
that we thought. I don't regret removing him from power."
"Oftentimes
history judges you on the decisions you make. They don't judge you on
what would have happened in the absence of a decision. I believe the
world would have been a lot worse off if Saddam would be in power
today."
history judges you on the decisions you make. They don't judge you on
what would have happened in the absence of a decision. I believe the
world would have been a lot worse off if Saddam would be in power
today."
On Risk-Taking
"It's important to take risks. I'm talking about living life to the fullest... Part of life is seizing the moment."
"The
key thing about life is to be true to a set of beliefs. And to be
genuine. What mattered to me was that I didn't compromise my soul in
order to try to achieve a kind of popularity."
key thing about life is to be true to a set of beliefs. And to be
genuine. What mattered to me was that I didn't compromise my soul in
order to try to achieve a kind of popularity."
On the Media and His Controversial Reputation
"In
terms of what people think about me, the truth of the matter is, I
guess I care to a certain extent, but not enough to go out in the public
and plead for some kind of new understanding of me. I served. And now
it's time for the new man to serve. I have zero desire to be in the
limelight."
terms of what people think about me, the truth of the matter is, I
guess I care to a certain extent, but not enough to go out in the public
and plead for some kind of new understanding of me. I served. And now
it's time for the new man to serve. I have zero desire to be in the
limelight."
"There
was plenty of trash talk during my presidency. A lot. And I did not
engage in it. But a lot of the reason why the debate is acrimonious is
because of the 24/7 news cycles, blogs and people being able to just
throw something out there in order to get attention."
was plenty of trash talk during my presidency. A lot. And I did not
engage in it. But a lot of the reason why the debate is acrimonious is
because of the 24/7 news cycles, blogs and people being able to just
throw something out there in order to get attention."
On picking Dick Cheney to be his Vice President
"Dick Cheney
was a fine vice-president. Glad I picked him. I was pleased I picked
him from the beginning, and I was pleased I picked him in the end. He
didn't agree with me on every issue. I didn't expect him to. But when I
made up my mind, he supported the decisions, as did everybody else in
the administration. And frankly, if they couldn't support the decisions,
it was time for them to move on."
was a fine vice-president. Glad I picked him. I was pleased I picked
him from the beginning, and I was pleased I picked him in the end. He
didn't agree with me on every issue. I didn't expect him to. But when I
made up my mind, he supported the decisions, as did everybody else in
the administration. And frankly, if they couldn't support the decisions,
it was time for them to move on."
On his Relationship with wife Laura Bush
"I
meant it when I said she was the greatest First Lady ever. Because she
viewed the presidency and the First Lady as an opportunity to improve
people's lives. It wasn't a burden. She put her heart and soul into the
experience, just like I did. So we had a shared experience. That makes a
good marriage better."
meant it when I said she was the greatest First Lady ever. Because she
viewed the presidency and the First Lady as an opportunity to improve
people's lives. It wasn't a burden. She put her heart and soul into the
experience, just like I did. So we had a shared experience. That makes a
good marriage better."
"In many ways our marriage is great because she has made it great."
"It's interesting that we spend less time with each other now than we did during the Presidency."
"She's
busy and I'm busy which makes our marriage not only interesting but
exciting. It's exciting for me to see her busy and out there enjoying
what she's doing. But we always make time for each other."
busy and I'm busy which makes our marriage not only interesting but
exciting. It's exciting for me to see her busy and out there enjoying
what she's doing. But we always make time for each other."
On Becoming a Grandparent
"I'm
a little disappointed it hasn't happened yet. But the more
disappointment I show, the less likely it is things are going to happen
on the time table I want."
a little disappointed it hasn't happened yet. But the more
disappointment I show, the less likely it is things are going to happen
on the time table I want."
On Retirement and Advice to Boomers
"You never retire. At least I don't retire. I'm active."
"I'm
just beginning to live the next chapter of my life. It's the
introductory pages. In other words, politics...is not the end of my
life."
just beginning to live the next chapter of my life. It's the
introductory pages. In other words, politics...is not the end of my
life."
"My
advice to seniors—and I consider myself one—is to first and foremost
take care of your body. Secondly find something where you could say 'I'm
helping somebody else.' And it may be just helping raise a grandkid. Or
teaching a child to read."
advice to seniors—and I consider myself one—is to first and foremost
take care of your body. Secondly find something where you could say 'I'm
helping somebody else.' And it may be just helping raise a grandkid. Or
teaching a child to read."
"One
of the things I learned as President is that your life is just not
going to unfold the way you want it to, there will be surprises,
challenges, and therefore the question is how you deal with the
unexpected."
of the things I learned as President is that your life is just not
going to unfold the way you want it to, there will be surprises,
challenges, and therefore the question is how you deal with the
unexpected."
On his New Book
"I hope my friends read it and say, 'Now I understand.' I hope my detractors read it and say, 'Well, I better understand.'"
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