CNN’s John King sat down with George and Laura Bush for a special private interview on the eve of the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in April.
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CNN's John King gets a private interview with George and Laura Bush
A sense of legacy is in the air on eve of Bush presidential library's opening
Bush talks about milestones of his presidency, relationships with his staff
George W. Bush is a proud new grandfather and fascinated by his unlikely new hobby: painting.
But some things haven’t changed a bit: the trademark smirk when he is amused, a squinty glare when he doesn’t appreciate the question – and a quick turn to humor when the conversation turns to “legacy,” including the scars of Iraq or the cloud of Katrina.
“History will ultimately judge the decisions that were made for Iraq and I’m just not going to be around to see the final verdict,” the two-term president told CNN in a wide-ranging interview.
“In other words, I’ll be dead.”
On Thursday, every living president will be on hand for the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. One, of course, will be his father, George Herbert Walker Bush; the other three, Democrats – Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
By the Numbers: Presidential libraries
The 43rd president said he has learned lessons from his predecessors about how to make a mark after leaving the White House.