President Bush speaks with Dickerson, left, Cooper and Gibbs in the Oval Office
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What about Bill Clinton?
At the portrait unveiling and the library I reflected upon his sense of enthusiasm about the job. This is a person who embraced the job and loved it. He took on issues, he took them on with enthusiasm and energy. He loved being the President and they say he filled the house upstairs. He really liked it. And that's an admirable trait.
You know, some people take on the presidency and it becomes kind of a heavy burden. And some take it on and they thrive. I tell people this rug here, which Laura designed, was my first lesson in delegation. A guy calls me over there at the Blair House. He said, "What kind of rug you want in the Oval Office?" I was preparing for this great moment when I was going to give my Inaugural Address. And I said, "Well, you know, we'll figure it out." And he said, "Well, you know, presidents design their own rugs." I said, "Well, I think I better delegate that one. — So I got Laura. And I said, "Laura, would you mind designing the rug?" She said, "What do you want it to say?" I said, "Say an optimistic person comes in here every day." I think she did a pretty good job. It's a fantastic rug.
Clinton had a sense of optimism about his experience here.
When you were at the Clinton library, did you think about your own library, your own legacy?
I'm beginning to think about the library, not the legacy. Remember, the legacy thing takes place probably long after you're gone. Really, you're standing in history. I'm not a big believer in the accuracy of short-term history. There ought to be a rule where no one writes history about your short-term until a generation of those who never voted for you or against you show up, you know what I'm saying?
So what were you thinking about your library?
Well, I'm thinking about the process. A couple of the people there gave me some advice: It's probably better to get started early rather than later on what you want the library to say and reflect about the administration. I would suspect at this point, if I had to think of themes, one would be the effect of freedom on the world. Maybe at home, how to achieve results-oriented government, or compassionate conservative agenda.
A location yet?
No. Look, one of the things you've got to understand is that it makes sense to give everybody an opportunity to weigh in.
Some people have said that in making your personnel changes for the second term, you're consolidating power.
I'm consolidating power? Why would I do — I've got all the power I need. What's that about?