Time Has Marched On

On not writing his memoirs

The beautiful thing about the library is that it provides a way for history to be shaped without my editorializing. Barbara’s memoir covered the family part, the heartbeat and all that. [Brent] Scowcroft and I have coauthored a book–it’s two years late, I might add–on foreign policy.

What he hopes history will say

He served with integrity and honor . . . [R]efusing to stick my fingers in Gorbachev’s eyes [as he struggled to maintain control in the Soviet Union], restraint when the Berlin wall fell, the treaty to eliminate MIRVed missiles . . . the ADA [Americans With Disabilities Act], the Clean Air Act. The cap on discretionary spending, [which] some would say [was] the first step towards this recovery.

On the Bush library

I worry about [its] beingtoo much about me. It’sthe big ““I . . .’’ I want Colin Powell, [Dick] Cheney, [James A.] Baker, [John]Sununu, Boyden Gray and others to feel a part of the place.

On his sons George and Jeb

It’s the only politics I really feel viscerally about. Time has marched on. Both Barbara and I want to help [other GOP candidates], but my heart really isn’t in it.