• Rare gathering of five presidents at Bush Library dedication

    Charles Dharapak / AP

    President Barack Obama stands with, from second from left, former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter at the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas on April 25.

    By Tom Curry, National Affairs Writer, NBC News

    Giving a broad-strokes defense of his eight years in the White House, former president George W. Bush celebrated the dedication of his the Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas on Thursday. In the audience were the nation’s three other former living presidents – George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter – as well as current commander in chief Barack Obama.  Read full story

    David J. Phillip / AP

    From left, first lady Michelle Obama, former first lady Laura Bush, former first lady Hillary Clinton, former first lady Barbara Bush and former first lady Rosalynn Carter arrive for the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library.

    Charles Dharapak / AP

    Former Vice President Dick Cheney, center, shakes hands with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair during the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library. Former President George W. Bush's daughter Jenna Bush Hager is at right.

    Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images

    Former President George H. W. Bush, left, former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush listen during a dedication ceremony at the George W. Bush Library.

    Jewel Samad / AFP - Getty Images

    President Barack Obama, left, and former presidents, from left, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter arrive on stage for the George W. Bush Presidential Library dedication.

     

  • Eric Draper / Burson-Marsteller via AP

    Military veterans US Army Sgt. (Ret.) Dan Nevins, left, and North Carolina National Guard SSgt. (Ret.) Dale Beatty, look on as former President George W. Bush tees off during a practice round in the two-day Warrior Open tournament at Las Colinas Country Club, in Irving, Texas on Sunday, Oct. 9. Twenty wounded military members are competing in the two-day Warrior Open tournament being held in the Dallas suburb of Irving.

    Bush tees off with wounded veterans

    By Natalia Jimenez, NBC News

    Former President George Bush hosted the Warrior Open golf tournament this past Sunday in Irving, Tex. The competition for wounded veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, gave Bush the opportunity to interact with soldiers. While Bush has had few public appearances since leaving office, showing his support of the U.S troops has been one of his priorities. In April, he hosted Warrior 100, a similar event where he biked 62 miles (100 kilometers) with injured servicemen.

    From AP:

    "I was a little concerned that our veterans don't think that I still respect them and care for them a lot," Bush told the AP. He added later, "There's nothing as courageous in my judgment as someone who had a leg blown off in combat overcoming the difficulties."

    For more information: AP Interview: George W. Bush still supports troops

  • Bush lauds construction of presidential center

    AP reports:

    DALLAS — Former President George W. Bush said Monday that his presidential center will be a venue for learning and action, and that it already exceeds his expectations.

    The George W. Bush Presidential Center will feature a presidential library and policy institute when it opens in spring 2013. Bush said the institute, which will focus on education reform, global health, human freedom and economic growth, will help him to stay involved in the areas that interest him.

    Tom Pennington / Getty Images

    Former President George W. Bush hugs his wife, Laura Bush, during the George W. Bush Presidential Center Topping Out Ceremony on October 3 in Dallas, Texas. The Center is a future complex that will include former President George W. Bush's presidential library and museum, the George W. Bush Policy Institute, and the offices of the George W. Bush Foundation.

    Tom Pennington / Getty Images

    Members of the media take a tour of the future George W. Bush Presidential Center on October 3 in Dallas, Texas. The George W. Bush Presidential Center is a future complex that will include former President George W. Bush's presidential library and museum, the George W. Bush Policy Institute, and the offices of the George W. Bush Foundation.

     

  • 'America is a magnificent country that produces patriots.'

    Al Behrman / AP

    Former President George W. Bush gives a Veteran's Day address, Nov. 11, 2010, at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

    From the Associated Press

    DAYTON, Ohio — Former president George W. Bush said Thursday he's enjoying being away from politics and won't get involved in current debates about his successor or Washington.

    "I will not be criticizing President (Barack) Obama," Bush told a Veterans Day tribute audience. "As a matter of fact, we wish him well. We're all Americans, and we want to succeed."

    He said he didn't miss Washington, "all the politics, all the name calling ... the spitballs."

    But he told some 1,500 people, many of them veterans, at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in southwest Ohio that he does miss serving as commander in chief.

    With interviews and speeches, Bush has been vigorously promoting his newly released memoir "Decision Points. He focused his speech Thursday on parts of the book dealing with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the support and inspiration he drew from wounded warriors, families of those killed during his presidency, and the military.

    Reflecting on several crucial decision points during his time in the Oval Office, former President George W. Bush says I'm gonna be dead when they finally figure it out. And I'm comfortable knowing that I gave it my all.