Transcript: Chapter 22

Nicholas Brady, Treasury Secretary: After the loss to Bill Clinton in '92, he said, "You know, I think I'm only an asterisk between Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton." I said to him, "give it time, Mr. President. Don't be so hard on yourself.

Timothy Naftali: People make the argument that Ronald Reagan created Bush. No. That's baloney. The notion of economic prosperity, of constant economic growth, of peace abroad, all of these ideas that are associated with Reagan's legacy, would have been impossible without George Bush.

Colin Powell: His most important contribution was bringing the Cold War to an end, after Reagan did all of the exciting, glitzy stuff. George Bush took us through those next few years, in a way that has produced a Europe that is whole free and at peace

Brent Scowcroft: This was one of history's major transformations, from one kind of a world to another. And rarely does that happen except accompanied by some kind of cataclysm. It didn't. Some of it was luck; a lot of it was the careful, thoughtful, methodical work of a president who saw what he needed to do and worked his way through it. Not histrionically, not the big guy standing up on the parapet, but just got it done.

Richard Norton Smith: Certainly no one can see George Bush as an interregnum between the drama of the Reagan years and the roller coaster ride of Bill Clinton. There is a significant, distinct historical impact that George Bush left upon, not so much the presidency, and certainly not above -- on the political culture of his time (in many ways, he was a victim of that culture). He left it on the world stage, which is, as I suspect, the way he would want it to be.

Narrator: After four decades of public life, George Bush feels his most important accomplishment in life is that his children still come home. The 41st president remains a fundamentally private man. When Ronald Reagan learned he had Alzheimer's disease, he wrote a letter for history. He addressed it to the American people. At summer's end in 2001, nine years after his defeat, George Bush wrote a letter. He addressed it to his children.

George H. W. Bush: "This is my last day in Kennebunkport after almost five months of great happiness. There is something about this place that gets into one's very soul. Don't you agree?" I had a little plaque made. It says CAVU. C-A-V-U was the kind of weather we Navy pilots wanted when we were to fly off our carrier in the Pacific -- "Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited." I will not pass by it without realizing how lucky I am, for the plaque describes my own life -- as it has been over the years, as it is right now.

Narrator: After leaving office, Bush saw his son George W. get elected Governor of Texas, and his son Jeb Governor of Florida.

Jeb Bush: I felt like he really had a heart for serving. And it's a good model. Giving back was a measurement or part of being still is being part of how you define success in life. I learned that from my dad.

Narrator: When George W. was elected president in 2000, it was the first time a father and son had occupied the White House since John and John Quincy Adams almost 200 years earlier.

George H. W. Bush: I used to seek broad horizons in life, and I found plenty. Now I don't care if I can't even see Ogunquit. Limited horizons are OK by me just so family is in view. I don't want to sit at the head table or be honored or get a medal or have stuff named for me. That's happened.

George H. W. Bush (archival): To say that I am pleased to be here is the classic understatement of the year. This is any naval aviator's dream come true.

George H. W. Bush: That's happened and I have been truly grateful for some of the honors, but no more need come my way. Your mother and I sit out here like a couple of really old poops, but we are at total peace. She does crossword puzzles, reads a ton of books, plays golf and occasionally gets mildly (to use an old Navy expression) pissed off at me.

Barbara Bush: I didn't say what I'm quoted as saying, that dirty dog. He tells everybody that that's the largest free fall since the 1992 election. I really didn't say that. He says it all the time. Of course I wouldn't say that. Maybe.

George H. W. Bush: I can handle it though. I fall back on bad hearing and changing the subject. Both work.

George H. W. Bush (archival): The true measure of a man is how you, how you handle victory and also...

Narrator: In 2006, as his son Jeb's term as Governor of Florida was winding down, Bush was invited to speak to a group of his supporters.

Jeb Bush: And so my dad saw this crowd of 300 people, and just I think, felt so much love for his boy that he just broke down, I mean, uncontrollably. I'm normally like second best crybaby, but I had to keep the place together [laughs]...What a guy. I love him dearly.

George H. W. Bush: Because of the five of you whose hugs I can still feel, whose own lives have made me so proud, I can confidently tell my guardian angel that my life is CAVU; and it will be until the day I die.