President Bush on Iraq, Katrina, the economy

Brian Williams Anchor & “Nightly News” managing editor • Profile

WASHINGTON - Our day started early this morning, when we greeted President George W. Bush in the Oval Office. It was the first stop we made on a vigorous schedule. From there it was onto Air Force One and a trip to Philadelphia, where the President met with members of the World Affairs Council and gave the latest speech in a series of them on the Iraq war.

But we begin with our first encounter with the early-rising chief executive.

Brian Williams: Mr. President, good morning. You're very kind to have us. Thank you very much. So we're off to Philadelphia today. And you are fresh from the situation room.

President George W. Bush: I am, thanks.

Williams: What kind of things do you go over in that morning brief?

President Bush: Well, some of the things I can tell you and some of them I can't. I will tell you that today we discussed the bombing in Beirut. And I wanted to know as much that we knew so that when I put out a statement it's got some fact behind it. The statement today will basically say that we expect Syria and any Syrian agents to allow the Lebanese democracy to function without interference. Now, we don't have direct evidence of who did the bombing, but we do know that the person bombed was anti-Syrians, pro-democracy. We discussed Iraq of course. We discussed some other issues.

Williams: And so the intelligence in the war on terror that comes in overnight, the chatter you've become used to, a new aspect of this job since 9/11, that is obviously a part of your brief?

President Bush: It is. You know if our people hear anything or read anything or know anything they of course inform me. I then ask the questions to those who are on the front line of defending America. What are we doing about it? Where are you in finding this person or where are you in intercepting this cargo? So that we can assure the American people we're doing our most important job. Listen, there's an enemy that wants to attack us. And I vowed after September 11th that I wouldn't rest. The enemy made clear their intentions and they still want to do it. And we have an awesome responsibility to take every threat seriously and act on it. And that's what we're doing.

Williams: Now, how do you wake up on a Monday morning? I brought some visual aids. I have Newsweek and Time. Cover of Newsweek, look what they've done to you. "Bush's World: The isolated president, can he change?" And inside Time, it says "Bush's search for his new groove." Time magazine says you're out there talking to people. Newsweek says you're in here not talking to people. So what is truth, Mr. President?

President Bush: Well, I'm talking to you. You're a person.

Williams: This says you're in a bubble. You have a very small circle of advisors now. Is that true? Do you feel in a bubble?

President Bush: No, I don't feel in a bubble. I mean, you feel in a bubble in the sense that I can't go walking out the front gate and, you know, go shopping, like I'd love to do for my wife. Although I may, I'm not going to tell you what I'm going to buy her. Look, I feel like I'm getting really good advice from very capable people and that people from all walks of life have informed me and informed those who advise me. And I feel very comfortable that I'm very aware of what's going on.

I just talked to the president-elect of Honduras. A lot of my job is foreign policy. and I spend an enormous amount of time with leaders from other countries. And they come right here in the Oval Office and tell me what's on their mind and I tell them what's on my mind. This is the first time I'm seeing this magazine.

Williams: Do you read this kind of stuff?

President Bush: No.

Williams: You don't read the news weeklies?

President Bush: I really don't. I'm interested in the news. I'm not all that interested in the opinions.

Williams: So where are they getting this? Some writers said the circle around you is too small and other writers says the president is expanding his circle to get more advice. Now where does that come from?

President Bush: You better ask the writers. All I know, there is a fascination about the presidency and the president. It's just part of the job. People are constantly wondering about the decision-making process and who's up and who's down. My job is to set an agenda, a strategy, and to pursue it.

You know, like in the war in Iraq, not everything has gone the way we had hoped. On the other hand, we are making progress. We get all kinds of opinions about how to proceed. And the president's job is to listen and then decide. And I hope when it's all said and done, people will say that George Bush knew how to make a decision and to stick by it. You know, not let the polls or the focus groups determine the course of history, but he made decisions based upon principles and things I firmly believed in. I'll tell you one thing I firmly believe in: I think I believe liberty is universal. freedom is the deep desire of every human being and that a country with influence like ours ought to do things to free people. And there's all kinds of ways to do so. I meant what I said in my inaugural address, we ought to end tyranny in this century. And so long as I'm the president I'm going to follow through on what I said I would do.

Williams: Now, so many occupants of this office, sir, like you, have studied former presidents. You and I have discussed earlier your fascination with Teddy Roosevelt, among other presidents. What do you like about TR?

President Bush: He used American influence to shape history and to lay what I call the foundations for peace. I spend a lot of time thinking about Abraham Lincoln. His picture's there on the wall. That's a generally a spot where a president would put the most influential president. I can't imagine what it would have been like to be the president during a Civil War, where brother was killing brother. And yet Lincoln had this great inner strength and a vision for an America that was united. And he worked to achieve that vision as best as he possibly could in the midst of a bloody fight.

I do think about other presidents here in the Oval Office and I think about how important it is to honor the presidency as an institution. Presidents come and go, but not the presidency.

Williams: And how about the fact that during the Lincoln presidency, there were people throughout the White House, office seekers, there wasn't an Oval Office. He used to call it his public daily bath that he was surrounded by. You could run into a member of the public in the hallway. That has changed and, of course, post-9/11 your security needs are entirely different.

President Bush: Well, it's changed to a certain extent. On the other hand, I've got Air Force One, which he didn't have. In other words, I'm able to reach out. He wasn't able to reach out as much as a modern president can do. You know, for example, I meet with families who've lost a loved one in Iraq. And I meet with them all around the country. And it gives me a chance to commiserate, cry, listen, explain, hug the loved ones of a lost soul. And let them know we're praying for them. And I hear all kinds of opinions about the war and what they think we ought to be doing. And I try to be patient and absorb the anguish of a family that's just mourning. I'm sure Abraham Lincoln was able to do that, but I don't think he was able to do it in cities all around the United States which I have been able to do.

Williams: Other than sending men and women into battle, is that the toughest part of the presidency for you?

President Bush: By far. Well, they go hand in hand. I remember the day we committed the troops, or I committed the troops, there's no "we" to it. I committed the troops to combat in Iraq. And I left here, walked out that door, walked around that South Lawn there with my trusty dog Spot, just thinking about the consequences, anticipating, you know, what could go right and what could go wrong, knowing full well that my decision put kids in harm's way. And so therefore, when I meet with the loved ones, I'm very aware of the fact that it was my decision that put their loved one in combat. And it's by far the toughest decision the president can make.

Williams: And I know you have a crucifix in your study that's kind of a talisman for you. You're surrounded by symbols of the fact that, as we speak, our men and women are on the battlefield.

President Bush: No, I'm very aware. I understand the consequences of war. I also understand the long term effects of victory. And I take great comfort in knowing that a lot of the families understand that when we succeed, that we will be able to look back and say a brave generation of Americans have made the world a better place for future Americans, future generations. And they understand that. Now, some don't. Some have said get out of there. What are you doing in there? Most of them tell me that their loved one knew exactly what they were there for, that they made a conscious decision to volunteer and to join in this war against terror. They understand that we've got to defeat the enemy there so we don't have to face them here at home. It doesn't take away the pain or anguish for the loved ones, or for me. By the way, it's not about me, the meeting with these families. It's about them. Although I will tell you, after nearly all the meetings, I leave a better person for having spent time with a mom or a dad or a wife who are showing such incredible courage.

Williams: Your people are getting anxious that our time is probably up here in the Oval Office. Preview Philadelphia. We're next going to see you on the aircraft.

President Bush: I am going up there to give the third of a series of speeches about victory in Iraq. One of the things that's very important is for the president to not only lay out the strategy but to report on progress for achieving that strategy. One of the things I'll tell the people up there is that we've had milestones for the Iraqi people when it comes to the development of democracy: The transfer of sovereignty, the election of a transitional government, the ratification of a constitution and elections that will take place this Thursday. And every milestone has been achieved, which says that the Iraqis are courageous and determined to develop a democracy. And it's important for the American citizens to realize that a democracy is part of how you defeat the terrorists and how we do our duty to what, I keep saying this word because I believe it, lay the foundations for peace.

You know. I spend a lot of time with (Japanese) Prime Minister Koizumi. Interesting fellow. And he's a very close friend. And it amazes me every time that I visit with him that my dad fought them, the Japanese. As did a lot of other baby boomers' relatives.

Williams: [They] shot at your father.

President Bush: Shot at him. And knocked his airplane down. And killed two of the people on his airplane. And yet Prime Minister Koizumi and I sit down and talk about North Korea or Iraq and democracy. We talk about keeping the peace. Something happened between when George H.W. Bush, better known as "41," was a young guy, and "43," his son, was the president. And what happened was Japan adapted a Japanese-style democracy which helped convert an enemy into an ally. And that's what's taking place in Iraq today. And so my job is to continue to remind people the stakes in the war on terror and the great historical opportunity to help change Iraq into a democracy, which will have an enormous effect on the broader Middle East, which in turn will lay the foundation for peace.

Williams: And how is that World War II veteran?

President Bush: Thanks for asking. He's good. He's a little nervous, he watches your newscast, it makes him anxious.

Williams: Oh, he need not be anxious.

President Bush: But he's great. His health is good. He's one of the most active guys.

Williams: Yes, he is.

President Bush: Still married to mom.

Williams: That's good. Glad to hear it, because we were worried that it wouldn't work out.

President Bush: Good thing about mom is, like you said, if I'm in a bubble, well if there is such thing as a bubble, she's the one who can penetrate it.

Williams: I'll tell the guys at Newsweek.

President Bush: Yeah, she's great. Is that who put the bubble story?

Williams: Yeah, that's the bubble.

President Bush: Well, that's the way it goes.

Williams: All right, we'll let them know. Thank you, we'll see you on the aircraft. They're going to drive us out there very quickly.

President Bush: Hustle.

Williams: Thank you, will do.

President Bush: You don't want to make the president wait.

Williams: We won't. See you in Philadelphia, Mr. President.

President Bush: Yes, sir.

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