Dallas (CNN) -- Some may disagree whether former President George W. Bush was a "uniter, not a divider," as he liked to say, but he did get all five living presidents together for the dedication of his presidential library. At Thursday's event in Dallas, Democratic former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton praised Bush for his initiatives in Africa, and Bush defended his record. "The political winds blow left and right, polls rise and fall, supporters come and go, but in the end, leaders are defined by the convictions they hold," Bush said at the ceremony for the George W. Bush Presidential Center. "My deepest conviction, the guiding principle of the administration, is that the United States of America must strive to expand the reach of freedom."
Mr. Bush has said he is aware that the opening of his presidential library would reopen debates over the Iraq War and the policies he pursued after the September 11 terrorist attacks. History will show, he said at the dedication, that he always stuck by his convictions. "A free society thrives when neighbors help neighbors and the strong protect the weak and public policies promote private compassion," Bush said. "As president, I tried to act on these principles every day. It wasn't always easy and certainly wasn't always popular ... but when future generations come to this library to study this administration, they're going to find out that we stayed true to our convictions."
(Former President Jimmy) Carter told a story of how he asked, on Bush's inauguration day, for a meeting to talk about a civil war in Sudan that was entering its second decade. Bush kept his word and acted, Carter said. "In January of 2005, there was a peace treaty between north and south Sudan that ended a war that had been going on for 20 years," Carter said. "George W. Bush is responsible for that." The last time the five living presidents were together was right before President Obama took office. It is a rare and special occurrence when the five gather, Obama said. "This is a Texas-sized party," (President) Obama said. "When all the former living presidents are all together, it is a special day for our democracy." The presidents on the stage definitely differed on many policy matters, but they all share one quality, Obama said: They did what they believe is right. "That's what (Former) President George W. Bush chose to do," Obama said.
The 43rd President became a little emotional as he closed his speech: "Whatever challenges come before us, I will always believe our nation's best days lie ahead." The center's library and museum take visitors through the turning points of Bush's two terms. The first exhibits recall the 43rd president's initial priorities on education, faith-based community initiatives and tax cuts. And they show how the September 11 terrorist attacks changed everything. ...
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Thursday, April 25th 2013 at 4:09PM
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