Bush tells ABC News he hasn't read any of the books written about his administration
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) You know you said at your press conference last week you joked about all the books being written -
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
Yeah.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) - about your Administration. Have you read any of them?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
No.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) Why not?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
You know I don't know. I haven't read the bad ones and I haven't read the good ones. I guess it makes me - it's kind of weird to be reading books about yourself when you're still trying to be the President. I really haven't.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) How do you explain though how Bob Woodward who for now three -
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
I didn't read the book.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) books - I know but he's written three books about your presidency.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
Well I didn't read any of them.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) None of them? Even when they were -
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
George I didn't read - I have not read - I've not read one book about me. I've read a lot of books this year and - but not one about myself. You know I just - I feel uncomfortable reading about myself. It's - it's hard for you to relate I think but my - I'm still in the midst of my presidency and people are writing books about my presidency. It is, that is, it is so myopic in many ways. The true history of my presidency will not be reflected until way after I'm gone.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) But you don't think there's anything you could learn from these books in real time?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
No.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) What was the last book you read?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
I'm reading history of the English speaking peoples from 1990 on - 1900 on. It's a great book.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) What are you taking from it?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
I'm taking that - I'm taking that sometimes history gets distorted.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) And you have to take the long view.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
Yes you do.
(Off-camera) You know you said at your press conference last week you joked about all the books being written -
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
Yeah.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) - about your Administration. Have you read any of them?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
No.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) Why not?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
You know I don't know. I haven't read the bad ones and I haven't read the good ones. I guess it makes me - it's kind of weird to be reading books about yourself when you're still trying to be the President. I really haven't.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) How do you explain though how Bob Woodward who for now three -
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
I didn't read the book.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) books - I know but he's written three books about your presidency.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
Well I didn't read any of them.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) None of them? Even when they were -
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
George I didn't read - I have not read - I've not read one book about me. I've read a lot of books this year and - but not one about myself. You know I just - I feel uncomfortable reading about myself. It's - it's hard for you to relate I think but my - I'm still in the midst of my presidency and people are writing books about my presidency. It is, that is, it is so myopic in many ways. The true history of my presidency will not be reflected until way after I'm gone.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) But you don't think there's anything you could learn from these books in real time?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
No.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) What was the last book you read?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
I'm reading history of the English speaking peoples from 1990 on - 1900 on. It's a great book.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) What are you taking from it?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
I'm taking that - I'm taking that sometimes history gets distorted.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) And you have to take the long view.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH (UNITED STATES)
Yes you do.