get to your stack of books over there comes to books & books and you will see his back. thanks for being our host. [applause]

[applause] the. >> and good evening i have the honor to read executive director of the reagan presidential ecovation in thanks for joining us this evening.

in waterfowl of those to defend our freedom around the world please join me with the pledge of allegiance off. >> i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america. to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all. please be seated. now that we have said the pledge all of those that are with the armed forces today whether active for retired please stand so we can show you our appreciation. [applause]

on that note there are a few people live with like to recognize is this even in-house starting with the board of trustees ambassador? [applause] an extraordinary supporter over the years. mr. freeman. [applause] one of and our remarkable trustees. ben? [applause]

into the whole family. [applause] the state assemblymen. [applause] our former congressman and his wife janice. [applause] all elected officials from the county of ventura. [applause] president bush treasury of secretary. [applause] and leslie retired army

officer and his wife. [applause] but gary became paralyzed with the helicopter crashed while conducting operations in iraq 2008. but the eggs to the generosity of the hero foundation he can now walk unassisted. [applause] if you would like to know coming he will be at the library to right to share his story. we invite all of you to come back tomorrow at the same time for a very inspirational even.

-- even to. as the real foundation chairman prior to his chairmanship serving in the reagan white house and after that he served as reagan's first post white house chief of staff. i know of no other person who spent more time and effort working on behalf with nancy reagan over the years. fred would never brag about the fact but it is a fact. please agenda meant please join me to welcome to the stage fred ryan. [applause]

>> that was a very kind introduction. our special guest has been to the reagan presidential library several times. first of the honor of a major league baseball team then as governor of texas. the was back as a candidate for president of the united states and then back as president of the united states to dedicate airforce one and has been here as a former president and as the author of a of a popular book and tonight he is back as a painter. we can only imagine his next visit to the reagan library. [laughter] as we closely observe what our presidents do after serving in the most powerful and demanding job on the planet they deserve to do things in the post presidentially here's -- years.

some take on old and new challenges like one of my former presidents became a skydiving and busiest and tell his wife put a stop to it to. [laughter] but there has been a few artists like grant and eisenhower and carter. but to our knowledge no president has ever attempted portraits. the 43rd president entered bravely into that territory because he was so moved of the sacrifices of the of wounded warriors to capture and demoralize their courage . i have to say i look at president bush's of the -- collection not only because of his talent and skill the subject matter and how he finds a way to take their strength and dignity and perseverance and patriotism to lift back up for all of

us to see in a deep and intimate way. they feel the warrior spirit and hopefully this gives each of us of better understanding of these veterans and what they're facing. so portraits of courage he tells the stories of more than 60 brave souls in the book to honor men and women in uniform, to highlight family members and caregivers who never leave their side and encourage those who may be struggling to get the help they need and help american support veterans to succeed. after reading the book no question they have achieved those goals and in doing so to reveal a bit of himself as well. oscar wilde wrote every portrait is of the artist to on the color canvas reveals

himself. now is my great honor to introduce an artist through his depth and passion of 43rd president of the united states. [cheers and applause] >> sit-down. thank you per you are eating into the air time. [laughter] thanks so much for inviting me back i also want to thank john, the trustees, it is good to see you again.

i painted by an asterisk is better i we thought he had a face only a mother could love laugh laugh but she liked it. that was a huge relief. >> we have a full house we will get to as many questions as we can but the book is now available "portraits of courage" already atop seller on amazon or to go to the bush center directly invest father is the special deluxe edition personally signed by the president and all proceeds to emphasize of

this book goethe the veterans' cause this that the bush family supports. [applause] the first thing mr. president of the bond issue repay was to know when did you start painting? >> i was an art to agnostic. [laughter] that is a terrible admission to make but i get back from washington baroda book then another book trying to stay fit that the bush center in dallas but you have to understand as president you go 100 miles an hour the next day is zero. had this anxiousness to keep moving. so i read mr. churchill's s.a. painting is a pastime.

he took up painting. psa is worth reading. i said what the hell of pecans so cannot. [laughter] so i told that to laura she said sure. [laughter] i hired an instructor in she came over to the house what is your objective? i said there is a rembrandt trapped into this body. [laughter] so she came back realizing i was serious ip did cube then a watermelon was inexperienced was an unbelievable learning experience so i have been painting ever since. >> the first question asks

"portraits of courage" history of painting as a child? did your mom take the school paintings on the french bread. >> genscher was a finger painter i was not that interested but now i am. so it goes to show you can teach an old dog new tricks. >> when you get to be -- our age. [laughter] and you sit around there is only two topics of conversation. what madisons are you taking? how are your grandkids? now they say you have a passion for painting. i am living proof that you don't know what you can do

unless you try. so my call for the aging baby boomers is lay it out. run to the finish line. painting has enabled me to do that. >> the next question is what medicines are you taking and how your grandkids? [laughter] [applause] >> grand kids are great. >> it didn't think you had did in new. [laughter] here is a question that says you started painting farm animals and world leaders what made you think about wounded veterans quick. >> what happened was my mother who is quite plain spoken heard was painting.

by the way this was a woman who said i could not win running against dan richards. [laughter] so she said paid my dogs so i became a portrait painter i painted bob the cat and that party. [applause] then the instructor in dallas but the greatest thing in the instructor can do is set to new horizons for a student. my instructor said you should paid portraits of world leaders. as a fledgling artist thinking he can actually do that? and did it. so i have to instructors now of one is that the house.

he said the shipping the portraits of people that nobody knows. and it dawned on me about the warriors. at the bush center rehab mountain bike rides with wounded that's. -- that's then they started to study their stories the first guy was a major turner wound was sitting with them at dinner i said well you are here -- wire you hear he said i cannot get out of my mind to see a buddy of mine killed. and painting him what must that be like in his mind? then he liked -- rates meal of letter later but one of the problems we face is the

stigma. they don't want to talk about it. that people will not understand me, i will get demoted, and never hired so he writes letters to say now he talks about it. it enabled me to start sharing my story. that this step number one to seek help. so i painted him again. i have only done that twice. that when you come through with a stigma to show that i have improved as a painter as well. [laughter] >> the next question is what is the process to paint your portrait? are they paid urdu they get to see the improvement or do they sent quick. >> i paid 10 laurel one

time. i thought it was pretty good at first was to english or to this or to that then i said forget it. [laughter] i did paid to my mother for her 90th birthday. it was a painting of her walking her two dogs on the beach in kennebunkport. but i painted her from the back after the yanks to that boris showed me. [laughter] i do paid from photos the idea have been to live his myself one of the instructors convinced me to paid myself looking in the beer because it is hard to smile while you look at the mir. so i did not run a by them i

hope that they like it i was been nervous about some of them. todd wrote a better about what it was like to be in the war. when i was painting todd he told us he had nice what's. -- sweats. it is a dark painting and masoud one in tampa today's ago i said let me show you repainting. i said i am no longer the commander in chief. [laughter] you can tell me the truth. he liked it. [laughter] i think because it captured the in which that he felt so i wish i could repeat that. but the book is out.

>> that question is which of the of wounded warriors was the toughest? >> they are all tough in a way. when news think about it because everyone of the men and women, have very physical wounds of war and all of them has dramatic brain injury. so to have such great pride. i am a baby boomer which means we and all more. a lot of people did not understand minnesota defense -- when the vet came home in a blizzard despicable so they've were attacked and i made it clear real defend the country.

it is utterly different attitude and to be a high honor. so i thought about the integrity and the courage of those will into volunteer. so i had a lot of pride to paint them. i guess the toughest was me with a the first lieutenant to lose your lady in combat than wednesday bronze in the olympics this year in the triathlon and she said let's dance. i said no. i don't want to dance. [laughter] i am not a very good dancer. so the hard part was me because for most of the painting i will try to like alfred e. neuman laugh laugh remember am?

he ran for president. >> mr. president, we're do usually do your painting? who cleans up after you and how long does it take you to do a portrait start to finish quick. >> upstairs in our house. i built a studio there and at the ranch and one in kennebunkport. i have right can retreat to. i cleanup laugh laugh most of the time. [laughter] oil painting is not neat. i live it my palette to read sanded to blues and a two

blue if you do scandal little nick on your think you're into the down on the white bed spread that is blair. [laughter] i am not a very good cleaner frankly. this took me one year to paint the 98 portraits a painting is never really done. i'll look get some of these to say i wish i could put them back but at some point you have to call if it quits so i live with these portraits for one year. some are more complete than others. i would go upstairs to look at o'brien to say i need to touch him up. is a never-ending process. i cannot answer that question. >> have you ever been unhappy with one of your paintings and toss it aside

quick. >> all the time. i will paint then think about it bank:upstairs to scrape off. that is great about oil painting you can paint and scrape and paint and scrape i tried acrylics butted dry so fast there is no scraping . all the time. but with oil you can paint over it until you get it where you are comfortable. >> the risk questions beyond the painting. anytime that some would call uncertainty but can you tell the and regeneration of our country to renew the sense of belief and optimism that reagan embodied? >> read history. somebody told me right after 9/11 you had the toughest presidency. i said not even close.

one by abraham lincoln when the country was at war with each other? i just talked about a period of time that is so vivid still 50 years later. was a tough period. but understand uh nation goes through tough times. there is a spirit that cannot be extinguished and why i am so optimistic about the future of the country. billions water the uniform they got the ph.d. and life at a young age. can we help them transition? they are the leaders of the future and that is with this project is about. hoping the people take this skill set to transition to bring those skills into civilian life.

there is a civilian divide to do with language vice president the cuban relations says what is your skill set? sniper. [laughter] i don't think we need one this year. [laughter] but if the person said i am disciplined and i work hard and dead team player and belief in personal responsibility that all of a sudden the civilian takes a different look so would challenge that we have as a society is to understand the military how they think but a lot of work has been done on that by the way. >> understand the history of the country and you will see. there is a resiliency that should make people optimistic.

but the rhetoric can't get so out of the and toussaint don't want to be involved in politics. they used to call abraham lincoln in eight. it is not the first time they have had name-calling in politics. maybe names recall that be at one time. [laughter] i am not sure. >> we were so glad to see your dad make it to the super bowl. [applause] how is he doing and how is your mom question mayfair both great given their limitations. dad can walk he is confined to a wheelchair and his spirit is joyful. i went to see dad three years ago that the icu unit

at methodist hospital it is a really warm. so i said my library is open in three months. i sure will into there and whose voice was incredibly weak. >> host: i will be there. i left thinking probably not sure enough reopen tel library the most important thing for me it is nice to have the former president's with great weather and friends but dad was on the stage for crowfoot been deploying reminded me. he has a huge desire to live. i wrote a book and had to have started floating in aircraft -- a raft worried about the japanese --

japanese capturing and killing him for gromov is doing fine. she is shrinking and negative a desert voice gets louder. [laughter] she is a piece of work. [laughter] [applause] don't tell her i said that. a question from the audience . why did you criticize president trump but not criticizing president obama after 80 years? >> cares what happens i am asked the question to i believe in free press? that answer is absolutely ashen every other american because it holds people to account power is very

addictive and corrosive is central to your life. therefore there needs to be an independent group of people holding you to account. soleil answer that question the headline is bush criticizes trump there should be the free and independent press but it should be accurate. [applause] >> i made the decision after my presidency not to criticize president obama and i feel the same way about trump. first of all, the office of the press it is more important than the occupant to. [applause] i believe that undermines the office of the of presidency. second commander stand there is a lot of critics idol

want to make the president's job worse matter the political party. it is a hard job if they are there second-guess saying it will make it harder. i want anybody who is president to succeed. we are in this together. i m understand sometimes my remarks can be construed as criticism but did is not meant to be after i finish this book tour you probably will hear from me for a while laugh laugh i like privacy. people say thank you for the sacrifice. it is sent to serve a country you love. but you do sacrifice anonymity. i cannot walk down madison avenue maybe i should say

that better. >> without drawing a lot of attention to the extent i can have privacy not to be totally inside yourself it is amazing how time moves which is scary when you are 70. >> the bush family is always viewed as the enforceability in politics are there less civil today and where do things change and why? >> i don't think so. i thinking has holy center reps or. there are campaigns of

slander i think it is changed how people get their news. believe it or not with the first blackberry president that was government issue at the end of bill clinton's time. because technology has changed so dramatically and so quickly as has the others before with the news. the three stations but now they get news and information from all over the of place. there is no accountability whatsoever. that lends itself to some pretty angry messages and

the danger is people say i don't want to get involved and that is a huge problem. >> are we better off than we were four years ago? is the world the more dangerous place? >> it is. this may be taken as criticism but there is a lesson with the united states decides not to take the lead. and withdraw. that can be created when the presence reseats and that vacuum is filled with people who don't share the same ideology and the same since the of human-rights there is

the isolationist tendency to that is not be fit the character of the country. [applause] i looked on twitter for the account of george w. bush and it was described as a lot. do you tweet and du recommended to mothers? >> no. that is a loaded question. [laughter] no i don't. if there is a twitter account under my name somebody else is running it. this is an interesting question. we do interesting things that the bush center deal the way to make news is if i criticize my successor or

party. the fundamental question is how do get good news out? like to twitter and instagram they are useful ways to communicate with a group of people better interested in what they're doing i do do face time. that is high tech isn't it? cutting edge? with my grandkids. it is like watching a home movie every day. it is also. by the mayor during well. [laughter] and those medicines? laugh laugh. >> to many to count to. >> from the eight years as america's leader which vice -- a vice would you think of

those running in the future? >> my id vice in is no what you don't know and find people who don't and listen to them the job is different once you get an. it looks one way then you get into the oval office and it looks different. trust me. but might advise is unless your whole by a film is wound up if you win or lose then don't go for it. my dad never won the state of texas and tell me to 88. so if he loses in 64 and 70 and this is to reagan in '80 and i think his priorities

were the faith of his family and friends that although the loss stong it was tolerable than 1988 becomes president of the united states pressure you cannot live in your state and three times and ends up becoming president the that speaks volumes take risk. but make sure you have the right foundation on which to take a risk. >> some more questions about painting would you have painted in the white house if you knew you had the skills greg. >> business do for. -- there is no dew over.

that is a good question. i doubt it. is an all consuming job. you think about the presidency and the problems and the issues all the time. and what is startling is when you are not president because mankind can in just -- adjusted environment but then the next day you have to get the coffee yourself you realize you know longer have that sense of responsibility and it is pretty startling. so i guess my answer in is the reason we have a sense of responsibility because the job is all consuming. >> chiusi the world differently now through the eyes of an artist greg. >> i do.

i was on ellen to generous today by the way who is a very fine person and i'll look in her eyes and i said i can mix that color. [laughter] >> i see colors and shadows and ac this guy differently. yes. i do. i don't know if it has made be centered or sensitive but i do know that it has changed my life for the better. >> does laura paid with cube. >> no. she does not play golf either per crocheted doesn't like gulf. she is not a painter.

she is a positive critic. she has a really good eye and loves art to and his mates on meaningful and positive suggestions and not some positive suggestions. but she takes a great interest. with this exhibit baseball be displayed starting today at the bush center of to a huge crowd i heard so borrow went over there to make sure the colors of the balls were well with the paintings and she took a big interest in the project. like my mom she is my biggest fan and. they're unbelievably positive against -- a guess she will encourage me to keep doing that. >> you aim for a big change you should not be rewarded for short-term history.

has history been fair crack. >> idol think it has judged me properly it is impossible to judge a president in the short term for a bass to be a time to analyze the decision the president makes and consequences. i wrote decision points. because i wanted people to have an understanding why i made the decisions i made regardless are not if you agree. if you try to learn why, i also put into the introduction it would be a point for future historians. if there genuinely sincere the they ought to read this book but as a did a plate so we have this late -- library

some of that has not been declassified yet to but it will be. to be more presidents followed me. it enables one tuesday perspective. i give it my all and that is all that you can do. [applause] >> what would people we surprised to learn about you since you left the oval office? >> that i may painter. [laughter] i was thrilled to say after the first one people bill be shocked. didn't think i could read let alone write. [laughter] so they will lead be surprised.

i am not sure what else but i'd think they are talking about my successor. and should have given you this answer when obama mobilize president ivan gets calls from the heartland tuesday speak out now like calls from the coast to say speak out. [laughter] >> it is human nature to be private about wombs and scars cottage to get the subjects to open up that some of us may choose to hide quick. >> that is a great question. i was able to earn their trust several ways and to

support them 100 percent and i think that they saw that. went you ride mountain bikes with people there is camaraderie but it is a way to earn somebodies' trust. we set it up so the feds could speak and we encourage them to be open. some are more open than others but when you sit there as a veteran talking about the invisible boon to gives confidence to speak yourself. the challenges to gets the vet to get rid of the stigma . the best people to do that our other veterans. if somebody comes out of combat into a doctor's office to say i have a problem the doctor doesn't understand how '02 speak to

that problem to say i have these issues than he can say i understand the other aspect is what works? we have this will this alliance that we are raising money for with the peer to peer counseling groups for the line goes center at nyu and these are places that can help us vet to one tel to begin when f. -- to want help to begin with. some more than others. look the same sitting next to turner i probably make tim service pricing why are you here?

he opens up. boom. it is a part of the healing process. and a lie he told me that but as a result he is part of the peer to peer counseling network. >> the website mentions 80 percent of these organizations raise less than $100,000 per year but can we do to help correct. >> do these 80 percent raise $100,000 do their work? so there is an opportunity to look at the characteristics before again monday to organization. but the response this time compared to vietnam is overwhelming. i think there are 35,000

ngos to help our veterans but we don't want to be the jury at the bush center by highlight programs that we know are effective. but the guy takes the vets to put them where a hurricane has hit or in earthquake and they are part of helping build locals recover. it is peer to peer counseling group called dealing with the same issues that is also part of appealing. in the booklet there is a number of people that are recovering nicely because they are now working to help somebody else's life improved. by the way you don't have to be a veteran to realize is the benefits to serve mankind. >> q said there is talk about the 1% that are the

warriors that defend the remaining 99 americans. >> i am on a government pension. that is not be. [laughter] >> $200,000 per year less my medicare premium. [laughter] is there something the government can be doing better? >> the v.a. has good programs but the best way for them to work is to do a joint venture with private-sector programs that are effected. [applause] the new head of the v.a. is very receptive.

we are gaining some credibility for knowing what we are talking about and they want our template to make shirts the help that every veteran deserves his as seamless as possible. i am told by the former secretary of the v.a. it p. gse is not a disorder is an injury who once to be labeled with a disorder? more likely would hire somebody with an injury. was my brilliant point them was going to make? >> what the government can do. >> keys says no question the pipeline is clogged with pts. notice i dropped the letter d.

seventy years. [laughter] vietnam vets are showing symptoms of 220 after all these years. the fn in combat raising families and have a job and retire. and say something is wrong. they checked into the v.a. now all of a sudden there is a lot that is why the joint-venture ears are important so is many people can get help as quickly as possible the problem with frustrating a vat to as just about of combat if he doesn't get help with believe there is self medication and there is a lot of that with the challenge to prevent that from happening as best we can and.

>> by the way i used to self medicate. i quit drinking 1986. [applause] >> to was the subject of your next portraits and why? >> it turns out that nasser's paint themselves lot. i guess we are arrogant because it doesn't upset anybody. so when a flight instructors has a giant portrait he is a fabulous printer big faces he happens to be in african-american who is painted the faces nobody knows so. >> host: it you should paint a huge portrait

six-foot big. that is be. and my face on six-foot campus is a lot of face it takes a long time. so he is helping me through this in each part of your face is like a portrait of its self. you could spend four or five days just on your year because it is so big. is a fascinating experience.

we did dna to find out how to run piercy is. -- bell purer one says nixon breed -- a mixed breed and

he is also. war negative awesome. >> can be done about being an art instructor? >> no. i am still a people. every press tropism alerting experience in did is important to have people of around who understand that in berlin to help you and and reach out. if you look at the overall leader's that look like tony blair or putin or into liverpool but there is no confidence son have a lot of paint with a big brushstrokes it is the evolving style.

and to have the confidence to paint that way. >> this is an honest. would you do a portrait of our family for a christmas card? >> no. dave will say lee paid for charity? i say no. i will do that the rest of my life i will not ever sell one. this collection of 98 we are giving it to the bush foundation endowment fund it may be worth something 30 years from now with a run out of money and they can sell it. i made a fancy sophisticated copy i promise to make all the one copy and i will send

it to each veteran. [applause] >> a couple of questions about portraits specifically they are the toughest you can miss paint a landscape and who will complain but if you capture the image of another human you better get a right on campus. >>. >> guy a painted done as baby once that was impressionist and i pleaded another and did not like it so lightly did something like the gerber baby. [laughter] >> as portraiture is the most complex for much of art

as insight into character that usually means a special report needs to develop. did that occur with few. >> but to make a portrait of were to have to have a feeling of police wore painting. -- of who you are painting. . .

on the cover the first portrait in there. they lose their legs and they have been in combat twice. it is the invisible ones that concerned me. and so this book is a way to highlight that. and hopefully it will inspire people to help and people among veterans to come forward and talk about it. caregivers to rethink the care they are giving. if it is not working. it is really to call people to a very important cause. and i have a platform still. not as big as the old one but i intend to use it. this is just one way to do this for the rest of my life. [applause] mr. president, we've just run about out of time.

but i would like to thank you for doing this work. i was fortunate enough to get a copy of this and what a great gift that is to give to someone in the military and military families. i would urge everybody to pick up a copy. amazon or go to bush b7 org. >> or "washington post". [laughter] you are doing a fine job by the way. >> thank you mr. president. [applause] we have been deluxe book that is signed by the president and the painter and author is just a wonderful thing. i would encourage people to get that if you can. thank you for joining us.>> thank you all for coming. [applause]

[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen. for those of you joining us for dinner we ask that you hold for a few minutes and let our distinguished guests depart. then you will be going out that door. those of you who are upstairs joining us for dinner there is a door in the same corner that you will be able to go out. if you're not joining us for dinner you're welcome to depart this direction right now and go find your car. give us a moment. hope you're all joining us tomorrow night for our evening with gary. it should be fascinating events.thank you all for coming. [inaudible conversations]