until he made the decision, george bush enjoyed a bubble of secrecy, two things that are again quite rare in contemporary washington. three, you can see bush statecraft in the management of key turning points over a period of 1989 to 1991. i think bob will talk about panama, but i would like to talk about german reunification and lithuania. president bush had a better feel for the balancing act required to manage gorbachev, a collapsing soviet empire and international expectations than any of his advisors. perhaps this was because he was a political man and understood momentum better than the foreign policy specialists around him. the one other person who, of course, had political background was james baker. he understood momentum, too. president bush combined a deep understanding of international affairs with that finger understanding of politics and international public opinion. the oral histories confirm the work done by my former colleague, professor selico and condoleezza rice that bush was far ahead of advisers that the time was come to push for reunion i have indication of germ

but george bush was then vice president. took the very unusual step of criticizing what the president of the united states had proposed. that became a minor issue in the 1988 presidential campaign. as a result, nothing came of those negotiations, and panama was a real issue when bush became president in 1989. tim has correctly told you that throughout that year, panama is not an important issue on the president's agenda. the changes taking place in europe, the end of the cold war, are far more complicated, far more consequential, and they are occupying most of the president's time. but there are two things that happen in that first year that are worth noting before we come back to december and the president's decision to use military force. one was an election that took place in may of 1989. like most panamanian elections, this one was fraudulent, corrupt, stolen by noriega and his supporters. unlike previous elections of that character, this one was watched. there were teams from international organizations, there was a tea

george w. bush invited the four other members of the club to come back to the white house shortly before president-elect obama was sworn in. the message -- they were all on the same team now. >> one message that i have and i think we all share is that we want you to succeed. whether we're a democrat or republican, we care deeply about this country. and to the extent that we can, we look forward to sharing our experiences with you. all of us who have served in this office understand that the office itself transcends the individual. and we wish you all the very best, and so does the country. >> this is an extraordinary gathering. all the gentlemen here understand both the pressures and possibilities of this office, and for me to have the opportunity to get advice, good counsel and fellowship with these individuals is extraordinary and i'm very grateful to all of them, but again, thank you, mr. president, for hosting us. gwen: and with that, we saw the latest iteration of what authors nancy gibbs and m

bush and sought his endorsement? >> i haven't met with president george w. bush. we speak from time to time. >> now you see why. >> we speak all the time. >> has he endorsed yet? >> no, no. >> has he? has he? we'll talk about that later. we'll talk about that behind closed doors. less said in public, the better. it's a dilemma, right? miss me yet? in his last year as president he had the highest disapproval numbers of any president in the 70-year history of the gallup poll asking americans that question about their president. if you were mitt romney, would you want that guy's endorsement? my colleague steve schmit tried to convince me that mitt romney would want that endorsement. >> i suspect as mitt romney gets to the next stage of closeness to wrapping this up, you'll see president george w. bush weigh in as well. >> you really think so? you can talk me into a lot of things about the republican way of looking at politics, but the idea it's going to be a good day when george w. bush endorses mitt romney, i finally found the thing you and i are living in totally o

and george w. bush followed up his endorsement of mitt romney yesterday with a very surprising announcement today. that is all coming up this hour. >>> but we begin tonight with this. the woman of your dreams just may have a russian accent. don't take it from me, take it from this male order bride website. i thought people would think i was looking at porn. technically, this is not porn. this is the website for a marriage service. see, it says so right there above the lady with the bra straps falling down and the lady in the red, white, and blue bikini. is that some sort of bikini yoga? we think of the mail order bride industry as a relic of the past, but the industry still not only exists, it has been updated for the computer age. you don't pick your bride out from the back of a magazine or a catalog now, now you pick her out online. this service, encounters international, specifically markets russian ladies. they say russian women are no longer the best-kept secret of the cold war. they advertise to a

just last month, here's george w. busharguing very publicly that president obama should approve the keystone oil pipeline. here's george w. bush on how america should proceed when it comes to the arab spring. as "the new york times" covered that, two months from now, president bush plans to publish a book. what kind of book? "a book outlining strategies for economic growth." not only is that not retired, that's amazing. i mean, george w. bush has lessons to offer on the economy. lest we forget, this was your economy on george w. bush. the first line there is household income in the 1980s, then household income in the '90s, and there's household income under george w. bush, dropping. here's poverty going down in the '80s, going down in the '90s, and here's poverty going up under president george w. bush. job growth in the '80s, job growth in the '90s, and job growth under george w. bush. oh, wise, economic master, please share with us your secrets. republicans may want george w. bush to disappear from public life, like he d

what's his plan to fix the economy that's different than what george bush did? >> real quick. i'll give sean the last word. >> what is it? what's different? >> he's got real experience in the economy putting businesses back together. >> what's different than bush? >> let him answer. >> everything that mitt romney has done from being governor to the salt lake olympics has been focused on identifying problems, turning around and getting things moving in the right direction. that's what he wants to do. >> i have to leave it there. you got the first question, sean spicer got the last. i tried to ask good questions of both of you. i love having you guys. it's a great debate. it was illuminating and informative. brad woodhouse and sean spicer. >>> up next, france's new president wants to spend more and tax millionaires. wants to. does it sound familiar? why are the marketings shrugging it off? >>> we'll unveil new poll numbers showing investors are not gathering behind mitt romney near as much as expected. at least not yet. >>> and then later, a fed fistfight. the battle of the beard

george bush with good times lost jobs. barack obama during the worst recession in the world created several million and imagine what would have hand if the republican congress, house and senate instead of fighting against him would have said let's get together and fix the economy and put america back to work. imagine what a great job we could have done and how further advanced this recovery would be right now. that's what we're asking everyone to do. put this stuff a side and think about america. create jobs so that our kids and our grandkids can have a job to buy a house and retire with some security and we can have a quality public education system where everyone does little better. that's what's at stake here and you have two different views. one view of mitt romney that says give everything to the people at the top and some will fall out of their pockets and everyone can grab some of that that's on the way down. that doesn't work you have to create good job as the the top. >> final question. >> what do you think should

of course, you though who president obama is, you know who george h.w. bush and george w. bush are.make some remarks, then we understand that president obama will take to the microphone. just want to give you that sort of preview, and we'll take a listen to mr. ryan as he introduces the events. >> to the north of the white house and historic decatur house, we have just launched the new david rubenstein national center for white house history. next year to the south of the white house we will open a newly-redesigned white house visitor' center. it will give the millions of visitor to washington each year a chance to gain a broader understanding of life in the white house. if we can just acquire something on the east and west, we'll have the place surrounded. [laughter] the other mission of the association is to provide funds to preserve the white house public rooms and enhance its incomparable collection of decorative and fine arts. over the five decades and ten presidents since our founding, the association is proud to have provided nearly $40 million in financial support for refurb

george w. bush, versus how they ignored barack obama's admission that he used drugs. later, our cameras took to the streets of new york city to see if the average american is aware of the details in the president's autobiography. here's a sneak peek. >> that's amazing. >> that's amazing. >> that's horrible as well. yea. didn't know that. didn't know that. agai [ rosa ] i'rosa and i quit smoking th chantix. when the doctor told me that i could smoke for the first week... i'm like...yeah, ok... little did i know that one week later i wasn't smoking. [ male announcer ] along with support, chantix is proven to help people quit smoking. it reduces the urge to smoke. some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood, hoility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. if you notice any of these stop taking chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems, which could get wor

george w. bushversus how they ignored barack obama's admission that he used drugs. later, our cameras took to the streets of new york city to see if the average american is aware of the details in the president's autobiography. here's a sneak peek. >> that's amazing. >> that's amazing. >> that's horrible as well. yea. didn't know that. agai as a culinary manager i make sure our guests have an over the top experience. being hands ons key! i make sure every plate looks just right. [ male announcer ] don't miss red lobster's four course seafood feast, just $14.99. sta with soup, salad and unlimited cheddar bay biscuits followed by your choice of one of 7 entrees. like new coconut and pineapple shrimp or shrimp and scallops alfredo. then finish with something sweet. all four courses just $14.99. [ reza ] it's so much food for such a good value. i'm reza, culinary manager. and i sea food differently. i'm an expert on softball. and tea parties. i'll have more awkward conversations than i'm equipped for be

>> i am george w. bush and i sure as hell approve this message. >> stewart: we will be right back. [ male announcer ] zero calories, maximum pepsi taste. ♪ sorry i've yelled at you all these years. ♪ cc, glad you made it. [ man ] good shot. oh! what is this place? iowa, only with maximum pepsi taste and zero calories. whoa! i love it when he does that. [ male announcer ] wanna play ball with some of mlb's biggest legends? learn how at mlb.com/pepsimax. got the mirrors all adjusted? you can see everything ok? just stay off the freeways, all right? i don't want you going out on those yet. mmm-hmm. and just leave your phone in your purse. i don't want you texting, all right? daddy...ok! ok, here you go. be careful. thanks dad. call me -- but not while you're driving. ♪ [ dad ] we knew this day was coming. that's why we bought a subaru. ♪ >> stewart: in a new story, a segment we call back in black. >> i have sad news. if you are eating right now, chances are you are not eating what you think you are eating. unl

>> i am george w. bush and i sure as hell approve this message. >> stewart: we will be right back. >> stewart: in a new story, a segment we call back in black. >> i have sad news. if you are eating right now, chances are you are not eating what you think you are eating. unless you are having a hot dog. then you know you are eating pig anuses. have you ever eaten kobe beef? no, you haven't. you just paid for kobe beef. in fact, you can't even buy kobe beef in this country because it is only made in japan, and it is illegal to import it. so if your local bistro is serving kobe sliders, just go across the street to white castle, have that (bleep), have the exact same (bleep) thing. these people are pissing on our legs and telling us it is champagne! and it is not just meat. a report be advocacy group association ia tested seafood around los angeles and found consumers buying one fish but getting another. >> the word for sushi restaurants, 87 percent, john, 100 percent of the snapper that was tested was wrong.

george w. bushus how they ignored barack obama's admission that he used drugs. later, our cameras took to the streets of new york city to see if the average american is aware of the details in the president's autobiography. here's a sneak peek. >> that's amazing. >> that's amazing. >> that's horrible as well. yea. didn't know that. agai sarah... will you marry me? i think we should see other people. in fact, i'm already seeing your best friend, justin. ♪ i would've appreciated a proactive update on the status of our relationship. who do you think i am, tim? quicken loans? at quicken loans, we provide you with proactive updates on the status ofour home loan. and our innovative online tools ensure that you're always in the loop. one more way quicken loans is engineered to amaze. ensure that you're always in the loop. are you still sleeping? just wanted to check and make sure that we were on schedule. the first technology of its kind... mom and dad, i have great news. is now providing answers families

george w. bush how they ignored barack obama's admission that he used drugs. later, our cameras took to the streets of new york city to see if the average american is aware of the details in the president's autobiography. here's a sneak peek. >> that's amazing. >> that's amazing. >> that's horrible as well. yea. didn't know that. again, why? what's the point? >> it helps me get back in the game. but don't take his word for it. put bayer advanced aspirin to the test for yourself at fastreliefchallenge.com. [ male announcer ] introducing new dentyne split to fit pack. it splits in to two smaller, sleeker packs that fit almost anywhere so you can take them everywhere. dentyne split to fit. practice safe breath. you know that comes with a private island? really? no. it comes with a hat. see, airline credit cards promise flights for 25,000 miles, but... [ man ] there's never any seats for 25,000 miles. frustrating, isn't it? but that won't happen with the capital onventure card. you can book any aiine, a

, george bush, george bush. [ laughter ] >> i'm back. [ laughter ] >> evil shall not be named. >uction set in his way. >> if you are look for a description of the problems we face, it's this, duck and cover. [ mumbling ] >> all he has to do -- >> i just have to go back in my shell. that's what i do. >> and he is covered. you can't see him. [ nbc "nightly news" theme ] >> guess what would violate the boner's debt ceiling plan? the budget monitor's budget paul ryan. >> so what is your point? >> isn't that wonderful, eddie? >> isn't that wonderful, eddie? >> i won't go! i won't i won't i won't! you can't make me! you can't! you can't! >> looky here these charts are so pesky for republicans. spending taxes and deficits are all lower today than when obama took off. think progress look what you did. found facts and figures. before the president has even taken oath to take office, more fun facts, taxes are lower than they were on inauguration day. cbo protected total tax revenue would amount to 16.5% of the gdp this year. the deficit is lower than on the day the president look office. t

>> hold on, hold on. >> what they did to george w. bushe. >> and that set a bad precedent. >> but barack obama set his own standard. he's going to be the most transparent president ever. but here's the deal. i don't know how you go from i was in a daze my last two years of high school, i drank heavily, i did drugs, including blow enthusiastically. >> are you talking about bush? >> no, i'm talk about president obama admitting in his own words. how do you from there to occidental and columbia this harvard? explain so we know more about it. >> i don't know how he did go to that path, but he was in the top 10% of his class at harvard, and that is so incredibly hard to do. >> so how did we get there? >> how did we get there? >> so he should just release the records because his greats were good. >> maybe a thesis that is controversial that he doesn't want us to see? >> i don't know but whatever he did he probably scored semi well because he ended up able to achieve at harvard law. >> we around having this problem with romney. 3.97 from brigham y

obama's given us $5 trillion in 3 1/2. >> nobody complained too much when george bush-- >>> i did. >> not really. >> sean: of course, i did. i complained a lot. >> anyone who knew obama -- >> but it's not really true because the $4 trillion that george bush gave us was on top of spending the surplas that we had. so he actually spent more than obama-- >>> new fiscal debt, it was more. >> my biggest prp problem with romney, i am not convinced that he is serious about cutting the deficit that we need. it is $16 trillion. you say the $5 trillion that barack obama added, and romney's budget and plans don't make me jump in excitement for cutting spending. it seems like it's similar to the scatus quo. i want to be persuaded that he will cut. >> last comment. >> sean: this is really hard. my biggest complaint now beyond i think the president has governed in a pretty ideological and radical way -- when republicans say that we have to get ahold of entitlements, we get ads of paul ryan throwing grandma over the cliff. >> we have a raft. [applause] >> coming up, what is really going to happen to

and george w. bushruly and deeply loves his wife, so it is an honor for me to introduce to you a man who truly and deeply loves his wife, the 43rd president of the united states, george w. bush. >> thank you, all, for coming. so, it seems fitting to me that for the america's first ladies conference we actually have first ladies. and it's my honor to introduce them, before i do so i want to thank mark for his leadership of the george w. bush foundation. i want to thank anita mcbride for conceiving and chairing what has been a really fascinating discussion. actually watched some of it being streamed over the internet. i want to thank gerald turner of smu and the smu folks. smu is an awesome university, by the way, and we are honored to be associated with it. and neil kerwin, president of american university and his wife ann have joined us, thank you so much for being here. i want to thank the library directors, allen lowe, of course, of the president bush 43, warren finch, bush president 41. i'll be the f

that was the sharp break proposed by the new president after george w. bush. ll honesty to the chagrin of people that had been alarmed by executive power in the george w. bush administration. the obama administration has not represented a significant break from that. they expected the use of assess nation by drones. the number of drone strikes spiked in 2009 once obama took over and in 2010 those already spiked numbers from 2009 doubled. this was not going to be a more pacifist approach. president obama tripled the number of troops in afghanistan. the obama administration has not thrown less american weight around and not thrown it away in a less unilateral authority. the obama administration has thrown american weight around in a much more specific direction. it was not a difference in aggression. it was a difference in focus. for this president it makes sense that on the anniversary of bin laden's death, he would put himself in afghanistan. because the news gods are numerologists, it's it perfect for us understanding the sharp and specific turn we have taken

rejected in 2008. >> this is one of the best kept secrets about george w. bushtive republicans never bought into the george w. bush presidency with the kraefths tsa, with immigration when it came to harriet miers on the supreme court, they never thought he was pure on the right issues and especially on nation building. he's perceived as much more moderate in republican circles than many people think. >> we'll see more closing elevator doors. after the break, the future of the eurozone, withdrawal from afghanistan, a cease-fire in syria. there's plenty to discuss. former state department spokesman jamie ruben joins us to set the agenda for the g-8 and nato summits. that's next on "now." users... how long since you worried about flakes? since before jeans were this skinny. not since us three got a haircut. ♪ not since my first twenty-ninth birthday. [ female announcer ] head & shoulders. clinically proven to improve scalp health. with seven benefits, there's no worries from flakes, itch or breakage. i haven't worried about flakes since my grunge days. remember the