O'REILLY: So you guys are pals still though?

BUSH: Yes. I'm going to have lunch with him and looking forward to seeing him.

O'REILLY: He was a powerful vice president, correct?

BUSH: Well, I'm not sure how you compare him to other vice presidents, but…

O'REILLY: You listened to him, right?

BUSH: Of course I did, like I listened to a lot of other advisers. And in the book, sometimes he agrees with my decisions and sometimes he didn't agree with my decisions, but always he helped implement the decisions and never did he go behind my back, and…

O'REILLY: He was straight up.

BUSH: Well, I make it clear to the reader, this is important, that I made the right choice in picking him in 2000. And I feel the same way as I sit and talk to you.

O'REILLY: The press probably hated him more than they hated you. And he, unlike you, pushed back a little bit.

BUSH: Yes.

O'REILLY: Did you ever discuss the press between you?

BUSH: We don't have the same personality. Occasionally, you know, you might remember the famous moment in Naperville, Illinois, when the mic was on and we were referring to some press guy…

O'REILLY: Right.

BUSH: And occasionally there was grousing. But generally, I, you know, aware of what was in the press. I generally ignored the opinion, because by the time I ended it was very predictable.

O'REILLY: Even mine?

BUSH: Of course, I listened to yours all the time and it became the whole crux of the Bush Administration.

(LAUGHTER)

O'REILLY: Your father. How often did you call him when you were in the White House for advice?

BUSH: Yes. Not very often for advice. But I talked to him often to try to comfort him.

O'REILLY: Why didn't you seek his advice? I mean, former president and…