O'REILLY: They -- believe me, they didn't like you.

BUSH: OK.

O'REILLY: And that was my next question. Again, I don't know you very well but you are affable and people around you, staff, like Dana Perino works for us now. She thinks you're the greatest. She loves you. But people in the press hated you. A lot of them. Why? Why?

BUSH: I don't know. You have to ask them. I'm not a hater, and so sometimes it's hard for me to understand why somebody hates somebody. And it could have been because of my policies. Maybe they didn't like my religion. I don't know. I'm sure there are a myriad of reasons, but that's what happens when you're the president, and it can either bother you or not bother you.

O'REILLY: Ever think about it?

BUSH: Being hated? Not really?

O'REILLY: Never?

BUSH: I'm a pretty comfortable guy right now.

O'REILLY: Now you look it.

BUSH: I really am. I'm honored to have served. I'm glad I served, and I gave it my all. That's all you can do in life. And I got back, and it sounds corny to some, I understand. But when I looked in the mirror I know I didn't sell my soul for the sake of any short-term politics or popularity. And I think that's important.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'REILLY: When President Bush left office, his approval rating was 34 percent, according to Gallup. When we come right back, I will ask the president whether there is tension between him and Dick Cheney. He deals with that a bit in the book. The conversation continues in just a few moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'REILLY: President Bush deals with a lot of personalities in his book "Decision Points." Among them, Vice President Dick Cheney, who had a disagreement with the president over his refusal to pardon Cheney's right-hand man Scooter Libby.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

O'REILLY: One of the interesting parts about the book is Dick Cheney was mad at you because you didn't pardon Scooter Libby. Is he still mad at you, Cheney?

BUSH: No. I don't think so.

O'REILLY: Do you talk to him a lot?

BUSH: A fair amount, I do. Yes, I was very concerned about him because he was sick, and then I'm pleased to report he's coming down to the groundbreaking of our library at SMU.