Leaving His Legacy

" President Bush says a big part of his legacy is keeping America safe after the 9/11 terror attacks. The president spoke to the US war college today in Pennsylvania and afterward. He spoke exclusively to me on a -- Ryan ranging array of topics including. The auto bailout on the day when Chrysler announced that -- suspending manufacturing operations at the end of the week for at least one month. I asked the president what he thought about the chances he would let one of the Big Three auto makers go bankrupt."

" I'm looking at all options -- the two principles by which time making this decision is. You know one name. A disorganized failure or disorganized bankruptcy here this orderly bankruptcy. Will cause could cause great harm to the economy. Beyond that which we're now witnessing. And that concerns me and my other point is that I am not nation and we put good money after bad so it's -- it's an issue and thinking through this week. Well they threw -- on -- to get them relatively soon no date go to that they feminism like college Magnus."

" Many analysts believe that your legacy was going to talk to a rock and whether that could be. Legitimate democracy in the Middle East and now there's a new legacy question after the financial meltdown. Are you worried about being -- Herbert Hoover of the 21 century."

" I'm will be known as somebody saw a problem. With the chips on the table to prevent the economy from collapsing. If you think about the decisions that I have made. Regarding the economy it's. It is and I am a free market guy. But I'm not going to let this economy crater. In order to preserve the free market system so -- we made a lot of orders from groups and been painful for a lot of people particularly because. Note that this. And the excesses. The past have cause a lot of folks are hurt when it comes like your 401K -- And other jobs."

" As for his public approval ratings President Bush said he simply does not care about the polls."

" What everybody likes to be popular everybody wants to be like but when -- what -- expect -- got a major economic problem and I'm the president during the major economic problem I -- Do people approve of the economy no I don't approve of the economy. So you know -- if you make decisions based upon polls show. You'll be affairs president and I've been a wartime president I've dealt with two economic recessions. -- lot of serious challenges. What matters to me is I didn't compromise my soul to be a popular guy. Do you believe that there hasn't been a terrorist attack on US soil and more than seven years because of the policies. Your administration has implement I I I believe. -- policies that we work with congress. On two. Better protect America are paying off now. The problem is is that there's still an enemy. And they still want to attack. And but we have been successful thanks a lot of people and you've heard the critics of the administration said the policies on interrogation techniques were. Amounted to torture and the policies. First of balance amounted to illegal wiretapping him that. America's image was heard around the world and that made us less safe how do you respond now looking back twelve that we always stay within the law. That we consulted with members of congress. And the we have an obligation to put tools in place. So that future presidents can. Better protect the country. -- I know there's a lot of urban myths about certain decisions I have made that when the truth comes out. -- was -- actually -- and but the idea for example of listening to phone call from a known terrorist. Sure makes a lot of sense to me. For the idea of using enhanced interrogation techniques on the matter ordered the September 11 attacks. And makes a lot of sense to me an exorcist other Americans as well. Do you worry at all that the incoming administration will undo some of the things that you say have. Kept America -- I think the incoming administration's gonna have to fully analyze. The risks. And the tools. And come -- their own conclusion but one thing's for -- and I'm confident the president elect Obama notion. And one of his most solemn duties is to protect the American people. What's your take on president elect Obama's national security team. A solid. So a team. From it for example secretary gates he's just annoying well I trust in my mind he's agreed to. Stay on it president elect Obama's request and I am impressed this may come as a shock to people where I really want president elect Obama to succeed. I want him to be. Able to say that. We've we've prevented further attacks. You ready for quick lightning round here. Quick questions quick answers what's the thing you're most looking forward to post White House. No I'm not going forward to that's my wife's cooking. Can't. We write a book yet. Do the speaking circuit. Probably. Probably was one tip he would give the Obama about living in alliance. Your -- and for a fantastic experience and you know the the staff there and the people there will. Really make your time comfortable."