Former US president George W. Bush had a special phone friend during his White House years: his predecessor Bill Clinton.
Asked on CBS television’s Face the Nation whether it was true that he often called Clinton, Bush replied: “I don’t know about often, but I did. I called him. He didn’t call me because he knows how busy a president is. I called him and we chatted on occasion.”
Neither Republican Bush nor Democrat Clinton said just what they discussed.
“I was always pleased when he called me,” Clinton said as he sat beside Bush for the interview. “I make it a practice never to bother the president. I don’t call President Obama either … They got plenty to do.”
Bush’s eight years in office followed Clinton’s two terms. While poles apart politically, the ex-presidents said they consider themselves to be friends.
“We have developed a very honest, good friendship,” Clinton said. “And we’ve made our disagreements respectful and we’ve had a good time doing it.”
The two met US President Barack Obama at the White House on Saturday and taped segments for five Sunday TV news shows to appeal for private donations for Haiti relief.
Bush also said it was a little nostalgic to be back at the White House.
“It was good to walk back through here,” he said.
Bush has avoided getting involved in political issues since leaving the White House a year ago this week.
“I’m glad I’ve come back for this purpose,” Bush told Meet the Press host David Gregory during his appearance on the NBC program. “I must confess, I miss you as a person, but I don’t miss the spotlight.”
On a similar note, he told CNN’s State of the Union: “There’s life after the presidency, is what I’ve learned, and I’m going to live it to the fullest, and this is part of living it to the fullest, to help other people.”
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