[The economic crisis ] gave people the option to put money into private accounts.
The main thrust of the Social Security reform was to get the benefit structure in line with the realities of the Trust Funds.
If you're a poor worker - this is for new workers coming into the workplace - your benefits will increase at the current rate of increase. If you're a wealthier worker, your benefits would increase at the rate of inflation. And those changes would affect positively the unfunded liabilities inherent in Social Security.
I'm the only president who really put it out in the State of the Union and was very specific about how I felt we ought to do it.
[Saddam Hussein] could have easily reconstituted a program. He was a threat to peace before we went in. He'd have been a threat to peace had we left him in power. Oftentimes history judges you on the decisions you make.
I believe the world would have been a lot worse off if Saddam [Hussein] were in power today.
I thought Colin Powell did a fine job as secretary of state.
I think the key anecdote in the book is when Colin [Powell] and I were discussing Iraq. Colin was upstairs in the Treaty Room, in the residence. And he talks about his concerns about the use of military in Iraq. And I said I felt the same concerns, but it might be that we have to use it. In which case, he said, "I support you."
This is a very difficult assignment for the United States, to hang in there and help this young democracy survive.
We think it is in our nation's interest that Afghan women - or any women around the world - not suffer.
Something that is completely unwinnable. I mean, it becomes unwinnable if we decide to leave [Afghanistan].
I believe that people want to be free. And that we face an enemy that murders innocent people to try to shake our psychology to get us to leave.
I believe that democracy will prevail, so long as the United States stays with these young democracies to help them.
Democracy will be transformative. It will help other societies realize the benefits of freedom. Nothing's as big as that, in terms of peace.
I try to live a faith-filled life. I'm a believer.
I'm joyful in my religious belief.
I meant it when I said she was the greatest first lady ever. Because she viewed the presidency and being first lady as an opportunity to improve people's lives. It wasn't a burden. She put her heart and soul into the experience, just like I did.
We had a shared experience. That makes a good marriage better. In many ways our marriage is great because she has made it great.
We spend less time with each other now than we did during the presidency. When you're president, you're usually out and back in the same day - at least I was. I just came from a trip to the Middle East last week, where I was gone for five nights, and when I left, Laura [Bush] was out of town.
It's exciting for me to see [Laura Bush] busy and out there enjoying what she's doing. But we always make time to be with each other as well.
I think for Laura [Bush] it was kind of a sense of remorse because she is very close to the girls. They're busy little souls, and so we don't see them as much as we'd like to. But Laura talks to them all the time.
I think I'm the only president other than John Kennedy who had both parents alive during the presidency.
I'm not that worried about [my parents] right now because they are happy people. I'm pleased that in their later years, in spite of physical ailments, they're upbeat.
First of all, you never retire. At least I don't retire.
I'm playing golf. I ride my mountain bike. A lot. I think it's very important for me and other people my age to continue to exercise.
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