George W. Bush is joined by President Barack Obama and three fellow former U.S. presidents Thursday at the official dedication of his library in Dallas, Texas.
Obama captured the feeling of the day when he indicated that Bush's political friends and foes both view the former president as genuine.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING :
"He takes his job seriously but he doesn't take himself too seriously. He is a good man.
Although most Americans give him credit him for his steadfast response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, many now oppose his decision to go war in Iraq on what turned out to be a false claim that Saddam Hussein's regime had weapons of mass destruction.
In his speech, Bush alluded to the difficult choices he faced as president,
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH SAYING:
"One of the benefits of freedom is that people can disagree. It's fair to say I created plenty of opportunities to exercise t