Bush Contemplates His Legacy

In new book, ex-prez discusses Lewinsky, Yeltsin's drunken caper

(NEWSER) - Between 1993 and 2001, historian Taylor Branch met regularly with then-President Clinton for a series of taped interviews. The transcripts form the basis of a new book, The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President, to be released next week. USA Today got a look and singles out some highlights:

• Secret Service agents had to corral a drunk Boris Yeltsin trying to hail a cab on Pennsylvania Avenue—wearing only his underwear. The Russian leader, who was bunking at Blair House, told them he wanted a pizza.

Rove, Fleischer, Perino look to set the record straight, combat spin

(NEWSER) - Two months out of office, President Bush rarely warrants mention these days, but his old aides quietly work at rebuilding his reputation, reports Politico. “We’re invited to comment on the events of the day and along the way, we remind people that there was, indeed, good news under President Bush,” says former flack Ari Fleischer. “We believe that history will get it right in the end,” adds Dana Perino. More»

(NEWSER) - When President Bush called a press conference yesterday to defend his legacy, he apparently overestimated the interest. Dana Milbank of the Washington Post notes that the White House had strict rules in place restricting news organizations to one seat each. Extras would have to stand. "But when the appointed hour of 9:15am arrived, the last two rows in the seven-row briefing room were empty, and a press aide told White House interns to fill those seats," Milbank notes. More»

(NEWSER) - President Bush is optimistic about his legacy in the Middle East, saying the region is a “more hopeful and more promising place than it was in 2001,” the Washington Post reports. Bush does acknowledge some missteps: “As with any large undertaking, these efforts have not always gone according to plan, and in some areas we have fallen short of our hopes.” More»

Book deal could be worth millions; lame-duck President must shelve ambitions

(NEWSER) - Laura Bush is likely to net millions from publishers bidding on her memoirs, the New York Post reports—not exactly the case for her lame-duck husband. “The wives of presidents generally write books that have a greater public interest,” one insider says. “Husbands usually try to rewrite history.” Adds another: “Dubya is going to have to wait about 5 years.” More»