ROBERT DRAPER

Bush always has viewed himself as an "activist," which flies in the face of some conservative notions, such as the federal government's role in education.

Bush made a point of emphasizing to me that unlike his father's administration, his was one of significant "walk-in access" to the Oval Office.

I think there's an underlying insecurity to Bush with a rather classical genesis - namely his being the eldest son of a famous father. I think this has propelled his need to be distinctive, to do big things.

It was my intent all along to write a nonjudgmental narrative of Bush's presidency. Along the way, a number of liberal friends of mine expressed disgust that I would spend time on such an endeavor.

Washington believes in Zero-Sum politics.

I don't think of Bush as a particularly angry person - if anything, he has a facility for not harboring grudges, for letting things roll off of his back after momentarily bristling.

To reform Congress, you have to get Congress to play along.

As a journalist, you sort of grind away, taking rejections as they come, building on whatever advances you've achieved.

Bush told me, he doesn't watch TV ... though it's untrue that he doesn't read the newspapers.

I don't want to paint myself as some kind of saint - that would be laughable - but I do think I've been able over the years to write humanely about subjects who are controversial and even contemptible. I've profiled pedophiles, stalkers, serial rapists, prison gang members and corrupt politicians.

Washington believes in Zero-Sum politics.

To reform Congress, you have to get Congress to play along.

I think there's an underlying insecurity to Bush with a rather classical genesis - namely his being the eldest son of a famous father. I think this has propelled his need to be distinctive, to do big things.

It was my intent all along to write a nonjudgmental narrative of Bush's presidency. Along the way, a number of liberal friends of mine expressed disgust that I would spend time on such an endeavor.

Bush told me, he doesn't watch TV ... though it's untrue that he doesn't read the newspapers.

I don't think of Bush as a particularly angry person - if anything, he has a facility for not harboring grudges, for letting things roll off of his back after momentarily bristling.

As a journalist, you sort of grind away, taking rejections as they come, building on whatever advances you've achieved.

Bush made a point of emphasizing to me that unlike his father's administration, his was one of significant "walk-in access" to the Oval Office.

I don't want to paint myself as some kind of saint - that would be laughable - but I do think I've been able over the years to write humanely about subjects who are controversial and even contemptible. I've profiled pedophiles, stalkers, serial rapists, prison gang members and corrupt politicians.

Bush always has viewed himself as an "activist," which flies in the face of some conservative notions, such as the federal government's role in education.