"I've Gained Strength"

Sunday, Aug. 29, 2004 By NANCY GIBBS AND JOHN F. DICKERSON
Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Texas
CHRSTOPHER MORRIS / VII FOR TIME
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TIME
What's the most important thing you've learned from the past four years?

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BUSH
I've learned I really enjoy the job. It's a fantastic moment in my life, obviously. There's a lot of ups and downs. There's a lot of high drama and not much calm so far. But I've enjoyed doing it, to the point where I'd like to do it again. I've learned that Washington is a much more bitter, ugly place, dominated by special interests, than I ever envisioned. I was surprised. When I was the Governor of Texas, I had a good working relationship with the leaders from both parties. We would say, "Let's get things done for Texas" and get things done.

TIME
You talk a lot about your leadership style, setting the goal and following through. Is there something about that style that is naturally dividing people?

BUSH
I guess we'll find out, won't we, in November? But I don't think it's an issue of style. I think it's an issue of the culture in Washington. It's a kind of place where if you are seen trying to reach an agreement with a Democrat, or vice versa, you've betrayed your party or betrayed the cause. Hopefully, it'll change in the second term.

TIME
Is there anything you can do in a second term to try to break that stranglehold of special interests?

BUSH
I think that I will be less threatening a person from a political perspective in the second term. I mean, I won't be running again.

TIME
Is there anything else you have learned as President?

BUSH
I learned it's real hard to put people into combat. The consequences of war are death. That's hard. I realize that the decisions I have made have put people in harm's way. It's just a hard part of the job, even when you know you're right. It hits you all the time.

TIME
Do you think it was a failure of imagination that everybody thought Saddam Hussein had stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction [WMD]?

BUSH
No, I don't think so. I don't know if you've traveled with me recently, but I have made it very clear that we thought we would find stockpiles. I remind the people that he had the capability of making those weapons. And therefore that was not a failure of imagination to think that. As a matter of fact, I can't imagine not having taken Saddam Hussein seriously as a threat, given his history and his capabilities and his intent.

TIME
Would you do the same thing again?

BUSH
Yes.