Interview with Former President George W. Bush, March 2007
Katie Couric: Mr. President, where do you think your reelection efforts went wrong?
George Bush: That's a good question, Katie, and it's actually one I get a lot. I think when I agreed to replace Dick things started going down hill. My staff began doubting me, questioning my leadership, and soon the media detected that disagreement. It was a tough call. And then the ethical investigations thrown at Bill Frist hurt my ticket. I had thought Bill had a better public image and could help me prove I was for a better country, but apparently the Bush/Frist ticket wasn't quite the Bush/Cheney ticket.
Katie Couric: Well, Mr. President, could you explain to the country why you invaded Iraq?
George Bush: I had seen evidence that suggested there were WMD's and I believed it. It is not something I regret. I wish so many young men didn't have to die in the freedom Iraq sought, but those are the tough calls you're forced to make as Commander-in-Chief.
Katie Couric: Many say that the Iraq War cost you...
George Bush: ...the election. I've heard it to, Katie. Without Iraq Senator Chafee wouldn't have challenged me in the primaries and damaged me for the General Election. I've heard it too Katie. I admire Lincoln for standing-up for his convictions. I'm happy that I accomplished all I did for the nation in my four years. I have no regrets.
Katie Couric: We're still in Iraq, what do you think about that?
George Bush: I think Vice President Dean has realized rhetoric doesn't necessarily mean results.
Katie Couric: In what sense?
George Bush: When he endorsed the President, who obviously wasn't president then, he said that he felt John could get the country out of Iraq. Look, Howard ran a great campaign and he played to people's emotions, but they were based solely on one issue: Iraq. President Edwards was weak on the issue and rather than go toe-to-toe with Senator Kerry in a drawn out process he decided to grab Dean's endorsement, shore up support with the far-left, and proceed to the General Election. And it worked. And Howard got rewarded, with a pretty cushy job if you ask me.
Election Night 2004: NBC News Coverage
Tim Russert: And so it all comes down to Ohio. I think it's fair to say that Senator Edwards made a lot of progress there and tracking polls showed him surging in the last week or so, I think we could see President-Elect Edwards within the next few hours.
David Gregory: That's a bold prediction, Tim.
Tim Russert: Oh I know, but I think tonight is a good night for the Democrats. They got the Edwards/Dean ticket elected. However without the ethical rumors engulfing Bill Frist and the thousands of write-ins cast for Lincoln Chafee I think it is safe to say the Democrats had more going for them than they would have.
David Gregory: I hate to interrupt, Tim, but your prediction has been confirmed. NBC can now call the state of Ohio, and therefore the Presidency, for North Carolina Senator Jonathan Edwards and Vermont Governor Howard Dean. A big night for the Democrats for sure.
Interview with Secretary of State John Kerry, February 2005
Tim Russert: Mr. Secretary, do you wish you were President?
John Kerry: I'm happy where I'm at.
Tim Russert: Well I'm sure, but do you wish you'd taken the Oath of Office last month?
John Kerry: President Edwards is working hard for the American people, I'm confident in his abilities to serve the American people.
Tim Russert: But do you wish you had won the Democratic Primaries?
John Kerry: I wouldn't have run if I didn't want to win.
Tim Russert: So you wish you had become President?
John Kerry: Tim, I've been afforded an amazing opportunity. Here I am in Afghanistan meeting with troops and I am happy as Secretary of State. If I didn't want to be President, I wouldn't have run, but I am happy to see President Edwards where he is, in the Oval Office. I am confident he can lead our nation to brighter days.
Address to a Joint-Session of Congress, January 2005
John Edwards: ...We cannot give up now. We must leave our country better off than expected. Without your help and your support we can't make America the place we promised to transform it to out on the campaign trail. Without our bipartisan efforts we'll let the country now. The campaign has passed and now is the time for us to move forward, to make this nation a healthier country. A more educated country. A peaceful country. We cannot give up now, not with prosperity so close...
Interview with Former Vice President Dick Cheney, June 2005
Charlie Gibson: Mr. Vice President, do you wish the President hadn't dropped you from the ticket?
Dick Cheney: Oh don't try that Charlie. I submitted to the President, in writing, a letter. That letter said, plain and simple, that I didn't think I was helping the President enough and I asked him to consider replacing me. We met about it several times and eventually we agreed that the country would benefit from less rhetoric and more results. The Democrats made me a target, calling me Darth Vader and such, and I didn't think that helped the President. I told him that, he agreed, and I happily stepped aside.