Discusses His New Autobiography (Interview)

HEADLINE: GEORGE W. BUSH DISCUSSES HIS NEW AUTOBIOGRAPHY

ANCHORS: MATT LAUER; KATIE COURIC

BODY:
MATT LAUER, co-host: We'll have more on the crash of EgyptAir Flight 990 in just a few minutes, but right now we turn to presidential politics. Two and a half months before his first serious political test in the Iowa caucuses, GOP frontrunner George W. Bush is coming under growing scrutiny. He stakes out many of his positions in a new autobiography, it's called "A Charge To Keep." This morning, he's at home in the governor's mansion in Austin, Texas.

Governor Bush, good morning to you.

Governor GEORGE W. BUSH (Republican Presidential Candidate): Good morning, Matt.

LAUER: It's now official, sir, with the release of your book, every major candidate for president has a book on the shelves, Senator McCain, Pat Buchanan, Steve Forbes, Al Gore, Bill Bradley. Why should voters buy your book and not theirs? There you go.

Gov. BUSH: Thanks, Matt. Well, I think if they're interested in my candidacy, they'll find out how I was raised, where I was raised. They'll find out how I've learned to lead. They'll find out how I make decisions. They'll find out what my vision for America is. It's a—it's a—it's a pretty good book. I hope—I hope—I hope you've read it. And I hope others read it, as well.

LAUER: I think you said recently that you wanted to write a book because you never want someone else to define who you are. How do you think you've done in terms of that over the last several months—months, governor? How have you defined yourself?

Gov. BUSH: Well, I think—I think I've defined myself as a leader, someone who is a uniter, not a divider. Someone who has an optimistic view about the future for America. I've defined myself in terms of the job I've done here in the state of Texas. I—I've done what I said I would do in office. I think I've done a pretty good job. But I know I've got a lot of work to do, Matt. There's a lot of hands to shake, a lot of speeches to give before the—before the only poll that matters takes place, and that's when people start voting and—or showing up at caucuses in Iowa and start voting in New Hampshire.

LAUER: Yeah, I mention—I asked the question because of some polls that have been coming out of New Hampshire recently. A few months ago you had a 34-point lead on Senator John McCain. According to several polls I've seen recently, and, you know, correct me if you haven't seen the same polls, but it's almost a dead heat up there. Has Senator McCain done a better job in recent months of defining himself than you have of defining yourself?

Gov. BUSH: Well, let me—he's done a fine job. He's a good man. I've got a lot of work to do, as well. There's nothing wrong with a little competition. And I'm sure—I figure all these primaries are going to be very competitive. The—last week—you're referring to a poll that showed me three points up. There was also two others that showed me, I think, like 10 or 12 points up. The only thing that—that—that I want to say about New Hampshire is, it's going to be a good race. It's a tough race. The people of New Hampshire expect me to come up and talk about my views for education and tax-cutting and strengthening the military, and that's exactly what I intend to do.

LAUER: One of the most talked about moments in your campaign recently, Governor Bush, was when a reporter in Boston, Andy Hiller, decided he was going to give you a pop quiz on some leaders' names in international hot spots. And, quite frankly, you didn't do well in coming up with the answers. Do you think...

Gov. BUSH: I got a 2--I got a 25.

LAUER: That wouldn't get you in the Hall of Fame in baseball.

Gov. BUSH: No, it wouldn't, right.

LAUER: What do you think of his line of questioning? Was it fair?

Gov. BUSH: Well, I—you know, the truth of the matter is, I should have done what Senator Bradley did and not answer the questions by saying I'm not going to play pop quizzes and talked about how I intend to keep the peace, which is what I'm going to do next Friday in California. And I—I'm going to talk about making sure we strengthen the military, we strengthen our alliances, we strengthen the international economy through free trade. I'm going to talk about China and Russia. Our own neighborhood here that—that surrounds America. That's what I should have done, Matt.

LAUER: Do you think that Andy Hiller was really trying to test you on your knowledge of international policy? Or do you think he was trying to push a button and see if that somewhat talked about hot temper of yours would surface?

Gov. BUSH: Yeah. I think he was really trying to figure out whether I knew who the leader of Chechnya was, which I didn't. And as I said, I should have done what Senator Bradley did and just said, look, Andy, I'm not going to play pop quiz games, and talked about—talked about how I intend to keep the peace.

LAUER: You mentioned foreign policy. Let me ask you a couple of questions. Obviously, as you've read in the papers this morning and heard last night, the trade representatives from this country, the Clinton administration, apparently have reached a deal with trade representatives of China to allow China permanent status in the World Trade Organization. Is that a good idea?

Gov. BUSH: Yes, it is. I think it's very important for us to open up Chinese markets for American farmers, American entrepreneurs, American business people. I know it's—I know something about entrepreneurship, I've been an entrepreneur in my life. Entrepreneurship is freedom. I think it's going to be very important for Americans to realize that as—that as the individual Chinese begin to realize the wonders of the open market, it's going to change China's attitude toward freedom. It also opens a way now for Taiwan to become a member of the World Trade Organization. It's subject to the fine print of the deal, Matt. I haven't seen that. But subject to the fine print, I think it's a good deal for America and American workers.

LAUER: In post-Cold Worl—cost—post-Cold War world, how should we relate to Russia, Governor Bush? Do you think we should allow them into NATO?

Gov. BUSH: I don't think Russia wants to be in NATO, Matt. I think NATO ought to be viewed for what it is, it's kind of a defensive mechanism in Europe to help us keep the peace. NATO is incredibly important for the future stability of Europe. I think we need to treat Russia as a great power, but also remind Russia that rule of law, that freedom, individual freedom is going to help—help them become accepted into the world of nations as a peaceful nation. I think our main area of concern with Russia has got to be the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. And I think we can work with Russia, not only to—to—to stop proliferation, but also develop antiballistic missile systems that bring certainty into—into an uncertain world.

LAUER: Actually, I'm glad you brought that up, because you would favor the development of an antiballistic missile system that some people are—are comparing to a Star Wars type system. They say also it would violate the ABM Treaty. Does that bother you at all?

Gov. BUSH: Well, I think we need to work—give Russia time to agree to amend the treaty. Otherwise, we ought to abrogate the treaty. I can't tell you how important it is—I think—I think it is for America to develop not only theater-based but strategic-based antiballistic missile systems. The world has changed since the treaty was signed in the '70s. This is now a world of uncertainty, Matt. There are people that are—that are—that are—as I say in my ads, there are mad men and dictators and missiles. And it's important for the people who love peace. And I believe the Russians do, along with Americans.

LAUER: But the Russians and Chinese have already come out about that program and said it would only jump-start the nuclear arms war. That's—that can't be something we would want to get involved in.

Gov. BUSH: Matt—Matt, I disagree. I think that—I think that we can, with persuasion, convince the Russians it is in their best interests to develop antiballistic missile systems, particularly theater-based antiballistic missile systems that help keep the peace.

LAUER: What about the fact that many experts can't agree on the fact that spending $ 20 billion to develop this system will be worthwhile, that it may not even work?

Gov. BUSH: Matt—hey, Matt, there are two types of theater-based missile—there are two types of antiballistic missile systems, one is theater-based. The—this is intermediate-based and short-range based missile systems, and...

LAUER: What about the defense system, though?

Gov. BUSH: Hold on a second—hold on a second, please, let me finish. It—those will work. I think most experts agree that the theater-based antiballistic missile systems will work. And those need to be deployed—they need to be deployed to make sure that we protect our friends and ourselves against blackmail. In terms of the long—in terms of strategic-based, we're making great progress. Some of the research and development is paying dividends. I think we ought to continue the—continue the progress to see whether or not we cannot develop an effective system.

LAUER: Let me ask you about a question in the New York Times today. Steve Forbes in his campaign will apparently file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission—Commission charging that your campaign is in cahoots with the Republican Leadership Council, which is supposed to be an independent organization, in coming up with some TV ads that knock Steve Forbes. How do you answer that?

Gov. BUSH: Well, I'm not even sure what you're talking about. I haven't read that story. I don't know what ads they're doing knocking Steve Forbes.

LAUER: He apparently says that there are several members of the Republican Leadership Council, which is an independent council, that are actually large supporters of yours and that they have crafted this ad campaign that makes Steve Forbes look bad.

Gov. BUSH: I don't know. I can't—I haven't seen the ad, Matt. I'm not—I'm not even sure what names you're talking about. That may—there may be some supporters, but I—I just don't know what you're talking about.

LAUER: Let me switch over to one other thing. As Texas governor, you supported a citizen's right to carry concealed handguns. In the wake of some of the violence, governor, that we've seen in this country in the last couple of years, in churches, in schools, in day care centers, in places of business, how do you answer the critics who say that your plans, or your allowances for concealed handguns are only going to increase the risk of violence, not decrease them?

Gov. BUSH: Because it's a gun safety law, Matt. It said that if you feel like you need carry a gun in the state of Texas, and many people did, including a lot of women, that we want to know who you are, we want to make sure that you—that you can pass a background check. And we want to make sure that you've got gun safety training. This is—this is a plan that really has, I think, made Texas a safer place.

LAUER: In terms of the violence we're seeing, what could you do as president? What—what steps could you take that you think could help to eliminate some of the violence we've been experiencing?

Gov. BUSH: Well, first and foremost, I—I support the notion of making sure that guns don't end up in the hands of felons or juveniles or those who are, like mentally deranged. I also know that we need to enforce laws that are on the books. There's a program called Project Exile out of Richmond, Virginia. It's a very effective program where we use federal resources and federal prosecutors to go after people who illegally sell guns and to people who illegally use guns. And I'm doing the same thing here in the state of Texas. And I believe we can reduce violent crime with guns by sending a clear message there will be consequences—there will be consequences for illegal use of guns.

LAUER: Do you think President Clinton has done too little in this area?

Gov. BUSH: I do believe so in terms of prosecuting people who illegally break the law—who break the law by using guns.

LAUER: You're going to make that speech, you mentioned it a few minutes ago, Friday, you're going to talk about some of your foreign policy concerns. What is the number one priority for a Bush administration in terms of foreign policy?

Gov. BUSH: Keeping the peace in this generation and keeping the peace throughout the 21st century. I believe America has got to—has got to seize the moment. I believe that we cannot retreat within our borders. I intend to promote free trade. I intend to strengthen our alliances. I intend to strengthen the military to keep the peace. And then in the speech, I'm going to talk about the priorities of the next administration—or my administration. The priorities will be peace in the Far East and how we deal with China. Peace in Europe and how we deal with NATO as well as with Russia. Peace and prosperity in our own neighborhood. It's incredibly important that our neighborhood be prosperous. And then I'm going to talk about the Middle East, as well.

LAUER: Governor George W. Bush of Texas. The book is called "A Charge to Keep." Governor, thanks for spending time with us.

Gov. BUSH: Matt, thank you very much.

LAUER: We appreciate it.

Gov. BUSH: Yes, sir.

LAUER: It's 7:20. We're back on this Tuesday morning. But first, this is TODAY on NBC.

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