President Bush has returned from exile at an interesting time and for many Americans, it has elicited mixed feelings. Officially, he is promoting his memoirs, but in reality he is aiming to turn the tide of unpopularity that has plagued him since the latter years of his presidency. Democrats have long viewed him as evil incarnate and, following its huge losses in the 2006 elections, even the GOP largely shunned him. Bush left office as nearly the entire country joined his successor in a chorus of condemnation, placing blame for the decrepit state of the country squarely on his shoulders. The wars, the bailouts, the deficits and even the fiscal crisis itself were considered to be the enduring legacy of the Bush presidency.

Since then, opposition to Bush has continued to define American political life. Obama’s coalition relied heavily on anti-Bush sentiment, and he has frequently resorted to Bush-bashing in both campaigning and governing. The Tea Party, widely seen as an anti-Obama phenomenon, has a fiercely anti-Bush element to it, which is fueled by a motivation to redefine the Republican Party and shift power away from the neoconservatives. Indeed, the GOP has come a long way since Bush promised “compassionate conservatism” in 2000. The GOP’s recent midterm victories were hinged on widespread opposition to the big government liberalism of Democrats. With this in mind, it is especially intriguing to recall that expanded Medicare, increased federalization of education and even a plan to provide amnesty for illegal immigrants all came from the “conservative” George W. Bush.

Even while his own legacy continues to shape America, Bush himself has largely abstained from the nation’s political discourse. This is due to the arms-length distance maintained by his fellow party-members, but also his own rejection of a continued presence in government. Bush recently declared in an interview with Oprah: “I’m done with politics.” This mantra has, above all else, defined his post-presidency. Even while facing harsh criticism from him in the 2008 election, Bush all but refused to attack President Obama. He even took great pains to stay out of the 2010 elections, setting a post-midterms release date for his book.

In this sense, Bush is thriving in the role of ex-president, where political success is largely defined by abstention from the process itself. A fairly simple role, yes, but still by no means universally embraced. Vice President Dick Cheney has occasionally made himself visible by sharply attacking President Obama’s policies and overtly undermining his leadership. President Jimmy Carter took a brief break from irrelevancy when he proclaimed the Bush administration’s international politics the “worst in history.”

These two serve as models of how a former leader should most certainly not act. Bush has deliberately cast himself as a contrast to them, making it clear that he believes a president should not criticize his successor. As someone who has himself faced criticism from predecessors like Carter and Bill Clinton, Bush certainly appreciates the importance of a president feeling respected by his peers. After leaving office with low approval ratings, it was clear that staying out of the public eye was what most Americans (and even Bush himself) wanted most. What he is doing is not only classy, but serves to advance his ultimate goal of rehabilitating his image.

Indeed, the main reason that Bush has stepped back into the public eye, however shortly, is not to simply promote a book. He is promoting himself in the realm of history. Bush has always maintained his belief that, like Harry Truman, he will overcome unpopular poll numbers when his decisions are examined in hindsight. He has consistently defended himself on the basis that the politics surrounding his decisions are less meaningful than the principles that guided them.

any people disdain Bush’s policies, as they were a far cry from true conservatism – but very few would question his sincerity. That might not have meant much when he was president, but it will go a long way in repairing his legacy, which is already showing signs of recovery. Remember that only a few years ago, many critics were convinced that Bush was a racist who conspired with Big Oil to occupy Iraq. While there are still those who consider him an abominable failure, as a country we are moving closer to a fair representation of the Bush presidency. He might not have been a good president, but he is certainly not responsible for all that is ill with this country.

Joseph Albanese is a freshman in the School of Foreign Service.

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