President Barack Obama spoke about former President George W. Bush during an interview with NBC's "Today" show aired Wednesday, saying he'd only had pleasant interactions with, and respect for, his predecessor.
"Well, I've always thought that President Bush was gracious, he was patriotic," Obama told host Savannah Guthrie. "He couldn't have been nicer to my team and family when we made the transition in, and I always had a good friendly relationship with him."
Obama conceded that the two held very distinct political views, but said there were few people who could understand the weight of the presidency like Bush.
"Obviously, we had some deep disagreements in terms of policy, but there's no doubt that anybody who takes on this job has a greater appreciation for the challenges involved," he said.
Bush and Obama have been cordial toward one another since the White House transition in early 2009. While Obama has often pointed to Bush's policies as the source for a number of national struggles, Bush has repeatedly declined to criticize his successor and said he prefers to stay out of political discussions. Despite their differences, the Associated Press recently pointed to political similarities between the two men on several fronts.
Obama is set to attend the dedication ceremony for the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas, Texas on Thursday. He'll be there with his wife, first lady Michelle Obama, all other living presidents and a number of key figures from the Bush administration.
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