George W. Bush: Snowden Damaged US; Security Programs Protect Civil Liberties

In an "Erin Burnett OutFront" exclusive television interview, CNN Anchor and Correspondent Robyn Curnow sits down with former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush to discuss their humanitarian mission in Zambia, where a clinic that helps diagnose and treat cervical cancer opens today. Below is an excerpt from the interview, in which Curnow asked Bush about his thoughts on Nelson Mandela, Edward Snowden, privacy and his legacy. The full interview airs today on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer at 5pm ET on CNN.

On Edward Snowden, former President George W. Bush said, "I know he damaged the country and the Obama administration will deal with it.” He continued, “I think he damaged the security of the country."

"I put the program in place to protect the country and one of the certainties is civil liberties were guaranteed," Bush said.

Later in the interview, he added, "Ultimately, history will judge the decisions I made. I won’t be around because it’s going to take a while for the objective historians to show up. And so I’m pretty comfortable with it. I did what I did. I know the spirit in which I did it."

Here is the transcript of that interview:

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: Let's get straight to some of the other top news we're following this morning.  In less than two hours, President Obama will arrive in Tanzania, the last leg of his three nation African tour.  But he's not the only U.S. president in Africa this week.  His predecessor George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, are in Zambia on a humanitarian mission helping women there fight cancer.

And CNN’s Robyn Curnow spoke with them in an Erin Burnett "OUTFRONT" exclusive.  Robyn is joining me now from South Africa with that.  So what did the former president have to say, Robyn?

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT:  Hi, there, Kate.  Well, as President Mandela spends his fourth week in this hospital, I asked President Bush and Mrs. Bush to reflect on what he means to them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT:  Sometimes there are leaders who come and go.  His legacy will last for a long time.

LAURA BUSH, FORMER FIRST LADY:  He is I think really an inspiration to people around the world and to a lot of American and a figure that we watched from afar from the United States, and I have a lot of respect for him, of course.

CURNOW:  He was quite tough on you.  He criticized you publicly about the Iraq war.

GEORGE W. BUSH:  He wasn't the only guy.  It's OK.  I didn't look at him any differently because he didn't agree with me on an issue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CURNOW:  Now, after 9/11, the Bush administration stepped up surveillance programs. About that in mind, I asked President Bush his reaction to the Edward Snowden leaks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CURNOW:  Do you think he's a traitor?

GEORGE W. BUSH:  I know he damaged the country.  The Obama administration will deal with it.

CURNOW:  Do you think it's possible for one man to damage the security of the nation?

GEORGE W. BUSH:  I think he damaged the security of the country.

CURNOW:  And when it comes to surveillance, there can be real time understanding of what you're Googling --

GEORGE W. BUSH:  I put the program in place to protect the country and one of the certainties is civil liberties were guaranteed.

CURNOW:  So you don't think there is a compromise between security and privacy?

GEORGE W. BUSH:  I think there needs to be a balance and as the president described, there is a proper balance.

CURNOW:  You don't want to criticize the Obama administration?

GEORGE W. BUSH:  It doesn't do any good.  It's a hard job.  He has plenty on his agenda and it's difficult.  Former president doesn't need to make it harder.

CURNOW:  Because in the polls you're --

GEORGE W. BUSH:  Could care less.

CURNOW:  Whether people think you're favorable or unfavorable?

GEORGE W. BUSH:  Only time I really cared was on Election Day.  You know, I guess it's nice.  Let me rephrase that.  Thank you for bringing it up.

CURNOW:  You like the idea that people perhaps are looking at you differently?

GEORGE W. BUSH:  You know, ultimately history will judge the decisions that I made.  And I won't be around because it's going to take a while for the objective historians to show up.  So I'm pretty comfortable with it.  I did what I did.  I know the spirit this much I did it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CURNOW:  Comfortable in retirement, President Bush and Mrs. Bush open up that clinic today.  It helps diagnose and treat cervical cancer.  They hope thousands of lives will be saved.  Kate, back to you.

BOLDUAN:  All right, Robin, and you hit on many important topics with the former president and former first lady this morning.

Robyn Curnow in South Africa.  Thanks, Robyn.  You can watch Robyn’s full exclusive interview with President Bush tonight on "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer.