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That energy didn't dissipate. he -- he found a way to volunteer. he kept being interested in plik politics. he was very interested in his sons' political careers. he passed the torch to the family although he didn't believe it n dynasine -- blustd in dynasty. he passed the torch and didn't disappear. he decided his political career was over. >> all right. tim neftaly, always learn something from you. always appreciate your perspective. thank you very much for being here. >> thank you both. >> absolutely. the white house is offering praise for former president bush. we've got live pictures he...

Above self. >> reporter: a legacy that led him to receive the highest civilian award in the united states, the presidential medal of freedom. >> his life is a testament that public service is a noble calling. s we honor george herbert walker bush for service to america that spanned nearly 70 years. >> joining us now, cnn presidential historian and former director of the nixon presidential library, tim neftaly. also wrote "george herbert walker bush: this part of the american president series, the 41st president." welcome back. you who threat book, and you -- you wrote this book, and you wrote ...

>> and that's part of the big problem, is it not, tim? because i mean there's an opportunity for jared kushner to reveal these meetings in that very standard form, but it didn't happen or is it that he thought it was so innocuous that maybe it wasn't necessary? i mean what would be the best explanation? >> well, this report raises a lot more questions than it answers. i hope we will learn more. it's the kin pir torl nature of it so troubling. if indeed the reporting is accurate and if, indeed, this is not some kind of disinformation, why set up a back channel before your administration takes o...

Inexperienced on the foreign stage they wanted to make sure they had direct communications with the russians and they didn't trust the obama administration and the relationship that existed between moscow and the administration at the time and wanted to set this up to have direct and unfettered communications without the state department sort of listening in on what they were talking about. that would be in my mind the best possible thing for the white house at this time. if that's -- if all this reporting is true. but it just doesn't make any sense and i agree with tim, it just raises more qu...

I have no problem of the president of the united states going to nato pressing the american cause there and ruffling some feathers and saying we have a new leader in town. i think he had an incredibly successful trip. he's going to go back to washington right now. we should take a moment about the president being over seas and talking about trades and commitment of fighting war on terror. that's what he came back to do in europe. >> tim, what are the measuring steps here? >> el witwell, i think it is imt of the president's language on terrorism is shifting. he stood in front of our great troop...