Asked to say one nice thing about President George W Bush, Hillary Rodham Clinton went one better: She named two things.
"He is someone who has a lot of charm and charisma, and I think in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, I was very grateful to him for his support for New York," Clinton said on Tuesday night during a talk at the National Archives about her life in politics.
Clinton, a potential presidential candidate in 2008, said that despite their "many disagreements about many, many issues," she has always had a good personal relationship with the President.
"He's been very willing to talk. He's been affable. He's been good company," said Clinton, a New York Democrat.
The junior senator from New York, who is up for re-election this year, said she is still thankful for Bush's personal commitment to helping rebuild lower Manhattan after September 11, 2001.
She recalled how the president, in the grim days that followed the terror attacks, pledged in a private meeting with New York lawmakers to help rebuild the shattered city.
"It was a very personal, very emotional discussion and when we asked him for the help that New York needed he immediately said yes," said Clinton.
At that meeting, Bush pledged more than $20 billion in aid and tax incentives. Some New York Democrats have since charged the Bush administration has fallen billions of dollars short of that goal because some of the programmes were underused, but Clinton said the president kept his promise.
{{/usCountry}}At that meeting, Bush pledged more than $20 billion in aid and tax incentives. Some New York Democrats have since charged the Bush administration has fallen billions of dollars short of that goal because some of the programmes were underused, but Clinton said the president kept his promise.
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