in talks pledge, therefore failed president. wall short-sighted by the media? >> not short-sighted by the media, but -- >> did that feel that way to you at the time? >> sure. i had sort of the dana carvey view of him in my head. it was only after meeting hem and then the passage of time we can come to better historical judgment adjustment. there's a rule that it takes 20 to 25 years after an administration that you can judge it whole. i think that's true. from your book, "news week" alluded to rumors that he had had an affair by a longtime aide. george w. bush asked his dad about the rumors and then did what? >> he called howard fineman, evan thomas, and the answer to the big-a is "n-o." that shut it down.