George W. Bush: Jeb and Hillary ‘will elevate the discourse’

by Jesse Byrnes - 07/09/15 8:37 PM ET

Former President George W. Bush on Thursday night said he was confident two top prospects for the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations will “elevate the discourse.”

“I know Jeb, and I’m confident Secretary Hillary, will, ya know, elevate the discourse,” Bush said of his brother Jeb Bush, a Republican, and Hillary Clinton, a Democrat.

“I can’t attest to their surrogates. I can attest to this surrogate,” Bush said, placing his hand on his chest, before quickly adding to laughs, “I’m not gonna be a surrogate.”

{mosads}Bush has remained largely out of the spotlight since leaving office and was not present along with his father during his brother’s White House campaign launch June 15 in Miami.

His comments Thursday came while sitting next to Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, to send off the inaugural class for their joint leadership program at the Bush Center in Dallas.

The two former presidents shared friendly barbs and taps on each others’ shoulders while seated on stage during a moderated Q-and-A session.

“They told me to use some big words,” Bush joked at one point after using the word “sycophants.”

“This is the point where I reach in my back pocket and make sure my billfold is still there,” Clinton responded, quipping, ” ‘I don’t know any big words, I’m just a poor itinerant portrait artist.’ “

Bush later praised a phrase from Clinton as “pretty damn profound,” breaking into laughter.

The pair reflected on the 2016 presidential race. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the clear frontrunner on the Democratic side, leading in most polls by around 40 points, while former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is also near the top in a crowded GOP field.

“I think the American people expect sharp elbows in a campaign,” Bush said.

“The more important thing for America is that we know what the heck we’re deciding on and we make a pretty good decision,” Clinton said.

Tags Bill Clinton George W. Bush Hillary Clinton Jeb Bush