 As he left Washington four years ago, the public sat in harsh judgment of George W. Bush, with roughly two-thirds of the country disapproving of his job performance. The scars ran deep over multiple wars, the terror debate, and a collapsed economy. You may not agree with some of the tough decisions I have made, but I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions. Today, as his presidential library opens, visitors are left to grapple with his record. From tax cuts to his role in our economic slime, Mr. Bush has made up ground in the public's mind, and his record is viewed more charitably. Once he's out of politics, Americans begin to look at a president not as this live political figure, but as a figure in history. On immigration, his party has moved back his way. Many of Mr. Bush's post-911 controversial terror policies have been continued or accelerated under President Obama. And the Bush Freedom Agenda is viewed as, if not a cause, at least a precursor to the Arab Awakening now roiling the Middle East. Judgment has not softened, however, over Iraq. A war of choice or necessity is the question that still lingers. The faulty intelligence, the failure to find WMD, were the backdrop to criticism that the president and his team underestimated the challenges all along. The United States and our allies have prevailed. And grew stubborn in the face of mounting setbacks. I hear the voices and I read the front page and I know the speculation, but I'm the decider. What grew into a reputation for incompetence stained the administration and the GOP brand after Hurricane Katrina. I think it reinforced damage that was taking place. I can hear you, the rest of the world hears you. After 9-11 the country was not attacked again while he was in office, and as the Boston bombings remind Americans of the terror threat, historians say Mr. Bush's wartime presidency will likely be viewed more favorably. A perfect example for George W. Bush is his father, George Herbert Walker Bush, who looks far better 20 years after leaving office. As time passes and passions cool, Mr. Bush has grown more popular. He's a grandfather now, he paints, and he has stayed out of the spotlight. He's told interviewers he's comfortable with both his life and his legacy.