George W. Bush: I'll stay out of Jeb's way The 43rd president says he doesn’t want to be a distraction.

LAS VEGAS — Former President George W. Bush, appearing at a private dinner for Jewish Republican donors Saturday evening, suggested that his last name could be a hindrance to his brother’s presidential candidacy and that he would stay out of the 2016 fray, according to two sources in the room.

Bush, who was being privately interviewed by former aides Ari Fleischer and Josh Bolten, was asked at one point during the 40- minute presentation what characteristics he was looking for in the next president.


He acknowledged that his last name could be a distraction and that he would stay out of the light,” said one of the sources. Rather than heap praise on former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s candidacy, the source said, “He basically said, ‘I’m going to be out of the public eye.”

Bush, according to the sources, acknowledged that Hillary Clinton would pose a strong challenge for the party.

“He said it was going to be tough. That some people, around the margins, would vote for her because of the narrative that she would be the first women president, and that in a close election that could matter. But he did say she could be beat.”

He also said, according to the source, Clinton would face pressure to either defend or criticize President Barack Obama’s policies.

The dinner was attended by many of the 800 or so people who gathered at the posh Venetian Hotel here for the spring meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition. Over the course of the weekend, several potential presidential candidates, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, made their way before the group, which is packed with wealthy donors and influential activists.

Bush was described as introspective during the interview, which also touched on foreign policy.