Joined by an all-star cast from his days in the White House, former President George W. Bush plunged a shovel into dirt on Tuesday and kicked off construction of his presidential library.

As former Vice President Dick Cheney put it, “this may be the only shovel-ready project in America.”

Mr. Cheney’s attendance was a rare public appearance since his long hospital stay for heart trouble earlier this year. He appeared much thinner and more hesitant in his gait, and he used a cane to walk, although he put it aside when it came time to approach the lectern. After the speeches and ceremonial dirt turning, he quickly departed, while other luminaries lingered and chatted.

The groundbreaking on the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University here culminated an elaborately orchestrated return to the public stage for the nation’s 43rd president, who released his memoir, “Decision Points,” last week and gave a flurry of television and print interviews offering his take on his tumultuous eight years in office.

He emerged on stage Tuesday to raucous applause from more than 2,500 guests, including hundreds of veterans of his administration, who welcomed him back after two years of near-seclusion. Relaxed and smiling, winking at the crowd and slapping hands with his friends and advisers, Mr. Bush used the occasion to vow to stand up for the priorities of his presidency even as he avoids criticizing his successor.

“I believe the ultimate responsibility of a leader is to not do what is easy or popular but to do what is necessary and right,” Mr. Bush told the crowd gathered in a cathedral tent on the grounds of the 24-acre center. “The decisions of governing are on another president’s desk, and he deserves to make them without criticism from me. But staying out of current affairs and politics does not mean staying out of policy.”

Mr. Bush plans to use a public policy institute that will be housed at the center along with the traditional presidential library and museum to advance four causes he adopted as his own while in office: human freedom, global health, economic growth and education reform. He has also started a women’s initiative led by his wife, Laura Bush, who got final shot at addressing the crowd to promote the importance of fighting for women’s rights around the world.

Mr. Cheney and Mr. Bush used the official program to reaffirm their friendship, despite their sharp disagreement in their final days in office over the president’s refusal to pardon Mr. Cheney’s former chief of staff, I. Lewis Libby, who was convicted of perjury in the C.I.A. leak case. Mr. Bush described their clash in his memoir and also revealed that he considered an offer from Mr. Cheney to replace him on the ticket in 2004.

Addressing the friendly crowd, Mr. Cheney said the response to Mr. Bush’s book showed that the country had begun to re-evaluate him. “Two years after you left office, judgments are a little more measured than they were,” Mr. Cheney said. “When times have been tough or the critics have been loud, you’ve always said you had faith in history’s judgment, and history is beginning to come around.”

Mr. Bush responded by hailing his No. 2 and recalling the decision to ask him to be his  running mate in 2000. “As I stand here,” Mr. Bush said, “there is no doubt in my mind he was the right pick then, he was a great vice president of the United States, and I’m proud to call him friend.”

(Source: NY Times)