text: Larry W. Smith/European Pressphoto Agency 
   
   DALLAS – 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.” ||||| Former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney shared a stage together Tuesday for the first time since the two left office, showering each other with praise as they reflected on the legacy of their administration and the decision to run for office together. 
   
   The two men united for the groundbreaking of the $300 million Bush Presidential Library on the Southern Methodist University campus in Dallas. Hundreds of Bush administration alumni, including former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and first lady Laura Bush, also attended. 
   
   Bush has said the library and affiliated George W. Bush Policy Institute will be "the focus of our attention and forum for our public service" for the rest of his life. The library and institute are also largely seen as vehicles through which Bush can continue to shape his presidential legacy. 
   
   "Two years after your tour at the White House ended," Cheney said to Bush, "judgments are a little more measured than they were. When times have been tough and the critics have been loud, you've always said you had faith in history's judgment. And history is beginning to come around." 
   
   Cheney, who has been one of the most ardent and outspoken defenders of the administration, appeared gaunt and frail in what was a rare public appearance since having heart surgery in July. 
   
   It was also the first time the men appeared together since the release of Bush's new memoir, "Decision Points," in which the former president writes that he considered replacing Cheney as his running mate during the 2004 re-election bid. 
   
   Bush began his remarks by directly addressing the episode and offering unambiguous support for the man he ended up keeping by his side. 
   
   "I'm asked about Dick Cheney," Bush said. "Here's what I say: Dick Cheney was the right pick in the year 2000, and as I stand here, 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." 
   
   Today's ceremonies marked the first time Bush and Cheney appeared publicly together since leaving office in January 2009. They met face-to-face for the first time since leaving office in February. 
   
   Bush Breaks Silence in Memoir 
   
   Bush, who has generally kept a low profile since leaving office, has broken his silence in recent weeks with the publication of his book, which he has been working on since leaving office in early 2009. 
   
   "I wanted to give readers a glimpse of the presidency from my perspective," he said in a promotional video. 
   
   But until recently, the role of defending the administration had largely fallen to Cheney, who picked up the mantle again today. 
   
   "History is an account of what happened. But sometimes the greatest story of all is what did not happen," Cheney told the crowd. "And because you [Bush] were determined to throw back the enemy, we did not suffer another 9/11 or something even worse." 
   
   "I have a few more thoughts on the man and his presidency, but I'll save them when we're all back in Dallas again for the grand opening of the library," Cheney said. 
   
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target: – George W. Bush and Dick Cheney were best buds again today, giving each other high praise as they shared a stage for the first time since their final tense days in office, reports ABC News. The groundbreaking at Bush's presidential library at SMU also marked a rare appearance by Cheney since his heart trouble earlier this year. He appeared "much thinner" and used a cane, and didn't stick around long after the ceremony, reports the New York Times. Cheney on Bush: “Two years after you left office, judgments are a little more measured than they were. 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.” Bush on Cheney: "As I stand here, 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."