Jeb Bush 2016? George W. Bush’s Advice To Brother: ‘Run’ For President, Talks Boston Marathon Bombings [VIDEO]

It’s a big day for the 43rd president as the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University will take place on Thursday. But in an exclusive interview aired on Wednesday, Bush, alongside his wife, Laura, spoke with ABC’s Diane Sawyer about the tragic events in Boston and the possibility of his brother, Jeb, running in 2016.

“It’s really hard to protect the homeland,” Bush said. “Those who want to do harm only have to be right one time and we have to be right 100 percent of the time. It harkened back to the days where you become the ‘comforter-in-chief,’ where you try to help heal souls that are hurting.”

When Sawyer asked Bush if he had one word for the Republican party, Bush proclaimed: “You will exist in the future,” to which Sawyer replied, “I thought you were going to say: 'Jeb Bush.'”

In an interview with Parade magazine that ran last week, Bush said that he hopes his brother will run in 2016, and he told Sawyer that Jeb would make a “marvelous candidate” and that he should “run.”

On the prospect of Hillary Clinton versus Jeb Bush in the next election, Bush joked that the two of them would make a “fantastic photo,” both of whom will likely attend Bush’s ceremony on Thursday.

“I’m interested in politics,” Bush said smiling. “I’m fascinated by all the gossip and stuff that goes on.”

Watch the full exclusive interview below where the Bushes also talk about being grandparents: