With little more than a month left in office, President Bush is showing more of his “sensitive side” and frequently discussing the importance of helping needy people, reports The Washington Post.

Mr. Bush discussed addiction-treatment efforts during his weekly radio address Saturday, the newspaper noted, and has recently promoted his anti-AIDS work in Africa, and met with children whose mother or father is in prison, during which “he extolled the virtue of loving those who are less fortunate.”

Political observers quoted in the article differed on why in his waning days he was focusing on assisting others and social problems.

A former White House aide said the president was reiterating his role as a “compassionate conservative,” which was key to why he ran for office. But an official at the Brookings Institution, a think tank, said the president’s rhetoric did not match his actions and that he is merely being “wistful.”

What do you think Mr. Bush’s legacy will be in regards to helping the needy? Click on the comments button to share your views.