MacLean's said in its Aug. 21 issue Bush is known in his two terms for expanding presidential powers, cutting taxes, fighting a pre-emptive war and authorizing interrogation techniques that "amount to torture."

However, the magazine highlighted Bush's liberal policies and questioned what historians would write about the "chameleon president."

"He grew the federal government in size and expense, he did more than any president before him to track and invest in the achievement of black and Latino children and he was an eloquent advocate of human dignity," the magazine said.

The magazine said despite those typically liberal traits, "this passionate champion of liberty circumvented laws to spy on his own citizens, and this lover of freedom toppled one dictator while propping up others."