Michael Bloomberg on 9/11 Museum, return to namesake company

Michael Bloomberg was New York City's mayor for 12 years.

People remember how he tried to limit sales of sugary drinks, or the way he added pedestrian plazas and bike lanes to city streets, but his biggest legacy is likely to be the city's September 11th memorial and museum.

"Each one of those panels represents one of the people that died, and this is the same number as people that died," former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg said as he walked through the 9/11 Museum.

Bloomberg is chairman of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum board of directors.

"Probably all of the crew from this engine were in the buildings when it came down," Bloomberg said. "I think of the people. I just think of the-- the men that were on it."

This will be the first 9/11 anniversary the museum will be open. It's nestled beneath the 9/11 Memorial -- a large peaceful plaza marked by two reflecting pools where the twin towers once stood.

Bloomberg is often given credit for saving the projects when heated debates over money and design had some wondering if they would ever be completed.

"I think it has turned out to be the right memorial in the right place, at the right time," Bloomberg said. "It's open, and people can come in every day, walk around-- you know, smile and laugh, even-- the family members. There's a time for grieving but there's a time to make sure that those who were left are treated the way the-- those who we lost would've wanted them to be treated."

Bloomberg too has also moved on. After three terms as mayor, he has left City Hall, replaced by Bill De Blasio. Yet it is Bloomberg who will continue to be in charge of the 9/11 anniversary ceremony.

As far as teamwork on the project went, Bloomberg said, "I ran it, as the head of the museum. But our staffs have talked to each other, and I assume the mayor will be here on 9/11, and he'll stand here. I assume the governors of New York and New Jersey will be here."

His post-mayoral plan was to focus on philanthropy, while taking a small role with the company he founded, Bloomberg LP, which made him a billionaire. But last week he surprised everyone with the announcement he was returning full time, replacing CEO Dan Doctoroff.

Bloomberg is not taking the reins again because the company is struggling.

"Quite the contrary," he said. "Number one, the company has been doing phenomenally well. I started out two hours a day, because I wanted to be a little bit involved, and it's 20 blocks from my home, and my name's on the door. And then I found I was doing it eight hours a day. It was exciting, it was interesting."

Doctoroff commented on Bloomberg's return in The New York Times, saying, "Mike is kind of like God at the company. He created the universe. He issued the Ten Commandments and then he disappeared. And then he came back. You have to understand that when God comes back, things are going to be different. When God reappeared, people defer."

" Well, I don't -- that was very nice of him," Bloomberg said. "I was sitting there when he said that, and I sort of gagged, 'cause I knew that would be the sort of thing you'd ["CBS This Morning"] use in an interview."

On his return, Bloomberg added, "Well, when you own the company, you have the right to do that, yes."