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CNN Saturday Morning News

Bush Receiving First Presidential Physical

Aired August 04, 2001 - 09:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
REA BLAKEY, CNN ANCHOR: Six months on the job, six hours of testing. President Bush is gearing up for a month-long vacation, but right now, Mr. Bush is getting his first medical checkup as president.

CNN's White House correspondent Kelly Wallace has the story live from the White House.

Kelly, what's expected today?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, we -- as you noted, he'll spend about six hours at Bethesda Naval Hospital. This the president's first official physical of his presidency. He'll be undergoing a series of tests, pretty much the same tests that every other president has gone through.

Now, the president arrived at the hospital just a little bit before 8:00 a.m., and he smiled and waved to reporters. One reporter asked him if he happened to be nervous, and he smiled and shrugged his shoulders and said no. After all, this a president who really prides himself on being physically fit. He runs at least three to four times a week. Rea, he is even apparently looking forward to running when he gets to his Crawford, Texas, ranch, where the temperatures are in the high 90-degree temperatures -- Rea.

BLAKEY: Well, he'll want to make sure and be well hydrated. Even though he'll be running, are there working plans during this vacation, Kelly? Will the president be trying to get some legislation, talk with some people, get things done?

WALLACE: Well, the White House is billing this as a working vacation. They say that the president will be getting some of his normal briefings. He also will travel a bit. He'll go to Colorado, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania to tout his agenda.

Looking ahead to the fall, Rea, he is going to try to press the Democratically controlled Senate to finish up work on education and energy and his faith-based agenda. This likely to be a little bit of an uphaddle -- uphill battle for the president. He also will be starting to unveil some new initiatives, aides say, to try to promote some community and family values.

So a lot of work ahead, a lot of R&R on this vacation, but a little bit of work too -- Rea.

BLAKEY: All right, you try and get a little R&R as well, Kelly.

WALLACE: OK, will do.

BLAKEY: Kelly Wallace, who's traveling with the president, reporting from the White House.

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