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CNN Live Today

White House Holds Humorous Correspondents' Dinner

Aired May 06, 2002 - 11:41   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Time for a couple smiles, courtesy of the White House now. President Bush treating journalists in Washington to some behind the scenes White House photos over the weekend. He spoke at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner. A chance to look, listen, and a giggle or two as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am going to show you some actual, never-seen-before photos, taken by the White House photographers over the past 15 months.

When I look back over the last year, I think I have grown in office. I'm much more focused.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: I feel relaxed.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: I mean, occasionally there are moments where I feel a little stress.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: I may have aged a bit.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: One of the great things about being in the White House is having Laura close by. Here she is, helping me pronounce Azerbaijanis.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: This is our dog Barney. I tell him with eyebrows like that, he ought to be a senator.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: Now, this is our dog Spot. People often ask me how I came up with that name. I don't know, I'm just kind of a creative guy.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: The truth is the door to the Oval Office has a little peephole. This is Karen Hughes peeping in on me. This is Karl Rove peeping in on me. This is Condi Rice peeping in on me. Spot has her own peephole. This is Andy Card peeping in on me. And ladies and gentlemen, this is the vice president of the United States, looking through a peephole. And Dick, I hope you're not doing what it looks like you're doing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: None other than our own John King put on the tuxedo on Saturday night and was there to see that all in person -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Believe it or not, even I have been known to smile.

KAGAN: Even got a smile out of you. How about that? You know, there is a lot of pressure being the president of the United States. You know, there is world peace, there is the economy, there is running for re-election, but then there is this dinner and the pressure to be funny. And how did President Bush do?

KING: The president did just fine. Self-deprecating humor is a trademark of most presidents. President Clinton was known as a good performer. President Bush now, two years in a row, has put on a very funny performance, and the trademark way to do that is to make fun of yourself.

This dinner is viewed as an escape valve. It raises some money for some scholarship funding. That is good. Gives us a time out, if you will, a release valve in relations between the presidency and the news media.

Now, the president was pretty funny. At one point -- obviously, the conflict in the Middle East is the issue before him at the moment. The president even took a moment to make a little fun about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Drew Carey is our entertainment tonight. Drew has a fun TV show called "Whose Line Is It Anyway," which is totally improvised. Drew, got any interest in the Middle East?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Some of us would prefer maybe jeans and casual affair, but the tuxedos are OK. It is a fun night every year.

KAGAN: Very good. John King at the White House. John, thanks for sharing some of the giggles from Saturday night. It is a tough ticket to get. So, thanks for sharing with our viewers.

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