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CNN Live Event/Special

Bush Talks to Press

Aired June 22, 2002 - 09:14   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go to the president of the United States, who's had a chance to rest up a little bit after his 20-minute, 28-second performance in a three-mile run around the grounds of the White House this morning. Let's listen in.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... Robert Zoellick, trade minister.

Where is Zoellick?

He left. He didn't know he was going to get introduced.

I want to thank Debbie Lahardy (ph) for the Race for the Cure, and Tara Wolf Monica (ph) as well for helping organize this. Thank you for your...

(APPLAUSE)

The Race for the Cure is a fantastic event. It's -- it raises money for a great cause, and they know how to organize well. Thank you all for setting this up for us.

I want to thank my friend Paul Carrozzza, who's a member of the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness, for being here as well. Paul is a fellow Texan. Yes.

He -- if you're ever in Austin, you might want to stop by his store and buy a couple pairs of shoes from him.

I want to thank the great athletes from the Special Olympics who are here today to help us register. These athletes registered people to volunteer as well. They're going to represent the country in the 2003 World Games in Ireland.

Kevin Boyd (ph), is here with us today. Lindsey Wilks (ph), Kevin Gafford (ph) and Daniel Bailey (ph). Thank you all for coming.

Good luck at the Olympic Games, too.

Sir, I'll be down there and get it in a minute.

I want to thank Fresh Fields and Dasani water. Make sure you drink a lot of that today.

(LAUGHTER)

At least that's what Dr. Tubb (ph) told me.

(LAUGHTER)

And Starbucks, for helping to sponsor this event.

I want to thank you all for agreeing not only to set a good example, but agreeing to help a neighbor in need. As you might remember part of the entry fee is -- or the entry fee is the willingness for you to give of your time and money to help a local charity here.

And if you haven't signed up, I was serious about that being part of the entry fee. I think it's important for all of us who are fortunate enough to be able to run and be healthy, to help others who might not be as fortunate.

So thanks for agreeing to do that. It's important for those of us in the White House to live how we talk. If we're going to say we're going to live a healthy life, let's do it. If we say we care about a neighbor in need, we want to love a neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourselves, let's show it through our actions.

So I want to thank you for the example. It's really important for the White House team to exercise on a regular basis. I hope you'll understand at least that's how the boss thinks.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

I expect you to -- I think you're -- I know, I don't think, I know you're a better worker if you exercise on a daily basis. I know you will help keep the health care costs down in America if you exercise on a daily basis.

(LAUGHTER)

I know your life will be more complete if you exercise and serve a neighbor in need. And you know, we're not here for long, but when we're here, let's make sure we give it our all. And one say to do so is to stay healthy and fit and have a great outlook in life.

And so thanks for joining us today. It's been a fantastic event. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Make sure you stretch afterwards. Get in a good nap. And show up to work on time on Monday.

(LAUGHTER)

God bless you all.

(APPLAUSE)

O'BRIEN: All right, the runner-in-chief, giving a little pep talk to the troops, having -- I'm still stunned, 20 minutes, 28 seconds, he's a 56-year-old man, he's in much better shape than the likes of me. I'm lucky if I can do an eight-minute mile these days.

In any case, listen to what he said, it's -- he's got some good advice there for all of us. We're not here long, we might as well make the most of it.

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