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CNN Live Saturday

Bush Takes Pride in Physical Fitness

Aired August 04, 2001 - 15:05   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Before heading off for vacation, President Bush traveled to Bethesda Naval Hospital for his first official physical as commander in chief. Those results are due later today.

And as CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace reports, this president prides himself on being physically fit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): No jitters, President Bush said, before his first presidential physical.

QUESTION: Are you nervous?

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No.

WALLACE: After all, this commander in chief prides himself on being physically fit.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president feels in excellent physical health. As you know, he is an athlete, he runs.

WALLACE: About a seven-and-a-half-minute mile, in fact. The president jogs three to four times a week, normally, on a treadmill inside the White House residence, although, during a trip to Iowa in May, Mr. Bush hit the streets.

BUSH: Sorry you can't join me.

WALLACE: Besides running, the president works out with weights, enjoys fishing, and a speedy round of golf -- his exercise habits earning him the praise of even some of his harshest critics.

SEN. HARRY REID (D), NEVADA: I don't want to arm wrestle him. I think he's a very powerful, physical man. He appears to be in excellent health. I mean, the country should feel good about that.

WALLACE: Especially, some political observers say, since Vice President Dick Cheney has had four heart attacks since 1978, and three visits to the hospital for heart-related concerns since Election Day.

RON BROWNSTEIN, "LOS ANGELES TIMES": When you got the guy who's a heartbeat away with a heartbeat that's questionable, you're especially focused on how well the guy on top is feeling.

WALLACE: Mr. Bush's predecessor, Bill Clinton, jogged regularly at the beginning of his presidency and remained active, but loved food and keeping up a hectic schedule. Analysts believe the president is trying to project a different image, exercising religiously, even leaving the Oval Office during the day for a workout.

BROWNSTEIN: I think he is drawing an implicit contrast with Clinton in the eyes of many voters, especially Republicans. He is not someone who is a professional politician, for whom politics is a be- all end-all, there are other aspects of his life.

(on camera): Such as his love of his Crawford, Texas ranch, where aides say the president is looking forward to running in the near 100-degree heat during his month-long vacation.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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