Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
Bush Gets Clean Bill of Health Following Colonoscopy
Aired June 29, 2002 - 18:02 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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush appears to be doing well after his exam this morning, but he's seeing red over corporate accounting scandals.
CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveuax is standing by with the latest on both of these fronts. Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Catherine, the procedure only took 20 minutes or so. We were told that for national security reasons we were not told exactly when the president was incapacitated or when he'd be transferring his power to the vice president.
Those types of details did not come until after the president was back on his feet. We are told after the short procedure that he was playing with his dogs, that he was eating waffles. He was even exercising.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): President Bush on a four-and-a-half mile walk at Camp David, after a successful colonoscopy. On previous occasions, benign polyps were discovered. But this time, no abnormalities. No signs for concern.
DR. RICHARD TUB, WHITE HOUSE PHYSICIAN: It was a completely normal exam, showing absolutely no polyps, no recurrences of the previous polyps, and no neucosal (ph) abnormalities -- that means no abnormalities in the lining of the colon. Our recommendation is that the does not need to repeat this for another five years.
MALVEAUX: Mr. Bush's screening for colon cancer routine. But, everything else anything but. With the nation at war, troops overseas, and the July 4 weekend security on high alert, Mr. Bush takes an extraordinary step.
Just before leaving for Camp David, reveals as a wartime precaution, he will transfer his power to the vice president while he is temporarily sedated.
Around 7 a.m. in the morning, Cheney arrives at the White House. Just before Mr. Bush goes under, the president signs letters which are faxed to the speaker of the house and president pro temps of the Senate, officially turning his power over to the vice president. ARI FLEISHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: At 7:09 a.m., Article 25 of the Constitution was invoked, temporarily transferring the power of the presidency to Vice President Dick Cheney. At that time, anesthesia was administered to the president...
MALVEAUX: For two hours and fifteen minutes, Cheney runs the country. But administration officials say nothing unusual comes up for him to do anything presidential. Bush's test takes only 20 minutes. He recoups for another hour and a half.
At 9:24 a.m., the president sends another letter to Congress, signaling his return to power. This is only the second time in U.S. history a president has invoked the 25th Amendment to voluntarily transfer his power to the vice president.
In 1985, President Ronald Regan gave Bush Sr. the reigns for eight hours while he underwent colon cancer surgery.
NORMAN ORNSTEIN, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE: I think President Bush invoked the 25th Amendment in part because he wanted to underscore to people that at this time, in the age of terrorism, we have provisions in place just in case something happens to the president.
MALVEAUX: The president has a busy and full schedule coming up this week. He will be pushing for his agenda, traveling, as well as doing some fund-raising for Republican candidates. All of this an indication, his doctor's maintain, that the president is in excellent health -- Catherine.
CALLAWAY: All right, that's good news. Thank you, Suzanne.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
