Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

President Bush Comments on Health of Vice President Cheney

Aired July 02, 2001 - 11:16   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: We're getting videotape in from the White House. Here's President Bush talking about Vice President Dick Cheney.

Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

First, thank you all for coming and thank you for your service to the country.

We've had a discussion that will really help change the country, I think, and that is, all five organizations have agreed to join in urging their members to mentor a child. We've set a goal amongst us to recruit 1 million mentors to provide love and comfort to children around America. I can't think of a more noble goal for the organizations here.

So I want to thank you all very much for your commitment to America, your love of the country. Please thank your members for their commitment, as well.

For others around the country who are wondering how best to help a neighbor in need, I strongly urge them to think about joining one of these service clubs, a club whose sole existence is to help make America a better place. And so, I know there are some in our country that say, "What can I do to help?" Well, here is five good opportunities.

One of the things you do when you run for office is you get to go to service clubs' lunches...

(LAUGHTER)

... all around our country. And I will tell you, some of the most meaningful lunches as a gubernatorial candidate, for example, in Texas was at the service clubs in rural Texas or in urban Texas. I was able to meet a lot of really good, fine folks.

America is strong because of our people. America is strong because of the compassion of our citizens. And I believe we can meet the goal of 1 million mentors so that everybody in America feels the great promise of our country and so that not one child is left behind.

Thank you all for coming.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) you or the vice president.

BUSH: The vice president is feeling great. I had a meeting with him at Camp David. I was asked whether or not he would be at work on Monday. I said I'm confident he would be there at 8:00 sharp at our national security briefing, and there he was.

He looks great. His spirits are high. He sets a good example for Americans who may share the same condition he has, and that is to listen to your body, to take precautionary measures and to be active. And he's active, and he's -- we're all thrilled to see how good he looked this morning.

(CROSSTALK)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: That's President Bush just a few minutes ago commenting on the health and status of Vice President Dick Cheney, who, two days ago, had a dual-purpose pacemaker inserted inside of his chest to deal with some of his heart trouble.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com