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American Morning

Dick Cheney Back in the Saddle

Aired July 02, 2001 - 11:09   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: President Bush just a few minutes ago commenting on the health and status of Vice President Dick Cheney, who, two day ago, had a dual-purpose pacemaker inserted inside of his chest to deal with some of his heart trouble.

Yet the vice president, as Major Garrett has reported, is back at work today.

And, Major, if nothing else, Dick Cheney is active. Say what you want. Anybody even can criticize his politics, but he is active and he does take on his heart disease full front.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, he's active and back to work, just as he said he would be.

And the White House clearly wanted to take this one-and-only opportunity that President Bush would have to talk to reporters to emphasize that the president feels very good, very confident about the vice president's overall health. And it's an issue that cuts politically as well as personally for the president.

It's the third episode for Vice President Cheney since the November election. The White House does know that, with each and every episode, come greater concerns about the vice president's health. And you could see the emerging message from the White House in the president's remark: Hey, the vice president is a good example for anyone who has heart problems or coronary artery disease.

He has both. The treatment on Saturday to deal with arrhythmia, which is an accelerated beating of his heart. That dual-purpose device you said that was installed can also deal with a slower-than- normal heart rate. So the vice president says he feels he has insurance policy both ways. But the president wanted to make sure the country knew how he felt today about the vice president's health. And the president looked chipper and was very chipper in responding to how the vice president looked at this first day back at the office -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Major Garrett at the White House -- Major, thank you very much.

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