For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 1, 2004
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
Nationwide Arena
Columbus, Ohio
MR. McCLELLAN: On President Putin, the President spoke with
President Putin earlier today. The President let President Putin know
that we stand with the Russian people during this time. Our thoughts
are with them. We condemn in the strongest terms this kind of
terrorism. And we have offered whatever assistance they request with
the hostage situation.
Q Who initiated the call?
MR. McCLELLAN: (Inaudible) -- the President was calling President
Putin to let him know that we stand firmly with the Russian people. We
stand side-by-side with Russia in the war on terrorism. We condemn
this hostage taking and the recent terrorist attacks in the strongest
possible terms.
Q (Inaudible.)
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, I did that. Did you get that, at the last
one? Prime Minister Karamanlis? He spoke with Prime Minister
Karamanlis this morning. The President called to congratulate him on a
successful Olympics. The President thanked him for all the cooperation
on the security efforts and steps that Greece took to provide for the
safety of all the participants and people attending the Olympics.
Prime Minister Karamanlis also congratulated the United States on the
great success of our Olympians at the Olympics.
Q When did the President call?
MR. McCLELLAN: It was early this morning. I didn't ask him the
exact time.
Q There was no discussion of what specific type of assistance?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I think that was actually at a staff level
discussion. The discussion of assistance we've offered at a staff
level. We've made clear that we stand ready to help if they were to --
if they need it.
Q (Inaudible.)
MR. McCLELLAN: No, no, at a White House level. This was White
House.
Q (Inaudible.)
MR. McCLELLAN: We've offered assistance if they need it.
Q I also wanted to ask about the Florida primary.
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, the President called Secretary Martinez last
night and congratulated him on his primary victory. And the President
looks forward to being on the same ticket as Secretary Martinez in
Florida this November.
Q (Inaudible.)
MR. McCLELLAN: Look, we'll leave that -- I think all those
political pundits can look at that question. The President is focused
on -- the President is going to continue to be focused on reaching out
to all people in Florida and across the United States. He's going to
continue talking about what his beliefs are, the accomplishments over
the last four years, as well as his vision for the next four years.
Q How much time has the President spent on preparation for his speech?
MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, okay. He had his usual briefings this
morning. The speech -- it was about two hours.
Q Two hours?
MR. McCLELLAN: Two hours. He was doing some teleprompter practice
and reading through the -- going through the whole speech.
Q What about tomorrow?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think he has some time scheduled in the morning
to go over his remarks and to do a little bit of speech preparation.
Q (Inaudible.)
MR. McCLELLAN: It's pretty much done at this point. He's making,
maybe, some minor changes to it at this point. But it's pretty much
done.
Q Did he videotape the --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, it's more of doing the teleprompter and -- in
the Family Theater in the Residence.
All right?
* * * * *
MR. McCLELLAN: (In progress) -- Look, this will very much be a
forward-looking speech, that focuses on his vision for the future and
his agenda for the next four years. I think the President will talk
about his convictions and beliefs. And he will also talk about what we
have achieved over the last four years. But most of the speech will
focus on his agenda for building a safer world and a more hopeful
America.
Q (Inaudible.)
MR. McCLELLAN: That's fair to describe it that way, yes.
Q (Inaudible.)
MR. McCLELLAN: I'd say he's probably going to spend about half of
it on domestic policy and half of it on foreign policy. You've heard
him talk about the importance of -- the transformational power of
liberty and the importance of spreading freedom to make the world a
better place and make America more secure. I also expect he'll talk
about how we've been through a lot over the last four years, and he'll
talk about how we've -- because of the leadership that he's provided,
we've risen to meet the challenges that we've faced over the last four
years. We've been through a lot together, and I expect the President
will talk about the changing times that we're in.
Q How much of -- (inaudible)?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think it's really focused on his robust
agenda for the future. He's got a clear and positive plan for the
future. And that's where a good portion of the speech will focus. I
think you can expect there will be new policies within the areas he
cares most about. You've heard him talk about the importance of
education reform. We've taken an important step to make sure every
child can learn and succeed. But passing the law was only a step.
There is more to do to make sure people have the education and skills
they need to meet the jobs in our changing economy. There are a lot of
jobs being created. We need to make sure that workers have the skills
to fill those jobs. I think you can expect he'll talk about the
importance of reducing health care costs and making health care more
affordable, and what we've accomplished there. We've passed historic
Medicare reforms, but there's more to do. There's also more to do to
build an ownership society in America. There's more to do to create an
environment where America continues to be the best place in the world
to do business. And he will talk about the importance of Iraq and
Afghanistan, how there -- by building a free and peaceful Afghanistan
and Iraq that's able to govern itself and defend itself from internal
and external threats, we are transforming a dangerous part of the
world. And it will make the world a better place and it will make
America more secure.
END
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