For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 2, 2003
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
Aboard Air Force One
En Route Crawford, Texas
2:15 P.M. CDT
MR. McCLELLAN: Sorry, we would have come back sooner, but we were
finishing up the medical history, medical summary. We have copies
coming momentarily, Josh is copying them right now so you should have
copies of this momentarily. Let me go through a couple things.
The President underwent his third annual physical examination as
President today, at the National Naval Medical Center. Dr. Cooper and
Dr. Tubb again performed and supervised the examination this year,
with the specialty consultation as noted in the document that you will
receive momentarily.
This year's examination targeted health care maintenance, screening
and prevention, reviewed issues noted on last year's exam and addressed
issues identified and evaluated over the interim. With the consent of
the President, we are releasing this detailed and comprehensive summary
of his medical history. And the examination was from approximately
from 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. this morning. There was an additional
approximately an hour earlier in the week for his eyes and ears. Those
examinations were done in the White House Medical Unit on Wednesday
evening.
A couple of quick things. In the report you'll see the President's
exercise routine. You'll see that the summary notes - his doctors note
that the President remains in excellent health and "fit for duty." All
data suggests that he will remain so for the duration of his
presidency. And Dr. Cooper also assessed that the President remains in
the "superior fitness category for men his age."
And then at the end you have all of the doctors that were involved
in the examination have signed a statement saying that they have
interviewed and examined the President and have reviewed his medical
record and within the scope of their specialty, they find him to be fit
for duty and have every reasonable expectation he will remain fit for
duty for the duration of his presidency.
So you will have that momentarily. The President also, following
his examination, visited with six troops that were injured during
Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their families were also - many of them had
families present. The President thanked them for their service and
sacrifice and expressed his gratitude on behalf of the nation. The
President also thanked a number of doctors and nurses and hospital
staff members that were present as he visited with the troop members
individually.
Q Were they recently wounded? Are these recent - or have they
been in here a while?
MR. McCLELLAN: I would talk to Bethesda to find out more. I would
leave it to Bethesda to check with those injured and their families, if
they want any more information released.
Q Any surprises from his health exam?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that you will have the summary here
momentarily and you'll see that he remains -
Q The $64,000 question: what's his pulse rate?
MR. McCLELLAN: It's in the summary.
Q Well, I know, but just tell us.
MR. McCLELLAN: Let me see, 45 - resting heart rate 45 BPM.
Q Oh, he's put on weight.
MR McCLELLAN: Yes, and actually it summarizes that at the end. IF
you look at his body fat, it remains the same. So what they summarized
at the end was that - it says the biometrics confirmed that the weight
gain most likely represents muscle mass consistent with strength
training.
Q So he put on from weight lifting?
MR. McCLELLAN: Most likely, is what the doctors say.
Q That's what they all say. (Laughter.)
Q Have they measured his waist? (Laughter.)
MR. McCLELLAN: You'll have it all here. Anything else?
Q The New York Times story about the Saudi Arabia report, is
that true, what they're saying?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think the President - well, the President
has been very firm in his belief that all parties have a responsibility
to end terrorism and to dismantle terrorist organizations. Violence
and terrorism has been reduced in recent weeks, but the road map spells
out very clearly that terrorist organizations need to be dismantled.
That's the President's view, he made it very clear in his visits with
Prime Minister Abbas and Prime Minister Sharon.
Q Is he willing to give Prime Minister Abbas more time to
dismantle the organization?
MR. McCLELLAN: The President has made it clear that Prime
Minster Abbas is taking some important steps to reduce violence and end
terrorism, and progress is being made. The President's view, though,
is very clear, that everybody must work to end terrorism and dismantle
terrorist organizations.
Q So are you saying the story is flat wrong in the New York
Times?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm saying that the President has been very clear
in his views that, you know - we appreciate the progress that's been
made in the security situation and ending terrorism, but our view
remains the same, that these terrorist organizations need to be
dismantled. (*Our policy on the Middle East has not changed.)
Q On Liberia, I understand that a date was set that Charles
Taylor said he would leave. Have you got any information on that, that
he said a date, like, August, I think it was 11th?
MR. McCLELLAN: I saw the reports. I mean, there have been
differing reports recently. Charles Taylor needs to leave and we need
to see it in his actions, not only words. The President has made it
clear that Charles Taylor needs to leave, there needs to be a
cease-fire in place and that the United States stands ready to support
ECOWAS in going in to Liberia and providing needed humanitarian
assistance to the people of Liberia.
Q What about the report from Senator Warner that he was not
happy with the level of briefing of Congress and -
MR. McCLELLAN: The Department of Defense addressed that in the
article, you might want to check with them.
Q The New York Times story about the classified report on Saudi
Arabia, is that report true?
MR. McCLELLAN: You're getting into classified information is
what you're asking about. The classified information relates to
sensitive national security matters involving, among other things,
ongoing investigations. We will pursue those investigations wherever
they may lead. These are ongoing investigations related to the
September 11th attacks and we intend to pursue them fully. And the
reason that those sections are classified is because of ongoing
investigations and we don't want to jeopardize those ongoing
investigations.
Q Are you going to ask the Saudis for access to some of the
nationals and officials mentioned in -
MR. McCLELLAN: There have been some discussions and Saudi Arabia
has been very cooperative in our efforts to win the war on terrorism,
and we're pleased with the progress we're making and that cooperation.
Q Is there a team from the National Security Council going to
Saudi Arabia to consult with them? The story says that -
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't have any update for you on that. We
obviously stay in close consultation with Saudi Arabia in our efforts
on the war on terrorism and that's where I'll leave it.
Q The story on Mr. Rave's taxes, I realize that was something
that he wasn't directly involved with. Are you familiar with that?
MR. McCLELLAN: There was a statement put out by his mortgage
company, because Karl did pay his taxes into an escrow - in escrow to
his mortgage company. And as soon as he became aware that the mortgage
company had not paid those taxes, he worked with them to ensure the
situation resolved immediately. And I would encourage you to get a
copy of the statement from Wells Fargo, which says that "we have
recently identified that Mr. Karl Rove, who as a result of an
inadvertent administrative error by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, did not
have the required property taxes due March 31, 2003 paid to the
Washington, D.C. treasurer. Wells Fargo regrets this error." And then
they went on to say that, "the issue will be resolved today, Friday,
August 1, 2003, and a check sent by overnight," and so forth. So I
think that they addressed that.
Q Are you actively pursuing a new U.N. resolution for Iraq?
MR. McCLELLAN: On Iraq? Again, 1483 we believe provides
sufficient authority for countries to participate and help with
reconstruction and stabilization in Iraq. In fact, a number of
countries already are participating under that resolution. There have
been some countries that have expressed some concerns that they may
need - that they feel they may need some additional authority. There
have been some preliminary discussions with those countries, but we
believe that 1483 provides sufficient authority for countries to
participate, as a number are currently doing.
Q What's your schedule going to be while we're down there?
MR. McCLELLAN: Nothing on Sunday, don't expect anything from me on
Sunday, barring breaking news. I'm there through Wednesday afternoon,
this first tour of duty - I will be back the following week. But I
expect that I'll do the usual gaggle in the 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
range each day.
Q You don't expect to do one tomorrow, unless there's something
going on?
MR. McCLELLAN: Unless there's a need. No, enjoy your weekend.
Q Who's spelling you on Wednesday?
MR. McCLELLAN: Claire will be here Wednesday afternoon, so she'll
be starting that evening.
Q Thank you.
MR. McCLELLAN: Josh Deckard is always available, too. (Laughter.)
END 2:25 pm CDT
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