For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 22, 2004
President's Toast Remarks at a State Dinner for the Nation's Governors
State Dining Room
8:12 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. Welcome to the White House. Laura
and I are honored to host so many of our friends and new
acquaintances. The nation's governors were the guests at our first
official State Dinner almost three years ago today. It's great to see
so many of those same governors with us tonight. It's kind of like
being with members of your family -- right, Jeb? (Laughter.)
I appreciate the fact that the Vice President is with us. I
oftentimes say Dick Cheney is the finest Vice President our country has
ever had. Mother always says, "Wait a minute." (Laughter.) I want to
thank the former governors who are in my Cabinet, Tommy Thompson and
John Ashcroft, Tom Ridge, who is not with us tonight, and the newest
member of my Cabinet, Mike Leavitt. (Applause.)
I want to welcome the nation's new governors, Barbour and Fletcher,
Kernan, Blanco, Walker, Tulafono and Schwarzenegger. (Laughter and
applause.) Last time I was with Governor Schwarzenegger it dawned on
me that we have some things in common. We both married well.
(Laughter.) We both have trouble with the English language.
(Laughter.) We both have big biceps. (Laughter.) Well, two out of
the three. (Laughter.)
In the past three years our country has faced some great
challenges. We're still at war. The war on terror is a new kind of
war, in which every American is threatened and every level of
government must work together. We've taken vital steps to secure our
homeland, and I want to thank the governors for their hard work. I'm
going to continue to work with you to fulfill our solemn duty to
protect the American people.
We share responsibility, as well, to enhance the entrepreneurial
spirit, so that our economy continues to grow and people can find work;
work together to make sure Americans can gain affordable access to
health care; to make sure every child learns to read and write and add
and subtract. We've made good progress. We'll continue to meet our
obligations in future years.
I've got great confidence in America because I believe in the
strength of the American people. I've got great confidence in our
nation's governors, because you represent your state's highest ideals
and you hold your people's trust.
It's a pleasure to host you all here. And now I'd like you all to
join me in a toast to the governors of the United States.
(A toast is offered.)
END 8:15 P.M. EST
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