For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 28, 2002
Remarks by the President Upon Departure for Camp David
The South Lawn
4:00 P.M. EDT
Q Mr. President, what's the story?
THE PRESIDENT: Hold on, I'll tell you.
As you know, I've been recommending that Americans take
precautionary measures for their health and that people should be
screened on a regular basis, particularly those of us over 50. And
tomorrow, I'm going to have a colonoscopy at Camp David. It is the
third such procedure I've had. The doctor has recommended I have
another one because, the last time, they found some benign polyps. And
so this is kind of a routine physical examination that will be done at
Camp David.
I'm going -- I'm going to be sedated for a period of time and
will transfer power to the Vice President during that time. And I look
forward to exercising tomorrow afternoon, after the procedure takes
place.
Q Do you know how long it's going to be, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, it's -- you know, the last time I did this,
it wasn't very long. I mean, the definition of long -- the docs will
be briefing here pretty soon. But, you know, it shouldn't take too
long to --
Q Is there anything that triggered this?
THE PRESIDENT: No, not at all, John. I feel great. This is a
part of the ongoing -- you know, it's a kind of part of the annual
physical. And so I just decided to do it at this time, it fit in with
my schedule. And I feel great. No signs, no symptoms.
The last time we did one of these colonoscopies, they found benign
polyps and they recommended that -- I think it was two years ago and
they recommended they take another look and see if there's anything in
there.
Q Should we read anything into the fact that you are going to
transfer the power, the length of time of this?
THE PRESIDENT: No, not at all. It's just that I made the
decision. We looked at the precedent. I'm the first President to have
done so under this type of procedure and/or physical examination. I
did so because we're at war and I just want to be super -- you know,
super cautious.
And I informed the Vice President of this and he's fully prepared
to -- he's standing by. He'll realize he's not going to be President
that long. (Laughter.)
Q Is he back in Washington, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: He is. Yes, he is.
Q What time will you be doing this tomorrow?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, the time is -- you know, I really don't
want to put out a time, and I hope you understand why.
Q Where's the Vice President, here?
THE PRESIDENT: He'll be -- I'm not sure where he'll be.
MR. FLEISCHER: We'll hold a briefing. We'll fill you in.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I need to find out where he's --
Q Any family history of colon cancer?
THE PRESIDENT: Let's see, not really. Well, my brother -- yes,
I had a brother who had colitis. And so there's some history there.
I do recommend and urge that people take -- get these
precautionary tests and take a look. I had my first 'scope, as we say
in the business, I think maybe five or six years ago, they discovered
polyps for the first time. And it gets your attention a little bit.
Fortunately, they were benign. And I think it's important to continue
to get good checkups. And that's what this is about.
So, anyway, I'm glad to be able to share that with you.
(Laughter.) Thank you all very much.
Q Thank you.
END 4:04 P.M. EDT
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