[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[May 1, 1992]
[Pages 680-681]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 680]]

Remarks at the Great American Workout

May 1, 1992
    Welcome, all, to the White House. And let me tell you how much I 
appreciate this wonderful display of fitness, something so important to 
our country. May I start off by saluting Secretary Sullivan, who I don't 
see, who's going to be with us in a minute; Chairman Schwarzenegger, of 
course. Where's Lou? Over here, suited up. [Laughter] And thank Barbara 
Mandrell and members of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and 
the National Fitness Leaders Association; and of course, Milton Berle 
and Bob Saget; Mary Lou Retton, an old friend; Peter Vidmar; Chris 
Evert; Lauri Single, National Fitness Director of the Year; and on and 
on it goes.
    Welcome to the White House and to an event which kicks off National 
Fitness Month. That's the third Great American Workout. It's a special 
pleasure to be introduced by a friend, a man who embodies this event, 
the Chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness, Arnold 
Schwarzenegger, who literally has done a superb job, going to every 
single State in the Nation on his own to take this message of fitness to 
everybody. We're very grateful to him.
    As I told Arnold earlier, I am sorry to have to cut short my 
participation in this great event. I hope you can understand; I am going 
to be getting, at 7:15 a.m., an update on the situation that troubles 
the whole country, the situation in Los Angeles, meeting with the 
Attorney General and the head of the FBI. Then we'll be meeting with 
some of our outstanding civil rights leaders to discuss our common 
commitment to justice, civil tranquility, and the rule of law.
    But before I go, let me just say a few words about this important 
issue of fitness. Arnold, as I mentioned, or didn't, maybe, but 
yesterday he visited the 50th State out there in Ohio as Chairman. And 
he's spreading the word that each of us has a stake, a serious stake in 
making exercise a part of America's fitness and fitness a part of each 
American day.
    When we see these workout stations, which I was privileged to 
participate in last year, you can understand it more clearly. Even a 
special workout to honor true heroes has been set up, and those are 
representatives of the Special Olympics. We welcome them back to the 
White House again. They set a great example for kids around this 
country.
    Part of his message is that we need balanced and nutritional diet. 
And we've got to avoid tobacco and drug use, avoid excessive alcohol 
use. And fitness really can enrich the human mind and body by lowering 
stress and blood pressure and cholesterol.
    We also have to act on another front by putting new emphasis on 
quality physical education in our schools. Arnold has pointed out to me 
that only one State, Illinois, gives daily physical education for K 
through 12. And that's the only State giving it, thus, the priority that 
it really deserves. Now, we've got to change that. So let's make it 50, 
just as our Chairman has done by going to 50 States.
    A man with us, a special man, knows all about fitness. He knows that 
an American that is physically and mentally fit is fit to take on the 
world. And at 83--sorry about that, Milton--[laughter]--Milton Berle 
still rides his stationary bike, he does a lot of walking, he punches a 
heavy bag, and he maintains a healthy diet. So no wonder he's just been 
named a special adviser to Arnold. I welcome his leadership, showing 
that nobody, put it this way, is too old to stay fit.
    So to Milton and to Arnold and all of you, my thanks for what you've 
done. Thanks for showing the Nation what fitness means. And I hope you 
enjoy the Great American Workout. I arranged for the weather here. 
[Laughter] And I know you'll enjoy the program which follows on the main 
stage, starring the famous and wonderfully generous Harlem 
Globetrotters. We welcome them. We have a basketball court down there. 
And I got a lot of laughs when I threw the basketball with Duke the 
other day. But the

[[Page 681]]

difference is these guys are funny on purpose. [Laughter]
    So thank you all. And Arnold, once more, my heartfelt thanks for 
what you're doing in leading this country to new levels of fitness. Now 
I must leave, but Barbara's going to join in, so she will demonstrate 
the Bush family commitment to work out, every station, 20 minutes at 
each one.

                    Note: The President spoke at 7:04 a.m. on the South 
                        Lawn at the White House.