    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [July 2, 2001]
    [Page 818]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 818]]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Leaders of National Service
    Organizations and an Exchange With Reporters
    July 2, 2001

        The President. Good morning. Thank you all for coming. Laura and I
    are so honored to welcome leaders from five of the largest service
    organizations in our country: Kiwanis, the Lions, the Rotarians, the
    Optimists, the Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
        First, thank you all for coming, and thank you for your service to
    the country. We've had a discussion that will really help change the
    country, I think, and that is, all five organizations have agreed to
    join in urging their members to mentor a child. We've set a goal amongst
    us to recruit one million mentors to provide love and comfort to
    children around America. I can't think of a more noble goal for the
    organizations here. So I want to thank you all very much for your
    commitment to America, for your love of the country. Please thank your
    members for their commitment, as well.
        For others around the country who are wondering how best to help a
    neighbor in need, I strongly urge them to think about joining one of
    these service clubs, a club whose sole existence is to help make America
    a better place. And so, I know there are some in our country that say
    ``What can I do to help?'' Well, here is five good opportunities.
        One of the things you do when you run for office is, you get to go
    to the service club lunches all around our country. [Laughter] And I
    will tell you, some of the most meaningful lunches as a gubernatorial
    candidate, for example, in Texas was at the service clubs in rural Texas
    or in urban Texas. I was able to meet a lot of really good, fine folks.
        America is strong because of our people. America is strong because
    of the compassion of our citizens. And I believe we can meet the goal of
    a million mentors, so that everybody in America feels the great promise
    of our country and so that not one child is left behind.
        Thank you all for coming.

    Vice President Dick Cheney's Health

        Q. Who has a tougher schedule today, Mr. President? You or the Vice
    President?
        The President. The Vice President is feeling great. I had a meeting
    with him. At Camp David, I was asked whether or not he would be at work
    on Monday. I said I was confident he would be there at 8 o'clock sharp,
    during our national security briefing, and there he was. He looks great.
    His spirits are high. He sets such a good example for Americans who may
    share the same condition he has, and that is to listen to your body, to
    take precautionary measures, and to be active. And he's active, and
    he's--we were all thrilled to see how good he looked this morning.
        Q. Are you worried about him at all, Mr. President?
        The President. No, I'm not worried about him. I'm not worried about
    him. He's doing great.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:04 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House.