[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
[July 2, 2001]
[Page 820]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 820]]


Exchange With Reporters at the Jefferson Memorial
July 2, 2001

Fourth of July

    Q. What's the occasion, Mr. President?
    The President. Just wanted to come over. We're looking right out our 
window every day at the Jefferson. It's a beautiful day--wanted to come 
over and begin the beginning of the Fourth of July celebration here at 
the Jefferson Memorial. It's a good opportunity to say hello to some of 
our fellow Americans.
    Q. What does the Fourth mean to you, Mr. President?
    The President. Well, it's an unimaginable honor to be the President, 
during the Fourth of July, of this country. It means what these words 
say, for starters, the great inalienable rights of our country. We're 
blessed with such values in America. And I--it's--I'm a proud man to be 
the--the Nation based upon such wonderful values. I can't tell you what 
it was like to be in Europe, for example, to be talking about the 
greatness of America.
    But the true greatness of America are the people. And it's another 
reason we're here, is to be able to say hello to some of our fellow 
Americans. And we're here to celebrate. It's good to see everybody.
    John [John Berman, ABC News], when are you getting married?
    Q. Three weeks, sir.

Note: The exchange began at 3:40 p.m. in the rotunda of the memorial. A 
portion of this exchange could not be verified because the tape was 
incomplete.