[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
[May 1, 2003]
[Page 408]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters Aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln
May 1, 2003

[The President's remarks are joined in progress. ]

President's Flight Aboard Navy One

    The President. ----No, it was not me.
    Q. [Inaudible]--land it?
    The President. Not my first time on a carrier.
    Q. How was your----
    The President. Really exciting. I miss flying, I can tell you that.
    This is a formal press conference that you're now conducting. This 
counts.
    Q. Not when we're dressed like this, it doesn't. [Laughter]
    The President. That's right.
    Q. Mr. President, when you were flying the plane, what did you do? 
Did you steer it?
    The President. Just steer it.
    Q. Did you go straight, or did you turn it?
    The President. Straight.
    Q. How did you do? Did you waver?
    The President. Ask the pilot. ``Skip''
    Q. He won't tell.
    Q. How does it compare to the jets you used to fly?
    The President. Huh?
    Q. How does that compare to the jets you used to fly?
    The President. Much more sophisticated.
    Q. What's it been like here on the ship?
    The President. Huh?
    Q. What have you been doing on the ship?
    The President. I've mainly been talking to the troops.
    Naval officer. Here they come, sir.

[At this point, a squadron of Navy fighter jets flew over.]

    The President. The press conference is over.

Note: The exchange began at approximately 2:10 p.m. on the navigation 
deck of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln at sea off the coast of San Diego, 
CA. In his remarks, the President referred to Comdr. John ``Skip'' 
Lussier, USN, pilot of the S-3B Viking aboard which the President 
traveled to the aircraft carrier. The press release issued by the Office 
of the Press Secretary did not include the complete opening remarks of 
the President. A tape was not available for verification of the content 
of this exchange.