    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [March 21, 2004]
    [Pages 422-423]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Telephone Remarks to the South Boston Saint Patrick's Day Breakfast
    March 21, 2004

        The President. Senator, this would be your President calling.
        State Senator Jack Hart. President Bush,
    President Bush is on the line. How about a nice round of applause for
    President Bush? Happy Saint Patrick's Day. What an honor.
        The President. Yes, same to you, Jack. Thanks for letting me call
    in. I appreciate you taking my call.
        Senator Hart. Any time, Mr. President, we'll
    take your call any time, for crying out loud.
        The President. Well, I'm proud of that. Listen, I want to thank
    Father Casey. I presume he's got quite a few
    souls to save there in that crowd. [Laughter]
        Senator Hart. There's quite a few Democratic
    souls to save in this hall, Mr. President.
        The President. I know you've got one--you invited at least one
    Republican, and that's my friend the Governor.
        Senator Hart. Yes, yes, he's here. Mitt Romney
    is here. We were going to ask you, Mr. President, do you need a
    runningmate? [Laughter]
        The President. Wait a minute.
        Senator Hart. We like Dick Cheney and all, but we'd like for you to
    take the Governor to Washington, DC. [Laughter]
        The President. Look, you're lucky to have the guy. Here's the way I like to put it about Massachusetts: I
    know there's a lot of talk about a Massachusetts politician who has his
    eye on the Presidency. But tell Mitt it's not open until 2008.
    [Laughter]
        Senator Hart. Oh, you're talking about--you
    had me stumped for a second there. You're talking about Senator Kerry,
    of course.
        The President. Oh, no, no.
        Senator Hart. Oh, my goodness.
        The President. You mean the--well, never mind. [Laughter]
        I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor. I
    want to thank the speaker and the senate
    president. I miss my days as being the
    Governor. I loved dealing with our Lieutenant Governor and speaker and
    members of the statehouse and the State senate. And I wish you all the
    very best. I know you're struggling with some big issues. But these are
    good, decent folks working for the people of Massachusetts to get some
    things done, and I appreciate, Jack, the spirit of
    this lunch.
        Senator Hart. Well, thank you very much. We
    are certainly honored that you called, and we respect the job that
    you're doing. We pray for you every day, Mr. President. You're a good
    man, and we just wanted to wish you a very, very happy Saint Patrick's
    Day.
        The President. Same to you, sir, and I wish everybody a happy Saint
    Patrick's Day as well. God bless, everybody. God bless our great Nation.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:25 a.m. from the Residence at the White
    House to breakfast participants meeting in Boston, MA. In his remarks,
    he referred to Rev. Robert E. Casey, pastor, Saint Brigid's Catholic
    Church, Boston, MA; Gov. Mitt Romney and Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey of
    Massachusetts; Thomas M. Finneran, speaker, Massachusetts State House of
    Representatives; and

    [[Page 423]]

    Robert E. Travaglini, president, Massachusetts State Senate.