    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [August 18, 2004]
    [Page 1703]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp in River Falls,
    Wisconsin
    August 18, 2004

         Carl D. Peterson. Thank you so much
    for being here. It's great to have you. Thanks for taking your time. I
    know you know our head coach well.
        The President. I do know Dick. Thanks.
    Thanks for letting me come by and say hi. I appreciate you coming out to
    say hello. I'm in the neighborhood. [Laughter] I'm shaking hands. But I
    wish you all the best this season.
        I particularly want to thank the players who, in the off-season or
    during the season, are helping people who hurt. I know you've got a big
    platform, and you can make a difference in people's lives. The fact that
    you can help somebody who is in need is a great contribution. It's one
    thing to be a star on the field; it's another thing to be a star off the
    field. I know a lot of you are.
        Head Coach Dick Vermeil. These guys are
    great guys.
         Mr. Peterson. We're very proud of this
    guy's father--Priest Holmes's dad re-upped, and he's in Iraq right now.
    And our prayers and thoughts are with him. And we got to see Priest set
    the NFL record at Arrowhead last year, 27 touchdowns.
        The President. I remember when I was the Governor of Texas--
    [laughter]--I'm trying to keep his taxes low. [Laughter]
         Mr. Peterson. Everybody here wants you
    to continue to do the same thing, believe me.
        The President. Good luck to you all. Let me walk around and shake
    some hands.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:21 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin-
    River Falls. Carl D. Peterson, president, general manager, and chief
    executive officer, Kansas City Chiefs, referred to running back Priest
    Holmes. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    these remarks.