[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book III)]
[December 11, 2004]
[Pages 3069-3070]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters in Bethesda, Maryland
December 11, 2004

Visit With Wounded Troops/President's Health

    Q. How are you feeling, Mr. President?

    The President. I'm--first of all, incredibly impressed by the health 
care that our military receives. I have just come from visiting with 
some of the wounded and their families, and the service that the doctors 
and nurses provide here for our troops is superb. It is such an honor to 
see those who have been put themselves--who have been injured and are 
now fighting back and recovering and seeing their spirit and their 
strength. And it's an uplifting experience to come here.

    I can say to the loved ones in the military that their sons and 
daughters and husbands and wives get the very best medical care there 
is, and I am grateful for that.
    As far as my own physical goes, I'm still standing. I, obviously, 
have just gone through a campaign, because--let me say, I've obviously 
gone through a campaign where I probably ate too many doughnuts, if you 
get my drift. My New Year's resolution has become apparent after getting 
on the scales. And although I think the doc will put out a report that 
shows you that I'm physically fit and still able to get on the stress 
tests, I'm a little overweight. And therefore, I fully intend to lose 
some inches off my waistline and some pounds off my frame. But other 
than that, I'm feeling great.
    Thank you all.

Note: The exchange began at 1:42 p.m. at the National Naval Medical 
Center. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this 
exchange.

[[Page 3070]]