    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [March 8, 2005]
    [Pages 385-386]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Former President George H.W. Bush and Former President William J. Clinton
    March 8, 2005

    Tsunami Relief Efforts

        President Bush. Listen, I want to thank former Presidents Clinton
    and Bush for representing our country and showing the best heart of
    America when it came to helping those who suffered from the tsunami
    natural disaster.
        The Presidents presented me with a report. This report basically
    says America cares deeply about suffering people around the world. I
    can't think of two better Ambassadors to carry our message of
    compassion. They reported that progress is being made. Nearly a billion
    dollars of private-sector money has gone to help. Our Government
    requested 950 million additional dollars to help.
        And I want to thank both leaders for really showing the world how
    much we care. I think the world is beginning to see a different
    impression of America. One of the things the Presidents reported to me
    is there was an outpouring of great kindness everywhere they went. I'm
    heartened that the good folks of Indonesia, for example, see a different
    America now when they think about our country. They see a country which
    of course will defend our security but a country which also cares deeply
    about suffering people, regardless of their religion, that when we find
    a Muslim child suffering, we weep just as equally as when we find
    another child that suffers.
        And so I want to thank you all for doing the best. I'd like to ask
    both Presidents to maybe say a comment. They'll be willing to take
    questions after this in the Roosevelt Room.
        Former President Bush. My comment is President Clinton was a joy to
    work with. I was pleased that the President asked me to be a part of
    this. And the only other thing I'd say is that when you see the children
    out there, you count your own blessings, because the devastation was
    real and the generosity of the American people will go a long way to
    making things better in all the four countries we visited.
        Former President Clinton. I'd like to thank the President for giving
    me a chance to work with former President Bush. We had a very good
    experience, I think, on this trip and before and after raising funds.
    We're going down to Florida to raise some more money tomorrow.

    [[Page 386]]

        The report basically says that these people have done an
    unbelievable job dealing with their losses and cleaning up but that
    there's a lot of work yet to be done, particularly in the hardest hit
    countries, to restore them to normal life, and that we want America and
    the world to be a part of this all the way through to the end.
        They are very grateful for what the American military did, for what
    USAID did, for what these hundreds of nongovernmental organizations have
    done. But there's a lot of work left to be done, and we want to see it
    through to the end.
        President Bush. By the way, let me--one other point. President
    Clinton and President Bush are going to play golf tomorrow to raise
    money for the tsunami victims--which goes to show how sick he is.
    [Laughter]
        Former President Clinton. We are. [Laughter]
        President Bush. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:45 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House.