[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 39 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Page 1880]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks in a Telephone Conversation With Astronaut Shannon Lucid

September 26, 1996

    The President. Hello.
    Ms. Lucid. Hello.
    The President. Welcome home.
    Ms. Lucid. Why, thank you so much. It's so kind of you to call.
    The President. Well, we're all so proud of you. We've been watching 
you, and I couldn't believe you walked off the shuttle.
    Ms. Lucid. Well, I'm just really proud to be an American, and I'm 
just really proud to be part of this cooperative program that we have 
going with the Russians. It was just a great mission. And I just had a 
great time.
    The President. Well, it was wonderful. And as I said, the whole 
country followed you, but I appreciate what you said about the 
cooperation with Russia, too. It really sets the stage for the work on 
the international space station. And it's very, very important. And I 
believe the way you captured the public imagination will also help us to 
build long-term support for the space program.
    Ms. Lucid. Well, I think so. Of course, I don't know from a 
political standpoint or from the big boss standpoint, but I just know 
from the people that are actually working, you know, like the Cosmonauts 
and the Astronauts working together, that this works out just great. 
They were just wonderful people to work with.
    The President. Yes, they are good people, and we're making real 
progress in working with them, I think.
    Ms. Lucid. I think so. And it couldn't have been a better 
experience. And I just thoroughly enjoyed working with the Cosmonauts.
    The President. The other thing that I wanted to say was that on 
behalf of my wife and daughter, is that you have been a terrific 
inspiration for young women around the country and all around the world. 
And I know as you get out and around and people get to congratulate you, 
you'll see that. But it's a wonderful thing for these young girls that 
may have nontraditional aspirations to see someone like you up there 
doing that.
    Ms. Lucid. Well, thank you, sir. Yes, I just didn't really give a 
thought to that. It was just something that I'd always wanted to do. And 
I was just very glad that it worked out.
    The President. Did you have a good reunion with your kids?
    Ms. Lucid. I sure did. [Laughter] And they're here nagging me 
already.
    The President. Did you get your M&M's I sent you?
    Ms. Lucid. Oh, I sure did. I wanted to thank you first thing. That 
was so nice. They're already into them.
    The President. That's good.
    Ms. Lucid. That was so nice and so thoughtful of you. I really, 
really appreciate that.
    The President. Thanks. I'm going down to Texas tomorrow, and I just 
got a note that said you might be there at the time I land in Houston. 
If so, I hope I get to see you.
    Ms. Lucid. Oh, well, that would be very nice. I hope that works out. 
That would just be great.
    The President. Me, too. Well, congratulations. I know you want to go 
back to your family, but I just wanted to say hello. You've given us all 
a great deal to be proud of and a lot of thrills, and we're glad you're 
home safe and sound.
    Ms. Lucid. Thank you very much, Mr. President. And it was very nice 
of you to call. I really appreciate that. Thank you so much.
    The President. Bye-bye.

Note: The President spoke at 2:52 p.m. from the Oval Office at the White 
House.