[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 23 (Monday, June 10, 2002)]
[Pages 943-944]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Telephone Remarks to Race for the Cure Participants

June 1, 2002

    Ambassador Nancy Brinker. Mr. President, we are honored that you 
would take time out and talk to us today. Thank you, and welcome.
    The President. Well, Nancy, thank you very much for your kind words, 
and I appreciate so very much your service to our country as Ambassador 
to Hungary and your service to our country as the founding chairman of 
the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
    And I've got to tell you, I'm here at West Point, getting ready to 
give the commencement address, and I'm honored to be here. But I kind of 
wish I was running today with the thousands who are there.
    I want to thank all the runners for bringing hope to Americans as we 
fight cancer. I want to thank the survivors for your courage. I want to 
thank Congresswoman Sue Myrick, who is Race for the Cure honorary 
survivor chair.
    I appreciate so very much the fact that you all recognize that 
you're running for a great work and a great cause, that every life saved 
is a mother, a daughter, or a sister restored to health. What I love 
most about the Komen runs is that people participate in the spirit

[[Page 944]]

of generosity and kindness and love that really distinguishes America 
and makes us unique. You know, a lot of people go out and run to win 
prizes. You're running and walking to save lives. And for that, our 
Nation is incredibly grateful.
    I recognize that we've made some advances, and I'm grateful for 
those, as I know you are as well. But I also know that we've got a long 
way to go to win this war on cancer and breast cancer. Nancy mentioned 
that the Federal Government is strongly committed to funding--putting 
dollars up for research at the NIH, which we will do and continue to do. 
See, I'm an optimistic person. I believe--strongly believe--in our 
lifetimes we will achieve a victory over cancer.
    Again, I want to thank you for running. Every step you take today is 
critical to finding a cure for breast cancer.
    S. Sgt. Tony Damon. I'm sorry, Mr. President. This is Signal.
    The President. Yes--what?
    Staff Sergeant Damon. I'm sorry, they dropped the call. We're going 
to reestablish----
    The President. What are you talking about? They dropped the call?
    Staff Sergeant Damon. They tried to connect you to the feed, and the 
feed didn't go through.
    The President. You mean I haven't--they haven't heard a word yet?
    Staff Sergeant Damon. I'm sorry, Mr. President, they haven't heard a 
word.
    The President. Goddang it.

[At this point, the phone line was reestablished.]

    Ambassador Nancy Brinker. Welcome, Mr. President.
    The President. Hey, Nancy, I am sorry that we dropped off. Let me 
tell all the runners and walkers how appreciative I am that you're 
walking and running to save lives, how appreciative I am that you show 
the great generosity of spirit of the American people.
    I want you to know, Nancy, that the Federal Government stands on 
your side, that we're going to spend money to research, to find the 
cures necessary to defeat cancer. And I believe in our lifetime we will 
defeat cancer, and a large part of that success goes to the thousands 
all across America who support the Komen Foundation runs and walks.
    And so, on behalf of a grateful nation, thank you for--you all for 
what you do. I'm here at West Point. I kind of wish I was running with 
you all today. But since I'm not, I am honored to be able to start the 
race.
    And so the walkers, you all will start in a few minutes. But right 
now, if the runners will get ready, it's about time for you to start. 
And so in five seconds, it is my honor to start this Race for the Cure. 
Four, three, two, one--runners ready, and go.

Note: The teleconference began at 8:22 a.m. The President spoke from the 
Superintendent's House at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY, 
to race participants on the Mall in Washington, DC. Staff Sergeant Tony 
Damon, USA, Console Controller, Army Signal Corps, assisted the 
President in the telephone conversation.