    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 13 (Monday, March 29, 2004)]
    [Page 444]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Telephone Remarks to the South Boston Saint Patrick's Day Breakfast

    March 21, 2004

        The President. Senator, this would be your President calling.
        State Senator Jack Hart. President Bush, President Bush is on the
    line. How about a nice round of applause for President Bush? Happy Saint
    Patrick's Day. What an honor.
        The President. Yes, same to you, Jack. Thanks for letting me call
    in. I appreciate you taking my call.
        Senator Hart. Any time, Mr. President, we'll take your call any
    time, for crying out loud.
        The President. Well, I'm proud of that. Listen, I want to thank
    Father Casey. I presume he's got quite a few souls to save there in that
    crowd. [Laughter]
        Senator Hart. There's quite a few Democratic souls to save in this
    hall, Mr. President.
        The President. I know you've got one--you invited at least one
    Republican, and that's my friend the Governor.
        Senator Hart. Yes, yes, he's here. Mitt Romney is here. We were
    going to ask you, Mr. President, do you need a running mate? [Laughter]
        The President. Wait a minute.
        Senator Hart. We like Dick Cheney and all, but we'd like for you to
    take the Governor to Washington, DC. [Laughter]
        The President. Look, you're lucky to have the guy. Here's the way I
    like to put it about Massachusetts: I know there's a lot of talk about a
    Massachusetts politician who has his eye on the Presidency. But tell
    Mitt it's not open until 2008. [Laughter]
        Senator Hart. Oh, you're talking about--you had me stumped for a
    second there. You're talking about Senator Kerry, of course.
        The President. Oh, no, no.
        Senator Hart. Oh, my goodness.
        The President. You mean the--well, never mind. [Laughter]
        I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor. I want to thank the speaker
    and the senate president. I miss my days as being the Governor. I loved
    dealing with our Lieutenant Governor and speaker and members of the
    statehouse and the State senate. And I wish you all the very best. I
    know you're struggling with some big issues. But these are good, decent
    folks working for the people of Massachusetts to get some things done,
    and I appreciate, Jack, the spirit of this lunch.
        Senator Hart. Well, thank you very much. We are certainly honored
    that you called, and we respect the job that you're doing. We pray for
    you every day, Mr. President. You're a good man, and we just wanted to
    wish you a very, very happy Saint Patrick's Day.
        The President. Same to you, sir, and I wish everybody a happy Saint
    Patrick's Day as well. God bless, everybody. God bless our great Nation.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:25 a.m. from the Residence at the White
    House to breakfast participants meeting in Boston, MA. In his remarks,
    he referred to Rev. Robert E. Casey, pastor, Saint Brigid's Catholic
    Church, Boston, MA; Gov. Mitt Romney and Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey of
    Massachusetts; Thomas M. Finnerman, speaker, Massachusetts State house
    of representatives; and Robert E. Travaglini, president, Massachusetts
    State senate.