[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.