[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 34 (Monday, August 23, 2004)]
[Page 1644]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp in River Falls, 
Wisconsin

August 18, 2004

     Carl D. Peterson. Thank you so much for being here. It's great to 
have you. Thanks for taking your time. I know you know our head coach 
well.
    The President. I do know Dick. Thanks. Thanks for letting me come by 
and say hi. I appreciate you coming out to say hello. I'm in the 
neighborhood. [Laughter] I'm shaking hands. But I wish you all the best 
this season.
    I particularly want to thank the players who, in the off-season or 
during the season, are helping people who hurt. I know you've got a big 
platform, and you can make a difference in people's lives. The fact that 
you can help somebody who is in need is a great contribution. It's one 
thing to be a star on the field; it's another thing to be a star off the 
field. I know a lot of you are.
    Head Coach Dick Vermeil. These guys are great guys.
     Mr. Peterson. We're very proud of this guy's father--Priest 
Holmes's dad re-upped, and he's in Iraq right now. And our prayers and 
thoughts are with him. And we got to see Priest set the NFL record at 
Arrowhead last year, 27 touchdowns.
    The President. I remember when I was the Governor of Texas--
[laughter]--I'm trying to keep his taxes low. [Laughter]
     Mr. Peterson. Everybody here wants you to continue to do the same 
thing, believe me.
    The President. Good luck to you all. Let me walk around and shake 
some hands.

Note: The President spoke at 2:21 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin-
River Falls. Carl D. Peterson, president, general manager, and chief 
executive officer, Kansas City Chiefs, referred to running back Priest 
Holmes. A tape was not available for verification of the content of 
these remarks.