[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 9 (Monday, March 7, 2005)]
[Page 328]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Dinner for the National Governors Association Conference

February 27, 2005

    It's always a pleasure to host the Nation's Governors here in 
Washington. Laura and I are proud to have you here for our first state 
dinner of my second term.
    It's a joyous occasion, even made more so by the fact that I learned 
that the Blancos, Governor Blanco and her husband, are celebrating their 
40th wedding anniversary tonight.
    Ever since a former Governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, lived in 
this house, many of our Presidents have first served as Governors. And 
there's a reason why. The experience of running a State government, of 
pulling together a capable team, of setting an agenda and working with 
an elected legislative body, is critical to the success of any 
administration.
    My 6 years as Governor of Texas have been invaluable to me as I 
carry out my duties as the Presidency. And because I know firsthand 
how--the valuable experience Governors get, I've asked a lot to serve in 
my Cabinet. I had six Governors in my first Cabinet. I am pleased that 
Mike Johanns--Johanns--[laughter]--and Mike Leavitt--[laughter]--have 
agreed to serve in my second term. I'm proud you guys are here.
    When our Founders devised our Federal system two centuries ago, they 
recognized, in Jefferson's words, that ``our country is too large to 
have all its affairs directed by a single government.'' The President 
and the Governors are partners in our great enterprise, and that means 
we share great responsibilities. Together, we'll work to secure our 
homeland, to protect our environment, to strengthen our economy. 
Together, we will work to ensure that every child gets a good education 
and good health care. And together, we'll work to make sure that we care 
for those in our society who hurt and who need help. I'm proud of our 
work together during the last 4 years. I look forward to working with 
you for the next 4 years.
    I want to ask you to join me in a toast to our partners, the 
Governors and the administration, in building a more perfect Union. To 
the Governors of the United States.

Note: The President spoke at 8:06 p.m. in the State Dining Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Kathleen Babineaux 
Blanco of Louisiana and her husband, Raymond Blanco; Agriculture 
Secretary Mike Johanns and his wife, Stephanie Johanns; and Health and 
Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt and his wife, Jacalyn S. 
Leavitt. The transcript of these remarks was released by the Office of 
the Press Secretary on February 28.