[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 40 (Monday, October 13, 2008)]
[Page 1302]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to the White House Press Pool in Midland, Texas

October 4, 2008

    It's an amazing experience to come back to a place where you were 
raised. Laura was raised in Midland; I was raised in Midland. I was--
this is one of the three homes I lived in, and I kind of remember it. 
[Laughter] The bedroom--actually, I do remember the wood on the wall 
that--in the bedroom.
    You know, I love Midland, and Texas. We've got a lot of friends 
here. I learned a lot of values that I hold dear here. It's good to see 
mom's--Laura's mom here. And it's the first time I've been back here 
since I've been the President, and it's--it was just a very heartwarming 
experience.
    You know, I've told my friends here, I said, you know, I'm not going 
to change as a person because of politics of Washington--that's what I 
said when I left. And I think they appreciate that. I want them to know 
that, you know, even though I had to deal with a lot of tough issues, 
that I'm still the same person that they knew before and that, you know, 
I'm wiser, more experienced, but my heart and my values didn't change.
    And so it's great to see our friends. You know, we got a couple more 
hard months to go, and, obviously, we've got to deal with this financial 
situation. Congress took a big step in the direction of at least giving 
us the tools necessary to bring some stability into the marketplace. Got 
to get credit flowing, of course, so that people feel comfortable about 
conducting business. And so it's--there's a lot of work to be done. But 
it's--in the meantime, it's good to come back here to where it all 
started for us.
    Anyway, thank you all. You're welcome to pay the fee to go in and 
see the house. [Laughter]

Note: The President spoke at 1:30 p.m at the George W. Bush Childhood 
Home Presidential site.