Bush Signs First Bill | |
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Dateline: 02/16/01
President George W. Bush signed his first bill into law yesterday. House Joint Resolution 7 honors the 90th birthday of former President Ronald Reagan.
As President Bush signed the
resolution, he spoke to former First Lady Nancy Reagan on the telephone. Here,
from the office of the White House press secretary, is a complete transcript of
that call: Remarks by the President in Telephone Conversation with Nancy
Reagan For Immediate Release February 15, 2001
The Oval Office -
THE PRESIDENT: Mrs. Reagan, hi, how are you today?
MRS. REAGAN: (inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: Good, thank you. Listen, I'm honored. I'm here in the Oval
Office --
MRS. REAGAN: (inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you. And I'm getting ready to sign a birthday card
to the President, my first document I'll sign as the President which is a joint
resolution from the Congress --
MRS. REAGAN: Oh, how nice.
THE PRESIDENT: -- which expresses our deep gratitude and admiration for
President Reagan.
MRS. REAGAN: How nice.
THE PRESIDENT: We honor him with his greatness and his goodness. And we honor
you, as well, for your strength of character and your service.
So I'm getting ready to sign right now --
MRS. REAGAN: Oh, this is very exciting.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you, ma'am. It's exciting for me, as well. It's an
honor. And I look forward to sending the document and the pen that I use to you.
MRS. REAGAN: Oh, how nice. How nice.
THE PRESIDENT: Anyway, it's great to talk to you.
MRS. REAGAN: Well, it's great to talk to you, too. And I can't thank you
enough.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thanks a lot.
MRS. REAGAN: It's wonderful. Wait until I tell Ronnie.
THE PRESIDENT: Give the President a hug and a kiss.
MRS. REAGAN: I will.
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks a lot.
MRS. REAGAN: Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Bye-bye.
MRS. REAGAN: Bye-bye.
END 10:37 A.M. EST
Ronald Reagan, a Republican, served two terms as the 40th president of the United States, from 1981-1989. He was followed in office by President George Bush, father of President George W. Bush.
"A government agency is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth." -- President Ronald Reagan
The resolution begins, "Whereas both Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan have distinguished records of public service to the United States, the American people, and the international community," and was passed unanimously by both the House and Senate on Reagan's 90th birthday, Feb. 6, 2001.
Next page > Read the Entire Resolution > Page 1, 2
