Remarks at a Bush-Cheney reception in Palm beach gardens, Florida - Week Ending Friday, January 9, 2004

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Jan 12, 2004

A lot of Americans--and I'm sure many are here--understand that patriotism can mean helping somebody who hurts. Charitable organizations in America are vibrant, neighborhood healing groups are really good, faith-based programs are strong. Police and our firefighters and people who wear the Nation's uniform remind us on a daily basis what it means to serve something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day.

In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it and know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you. Thank you for coming.

NOTE: The President spoke at 6:10 p.m. at the PGA National Resort. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida and his wife, Columba; former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel R. Martinez; Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings of Florida; Charlie Crist, Florida State attorney general; Tom Gallagher, chief financial officer, Florida Department of Financial Services; Al Hoffman, finance chairman, Republican National Committee; Mercer Reynolds, national finance chairman, and Tom Petway III and Zach Zachariah, Florida State finance cochairmen, Bush-Cheney '04, Inc.; former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq; and Senators Bob Graham and Bill Nelson of Florida. The President also referred to Title I of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Public Law No. 103-382), which amended Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (Public Law No. 89-10).