For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 1, 2003

Remarks by the President in Photo Opportunity
Navigation Deck
USS Abraham Lincoln

2:10 P.M. PDT

THE PRESIDENT: (In progress) - No, it was not me.

Q -- land it?

THE PRESIDENT: Not my first time on a carrier.

Q How was your --

THE PRESIDENT: Really exciting. I miss flying, I can tell you that. This is a formal press conference that you're now conducting. This counts.

Q Not when we're dressed like this, it doesn't. (Laughter.)

THE PRESDIENT: That's right.

Q Mr. President, when you were flying the plane, what did you do? Did you steer it?

THE PRESIDENT: Just steer it.

Q Did you go straight, or did you turn it?

THE PRESIDENT: Straight.

Q How did you do, did you waiver?

THE PRESIDENT: Ask the pilot.

Q He won't tell.

Q How does it compare to the jets you used to fly?

THE PRESIDENT: Huh?

Q How does that compare to the jets you used to fly?

THE PRESIDENT: Much more sophisticated.

Q What's it been like here on the ship?

THE PRESIDENT: Huh?

Q What have you been doing on the ship?

THE PRESIDENT: I've mainly been talking to the troops.

NAVAL OFFICER: Here they come, sir.

(Squadron fly over.)

THE PRESIDENT: The press conference is over.

END 2:15 P.M. EDT