Remarks Following a Dinner With Elected Officials and Community Leaders in Gulfport, Mississippi,
August 20, 2008

The President. Governor, thank you for coming.

Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi. Thank you, sir.

The President. I thank the United States Senators—Senator Wicker, Senator Cochran—Congressman Taylor, mayors, supervisors—county supervisors, small-business owners, high school teacher. Thank you all very much for giving me a chance to come and visit with you.

I have brought—you know, a member of my administration, United States Marine General—retired—O’Dell is here to listen to people. We still understand there are issues, but I do want to say something about the progress. I remember what it looked like right after the storm. I remember what it looked like in the first anniversary right after the storm. I remember what it looked like last year, Governor. And things have improved a lot.

Are there still people wondering about their future? Absolutely. Do they still have other issues to deal with, like cleaning out some of the bureaucracy so that the housing issue can get solved quicker? Absolutely. But things are better here on the gulf coast of Mississippi.

And one reason they’re better is because you’ve had strong leadership, and the other reason—at the State and local level. And the other reason is because people refused to give in to the storm. People picked up their lives and decided that this is where their home was going to be and made something out of these communities.

I remember going to the schools right after the storm hit and seeing the determination of the teachers and principals about how—whether they had to be in a trailer or in a old building, they were going to teach these kids. And the spirit of southern Mississippi is real, and it’s alive. And the leaders here around the table know better than me what I’m talking about.

So, I appreciate you giving me a chance to come. I told people that I’m almost through, but I’m sprinting to the finish. This is the not the farewell dinner. [Laughter] But this is an opportunity to come and listen to what’s on people’s minds, with the idea of continuing to work with the elected officials to solve problems and make sure this is even better 6 months from now than it is today.

At any rate, I want to thank you. Food’s good here too. [Laughter] I appreciate your time, Governor. Thank you.

Governor Barbour. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 6:28 p.m. at Vrazel’s Fine Food. In his remarks, he referred to Sen. Roger F. Wicker of Mississippi; and Maj.Gen. Douglas V. O’Dell, Jr., USMC (Ret.), in his capacity as Federal Coordinator, Office of Gulf Coast Rebuilding.