Saints meet President Bush
By Chris Pika - August 29, 2006

The New Orleans Saints players, coaches, staff and Owner Tom Benson were afforded a rare opportunity on Tuesday afternoon as the team traveled to Louis Armstrong International Airport to meet with President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.

President and Mrs. Bush were in New Orleans participating in ceremonies marking the one-year anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast. He arrived at the airport on Marine One and the team was waiting on the tarmac.

The Saints had practiced in the morning and boarded buses to the airport to meet with the President. Once Mr. Bush arrived, he spoke with RB Deuce McAllister and QB Drew Brees and was introduced to the team by WR Joe Horn.

President Bush also took time to re-acquaint himself with RB Reggie Bush, whom he had met in February 2004 after Southern California captured the BCS National Championship. At that time, the President humorously singled out Bush, who was nicknamed "The President" during his time at USC. On Tuesday, the two Bushes took time to joke once again during the ceremonies.

Saints Coach Sean Payton presented Mr. Bush with a white Saints home jersey with "Bush 43" on behalf of the team before President Bush departed New Orleans on Air Force One.

Excerpt from original story on NewOrleansSaints.com
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