President Bush has been traveling around the country a lot, talking to people about his concerns for Social Security. He appeared in Columbus, Ohio earlier this week, when this photo was taken. Image courtesy of the White House.

1. Wow! There are so many amazing things happening in the Middle East, and we trust that much of it is because of the faithful prayers of many of God's people, including YOU, the members of The Presidential Prayer Team for kids! Here are some great ways God has answered our prayers in recent months:
   • The elections in Afghanistan and Iraq--no one expected the turnout of millions of citizens in those war-torn countries!
   • The Lebanese people are now asking for the Syrian troops that have been in their country for so long to leave and let them run their country on their own.
   • "Egypt's President Hosni Mubarek is now saying he will allow other candidates besides himself in the next election.
   Each of these is a huge step toward freedom and democracy for those countries! Since we've prayed about this many times in recent weeks, let's thank God for answering these prayers already—just weeks after the President's State of the Union Address when he expressed this goal. And keep praying for freedom to spread to every part of the world where people are oppressed or hurting.
2. Great news! President and Mrs. Bush are working hard to help kids in America! That's right. They want to help kids who need just a little extra love, support, education or assistance in order to make it in life. They are especially working to strengthen our country's families, schools and communities. They don't want to see kids who have problems get swallowed up by their problems, but rather they want to help kids conquer the things that give them trouble. So pray that everyone will get the important message about being a friend to kids—some people call that mentoring—and that it will really help the kids who most need help.
3. Did you know that President Clinton just had another operation on his heart? His doctors wanted to fix a problem caused by his last operation, so this is a great time to pray for a quick recovery for President Clinton, asking God to bring him complete healing with no further complications.
4. Remember to pray for our brave and faithful troops who are placing their lives in harm's way on a regular basis, asking God to provide them with help, strength and support in everything they do.

Vice President— Richard B. Cheney

Photo courtesy of the White House.

Vice President Richard B. Cheney has had a really great career as a businessman and public servant. He has served four Presidents and as an elected official. Throughout his service, Mr. Cheney served with duty, honor and steady leadership, gaining him the respect of the American people during some pretty difficult times.

Mr. Cheney was our country's Secretary of Defense (that's the job Donald Rumsfeld holds now) from March 1989 to January 1993. During that time, Mr. Cheney directed two of the largest military campaigns in recent history--Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Desert Storm in the Middle East. Because of so many changes in the world situation, including the end of the Cold War, Mr. Cheney worked to change the future of the U.S. military to adapt to those changes. For his leadership in the Gulf War, Secretary Cheney was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George Bush on July 3, 1991.

As our country's Vice President, Richard Cheney has many varied responsibilities. Of course he is a very close and trusted advisor to President Bush and he is involved in cabinet meetings and many other key events. The Vice President is also the President of the Senate—where he sometimes casts the deciding vote! He must be ready to step in to the role of the Chief Executive should anything ever happen to the President.

Vice President Cheney was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on January 30, 1941 and grew up in Casper, Wyoming. Mr. Cheney married his high school sweetheart, Lynne Ann Vincent, in 1964, and they have grown daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, three granddaughters and one grandson.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations— John Bolton (appointed)

Photo courtesy of the White House.

John Bolton is the United States' newest Ambassador. But rather than traveling to a foreign country to represent our country, Mr. Bolton will be serving the nation right in the Big Apple—New York City. He is President Bush's choice for the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, so he will represent our country in all the meetings held at the U.N. where he will speak for the President, the Congress and our country.

Mr. Bolton has had a lot of great experiences serving our nation including several different jobs in the State Department and the Department of Justice. In fact, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called John a man who "knows how to get things done." As someone who has worked with many nations and all kinds of tricky international concerns, he will put his experience to very good use as our country's Ambassador to the United Nations.

Mr. Bolton received both his undergraduate and law degrees from Yale University.

I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things You have done. I will be filled with joy because of You. I will sing praises to Your name, O Most High.
—Psalm 9:1-2

A favorite prayer-related Scripture verse of St. Patrick: Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.
—Psalm 50:15

As a kid who loves to pray for the President, it's really great for you to get to know some of the fantastic people God has raised up to serve our nation in the office of president! Today we get to look at some really special people—our nation's Irish presidents. Many of our nation's presidents can trace their roots to an Irish heritage, including Presidents Polk, Buchanan, McKinley, Wilson, Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan and Clinton. And in many cases, they were men of great faith who loved God and who wanted to honor Him as they served the nation. Take a look at the leaders below and see what you think about these great Irish Americans.

Portrait courtesy of the National Gallery.

The first Irish American president, though, was Andrew Jackson whose family hailed from County Antrim, Ireland. When you read his words below, taken from President Jackson's Second Inaugural Address, see what you think about his faith in God.

Finally, it is my fervent prayer to that Almighty Being…that He will so overrule all my intentions and actions and inspire the hearts of my fellow-citizens that we may be preserved from dangers of all kinds and continue forever a united happy people.
--Andrew Jackson, March 4, 1833

Image courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery.

James Buchanan led our nation during the years leading up to the Civil War. He tried very hard to keep the nation from dividing, but by the time he left office, the South had already begun to secede. Read his words below and see what you think about his faith in God.

Self-preservation is the first law of nature, and has been implanted in the heart of man by his Creator for the wisest purpose; and no political union, however fraught with blessings and benefits in all other respects, can long continue, if the necessary consequence be to render the homes and firesides of nearly half the parties to it habitually and hopelessly insecure. Sooner or later the bonds of such a union must be severed. It is my conviction that this fatal period has not yet arrived; and my prayer to God is that He will preserve the Constitution and the Union throughout all generations.
--James Buchanan

Image courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery.

President Woodrow Wilson led our nation in the years leading up to WWI. He tried very hard to keep America out of the war, but as things continued to get worse, he eventually asked Congress for a declaration of war shortly after he was re-elected in 1916.

The son of a Presbyterian minister, President Wilson was well educated and outspoken about his Christian faith. He was also the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean while president, the first to hold a presidential press conference and the first to earn a PhD. Read his words below and see what you think about his faith in God and love for the Bible.

A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today, nor what it is trying to do. We are trying to do a futile thing if we do not know where we came from or what we have been about…The Bible is the one supreme source of revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God and spiritual nature and needs of men. It is the only guide of life which really leads the spirit in the way of peace and salvation.

America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture. I have a very simple thing to ask of you. I ask every man and woman in this audience that from this day on they will realize that part of the destiny of America lies in their daily perusal of this great Book (the Bible).
--Woodrow Wilson