President winds up birthday vacation in Maine

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine (AP) -- President Bush played one last round of golf Monday in the early morning mist of the Maine coast before returning to Washington for a week of ceremony and political challenge.

He put off for another day any talk of the corporate scandals that have shaken markets and preoccupied his administration. He travels to Wall Street on Tuesday to address wrongdoing and reform in American business.

But for now, the president said, "I'm focused on 18 holes of golf."

His father, former President George Bush, seconded the notion.

"It's vacation. You should relax by the sea," the elder Bush told the younger at the first tee of Cape Arundel Golf Club.

An afternoon Medal of Honor presentation ceremony was on the president's schedule after his return to the White House. Honored posthumously was Army Capt. Rocky Versace, who was executed by his Viet Cong captors in 1965.

With corporate wrongdoing threatening political damage, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said Bush "will focus on strict enforcement and tough punishment."

"The overall message on Tuesday is that he's got confidence in the strength of the overall economy and that the confidence will grow as confidence is restored in corporate behavior," Fleisher said.

The message is that "everyone is accountable," he said.

All Bush would say about his Tuesday speech was, "It's in pretty good shape."

On Sunday, Bush and first lady Laura Bush attended services at the seaside St. Ann's Episcopal Church where they sang hymns and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Then the president and daughter Jenna joined his father, George H.W. Bush, for a fishing expedition aboard the former president's speedboat, Fidelity II.

During the church services, Chaplain M.L. Agnew Jr., departed from the regular program and asked the congregation to stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance. The pledge has figured regularly in Bush's public appearances since the phrase "under God" was ruled unconstitutional by a federal appeals court last month.

In her homily, the Rev. Chilton Knudsen, Episcopal bishop of Maine, slipped in the words: "Happy birthday Mr. President, and God bless."

The trip was Bush's second to the family summer home at Kennebunkport since he moved into the White House.

Although he spent most of his childhood summers at the six-acre compound at Walker's Point with its cool breezes and wrap-around Atlantic views, Bush made clear he prefers the open plains of Texas, even in the heat.

Bush spent most of August last year at his 1,600-acre ranch near Crawford, Texas, and intends to repeat that vacation this year.

When a reporter asked if he was having second thoughts and might come to Maine instead, Bush had a crisp reply.

"I think you'll like Crawford," he said.