Bush to address senior federal executives

Resuming a tradition initiated by his father, President Bush is planning to address members of the Senior Executive Service on Monday in Washington.

The White House and Office of Personnel Management are still coordinating details of the speech, including who will be eligible to attend, but sources said the event would be held at Constitution Hall in Washington. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush met with SES members at Constitution Hall shortly after his inauguration.

News of the speech pleased representatives of career federal executives. "We are delighted the President is making time on his calendar to send a clear signal of his regard for the career service," said Carol Bonosaro, president of the Senior Executives Association. SEA has been pushing for such a visit since January.

While the event will recognize members of the SES, Bonosaro hopes some political appointees will also able to attend. "We do believe in a partnership between career executives and [appointees], and you can't forge this partnership if only one partner is there," she said. Recipients of the Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive, the government's top managers, may be honored at the event.

Federal executives fondly remember their presidential visit in 1989, said Bonosaro. "Anyone who was there never fails to remark on it. What I've always said about the SES is, in a sense, they're cheap dates. You pay some attention to them and they'll follow you anywhere."