White House press secretary collapses during speech

White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer

From Major Garrett
CNN White House Correspondent

BEDFORD, New York (CNN) -- White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer collapsed Friday while delivering a commencement address at the suburban New York high school from which he graduated.

Medical technicians tried to administer oxygen to Fleischer, 40, but he refused. "They kept trying to give it to me, but I didn't want it," Fleischer told CNN. "They checked my blood pressure and all other vital signs and everything was fine."

The technicians had Fleischer remove his cap and gown and loosen his tie. Fleischer said that after resting for about five minutes and drinking some water, he returned to the stage and finished the speech. "I'm more embarrassed than anything," he said.

Fleischer told CNN he felt great Saturday morning and was about to jog. He attributed the collapse to a bout of light-headedness brought on by the hot lights and skipping a meal. Fleischer said he had eaten only a banana and a piece of pizza before delivering the speech.

Fleischer was speaking to graduates of Fox Lane High School. The ceremony was held in a tent at the Caramoor Music Festival in the village of Katonah, part of the Westchester County town of Bedford, N.Y.

"It was a real sweat box in there, very humid," Fleischer said. "I got a little woozy and began to feel weaker and weaker."

Fleischer was remembering his youth when his voice trailed off and he began to repeat himself. Faculty members on stage rushed to steady Fleischer and helped him into a chair.

"I was halfway through and just getting to the poignant part," Fleischer said, joking. "I had them in the palm of my hand."