President Bush and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah discussed the "roadmap" to a Middle East peace settlement in a phone conversation May 1, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters. "The president this morning from Air Force One, spoke to Crown Prince Abdullah about the roadmap and about the importance of working with the parties for peace in the region," Fleischer said. "The president will, as he said yesterday, dedicate time and energy to developing the environment for peace to take root between the Israelis and the Palestinians." Bush was on Air Force One flying to San Diego, California from where he was to fly out to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to meet with homebound troops, address the nation, and spend the night. BUSH LEADS NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER EVENT Prior to beginning his trip to California, President Bush participated early May 1 in a National Day of Prayer event in the East Room of the White House and issued a National Day of Prayer Proclamation for 2003. "Today we recognize the many ways our country has been blessed, and we acknowledge the source of those blessings," Bush said. "Millions of Americans seek guidance every day in prayer to the Almighty God. I am one of them." "This past month has been another time of testing for America and another time of intense prayer," Bush said. "Americans have been praying for the safety of our troops and for the protection of innocent life in Iraq. Americans prayed that war would not be necessary and now pray that peace will be just and lasting." The National Day of Prayer tradition dates back to February 19, 1795, when President George Washington issued a proclamation for a day of public thanksgiving. In 1952, President Truman marked the first official National Day of Prayer. In 1988, President Reagan signed legislation making the National Day of Prayer the first Thursday in May. SIX AMBASSADORIAL NOMINATIONS SENT TO SENATE The White House has sent the following nominations to the Senate: Robert W. Fitts, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Papua New Guinea, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Solomon Islands and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Vanuatu. John E. Herbst, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Ukraine. Tracey Ann Jacobson, a Foreign Service Officer of Class One, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Turkmenistan. Harry K. Thomas, Jr., a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the People's Republic of Bangladesh. William B. Wood, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Colombia. George A. Krol, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Belarus.