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Swearing-in of William K. Reilly as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, 2/8/89
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Swearing-in of William K. Reilly as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, 2/8/89
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s): FOIA Number: S FOIA MARKER This is not a textual record. This is used as an administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential Library Staff. Record Group/Collection: George H.W. Bush Presidential Records Collection/Office of Origin: Speechwriting, White House Office of Series: Speech File Draft Files Subseries: Chron File, 1989-1993 OA/ID Number: 13475 Folder ID Number: 13475-004 Folder Title: Swearing-in of William K. Reilly as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, 2/8/89 Stack: Row: Section: Shelf: Position: G 25 6 1 2 Document No. 003699 WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM 02/06/89 DATE: ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING-IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY/EPA (02/06 5:45 p.m. draft) ACTION FYI ACTION FYI VICE PRESIDENT MCCLURE SUNUNU NEWMAN SCOWCROFT PORTER DARMAN STUDDERT BATES UNTERMEYER BREEDEN ROGERS CARD WINSTON CICCONI DEMAREST FITZWATER GRAY HAGIN REMARKS: The attached has been forwarded to the President. RESPONSE: James W. Cicconi Assistant to the President and Deputy to the Chief of Staff Ext. 2702 (Judge/cw) February 6, 1989 1989 5:45 p.m. clark10' 6: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1989 I am told this is the first time a president has visited this building which, may I say, is a first that is long overdue. In my search for a first-rate EPA Administrator, one of top priorities was to find someone with strong credentials as a leader in the environmental community and that man is William Reilly. I hope it's plain to everyone in this room and around the country that among the first items on my personal agenda as President is the protection of America's environment. This is a great day for improving the quality of American life -- for improving the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land God has entrusted us to use wisely. I've just come from the swearing-in ceremony another great friend of the environment -- our new Secretary of the Interior -- Manuel Lujan. I want them to work as partners in keeping our air, land and water clean -- and our public lands secure. I'm sure all of you know by now Bill Reilly's incredible background in environmental protection president of the Conservation Foundation, one of the nation's outstanding environmental think tanks president of the U.S. Affiliate of the World Wildlife Fund. He began his career in this field as a - 2 - senior staff member of the President's Council on Environmental Quality in the early 70s and then as executive director of the Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth. A leader in one of the other major environmental organizations has said of Bill that he has, I'm quoting now, "without question the most personal knowledge of the substance of issues of any of the C.E.O.s" of any of the conservation organizations. That gives you an idea of why I picked Bill. I thought I'd tell you a story that will tell you something more about why I picked him. About a year and a half ago, Bill convened a forum on the wetlands crisis. He brought together 25 people who, as the Washington Post put it, "normally would have difficulty agreeing [even] on a place for dinner." Environmentalists, developers, industrialists, state and federal regulators -- all were there. And the result? By the time Bill was through with them, which took more than a year, they'd put aside differences and called for 'no net loss' of wetlands, and they'd agreed on 100 reforms to achieve that goal. I spoke the other day about wanting to broaden the consensus for defense. But that's not the only consensus I would like to broaden. I want to broaden the consensus for a clean environment, and I believe doing that requires finding ways to clean up the environment without stifling the economy. During the campaign I noted that " environmental action has too often been marked by confrontation among competing interests [while] the fact is that more often than not, there is common ground if the parties will make an effort to find it." - 3 - Our great common desire is a better life for all Americans -- and I believe that economic growth and a clean environment are both part of what all Americans understand a better life to mean. I also believe the American people are impatient for results. They won't accept excuses. They won't accept finger pointing. They want us to get all the sides together and find a way to achieve both their goals. By the way, the other day I got a little lesson in just how impatient the American people are. In the morning mail I found letters from 7th graders at a church school in California. I thought I'd share one with you, dated January 20th, the day I was inaugurated. It said, and remember, this was on the day I was just taking office, "Dear Mr. President, Would you please do something about pollution. I am not saying you're doing a bad job, but could you put a little more effort into it?" Well, with Bill Reilly at the helm here, we're going to put a lot more effort into it. [And now I believe it's time to swear Bill in.] ### (Judge/cw) February 6, 1989 3:30 p.m. clark10 PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1989 I am told that this is a morning of firsts The first time a president has visited this building which, may I say, is a dure first that is long overdue. And the first time that a man coming from an environmental group has been sworn in as director of this agency the new Environmental Protection Administrator, William Reilly. I hope it's plain to everyone in this room and around the country what I'm saying with these two firsts and that is that among the first items on my personal agenda as president is the protection of America's environment. This is a great day for improving the quality of American life -- for improving the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land God has entrusted us to use wisely. I've just come from the swearing-in ceremony another great friend of the environment -- our new Secretary of the Interior -- Manuel Lujan. I want them to work as partners in keeping our air, land and water clean -- and our public lands secure. I'm sure all of you know by now Bill Reilly's incredible background in environmental protection president of the Conservation Foundation, one of the nation's outstanding environmental think tanks president of the U.S. Affiliate of the World Wildlife Fund. He began his career in this field as a - 2 - senior staff member of the President's Council on Environmental Quality in the early 70s and then as executive director of the Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth. A leader in one of the other major environmental organizations has said of Bill that he has, I'm quoting now, "without question the most personal knowledge of the substance of issues of any of the C.E.O.s" of any of the conservation organizations. That gives you an idea of why I picked Bill. I thought I'd tell you a story that will tell you something more about why I picked him. About a year and a half ago, Bill convened a forum on the wetlands crisis. He brought together 25 people who, as the Washington Post put it, "normally would have difficulty agreeing [even] on a place for dinner." Environmentalists, developers, industrialists, state and federal regulators -- all were there. And the result? By the time Bill was through with them, which took more than a year, they'd put aside differences and called for 'no net loss' of wetlands, and they'd agreed on 100 reforms to achieve that goal. I spoke the other day about wanting to broaden the consensus for defense. But that's not the only consensus I would like to broaden. I want to broaden the consensus for a clean environment, and I believe doing that requires finding ways to clean up the environment without stifling the economy. During the campaign I noted that " environmental action has too often been marked by confrontation among competing interests [while] the fact is that more often than not, there is common ground if the parties will make an effort to find it." - 3 - Our great common desire is a better life for all Americans -- and I believe that economic growth and a clean environment are both part of what all Americans understand a better life to mean. I also believe the American people are impatient for results. They won't accept excuses. They won't accept finger pointing. They want us to get all the sides together and find a way to achieve both their goals. By the way, the other day I got a little lesson in just how impatient the American people are. In the morning mail I found letters from 7th graders at a church school in California. I thought I'd share one with you, dated January 20th, the day I was inaugurated. It said, and remember, this was on the day I was just taking office, "Dear Mr. President, Would you please do something about pollution. I am not saying you're doing a bad job, but could you put a little more effort into it?" Well, with Bill Reilly at the helm here, we're going to put a lot more effort into it. [And now I believe it's time to swear Bill in.] # # # Document No. 003699 Master WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM 2/3/89 12:00 2/6/89 DATE: ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING-IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ACTION FYI ACTION FYI VICE PRESIDENT MCCLURE SUNUNU NEWMAN SCOWCROFT PORTER DARMAN STUDDERT BATES 12:00 UNTERMEYER BREEDEN WINTSON CARD 10:30 ROGERS CICCONI DEMAREST FITZWATER GRAY HAGIN REMARKS: Please provide your comments/recommendations directly to Chriss Winston's office (x2930 - Room 122 ) with an info copy to my office by 12:00 Monday, February 3. Thank you. RESPONSE: me Chere - no chg James W. Cicconi Assistant to the President and Deputy to the Chief of Staff Ext. 2702 (Judge/cw) February 3, 1989 2:30 p.m.co .3 clark10 3.06 PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1989 I am told that this is a morning [afternoon] x of firsts. The first time a president has visited this building which, may I say, is a first that is long overdue. And the first time that a veteran of the environmental movement has been sworn in as man coming decectly prom an enoir group Bates director of this agency the new Environmental Protection Administrator, William Reilly. I hope it's plain to everyone in this room and around the country what I'm saying with these two firsts -- and that is that among the first items on my personal agenda as president is the protection of America's environment. I'm sure all of you know by now Bill Reilly's incredible background in environmental protection president of the Conservation Foundation, one of the nation's outstanding environmental think tanks president of the U.S. Affiliate of Buty Fund the World Wildlife Federation. He began his career in this field as a senior staff member of the President's Council on Environmental Quality in the early 70s and then as executive director of the federal Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth. A leader in one of the other major environmental organizations has said of Bill that he has, I'm quoting now, "without question the most personal knowledge of the substance of issues of any of the C.E.O.s" of any of the conservation. organizations. That gives you an idea of why I picked Bill: - 2 - I thought I'd tell you a story that will tell you something more about why I picked him. About a year and a half ago, Bill convened a forum on the wetlands crisis. He brought together 25 people who, as the Washington Post put it, "normally would have difficulty agreeing [even] on a place for dinner." Environmentalists, developers, industrialists, state and federal regulators -- all were there. And the result? By the time Bill was through with them, which took more than a year, they'd put aside differences and called for 'no net loss' of wetlands, and they'd agreed on 100 reforms to achieve that goal. I spoke the other day about wanting to broaden the consensus for defense. But that's not the only consensus I would like to broaden. I want to broaden the consensus for a clean environment, and I believe doing that requires finding ways to clean up the environment without stifling the economy. During the campaign I noted that " environmental action has too often been marked by confrontation among competing interests [while] the fact is that more often than not, there is common ground if the parties will make an effort to find it." " Our great common desire is a better life for all Americans -- and I believe that economic growth and a clean environment are both part of what all Americans understand a better life to mean. I also believe the American people are impatient for results They won't accept excuses. They won't accept finger pointing They want us to get all the sides together and find a way to achieve both their goals - 3 - By the way, the other day I got a little lesson in just how impatient the American people are. In the morning mail I found letters from 7th graders at a church school in California. I thought I'd share one with you, dated January 20th, the day I was inaugurated. It said, and remember, this was on the day I was just taking office, "Dear Mr. President, Would you please do something about pollution. I am not saying you're doing a bad job, but could you put a little more effort into it?" Well, with Bill Reilly at the helm here, we're going to put a lot more effort into it. [And now I believe it's time to swear Bill in.] REMARKS FOR SWEARING-IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FEBRUARY 8, 1989 I AM TOLD THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A PRESIDENT HAS VISITED THE EPA WELL, I'M GLAD TO BE THE FIRST. IN MY ... SEARCH FOR A FIRST-RATE EPA ADMINISTRATOR, ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES WAS TO FIND SOMEONE WITH STRONG CREDENTIALS AS A LEADER IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY ... AND THAT MAN IS WILLIAM REILLY. 2 I HOPE IT'S PLAIN TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT AMONG THE FIRST ITEMS ON MY PERSONAL AGENDA AS PRESIDENT IS THE PROTECTION OF AMERICA'S ENVIRONMENT. I AM PLEDGED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF AMERICAN LIFE -- FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE AIR WE BREATHE, THE WATER WE DRINK, AND THE LAND GOD HAS ENTRUSTED US TO USE WISELY. I'VE JUST COME FROM THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY OF OUR NEW SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR -- MANUEL LUJAN. 3 INTERIOR AND EPA MUST WORK AS PARTNERS IN KEEPING OUR AIR, LAND AND WATER CLEAN -- AND OUR PUBLIC LANDS SECURE. I'M SURE ALL OF YOU KNOW BY NOW BILL REILLY'S INCREDIBLE BACKGROUND IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PRESIDENT OF THE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, ONE OF THE NATION'S OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL THINK TANKS PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD WILDLIFE FUND-U.S. 4 HE BEGAN HIS CAREER IN THIS FIELD AS A SENIOR STAFF MEMBER OF THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN THE EARLY 70s AND THEN AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TASK FORCE ON LAND USE AND URBAN GROWTH. A LEADER IN ONE OF THE OTHER MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS HAS SAID OF BILL THAT HE HAS, I'M QUOTING NOW, "WITHOUT QUESTION THE MOST PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBSTANCE OF ISSUES OF ANY OF THE C.E.O.s" OF ANY OF THE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS. THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHY I PICKED BILL. 5 I THOUGHT I'D TELL YOU A STORY THAT WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING MORE ABOUT WHY I PICKED HIM. ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, BILL CONVENED A FORUM ON THE WETLANDS CRISIS. HE BROUGHT TOGETHER 25 PEOPLE WHO, AS THE WASHINGTON POST PUT IT, "NORMALLY WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY AGREEING [EVEN] ON A PLACE FOR DINNER." ENVIRONMENTALISTS, DEVELOPERS, INDUSTRIALISTS, STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATORS -- ALL WERE THERE. AND THE RESULT? 6 BY THE TIME BILL WAS THROUGH WITH THEM, WHICH TOOK MORE THAN A YEAR, THEY'D PUT ASIDE DIFFERENCES AND CALLED FOR "NO NET LOSS" OF WETLANDS, AND THEY'D AGREED ON 100 REFORMS TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL. I SPOKE THE OTHER DAY ABOUT WANTING TO BROADEN THE CONSENSUS FOR DEFENSE. BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY CONSENSUS I WOULD LIKE TO BROADEN. I WANT TO BROADEN THE CONSENSUS FOR A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT, AND I BELIEVE DOING THAT REQUIRES FINDING WAYS TO CLEAN UP THE ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT STIFLING THE ECONOMY. 7 DURING THE CAMPAIGN I NOTED THAT " ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION HAS TOO OFTEN BEEN MARKED BY CONFRONTATION AMONG COMPETING INTERESTS [WHILE] THE FACT IS THAT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THERE IS COMMON GROUND IF THE PARTIES WILL MAKE AN EFFORT TO FIND IT." OUR GREAT COMMON DESIRE IS A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL AMERICANS -- AND I BELIEVE THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT ARE BOTH PART OF WHAT ALL AMERICANS UNDERSTAND A BETTER LIFE TO MEAN. 8 I ALSO BELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE IMPATIENT FOR RESULTS. THEY WON'T ACCEPT EXCUSES. THEY WON'T ACCEPT FINGER POINTING. THEY WANT US TO GET ALL THE SIDES TOGETHER AND FIND A WAY TO ACHIEVE BOTH THEIR GOALS. BY THE WAY, THE OTHER DAY I GOT A LITTLE LESSON IN JUST HOW IMPATIENT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE. IN THE MORNING MAIL I FOUND LETTERS FROM 7TH GRADERS AT A CHURCH SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA. I THOUGHT I'D SHARE ONE WITH YOU, DATED JANUARY 20TH, THE DAY I WAS INAUGURATED. 9 IT SAID, AND REMEMBER, THIS WAS ON THE DAY I WAS JUST TAKING OFFICE, "DEAR MR. PRESIDENT, WOULD YOU PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT POLLUTION. I AM NOT SAYING YOU'RE DOING A BAD JOB, BUT COULD YOU PUT A LITTLE MORE EFFORT INTO IT?" WELL, WITH BILL REILLY AT THE HELM HERE, WE'RE GOING TO PUT A LOT MORE EFFORT INTO IT. [AND NOW I BELIEVE IT'S TIME TO SWEAR BILL IN.] ### THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN (Judge/ow) February 1989 2/7/89 5:45 p.m. clark10 PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1989 I am told this is the first time a president has visited Will, Im glad to be the first this building ... which, may I say, is a first that is long overdue. In my search for a first-rate EPA Administrator, one of my top priorities was to find someone with strong credentials as a leader in the environmental community ... and that man is William Reilly. I hope it's plain to everyone in this room and around the country that among the first items on my personal agenda as President is the protection of America's environment. I am pledged to This is a great day for improving the quality of American life -- for improving the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land God has entrusted us to use wisely. I've just come from the swearing-in ceremony another great friend of the environment at our new Secretary of the Interior -- Manuel Interior and EPA must Lujan. I want them to work as partners in keeping our air, land and water clean -- and our public lands secure. I'm sure all of you know by now Bill Reilly's incredible background in environmental protection ... president of the Conservation Foundation, one of the nation's outstanding environmental think tanks ... president of the U.S. Affiliate of the World Wildlife Fund. He began his career in this field as a - 2 - senior staff member of the President's Council on Environmental Quality in the early 70s and then as executive director of the Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth. A leader in one of the other major environmental organizations has said of Bill that he has, I'm quoting now, "without question the most personal knowledge of the substance of issues of any of the C.E.O.s" of any of the conservation organizations. That gives you an idea of why I picked Bill. I thought I'd tell you a story that will tell you something more about why I picked him. About a year and a half ago, Bill convened a forum on the wetlands crisis. He brought together 25 people who, as the Washington Post put it, "normally would have difficulty agreeing [even] on a place for dinner. 11. Environmentalists, developers, industrialists, state and federal regulators -- all were there. And the result? By the time Bill was through with them, which took more than a year, they'd put aside differences and called for 'no net loss' of wetlands, and they'd agreed on 100 reforms to achieve that goal. I spoke the other day about wanting to broaden the consensus for defense. But that's not the only consensus I would like to broaden. I want to broaden the consensus for a clean environment, and I believe doing that requires finding ways to clean up the environment without stifling the economy. During the campaign I noted that " environmental action has too often been marked by confrontation among competing interests [while] the fact is that more often than not, there is common ground if the parties will make an effort to find it." - 3 - Our great common desire is a better life for all Americans -- and I believe that economic growth and a clean environment are both part of what all Americans understand a better life to mean. I also believe the American people are impatient for results. They won't accept excuses. They won't accept finger pointing. They want us to get all the sides together and find a way to achieve both their goals. By the way, the other day I got a little lesson in just how impatient the American people are. In the morning mail I found letters from 7th graders at a church school in California. I thought I'd share one with you, dated January 20th, the day I was inaugurated. It said, and remember, this was on the day I was just taking office, "Dear Mr. President, Would you please do something about pollution. I am not saying you're doing a bad job, but could you put a little more effort into it?" Well, with Bill Reilly at the helm here, we're going to put a lot more effort into it. [And now I believe it's time to swear Bill in.] ### (Judge/cw) February 6, 1989 5:45 p.m. clark10 PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1989 I am told this is the first time a president has visited this building which, may I say, is a first that is long overdue. In my search for a first-rate EPA Administrator, one of top priorities was to find someone with strong credentials as a leader in the environmental community and that man is William Reilly. I hope it's plain to everyone in this room and around the country that among the first items on my personal agenda as President is the protection of America's environment. This is a great day for improving the quality of American life -- for improving the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land God has entrusted us to use wisely. I've just come from the swearing-in ceremony another great friend of the environment -- our new Secretary of the Interior -- Manuel Lujan. I want them to work as partners in keeping our air, land and water clean -- and our public lands secure. I'm sure all of you know by now Bill Reilly's incredible background in environmental protection president of the Conservation Foundation, one of the nation's outstanding environmental think tanks president of the U.S. Affiliate of the World Wildlife Fund. He began his career in this field as a - 2 - senior staff member of the President's Council on Environmental Quality in the early 70s and then as executive director of the Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth. A leader in one of the other major environmental organizations has said of Bill that he has, I'm quoting now, "without question the most personal knowledge of the substance of issues of any of the C.E.O.s" of any of the conservation organizations. That gives you an idea of why I picked Bill. I thought I'd tell you a story that will tell you something more about why I picked him. About a year and a half ago, Bill convened a forum on the wetlands crisis. He brought together 25 people who, as the Washington Post put it, "normally would have difficulty agreeing [even] on a place for dinner." Environmentalists, developers, industrialists, state and federal regulators -- all were there. And the result? By the time Bill was through with them, which took more than a year, they'd put aside differences and called for 'no net loss' of wetlands, and they'd agreed on 100 reforms to achieve that goal. I spoke the other day about wanting to broaden the consensus for defense. But that's not the only consensus I would like to broaden. I want to broaden the consensus for a clean environment, and I believe doing that requires finding ways to clean up the environment without stifling the economy. During the campaign I noted that " environmental action has too often been marked by confrontation among competing interests [while] the fact is that more often than not, there is common ground if the parties will make an effort to find it." - 3 - Our great common desire is a better life for all Americans -- and I believe that economic growth and a clean environment are both part of what all Americans understand a better life to mean. I also believe the American people are impatient for results. They won't accept excuses. They won't accept finger pointing. They want us to get all the sides together and find a way to achieve both their goals. By the way, the other day I got a little lesson in just how impatient the American people are. In the morning mail I found letters from 7th graders at a church school in California. I thought I'd share one with you, dated January 20th, the day I was inaugurated. It said, and remember, this was on the day I was just taking office, "Dear Mr. President, Would you please do something about pollution. I am not saying you're doing a bad job, but could you put a little more effort into it?" Well, with Bill Reilly at the helm here, we're going to put a lot more effort into it. [And now I believe it's time to swear Bill in.] ### Document No. 003699 WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM 2/3/89 12:00 2/6/89 DATE: ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING-IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ACTION FYI ACTION FYI VICE PRESIDENT MCCLURE SUNUNU NEWMAN SCOWCROFT PORTER DARMAN STUDDERT BATES UNTERMEYER BREEDEN WINTSON CARD ROGERS CICCONI DEMAREST FITZWATER GRAY HAGIN REMARKS: Please provide your comments/recommendations directly to Chriss Winston's office (x2930 - Room 122 ) with an info copy to my office by 12:00 Monday, February 3. Thank you. RESPONSE: Minoments James W. Cicconi Assistant to the President and Deputy to the Chief of Staff Ext. 2702 (Judge/cw) February 3, 1989 2:30 p.m.cB -3 clark10 3. 03 PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1989 I am told that this is a morning [afternoon] of firsts. The first time a president has visited this building which, may I say, is a first that is long overdue. And the first time that a veteran of the environmental movement has been sworn in as director of this agency the new Environmental Protection Administrator, William Reilly. I hope it's plain to everyone in this room and around the country what I'm saying with these two firsts -- and that is that among the first items on my personal agenda as president is the protection of America's environment. I'm sure all of you know by now Bill Reilly's incredible background in environmental protection president of the Conservation Foundation, one of the nation's outstanding environmental think tanks president of the U.S. Affiliate of the World Wildlife Federation. He began his career in this field as a senior staff member of the President's Council on Environmental Quality in the early 70s and then as executive director of the federal Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth. A leader in one of the other major environmental organizations has said of Bill that he has, I'm quoting now, "without question. the most personal knowledge of the substance of issues of any of the C.E.O.s" of any of the conservation organizations. That gives you an idea of why I' picked Bill - 2 - I thought I'd tell you a story that will tell you something more about why I picked him. About a year and a half ago, Bill convened a forum on the wetlands crisis. He brought together 25 people who, as the Washington Post put it, "normally would have difficulty agreeing [even] on a place for dinner." Environmentalists, developers, industrialists, state and federal regulators -- all were there. And the result? By the time Bill was through with them, which took more than a year, they'd put aside differences and called for 'no net loss' of wetlands, and they'd agreed on 100 reforms to achieve that goal. I spoke the other day about wanting to broaden the consensus for defense. But that's not the only consensus I would like to broaden. I want to broaden the consensus for a clean environment, and I believe doing that requires finding ways to clean up the environment without stifling the economy. During the campaign I noted that " environmental action has too often been marked by confrontation among competing interests [while] the fact is that more often than not, there is common ground if the parties will make an effort to find it." " Our great common desire is a better life for all Americans -- and I believe that economic growth and a clean environment are both part of what all Americans understand a better life to mean. I also believe the American people are impatient for results. They won't accept excuses. They won't accept finger pointing. They want us to: get all the sides together and find a way to achieve both their goals - 3 - By the way, the other day I got a little lesson in just how impatient the American people are. In the morning mail I found letters from 7th graders at a church school in California. I thought I'd share one with you, dated January 20th, the day I was inaugurated. It said, and remember, this was on the day I was just taking office, "Dear Mr. President, Would you please do something about pollution. I am not saying you're doing a bad job, but could you put a little more effort into it?" Well, with Bill Reilly at the helm here, we're going to put a lot more effort into it. [And now I believe it's time to swear Bill in.] to the fact that at Pechaps a from referrenceive them d in work and water as clean learn for for he just came / He wants air land security day life and Interior in helping our - lards is of america v we bryod and quality of the use improving information the the Interisted quality disk vo to THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON 2/6/89 TO: CHRIS WINSTON FROM: DAVID Q. BATES William Reilly's office provided the following recommendations for the swearing in remarks: 1st par., 2nd sent. - since Russ Train is a past EPA Administrator, they suggest the sentence should read: "And the first time that a veteran of the environmental movement coming directly from an environmental group has been sworn in and 3rd par. , 1st sent. - "U.S. Affiliate of the World Wildlife Fund." Document No. 000694 WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM 2/3/89 12:00 2/6/89 DATE: ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING-IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY Faxed Fri 4:30 ACTION FYI ACTION FYI VICE PRESIDENT MCCLURE SUNUNU NEWMAN SCOWCROFT PORTER DARMAN STUDDERT BATES UNTERMEYER BREEDEN WINTSON CARD ROGERS CICCONI DEMAREST FITZWATER GRAY HAGIN REMARKS: Please provide your comments/recommendations directly to Chriss Winston's office (x2930 - Room 122 ) with an info copy to my office by 12:00 Monday, February 3. Thank you. Denire - Rook RESPONSE: five 1 me - Pu show Januta & the me any ErA James W. Cicconi additiousl Assistant to the President Commenth and Deputy to the Chief of Staff Ext. 2702 Document No. 003699 WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM 2/3/89 12:00 2/6/89 DATE: ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING-IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ACTION FYI ACTION FYI VICE PRESIDENT MCCLURE SUNUNU NEWMAN SCOWCROFT PORTER DARMAN STUDDERT BATES UNTERMEYER BREEDEN WINTSON CARD ROGERS CICCONI DEMAREST FITZWATER GRAY HAGIN REMARKS: Please provide your comments/recommendations directly to Chriss Winston's office (x2930 - Room 122 ) with an info copy to my office by 12:00 Monday, February 3. Thank you. RESPONSE: James W. Cicconi Assistant to the President and Deputy to the Chief of Staff Ext. 2702 (Judge/cw) February 3, 1989 2:30 p.m.cB .3 clark10 PM 3.05 PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1989 I am told that this is a morning [afternoon] of firsts. The first time a president has visited this building which, may I say, is a first that is long overdue. And the first time that a veteran of the environmental movement has been sworn in as director of this agency the new Environmental Protection Administrator, William Reilly. ) I hope it's plain to everyone in this room and around the country what I'm saying with these two firsts -- and that is that among the first items on my personal agenda as president is the protection of America's environment. I'm sure all of you know by now Bill Reilly's incredible background in environmental protection president of the Conservation Foundation, one of the nation's outstanding environmental think tanks president of the U.S. Affiliate of the World Wildlife Federation. He began his career in this field as a senior staff member of the President's Council on Environmental Quality in the early 70s and then as executive director of the federal Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth. A leader in one of the other major environmental organizations has said of Bill that he has, I'm quoting now, "without question the most personal knowledge of the substance of issues of any of the C.E.O.s" of any of the conservation organizations: That gives you an idea of why I picked Bill. - 2 - I thought I'd tell you a story that will tell you something more about why I picked him. About a year and a half ago, Bill convened a forum on the wetlands crisis. He brought together 25 people who, as the Washington Post put it, "normally would have difficulty agreeing [even] on a place for dinner." Environmentalists, developers, industrialists, state and federal regulators -- all were there. And the result? By the time Bill was through with them, which took more than a year, they'd put aside differences and called for 'no net loss' of wetlands, and they'd agreed on 100 reforms to achieve that goal. I spoke the other day about wanting to broaden the consensus for defense. But that's not the only consensus I would like to broaden. I want to broaden the consensus for a clean environment, and I believe doing that requires finding ways to clean up the environment without stifling the economy. During the campaign I noted that " environmental action has too often been marked by confrontation among competing interests [while] the fact is that more often than not, there is common ground if the parties will make an effort to find it. " Our great common desire is a better life for all Americans -- and I believe that economic growth and a clean environment are both part of what all Americans understand a better life to mean. I also believe the American people are impatient for results. They won't accept excuses They won t accept finger pointing They want us to get all the sides together and find a way to achieve both their goals - 3 - By the way, the other day I got a little lesson in just how impatient the American people are. In the morning mail I found letters from 7th graders at a church school in California. I thought I'd share one with you, dated January 20th, the day I was inaugurated. It said, and remember, this was on the day I was just taking office, "Dear Mr. President, Would you please do something about pollution. I am not saying you're doing a bad job, but could you put a little more effort into it?" Well, with Bill Reilly at the helm here, we're going to put a lot more effort into it. [And now I believe it's time to swear Bill in.] Chris As draft #1 (Judge) February 3, 1989 1:00 p.m. PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1989 I am told that this is a morning [afternoon] of firsts. The first time a president has visited this building which, may I say, is a first that is long overdue. And the first time that a veteran of the environmental movement has been sworn in as director of this agency the new Environmental Protection Administrator, William Reilly. I hope it's plain to everyone in this room and around the country what I'm saying with these two firsts -- and that is that among the first items on my personal agenda as president is the protection of America's environment. I'm sure all of you know by now Bill Reilly's incredible background in environmental protection president of the Conservation Foundation, one of the nation's outstanding environmental think tanks president of the U.S. Affiliate of the World Wildlife Federation. He began his career in this field as a senior staff member of the President's Council on Environmental Quality in the early 70s and then as executive director of the federal Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth. m A leader of one of the other major environmental organizations has said of Bill that he has, I'm quoting now, "without question the most personal knowledge of the substance of issues of any of the C.E.O.s" of any of the conservation organizations. That gives you an idea of why I picked Bill. I thought I'd tell you a story that will tell you something more about why I picked him. About a year and a half ago, Bill convened a forum on the wetlands crisis. He brought together 25 people who, as the Washington Post put it, "normally would have difficulty agreeing [even] on a place for dinner. " As the Post continued: "There were environmentalists, developers and industrialists who were squaring off against each other in various courts at the time. And there were state and chile federal regulators who were being sued by all sides. " And the result? Here's how the Post put it: "Sixteen months later, the warring parties had put aside their differences and called collectively for 'no net loss' of wetlands, plus 100 other reforms that went farther in addressing the controversial issue than anyone had expected. " I spoke the other day about wanting to broaden the consensus for defense. But that's not the only consensus I would like to broaden. I want to broaden the consensus for a clean environment, and I believe that requires finding ways to clean up the environment without stifling the economy. As Bill has said, to quote him, " from an environmental view, if you don't [show sensitivity to economics], you won develop enduring policies and laws. " During the campaign I noted that " environmental action has too often been marked by confrontation among competing to interests. The fact is that more often than not, there is common ground if the parties will make an effort to find it." Our great common desire is a better life for all Americans -- and I believe that economic growth and a clean environment are both part of what all Americans understand a better life to mean. I also believe they are impatient for results. They won't accept excuses. They won't accept finger pointing. They want us to get all the sides together and find a way to achieve both their goals. By the way, the other day I got a little lesson in just how impatient the American people are. In the morning mail I found letters from 7th graders at a church school in California. I thought I'd share one with you, dated January 20th, the day I was inaugurated. It said, and remember, this was on the day I was taking office, "Dear Mr. President, Would you please do something about pollution. I am not saying you're doing a bad job, but could you put a little more effort into it?" Well, with Bill Reilly at the helm here, we're going to put a lot more effort into it. [And now I believe it's time to swear Bill in.] (Judge/cw) February 3, 1989 2:30 p.m. clark10 PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1989 I am told that this is a morning [afternoon] of firsts. The first time a president has visited this building which, may I say, is a first that is long overdue. And the first time that a veteran of the environmental movement has been sworn in as director of this agency the new Environmental Protection Administrator, William Reilly. I hope it's plain to everyone in this room and around the country what I'm saying with these two firsts -- and that is that among the first items on my personal agenda as president is the protection of America's environment. I'm sure all of you know by now Bill Reilly's incredible background in environmental protection president of the Conservation Foundation, one of the nation's outstanding environmental think tanks president of the U.S. Affiliate of the World Wildlife Federation. He began his career in this field as a senior staff member of the President's Council on Environmental Quality in the early 70s and then as executive director of the federal Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth. A leader in one of the other major environmental organizations has said of Bill that he has, I'm quoting now, "without question the most personal knowledge of the substance of issues of any of the C.E.O.s" of any of the conservation organizations. That gives you an idea of why I picked Bill. - 2 - I thought I'd tell you a story that will tell you something more about why I picked him. About a year and a half ago, Bill convened a forum on the wetlands crisis. He brought together 25 people who, as the Washington Post put it, "normally would have difficulty agreeing [even] on a place for dinner." Environmentalists, developers, industrialists, state and federal regulators -- all were there. And the result? By the time Bill was through with them, which took more than a year, they'd put aside differences and called for 'no net loss' of wetlands, and they'd agreed on 100 reforms to achieve that goal. I spoke the other day about wanting to broaden the consensus for defense. But that's not the only consensus I would like to broaden. I want to broaden the consensus for a clean environment, and I believe doing that requires finding ways to clean up the environment without stifling the economy. During the campaign I noted that " environmental action has too often been marked by confrontation among competing interests [while] the fact is that more often than not, there is common ground if the parties will make an effort to find it." " Our great common desire is a better life for all Americans -- and I believe that economic growth and a clean environment are both part of what all Americans understand a better life to mean. I also believe the American people are impatient for results. They won't accept excuses. They won't accept finger pointing. They want us to get all the sides together and find a way to achieve both their goals. - 3 - By the way, the other day I got a little lesson in just how impatient the American people are. In the morning mail I found letters from 7th graders at a church school in California. I thought I'd share one with you, dated January 20th, the day I was inaugurated. It said, and remember, this was on the day I was just taking office, "Dear Mr. President, Would you please do something about pollution. I am not saying you're doing a bad job, but could you put a little more effort into it?" Well, with Bill Reilly at the helm here, we're going to put a lot more effort into it. [And now I believe it's time to swear Bill in.] THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release February 8, 1989 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT DURING SWEARING-IN CEREMONY FOR WILLIAM KANE REILLY AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY The EPA Building Washington, DC 10:43 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Russell. Please be seated. Well, I'm told that this is the first time that a President has visited the EPA. Well, not exactly the EPA, but all the stores underneath the EPA. (Laughter.) And I think I should at the outset of these brief remarks just express my appreciation to the merchants and to the others who have this vibrant mall in their custody -- (laughter) -- thanking them for the opportunity to have this ceremony here so we could meet with as many of the EPA employees as possible. I'm delighted to be here, and in my search for a new first-rate EPA administrator, one of my top priorities was to find someone with strong credentials as a leader in the environmental community, and that man is our new Administrator, William Reilly. He's got big shoes to fill, though. I know that, and I have great respect for those that have preceeded him. Lee Thomas did an outstanding job here, and I want those who worked with him to know how strongly I feel about that. (Applause.) I want to salute the members of the diplomatic corps who were nice enough to be with us today. I think that puts appropriate emphasis on the fact that much of -- many of the problems that we face in the environment are global problems, and I'm delighted that they're with us here today. Pleased to see Senator Chaffee and other members of the United States Senate, and members of the House with us as well. I hope it is plain that -- to everyone in this room and around the country that among my first items on my personal agenda is the protection of America's environment. I am pledged to improving the quality of life, for improving the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink and the land that, as Father O'Reilly said, God has entrusted to us. I have just come from the swearing-in of Manuel Lujan, our new Secretary of the Interior. EPA and Interior have got to work as partners, keeping our land and our air and our water clean -- public land secure. And I'm sure all of you know by now Bill Reilly's incredible background in environmental protection -- - 2 - conservation organizations." And that gives you an idea of why we are very lucky to have him here and why I selected him. I thought I'd tell you a story that will tell you something more about why I picked him. About a year-and-a-half ago he convened a forum on the wetlands crisis. He brought together 25 people who, as The Washington Post put it, would -- normally would have difficulty agreeing even on a place for dinner. Environmentalists, developers, industrialists, state and federal regulators all were there, and the result -- well, by the time he was through with them -- which took more than a year -- they put aside differences and called for a no net loss of wetlands and they agreed on 100 reforms to achieve that goal. I spoke the other day about wanting to broaden the consensus for defense, but that's not the only consensus that I would like to broaden. I want to broaden the consensus for a clean environment and I believe doing that requires finding ways to clean up the environment without stifling the economy. During the campaign I noted that environmental action has too often been marked by confrontation among competing interests. Well, the fact is that more often than not there is common ground if the parties will make an effort to find it. Our great common desire is a better life for all Americans and I believe that economic growth and a clean environment are both part of what all Americans understand a better life to mean. I also believe that the American people are impatient for results. They won't accept excuses anymore and they won't accept finger pointing. They want us to get all the sides together and find a way to achieve both their goals. By the way, the other day I got a little lesson in how impatient the American people are. In the morning mail -- this marvelous mail that comes in to the President of the United States -- I found letters from seventh graders at a church school in California. I thought I'd share one with you. It was dated Inauguration Day, January 20th, and it said -- and remember this was just on the day that I was taking office -- "Dear Mr. President, Would you please do something about pollution. I'm not saying you're doing a bad job but could you put a little more effort into it." (Laughter.) Well, with William Reilly at the helm here, we're going to put a hell of a lot more effort into it. And now, Bill, let's do the honors. (Applause.) (The oath is administered.) ADMINISTRATOR REILLY: Mr. President, on behalf of all 15,000 of my closest and most valued new colleagues, welcome to EPA. (Applause.) And great thanks to all of you who worked so hard to make this event possible this morning. We had to reschedule the opening of Black History Month. I'm pleased to say that that has been rescheduled. We appreciate all the effort that has gone into accomodating this event in these halls. We chose the place that would accomodate the very largest number of the EPA staff, and this - 3 - on a great note. We've had great cooperation through the confirmation period and I appreciate that very much. Well, it is clearly a very great honor to serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. I thank you for your confidence in me, for nominating me, Mr. President. I thank you, Chairman Burdick, Senator Chafee, members of the Environment and Public Works Committee, for the great many courtesies that were extended to me over the past weeks in the course of the confirmation. I feel equally honored to be able to serve, to look forward to working with this very fine EPA staff. I wish all of them could be here today. I have got to say I've been enormously impressed with the capabilities of the dozens or so of people who have come into contact with me in the course of the last several weeks. I can honestly say that EPA professionals began showing me up and bailing me out a full month before my confirmation and now is no time to stop. (Laughter.) I will need all the help that I can get. I should say I owe a special debt of gratitude to those hardworking souls who assisted me in handling the questions -- the written questions that followed our hearing on the Hill. We were pleased to be able to move the confirmation very fast. But in the course of doing that, we were given some 315 written questions, the answers to which were due 24 hours later, and many of you stayed up through the night. I was able to tap off the answers to 305 or so of these, of course, with no difficulty. (Laughter.) But those last ten I really did appreciate your help and we met that deadline. Well, for the staff here today, let me reassure you -- you are not dreaming. This is the President of the United States -- (Laughter.) He is standing here at the headquarters, or as close as we could get him to it, of the Environmental Protectional Agency, and he's not up for reelection for another four years. (Laughter.) I think, as a matter of fact, he's probably smiling for all three of those reasons. The President is here for a very simple reason -- he cares. He cares urgently about protecting the environment. He said so during his campaign. And his commitment came through to me in my very first meeting with him and it has since been reinforced in countless ways -- only one of which is the fact that he's here with us today. This powerful statement, this important symbol of the President's interest in the environment may not, in fact, make our jobs here any easier. If anything, I think our work will be judged by even higher expectations than ever before. But isn't it encouraging to have an environmentalist in the White House who comes here to signal his close and public commitment to the work of the Environmental Protection Agency? (Applause.) Mr. President, I know that you appreciate, as I do and as Russ Train was saying in his remarks before you arrived, that life is not easy on the front line of environmental protection. Probably no other federal agency touches so many lives as EPA touches. Probably no other federal agency faces so many complex and fiercely controversial decisions. - 4 - In the confirmation hearing there were two themes that were sounded again and again from across the policital spector. The Environmental Protection Agency should be an advocate for the environment, the Senator said. EPA should enforce the laws of the land, we heard. And so we shall. (Applause.) I think, as I stand here, about the extraordinary sweep of the responsibilities we here at EPA exercise. I think of so many places in America that have touched me and my family in a very special way. As I was growing up with my parents and my sister, who I'm proud to say are here today, and later on, with my wife and children and friends, many of whom are also here today. Lake Michigan, the Rio Grande and the Gulf of Mexico, Narragansett Bay, Cape Cod and the Chesapeake -- these we lived on or near. And it's personally stirring for me to have some responsibility for them now. For them and for other resources of air, water and land in a country where the real crown jewels are the wonders of nature. And now, even the stratosphere is receiving our attention. And we're called upon to offer the ideas and experiences of the United States to other nations in a search for environmental policies that may be crucial to keeping this planet habitable. The cause of the environment is so vital and so personal that working in this vineyard is its own reward. One of the hallmarks, I think, of this agency is that many of the people who work here are very powerfully motivated -- motivated to help the environment. The idealism and the commitment to a better environment makes you, EPA's employees, very, very special. And it makes the prospect of working with you here for me a very, very happy one. So I could not be more pleased or more proud to have the opportunity to work for the environment, to work for President Bush and to work with you, my EPA colleagues. I think that we are going to do great things together. Thank you very much. (Applause.) END 11:02 A.M. EST Document No. 003699 WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM 2/3/89 12:00 2/6/89 DATE: ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING-IN OF WILLIAM K. REILLY ACTION FYI ACTION FYI VICE PRESIDENT MCCLURE SUNUNU NEWMAN SCOWCROFT PORTER DARMAN STUDDERT BATES UNTERMEYER BREEDEN WINTSON CARD ROGERS CICCONI DEMAREST FITZWATER GRAY HAGIN REMARKS: Please provide your comments/recommendations directly to Chriss Winston's office (x2930 - Room 122 ) with an info copy to my office by 12:00 Monday, February 3. Thank you. RESPONSE: They fordon Sloher James W. Cicconi Assistant to the President and Deputy to the Chief of Staff Ext. 2702