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American Newspaper Publishers Association, 4/21/89 [2]
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Speech Draft Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
2011-2184-F
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:
13483
Folder ID Number:
13483-014
Folder Title:
American Newspaper Publishers Association, 4/21/89 [2]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
26
15
6
6
REMARKS: AMERICAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
APRIL 24, 1989
THANK YOU, BILL, FOR THOSE KIND WORDS. I ALSO WANT
TO RECOGNIZE YOUR DEPUTIES AT AP, Lou BOCCARDI AND JIM
TOMLINSON, CARDINAL BERNARDIN AND THE DISTINGUISHED
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA HERE TODAY.
- 2 -
I KNOW THE NEWS BUSINESS IS A SERIOUS AND SOMETIMES
DANGEROUS BUSINESS. MARK TWAIN LIKED TO RECALL THAT
NAPOLEON ONCE SHOT AT A MAGAZINE EDITOR
NAPOLEON MISSED HIM, BUT KILLED A PUBLISHER.
As TWAIN SAID, IT SEEMS HIS AIM WAS BAD, BUT HIS
INTENTIONS WERE GOOD.
- 3 -
You ALL KNOW JEFFERSON'S TRIBUTE TO THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE PRESS: "WERE IT LEFT FOR ME TO DECIDE WHETHER
WE SHOULD HAVE A GOVERNMENT WITHOUT NEWSPAPERS, OR
NEWSPAPERS WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT, I SHOULD NOT HESITATE
A MOMENT TO PREFER THE LATTER."
- 4 -
Now, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I THINK
THAT ALL WE REALLY NEED IS A SPORTS PAGE -- BOTH OF US,
GOVERNMENT AND THE NEWS MEDIA, NEED ONE ANOTHER, AND
OWE EACH OTHER A MEASURE OF RESPECT, HONESTY AND
INTEGRITY EQUAL TO THE WORK WE'RE ENGAGED IN.
IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER THREE MONTHS SINCE I TOOK
THE OATH OF OFFICE, AND I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THE
PROGRESS WE'VE MADE IN THAT SHORT TIME.
- 5 -
I'LL SAY MORE ABOUT THAT SHORTLY -- BUT BEFORE I DO,
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT MY IMPRESSIONS OF
THESE PAST THREE MONTHS.
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME WHAT IT'S LIKE -- HOW THE
PRESIDENCY COMPARES TO THE EXPECTATIONS YOU BRING TO
IT.
I CAN SUM UP THE THING THAT'S MADE THE DEEPEST
IMPRESSION ON ME so FAR, IN ONE WORD: HISTORY.
- 6 -
You CAN'T LIVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE, YOU CAN'T SIT AT
THAT DESK IN THE OVAL OFFICE, OR UPSTAIRS IN THE OFFICE
I HAVE NEXT DOOR TO THE LINCOLN BEDROOM, WITHOUT
CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCING THE HISTORY OF THE PLACE --
WITHOUT THINKING OF THE PRESIDENTS WE ALL KNOW IN A NEW
LIGHT.
- 7 -
I THINK OF WASHINGTON, WORKING TO DEFINE THE
PRESIDENCY -- TO MIX POWER AND RESTRAINT IN A WAY THAT
CREATED A CHIEF EXECUTIVE CONSISTENT WITH DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNMENT. THIS SUNDAY, I WILL BE IN NEW YORK TO JOIN
IN THE CEREMONIES MARKING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF
WASHINGTON'S SWEARING-IN. EACH OF THOSE 200 YEARS IS
LASTING TESTIMONY TO THE SOLID FOUNDATIONS LAID BY
WASHINGTON.
- 8 -
I THINK OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT: HIS LIMITLESS ENERGY,
HIS MENTAL, MORAL AND PHYSICAL TOUGHNESS. I THINK OF
HIS DEDICATION TO SERVE HIS NATION -- A DEDICATION
INSTILLED IN EARLIEST CHILDHOOD -- HIS LOVE OF NATURE,
HIS PASSION FOR REFORM.
I THINK OF HARRY TRUMAN: A MAN WHO SPOKE HIS MIND,
A PRACTICAL MAN, PROBLEM-SOLVER. A FIGHTER WHO NEVER
GAVE UP -- I LEARNED THAT THE HARD WAY IN 1948, WHEN I
PUT $10 BUCKS ON ToM DEWEY.
- 9 -
THERE'S IKE, DWIGHT EISENHOWER: HERO TO A
GENERATION, A MAN WHO DIDN'T SEEK THE SPOTLIGHT, WHO
UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE OF QUIET, STEADY LEADERSHIP, AND
LED THIS NATION THROUGH A DECADE OF GROWTH, PROSPERITY
AND PROGRESS.
AND OF COURSE I THINK OF THE MAN I SERVED FOR EIGHT
YEARS, RONALD REAGAN -- HIS COMMITMENT TO HIS BELIEFS,
HIS GREAT FAITH IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- AND THE
UNSHAKABLE OPTIMISM HE BROUGHT TO THE JOB.
- 10 -
THE OPPORTUNITIES OPEN TO US TODAY WERE MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY RONALD REAGAN LEFT AS HIS
LEGACY.
WE USED TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE PRESIDENCY BEING
TOO BIG FOR ONE MAN. THAT TALK STOPPED WITH RONALD
REAGAN.
- 11 -
DIFFERENT MEN, DIFFERENT METHODS, DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTANCES: PROOF -- AS I SEE IT -- THAT THE
PRESIDENCY IS AMPLE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE STRENGTHS
AND STYLES OF OUR NATION'S RICH POLITICAL HISTORY.
- 12 -
IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS, THESE THOUGHTS HAVE
FRAMED MY OWN APPROACH, IN DEALING WITH THE PRESSING
PROBLEMS THAT CONFRONT US -- SOME OF THEM DECADES IN
THE MAKING -- AND IN WORKING TO PUT THE UNITED STATES
ON A STEADY COURSE FOR THE DECADE AHEAD AND THE NEW
CENTURY BEYOND IT.
THE FIRST STEP IN EVERY INITIATIVE I'VE UNDERTAKEN
IS TO SQUARE OUR ACTIONS WITH ENDURING AMERICAN
PRINCIPLES.
- 13 -
WHATEVER THE PROBLEM, WE CAN COUNT ON PUBLIC SUPPORT --
SO LONG AS OUR POLICY AND PRINCIPLES SHARE A COMMON
ROOT.
THOSE PRINCIPLES ARE:
FREEDOM: FOR INDIVIDUALS; FOR NATIONS, SELF-
DETERMINATION AND DEMOCRACY.
FAIRNESS: EQUAL STANDARDS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY -- A
CHANCE FOR EACH OF US TO ACHIEVE, AND MAKE OUR WAY, ON
OUR OWN MERITS.
- 14 -
STRENGTH: IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, STRENGTH OUR
ALLIES CAN COUNT ON, AND OUR ADVERSARIES MUST RESPECT.
AND AT HOME, STRENGTH AND A SENSE OF SELF-CONFIDENCE IN
CARRYING FORWARD OUR NATION'S WORK.
EXCELLENCE -- AS THE UNDERLYING GOAL IN THE
COLLECTIVE EFFORTS WE UNDERTAKE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
THE WORK WE DO.
- 15 -
AND IN THE WORKINGS OF GOVERNMENT, A FIRM SENSE OF
THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND POWERS OF GOVERNMENT -- AND
THE PRIVATE SPHERE THAT LIES BEYOND ITS LIMITS.
My STARTING POINT HAS BEEN A RESPECT FOR AMERICAN
INSTITUTIONS -- FOR CONGRESS, FOR THE DEDICATED CIVIL
SERVANTS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, FOR STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS, FOR THE CONCEPT OF PUBLIC SERVICE -- AND A
FIRM BELIEF IN THE POWERS OF THE PRESIDENCY. EACH HAS
ITS ROLE, EACH CAN BE ENLISTED IN THE WORK AT HAND.
- 16 -
THE EMPHASIS IS ON COOPERATION -- NOT CONFRONTATION --
AS THE SUREST ROUTE TO PROGRESS.
I'VE READ MORE THAN A FEW NEWS STORIES -- BEFORE
AND AFTER THE ELECTION -- THAT SAID THE PRESIDENT AND
THE CONGRESS WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER
THAT THE "BITTER CAMPAIGN" HAD MADE COOPERATION
IMPOSSIBLE.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT THEN -- AND WE'RE PROVING IT
WRONG NOW.
- 17 -
WHEN I TOOK OFFICE, I TOLD THE CONGRESS THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE HADN'T SENT US TO WASHINGTON TO BICKER.
THEY SENT US TO GOVERN -- TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE
URGENT PROBLEMS THAT CONFRONT US, AND TO SHAPE THE
LONG-TERM STRATEGIES TO ENSURE PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN
THE FUTURE.
- 18 -
I THINK THE WORK WE'VE DONE THESE PAST THREE MONTHS
DEMONSTRATES THE VALUE OF TOUGH, PRINCIPLED
NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE
CONGRESS.
THE BIPARTISAN BUDGET AGREEMENT WE WORKED OUT TEN
DAYS AGO IS A KEY EXAMPLE.
- 19 -
THAT AGREEMENT -- AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, ON TARGET WITH
GRAMM-RUDMAN, AND WITH MY "NO NEW TAXES" PLEDGE
INTACT -- IS A STRONG FIRST STEP TOWARDS DEALING WITH
THE DEFICIT PROBLEM, AND KEEPING OUR ECONOMY -- 76
STRAIGHT MONTHS OF EXPANDING, UNINTERRUPTED GROWTH --
ON TRACK. DIFFICULT DECISIONS LIE AHEAD, BUT AN
IMPORTANT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED.
AND OF COURSE THERE IS THE ACCORD WE REACHED ON
CENTRAL AMERICA.
- 20 -
THE PEOPLE OF NICARAGUA -- LIKE THEIR NEIGHBORS IN THE
REGION, LIKE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE -- DESERVE TO LIVE IN
PEACE, WITH FREEDOM. THE UNITED STATES IS NOW SPEAKING
WITH ONE VOICE -- AND STANDING BEHIND A PLAN THAT WILL
PUT THE SANDINISTAS TO THE TEST. AND THIS UNITY HAS
ENCOURAGED LEADERS LIKE PRESIDENT ARIAS TO GIVE STRONG
SUPPORT TO U.S. POLICY.
- 21 -
AND IN THREE SHORT MONTHS, WE'VE MADE A GOOD START
COMING TO GRIPS WITH ISSUES DEMANDING URGENT
ATTENTION -- AND DECISIVE ACTION.
AND WE'VE TAKEN THAT ACTION:
ACTION TO STABILIZE THE TROUBLED SAVINGS AND LOAN
SYSTEM. THE REFORM PLAN I SENT TO CONGRESS WILL
RESTORE STABILITY, AND PUT THE S&L SYSTEM BACK ON ITS
FEET, IN SOUND FISCAL ORDER. MY PLAN GUARANTEES THAT
DEPOSITORS WILL BE FULLY PROTECTED.
- 22 -
THE S&L SYSTEM MUST BE REFORMED, so THAT THE
QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES AND OUTRIGHT ILLEGALITIES THAT
CAUSED THE CRISIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN -- AND THOSE
S&L OFFICIALS FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMINAL ACTIONS WILL BE
PUNISHED FOR THE LOSSES THEY HAVE CAUSED.
LAST WEEK, THE SENATE PASSED MY PLAN, 91 TO 8. I
URGE THE HOUSE TO ACT PROMPTLY, AND PASS THIS S&L
REFORM BILL WITH ITS CENTRAL PROVISIONS INTACT.
- 23 -
ACTION TO STRENGTHEN ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT. THE
ETHICS REFORMS I'VE SENT TO CAPITOL HILL THIS MONTH
WILL UPHOLD HONESTY AND INTEGRITY IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE
-- AND APPLY AN EVEN-HANDED ETHICS STANDARD ACROSS ALL
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.
ACTION IN THE WAR ON DRUGS, WHERE WE'RE ADVANCING
ON ALL FRONTS -- EDUCATION, TREATMENT, INTERDICTION AND
TOUGHER LAW ENFORCEMENT.
- 24 -
THE ANTI-DRUG EFFORT WILL RECEIVE ALMOST ONE BILLION
DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN 1990 -- A 21% INCREASE
IN OUTLAYS OVER WHAT WE'LL SPEND IN 1989.
WE'VE IMPOSED A TEMPORARY BAN ON THE IMPORT OF
CERTAIN SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLES, WEAPONS ALL TOO OFTEN
USED IN DRUG RELATED-KILLINGS. AND WE'RE TACKLING THE
DRUG EPIDEMIC IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A TEST CASE
FOR A FULL RANGE OF INNOVATIVE ANTI-DRUG MEASURES.
- 25 -
OF COURSE, DEALING WITH PROBLEMS THAT DEMAND
IMMEDIATE ATTENTION IS ONLY PART OF THE PICTURE. WE
NEED TO LOOK TO THE LONG-TERM AS WELL -- TO FOCUS NOW
ON THE KIND OF FUTURE WE WANT TO SEE FOR OURSELVES AND
OUR NATION. INVESTING IN THAT FUTURE IS HIGH ON OUR
NATIONAL AGENDA.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THAT MEANS IMPROVING EDUCATION.
INVESTING IN THE RISING GENERATION IS LONG-RANGE
PLANNING AT ITS BEST.
- 26 -
OUR FUTURE IN THIS TECHNOLOGICAL AGE DEPENDS UPON THE
QUALITIES AND CAPABILITIES OF THE AMERICAN WORKER --
AND NOT JUST THE MOST TALENTED AMONG US, BUT EACH
INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF THE WORKFORCE.
- 27 -
THE SEVEN-POINT PROGRAM OF EDUCATION REFORM I SENT
TO CONGRESS EARLY THIS MONTH WILL HELP US REWARD
EXCELLENCE, REACH OUT TO STUDENTS MOST IN NEED,
INCREASE CHOICE, AND INTRODUCE A HEALTHY ELEMENT OF
COMPETITION AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WILL PROMOTE
QUALITY IN OUR SCHOOLS.
- 28 -
PREPARING FOR THE KINDER, GENTLER FUTURE I'VE
SPOKEN OF MEANS HELPING AMERICANS COPE WITH THE
CHANGING NATURE OF SOCIETY -- HELPING FUNDAMENTAL
INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE FAMILY REMAIN STRONG AND PROSPER.
THAT'S THE GUIDING AIM OF MY CHILD CARE INITIATIVES, A
TAX CREDIT PROPOSAL DESIGNED TO EXPAND THE OPTIONS OF
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES -- KEEPING THE ULTIMATE CHOICE OF
WHO WILL CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN THEIR HANDS.
- 29 -
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE MEANS PROTECTING OUR
ENVIRONMENT.
TEDDY ROOSEVELT PUT IT BEST WHEN HE
SAID: "I DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE RIGHT TO ROB, BY
WASTEFUL USE, THE GENERATIONS THAT COME AFTER us."
ROOSEVELT SPOKE THOSE WORDS ALMOST EIGHTY YEARS AGO.
Now, LITTLE MORE THAN A DECADE AWAY FROM THE 21st
CENTURY, SAFEGUARDING OUR ENVIRONMENT IS A NATIONAL --
AND INTERNATIONAL -- IMPERATIVE.
- 30 -
WE'VE TAKEN THE FIRST, IMPORTANT STEPS: WE'VE
URGED CONGRESS TO ENACT LEGISLATION ENABLING US TO BAN
EXPORT OF HAZARDOUS WASTES TO NATIONS WHERE SAFE
HANDLING OF THOSE DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES CANNOT BE
GUARANTEED. AND IN RESPONSE TO GROWING CONCERN ABOUT
GLOBAL WARMING, THE U.S. WILL WORK IN CONCERT WITH
OTHER NATIONS TO END THE DISCHARGE OF CFCs INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE BY THE YEAR 2000.
- 31 -
AND IN THE CASE OF THE ALASKAN OIL SPILL, WE HAVE
TAKEN STEPS TO ENSURE A STRONG FEDERAL ROLE IN
OVERSIGHT OF THE CLEAN-UP EFFORT, AND TO EXPLORE WAYS
TO PREVENT SUCH SPILLS IN THE FUTURE.
FINALLY, WE HAVE LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE TO
STRENGTHEN THE INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY ON THIRD WORLD
DEBT, WHICH HAS ALREADY RECEIVED BROAD INTERNATIONAL
SUPPORT FROM BOTH INDUSTRIALIZED AND DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES.
- 32 -
WE HAVE SET OUR COURSE WITH THIS POLICY; NOW I WANT TO
SEE SUCCESS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. I WANT TO SEE AN
AGREEMENT WITH MEXICO, WITH VENEZUELA, AND WITH OTHER
COUNTRIES AS WELL.
WE HAVE EXAMINED AND I HAVE MADE DECISIONS ON U.S.
STRATEGY FOR AFGHANISTAN, POLAND, CENTRAL AMERICA AND
OTHER PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES NEEDING PROMPT
ATTENTION.
- 33 -
WITHIN A FEW WEEKS NEARLY ALL OF THE FAR REACHING AND
SYSTEMATIC DEFENSE AND FOREIGN POLICY REVIEWS WILL BE
COMPLETE. I ALREADY HAVE MADE SOME DECISIONS. OTHERS,
INCLUDING ON ARMS CONTROL, WILL BE FORTHCOMING SOON.
WE ARE MAPPING STRATEGIES FOR A PERIOD OF
REMARKABLE CHANGE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS -- CHANGE
MORE WIDE-RANGING AND RAPID THAN AT ANY TIME IN THE
POST-WAR PERIOD.
- 34 -
WHILE WE WILL LEAD, WE ALSO INTEND TO CONSULT AND
LISTEN -- TO OUR FRIENDS ABROAD AND TO THE CONGRESS.
I'VE MET WITH THE LEADERS OF 34 NATIONS -- RENEWING MY
ACQUAINTANCE WITH MANY OF THEM, ESTABLISHING A WORKING
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OTHERS. My SECRETARY OF STATE,
JIM BAKER, HAS MET WITH SOVIET FOREIGN MINISTER
SHEVARDNADZE, AND WILL MEET AGAIN NEXT MONTH IN Moscow
TO CONTINUE THAT DIALOGUE.
- 35 -
AND, AS WITH THE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON NICARAGUA,
I WILL WORK CLOSELY ON INTERNATIONAL MATTERS WITH THE
CONGRESS.
LAST MONDAY, WE ANNOUNCED A NEW POLICY TOWARDS
POLAND, IN RECOGNITION OF THE POSITIVE CHANGES TAKING
PLACE THERE. WE'LL BE WATCHING EVENTS IN POLAND
CLOSELY: THE FATE OF SOLIDARITY, THE FOLLOW-THROUGH ON
THE FREE ELECTIONS PROMISED BY THE POLISH GOVERNMENT.
- 36 -
FREEDOM IS PROVING A POWERFUL FORCE IN WORLD AFFAIRS --
A FORCE FOR PEACE AND STABILITY.
THE UNITED STATES MUST SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES TO
STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT DEVELOPMENTS THAT ADVANCE THE
CAUSE OF FREEDOM -- AND WE WILL.
WE'VE MADE A GOOD START THESE FIRST THREE MONTHS,
AND THERE'S MORE TO COME.
- 37 -
THE COMPLETION OF OUR DEFENSE AND FOREIGN POLICY
REVIEWS IN LATE MAY, DRAFT LEGISLATION FOR A NEW CLEAN
AIR AcT, A NEW STRATEGY TO CURB THE INCREASED USE OF
LETHAL WEAPONS BY DRUG DEALERS AND OTHER CRIMINALS AND
NEW INITIATIVES TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS
IN AMERICA -- ALL ARE ON THE NEAR HORIZON. (PAUSE).
You KNOW, SOME OF MY TOUGHEST CRITICS AREN'T
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA -- QUITE OFTEN, THEY'RE THE
CHILDREN WHO WRITE TO ME AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
- 38 -
I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A LETTER FROM A YOUNG
FELLOW -- A SEVENTH GRADER FROM TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA.
HE WROTE ASKING ME TO TAKE ACTION ON POLLUTION, TOXIC
WASTE, SMOG, LITTERING -- A VERY DETAILED LIST OF
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
HE SAYS IN HIS LETTER: "I AM NOT SAYING YOU'RE
DOING A BAD JOB, BUT COULD YOU PUT A LITTLE MORE EFFORT
INTO IT?"
- 39 -
Now, I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHEN THAT LETTER WAS
WRITTEN: JANUARY 20, 1989 -- INAUGURATION DAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I'VE MANAGED TO SATISFY THE
YOUNG MAN WHO WROTE THAT LETTER, BUT I CAN SAY I GOT
HIS MESSAGE. As I'VE SAID BEFORE, I AM A PRACTICAL
MAN; I LIKE WHAT'S REAL. I'M NOT MUCH FOR THE AIRY AND
ABSTRACT. I LIKE WHAT WORKS.
THERE'S A RUNNING DEBATE ON WHAT IT TAKES TO MOVE A
NATION FORWARD. SOME SAY IT'S IDEOLOGY THAT MATTERS.
- 40 -
SOME SAY IT'S A QUESTION OF COMPETENCE. OTHERS SAY
THAT ISSUES ARE "THE ISSUE"
BUT THE FACT IS, WHAT IT TAKES TO MOVE A NATION
CAN'T BE CAPTURED IN ONE WORD.
It's A MATTER OF PRINCIPLES -- AND PERFORMANCE
IDEOLOGY -- AND ACTION ON THE ISSUES.
THIS ADMINISTRATION UNDERSTANDS THAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE EXPECT ALL OF THESE -- AND SOMETHING MORE.
THEY EXPECT RESULTS.
- 41 -
So WHILE I'M PLEASED WITH ALL WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN
THESE THREE MONTHS, THERE'S A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF US.
I'M OPTIMISTIC --THAT OUR REFORMS WILL PRODUCE LASTING
RESULTS; THAT THE LONG-RANGE PLANNING WE DO TODAY WILL
PAY OFF IN THE FUTURE. BUT MOST OF ALL, THIS NATION IS
READY TO MOVE FORWARD TO MEET THE CENTRAL CHALLENGES WE
FACE: KEEPING AMERICA FREE, PROSPEROUS AND AT PEACE,
TOMORROW, AND INTO THE CENTURY AHEAD.
###
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Chicago, Illinois)
For Immediate Release
April 24, 1989
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO AMERICAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
Fairmont Hotel
Chicago, Illinois
12:17 P.M. CDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for that warm welcome. And
my friend, Bill Keating, friend from Congress days, thank you for
that most generous introduction. I also want to thank your able -- I
don't know whether I should say leaders or deputies of the Associated
Press -- Lou Boccardi, sitting over here, and Jim Tomlinson -- and
thank them and you for including me in this AP luncheon, given at the
time of the Newspaper Publishers Association meeting. And I also
want to say how pleased I am to be with you once again.
I've just come from Norfolk -- a very moving ceremony
paying tribute to the 47 young men that died in the turret aboard
Iowa -- and it was indeed moving. And it made me once again realize
how precious human life is and how sometimes you can't control things
the way you'd like. And that leads me to just say a word about Terry
Anderson, because in a meeting just now, in the greeting by Lou and
Bill Keating, they brought up with me once again with this sense of
ugency that all in the Associated Press feel about Terry Anderson --
the question of the hostages.
And I just want to say, without being able to give you
any good news, that we are concerned; we will follow every
intelligence lead, we will go the extra mile to do what we can. And
I vowed when I came into the presidency not to talk about the burden
of the presidency, the loneliness of the job or the great toughness
that nobody understands -- I learned that from my immediate
predecessor -- eight years and I never once heard a call for sympathy
or a call for understanding along those lines. But I will say that
when you do take that oath of office, you do feel perhaps a
disproportionate concern for a fallen sailor or an individual held
hostage against his or her will anywhere in the world. And so we
will continue to keep this question of these hostages on the front
burner.
I know the news business is a serious and sometimes
extraordinarily dangerous business. Mark Twain liked to recall that
Napoleon once shot at a magazine editor. He missed him, but he
killed a publisher. (Laughter.) Twain says, it seems his aim was
bad, but his intentions were good. (Laughter.)
You all know Jefferson's tribute to the importance of the
press: "Were it left for me to decide whether we should have a
government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I
should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.'
And now, despite the fact that there are days when I
think that all we really need is a sports page -- (laughter) -- both
of us, government and the news media, need one another; we owe each
other a measure of respect, honesty and integrity equal to the work
we're engaged in.
It's been a little over three months since I took the
oath of office, and I am pleased with the progress that we've made in
MORE
- 2 -
a short time -- and I'll say more about that shortly but before I
do, I'd just like to share with you some impressions of the past
three months.
People often ask me, understandably, what's it like --
how the presidency compares to the expectations you bring to it. I
can sum up the thing that's made the deepest impression on me so far,
in one word -- and it's history, a sense of history all around you.
And you can't live in the White House and you can't sit at the desk
in the Oval Office, or upstairs in the office that I have now right
next to the Lincoln Bedroom, without constantly experiencing the
history of the place without thinking of the presidents we all
know, but perhaps in a different light.
And I think of Washington, working to define the
presidency, to mix power and restraint in a way that created a chief
executive consistent with democratic government. This Sunday, I'm
going to go up to New York to join in the ceremonies marking the
200th anniversary of Washington's swearing-in. Each of those 200
years is lasting testimony to the solid foundation laid by
Washington.
And I find myself thinking a lot of Teddy Roosevelt --
his limitless energy, his mental, moral and physical toughness. I
want the record to show it's not just that he was an elitist, like me
-- (laughter.) I think of his dedication to serve his nation -- a
dedication instilled in earliest childhood -- this sense of service
and then, I guess most of all, his love of nature, passion for reform
and preservation.
I think of Harry Truman -- a man who spoke his mind, a
practical, problem-solver. A fighter who never gave up. And I
learned that one the hard way because I'm old enough to have bet 10
bucks on Tom Dewey back in 1948.
And there's Ike, Dwight Eisenhower -- hero to a
generation, a man who, once he became President, didn't appear to
seek the spotlight. He understood the value of quiet, steady
leadership and led this nation through a decade of growth and
progress and prosperity.
And, of course, I do think of the man that I served for
eight years, Ronald Reagan -- his commitment. People wondered what
was it, why was he successful? It was his commitment to a handful of
principles, a commitment to his beliefs, plus his great faith in the
American people and then this unshakable optimism that he brought to
the job. The opportunities open to us today, to my administration
today, were made possible by the peace and prosperity that Ronald
Reagan left as his legacy.
We used to hear a lot about the presidency being too big
for one man. Indeed, a very distinguished Washington lawyer wrote
just at the time -- the end of the Carter presidency, just as
President Reagan was coming in, there was talk because of the
frustration abounding that what we might need is a parliamentary
system. That talk stopped when Ronald Reagan became President.
Different men, different methods, different circumstances
-- proof, as I see it, that the presidency is ample enough to
accommodate the strengths and styles of our nation's rich political
history.
In the past three months, these thoughts have framed my
own approach in dealing with the pressing problems that confront us
-- some of them decades in the making -- and in working to put the
United States on a steady course for the decade ahead and the new
century beyond it. I do not feel compelled or pressed because of a
column here or a column there to reach out for something dramatic.
The first step in every initiative that I've undertaken
MORE
- 3 -
is to square our action with enduring American principles. Whatever
the problem, we can count on public support so long as our policy
and principles share a common root.
And these principles are: Freedom, for individuals, for
nations; self-determination and democracy.
Fairness equal standards, equal opportunity -- a
chance for each of us to achieve and make our way on our own merits.
Strength in international affairs, strength our allies
can count on, and our adversaries must respect. And at home,
strength and a sense of self-confidence in carrying forward our
nation's work.
Excellence the underlying goal in the collective
efforts that we undertake, and accountability for the work we do.
And in the workings of government, a firm sense of the
responsibilities and powers of government and the private sector that
lies beyond its limits.
My starting point has been a respect for American
institutions -- for Congress, for the dedicated civil servants on the
executive branch, for state and local governments, for the concept of
public service -- and a firm belief in the constitutional powers of
the presidency. Each has its role; each can be enlisted in the work
at hand. The emphasis is on cooperation -- not confrontation -- as
the surest route to progress.
I've read more than a few news stories before and after
the election -- you can remember them -- said that the new President
and the Congress could not possibly work together after a bitter
campaign that made cooperation impossible. I didn't believe that
then and I think we're proving it wrong now.
When I took office, I told the Congress that the American
people hadn't sent us to Washington to bicker. They sent us to
govern -- to work together to solve the urgent problems that confront
us, and to shape the long-term strategies to ensure peace and
prosperity in the future.
I think the work we've done these past three months
demonstrates the value of tough, principled negotiations between this
administration and the Congress.
The bipartisan budget agreement that we worked out 10
days ago is a key example. That agreement -- ahead of schedule, on
target with Gramm-Rudman, and with my "no new taxes" pledge intact --
is a strong first step towards dealing with the deficit problem and
keeping our economy -- 76 straight months of expanding, uninterrupted
growth -- on track. Difficult decisions lie ahead. I'm well aware
of that. But the important first step, an important agreement, has
been reached.
And, of course, there's the accord we reached on Central
America. The people of Nicaragua - -- like their neighbors in the
region, like people everywhere deserve to live in peace, with
freedom. The United States is now speaking with one voice -- and
standing behind a plan that will put the Sandinistas to the test.
And this unity has encouraged leaders like President Oscar Arias of
Costa Rica to support, strongly support, the U.S. policy. And the
support of the leaders in that area, in Central America, those
democratic leaders surrounding Nicaragua is vital if we're to
succeed.
And in three short months, we've made a good start coming
to grips with issues demanding urgent attention and decisive action.
And we've taken that action:
MORE
- 4 -
Action to stabilize the troubled savings and loan system.
The reform plan that I sent to Congress will restore stability and
put the savings and loan system back on its feet, in sound fiscal
order. My plan guarantees that depositors will be fully protected.
They are today and they will be in the future. The S&L system must
be reformed so that the questionable practice and outright
illegalities that caused the crisis will not happen again -- and
those S&L officials found guilty of criminal actions will be punished
for the losses that they have caused.
Last week, the Senate passed my plan by 91 to 8, and I
urge the House to act promptly and pass this S&L reform bill with its
central provisions intact.
Action to strengthen ethics in government. The ethics
reforms that I've sent to Capitol Hill this month will uphold honesty
and integrity in government service -- and they will apply an
even-handed ethics standard across all branches of government.
Action in the war on drugs, where we're advancing on all
fronts -- education, treatment, interdiction and tougher law
enforcement. The antidrug effort, even in these tight budget times,
will receive almost one billion dollars in additional funding in 1990
-- a 21-percent increase in the outlays over what we'll spend in
1989.
We've imposed a temporary ban on the import of certain
semiautomatic rifles, weapons all too often used in drug-related
killings. And we're tackling the drug epidemic in the District of
Columbia, a test case for a full range of innovative antidrug
measures.
of course, dealing with problems that demand immediate
attention is only part of the picture. We need to look to the
long-term as well -- to focus now on the kind of future we want to
see for ourselves and our nation. And investing in that future is
high on our national agenda.
First and foremost, that does mean improving education.
Investing in the rising generation is long-range planning at its
best. Our future in this technological age depends upon the
qualities and capabilities of the American worker -- and not just the
most talented among us, but each individual member of the workforce.
The seven-point program on education reform that I sent
to Congress early this month will help us reward excellence, reach
out to students most in need, increase choice and introduce a healthy
element of competition and accountability that will promote quality
in our schools.
I have no intention of shifting the emphasis to
Washington, away from the localities, away from the states, away from
the diversity that is the hallmark -- one of the hallmarks of our
educational system. But I do want to use the White House as a bully
pulpit to encourage excellence in every way and to encourage the
private sector in every way. And I would say to you publishers here,
I salute those of you who have already taken up the cause of
education -- be it literacy, or dropout rates, or whatever it is, you
can do the Lord's work in no better way. The seven-point program is
going to help us reward excellence, and you can do an awful lot as
well.
Preparing for the kinder, gentler future I've spoken of
means helping Americans cope with the changing nature of society --
helping fundamental institutions like the family remain strong and
prosper. We have big differences -- we talk now about child care. I
want the family to remain strong, and that's the guiding aim of my
child care initiatives -- a tax credit proposal designed to expand
the options of low-income families, keeping the ultimate choice of
who will care for the children in their hands.
MORE
- 5 -
One of my greatest concerns as President of the United
States is the diminution, the denegration in some ways of the family
structure. We in government must see that everything we do is aimed
at strengthening - not weakening the families.
Preparing for the future has got to mean protecting our
environment. Teddy Roosevelt put it best when he said, "I do not
recognize the right to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that
come after us." Roosevelt spoke those words almost 80 years ago. And
now, a little more than a decade away from the 21st century,
safeguarding our environment is a national and international
imperative.
And we've taken the first important steps. We've urged
Congress to enact legislation enabling us to ban the export of
hazardous wastes to nations where safe handling of those dangerous
substances cannot be guaranteed. And in response to growing concern
about global warming, the U.S. will work in concert with other
nations to end the discharge of CFCs into the atmosphere by the year
2000.
And in the case of this Alaskan oil spill, we've taken
steps to ensure a federal role that is strong; a federal role in
oversight of the cleanup effort, and to explore ways to prevent such
spills in the future or to react more promptly if they should occur.
And finally, we've launched an initiative to strengthen
the international strategy on Third World debt, which has already
received broad international support from both the industrialized and
the developing countries.
We've set our course with this policy, and now I want to
see this Third World debt a success on a case-by-case basis. I want
to see us successful as we negotiate with Mexico, with Venezuela, and
with other countries as well.
We've examined and I've made decisions on U.S. strategy
for Afghanistan, Poland, Central America and other problems and
opportunities needing prompt attention. We have moved there. Within
a few weeks, nearly all of the far-reaching and systematic defense
and foreign policy reviews will be complete. And I've already made
some decisions. Others, including arms control, will be forthcoming
soon.
We're mapping strategies for a period of remarkable
change in international affairs -- change more wide-ranging and rapid
than at any time in the post-war period. While we will lead, we also
intend to consult and listen to our friends abroad and to consult
and work with, listen to the United States Congress. I've met with
the leaders of 34 nations renewing my acquaintance with many of
them, establishing a working relationship with the others. Secretary
of State Jim Baker has met once with Foreign Minister Shevardnadze of
the Soviet Union. He will meet again next month in Moscow to
continue that dialogue. And as with the bipartisan agreement on
Nicaragua, I will work closely on all international matters with the
Congress. We have had several meetings already with the leaders of
Congress to discuss in a non-structured way, consultation. Not only
the process of consultation, but we've begun it on individual areas
around the globe.
Last Monday in Michigan I announced a new policy towards
Poland in recognition of the positive changes taking place there.
We'll be watching events in Poland closely -- the fate of Solidarnosc
the follow-through on the free elections promised by the Polish
government. Freedom is proving a powerful force in world affairs --,
a force for peace and stability.
The United States must seize opportunities to strengthen
and support developments that advance the cause of freedom -- and we
MORE
- 6 -
will do exactly that.
I think we've made a good start these first three months,
and there's more to come. The completion of our defense and foreign
policy reviews in late May, draft legislation for a new Clean Air
Act, a new strategy to curb the increased use of lethal weapons by
drug dealers and other criminals, and new initiatives to combat the
problem of homelessness -- all are on the near horizon.
You know, some of my toughest critics are not in your
line of work. Quite often, they're the kids, the children who write
to me at the White House. I want to share with you a letter from a
young 7th grader from Torrance, California. He wrote asking me to
take action on pollution, toxic waste, smog, littering -- and a very
detailed list, if you will, of environmental concerns.
And he says in his letter: "I'm not saying you're doing
a bad job, but could you put a little more effort into it?"
(Laughter.) That letter was written on January 20, 1989, --
Inauguration Day. (Laughter.) And I have no way -- maybe I ought to
check on it as we go to California -- I don't know whether I've
satisfied that guy or not. But I can say I got his message. And as
I said before, I'm a practical man, I like what's real. I'm not much
for the airy and the abstract. And I like what works.
And there's a running debate now on what it takes to move
a nation forward. Some will tell you it's ideology that matters.
Some say it's a question of competence. And others say that issues
are "the issue."
But the fact is, what it takes to move a nation can't be
captured in one word. It's a matter of principles and performance --
ideology and action on the issues.
And this administration understands that the American
people expect all of this -- and something more.
They expect results.
And so, while I'm pleased with what's been done and what
we've accomplished in these three months, there is a long road ahead
of us. And I am optimistic -- that our reforms will produce lasting
results; that the long-range planning we do today will pay off in the
future; that our consultations with Congress will result in progress
in domestic and international affairs as well. But most of all, this
nation is ready to move forward to meet the central challenges that
we face: keeping America free, prosperous and at peace, tomorrow,
and into the century ahead.
Thank you very, very much. (Applause.)
END
12:45 P.M. CDT
028427SS
Document No.
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
----
4/21/89
DATE:
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AMERICAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
STUDDERT
BATES
UNTERMEYER
BREEDEN
ROGERS
CARD
WINSTON
PINKERTON
CICCONI
BOSKIN
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
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 20 1989
INFORMATION
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM: DANIEL McGROARTY
Om.4
THROUGH: CHRISS WINSTON cw
SUBJECT: AMERICAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION SPEECH
I. SUMMARY
The attached draft has been prepared for your appearance at
the American Newspapers Publishers Association annual
convention, April 24, 1989, in Chicago, Illinois.
II. DISCUSSION
The event, which takes place 6 days short of your first 100
days in office, provides an opportunity for you to detail
the Administration's accomplishments, and to speak about
the principles underlying our policies and initiatives.
Your audience will be several hundred publishers, chief
executives, and editors from all major North American
newspapers.
McGroarty/Blessey
April 20, 1989
2:00 pm
Draft 4
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AMERICAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
APRIL 24, 1989
{Thank you for your generous welcome
Acknowledgements.}
I know the news business is a serious and sometimes
dangerous business. Mark Twain liked to recall that Napoleon
once shot at a magazine editor
Napoleon missed him, but killed a publisher.
As Twain said, it seems his aim was bad, but his intentions
were good.
You all know Jefferson's tribute to the importance of the
press: "Were it left for e to decide whether we should have a
government without newspapers, or newspapers without a
government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."
Now, despite the fact that there are days when I think that
all we really need is a sports page -- both of us, government and
the newsmedia, need one another, and owe each other a measure of
respect, honesty and integrity equal to the work we're engaged
in.
It's been a little over three months since I took the oath
of office, and I'm very pleased with the progress we've made in
that short time. I'll say more about that shortly -- but before
I do, I'd like to speak for a moment about my impressions of
these past three months.
2
People often ask me what it's like -- how the presidency
compares to the expectations you bring to it.
I can sum up the thing that's made the deepest impression on
me so far, in one word: history. You can't live in the White
House, you can't sit at that desk in the Oval Office, or upstairs
in the office I have next door to the Lincoln Bedroom, without
constantly experiencing the history of the place -- without
thinking of the presidents we all know in a new light.
I think of Washington, the man who would not be king,
working to define the presidency -- to mix power and restraint in
a way that created a chief executive consistent with democratic
government. This Sunday, I will be in New York to join in the
ceremonies marking the 200th anniversary of Washington's
swearing-in. Each of those 200 years is lasting testimony to the
solid foundations laid by Washington.
I think of Teddy Roosevelt: his limitless energy, his
mental, moral and physical toughness. I think of his dedication
to serve his nation -- a dedication instilled in earliest
childhood -- his love of nature, his passion for reform.
I think of Harry Truman: a man who spoke his mind, a
practical man, problem-solver. A fighter who never gave up -- I
learned that the hard way in 1948, when I put $10 bucks on Tom
Dewey.
There's Ike, Dwight Eisenhower: hero to a generation, a man
who didn't seek the spotlight, who understood the value of quiet,
3
steady leadership, and led this nation through a decade of
growth, prosperity and progress.
And of course I think of the man I served for eight years,
Ronald Reagan -- his commitment to his beliefs, his great faith
in the American people -- and the unshakable optimism he brought
to the job. The opportunities open to us today were made
possible by the peace and prosperity Ronald Reagan left as his
legacy.
We used to hear a lot about the presidency being too big for
one man. That talk stopped with Ronald Reagan.
Different men, different methods, different circumstances:
proof -- as I see it -- that the presidency is ample enough to
accommodate the strengths and styles of our nation's rich
political history.
In the past three months, these thoughts have framed my own
approach, in dealing with the pressing problems that confront us
-- some of them decades in the making -- and in working to put
the United States on a steady course for the decade ahead and the
new century beyond it.
The first step in every initiative I've undertaken is to
square our actions with enduring American principles. Whatever
the problem, we can count on public support -- so long as our
policy and principles share a common root.
Those principles are:
Freedom: for individuals, freedom of choice; for nations,
self-determination and democracy.
4
Fairness: equal standards, equal opportunity -- a chance
for each of us to achieve, and make our way, on our own merits.
Strength: in international affairs, strength our allies can
count on, and our adversaries must respect. And at home,
strength and a sense of self-confidence in carrying forward our
nation's work.
Excellence -- as the underlying goal in the collective
efforts we undertake, and accountability for the work we do.
And in the workings of government, a firm sense of the
responsibilities and powers of government -- and the private
sphere that lies beyond its limits.
My starting point has been a respect for American
institutions -- for Congress, for the dedicated civil servants of
the executive branch, for state and local governments -- and a
firm belief in the powers of the presidency. Each has its role,
each can be enlisted in the work at hand. The emphasis is on
cooperation -- not confrontation -- as the surest route to
progress.
When I took office, I told the Congress that the American
people hadn't sent us to Washington to bicker. They sent us to
govern -- to work together to solve the urgent problems that
confront us, and to shape the long-term strategies to ensure
peace and prosperity in the future.
I think the work we've done these past three months
demonstrates the value of tough, principled negotiations between
this Administration and the Congress.
5
The bipartisan budget agreement we worked out ten days ago
is a key example. That agreement -- ahead of schedule, on target
with Gramm-Rudman, and with my "no new taxes" pledge intact -- is
a strong first step towards dealing with the deficit problem, and
keeping our economy -- 76 straight months of expanding,
uninterrupted growth -- on track.
And of course there is the accord we reached on Central
America. The people of Nicaragua -- like their neighbors in the
region, like people everywhere -- deserve to live in peace, with
freedom. The United States is now speaking with one voice -- and
standing behind a plan that will put the Sandinistas to the test.
And in three short months, we've made a good start coming to
grips with issues demanding urgent attention -- and decisive
action.
And we've taken that action:
Action to stabilize the troubled Savings and Loan system.
The reform plan I sent to Congress will restore stability, and
put the S&L system back on its feet, in sound fiscal order. My
plan guarantees that depositors will be fully protected. The S&L
system must be reformed, so that the questionable practices and
outright illegalities that caused the crisis will not happen
again -- and those S&L officials found guilty of criminal actions
will be punished for the losses they have caused.
Last week, I was pleased to see the Senate came out strong
for reform. I urge the House to act promptly, and pass this S&L
reform bill with its central provisions intact.
6
Action to strengthen ethics in government. The ethics
reforms I've sent to Capitol Hill this month will uphold honesty
and integrity in government service -- and apply an even-handed
ethics standard across all branches of government.
Action in the war on drugs, where we're advancing on all
fronts -- education, treatment, interdiction and tougher law
enforcement. The anti-drug effort will receive almost one
billion dollars in additional funding in 1990 -- a 21% increase
in outlays over what we'll spend in 1989.
We've imposed a temporary ban on the import of certain semi-
automatic rifles, weapons all too often used in drug related-
killings. And we're tackling the drug epidemic in the District
of Columbia, a test case for a full range of innovative anti-drug
measures.
of course, dealing with problems that demand immediate
attention is only part of the picture. We need to look to the
long-term as well -- to focus now on the kind of future we want
to see for ourselves and our nation. Investing in that future is
high on our national agenda.
First and foremost, that means improving education.
Investing in the rising generation is long-range planning at its
best. Our future in this technological age depends upon the
qualities and capabilities of the American worker -- and not just
the most talented among us, but each individual member of the
workforce.
7
The seven-point program of education reform I sent to
Congress early this month will help us reward excellence in our
schools, reach out to students most in need, increase choice, and
introduce a healthy element of competition and accountability
that will promote quality in our schools.
Preparing for the kinder, gentler future I've spoken of
means helping Americans cope with the changing nature of society
-- helping fundamental institutions like the family remain strong
and prosper. That's the guiding aim of my child care
initiatives, a tax credit proposal designed to expand the options
of low-income families --keeping the ultimate choice of who will
care for their children in their hands.
Preparing for the future means protecting our environment.
Teddy Roosevelt put it best when he said: "I do not recognize
the right
to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come
after us." Roosevelt spoke those words almost eighty years ago.
Now, little more than a decade away from the 21st Century,
safeguarding our environment is a national -- and international -
- imperative.
We've taken the first, important steps: we've urged
Congress to enact legislation enabling us to ban export of
hazardous wastes to nations where safe handling of those
dangerous substances cannot be guaranteed. And in response to
growing concern about global warming, we've committed the U.S. to
work in concert with other nations to end the discharge of CFCs
into the atmosphere by the year 2000.
8
And in the case of the Alaskan oil spill, we have taken
steps to ensure a strong federal role in oversight of the clean-
up effort, and to explore ways to prevent such spills in the
future.
Finally, we have launched an initiative to strengthen the
international strategy on third world debt, which has already
received broad international support from both industrialized and
developing countries.
We have examined and I have made decisions on U.S. strategy
for Afghanistan, Poland, Central America and other problems and
opportunities needing prompt attention. Within a few weeks
nearly all of the far reaching and systematic defense and foreign
policy reviews will be complete. I already have made some
decisions. Others, including on arms control, will be
forthcoming soon.
We are mapping strategies for a period of remarkable change
in international affairs -- change more wide-ranging and rapid
than at any time in the post-war period. While we will lead, we
also intend to consult and listen -- to our friends abroad and to
the Congress. I've met with the leaders of 34 nations --
renewing my acquaintance with many of them, establishing a
working relationship with the others. As with the bipartisan
agreement on Nicaragua, I will work closely with the Congress.
Last Monday, we announced a new policy towards Poland, in
recognition of the positive changes taking place there. We'll be
watching events in Poland closely: the fate of Solidarity, the
9
follow-through on the free elections promised by the Polish
Government. Freedom is proving a powerful force in world affairs
-- a force for peace and stability.
The United States must seize opportunities to strengthen and
support developments that advance the cause of freedom -- and we
will.
We've made a good start these first three months, and
there's more to come. The completion of our defense and foreign
policy reviews in late May, draft legislation for a new Clean Air
Act, a new strategy to curb the increased use of lethal weapons
by drug dealers and other criminals and new initiatives to combat
the problem of homelessness in America -- all are on the near
horizon.
You know, some of my toughest critics aren't members of the
media -- quite often, they're the children who write to me at the
White House.
I want to share with you a letter from a young man -- an
eighth grader from Torrance, California. He wrote asking me to
take action on pollution, toxic waste, smog, littering -- a very
detailed list of environmental concerns.
He says in his letter: "I am not saying you're doing a bad
job, but could you put a little more effort into it?"
Now, I want you to know when that letter was written:
January 20, 1989 -- inauguration day.
I don't know whether I've managed to satisfy the young man
who wrote that letter, but I can say I got his message. As I've
10
said before, I am a practical man; I like what's real. I'm not
much for the airy and abstract. I like what works.
There's a running debate on what it takes to move a nation
forward. Some say it's ideology that matters. Some say it's a
question of competence. Others say that issues are "the
issue"
But the fact is, what it takes to move a nation can't be
captured in one word.
It's a matter of principles -- and performance
Ideology -- and action on the issues.
This Administration understands that the American people
expect all of these -- and something more.
They expect results.
So while I'm pleased with all we've accomplished in these
three months, there's a long road ahead of us. I'm optimistic --
that our reforms will produce lasting results; that the long-
range planning we do today will pay off in the future. But most
of all, this nation is ready to move forward to meet the central
challenges we face: keeping America free, prosperous and at
peace, tomorrow, and into the century ahead.
028427SS
Document No.
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
4/19/89
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
4/20/89 1:00 PM
DATE:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AMERICAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
SUBJECT:
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
STUDDERT N/C
BATES
UNTERMEYER
out until 6PM
ROGERS
BREEDEN
WINSTON
CARD
CICCONI
PINKERTON
DEMAREST cw?
BOSKIN
FITZWATER
GRAY
HAGIN
REMARKS:
Please foward any comments to Chriss Winston, Rm. 122, x2930,
no later than 1:00 PM, Thursday, April 20, 1989, with an info
copy to my office. Thank you.
RESPONSE:
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
McGroarty/Blessey
April 19, 1989
1833 AFR 19
6:30 pm
Draft 3
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AMERICAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
APRIL 24, 1989
{Thank you for your generous welcome
Acknowledgements.)
I know the news business is a serious and sometimes
dangerous business. Mark Twain liked to recall that Napoleon
once shot at a magazine editor
Napoleon missed him, but killed a publisher.
As Twain said, it seems his aim was bad, but his intentions
were good.
Of course, today things are more civilized -- kinder and
gentler, if you prefer -- and even though I've taken some tough
shots from the press myself, I promise I'll hold my fire.
You all know Jefferson's tribute to the importance of the
press: "Were it left for me to decide whether we should have a
government without newspapers, or newspapers without a
government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."
Now, despite the fact that there are days when I think that
all we really need is a sports page -- both of us, government and
the newsmedia, need one another, and owe each other a measure of
respect, honesty and integrity equal to the work we're engaged
in.
It's been a little over three months since I took the oath
of office, and I'm very pleased with the progress we've made in
2
that short time. I'll say more about that shortly -- but before
I do, I'd like to speak for a moment about my impressions of
these past three months.
People often ask me what it's like -- how the presidency
compares to the expectations you bring to it.
I can sum up the thing that's made the deepest impression on
me so far, in one word: history. You can't live in the White
House, you can't sit at that desk in the Oval Office, or upstairs
in the small office I have next door to the Lincoln Bedroom,
without constantly experiencing the history of the place --
without thinking of the presidents we all know in a new light.
I think of Washington, the man who would not be king,
working to define the presidency -- to mix power and restraint in
a way that created a chief executive consistent with democratic
government. This Sunday, I will be in New York to join in the
ceremonies marking the 200th anniversary of Washington's
swearing-in. Each of those 200 years is lasting testimony to the
solid foundations laid by Washington.
I think of Teddy Roosevelt: his limitless energy, his
mental, moral and physical toughness. I think of his dedication
to serve his nation -- a dedication instilled in earliest
childhood -- his love of nature, his passion for reform.
I think of Harry Truman: a man who spoke his mind, a
practical man, problem-solver. A fighter who never gave up -- I
learned that the hard way in 1948, when I put $10 bucks on Tom
Dewey.
3
There's Ike, Dwight Eisenhower: hero to a generation, a man
who didn't seek the spotlight, who understood the value of quiet,
steady leadership, and led this nation through a decade of
growth, prosperity and progress.
And of course I think of the man I served for eight years,
Ronald Reagan -- his commitment to his beliefs, his great faith
in the American people -- and the unshakeable optimism he brought
to the job.
We used to hear a lot about the presidency being too big for
one man. That talk stopped with Ronald Reagan.
Different men, different methods, different circumstances:
proof -- as I see it -- that the presidency is ample enough to
accomodate the strengths and styles of our nation's rich
political history.
In the past three months, these thoughts have framed my own
approach -- in dealing with the problems at hand, and working to
put the United States on a steady course for the decade ahead,
and the new century beyond it.
The first step in every initiative I've undertaken is to
square our actions with enduring American principles. Whatever
the problem, we can count on public support -- so long as our
policy and principles share a common root.
Those principles are:
Freedom: for individuals, freedom of choice; for nations,
independence and self-determination.
4
Fairness: equal standards, equal opportunity -- a chance for
each of us to achieve, and make our way, on our own merits.
And in the workings of government, a firm sense of the
responsibilities and powers of government -- and the private
sphere that lies beyond its limits.
My starting point has been a respect for American
institutions -- for Congress, for the executive branch and its
dedicated civil servants, for state and local governments. Each
has its role, each can be enlisted in the work at hand. The
emphasis is on cooperation -- not confrontation -- as the surest
route to progress.
When I took office, I told the Congress that the American
people hadn't sent us to Washington to bicker. They sent us to
govern -- to work together to shape policy and solve the problems
that confront us.
I think the work we've done these past three months
demonstrates the value of quiet negotiations between this
Administration and the Congress.
The accord we reached on Central America is a key example.
The people of Nicaragua -- like their neighbors in the region,
like people everywhere -- deserve to live in peace, with freedom.
The United States is now speaking with one voice -- and standing
behind a plan that will put the Sandinistas to the test.
And of course there is the bipartisan budget agreement we
worked out ten days ago. That agreement -- ahead of schedule, on
target with Gramm-Rudman, and with my "no new taxes" pledge
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intact -- is a strong first step towards dealing with the deficit
problem, and keeping our economy -- 76 straight months of
expanding, uninterrupted growth -- on track.
And in three short months, we've made a good start coming to
grips with issues demanding urgent attention -- and decisive
action.
And we've taken that action:
To stabilize the troubled Savings and Loan system. The
reform plan I sent to Congress will restore stability, and put
the S&L system back on its feet, in sound fiscal order. My plan
guarantees that depositors will be fully protected -- and ensures
that those S&L officials found guilty of criminal behavior will
be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Action: We've introduced guidelines to strengthen ethics in
government. The ethics reforms I've sent to Capitol Hill this
month will uphold honesty and integrity in government service --
and apply an even-handed ethics standard across all branches of
government.
Action: In the war on drugs, we're advancing on all fronts
-- education, treatment, interdiction and tougher law
enforcement. And to prove we're serious, the anti-drug effort
will receive almost one billion dollars in additional funding in
1990 -- a 21% increase over what we'll spend in 1989.
semi
We've imposed a temporary ban on the import of automatic
military assault weapons, weapons all too often used in drug
related-killings. And we're tackling the drug epidemic in the
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District Columbia, a test case for a full range of innovative
anti-drug measures.
Of course, dealing with problems that demand immediate
attention is only part of the picture. We need to look to the
long-term as well -- to focus now on the kind of future we want
to see for ourselves and our nation. Investing in that future is
high on our national agenda.
First and foremost, that means improving education.
Investing in the rising generation is long-range planning at its
best. Our future in this technological age depends upon the
qualities and capabilities of the American worker -- and not just
the most talented among us, but each individual member of the
workforce.
The seven-point plan I sent to Congress early this month
will help us reward excellence in our schools, reach out to
students most in need, increase choice, and introduce a healthy
element of competition and accountability that will promote
quality in our schools.
Preparing for the future means helping Americans cope with
the changing nature of society -- helping fundamental
institutions like the family remain strong and prosper. That's
the guiding aim of my child care initiatives, a tax credit
proposal designed to expand the options of low-income families --
keeping the ultimate choice of who will care for their children
in their hands.
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Preparing for the future means protecting our environment.
Teddy Roosevelt put it best when he said: "I do not recognize
the right
to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come
after us." Roosevelt spoke those words almost eighty years ago.
Now, little more than a decade away from the 21st Century,
safeguarding our environment is a national -- and international -
- imperative.
We've taken the first, important steps: we've urged
Congress to enact legislation enabling us to ban export of
hazardous wastes to nations where safe handling of those
dangerous substances cannot be guaranteed. And in response to
growing concern about global warming, we've committed the U.S. to
work in concert with other nations to end the discharge of CFCs
into the atmosphere by the year 2000.
And in the case of the Alaskan oil spill, we have taken
steps to ensure a strong federal role in the clean-up effort, and
to explore ways to prevent such spills in the future.
Finally, in the international arena, I've met with the
leaders of 34 nations -- renewing my acquaintance with many of
them, establishing a working relationship with the others.
I've also ordered my national security team to conduct a series
of systematic defense and foreign policy reviews. Those reviews
-- now nearly complete ---- will help us map strategy in an
international environment where change is more rapid than at any
point in the post-war period.
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Last Monday, we announced a new policy towards Poland, in
recognition of the positive changes taking place there. We'll be
watching events in Poland closely: the fate of Solidarity, the
follow-through on the free elections promised by the Polish
Government. Freedom is proving a powerful force in world affairs
-- a force for peace and stability.
The United States must seize opportunities to strengthen and
support developments that advance the cause of freedom -- and we
will.
We've made a good start these first three months, and
there's more to come. The completion of our defense and foreign
policy reviews in late May, draft legislation for a new Clean Air
Act, a final decision on assault weapons, and new initiatives to
combat the problem of homelessness in America -- all are on the
near horizon.
You know, some of my toughest critics aren't members of the
media -- quite often, they're the children who write to me at the
White House.
I want to share with you a letter from a young man -- an
eighth grader from Torrance, California. He wrote asking me to
take action on pollution, toxic waste, smog, littering -- a very
detailed list of environmental concerns.
He says in his letter: "I am not saying you're doing a bad
job, but could you put a little more effort into it?"
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Now, I want you to know when that letter was written:
January 20, 1989 -- inauguration day.
I don't know whether I've managed to satisfy the young man
who wrote that letter, but I can say I got his message. Whatever
the issue, we need to get down to business -- find solutions,
make progress.
So while I'm pleased with all we've accomplished in these
three months, there's a long road ahead of us. I'm optimistic --
that our reforms will produce lasting results; that the long-
range planning we do today will pay off in the future. But most
of all, this nation is ready to move forward to meet the central
challenges we face: keeping America free, prosperous and at
peace, tomorrow, and into the century ahead.