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Gridiron Dinner 3/31/90 [OA 4727]
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323150978
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Gridiron Dinner 3/31/90 [OA 4727]
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13525-007
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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
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:
13525
Folder ID Number:
13525-007
Folder Title:
Gridiron Dinner 3/31/90 [OA 4727]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
26
16
2
3
DOUG GAMBLE
McNally
424- 36th Place
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
March 13/90
(213) 546-6409
TO: KRISTEN GEAR
5 Pages
GRIDIRON DINNER (Mark Lange)
I HAVEN'T SEEN PEOPLE THIS WELL DRESSED SINCE I WAS IN CALIFORNIA A FEW WEEKS
AGO, AND THE ANNENBERGS HELD A GARAGE SALE.
THIS LOOKS LIKE THE KIND OF AUDIENCE WHERE NO ONE WILL COME UP TO ME AND
COMPLAIN ABOUT POSTAGE GOING UP TO 30 CENTS.
WHEN I TOLD BARBARA WE'D BE SPENDING TONIGHT AT THE HOTEL WHERE ALL THE ACTION
IS, SHE THOUGHT I MEANT THE VISTA.
BARBARA WAS A SENSATION HERE LAST YEAR WHEN SHE SHOWED UP WEARING A RED WIG.
I GAVE HER AN IDEA HOW SHE COULD TOP HERSELF THIS YEAR, BUT SHE REFUSED TO
DRESS UP AS MARLA MAPLES.
I'VE BEEN HEARING THE CRITICISM OF SOME DEMOCRATS AND SOME IN THE MEDIA ABOUT
SO-CALLED TIMIDITY, LACK OF VISION, A LOW PROFILE AND UNINSPIRING SPEECHES.
WELL I'M NOT CONCERNED. I'M SURE MY FRIEND TOM FOLEY WILL IMPROVE.
(He's the Democratic speaker.)
MORE
. 2 -
DOUG GAMBLE
TO: KRISTEN GEAR - GRIDIRON (CONT'D)
DESPITE THE CHARGES THAT I HAVE A THIN SKIN, I ENJOY BEING LAMPOONED BY
THE WASHINGTON PRESS CORPS. SOMETIMES KNOWN AS THE "DIGNITY BATALLION."
I'VE HEARD CRITICISM THAT I'M OBSESSED WITH PUBLIC OPINION POLLS. THE FACT
IS, I DON'T THINK POLLS SERVE ANY USEFUL PURPOSE AT ALL -- AND 67% OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AGREE WITH ME.
SURE, BARBARA AND I REGISTER HIGH IN THE POPULARITY POLLS, BUT I WON'T REST
UNTIL 100% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE BEHIND THE BUSHES.
THERE ARE SOME WHO SAY I'M SECRETIVE. WELL I HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT, BUT
I CAN'T TELL YOU BECAUSE IT MIGHT LEAK OUTSIDE THIS ROOM.
SOME IN THE MEDIA THINK I'M DEVIOUS. WELL I'LL FOOL THEM.
SOME ACCUSE ME OF BEING TOO CAUTIOUS. I'LL RESPOND TO THAT AFTER I'VE
CONSIDERED ALL SIDES OF THE QUESTION.
SOME SAY I'M TOO TIMID. 1'D LIKE TO END THAT PERCEPTION RIGHT HERE AND NOW,
BUT I'M AFRAID OF THE REPERCUSSIONS.
I'D LIKE TO REPORT TO YOU ON THE VISION THING. FOR A FEW MINUTES LAST NIGHT I
THOUGHT I HAD A VISION, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE INDIGESTION.
MORE...
- 3 -
DOUG GAMBLE
TO: KRISTEN GEAR : - GRIDIRON (CONT'D)
IT JUST so HAPPENS THAT I DO HAVE A VISION. I SEE AN AMERICA WHERE REPORTERS
WON'T CRITICIZE ME ONCE I'VE HAD THEM OVER FOR DINNER.
I WANT TO THANK AT&T FOR THEIR OFFER, BUT I'VE DECIDED NOT TO APPEAR WITH
RAFSANJANI IN A "REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEONE" COMMERCIAL.
I'VE TAKEN A LOT OF KIDDING ABOUT THAT HOAX PHONE CALL, so I JUST WANT TO MAKE
IT CLEAR THAT THE GUY WHO CALLED WAS RAFSANJANI. UNFORTUNATELY -- IRVING
RAFSANJANI, A TOLEDO PIPE-FITTER.
WE GOT BACK AT IRAN. RICH LITTLE PHONED RAFSANJANI PRETENDING TO BE ME.
i LL TAKE A PHONE CALL FROM ANY ADVERSARY I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH, IF THERE'S
A CHANCE TO IRON OUT OUR DIFFERENCES. BUT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE MY MESSAGE TO
MY STAFF IS: DAMMIT, IF IT SOUNDS LIKE GREENSPAN, MAKE SURE IT IS GREENSPAN.'
I DON'T MIND MY FOREIGN POLICY BEING CRITICIZED, AS LONG AS THE CRITICS ARE
KNOWLEDGABLE ABOUT WORLD AFFAIRS. I ASKED (A DEMOCRAT) WHAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT
REUNIFICATION, AND HE SAID "MAYBE THE TRUMPS WILL GET BACK TOGETHER."
EVENTS MOVE so QUICKLY THESE DAYS, IT'S MIND-BOGGLING. IT'S so WONDERFUL TO
SEE FREE SPEECH RESTORED TO THE SOVIET UNION, TO EASTERN EUROPE, TO ANDY ROONEY.
MORE
- 4 -
DOUG GAMBLE
TO: KRISTEN GEAR - GRIDIRON (CONT'D)
ON THE WAY IN I PASSED BY A GUY WHO'S ON A HUNGER STRIKE UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT
DOES MORE ABOUT AID TO THE IMPOVERISHED. I STOPPED AND SAID "LOOK, I HATE
TO SEE YOU SUFFER LIKE THIS CONGRESSMAN GEPHARDT, BUT WE'RE NOT SENDING AID.
TO THE SOVIETS.
I TOLD JOHN SUNUNU I WAS NEVER so INSPIRED AS I WAS A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN A
BRAVE, FORMERLY PERSECUTED LEADER VISITED CAPITOL HILL, MADE A SPEECH AND
HAD CONGRESSMEN EATING OUT OF HIS HAND. JOHN SAID "YES, VACLAV HAVEL WAS
REMARKABLE. I SAID "I KNOW, BUT I MEAN RICHARD NIXON."
I THOUGHT PRESIDENT CARTER DID A GREAT JOB OBSERVING THE ELECTION IN NICARAGUA.
I UNDERSTAND HE ASKED FOR BODYGUARDS TO BE WITH HIM AT ALL TIMES, AND WAS TOLD
HE HAD NOTHING TO FEAR FROM EITHER THE CONTRAS OR SANDINISTAS. HE SAID "I KNOW,
BUT WHAT ABOUT KILLER RABBITS?"
I ASKED DICK CHENEY NOT TO BE TOO FUNNY TONIGHT so I WOULDN'T HAVE A TOUGH ACT
TO FOLLOW. DICK SAID "WHY ASK ME, TOM FOLEY WILL PROBABLY BE FUNNY TOO."
I
SAID "I KNOW, BUT I CAN'T FIRE TOM FOLEY.'
IT'S ONLY DUE TO FLUKE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT DICK CHENEY IS WHERE HE IS TODAY. WHEN
THE TOWER NOMINATION FELL THROUGH, I TOLD JOHN SUNUNU TO GET ME MY FAVORITE
POLITICIAN FROM WYOMING, AND JOHN DIDN'T REALIZE I MEANT AL SIMPSON.
DICK LEARNED A LITTLE ABOUT DEFENSE IN THE FORD ADMINISTRATION. HE USED TO PUT ON
COMBAT GEAR TO PLAY GOLF WITH JERRY.
MORE
- 5 -
DOUG GAMBLE
TO: KRISTEN GEAR - GRIDIRON (CONT'D)
DICK HAS TO WRESTLE WITH A VITAL ISSUE NEXT WEEK: WHETHER FEMALE CATERPILLARS
SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN COMBAT.
DICK DARMIN POINTED OUT A POSSIBLE FLAW IN MY PLAN TO DROP A MILLION
CATERPILLARS ON COLOMBIA. AFTER THEY'VE EATEN THE COCOA LEAVES, IS THE
AMERICAN TAXPAYER WILLING TO SEND THEM ALL TO THE BETTY FORD CENTER?
IF ANYONE THINKS WOMAN AREN'T VERY GOOD AT COMBAT, JUST PUT BARBARA BUSH
ALONE IN A ROOM WITH GEORGE WILL.
I THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT REPORTS OF A FEUD BETWEEN JOHN SUNUNU AND BILL
REILLY ARE OVERBLOWN. NOT ONLY DO THEY GET ALONG FINE NOW, BUT JUST TO SHOW
THERE ARE NO HARD FEELINGS, JOHN GAVE BILL A GIFT OF A TICKET FOR A RIDE ON
A GREYHOUND BUS.
105TH GRIDIRON DINNER \ CAPITOL HILTON
SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1990 \ 10:56 P.M.
You KNOW, THAT CLOSER A FEW MOMENTS AGO WAS THE
MOST MOVING THING I'VE SEEN IN OVER A DOZEN GRIDIRONS.
BUT I DO REMEMBER AN INSPIRED MOMENT BARBARA AND I HAD,
AFTER LAST YEAR'S DINNER. STANDING ON A WINDY STREET
CORNER. SHE IN A TRENCHCOAT WITH THE COLLAR TURNED
UP
HER LONG, FLOWING RED HAIR BLOWING IN THE
WIND
AND BOTH OF US TOO PROUD TO RUN AFTER IT.
- 2 -
LET ME CONGRATULATE THE NEW GRIDIRON PRESIDENT.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE AN INTELLECTUAL IN CHARGE. IT TOOK
VISION TO PREDICT MY RACE WOULD BE OVER AFTER IOWA...
TO SAY DUKAKIS WOULD GET THE SOUTHERN VOTE... To WORK
FOR A PAPER THAT PREDICTS DANIEL ORTEGA BY 30 POINTS
SPEECH IN THE DARK? HELL, BRODER WRITES WHOLE COLUMNS
IN THE DARK.
- 3 -
THAT TUNE ABOUT THE "BAD, BAD, G.O.P." WAS A REAL
TOE-TAPPER. WE REPUBLICANS ARE TOUGH -- ESPECIALLY MY
CHIEF OF STAFF. DOWN IN CARTAGENA DURING A LUNCHTIME
PHOTO OP, WE HAD TO KEEP SAYING, "REMEMBER JOHN -- BITE
THE TACO, SHAKE THE HAND..."
I
- 4 -
OUR PRESS SECRETARY, HE USED TO BE PRETTY SOFT.
BUT HE'S COME A LONG WAY FROM LAST YEAR, WHEN WE WENT
INTO A CLOTHING STORE. MARLIN SAID, "I'D LIKE TO SEE
A BATHING SUIT IN MY SIZE." AND THE CLERK SAID,
"So WOULD I."
- 5 -
BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD TEAM IN PLACE. WHEN
THE PHONE RANG THE OTHER DAY, SCOWCROFT RAN IT THROUGH
INTELLIGENCE. BAKER CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT.
SUNUNU SAID, "TAKE THE CALL." CERTAINLY WORTH IT.
NEVER THOUGHT I'D HEAR FROM ELVIS AGAIN.
- 6 -
WHAT WE'RE STILL HEARING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS
CORPS IS, "WHERE'S BRENT?" AND I'M SENSITIVE TO
TONIGHT'S JOKES ABOUT THOSE TRIPS OF HIS. A FEW WEEKS
AGO BRENT TOOK A VACATION IN SALT LAKE CITY. WE TOLD
THE PRESS ABOUT IT. BUT I'LL BE DAMNED IF I'M GONNA
PUT SANCTIONS ON UTAH.
- 7 -
[LAST ONE:]
Look. LOT OF COMEDIANS OUT THERE. DOING
IMPERSONATIONS. OKAY WITH ME. AT THIS JUNCTURE. 11
NEED FOR BALANCE: SOMEWHERE BETWEEN CAUTION, 11
AND PRUDENCE. 11 BUT NATURAL DISASTERS?
OUT OF BOUNDS. CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE? NOT MY FAULT.
SAN ANDREAS [AN-DRAY-us] FAULT.
- 8 -
You KNOW, A FEW YEARS AGO DAVID BRODER WROTE,
"GRIDIRONERS BELIEVE THAT FOOLISHNESS IS ITS OWN
REWARD.' IT'S TRUE. BECAUSE THE BASIS OF ALL GOOD
HUMOR IS A MEASURE OF REBELLION. AND IF WE'VE LEARNED
ANYTHING FROM THE MOMENTOUS WORLD EVENTS OF THE PAST
YEAR, IT IS THE UNDENIABLE VALUE OF THOUGHTFUL DISSENT.
As THE ESTEEMED DAVID -- DAVID BRINKLEY -- RECENTLY
SAID, "THIS CITY IS NOWHERE NEAR AS IMPORTANT AS IT
THINKS IT IS."
- 9 -
ALSO TRUE -- BUT THE LESSON HERE SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT
DECLINING INFLUENCE, AS MUCH AS DEFLATING
SELF-IMPORTANCE. EVENTS IN EASTERN EUROPE AND AROUND
THE WORLD HAVE A POWER OF THEIR OWN -- BECAUSE OF THE
PEOPLE AND PERSONALITIES THAT DRIVE THEM -- BUT ABOVE
ALL, BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF IDEAS THAT COMPEL THEM.
- 10 -
WE MAY WITNESS THE WORLD'S UPHEAVALS THROUGH EYES
BLURRED WITH TEARS, OR EYES BRIGHT WITH WONDER. BUT WE
CAN KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF THIS IDEA CALLED AMERICA, THE
WORLD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. AND THANKS TO MY
BEST EFFORTS, THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE MAY NEVER BE THE
SAME AGAIN EITHER.
GOOD NIGHT -- AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
###
105TH GRIDIRON DINNER \ CAPITOL HILTON
SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1990 \ 10:56 P.M.
You KNOW, THAT CLOSER A FEW MOMENTS AGO WAS THE
MOST MOVING THING I'VE SEEN IN OVER A DOZEN GRIDIRONS.
BUT I DO REMEMBER AN INSPIRED MOMENT BARBARA AND I HAD,
AFTER LAST YEAR'S DINNER. STANDING ON A WINDY STREET
CORNER... SHE IN A TRENCHCOAT WITH THE COLLAR TURNED
UP... HER LONG, FLOWING RED HAIR BLOWING IN THE
WIND
AND BOTH OF US TOO PROUD TO RUN AFTER IT.
- 2 -
LET ME CONGRATULATE THE NEW GRIDIRON PRESIDENT.
It's GOOD TO HAVE AN INTELLECTUAL IN CHARGE. IT TOOK
VISION TO PREDICT MY RACE WOULD BE OVER AFTER IOWA...
TO SAY DUKAKIS WOULD GET THE SOUTHERN VOTE... TO
WORK
FOR A PAPER THAT PREDICTS DANIEL ORTEGA BY 30 POINTS
SPEECH IN THE DARK? HELL, BRODER WRITES WHOLE COLUMNS
IN THE DARK.
- 3 -
THAT TUNE ABOUT THE "BAD, BAD, G.O.P." WAS A REAL
TOE-TAPPER. WE REPUBLICANS ARE TOUGH -- ESPECIALLY MY
CHIEF OF STAFF. DOWN IN CARTAGENA DURING A LUNCHTIME
PHOTO OP, WE HAD TO KEEP SAYING, "REMEMBER JOHN -- BITE
THE TACO, SHAKE THE HAND..."
- 4 -
OUR PRESS SECRETARY, HE USED TO BE PRETTY SOFT.
BUT HE'S COME A LONG WAY FROM LAST YEAR, WHEN WE WENT
INTO A CLOTHING STORE. MARLIN SAID, "I'D LIKE TO SEE
A BATHING SUIT IN MY SIZE." AND THE CLERK SAID,
"So WOULD I."
- 5 -
BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD TEAM IN PLACE. WHEN
THE PHONE RANG THE OTHER DAY, SCOWCROFT RAN IT THROUGH
INTELLIGENCE. BAKER CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT.
SUNUNU SAID, "TAKE THE CALL." CERTAINLY WORTH IT.
NEVER THOUGHT I'D HEAR FROM ELVIS AGAIN.
- 6 -
WHAT WE'RE STILL HEARING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS
CORPS IS, "WHERE'S BRENT?" AND I'M SENSITIVE TO
TONIGHT'S JOKES ABOUT THOSE TRIPS OF HIS. A FEW WEEKS
AGO BRENT TOOK A VACATION IN SALT LAKE CITY. WE TOLD
THE PRESS ABOUT IT. BUT I'LL BE DAMNED IF I'M GONNA
PUT SANCTIONS ON UTAH.
- 7 -
[LAST ONE:]
LOOK. LOT OF COMEDIANS OUT THERE. DOING
IMPERSONATIONS. OKAY WITH ME. AT THIS JUNCTURE. 11
NEED FOR BALANCE: SOMEWHERE BETWEEN CAUTION, 11
AND PRUDENCE. 11 BUT NATURAL DISASTERS?
OUT OF BOUNDS. CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE? NOT MY FAULT.
SAN ANDREAS [AN-DRAY-us] FAULT.
- 8 -
You KNOW, A FEW YEARS AGO DAVID BRODER WROTE,
"GRIDIRONERS BELIEVE THAT FOOLISHNESS IS ITS OWN
REWARD. IT'S TRUE. BECAUSE THE BASIS OF ALL GOOD
HUMOR IS A MEASURE OF REBELLION. AND IF WE'VE LEARNED
ANYTHING FROM THE MOMENTOUS WORLD EVENTS OF THE PAST
YEAR, IT IS THE UNDENIABLE VALUE OF THOUGHTFUL DISSENT.
As THE ESTEEMED DAVID -- DAVID BRINKLEY -- RECENTLY
SAID, "THIS CITY IS NOWHERE NEAR AS IMPORTANT AS IT
THINKS IT IS."
- 9 -
ALSO TRUE -- BUT THE LESSON HERE SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT
DECLINING INFLUENCE, AS MUCH AS DEFLATING
SELF-IMPORTANCE. EVENTS IN EASTERN EUROPE AND AROUND
THE WORLD HAVE A POWER OF THEIR OWN -- BECAUSE OF THE
PEOPLE AND PERSONALITIES THAT DRIVE THEM -- BUT ABOVE
ALL, BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF IDEAS THAT COMPEL THEM.
- 10 -
WE MAY WITNESS THE WORLD'S UPHEAVALS THROUGH EYES
BLURRED WITH TEARS, OR EYES BRIGHT WITH WONDER. BUT WE
CAN KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF THIS IDEA CALLED AMERICA, THE
WORLD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. AND THANKS TO MY
BEST EFFORTS, THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE MAY NEVER BE THE
SAME AGAIN EITHER.
GOOD NIGHT -- AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
###