Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
323152243
label
Holland Community Welcome 10/12/92 [OA 8485]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
323152243
contentType
document
title
Holland Community Welcome 10/12/92 [OA 8485]
citationUrl
identifierLocal
13645-013
collections
Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Speech Draft Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
323152243
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
61518c5fb0f8754a
ocrText
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:
13645
Folder ID Number:
13645-013
Folder Title:
Holland Community Welcome 10/12/92 [OA 8485]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
26
18
5
4
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
HOLLAND, MI
OCT. 12, 1992
THANK YOU -- GOVERNOR JOHN ENGLER.
MICHELLE (ENGLER), IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU
AGAIN. LT. GOV. CONNIE BINSFELD. AND
PETER HOEKSTRA -- CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE
FROM THE 5TH DISTRICT. AND OUT THERE IN
THE AUDIENCE IS A MAN I HAD THE PLEASURE
OF MEETING AWHILE BACK -- PROF. HARVEY
BLANKESPOOR AND HIS WIFE, MARLENE. IT'S
GREAT TO BE HERE AT HOPE COLLEGE -- GREAT
TO BE BACK IN MICHIGAN.
MAY I BEGIN -- BY CONGRATULATING THE
FLYING DUTCHMAN -- ON YOUR BIG VICTORY
SATURDAY.
- 2 -
I ALSO COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT
ONE OF MICHIGAN'S GREAT COMPANIES -- THE
HERMAN MILLER CORPORATION -- MADE THE
FURNITURE FOR LAST NIGHT'S PRESIDENTIAL
DEBATE.
THEY DID A GREAT JOB. THINGS GOT so
HOT IN THERE -- THAT I COMMEND WHOEVER
MADE THE DECISION - -- TO NAIL THE PODIUMS
TO THE FLOOR.
- 3 -
YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR CLINTON HAS A
TENDENCY TO TAKE TWO POSITIONS ON EVERY
ISSUE. SO MAYBE HERMAN MILLER SHOULD MAKE
A FOURTH PODIUM -- ONE FOR GOVERNOR
CLINTON WHEN HE'S FOR SOMETHING, AND ONE
FOR WHEN HE'S AGAINST IT.
- 4 -
LISTENING TO MY OPPONENTS -- YOU
PROBABLY GET THE IDEA THAT AMERICA IS A
NATION IN DECLINE. SURE, WE HAVE OUR
CHALLENGES. BUT WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET
THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE STILL THE BEST
EDUCATED -- OUR ECONOMY STILL THE MOST
DYNAMIC -- OUR WORKERS STILL MORE
PRODUCTIVE -- THAN ANY OTHER WORKERS IN
THE WORLD.
I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
THE PAST FOUR YEARS -- TO STRENGTHEN
AMERICA'S LEADERSHIP.
- 5 -
FOUR YEARS AGO, I SAID THAT WE WOULD
BRING THE DISABLED INTO AMERICA'S ECONOMIC
MAINSTREAM. WE DELIVERED. I SAID I WOULD
DO WHAT NO PRESIDENT HAS DONE FOR TEN
YEARS -- AND START TO CLEAN OUR AIR OF
ACID RAIN. WE DELIVERED. I SAID WE WOULD
STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY -- BY LETTING
PARENTS -- NOT THE GOVERNMENT -- CHOOSE
OUR KIDS CHILD CARE. WE DELIVERED
AGAIN. //
AND I'M PROUD THAT ON OUR WATCH --
MORE THAN A BILLION PEOPLE -- ALMOST ONE-
FIFTH OF THE POPULATION OF THE ENTIRE
WORLD -- HAVE ENJOYED THEIR FIRST BREATH
OF FREEDOM.//
- 6 -
PROUD THAT WE STOOD UP TO A BAGHDAD
BULLY -- AND LED THE WORLD IN SAYING "NO"
TO AGGRESSION.//
AND I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD -- THAT THE
CHILDREN HERE WITH US TODAY -- WILL GROW
UP IN A WORLD THAT IS SAFER -- BECAUSE WE
REDUCED THE AWFUL NIGHTMARE OF NUCLEAR
WEAPONS.//
BUT WHILE THE SOVIET BEAR MAY BE GONE,
THERE ARE STILL WOLVES IN THE WOODS.
- 7 -
IT MAY BE TEMPTING TO BELIEVE THAT WE
CAN TURN THE AMERICAN COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
INTO THE MAYTAG REPAIRMAN. BUT THERE ARE
STILL REAL DANGERS IN THE WORLD. YOU MUST
ASK -- WHO YOU TRUST TO KEEP YOUR FAMILIES
SECURE? GOVERNOR CLINTON HAS ABSOLUTELY
NO INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE. I AM THE
PRESIDENT WHO HAS LED THE WORLD -- AND
MADE OUR CHILDREN SAFER. //
- 8 -
YOU SEE, THIS NEW WORLD TODAY BRINGS
NEW CHALLENGES -- AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
WE ARE PART OF A GLOBAL ECONOMY -- AND
THIS IS NO TIME TO HAND THE WHEEL TO A
NOVICE TO TAKE A RISK. WHEN IT COMES TO
STEERING AMERICA THROUGH THE NEW GLOBAL
ECONOMIC CHALLENGES -- AMERICA NEEDS A
DRIVER WHO KNOWS THE HIGHWAY. //
I HAVE LAID OUT MY AGENDA FOR
AMERICAN RENEWAL -- THE STEPS WE MUST TAKE
TO WIN THE NEW ECONOMIC COMPETITION -- TO
BUILD A PROSPEROUS, SECURE NATION FOR ALL
THE KIDS HERE TODAY.
- 9 -
STEP NUMBER ONE IS TO TEAR DOWN
BARRIERS TO FREE AND FAIR TRADE -- SO THAT
WE CAN CREATE GOOD JOBS FOR AMERICAN
WORKERS.
TODAY, WE ARE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN. BUT WHILE THERE IS ANXIETY HERE
AT HOME, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE
NATIONS OF EUROPE WOULD SWITCH PLACES WITH
US IN A MINUTE. WE HAVE LOWER INFLATION
AND LOWER INTEREST RATES. AND WE ARE THE
WORLD'S LEADING EXPORTER. WHEN YOU SHOP
IN THE WORLD, CHANCES ARE THAT THE GOODS
IN THE STORE SAY NOT "MADE IN JAPAN," --
NOT "MADE IN GERMANY" -- BUT -- "MADE IN
THE USA. "//
- 10 -
BY PRYING OPEN NEW FOREIGN MARKETS, WE
WILL PROVIDE GOOD JOBS FOR OUR KIDS AND
GRANDKIDS. ALREADY, THE AVERAGE EXPORT-
RELATED JOB PAYS 17 PERCENT MORE THAN A
TRADITIONAL JOB. SO IF WE WANT THE SONS
AND DAUGHTERS OF STEEL WORKERS TO HAVE
GOOD JOBS, WE MUST FIGHT FOR FREE AND FAIR
TRADE. //
I'M PROUD OF MY ADMINISTRATION'S
RECORD -- PROUD THAT LAST WEEK WE SIGNED
THE HISTORIC NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE
AGREEMENT -- FORGING A $6 TRILLION DOLLAR
MARKET -- FROM MANITOBA TO MEXICO -- THAT
WILL CREATE 175,000 ADDITIONAL AMERICAN
JOBS.//
- 11 -
IN MY SECOND TERM, WE WILL FIGHT FOR
NEW AGREEMENTS -- WITH THE NATIONS OF
EUROPE, ASIA AND LATIN AMERICA. JUST AS
WE ONCE USED OUR MILITARY ALLIANCES TO WIN
THE OLD COLD WAR, WE CAN USE OUR ECONOMIC
ALLIANCES TO WIN THE NEW BUSINESS WAR.
BECAUSE GIVE THE AMERICAN WORKER THE
CHANCE --AND THEY WILL OUT-THINK, OUT-
COMPETE, AND OUT-PRODUCE -- ANY OTHER IN
THE WORLD.//
BUT LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES -- WE'RE
NOT GOING TO COMPETE IN THIS NEW ECONOMY,
IF WE DON'T CHANGE OUR SCHOOLS.
- 12 -
WE ALREADY SPEND MORE PER PUPIL THAN
ANY OF OUR MAJOR INDUSTRIAL COMPETITORS -
- AND YET OUR KIDS RANK NEAR THE BOTTOM IN
MATH AND SCIENCE. WE NEED TO EMBRACE NEW
IDEAS.
AGAIN -- I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE
DONE ALREADY. NEVER IN HISTORY -- HAS
AMERICA HAD NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS --
TODAY WE DO.//
NEVER BEFORE IN AMERICA, HAVE ALMOST
2,000 COMMUNITIES COMMITTED TO LITERALLY
REINVENTING THEIR SCHOOLS -- TODAY THEY
ARE.
- 13 -
BUT WE CAN'T STOP HERE. SO IN MY
SECOND TERM, I WANT TO GIVE EVERY PARENT
IN AMERICA -- THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE THEIR
KIDS SCHOOLS. PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR
RELIGIOUS.//
BUT REFORMING EDUCATION WON'T BE
ENOUGH -- IF OUR GRADUATES CAN'T FIND
JOBS. so WE HAVE TO STRENGTHEN AMERICAN
BUSINESS.
THE PAST FOUR YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN EASY
-- AS AMERICAN COMPANIES RESTRUCTURE. BUT
ALMOST EVERY AMERICAN INDUSTRY -- STEEL,
COMPUTERS, CARS, BIOTECHNOLOGY -- IS
STRONGER THAN JUST FOUR YEARS AGO.
- 14 -
SMALL BUSINESS IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR
NEW ECONOMY -- CREATING TWO OUT OF EVERY
THREE NEW JOBS. AND SMALL BUSINESS WILL
LEAD THE NEW ECONOMIC RECOVERY - -- IF WE
CAN PROVIDE THE KIND OF RELIEF I'M
FIGHTING FOR RELIEF FROM TAXATION,
REGULATION AND LITIGATION.//
AMERICA SPENDS UP TO $200 BILLION
EVERY YEAR ON DIRECT COSTS TO LAWYERS.
JAPAN DOESN'T SPEND THIS, NEITHER DOES
GERMANY. I WANT TO TAKE ON THE AMBULANCE
CHASING TRIAL LAWYERS, AND REFORM OUR
LAWSUIT-HAPPY LEGAL SYSTEM. AS A NATION
WE MUST SUE EACH OTHER LESS -- AND CARE
FOR EACH OTHER MORE. //
- 15 -
STEP NUMBER FOUR OF MY AGENDA IS TO
CREATE ECONOMIC SECURITY -- FOR EVERY
WORKING MAN AND WOMAN.
THAT MEANS CUTTING THE COST OF HEALTH
CARE.
WITH OUR CURRENT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM -
- YOU GET SICK TWICE. FIRST, WHEN YOU GO
TO THE DOCTOR -- THEN A MONTH LATER --
WHEN YOU GET THE BILL.
- 16 -
I WANT TO REFORM MALPRACTICE INSURANCE,
AND USE COMPETITION TO DRIVE COSTS DOWN -
- AND MAKE AFFORDABLE INSURANCE AVAILABLE
TO EVERYONE -- INCLUDING THE POOREST OF
THE POOR.
A GOOD DOCTOR SHOULD NOT BE A LUXURY -
- NOT SOMETHING RESERVED FOR THE
PRIVILEGED FEW. NOT HERE. NOT IN
MICHIGAN. NOT IN AMERICA. NOT ANYMORE!//
PRIORITY NUMBER FIVE -- IS TO REACH
OUT TO EVERY AMERICAN -- BECAUSE IN THE
NEXT CENTURY, WE NEED THE TALENT OF EVERY
PERSON -- FROM THE CITY TO THE SUBURBS TO
THE FURTHEST RURAL TOWN.
- 17 -
TO DO THIS -- WE MUST TAKE BACK OUR
STREETS -- FROM THE CRACKHEADS AND THE
CRIMINALS.//
I'M PROUD THAT UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION
-- MOST FEDERAL INMATES SERVE AT LEAST 85
PERCENT OF THEIR FULL SENTENCE. WE'VE
APPOINTED JUDGES WHO HAVE A LOT LESS
RESPECT FOR THE CRIMINALS -- AND A LOT
MORE CONCERN FOR THE VICTIMS.//
BUT WE MUST DO BETTER. WE JUST PASSED
A BILL WITH TOUGH LAWS AGAINST NEW CRIMES
LIKE CAR-JACKING -- NOW WE NEED SPECIAL
LAWS FOR CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN AND THE
ELDERLY.
- 18 -
THE WAY I SEE IT -- IF YOU STEAL A CAR
OR MUG AN ELDERLY WOMAN -- YOU OUGHT TO GO
TO JAIL AND YOU SHOULDN'T BE LET OUT --
UNTIL YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR A BIRTHDAY
SALUTE FROM WILLARD SCOTT. //
THE FINAL PART OF MY AGENDA -- IS
SIMPLY THIS. I BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT IS
TOO BIG -- AND SPENDS TOO MUCH OF YOUR
MONEY. //
SO I HAVE PUT FORWARD A SPECIFIC PLAN
TO ELIMINATE OVER 4,000 GOVERNMENT
PROJECTS AND ALMOST 250 PROGRAMS -- THAT
WASTE YOUR HARD-EARNED TAX DOLLARS.
1
- 19 -
AND I WANT TO CONTROL THE GROWTH OF
MANDATORY FEDERAL SPENDING -- WITHOUT
TOUCHING SOCIAL SECURITY.
I'M FIGHTING FOR A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT. AND A LINE-ITEM VETO. AND I
WANT TO GIVE EVERY TAXPAYER THE POWER TO
DESIGNATE UP TO TEN PERCENT OF YOUR INCOME
TAX -- TO BE USED FOR ONE PURPOSE ONLY:
TO TAKE THE DEFICIT OFF OUR CHILDREN'S
SHOULDERS. //
- 20 -
CONGRESS SIMPLY WON'T MAKE THE TOUGH
CHOICES -- SO IT'S TIME FOR TOUGH
MEDICINE. GOVERNOR CLINTON WON'T STAND UP
TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BOSSES AND ENDORSE
TERM LIMITS. I SAY LET'S LIMIT THE TERMS
OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS -- AND GIVE
GOVERNMENT BACK TO THE PEOPLE.//
THIS IS MY AGENDA FOR AMERICAN
RENEWAL. IT OFFERS THE PROMISE OF A VERY
DIFFERENT AMERICA THAN THE PLAN GOVERNOR
CLINTON PROPOSES.
LOOK AT EACH OF THE ITEMS I'VE
MENTIONED TODAY -- YOU'LL SEE THE
DIFFERENCE.
- 21 -
1
ON THE QUESTION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT -- GOVERNOR CLINTON
WAS FIRST FOR IT, THEN AGAINST IT -- NOW
HE'S FOR IT AGAIN. BUT THEY DON'T SERVE
WAFFLES IN THE OVAL OFFICE -- ON TOUGH
ISSUES -- YOU HAVE TO TAKE A STAND. //
IN EDUCATION, GOVERNOR CLINTON TALKS A
GOOD GAME -- BUT HE'S FLUNKED HIS TEST IN
ARKANSAS. AND GOVERNOR CLINTON CAN'T
REFORM AMERICAN SCHOOLS -- BECAUSE HE
DOESN'T WANT TO OFFEND THE POWERFUL
UNIONS. HE WANTS TO TELL THE EDUCATION
ESTABLISHMENT WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR -- I
WANT TO TELL THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO
HEAR. //
- 22 -
YOU SEE THE SAME THING WHEN IT COMES
TO HELPING SMALL BUSINESS. GOVERNOR
CLINTON AND THE TRIAL LAWYERS ACT LIKE
BORIS AND NATASHA IN THE OLD BULLWINKLE
CARTOONS. THEY PLAY GOO-GOO EYES WITH
EACH OTHER. GOVERNOR CLINTON DOESN'T WANT
TO TOUCH THE LEGAL SYSTEM. AND GOVERNOR
CLINTON WANTS SMALL BUSINESS TO PAY A
STIFF NEW PAYROLL TAX FOR HEALTH CARE --
WHICH WOULD DRIVE AWAY YOUR JOBS. WE
DON'T NEED TO DESTROY JOBS -- WE NEED TO
CREATE THEM. //
- 23 -
ON CRIME, HERE'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT GOVERNOR CLINTON. THE PRESTIGIOUS
NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE HAVE
ENDORSED ME; AND THE POLICE IN LITTLE ROCK
-- THE ONES WHO KNOW BILL CLINTON BEST --
HAVE ENDORSED ME FOR PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES. //
AND LAST, BUT MOST IMPORTANT -- WHERE
I WANT TO MAKE GOVERNMENT SMALLER,
GOVERNOR CLINTON PROPOSES AT LEAST $150
BILLION IN NEW TAXES -- AND HE HAS
PROMISED WELL OVER $220 BILLION IN NEW
SPENDING.
- 24 -
AND WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR ALL HIS
PROMISES? THE CAB DRIVERS AND THE
BARBERS, THE BEAUTICIANS AND THE
CONSTRUCTION WORKER. I SAY ITS TIME TO
HELP THE MIDDLE-CLASS.
SO YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TWO
FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT VISIONS OF
AMERICA.
GOVERNOR CLINTON PUTS HIS FAITH IN
MORE GOVERNMENT, IN SPECIAL INTERESTS, IN
HIGHER TAXES TO PAY FOR ALL HIS PROMISES.
- 25 -
I OFFER SMALLER GOVERNMENT, LOWER
TAXES -- AND MORE POWER TO PEOPLE -- SO
THAT WE CAN RENEW AMERICA.
TODAY, AS YOU KNOW, IS COLUMBUS DAY,
AND I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN
COLUMBUS SET SAIL ON HIS VOYAGE -- SPAIN'S
MOTTO WAS THREE WORDS -- NE PLUS ULTRA.
IT MEANT SIMPLY -- "NO MORE BEYOND."
AFTER COLUMBUS RETURNED FROM HIS
DISCOVERY -- QUEEN ISABELLA DROPPED THE
FIRST WORD FROM HER COUNTRY'S MOTTO. NOW
IT READS "PLUS ULTRA" -- MORE BEYOND.
- 26 - -
TODAY, WE CAN SAY THE SAME THING OF
AMERICA. WE HAVE TRIUMPHED AROUND THE
WORLD -- BUT THERE IS "MORE BEYOND" --
MORE TO REACH FOR -- HERE AT HOME.
BETTER SCHOOLS, SAFER STREETS,
STRONGER FAMILIES -- A DYNAMIC, GROWING
ECONOMY - -- WHERE YOU CAN LIVE YOUR DREAMS.
THIS IS THE FUTURE I OFFER AMERICA.
THIS IS WHY I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO
FINISH THE JOB.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOD BLESS THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Holland, Michigan)
For Immediate Release
October 12, 1992
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT HOLLAND COMMUNITY WELCOME
Hope College
Holland, Michigan
5:10 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Governor. What a
fantastic rally. Thank you all. Wall-to-wall people at Hope.
This is beautiful. Thank you so very much. (Applause.)
And may I thank your great Governor John Engler, and
salute your Lt. Governor Connie Binsfeld who's with us. And
Peter Hoekstra, who we've got to have as a member of the
Congress. (Applause.) If we had more people in Congress like
Peter they wouldn't be yelling at me, "Clean House." We've got
to clean House, and one way to do it -- get Peter in there and
others like him. Good, solid, Michigan people. (Applause.)
Out there in the audience is someone you ought to be
very proud of; the man I had the pleasure of meeting awhile back
-- Professor Harvey Blankespoor, and his wife, Marlene. Great
leader, great educational leader. (Applause.) And, of course,
it's a great pleasure to be here at Hope College -- and great to
be back in Michigan. (Applause.)
Now, may I begin by congratulating the Flying
Dutchmen on your big victory Saturday. (Applause.) You know, I
also couldn't help but notice that one of Michigan's great
companies, the Herman Miller Corporation, made the furniture for
last night's presidential debate. They did a great job.
(Applause.) And they did a great job, and things got so hot in
there that I commend whoever made the decision to nail the
podiums to the floor. (Laughter.)
But, you know, Governor Clinton has a tendency to
take two positions on every issue. So maybe -- maybe Herman
Miller should make a fourth podium -- one for Clinton when he's
for something, and one for Clinton when he's against it.
(Applause.)
You listen to him and also to some degree to Ross
Perot, and you get the feeling that America is a nation in
decline. And, yes, we've got our challenges. But we should
never forget that our people are still the best educated; our
economy, in spite of a world slowdown, the best -- the most
dynamic; and our workers the most productive -- more productive
than any other workers in the entire world. And that is the
fact. (Applause.)
I am proud of what we've accomplished the past four
years -- to strengthen America's leadership. We are respected
around the entire world. And we are number one. (Applause.)
Let's talk about the record. Four years ago, I said
that we would bring the disabled into America's economic
mainstream. And we delivered with the Americans With
Disabilities Act, the best piece of civil rights legislation in
decades. (Applause.)
- 2 -
And I said I would do what no President has done for
10 years -- 20 years -- and start to clean our air of acid rain.
And we delivered. And I said we would strengthen the family by
letting parents, not the government, choose our kids' child care.
And we delivered on that, too. (Applause.)
And I'm also proud that on our watch more than a
billion people, almost one-fifth of the population of the entire
world, have enjoyed their first breath of freedom. Democracy and
freedom are on the move. (Applause.)
And while Governor Clinton waffled, I stood up to a
Baghdad bully and we led the world in saying no to aggression.
(Applause.) And I'm especially proud that the children here
today will grow up in a world that is safer because we reduced
the awful threat, the nightmare of nuclear weapons. That is a
major accomplishment. (Applause.)
But, you know, while the Soviet bear may be gone,
there are still wolves in the woods. It may be tempting to
believe that we can turn the American Commander-in-Chief into the
Maytag repairman. But there are still real dangers in the world,
You must ask, who do you trust to keep your families secure?
(Applause.)
This is about big things. It's about the
presidency. And Governor Clinton has absolutely no international
experience. I am the President who has led the world and made
our children safer. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four
more years!
THE PRESIDENT: You see, this new world -- the new
world today brings new challenges -- and also new opportunities.
We are part of a global economy, and this is no time to hand the
wheel to a novice to take a risk with the United States. When it
comes to steering America through the new global economic
challenges, America needs a driver who knows the highway. And I
am that man. (Applause.)
I have laid out this Agenda for America's Renewal --
the steps that we must take to win the new economic competition;
to build a prosperous, secure nation for all the kids here today.
Step number one is to tear down barriers to free and fair trade
so that we can create good jobs for American workers.
(Applause.)
Today, we're in a global downturn. But while there
is anxiety here at home, we have to understand that the nations
of Europe would switch places with us in a minute. We have lower
inflation. We have lower interest rates. And we are the world's
leading exporter. When you shop in the world, chances are that
the goods in the store say not "made in Japan" -- not "made in
Germany" -- but "made in the USA." (Applause.)
And so we're going to pry open new foreign markets.
In so doing, we will provide good jobs for our kids and our
grandkids. Already the average export-related job pays 17
percent more than a traditional job. so if we want the sons and
daughters of auto workers to have good jobs, we must fight for
free and fair trade. (Applause.)
I'm proud of our record -- and I'm proud that last
week we signed the historic North American Free Trade Agreement,
forging a s6-trillion market from Manitoba to Mexico. And that
will create 175,000 additional American jobs. (Applause.)
In the second term, we're going to fight for new
agreements with the nations of Europe and Asia and Latin America.
Just as we once used our military alliances to win the old Cold
War, we can use our economic alliances to win the new business
MORE
- 3 -
war. Because give the American worker the chance and they will
outthink, outcompete, outproduce any other worker on the face of
the Earth. (Applause.)
Let's not kid ourselves -- we're not going to
compete in this new economy if we don't do better by education;
if we don't change our schools. We already spend more per pupil
than any of our major industrial competitors -- and yet our kids
in K through 12 rank near the bottom in math and science. We
need to embrace new ideas.
And again, I am proud of what we have done already.
Never in the history has America had national educational goals.
Today we do. That happened under my being President of the
United States. (Applause.) Never before in America have almost
2,000 communities committed to literally reinventing their
schools. Today they are.
But we can't stop here. So in my second term, I
want to give every parent in America the right to choose their
kids schools -- public, private or religious. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Reforming education, though --
reforming education won't be enough if our graduates can't find
jobs. So we have to strengthen American business. The past four
years have not been easy as American companies restructure. But
almost every American industry -- steel, computers, cars,
biotechnology -- is stronger now than just four years ago. Small
business is the backbone of our new economy -- creating two out
of every three new jobs. And small business will lead the new
economic recovery if we can provide the kind of relief that I am
fighting for, relief from taxation, regulation and litigation.
(Applause.)
You know, I'm not anti-lawyer, but let me tell you
something. We spend up to $200 billion every year on direct
costs to lawyers. Japan doesn't spend this; Germany doesn't.
And I want to take on those ambulance chasers and reform our
lawsuit-happy legal system. (Applause.) You see, when doctors
are afraid to practice, when people are afraid to help somebody
along the highway, when coaches are afraid to coach Little
League, my message his this: As a nation we must sue each other
less and care for each other more. (Applause.)
Step number four of my agenda is to create economic
security for every working man and woman in this country. And
that means cutting the cost of health care. And with our current
health care system, you get sick twice -- first, when you go to
the doctor, then a month later when you get the bill.
I want to reform malpractice insurance. I want to
use competition to drive costs down and make affordable insurance
available to everyone in the United States, including the poorest
of the poor. And my health care plan does exactly that without
taxing small business. (Applause.)
A good doctor should not be a luxury -- not
something reserved for the privileged few -- not here; not in
Michigan; not in America. Not anymore. (Applause.)
Priority number five is to reach out to every
American, because in the next century we need the talent of every
person -- from the city to the suburbs to the furthest rural
town. And to do this, we must take back our streets from the
crackheads and the criminals.
And we're fighting for strong anticrime legislation.
And I'm proud that under my administration most federal inmates
serve at least 85 percent of their full sentence, while in
Arkansas they serve 20 percent.
MORE
- 4 -
AUDIENCE: Booo --
THE PRESIDENT: We have appointed judges, and I will
continue to do that, who have no respect for the criminals and a
lot more concern for the victims of crime. (Applause.)
But we must do better. We just passed a bill with
tough laws against new crimes like carjacking. And now we need
special laws for crimes against women and crimes against the
elderly. Everybody should be secure in his or her own home.
(Applause.)
And the way I see it, if you steal a car or if you
mug an elderly woman, you ought to go to jail, and you shouldn't
be let out until you're eligible for a birthday salute from
Willard Scott. (Applause.)
The final part of my agenda is simply this: I
believe that government is too big and spends too much of your
money. So I have put forward a specific plan to eliminate 4,000
government projects -- almost 240 programs that waste your hard-
earned tax dollars. (Applause.) And I want to control, as I
said last night, to get this deplorable deficit down. We have
got to control the growth of mandatory federal spending without
touching Social Security. We've got to do it. It means a little
pain, but we cannot saddle the generations represented here today
with more and more federal debt. (Applause.)
And here's something that would help. I'm fighting
for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. I am
fighting for a line-item veto. (Applause.) And I want to give
every taxpayer the power to designate up to 10 percent of your
income tax to be used for one purpose only: to take the deficit
off our children's shoulders. (Applause.)
Congress won't make the tough choices, so it's time
for tough medicine. Governor Clinton won't stand up to the
congressional bosses and endorse term limits. So I say let's
limit the terms of members of Congress and give government back
to the people. (Applause.)
And this, then, is my Agenda for America's Renewal.
And it offers the promise of a very different America than the
plan Governor Clinton proposes. Look at -- I hate to ruin this
beautiful day -- but just look for a minute at each of the items
I've mentioned today and you'll see the difference.
On the question of the North American Free Trade
Agreement, Governor Clinton was first for it and then against it
-- now he's for it again. They do not serve waffles in the Oval
Office. (Applause.) And on tough issues, you have to take a
stand. (Applause.) You can't be everything to everybody.
(Applause.)
In education, Governor Clinton talks a good game --
but he's flunked his test in Arkansas. And Governor Clinton
can't reform American schools because he doesn't want to offend
the powerful unions. I want to offend the unions and lift up the
teachers, not the other way around. (Applause.)
And so the Governor -- one side and then the other
-- he tells the education establishment what they want to hear.
And I want to tell them what they need to hear.
You see the same thing when it comes to helping
small business. Governor Clinton and the trial lawyers act like
Boris and Natasha -- remember the old Bullwinkle cartoons --
(laughter) -- goo-goo eyes with each other. (Laughter.)
And Governor Clinton doesn't want to touch the legal
system. And he doesn't want -- he wants small business to pay a
MORE
- 5 -
stiff new payroll tax for health care, which would drive away
your jobs. And we do not need to destroy jobs by socking a tax
to small business. We need to create jobs. (Applause.)
And on crime, which I mentioned I told you what
I'm for but on crime, here's all you need to know about him.
The prestigious National Fraternal Order of Police the
nationwide organization have endorsed me for President. And
the police in Little Rock -- the ones who know Bill Clinton best
-- Little Rock have endorsed me for President of the United
States. (Applause.)
But here is the biggest difference and most
important where I want to make government smaller, Governor
Clinton has already proposed look at his plan -- $150 billion
in new taxes --
AUDIENCE: Booo --
THE PRESIDENT: -- and he has promised well over
$220 billion in new spending. We cannot have that.
AUDIENCE: Booo --
THE PRESIDENT: You've got to ask, who's going to
pay for all those bills, all the promises? And the answer is,
not the rich guys; it's the cab drivers, the barbers, the
beautician, the construction workers. And I say it is time to
help the middle class. (Applause.)
And so we've got two very different -- very
different views of America. Governor Clinton puts his faith in
more government, in special interests, in higher taxes to pay for
all these promises. And I offer smaller government, lower taxes
and more power to the people so that we can renew America.
(Applause.)
Today, as you know, is this glorious Columbus Day,
and I'd like to point out that when Columbus set sail on his
voyage, Spain's motto was three words: "ne plus ultra." All you
Latin students out there know that this meant "no more beyond.'
And after Columbus returned from his discovery, Queen Isabella
dropped the first word from her country's motto. And now it
reads "plus ultra" -- more beyond.
And today we can say the same thing of the United
States of America. We have triumphed around the world but
there is "more beyond" more to reach for -- more to reach for
right here at home. Better schools, safer streets, stronger
families -- a dynamic, growing economy where you can live your
dreams. And this is the future that I offer America. And that
is why I ask for your support to finish the job. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: We want Bush! We want Bush! We want
Bush! We want Bush!
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you for this fantastic rally.
And may God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
Thank you very much.
END
5:37 P.M. EDT
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Holland, Michigan)
For Immediate Release
October 12, 1992
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT HOLLAND COMMUNITY WELCOME
Hope College
Holland, Michigan
5:10 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Governor. What a
fantastic rally. Thank you all. Wall-to-wall people at Hope.
This is beautiful. Thank you so very much. (Applause.)
And may I thank your great Governor John Engler, and
salute your Lt. Governor Connie Binsfeld who's with us. And
Peter Hoekstra, who we've got to have as a member of the
Congress. (Applause.) If we had more people in Congress like
Peter they wouldn't be yelling at me, "Clean House." We've got
to clean House, and one way to do it -- get Peter in there and
others like him. Good, solid, Michigan people. (Applause.)
Out there in the audience is someone you ought to be
very proud of; the man I had the pleasure of meeting awhile back
-- Professor Harvey Blankespoor, and his wife, Marlene. Great
leader, great educational leader. (Applause.) And, of course,
it's a great pleasure to be here at Hope College -- and great to
be back in Michigan. (Applause.)
Now, may I begin by congratulating the Flying
Dutchmen on your big victory Saturday. (Applause.) You know, I
also couldn't help but notice that one of Michigan's great
companies, the Herman Miller Corporation, made the furniture for
last night's presidential debate. They did a great job.
(Applause.) And they did a great job, and things got so hot in
there that I commend whoever made the decision to nail the
podiums to the floor. (Laughter.)
But, you know, Governor Clinton has a tendency to
take two positions on every issue. So maybe -- maybe Herman
Miller should make a fourth podium -- one for Clinton when he's
for something, and one for Clinton when he's against it.
(Applause.)
You listen to him and also to some degree to Ross
Perot, and you get the feeling that America is a nation in
decline. And, yes, we've got our challenges. But we should
never forget that our people are still the best educated; our
economy, in spite of a world slowdown, the best -- the most
dynamic; and our workers the most productive -- more productive
than any other workers in the entire world. And that is the
fact. (Applause.)
I am proud of what we've accomplished the past four
years -- to strengthen America's leadership. We are respected
around the entire world. And we are number one. (Applause.)
Let's talk about the record. Four years ago, I said
that we would bring the disabled into America's economic
mainstream. And we delivered with the Americans With
Disabilities Act, the best piece of civil rights legislation in
decades. (Applause.)
2 -
And I said I would do what no President has done for
10 years -- 20 years -- and start to clean our air of acid rain.
And we delivered. And I said we would strengthen the family by
letting parents, not the government, choose our kids' child care.
And we delivered on that, too. (Applause.)
And I'm also proud that on our watch more than a
billion people, almost one-fifth of the population of the entire
world, have enjoyed their first breath of freedom. Democracy and
freedom are on the move. (Applause.)
And while Governor Clinton waffled, I stood up to a
Baghdad bully and we led the world in saying no to aggression.
(Applause.) And I'm especially proud that the children here
today will grow up in a world that is safer because we reduced
the awful threat, the nightmare of nuclear weapons. That is a
major accomplishment. (Applause.)
But, you know, while the Soviet bear may be gone,
there are still wolves in the woods. It may be tempting to
believe that we can turn the American Commander-in-Chief into the
Maytag repairman. But there are still real dangers in the world.
You must ask, who do you trust to keep your families secure?
(Applause.)
This is about big things. It's about the
presidency. And Governor Clinton has absolutely no international
experience. I am the President who has led the world and made
our children safer. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four
more years!
THE PRESIDENT: You see, this new world -- the new
world today brings new challenges -- and also new opportunities.
We are part of a global economy, and this is no time to hand the
wheel to a novice to take a risk with the United States. When it
comes to steering America through the new global economic
challenges, America needs a driver who knows the highway. And I
am that man. (Applause.)
I have laid out this Agenda for America's Renewal --
the steps that we must take to win the new economic competition;
to build a prosperous, secure nation for all the kids here today.
Step number one is to tear down barriers to free and fair trade
so that we can create good jobs for American workers.
(Applause.)
Today, we're in a global downturn. But while there
is anxiety here at home, we have to understand that the nations
of Europe would switch places with us in a minute. We have lower
inflation. We have lower interest rates. And we are the world's
leading exporter. When you shop in the world, chances are that
the goods in the store say not "made in Japan" -- not "made in
Germany" -- but "made in the USA." (Applause.)
And so we're going to pry open new foreign markets.
In so doing, we will provide good jobs for our kids and our
grandkids. Already the average export-related job pays 17
percent more than a traditional job. so if we want the sons and
daughters of auto workers to have good jobs, we must fight for
free and fair trade. (Applause.)
I'm proud of our record -- and I'm proud that last
week we signed the historic North American Free Trade Agreement,
forging a s6-trillion market from Manitoba to Mexico. And that
will create 175,000 additional American jobs. (Applause.)
In the second term, we're going to fight for new
agreements with the nations of Europe and Asia and Latin America.
Just as we once used our military alliances to win the old Cold
War, we can use our economic alliances to win the new business
MORE
- 3 -
war. Because give the American worker the chance and they will
outthink, outcompete, outproduce any other worker on the face of
the Earth. (Applause.)
Let's not kid ourselves - -- we're not going to
compete in this new economy if we don't do better by education;
if we don't change our schools. We already spend more per pupil
than any of our major industrial competitors and yet our kids
in K through 12 rank near the bottom in math and science. We
need to embrace new ideas.
And again, I am proud of what we have done already.
Never in the history has America had national educational goals.
Today we do. That happened under my being President of the
United States. (Applause.) Never before in America have almost
2,000 communities committed to literally reinventing their
schools. Today they are.
But we can't stop here. So in my second term, I
want to give every parent in America the right to choose their
kids schools public, private or religious. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Reforming education, though --
reforming education won't be enough if our graduates can't find
jobs. So we have to strengthen American business. The past four
years have not been easy as American companies restructure. But
almost every American industry . -- steel, computers, cars,
biotechnology -- is stronger now than just four years ago. Small
business is the backbone of our new economy - creating two out
of every three new jobs. And small business will lead the new
economic recovery if we can provide the kind of relief that I am
fighting for, relief from taxation, regulation and litigation.
(Applause.)
You know, I'm not anti-lawyer, but let me tell you
something. We spend up to $200 billion every year on direct
costs to lawyers. Japan doesn't spend this; Germany doesn't.
And I want to take on those ambulance chasers and reform our
lawsuit-happy legal system. (Applause.) You see, when doctors
are afraid to practice, when people are afraid to help somebody
along the highway, when coaches are afraid to coach Little
League, my message his this: As a nation we must sue each other
less and care for each other more. (Applause.)
Step number four of my agenda is to create economic
security for every working man and woman in this country. And
that means cutting the cost of health care. And with our current
health care system, you get sick twice -- first, when you go to
the doctor, then a month later when you get the bill.
I want to reform malpractice insurance. I want to
use competition to drive costs down and make affordable insurance
available to everyone in the United States, including the poorest
of the poor. And my health care plan does exactly that without
taxing small business. (Applause.)
A good doctor should not be a luxury -- not
something reserved for the privileged few not here; not in
Michigan; not in America. Not anymore. (Applause.)
Priority number five is to reach out to every
American, because in the next century we need the talent of every
person -- from the city to the suburbs to the furthest rural
town. And to do this, we must take back our streets from the
crackheads and the criminals.
And we're fighting for strong anticrime legislation.
And I'm proud that under my administration most federal inmates
serve at least 85 percent of their full sentence, while in
Arkansas they serve 20 percent.
MORE
- 4 -
AUDIENCE: Booo --
THE PRESIDENT: We have appointed judges, and I will
continue to do that, who have no respect for the criminals and a
lot more concern for the victims of crime. (Applause.)
But we must do better. We just passed a bill with
tough laws against new crimes like carjacking. And now we need
special laws for crimes against women and crimes against the
elderly. Everybody should be secure in his or her own home.
(Applause.)
And the way I see it, if you steal a car or if you
mug an elderly woman, you ought to go to jail, and you shouldn't
be let out until you're eligible for a birthday salute from
Willard Scott. (Applause.)
The final part of my agenda is simply this: I
believe that government is too big and spends too much of your
money. So I have put forward a specific plan to eliminate 4,000
government projects -- almost 240 programs that waste your hard-
earned tax dollars. (Applause.) And I want to control, as I
said last night, to get this deplorable deficit down. We have
got to control the growth of mandatory federal spending without
touching Social Security. We've got to do it. It means a little
pain, but we cannot saddle the generations represented here today
with more and more federal debt. (Applause.)
And here's something that would help. I'm fighting
for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. I am
fighting for a line-item veto. (Applause.) And I want to give
every taxpayer the power to designate up to 10 percent of your
income tax to be used for one purpose only: to take the deficit
off our children's shoulders. (Applause.)
Congress won't make the tough choices, so it's time
for tough medicine. Governor Clinton won't stand up to the
congressional bosses and endorse term limits. So I say let's
limit the terms of members of Congress and give government back
to the people. (Applause.)
And this, then, is my Agenda for America's Renewal.
And it offers the promise of a very different America than the
plan Governor Clinton proposes. Look at -- I hate to ruin this
beautiful day -- but just look for a minute at each of the items
I've mentioned today and you'll see the difference.
On the question of the North American Free Trade
Agreement, Governor Clinton was first for it and then against it
-- now he's for it again. They do not serve waffles in the Oval
Office. (Applause.) And on tough issues, you have to take a
stand. (Applause.) (Applause.) You can't be everything to everybody.
In education, Governor Clinton talks a good game --
but he's flunked his test in Arkansas. And Governor Clinton
can't reform American schools because he doesn't want to offend
the powerful unions. I want to offend the unions and lift up the
teachers, not the other way around. (Applause.)
And so the Governor -- one side and then the other
-- he tells the education establishment what they want to hear.
And I want to tell them what they need to hear.
You see the same thing when it comes to helping
small business. Governor Clinton and the trial lawyers act like
Boris and Natasha -- remember the old Bullwinkle cartoons --
(laughter) -- goo-goo eyes with each other. (Laughter.)
And Governor Clinton doesn't want to touch the legal
system. And he doesn't want -- he wants small business to pay a
MORE
- 5
stiff new payroll tax for health care, which would drive away
your jobs. And we do not need to destroy jobs by socking a tax
to small business. We need to create jobs. (Applause.)
And on crime, which I mentioned -- I told you what
I'm for -- but on crime, here's all you need to know about him.
The prestigious National Fraternal Order of Police -- the
nationwide organization -- have endorsed me for President. And
the police in Little Rock -- the ones who know Bill Clinton best
-- Little Rock -- have endorsed me for President of the United
States. (Applause.)
But here is the biggest difference and most
important -- where I want to make government smaller, Governor
Clinton has already proposed -- look at his plan -- $150 billion
in new taxes --
AUDIENCE: Booo --
THE PRESIDENT: -- and he has promised well over
$220 billion in new spending. We cannot have that.
AUDIENCE: Booo --
THE PRESIDENT: You've got to ask, who's going to
pay for all those bills, all the promises? And the answer is,
not the rich guys; it's the cab drivers, the barbers, the
beautician, the construction workers. And I say it is time to
help the middle class. (Applause.)
And so we've got two very different -- very
different views of America. Governor Clinton puts his faith in
more government, in special interests, in higher taxes to pay for
all these promises. And I offer smaller government, lower taxes
and more power to the people so that we can renew America.
(Applause.)
Today, as you know, is this glorious Columbus Day,
and I'd like to point out that when Columbus set sail on his
voyage, Spain's motto was three words: "ne plus ultra." All you
Latin students out there know that this meant "no more beyond."
And after Columbus returned from his discovery, Queen Isabella
dropped the first word from her country's motto. And now it
reads "plus ultra" -- more beyond.
And today we can say the same thing of the United
States of America. We have triumphed around the world -- but
there is "more beyond" -- more to reach for -- more to reach for
right here at home. Better schools, safer streets, stronger
families -- a dynamic, growing economy where you can live your
dreams. And this is the future that I offer America. And that
is why I ask for your support to finish the job. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: We want Bush! We want Bush! We want
Bush! We want Bush!
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you for this fantastic rally.
And may God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
Thank you very much.
END
5:37 P.M. EDT
event Freiday in NJ.
TRAIN trip,
of stemps.
Negative
Positive
passion?