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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 Backup Files Subseries: Chron File, 1989-1993 OA/ID Number: 13744 Folder ID Number: 13744-007 Folder Title: Republican National Committee Meeting 1/25/91 [OA 8321] Stack: Row: Section: Shelf: Position: G 26 21 2 4 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE BRIEFING / ROOM 450 FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1991 \ 7:45 A.M. THANK YOU, CHARLIE, VERY MUCH -- IT'S GREAT To SEE so MANY OLD FRIENDS HERE TODAY. AND WHAT A PLEASURE IT IS TO HAVE WITH US THE NEXT CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE -- CLAYTON YEUTTER. /// CLAYTON HAS PROVEN HIMSELF AS A TOUGH, ARTICULATE MEMBER OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, AND HIS LEADERSHIP AND VISION HAVE BEEN VALUABLE To ME TIME AND TIME AGAIN. - 2 - I AM DELIGHTED TO HAVE HIM AS CHAIRMAN OF THIS GREAT PARTY AND HAVE HIS CONTINUED COUNSEL. IN FACT, I EXPECT TO SEE CLAYTON AT THE WHITE HOUSE MORE OFTEN IN THE FUTURE THAN IN THE PAST. CLAYTON, YOU'VE GOT SOME PRETTY BIG SHOES To FILL. LEE ATWATER HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB -- AND NOW, AS HE FIGHTS HIS BIGGEST BATTLE, I KNOW THAT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS BEHIND HIM -- 100 PERCENT. //// President spoke from 7:45 to 8:20 95% ad bibbed used very little of this but followed its structure - 3 - I AM THRILLED THAT LEE HAS AGREED To STAY ON AS GENERAL CHAIRMAN OF THE PARTY, BECAUSE I KNOW FIRST HAND THAT HIS ADVICE IS INVALUABLE. AND I WANT To SAY A SPECIAL HELLO TO SALLY ATWATER AND HER MOTHER THEO WHO ARE HERE TODAY. I'M ALSO VERY HAPPY THAT MY OLD FRIEND JEANIE AUSTIN HAS AGREED TO STAY ON AS CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE PARTY. SHE HAS BEEN AN ANCHOR THROUGH SOME CHALLENGING TIMES. A FORMER STATE CHAIRMAN WHO LED HER PARTY To GROWTH AND VICTORY, SHE KNOWS POLITICS INSIDE OUT. /// | - 4 - AND THERE'S ANOTHER PERSON I WANT TO THANK: A FRIEND OF MINE -- AND A FRIEND OF LEE ATWATER'S -- CHARLIE BLACK. /// I KNOW TIME IS SHORT THIS MORNING, AND THAT YOU ALL ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE PERSIAN GULF SITUATION. THIS TUESDAY, DURING MY STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS TO THE NATION, I WILL BE DISCUSSING BOTH OUR FOREIGN POLICY AND OUR DOMESTIC AGENDA. " 5 - WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL DOMESTICALLY -- FROM PASSING THE CLEAN AIR Act AND A NEW AND IMPORTANT CHILD CARE BILL; TO REFORMING EDUCATION -- TO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS WORK AGAIN; TO MAKING REAL GAINS IN THE WAR ON CRIME AND DRUGS; TO REACHING A BUDGET DEAL THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME HAS REAL TEETH, ENFORCEABLE SPENDING CUTS -- AND WE INTEND TO HOLD THE DEMOCRATS TO THAT DEAL. | - 6 - AND WHILE I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS so FAR, WE STILL HAVE FAR TO GO -- AND I'LL HAVE MORE To SAY ON THAT TUESDAY NIGHT. I WANT EACH OF YOU To KNOW THAT I'LL BE COUNTING ON YOUR SUPPORT AS WE WORK TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE, REFORM AND A NEW WAY OF THINKING IN GOVERNMENT THROUGH OUR DOMESTIC AGENDA. - 7 - TODAY, HOWEVER, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU AT A TIME WHEN AMERICA AND HER ALLIES FIGHT A WAR NONE OF US WANTED. IT WAS SADDAM HUSSEIN WHO CHOSE WAR OVER PEACE, AND NOW OUR JOB IS CUT OUT FOR US -- OUR OBJECTIVES ARE CLEAR. KUWAIT WILL BE LIBERATED, AND ITS LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT WILL BE RESTORED. IRAQ WILL COMPLY WITH ALL RELEVANT U.N. RESOLUTIONS; AND AFTER PEACE IS AGAIN ESTABLISHED, THE SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE GULF WILL BE ENHANCED. - 8 - THERE WERE THOSE WHO WANTED To EXTEND THE U.N. DEADLINE, TO GIVE THE SANCTIONS MORE TIME TO WORK. BUT THE WORLD COULD WAIT NO LONGER. SANCTIONS SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ACCOMPLISHING THEIR OBJECTIVES, AND WHILE TIME PASSED, SADDAM HUSSEIN RAPED AND PILLAGED KUWAIT. HE FORTIFIED HIS POSITIONS IN KUWAIT. AND EACH DAY, HE SOUGHT TO ADD TO HIS CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS ARSENAL AN INFINITELY MORE DANGEROUS WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION -- A NUCLEAR WEAPON. - 9 - WHILE THE CLOCK TICKED, HE WREAKED HAVOC ON THE FRAGILE ECONOMIES OF THE THIRD WORLD, THE DEVELOPING DEMOCRACIES OF EASTERN EUROPE, AND OUR OWN ECONOMY. AND so 27 NATIONS ALLIED WITH THE UNITED STATES HAVE JOINED THE BATTLE TO PUT AN END TO HIS AGGRESSION. AND I KNOW WE WILL PREVAIL -- BECAUSE WE HAVE TOP-NOTCH LEADERS LIKE JIM BAKER, DICK CHENEY, BRENT SCOWCROFT, COLIN POWELL, AND NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF AT THE HELM. - 10 - AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WILL PREVAIL BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BEST-TRAINED AND MOST HIGHLY MOTIVATED SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN IN THE WORLD -- BAR NONE. WE'VE ALREADY HEARD OF THE HEROISM OF THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN. AND WE STRONGLY CONDEMN THE BRUTAL TREATMENT OF OUR BRAVE AMERICAN PILOTS WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN PRISONER BY THE IRAQIS. - 11 - OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE PILOTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND I CAN ASSURE THEM THAT WE WILL HOLD SADDAM HUSSEIN RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOR WHICH DEFIES THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS. AND I'M ALSO CONVINCED THAT WE WILL PREVAIL BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BACKING OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IN FACT, IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SUPPORT OPERATION DESERT STORM. BUT ASIDE FROM ALL THE LETTERS SENT AND PINTS OF BLOOD DONATED -- WHAT IS MOST MOVING TO ME IS THE PRAYERS. - 12 - CHURCHES AND SYNAGOGUES ARE REPORTING RECORD ATTENDANCE AT SERVICES, AND YOU CAN FIND CHAPELS PACKED DURING WORKING HOURS AS AMERICANS STOP IN FOR A MOMENT OR TWO, TO PRAY FOR PEACE. WITH THE SUPPORT AND PRAYERS OF so MANY, MANY PEOPLE, THERE SHOULD BE NO QUESTION IN THE MINDS OF OUR SOLDIERS -- OR IN THE MINDS OF OUR ENEMY -- THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE UNITED IN SUPPORT OF OUR CAUSE. - 13 - OUR PURPOSE IS JUST AND RIGHT; OUR TROOPS ARE THE BEST; OUR TECHNOLOGY IS PROVING ITS WORTH. As I SAID THE OTHER NIGHT: OPERATION DESERT STORM IS RIGHT ON SCHEDULE, AND I AM VERY PLEASED WITH OUR PROGRESS TO DATE. WE WILL WIN PEACE -- NOT A TRUCE, NOT AN ARMISTICE, NOT A CEASE FIRE ARRANGEMENT. BUT A PEACE THAT WILL ALLOW OUR CHILDREN AND OTHER KIDS AROUND THE WORLD TO GROW UP IN A NEW WORLD WE'VE NEVER KNOWN. - 14 - I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND ASK ONLY FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. # # # Grant/Simon January 22, 1991 A:RNCBRIEF PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE BRIEFING ROOM 450 FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1991 7:45 A.M. Thank you very much -- it's great to see so many old friends here today. And what a pleasure it is to see the next Chairman of the Republican Party -- Clayton Yeutter. /// Clayton has proven himself as a tough, articulate member of this Administration, and his leadership and vision have been valuable to me time and time again. My excitement at the prospect of having him as Chairman of this great Party is matched David only by the promise of having his continued counsel. In fact, I Demonest told the Cabinet the other day that nothing will change -- because Clayton will still have a seat at the table. Clayton, you've got some pretty big shoes to fill. Lee Atwater has done a phenomenal job fighting the opposition -- and now, as he fights his biggest battle, I know that everyone is this room is behind him -- 100 percent. //// I am thrilled that Lee has agreed to become General Chairman of this party, because I feel very strongly that his advice and insight are invaluable. I'm also very happy that Jeanie Austin has agreed to stay on as Co-Chairman of the Party. She has been an anchor through some stormy times, and her dedication and tireless commitment are real assets to this Party. Jeanie, thank you. /// And there's another person I want to say thank you to: a friend of mine -- and a true friend of Lee Atwater's -- Charlie Black. /// 2 The Republican National Committee meets at a difficult time, while America and her allies fight a war none of us wanted. But it was Saddam Hussein who chose war over peace, and now our job Address is cut out for us -- our objectives are clear. Kuwait will be liberated, and its legitimate government will be restored. Iraq Nation will comply with all relevant U.N. resolutions; and after peace 1-16-91 is again established, the security and stability of the Gulf will be enhanced. There were those who wanted to extend the U.N. deadline, to give the sanctions more time to work. But the world could wait no longer. Sanctions showed no signs of accomplishing their objectives, and while time passed, Saddam Hussein raped and pillaged Kuwait. Each day, he sought to add to his chemical weapons arsenal an infinitely more dangerous weapon of mass destruction -- a nuclear weapon. While the clock ticked, he wreaked havoc on the fragile economies of the Third World, the developing democracies of Eastern Europe, the international economy, and our own economy. And so 28 nations allied with the United States have joined the battle to put an end to his aggression, to liberate the nation of Kuwait. As I told the American people when we entered the war, our troops will have the best possible support in the entire world. And they will not be asked to fight with one hand tied behind their back. 11 We will prevail -- because we have top-notch leaders like Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, Norman Schwartzkopf and Brent 3 Scowcroft at the helm. And most importantly, we will prevail because we have the best-trained and most highly motivated servicemen and women in the world -- bar none. We've already heard of the heroism of these young men and women. And we strongly condemn the brutal treatment of our brave American pilots who have been taken prisoner by the Iraqis. Their mistreatment defies the Geneva Conventions and we will hold those responsible up to full prosecution. As always, our hearts and prayers are with the pilots and their families. With fighting forces like these, I'm convinced we will succeed. And I'm also convinced that we have the support of the American people. I've never paid much attention to polls, but it's clear that the American people support Operation Desert Storm. Take a look at the tremendous outpouring of community support from St. Augustine to Seattle, as neighborhoods, schools DOD and churches send everything from hot sauce to Hi-C to hair care products to our troops. But aside from all that including all the letters sent and pints of blood collected -- what is most moving to me is the prayers. Churches and synagogues are reporting record attendance at services, and you can find chapels packed during working hours as Americans stop in for a moment or two, to pray for peace. With the support and prayers of so many, many people, there should be no question in the minds of our soldiers -- or in the minds of our enemy -- that the American people are united in support of our cause. 4 Add to that the support of the United States Congress. The House and Senate have acted resolutely, after an historic debate -- in which its members spoke openly and passionately. And yet, in the fiery heat of debate, we heard a deeper, stronger note of unity -- the vital solidarity of freedom. Yet while we witnessed democracy at its finest, Saddam Hussein confused dissent with disunity. It is this American paradox, this unity not only out of diversity, but because of diversity -- this "e pluribus unum" -- that the enemies of freedom will never comprehend. The 28 nations who are allied with us know that the dream of a new world order awaits us. Together, we are looking to the day when the nations of the world can secure a just and lasting peace -- a world in which the rule of law, not the law of the jungle, governs men. A world in which nations shall no longer make war against other nations. Our purpose is just and right; our troops are the best; our technology is proving its worth. We will not be defeated. We will win peace -- not a truce, not an armistice, not a cease fire arrangement. But a peace that will allow our children to grow up in a new world we've never known. I thank each and every one of you for your support, and ask only for your continued prayers. Next you'll hear from Bob Gates of the N.S.C. Thank you and God bless America. # # # Grant/Simon January 18, 1991 A:RNCBRIEF PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE BRIEFING ROOM 450 FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1991 7:45 A.M. Thank you very much -- it's great to see so many old friends here today. And what a pleasure it is to see the next Chairman of the Republican Party -- Clayton Yeutter. /// Clayton has proven himself as a tough, articulate member of this Administration, and his leadership and vision have been valuable to me time and time again. My excitement at the prospect of having him as Chairman of this great Party is matched only by the promise of having his continued counsel. In fact, I told the Cabinet the other day that nothing will change -- because Clayton will still have a seat at the table. Clayton, you've got some pretty big shoes to fill. Lee Atwater has done a phenomenal job fighting the opposition -- and now, as he fights his biggest battle, I know that everyone is this room is behind him -- 100 percent. //// I am thrilled that Lee has agreed to become General Chairman of this party, because I feel very strongly that his ongoing advice and insight are invaluable. I'm also very happy that Jeanie Austin has agreed to stay on as Co-Chairman of the Party. She has been an anchor through some stormy times, and her dedication and tireless commitment are assets to this Party. Jeanie, thank you. /// 2 I see that a friend of mine -- and a true friend of Lee Atwater's -- is here, Charlie Black. /// Charlie stepped in to help out under some very tough circumstances, both personal and professional. We owe him a debt of gratitude that I doubt we can ever repay. Charlie, thanks. 111 With a team like this set for 1992, the Democrats won't know what hit them. And while I did not express an opinion during the process, I can now safely say how delighted I am that the site selection committee has recommended that the '92 convention will be in Houston, Texas. 111 The Republican National Committee meets at a difficult time, while America and her allies fight a war none of us wanted. But it was Saddam Hussein who chose war over peace, and now our job is cut out for us -- our objectives are clear. Kuwait will be liberated, and its legitimate government will be restored. Iraq will comply with all relevant U.N. resolutions; and after peace is again established, the security and stability of the Gulf will be enhanced. There were those who wanted to extend the U.N. deadline, to give the sanctions more time to work. But the world could wait no longer. Sanctions showed no signs of accomplishing their objectives, and while time passed, Saddam Hussein raped and pillaged Kuwait. Each day, he sought to add to his chemical weapons arsenal an infinitely more dangerous weapon of mass destruction -- a nuclear weapon. While the clock ticked, he wreaked havoc on the fragile economies of the Third World, the 3 developing democracies of Eastern Europe, the international economy, and our own economy. And so 28 nations allied with the United States have joined the battle to put an end to his aggression, to liberate the nation of Kuwait. As I told the American people when we entered the war, our troops will have the best possible support in the entire world. And they will not be asked to fight with one hand tied behind their back. // We will prevail -- because we have top-notch leaders like Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, Norman Schwartzkopf and Brent Scowcroft at the helm. And most importantly, we will prevail because we have the best-trained and most highly motivated servicemen and women in the world -- bar none. I've already heard amazing tales of the heroism of these young men and women. [Insert a paragraph of troop examples. And we strongly condemn the brutal treatment of those brave American heroes who have been taken prisoner by the Iraqis. Our hearts and prayers are with them as we work to secure their safe return home. With fighting forces like these, I'm convinced we will succeed. And I'm also convinced that we have the support of the American people. Everyone knows I'm no fan of polls, but it seems the surveys reflect that most Americans support our actions in the Persian Gulf. Take a look at the tremendous outpouring of community support from St. Augustine to Seattle, as neighborhoods, schools and churches hold cookie drives, care 4 package collections, even blood mobiles for the sake of our troops. But what is most moving to me is the prayers. Churches and synagogues are reporting record attendance at services, and you can find chapels packed during working hours as Americans stop in for a moment or two, to pray for peace. With the support and prayers of SO many, many people, there should be no question in the minds of our soldiers -- or in the minds of our enemy -- that the American people are united in support of our cause. Add to that the support of the United States Congress. The House and Senate have acted resolutely, after an historic debate. Congressmen and Senators of all stripes voiced an opinion from the floor of the Capitol, but when the chips were down, both the House and Senate were on our side. And while we witnessed democracy at its finest, Saddam Hussein confused dissent with disunity. The 28 nations who are allied with us know that the dream of a new world order awaits us. Together, we are looking to the day when the nations of the world can secure a just and lasting peace -- a world in which the rule of law, not the law of the jungle, governs men. A world in which nations shall no longer make war against other nations. Our purpose is just and right; our troops are the best; our technology is proving its worth. We will not be defeated. We will win peace -- not a truce, not an armistice, not a cease fire arrangement. But a peace that will allow our children to grow up 5 in a new world we've never known. I thank each and every one of you for your support, and ask only for your continued prayers. Next you'll hear from Bob Gates, our #2 man on the National Security Council, as he briefs you on Operation Desert Storm. Thank you and God bless America. # # #