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Quote File 1989-1990 [OA 8486] [1]
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323154398
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Quote File 1989-1990 [OA 8486] [1]
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Speech Backup Alphabetical Files
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S
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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
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Speech File Backup Files
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Alpha File, 1987-1991
OA/ID Number:
13845
Folder ID Number:
13845-011
Folder Title:
Quote File, 1989-1990 [1]
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26
23
3
2
Tilghman
Tilghman
Tillman
Tillman
President Adams appointed him one of the "mid-
scendant of the Richard Tilghman, of England,
of his time, and his skill with a revolver was un-
But in 1885, moved by his reverses as a farm-
night judges," chief judge of the third circuit
who settled in Maryland in 1661. In 1856 the
canny. It was in answer to a question by Presi-
er, he forced himself on the attention of the peo-
court. When this court was abolished in 1802 he
family moved to a farm near Atchison, Kan. His
dent Theodore Roosevelt, who had eagerly sought
ple of South Carolina. In a speech on Aug. 6 at
resumed his law practice until his appointment
father and elder brother served in the Civil War,
his acquaintance, that he explained that the se-
Bennettsville, he aroused the enthusiasm of the
in 1805 as president judge of the court of com-
leaving the boy as the main support of the moth-
cret of his survival from so many desperate en-
farmers by bluntly asserting that their interests
mon pleas for the district embracing Philadel-
er and four children. He early became an expert
counters was his ability to fire a sixteenth of a
were being betrayed by lawyers and merchants,
phia and the surrounding counties, and he also
in the use of firearms. At the age of sixteen, with
second before the other man, and that this shade
and by demanding that the state undertake a sys-
became a judge of the Pennsylvania high court
three other boys, he made a successful trip to the
of advantage was due to the fact that he repre-
tem of agricultural education. This address was
of errors and appeals. In 1806 he was commis-
buffalo country, then thronging with hostile In-
sented the law (see Macdonald, post, pp. 64-65).
followed by a series of masterful letters to the
sioned chief justice of the Pennsylvania supreme
dians, and in the following year adopted the Fort
[Information from Mrs. Zoe A. Tilghman, of Okla-
Charleston News and Courier in which he caus-
homa City; H. R. Stratton, A Book of Strattons, vol.
court, over which he presided until his death. As
Dodge (Kan.) region as his home. He became
II (1918) J. B. Thoburn, A Standard Hist. of Okla.
tically arraigned the rulers of the state and urged
a judge he was careful to remain aloof from the
a noted buffalo hunter, was at times a scout op-
(1916), vol. III; A. B. Macdonald, Hands Up! (1927)
the farmers to organize. Although the personal
bitter partisanship of Pennsylvania politics. Dur-
erating from Fort Dodge, and at a later time a
Myskogee Daily Phoenix, Nov. 2, 1924.] W.J.G.
character of his indictments aroused bitter oppo-
ing his tenure the judges of the supreme court
cattleman. In 1877 he served as a deputy sheriff
TILLMAN, BENJAMIN RYAN (Aug. II,
sition, he was able to organize the Farmers' As-
prepared for the legislature a report of the Eng-
of Ford County under "Bat" (William B.)
1847-July 3, 1918), governor of South Carolina
sociation, and in 1886 almost captured control of
lish statutes in force in Pennsylvania (see Digest
Masterson [q.v.], and was for a time marshal of
and United States senator, was born in Edge-
the state government. Fresh stimulus was given
of Select British Statutes, 2nd ed. 1817). His
Dodge City. In 1878 he was married to Flora
field County, S. C., the youngest of the seven
to his agitations by the death of Thomas Green
chief contribution as a jurist was the incorpora-
Kendal and started a stock ranch on the Arkansas
sons of Sophia (Hancock) and Benjamin Ryan
Clemson [q.v.] in April 1888, who left a site and
tion of the principles of scientific equity with the
River. He was one of the participants in the
Tillman. His ancestors, both paternal and ma-
an endowment for a proposed state agricultural
law of Pennsylvania.
spectacular settlers' race that marked the open-
ternal, had settled in South Carolina before the
college. During the following summer, Tillman
His Address Delivered before the Philadelphia
ing of Oklahoma, on Apr. 22, 1889, and obtained
Revolution. His father, a farmer who supple-
so awakened the rural masses that he was almost
Society for Promoting Agriculture (1820), of
a good location in the present Guthrie. In 1891
mented his income by using his house as an inn
able to name the Democratic nominee for gov-
which society he was an active member, reflects
he took up a claim at Chandler, which he de-
for stage passengers, died in 1849; two brothers
ernor, and was able to force the governor and
his keen interest in agriculture and his experi-
veloped into a fine farm. In the same year he
were killed in war; one died of fever; two others
legislature to accept the Clemson bequest. Con-
ments on the family estate in Maryland. He was
was appointed a deputy United States marshal,
were killed in personal encounters; and in 1856
vinced that he was the only man who had "the
one of the early advocates of a line of canals be-
and though a Democrat, continued to hold the
Tillman's brother George, who had become a
brains, the nerve and the ability to organize the
tween the Susquehanna and Alleghany rivers.
office for about twenty years. The region was
lawyer and politician at Edgefield Court House,
common people against the aristocracy" (News
A firm believer in the development of home in-
for a number of years overrun by outlaw gangs,
killed a bystander in a gambling feud and as a
and Courier, Mar. 28, 1890), Tillman in 1890 be-
dustry, for the last ten years of his life he refused
and it was largely through Tilghman's efforts
consequence served two years in jail. Ben aided
came the farmers' candidate for the Democratic
his mother in the management of her many slaves,
to wear any article of cloth not made in the
that they were broken up or exterminated.
nomination for governor. The result of the can-
United States. He was president of the Ameri-
In 1910 he was elected to the state Senate, but
studied in a local private school, and in 1861 en-
vass, which created almost unparalleled excite-
in the following year he resigned to become chief
tered Bethany, a rustic academy near his home.
ment, was the nomination of Tillman by the state
can Philosophical Society from 1824 until his
of police of Oklahoma City, a post he retained
An apt student of English and Latin, he left
Democratic convention of August 1890, and his
death and a trustee of the University of Penn-
for two years. After the death of his first wife,
school in 1864 to join the Confederate army, but
election by a great majority over Alexander C.
sylvania from 1802 until his death. Slight of
by whom he had four children, he was married
was prevented from carrying out his plan by an
Haskell, an independent Democrat, in the fol-
frame, unpretentious in manner, his gentle and
on July 15, 1903, to Zoe Agnes Stratton, of an
illness which incapacitated him for two years and
lowing November. Tillman was easily reëlected
amiable disposition commanded high respect from
old pioneer family. By the second marriage he
resulted in the loss of his left eye. On Jan. 8,
in 1892 after a canvass as turbulent as that of
members of the bar. He was the author of An
had three children. In 1915 he superintended the
1868, he married Sallie Starke of Elbert County,
1890. He served as governor from Dec. 4, 1890,
Eulogium in Commemoration of Doctor Caspar
making of a moving picture, "The Passing of
Ga., by whom he had seven children. Tillman
to Nov. 27, 1894.
Wistar (1818), which was delivered before the
the Oklahoma Outlaws," which for several years
and his wife lived on a four-hundred acre estate
For a number of years Tillman was complete
American Philosophical Society. He died in
he exhibited. He had retired from active busi-
adjoining his mother's property, and for the next
master of the political fortunes of South Caro-
Philadelphia.
ness when, in August 1924, the citizens of Crom-
seventeen years he gave most of his time to
lina. At his dictation distinguished men long in
[John
Golder,
Life
of
William
Tilghman
(1829)
well, a "boom" oil town, asked him to become
wresting a meager living from his red lands.
office-Wade Hampton (1818-1902), Samuel
Horace Binney, A Eulogium upon Wm. Tilghman
marshal. He accepted, and three months later
He participated in the Hamburg and Ellenton
McGowan [qq.v.], and Judge William H. Wal-
(1827) and in 16 Sergeant and Rawle's Pa. Reports,
439-56; D. P. Brown. The Forum, vol. I (1856) J. H.
was assassinated on the street. His body was
Riots of 1876, and aided in the Democratic
lace-were replaced by his partisans. When the
Martin, Martin's Bench & Bar of Philadelphia (1883)
taken to Oklahoma City, where it lay in state in
triumph of that year by frightening prospective
legislature of 1890 refused to do his exact bid-
Oswald Tilghman, Hist. of Talbot County, Md. (1915),
the capitol, and his funeral was largely attended.
colored voters away from the polls. In 1880 he
vol. II; B. A. Konkle, Benj. Chew (1932) Am. Phil.
ding, he stigmatized it as "dead, rotten drift-
Soc. Proc., "Memorial Vol." I (1900), p. 192; Univ.
His wife and several children survived him.
ardently championed the political ambitions of
wood" on "the tide which swept from the moun-
of Pa., Biog. Cat. of the Matriculates of the College
(1894) Md. Hist. Mag., Dec. 1906; Pa. Mag. of Hist.
Tilghman was of powerful build, five feet
Gen. Martin Witherspoon Gary [q.v.] in the
tains to the seaboard" (Ibid., Dec. 30, 1891),
and Biog. (July 1877, Apr., Oct. 1893) National Ga-
eleven inches in height. His manner was gentle,
Edgefield County Democratic convention, and
and the voters in 1892 enthusiastically gave him
zette (Philadelphia), Apr. 30, May I, 1827.]
he was generous, kindly, and notably fond of
in 1882 was an inconspicuous figure in the state
a legislative body thoroughly obedient to his will.
J.H.P.
children. He had many devoted friends. In per-
convention of his party. Up to this time no one
In 1894 he defeated Matthew Calbraith Butler
TILGHMAN, WILLIAM MATTHEW
sonal habits he was abstemious. He was a stu-
dreamed that he was destined to have a conspicu-
[q.v.] for United States senator, and made John
(July 4, 1854-Nov. I, 1924), frontier peace of-
dent and possessed an exceptional knowledge of
ous political career. Careless in manners, un-
Gary Evans, the youthful nephew of Gary, his
ficer, known as "Bill" Tilghman, was born in
Western history and a fluent command of the
attractive in personal appearance, and possessed
successor as governor. The following year, in
Fort Dodge, Iowa, the son of William Matthew
Spanish language. His reputation for courage is
of a rasping voice and irascible disposition, he
the face of bitter opposition, he was able to se-
and Amanda (Shepherd) Tilghman, and a de-
not exceeded by that of any other frontiersman
was not even liked by his neighbors.
cure a convention which rewrote the constitution
546
547
Tillman
Tillman
Tilton
Tilton
the aristocratic Pickens family, for the posses-
Md., the Seamen's Institute, New York City, and
of the state as he bade. Moreover, he accom-
Fifteenth Amendment. Toward President Roose-
plished constructive reforms. Clemson College
sion of his two infant grandchildren. In 1912 he
the Town Hall, East Orange, N. J. After the
velt he developed a hatred similar to that he had
was unable to prevent the reëlection of Coleman
withdrawal of Boring in 1915 to become direc-
was opened in 1893, and two years later Win-
manifested toward Cleveland. This was induced
throp College, a state controlled normal and in-
by the President's withdrawal in 1902 of an in-
L. Blease, a Tillman partisan with whom he had
tor of the Columbia University School of Archi-
dustrial school for women. The state railroad
vitation to a White House state dinner after Till-
quarreled. Tillman is remembered for his con-
tecture, Tilton associated himself with Alfred M.
commission was given power to fix rates; taxes
structive achievements, notably Clemson and
Githens, the firm name in 1921 becoming Tilton
man had engaged in a personal altercation with
Winthrop colleges, and the advance of white
and Githens.
were equalized and expenditures for public edu-
John L. McLaurin on the floor of the Senate.
cation increased; representation in the legisla-
Tillman accused Roosevelt of hypocrisy in deal-
democracy, but he is also remembered for hav-
The public library at Mount Vernon, N. Y.,
ture was reapportioned and congressional dis-
ing with the trusts and of dictatorial ambitions.
ing overturned honored traditions and for arous-
built in 1910, was the first of a long series of
tricts were redrawn so as to discriminate against
In retaliation the President published documents
ing bitter passions. When South Carolinians
buildings with which Tilton's name is especially
the negroes. The most radical innovation of the
intended to show that the senator, while trying
want to recall a hero from the immediate past,
connected, and the modern public library form
to forestall alleged illegal purchases of public
they more often think of Wade Hampton than
(with ground-floor stack space and reading-room
Tillman administration was the establishment in
1893 of the state dispensary, a public monopoly
Ben Tillman.
above) is in no small measure due to his logical
lands in Oregon, was using his official influence
over the sale of alcoholic beverages. Tillman also
[See Who's Who in America, 1918-19; F. B. Sim-
analysis of library problems. His views on con-
to effect advantageous purchases of Oregon lands
kins, The Tillman Movement in S. C. (1926), which
trol of books and readers, efficiency and direct-
wrote into the constitution of the state a pro-
for himself. Although fraud was not proved,
summarizes Tillman's early career; Thornwell Haynes,
ness of service, and open cheerfulness of effect
vision for educational and property qualifications
these disclosures were embarrassing for a pro-
Biog. Sketch of Gov. B. R. Tillman of S. C. (copr.
that legally disfranchised the negroes. Having
1894) Benjamin Ryan Tillman Memorial Ad-
are fully expressed in his "Library Planning"
fessed champion of the public interest against
dresses in the Senate and House of Representatives
(Architectural Forum, Dec. 1927) and "Library
aroused the political consciousness of the white
private greed. Personal aversion for the Presi-
(1919) J. C. Hemphill, ed., Men of Mark in S. C., vol.
masses, he made more effective their participa-
dent did not, however, prevent Tillman from
I (1907); J. B. Knight and August Kohn, in Yates
Planning and Design" (Ibid., June 1932). Dur-
Snowden, Hist. of S. C. (1920), vol. V, pp. 101-03,
ing the World War Tilton designed over sixty
tion in politics by securing in 1896 the primary
championing administration measures which he
reprinted from News and Courier (Charleston), July
method of nominating state officers.
4, 1918 files of the News and Courier, 1885-1918, and
libraries and over thirty theatres for various
favored. The most constructive act of his legis-
State (Columbia, S. C.), 1891-1918 Independent, Feb.
army camps and cantonments. Characteristic ex-
On his election to the Senate Tillman achieved
lative career was the steering of the Hepburn
27, 1902, p. 527, July 12, 1906, pp. 68-70, Jan. 21, 1909,
amples of his work are the public libraries at
national notoriety as an extreme champion of
Rate Bill, an administration measure, through
p. I15; Zach McGhee, in World's Work, Sept. 1906;
Southern agrarianism. "Send me to Washing-
the Senate.
Current Lit., Feb. 1909, pp. 118-21; obituary in Lit.
Somerville and Springfield, Mass., and especial-
Digest, July 27, 1918, pp. 32-36. The Tillman Papers
ly the more recent McGregor Public Library
ton, he had yelled at the frantic mobs responsible
After his elevation to the Senate he continued
are in the lib. of the Univ. of S. C.]
F.B.S.
(1925) of Highland Park, Mich., and the Wil-
for his election, "and I'll stick my pitchfork into
to be a powerful factor in South Carolina poli-
his [Cleveland's] old ribs !" (Chronicle, Augusta,
TILTON, EDWARD LIPPINCOTT (Oct.
mington, Del., library (1930), awarded the Gold
tics. With little difficulty he secured his reëlec-
Ga., June 18, 1894). The maiden effort of
19, 1861-Jan. 5, 1933), architect, born in New
Medal of the American Institute of Architects.
tion in 1900, 1906, and 1912; until his death he
"Pitchfork Ben," as he was now called, was a
was able to control the state's vote at the national
York City, was the son of Benjamin White and
In the last two the stack and service floor is sunk
coarse indictment of Cleveland. Aspiring to the
Democratic conventions; and his advice was al-
Mary (Baker) Tilton, and a direct descendant
into the ground in order to secure entrance to
Democratic nomination for president in 1896, he
of John Tilton, who emigrated to Lynn, Mass.,
the reading-room floor from the street. Both are
ways sought by the political leaders of the state.
ruined his chances by his violent speech before
Largely through his influence his nephew, Lieu-
from England between 1630 and 1640. He was
also characterized by an original handling of
the national convention. Dark and savage-fea-
tenant-Governor James H. Tillman, was ac-
educated in private schools in Mount Vernon and
classic motives, the wings becoming almost all
tured, snapping his jaws together, his hands high
Chappaqua, N. Y. (1870-80), and studied archi-
glass on the sides, with a more solid central en.
quitted in 1903 of the assassination of N. G. Gon-
above his head, and hissing out a denunciation
tectural drawing with a private tutor (1879-80).
trance. Other important libraries designed by
zales, an editor who was the impassioned foe of
of Cleveland, he failed to touch the multitude;
Tillmanism. After engaging on Feb. 22, 1902,
In 1880, after experience in business, first with
Tilton are the Knight Memorial Library, Provi-
the nomination went to William Jennings Bryan
on the floor of the Senate in a fist fight with John
the firm of R. R. Haydock and later with Cor-
dence, R. I., the library of Emory University,
[q.v.]. Tillman followed his efforts at the Demo-
L. McLaurin, his colleague and former friend,
lies, Macy and Company, he entered the of-
Atlanta, Ga., several branch libraries in Wash-
cratic convention by a series of addreses in the
he demonstrated his power by forcing the retire-
fices of the architects McKim, Mead & White.
ington, D. C., and the library of Girard College,
Senate denouncing the policies of the Republi-
The following year, on their advice, he went to
Philadelphia, Pa. In addition, Tilton served as
ment of McLaurin to private life. But after 1902
cans. Although he favored naval expansion and
Paris for three years at the École des Beaux
consulting architect to many libraries, and Til-
his influence in South Carolina affairs gradually
the war with Spain, he opposed the annexation of
Arts. He returned to New York in 1890 and in
ton and Githens were associated with Clyde and
declined. A growing conservatism, stimulated by
1891 formed a partnership with William A. Bor-
Nelson Fritz in the Enoch Pratt Free Library of
Hawaii and the Philippines, and Roosevelt's Pan-
the gratification of personal ambitions, led him
ama policy. Charging that the "armor trust" was
to view complacently the return of traditional
ing, the firm at first being Boring, Tilton & Mel-
Baltimore, Md. Notable works of other types
making excess profits out of the government, he
influences in politics. His irascible disposition
len, later Boring & Tilton. Long interested in
include the Central High School, Johnstown, Pa.,
advocated the establishment of government shops
archaeology, in 1895, through William Robert
the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of
led to quarrels with old friends without the gain
for the manufacture of armor plate for battle-
of more than the stimulated affections of former
Ware [q.v.], Tilton was appointed architect to
Natural History at Springfield, Mass., and the
ships (Congressional Record, 54 Cong., 2 Sess.,
enemies. In 1908 and 1910 paralytic strokes de-
the group sponsored by the American School of
county administration building for Bergen Coun-
pp. 2556-60). Although this move was defeated,
Classical Studies in Athens to excavate the Ar-
ty,N.J.
prived him of the ability to harangue the people.
he had succeeded in exposing before an inter-
give Heræum. Boring and Tilton's first impor-
Tilton's work is remarkable for its careful
In 1902 Duncan C. Heyward, a member of an
ested public the machinations of the steel mag-
old low-country family, was elected governor.
tant commission was that for the United States
study of practical requirements. He was a clas-
nates. He also presented to the nation the views
The state dispensary, Tillman's pet institution,
immigrant station on Ellis Island, won by com-
sicist in taste, inspired in his early work by the
of Southern extremists on the race question in a
grew corrupt, and was abolished by the legis-
petition and completed in 1900. Largely because
Italian Renaissance and in his later by the work
series of addresses in the Senate and on the
lature in 1907; and state-wide prohibition was
of its efficient solution of this complicated prob-
of ancient Greece and Rome, but he was never
adopted in 1915. A Tillman-created state su-
lem, the firm was awarded a gold medal at the
the copier or the unthinking plagiarist, and in
Chautauqua platform. He justified lynching in
preme court in I910 decided against him in a
Paris Exposition of 1900. Other important works
his novel and charming buildings at Highland
cases of rape and the use of force in disfranchis-
contest with his daughter-in-law, a member of
of the firm are Tome Institute, Port Deposit,
Park and Wilmington achieved a new synthesis
ing the negro, and advocated the repeal of the
548
549
Remarks by Michael J. Boskin
at the City Club Forum
Wednesday, March 7, 1990
Thank you for that kind introduction, Elizabeth. It is
indeed a pleasure to be here at the City Club of Cleveland. It's
something we've been trying to arrange for a several years. I'm
delighted to be here and I thank you for your gracious
hospitality. The City Club of Cleveland, as I understand it, has
been providing a public speaking forum free speech and expression
for more than three quarters of a century. You are to be
commended for that impressive achievement, and when I look down
the list of people who have spoken here, it is enormously
impressive. Among your previous speakers is my boss, the
President of the United States, who has spoken here on five
separate occasions. Your Director, Alan Davis, tells me that he
was not only a classmate of President Bush at Yale, but played on
the same baseball team. The only thing I've not managed to learn
is what Alan's batting average was at Yale. (comment from the
audience "It was better than the President's") I won't repeat
that when I go back to Washington. So it's a pleasure to be here
and see some old friends and make some new ones. I have learned
a lot about Cleveland. It's the home of the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame. It is also the home of a terrific football team which
almost made it to the SuperBowl. And I suppose the Denver
Broncos wished that the Browns had made it to the SuperBowl.
Let me try to do three separate things that are closely
related. First, give you my perspective- as the President's
2
economic adviser--about where the United States economy is, how
it got there, and where it's going. Second, give you some
perspective on what the Administration is trying to accomplish--
the goals and principles of economic policy to promote an
improved standard of living for Americans. And third, let me
share with you some experiences, some intellectual excitement and
just some plain wonder at the events of the last year,
particularly those in Eastern Europe.
Let me begin there. The Berlin Wall is coming down, and
freedom is rising up. Eighteen months ago I was a professor
teaching principles of economics--the beginning economics course-
-to freshmen at Stanford University. Now I find myself teaching
principles of economics to Prime Ministers and Finance Ministers
from Eastern European countries, whose newly emerging societies
are trying to make the painful and important steps to market-
oriented economies, bringing the hope of a better economic life
to their citizens. What has happened is simply extraordinary
what has happened--on a personal, societal, and global scale.
But I want to begin by making some very simple statements of
fact about the American economy. I wish to do so because we hear
an amazing amount of negative news and information, and I think
we have to just set the record straight.
First the American economy is the largest, most productive
alvedy
economy in the world. With less than 5 percent of the world's
population, we produced well over a quarter of the total output,
speed
in
GNP, in the world.
nust alridy in
3
Our economy is 2-1/2 times the size of the next largest
economy, which is Japan.
The average standard of living of Americans--GNP per
capita--is far above that of those in other major industrialized
economies--fully one-third higher than that in West Germany or
Japan. We start from a position of great strength.
Second, we're in the 87th month of the longest peacetime
expansion in the entire history of the United States. (To be a
little more accurate, the data only go back to 1854--economic
historians tell me it's unlikely we had this long an expansion
between 1776 or 1789 and 1854.) Some people say that because an
expansion is long, it must end soon. There is no economic theory
and no empirical evidence for that view. Economic expansions do
not come with a pre-set expiration date. The economy has been
growing more slowly starting in late 1989, but we expect it to
improve as this year progresses.
In this expansion--which started at the end of 1982--we've
created 21.6 million jobs in the United States. That's far more
than the jobs created in all the advanced economies of Western
Europe, Canada, and Japan combined, despite the fact that they
have combined a much larger population than do we.
Personal incomes--after adjusting for inflation and taxes--
have risen substantially.
The unemployment rate has fallen substantially. Exports,
which were a major problem the earlier part of this decade, have
risen. Productivity growth, which had been virtually nonexistent
maturaly
4
in the 1970s has rebounded partway to the robust levels of the
1950s and 60s, especially in manufacturing. And we've set the
stage in a long expansion by preventing inflation from
accelerating for the first time in any expansion since World War
II for better times ahead for continuing this expansion and a
better decade in the 1990s.
Let's take a look at 1989, a year in which economic growth
slowed to around 2.5 percent from more rapid growth in 1987 and
1988. We added another 2.5 million jobs.
Exports rose to an all time high--$589 billion. The United
States once again became the world's leading
exporter.
Real disposable income, income after taxes and inflation,
rose 3.6 percent last year.
The unemployment rate averaged for all of 1989 5.3 percent.
It also ended the year at that level and is at that level today--
a rate we hadn't seen since the early 1970s. And those job
opportunities have spread widely. The unemployment rate for
blacks is the lowest since the early 1970s; for teenagers, the
lowest since the early 1970s; for Hispanics, the lowest since we
started keeping separate data for Hispanics in 1980--and
undoubtedly for a considerably longer span of time than that.
Women have made major economic progress in the last six or seven
years. The unemployment rate for women has been no higher than
the unemployment rate for men for the first time since World War
II. And at a time when many more women entered the labor force,
5
and were able to find jobs, about a quarter of the pay gap
between men and women was eliminated.
Those are impressive achievements. That's a strong economy
growing stronger. I'll come back to the short-term and longer-
term prospects and what we need to do to keep our economy growing
to provide rising living standards for our population in a
moment. But I want you all to mull those facts, because somehow
in the general discussion of where we are in the United States,
they're not getting out there.
We cannot, however, take continued economic growth for
granted. We cannot become complacent. The Administration's
foremost priority is to sustain the highest possible rate of
economic growth. That isn't just an abstraction. Economic
growth requires movement on many fronts, but it makes action on
many more social and private goals attainable. Economic growth
is how we create rising standards of living for the bulk of the
population. How we develop the resources to uplift those most in
need. How we provide economic and social mobility to our
citizens. How we leave a better legacy to our children. And how
we maintain America's leadership in the world.
Thus, our primary
priority is to make sure we achieve the highest possible
sustainable rate of growth of the economy's potential output and
make sure the economy operates at its potential, not below it.
We've establish some principles that we use in the Administration
to try to achieve these goals. In our system of checks and
balances and divided system of government, it is not just the
6
Executive Branch that sets economic policy. Congress has a major
say in a variety of areas. We have an independent Federal
Reserve, and so on. But let me just say a word or two about our
principles with some examples. Our principles for monetary,
fiscal, trade and regulatory policy are designed to make sure
that the private sector of the economy--the engine that drives
growth--will continue to create jobs, expand opportunities,
increase productivity and provide greater opportunities for
Americans.
We support a monetary policy by the Federal Reserve that
sustains growth, while predictably controlling inflation.
Our budget policy is directed to turn the tide, to take the
Federal Government which for too long now has been a chronic
borrower draining the Nation's scarce saving pool, thereby
raising interest rates and the cost of capital to our businesses,
dampening investment and detracting from economic growth, into a
supplier of capital to the U.S. capital market by protecting the
integrity of the projected social security surpluses, moving
toward a balanced budget outside the social security system, and
freeing up resources with those projected social security
surpluses to reduce the national debt, lower interest rates,
expand investment, spur economic growth and a raise standards of
living.
It's not just the size of the deficit that determines the
fiscal contribution to economic growth. It's also how we tax,
and how wisely and well we spend. And there we have some
7
principles as well. We believe we need a tax system that gets
out of the business of distorting incentives to the private
sector of the economy; make sure that we maintain incentives to
invest, to innovate, to save and to work. We support the
principle of low tax rates on a broad base that was enacted in
1981 and extended in the tax reform of 1986. We see some
problems with our tax code, in particular on some of the capital
formation issues. We have a research and experimentation tax
credit which is renewed every year by the Congress. Research and
development is a long-term process and if you're going to get an
idea, innovate, develop a product, bring it to market, it's going
to take a lot more than one year's tax credit to get you to do
that innovation. We want to make that R & D tax credit
permanent. We believe that a capital gains rate reduction
restoring a differential for capital gains will spur
entrepreneurial activity, increase risk-taking, and investment,
spur economic growth, create new industries, new jobs, and help
revitalize important sectors of our economy. There are those who
argue that this is a tax break for the rich. That's a silly way
to look at it. This is not a rich/poor issue; it's an America
issue. It's investing in the growth of our economy.
We've proposed an innovative new tax incentive for family
saving for pre-retirement objectives that respects the need not
to worsen the budget deficit.
We also believe in carefully targeted tax incentives to help
people in need. For example, in day care. There are those who
8
propose a vast new middle class bureaucracy-controlled, state-run
or mandated day care system with no flexibility or choice for
parents. We think that's unwise. We think the role of the
Federal Government should be to target those funds to the people
at the bottom, those most in need to provide them the opportunity
to enter the marketplace successfully, earn a living, get on that
ladder of opportunity, and we want to do so in a manner that
gives them dignity and choice about how to do it.
On the spending side, its not also just how much the Federal
Government spends (and it does spend a lot--$1-1/4 trillion is
what we propose for next year). We're being criticized for not
proposing enough. Yet, that's more than the entire GNP of all
but a few countries. We're trying to tilt that spending more
toward investing in the future. The Federal Government must
finance basic research and development because no private firm
has an incentive to undertake research which would be broadly
applicable, as all the returns would not be privately
appropriable. So we propose a record high R & D budget of $70
billion.
We think we should be spending a lot more on preparing
disadvantaged children for effective learning and have proposed a
$500 million expansion of Head Start. We think we should be
spending more on improving aviation infrastructure and have so
proposed, and I can go on and on.
But we don't think we ought just to spend money on problems.
We believe that many national problems do not require Federal
9
spending, but may require Federal leadership to galvanize the
nation. A very good example is our elementary and secondary
education systems. This is an immensely important concern for
the future of our economy, as well as the simple decency of
quality education for our children. We face an increasingly
competitive world economy--an economy where in the future our
workers are going to need more skills and the ability to learn
new skills throughout their lifetimes. And yet we see
international comparisons on test after test that the performance
of the kids in our elementary and secondary schools is not
stacking up. The United States total spending per pupil on K
through 12 education is more than any other industrialized
country except Switzerland. We are not getting our money's
worth. We need to change the focus from how much we spend to
what we get out--to the performance of our kids Now there may
be times where spending more is necessary, whether at the Federal
level, for example for Head Start to prepare disadvantaged
children for effective learning, or at the state and local level,
but that should not detract from the more fundamental issue: we
need a fundamental restructuring of our education system.
We simply cannot remain a great nation, a growing, vital
world leader, with a second-class elementary and secondary
education system.
So the President--for only the third time in
the history of the United States--called the nation's Governors
together last September in Charlottesville to work to establish
national performance goals for education. And these were
0
10
announced last week in Washington by the President and the
Nation's Governors. A bipartisan effort- a fiscally Federal
effort, the Federal Government and the Nation's Governors, and we
are going to turn now to galvanizing the Nation to achieve these
goals--every student, every family, every school district, every
PTA, every Principal, every teacher, every parent, every school
board, every mayor and every Governor, as well as the Federal
Government.
In regulatory, legal policy, trade policy and the like, we
have similar goals. In regulatory policy, we want to avoid
unnecessary regulation, and deregulate where possible, for
example, natural gas at the well-head which we did last year.
But there are some areas where regulation is necessary--the
environment, for example. And there we try to achieve a sensible
balance between the need for a healthy environment and the
prerequisite of a sound, growing economy. There are those who
argue that a healthy environment and a sound economy are
incompatible. Extremists on both sides of that equation do not
believe that we can reconcile the needs of an improved
environment and a strong economy. I reject that notion. It will
be costly to clean up the environment. There is no free lunch.
But it can be done in a way that is cost-effective, that gives
workers and firms flexibility in achieving those improvements,
that does not force plants to shut down and workers to lose their
jobs because some bureaucrat in Washington sets a silly rule that
isn't applicable to a local situation. And we are working very
11
aggressively with Congress to try to achieve landmark Clean Air
legislation that accords to these principles; a strong move
toward a healthier environment, but in a way that provides
maximum flexibility to firms and workers to minimize economic
costs to achieve those standards.
In trade policy, much attention has focussed recently on
trade frictions the United States has with various countries, but
especially Japan. The world's economic growth-that of the
United States, that of Japan, and most importantly, that of the
newly developing economies--has benefitted more than anything
else from the move toward an open liberalized world trading
system since World War II. It would be shortsighted and foolish
at best, dangerous at worst, if we don't press forward to open
markets everywhere and instead turn to closing them. We cannot
become more competitive by choosing not to compete. We need to
open markets, not close them. We need to press forward to lead
the world to freer and fairer trade, and we ask all other nations
to join us in that effort. Our primary objective, through the
Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, is
to bring fifteen areas which are not currently well covered by
our rule-based international trade system into that system, to
decrease those frictions and open markets world-wide.
Those are our principles. We believe that with those
principles, we fashion an important growth agenda. That growth
agenda means that we must invest more and more wisely. I've
mentioned at some of those kinds of investments, but let me just
12
summarize. We must invest more in intellectual capital, in
research and development. That means more Federal spending, as
we have proposed on those basic scientific breakthroughs that no
single firm could hope to finance and generate enough return from
because the benefits will accrue so widely. It means a better
environment for private entrepreneurial and innovative activity
with the capital gains tax rate cut and the permanent R & D
credit and other legal and regulatory reforms such as a better-
balanced system of product liability laws.
We need to invest more in tangible capital in our
factories in machines and we must to make sure they are up to
date and equip our labor force with the best quality available.
And we need to invest more in our human capital. I've
stressed elementary and secondary education. We are also working
in innovative ways to try to eliminate adult functional
illiteracy.
It is only by attacking all those determinants of our long-
term growth that we have the best chance of making sure that our
economy continues to grow, providing a rising standard of living
for our population, retaining the flexibility and dynamism that
are its hallmarks, the foundation to continued economic
leadership.
Let me return finally to say a word or two about the
remarkable changes in Eastern Europe. We have seen a movement to
pluralism and democracy and toward a market-oriented economy in
many of the countries of Eastern Europe. Yet there is a lot of
13
variation among them-some are further along; some have not made
many decisions, some are in the process of making them. This is
one of the most remarkable events of our time. I said before I
had been teaching principles of economics at Stanford. And in
that course, it is standard to spend a few days talking about the
centrally-planned, so-called command economies of the Soviet-type
in which Commisars, bureaucrats centrally plan what is produced,
and who works where. Instead of the economy producing what
people want, the people get what the central planners want them
to have. And in economics courses all throughout the country,
our students are taught how that system not only supresses
freedom of choice and opportunity, but that it just can't deliver
the goods. Well, I admit like everybody else, that I was
surprised by how rapidly these changes occurred. I always
thought they would, and I am delighted they have. We have made
a commitment, in conjunction with our allies, to provide some
assistance, some food aid, some financial assistance, some
technical assistance, but it's going to be a while before those
economies straighten themselves out. Many of those countries
haven't decided exactly what model they would like to follow.
Whether they want to become as market-oriented as the United
States, or far less market-oriented is still being decided. All
those economies start after four decades of repressive central
planning from very low standards of living, and while the great
hope they have is that with the freeing up of resources and the
market orientation that they are adopting they can get onto a
3
14
highway to prosperity, they are going to be navigating bumpy
congested city roads while they get there. And so I think we
need to have not only a perspective of hope, optimism and support
for the peoples of Eastern Europe, but we also must temper it
with' a proper sense of perspective. For example if Poland
achieves 4 percent real growth, it would take close to a half
century to catch up to where the United States is today. So they
have a long way to go. They are very bravely beginning to
adopt some remarkable changes, but precious few of the citizens
of these countries have experience or expertise--at the most
fundamental level--about working, producing or consuming in a
market-oriented economy. We need by example, by interchange, by
good will as well as financial support, to provide them an
opportunity to make that difficult transition.
I've laid out some of our principles, some of our policies,
some of our perspectives. I hope you will let us know when you
think we are doing a good job in achieving them. I hope you will
let us know when you disagree with them. And I hope you will a
special effort to keep me informed of how things are going here
and how you see the kind of job we are doing in Washington to try
to guarantee that our economy continues to grow and prosper.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Date:
9/11/89
TO: Speechwriters
)
FROM: Bob Simon
The attached is for:
Per our conversation
Per your request
a
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Comments:
The attached is an account of an open
air sermon delivered by Theodore Roosevelt
in 1905 near Rifle, Colo.
There's quite a bit of good language
which you may want to use at some point.
I think the President has seen this.
GB
1500 Windsor Drive
Kingsburg, CA 93631
July 13, 1989
Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D. C. 20500
Dear President Bush:
Having read that you are an admirer of President Teddy Roosevelt,
I thought you might be interested in the enclosed personal, first-
hand account of a visit and speech President Roosevelt gave in Rifle,
Colorado, in 1905. Some of the president's comments could well be
relevant today.
I typed this information, word for word, from the notes of my grand-
father, Rev. Lewis L. Thomas, who was privileged to sit on the platform
at that time and to take part in the program. I have also included a
photocopy of an original photograph I have showing the president,
platform party, and part of the crowd that was there that day.
I was in the crowd that came to see and hear you the day you visited
the Sun Maid Raisin plant near Kingsburg on September 14, 1988, when
you were campaigning for office. We are very pleased that you were
elected and believe you are doing a fine job as president.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Shirley Thomas Bolton
sb
Enc.
A SABBATH WITH THE PRESIDENT - THEODORE ROOSEVELT
For the first time in the history of Colorado, and probably for the first time
in the history of the United States, the President of the nation rode several
miles on horseback to meet the people and preach an open air sermon to an open-
air people in God's big out of doors.
This, as a precedent, is important, but the circumstances surrounding
it make it even more startling.
Out in the open, with no family retinue with him, with no bodyguard of
hundreds of armed soldiers, such as the crowned heads of Europe would have to
have, but alone and unattended, riding a prancing white horse, with the nearest
railway station, Rifle, sixteen miles away, with a little blue school house as a
fitting background, its platform the rostrum, President Roosevelt, attired in his
canvas hunting suit, a blue flannel shirt, a white Stetson hat, no vest on and
coat swinging wide open, his watch fastened to a leather string and tied in a button-
hole of the coat, with large heavy hunter's shoes covering his feet and pants
fastened tightly at the top, with a large silk, red handkerchief around his neck,
preached to over 1200 people who flocked to see and hear him, pleading with them
for a higher standard of citizenship, for higher and better moral lives, for a
deeper and more fervent worship of a God, which he declared had "lifted our country
from among the infant nations of the earth and made it a home for freedom and
liberty."
Beyond the further edges of the throng, higher than the tops of the
pines and cedars and spruces, the foothills climbed steadily, laden with their
soft purple twigged forests. And beyond the rounded tops of the furthest foothills,
the majestic foothills, the majestic mountains,
"Grand, sublime,
Enduring sentinels of time."
stood in a ring, covered with virgin snows, glinting in the sunlight. Their tops
rising and falling, sharply serrated against the blue, seemed like a great white
crown set upon the brow of the smiling valley.
Like one of the mountain people, like one of the many hundreds who had
gathered from the mountain, valley, canyon and mesa, was the President. He himself
might have been one of those who had ridden in from a lonely little ranch house to
attend Sunday service. He might have been one moved by the eloquence of the regular
pastor, Rev. Horace Mann, to rise and tell his own experience, for the good of his
neighbors.
It was a gala day for Rifle and Divide Creek and neighboring towns.
The people came from every direction and in every sort of conveyance. Cowboys
and cowgirls came on horseback, the cowgirls vying in rhythm of movement with their
more hardened brothers of the saddle. Whole families, of a size to gladden the
President's heart, drove up winding roads, across the mesas and valleys, and
over mountains and snow-born torrents in heavy lumber wagons, while others used
stage coaches, carryalls, single and double-seated rigs, coaches and tallyhos.
-2-
They all brought capacious lunch baskets and at the noon hour it looked like one
gigantic picnic ground. Some were just finishing their dinner when the President
rode down through the cedars fringing the road.
"Now that's fine," shouted the President, as he looked down upon the
picnickers from his white horse. "I wish I hadn't eaten, I'd have lunch with you."
"You'd be mighty welcome," was the hearty response from every side. With the
coming of the President, everyone started for the little school house. The plat-
form had been arranged as a rostrum. There were chairs on it for the President,
Dr. Alexander Lambert, the President's physician, Rev. Horace Mann, Rev. A. B. Sanderson
and the writer.
There were no secret service men present. "The President didn't want
them," said a member of the presidential party. "He knew that the people out here
could take care of him all right." And so they could. The President could not
be safer anywhere else in this wide world than right there. And not a man or woman
or child but what would have gladly tyhrown themselves upon a sword or into the
mouth of a belching cannon in protection of "Teddy."
"Blessed Assurance" was the first hymn sung. Then the 23rd Psalm was
read, followed by the opening prayer by the writer, at the close of which the
President's "amen" was as hearty as the writer's. In several places the President
would respond to a sentiment expressed with a hearty, audible "amen" just like the
Methodists used to. The next song sung was, "There's Sunshine in My Soul Today,"
the President singing with the rest.
Why, he was one of us. Great was his simplicity and common placeness.
So great was it that everyone felt perfectly at ease and at home in his presence.
Sitting at his side and exchanging words with him during the service and after-
wards, it hardly occurred to the writer that he was sitting side by side with
the chief of this great nation and a man that had been given the greatest popular
vote ever cast for a President.
When the President was introduced and rose to his feet, there was a sea
of fluttering handkerchiefs, giving the President the chautaugua salute. At this
point someone said, "Have you got your handkerchief with you, Mr. President?"
Whereupon he pulled out of the pockets of his hunting coat a large red bandana.
This provoked a hearty laugh on the part of the people and set them to waving
their handkerchiefs again.
President Roosevelt is always at his best when he is closely in contact
with the people, and his voluntary appearance at the little blue school house on
Divide Creek put him in a particularly favorable light. There was a wholesome
simplicity about the whole affair, a democratic disregard of the unessentials
and a getting down to the plain facts of humanity, such as we would like to see
more frequently in our national affairs.
There are doubtless many more Americans that would like to get on a
level with the people and feel their heartbeat, but there are comparatively few
who know how to do this like President Roosevelt. There is no better stock of
humanity anywhere in the world than is to be found in the rural districts of
Colorado; and amid the cowboys and ranchmen of the Rocky Mountains, the republic
of the future may well look for her Lincolns, her Garfields, and her Grants, if
not her Roosevelts.
-3-
And the President knows that in what is best in nature and best worth
having, it is akin to these simple, kind, generous, patient, whole-hearted men
and women, who in their circles of experience have preserved so much that is too
soon forgotten in the denser crowds of self-styled civilization.
The day was one of the prettiest imaginable in Colorado, under the
blue sky and the fleecy clouds, with the green trees bowing on the mountainsides
and down the valleys, with snowy peaks rising high above, them and around them, we
listened to a heart-to-heart sermon by our President. Straight from the shoulders
he talked. There was no mincing of words or finishing of phrases, just good,
straight English thrown straight at the crowd. A characteristic grin, in which
the President showed his teeth, when he began speaking, called forth the following
expression from a rancher in the crowd who had never seen the President before,
except in pictures, "Say, them newspaper fellers can draw. I saw Teddy's picture
in a paper, but I thought it was one of them thar cartoons."
The President spoke, in part, as follows:
"Friends and neighbors: It all seems real good to have a chance to
come here today to say a few words to you. For a number of years I lived where
my neighbors were just such good people as these whom I see before me. It is
but true for me to say, then, that I feel thoroughly at home with you. I cannot
say how much I have enjoyed my stay here with you. Not only have I been treated
middling well by the bears (the President got 14 bear and 6 bobcats), which treat=
ment has not always been kindly reciprocated by me, I am a little afraid, but the
people have fairly outdone themselves in their hospitality. In the few words
which I have to say to you, I am going to draw some illustrations from the Grand
Army, many of whose representatives I see before me now. It is remarkable how
many Grand Army men I see in the west, the little bronze button testifying mutely
to theirheroism in the days gone by.
"Comrades, I am going to say a few words on success, taking your lives
as an example for the others here. Only the other day I was saying to the dominie
here as to success and what it means. One of the best illustrations of American
ideas and possibilities of success is the Grand Army man. Success in the dark
days of '61, the days that tried men's souls had a meaning. From lieutenant-general
to drummer boy, every man has the title of Comrade. Every man was and is judged
not by his position, but by the way he does his duty in that position. So we
judge the success of men as private citizens. Success from the soldier's stand-
point meant that the man, whether he carried a musket or a sword, did his duty
up to the handle. If a man did that, he had a right to feel that he left a name
that would be an honor to his descendants. So it is in civil life--real success
consists in doing one's duty in the paths where one's life is laid.
"And duty first, remember, is doing what is right to self, for if you
cannot pull yourself, you cannot pull, others, doing what is right to family and
neighbor.
"It is not possible for any of us to say just how much accident there
is in winning the great prizes of life. There is always some accident in it. No
amount of skill, perseverance, energy or genius can win the great prizes of life
if you lack character, moral character, and the courage of moral convictions.
Real success consists in bearing yourselves so that your children will bless you
for having done all that was in your power to bring them up to an honored name,
and those coming after you will look. upon you as having brought honor to them
and your country.
-4-
"In this great country of ours it is absolutely certain that the
government cannot rise higher than those who make it, any more than a stream
can rise higher than its source. One leader, or set of leaders, cannot make
the government. The government cannot be better than the average citizen.
He alone can make it or unmake it. When the King of Sparta was visited by
a neighboring king, the visitor said to him, 'Where are your walls?' The
king replied, 'I will show them to you after a little while.' The king had
his armies pass in review before his guest. As they were passing by he said,
'There go the walls of Sparta.' So I can point to every American citizen
today and say, 'There go the walls of this Republic.' And the walls will not
be any stronger than each individual brick in them.
"In the Civil War, comrades, we could not have got along without
Grant or Logan or Sherman, but it was the average men in the ranks that made
the army. So in civil life today.
"Now, as in the war days, as ever, the successful man is the man in
the ranks, the man who carries the hod, or the musket, or the coupling pin, or
casts the ballot and does his conscientious duty.
"Yet, friends, there is no secret, nothing remarkable in being a good
citizen. The qualities that make a good citizen are ones that every man may
have, if he will show them. If he will not, no brilliancy, genius or anything
else can avail him or the nation."
Next the President poured a broadside into dishonesty in public and
private life and particularly that kind which goes into business and is taken
as an indication of ability when it is downright dishonesty.
"The dishonest man is a disgrace to himself and a community. If he
is an educated dishonest man, he is more the dangerous. You can do nothing
with a man or for a man that is dishonest. That is insincere; that is two faced.
That is anything to get the spoils. He may think he is smart and others may
think he is smart because he can corner this or that to his own advantage
without any moral sense of the other man's wellbeing. I have a haughty contempt
for that so-called smartness, ability unaccompanied by moral sense, which is
getting altogether frequent.
"What we want is courage. The greater part of the courage needed in
the world today is not of the military kind, but the common courage to be honest,
the courage to resist temptation, the courage to speak the truth. The patriot
who fights an always losing battle for the right, the man who though in the
minority always stands for the right, the martyr who goes to his death amidst
the triumphant shouts of his enemies, the discoverer, like Columbus, whose heart
remains undaunted through the bitter years of his wandering woe, are examples of
courage and heroism sublime, and these examples excite a profounder interest in
the hearts of man than the most complete and conspicuous success.
"Press on with courage true and bold,
Press on with pulses beating high,
The morning breaks her bars of gold,
The sun in splendor mounts the sky.
Aim high, dear friend, and strive to climb,
The heights where heroes stand,
Whose purposes were all sublime,
And aspirations grand.
-5-
"Now, I do not want a timid good man. Not much! None of that kind,
who when they meet evil face to face, say, 'how dreadful,' and then run away.
No sir! I hate the timid good! I like the man who wades in and licks the
wickedness. You all know of men, especially you comrades, who were forever
boasting that they wished that they could find something heroic to do. Yet
when these same men had to dig kitchen sinks they failed. Heroism is doing
what your duty says you ought to do, little or big.
"We think too often of heroism as being displayed only on the battle-
field or in the days of Feudalism and Knight errantry. We are apt to make our
heroes mailed knights, charging a superior foe or a Decius plunging into the
thickest of the battle single handed and alone, or a Horatio at the bridge, or
a Richard the Lion Hearted leading to certain success as though heroism was a
thing of the past or consisted in some great thing; but, in reality, there
is more chance for heroism today than the world has ever seen before!
"A pure man is a hero! A man who will contend with the gigantic
evils of this present age is a hero! The boy who can pass along the pathway
of life, strewn on either side with the enticing gardens of sin, yet pass them
by, is a hero of no common or mean mould! The woman who can pass goddess
fashion in her gorgeous robes, yet be willing to be satisfied with her own
small wardrobe, is as much a heroine as was Joan of Arc.
"The man who makes a tender loving husband, the young fellow who
tries to make his friends glad when he returns home to the ranch, the young
girls who help their mothers, these are heroes and heroines of every-day life!
"To do each day what that day calls you to do, so that at the end
of your years you can look back and say, 'I tried my best to be a loving
father and husband, a tender mother, a dutiful son and daughter, '--that is
doing your duty; that is earning that immortal crown of a decent citizen."
After the benediction, the handshaking began and lasted for nearly an
hour. Twelve hundred people passed along the line to bid him goodbye and tell
him how much they appreciated his kindness in addressing them. Finally, it was
all over. President Roosevelt stopped for a few moments to bid goodbye to the
pastors, then he walked down to his horse and started back to his camp three
miles up the creek in the mountain vastnesses.
Long live our Nation's Chief!
(This description of President Roosevelt's visit to Rifle, Colorado, in 1905,
was written by the Rev. Lewis L. Thomas, pastor of the United Methodist Church
in Rifle from 1904 to 1910.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Dear Mrs. Bolton:
Many thanks for your letter and kind words. I
appreciate your thinking of me.
I thoroughly enjoyed your grandfather's wonderful
account of Teddy Roosevelt's visit to Rifle, Colorado.
I'm a great admirer of our 26th President. Anyone
who can say, "I hate the timid good! I like the man
who wades in and licks the wickedness." -- and then
can go on to extol such virtues as kindness, tender-
ness, and honesty -- deserves to be admired. He was
a great man who set a marvelous example for all
Americans.
With my best wishes and appreciation,
Sincerely,
Mrs. Shirley Thomas Bolton
1500 Windsor Drive
Kingsburg, California 93631
DECENCY
DECENCY
DEER
145;
Nat.
Ed.
DECENCY. See also WEAKNESS.
need is that we as a nation shall say what we
mean and shall make our public servants say
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
what they mean; say it to other nations and
NATIONAL
The Declaration of Independence derived its
say it to us, ourselves. Let us demand that we
peculiar importance, not on account of what
and they preach realizable ideals and that we
America was, but because of what she was to
and they live up to the ideals thus preached.
there
is
become; she shared with other nations the pres-
Let there be no impassable gulf between ex-
nation,
race,
ent, and she yielded to them the past, but it
uberance of impossible promise and pitiful in-
a
that
we
cannot
was felt in return that to her, and to her espe-
sufficiency in quality of possible perforn ance.
the
phenom-
cially, belonged the future. (At Dickinson, Da-
(1916.) Mem. Ed. XX, 530; Nat. Ed. XVIII,
bartial
explana-
kota Territory, July 4, 1886.) Hermann Hage-
455.
the
decay
of
dorn, Roosevelt in the Bad Lands. (Houghton
the
sum
Mifflin Co., Boston, 1921), P 408.
DEEDS. See also ACTION; BOASTING; CRIT-
of
ICISM; PRACTICALITY.
represent the
notably,
I am afraid I have not got as
of
much reverence for the Declaration of Inde-
DEER, MULE. The mule-deer is a strik-
world,
and,
world,
pendence as I should have because it has made
ing and beautiful animal. As is the case with
modern
certain untruths immortal. (Recorded by Butt
our other species, it varies greatly in size, but is
the
sum
of
all
in letter of July 24, 1908.) The Letters of
on the average heavier than either the white-
not
wholly
ex-
Archie Butt, Personal Aide to President Roose-
tail or the true blacktail. The horns also average
gone
out
of
velt. (Doubleday, Page & Co., Garden City,
longer and heavier, and in exceptional heads
and
what
it
is
N. Y., 1924), P. 68.
are really noteworthy trophies. Ordinarily a
four,
March
8,
full-grown buck has a head of ten distinct and
Bishop
II,
105.
We Progressives hold that
well-developed points, eight of which consist
the words of the Declaration of Independence,
of the bifurcations of the two main prongs
NATIONAL
as given effect to by Washington and as con-
into which each antler divides, while in addition
EMPIRE;
strued and applied by Abraham Lincoln, are
there are two shorter basal or frontal points.
to be accepted as real, and not as empty phrases.
But the latter are very irregular, being some-
We believe that in very truth this is a govern-
times missing; while sometimes there are two
If
I
wished
ment by the people themselves, that the Con-
or three of them on each antler. When missing
ountry,
my
busi-
stitution is theirs, that the courts are theirs, that
it usually means that the antlers are of young
efficiency;
to
all the governmental agents and agencies are
animals that have not attained their full growth.
of
high
ideals
theirs. (At Madison Square Garden, N. Y. C.,
(1905.) Mem. Ed. III, 207; Nat. Ed. III, 36.
ideals
to
ac-
October 30, 1912.) Mem. Ed. XIX, 460; Nat.
and
to
the
Ed. XVII, 337.
The mule-deer differs widely
live
up
to
it.
from the whitetail in its habits, and especially
Tat.
Ed.
XX,
91.
DECORATION DAY. See MEMORIAL DAY.
in its gait and in the kind of country which it
frequents. Although in many parts of its range
I
desire
to
DEEDS-CREDIT FOR. In this world, in
it is found side by side with its whitetail cousin,
strong
and
the long run, the job must necessarily fall to
the two do not actually associate together, and
we
get
that
the man who both can and will do it when it
their propinquity is due simply to the fact that,
we
are
not
must be done, even though he does it roughly
the river-bottoms being a favorite haunt of
successful
as
we
or imperfectly. It is well enough to deplore
the whitetail, long tongues of the distribution
Society,
Oyster
and to strive against the conditions which make
area of this species are thrust into the domain
Mem.
Ed.
XV,
it necessary to do the job; but when once face
of its bolder, less stealthy, and less crafty kins-
to face with it, the man who fails either in
man. Throughout the plains country the white-
power or will, the man who is half-hearted,
tail is the deer of the river-bottoms, where the
Measure
in-
reluctant, or incompetent, must give way to the
rank growth gives it secure hiding-places, as
man's
purse
be
actual doer, and he must not complain because
well as ample food. The mule-deer, on the con-
partly
empty.
If
the doer gets the credit and reward. (1900.)
trary, never comes down into the dense growths
ther
well
off
or
Mem. Ed. XIII, 405; Nat. Ed. X, 288.
of the river-bottoms. (1905.) Mem. Ed. III,
is
not
a
decent
2II; Nat. Ed. III, 39.
he
be
rich
or
DEEDS VERSUS WORDS. One of our be-
spirit
of
ven-
setting sins as a nation has been to encourage
DEER, MULE-HUNTING THE. Ordinar-
purpose
to
in our public servants, in our speech-making
ily the mule-deer must be killed by long tramp-
must
act
if
this
leaders of all kinds, the preaching of impossible
ing among the hills, skilful stalking, and good
what
it
shall
ideals; and then to treat this as offsetting the
shooting. The successful hunter should possess
N.
Y.,
July
4,
fact that in practice these representatives did
good eyes, good wind, and good muscles. He
Nat.
Ed.
XVI,
9.
not live up to any ideals whatever. The vital
should know how to take cover and how to use
[133]
HURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1989
A21
The Fickle Finger of the American Press
"The moving finger writes and, having
specials, cover stories, enterprise features
story? ); ethics in government (ditto); flag
writ, says to hell with il and moves on.
and airtime beyond belief were devoted to
burning, public outrage and political pos-
-Modern saying of American journalism
the issue, to the virtual exclusion of all
turing: Iran after the death of Khomeini
According to a recent poll, two-thirds of
else. The president and his drug czar, Wil-
and the triumph of the "moderates"; the
the American public belleves drugs are the
liam Bennett, had reason to be pleased.
anti-communist crusade for Western civili-
most important problem facing the U.S.
The media should have been ashamed.
zation in Nicaragua: the Valdez spill, the
Nine months ago about 15% did, so what
But what's new about the press playing
despoliation of the environment in general
accounts for the vast shift in perception?
the role of uncritical hype-merchant and
and the remedies just on the horizon; trash
Neither the addiction rate nor drug-related
cheerleader? Nothing. We long ago gave
TV and trashy TV evangelists.
crime has soared as dramatically.
up control of that famous spotlight of ours.
If it weren't for the easy news pegs pro-
Answer: The new president decided to
It moves, most of the time, in response to
vided by anniversaries, most of those sto-
break with his predecessor and make the
pulls, tugs and pressure far distant from
ries would be as lost to public memory and
war against drugs the focal point of his
the boardrooms and newsrooms of our vast
comprehension as stories yet to come. Cov-
administration. He did SO against the back-
media conglomerates.
ering the tedious reality of the world
That is bad enough-and the exact op-
around us, rather than the topical (usually
Viewpoint
posite of the notion SO bitterly advanced by
contrived) drama of the day, is not a high-
present and former government officials
priority item. Remember the "educational
By Hodding Carter III
that the media set the agenda today. What
crisis" wave of coverage? The crisis is still
is worse is that journalism in general, and
with us: the coverage is not.
television in particular, has little stomach
drop of one lead-pipe cinch. The mass me-
That was yesterday, today is today, and
for staying with any story for very long,
dia in America have an overwhelming
today's big news is the drug war. The pres-
except when constantly prodded.
tendency to jump up and down and bark in
ident says so, SO television says so, news-
Today's sensation is tomorrow's dead
concert whenever the White House-any
papers and magazines say SO and the pub-
White House-snaps its fingers.
fish. The "News From Nowhere" syn-
lic says SO. If words and images could win
drome once typical of foreign coverage is
the drug war, it would all be over.
So what, you might ask? So nothing, ex-
cept that since the signals tend to change
now commonplace in domestic reportage
They can't, however, and soon Con-
as well. Look quickly, because those im-
SO frequently. and with so little readily dis-
gress, state legislatures, city councils and
ages and words flashing by will soon be
lawmen of all kinds will be back in the
cernible connection to objective reality, it
makes for a badly confused public. So
forgotten with the rest. Sustained coverage
trenches, measuring out progress, if any,
is a textbook phrase that has rare connec-
nothing. except that it demonstrates how
in inches. It won't be a very dramatic
tion with journalistic practice. For the
little substance lies at the heart of the me-
story. It won't produce overnight victory
dia's claim to be independent watchdogs of
most part. the epochal receives coverage
or even very many clear battlefield suc-
no less ephemeral than does the trivial.
governmental performance. Events regu-
cesses, except of the most superficial sort
Consider a partial list of stories and issues
larly prove that when it comes to news
At a given point, the president's advisers
that have come and gone (and sometimes
will tell him the obvious: It's time to de-
judgment, the media find It more agree-
able to move in concert with the orchestra-
come and gone again) over the past 12
tach his personal prestige from the success
months:
tions of others than to decide individually
or failure of a thousand local engagements.
The "hostage crisis" (in quotation
what is really important-or even real.
And suddenly, almost miraculously, the
marks to distinguish it from past hostage
And so, for almost two months, there
media will begin to look elsewhere, even
crises the Beijing spring of democracy,
has been a steadily coalescing media con-
though the only story that means anything
and its brutally efficient repression: the
sensus that the drug story Is the world's
will be sitting there begging for coverage.
embarrassing refusal of the communist re-
The drug war won't be news.
most important. That may or may not be
gime in Afghanistan to collapse on cue, re-
well-founded, but It Is beyond doubt that
But don't worry. There'll be a new war.
peated backgrounder assertions notwith-
the critical mass of consensus was the re-
a III'W number one problem, to take its
standing: the tenaclous longevity of that
place. There always Is.
sult of skillful media manipulation. Last
former Public Enemy Number One, Man-
week, we had the media equivalent of a
uel Noriega (wasn't it only yesterday that
Mr. Carter is a political commentator
nuclear explosion. Speeches, interviews,
his fate was the world's most important
who heads a television production firm.
Photo Copy Preservation
Baltic Nationalis
For the Record
Pressing Call for 1
From speech by Chinese astrophysicist
Fang Lizhion accepting the 1989 Robert
F. Rennedy Human Rights Award at
SOVIET, From A20
local
Georgetown University on Nov. 15:
by su
crushed in the Baltic region, they
Some people say that the terror that
will fail throughout the Soviet Union.
joined
has filled Beijing since June can't help but
"People in the Popular Front
in send:
make one feel pessimistic. And must ad--
clearly understand that Gorbachev is
the Krei
mit to such feelings of pessimism myself.
for democratization and liberaliza-
The L
But would also like to offer a small bit of
tion, but he has no intention of dis-
as well as
encouragement. Remember that
of the Balt.
it may well be that those who are most
mantling the existing Soviet Union,"
cussed split.
terrified are those who have just finished
said Calitis, who spent more than 17
party struct
killing their fellow human beings. We
years in Soviet jails and labor camps
may be forced to live under a terror to-
as a political prisoner.
ever, the K1
The aggressiveness of the nation-
ings have CO
day, but we have no fear of tomorrow.
The murderers, on the other hand, are
alist movements has put the Com-
considerably.
not only fearful today; they are: even
munist Party organizations in Lith-
Nevertheless,
more terrified of tomorrow. Thus, we
uania, Latvia and Estonia in a dif-
who are also mei
have no reason to lose faith. Ignorance
ficult position, of, as Russians says
Front groups, in
may dominate in the short through
"Between the hammer and the nail.'
munists will have
the use of violence, but it will eventually
Facing pressure from both Mos-
the region until
be unable to resist the advance of univer-
COW and the increasingly radical
dent, organization.
sal laws. And this will come to pass just
Baltic peoples, regional party offi-
ically, from Moscoi
as surely as the Earth turns.
cials have found themselves strug-
Lenin is dead," said
[I]t takes time for the Earth to turn,
gling to please both.
journalist and party
and for China things could take even lon-
Ivars Kezbers, the Latvian party
party did its best to
ger. With this in mind, I would like to say
ideology chief, said in an interview
mocracy, the very
a few things to the young Chinese in the
that the Central Comittee state-
trying to support tod:
audience. I know that many of you have
ment took him and his colleagues at
In Soviet Moldavid
dedicated your lives to building our coun-
reported:
try anew. Since the road to rebirth will
be a long one, I fervently hope that you
will not discontinue your education, but
Sept1,1989
989
instead will work even harder to deepen
and enrich your knowledge. We are all
disciples of nonviolence. What power can
nonviolence summon as a means of re-
sisting the violence of guns the
world over? There are many strategies of
nonviolence, but what is most basic is the
force of knowledge. Without knowledge,
nonviolence can deteriorate into begging,
and history is unmoved by begging. To
paraphrase Einstein, it is only when we
stand on the shoulders of the giant of
knowledge that we will truly be able to
change the course of history.
Familiar
Quotations
A collection of passages, phrases and
proverbs traced to their sources in
ancient and modern literature
FIFTEENTH AND 125TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
REVISED AND ENLARGED
John Bartlett
Edited by EMILY MORISON BECK
and the editorial staff of Little, Brown and Company
LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY BOSTON TORONTO LONDON
Child - Hugo
491
1 Woman stock is rising in the market. I
12
Waterloo! Waterloo! Waterloo! Dismal
shall not live to see women vote, but I'll come
plain.⁷
and rap on the ballot box.
Les Châtiments [1853]. Expiation
Letter to Sarah Shaw [1856]
13 The eye was in the tomb and stared at
2 The United States is
a
warning
Cain.
La Conscience [1859]
rather than an example to the world.
To the twenty-fifth-anniversary
14 You have created a new thrill.8
meeting of the Massachusetts Anti-
Letter to Baudelaire [October 6,
Slavery Society [1857]
1859]
3 Yours for the unshackled exercise of every
15 The supreme happiness of life is the convic-
faculty by every human being.
tion that we are loved.
Message to woman suffrage
Les Misérables [1862].9 Fantine,
supporters [c. 1875]
bk. V, ch. 4
16
Great grief is a divine and terrible radi-
David Christy
ance which transfigures the wretched.
1802 - C. 1868
Ib. 13
4
Cotton Is King; or, The Economical Rela-
17
Napoleon
mighty somnambulist of a
tions of Slavery.
Title of book [1855]¹
vanished dream.
Ib. Cosette, bk. I, ch. 13
Alexandre Dumas the Elder
18
Waterloo is a battle of the first rank won by
1802-1870
a captain of the second.
Ib. 16
5 All for one, one for all, that is our de-
19 Would you realize what Revolution is, call
vice.²
it Progress; and would you realize what Prog-
The Three Musketeers [1844], ch. 9
ress is, call it Tomorrow.
Ib. 17
6 Nothing succeeds like success.³
20 What is that to the Infinite?
Ib. 18
Ange Pitou [1854], vol. I
7 Let us look for the woman.⁴
21 Great blunders are often made, like large
The Mohicans of Paris [1854-
ropes, of a multitude of fibers.
1855], vol. III, ch. 10, II
Ib. V, IO
22 Upon the first goblet he read this inscrip-
Victor Hugo
tion, monkey wine; upon the second, lion
1802-1885
wine; upon the third, sheep wine; upon the
fourth, swine wine. These four inscriptions
8 These two halves of God, the Pope and the
expressed the four descending degrees of
emperor.
Hernani [1830], act IV, SC. ii
drunkenness: the first, that which enlivens;
9 God became a man, granted. The devil be-
the second, that which irritates; the third,
came a woman. 5
that which stupefies; finally the last, that
Ruy Blas [1838], act II, SC. U
which brutalizes. 10
Ib. VI, 9
10 Popularity? It is glory's small change.
23 A man is not idle because he is absorbed in
Ib. III, v
thought. There is a visible labor and there is
11
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but
an invisible labor.
Ib. VII, 8
not an idea whose time has come.⁶
24 No one ever keeps a secret SO well as a
Histoire d'un Crime [written 1852],
child.
Ib. VIII, 8
conclusion
"Take away time is money, and what is left of England?
25 Social prosperity means man happy, the
take away cotton is king, and what is left of America?
citizen free, the nation great.
- VICTOR HUGO, Les Misérables [1862]. Marius, bk. IV,
Ib. Saint Denis, bk. I, ch. 4
ch. 4
2See Shakespeare, 189:19.
26 Nothing is more dangerous than discon-
³Rien ne réussit comme le succès.- French proverb
tinued labor; it is habit lost. A habit easy to
The phrase "Cherchez la femme" is attributed to Jo-
SEPH FOUCHÉ [1763-1820].
abandon, difficult to resume.
Ib. II, I
⁵Dieu s'est fait homme; soit. Le diable s'est fait femme.
'Waterloo! Waterloo! Waterloo! Morne plaine!
6On résiste à l'invasion des armées; on ne résiste pas à
⁸Vous créez un frisson nouveau.
l'invasion des idées. (Literally, one can resist the invasion
9Translated by CHARLES E. WILBOUR.
of armies, but not the invasion of ideas.)
¹⁰See George Herbert, 268:3; Addison, 326:18; and Sill,
See Bellamy, 666:5, and Catt, 689:1.
646:12.
536
Winthrop - Gaskell
cherished in all our hearts, to be defended by
Sir Francis Hastings Doyle
all our hands.
1810-1888
Toast at Faneuil Hall [Fourth of
July, 1845]
7 Last night, among his fellow roughs,
He jested, quaffed, and swore;
1
A star for every State, and a State for every
A drunken private of the Buffs,
star.
Who never looked before.
Address on Boston Common [1862]
Today, beneath the foeman's frown,
He stands in Elgin's place,
Henry Alford
Ambassador from Britain's crown,
And type of all her race.
1810-1871
The Private of the Buffs, st. I
2 Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of Harvest-home;
All is safely gathered in,
Ferdinand Freiligrath
Ere the winter storms begin.
1810-1876
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
[1844]
8 Oh love, as long as you can love.²
Der Liebe Dauer [1830]
3 Ten thousand times ten thousand
In sparkling raiment bright,
The armies of the ransomed saints
Throng up the steeps of light:
Margaret Fuller
"Tis finished! all is finished,
1810-1850
Their fight with death and sin:
9
I myself am more divine than any I see.
Fling open wide the golden gates,
Letter to Emerson [March I, 1838]
And let the victors in.
Hymn [1867], st. I
10
It does not follow because many books are
written by persons born in America that
there exists an American literature. Books
Phineas Taylor Barnum
which imitate or represent the thoughts and
1810-1891
life of Europe do not constitute an American
I
There's a sucker born every minute.
literature. Before such can exist, an original
idea must animate this nation and fresh cur-
Attributed
rents of life must call into life fresh thoughts
along its shores.
Pierre Jean François Joseph Bosquet
In the New York Tribune [1846]
1810-1861
11 For precocity some great price is always
5
It is magnificent, but it is not war.¹
demanded sooner or later in life.
On the charge of the Light Brigade
Diary. From THOMAS WENTWORTH
at Balaklava [October 25, 1854/
HIGGINSON. Life of Margaret Ful-
ler Ossoli [1884]. ch. 18
William Henry Channing
12
Genius will live and thrive without train-
1810-1884
ing, but it does not the less reward the water-
6
ing pot and pruning knife.
Ib.
To live content with small means; to seek
elegance rather than luxury, and refinement
13
rather than fashion; to be worthy, not re-
I accept the universe.³
Attributed
spectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study
hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly;
to listen to stars and birds, to babes and
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully,
1810-1865
do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.
14
A man is SO in the way in the house.
In a word. to let the spiritual, unbidden and
Cranford [1851-1853], ch. I
unconscious, grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.
15
A little credulity helps one on through life
My Symphony
very smoothly.
Ib. ch. II
'C'est magnifique. mais ce n'est pas la guerre.
'See Anonymous Latin, 133:14, and Parnell, 329:16.
See Tennyson. 533:9-
By God! she'd better. Carlyle's reported comment
Gaskell - Tupper
537
1
I'll not listen to reason.
Reason al-
Theodore Parker
ways means what someone else has got to
1810-1860
say.
Ib. ch. 14
11 Truth never yet fell dead in the streets; it
has such affinity with the soul of man, the
James Sloan Gibbons
seed however broadcast will catch some-
1810-1892
where and produce its hundredfold.
A Discourse of Matters Pertaining
2 We are coming, Father Abraham, three hun-
to Religion [1842]
dred thousand more.
Three Hundred Thousand More
12 Truth stood on one side and Ease on the
[1862], st. I
other; it has often been so.
Ib.
13 Man never falls SO low that he can see noth-
ing higher than himself.
Pope Leo XIII
Essay, A Lesson for the Day
[Gioacchino Pecci]
1810-1903
14
All men desire to be immortal.
A Sermon on the Immortal Life
3
Every man has by nature the right to pos-
[September 20, 1846]
sess property as his own.
Rerum Novarum [encyclical on
3 A democracy- that is a government of all
the condition of labor, May 15,
the people, by all the people, for all the peo-
1891]
ple;⁴ of course, a government of the princi-
ples of eternal justice, the unchanging law of
It is impossible to reduce human society to
God; for shortness' sake I will call it the idea
one level.
Ib.
of Freedom.
5 It is one thing to have a right to the posses-
The American Idea [May 29, 1850]⁵
sion of money, and another to have a right to
use money as one pleases.
Ib.
Edmund Hamilton Sears
1810-1876
William Miller
16 It came upon the midnight clear,
1810-1872
That glorious song of old,
6 Wee Willie Winkie rins through the town,
From Angels bending near the earth
Upstairs and downstairs, in his nichtgown,
To touch their harps of gold:
Tirlin' at the window, cryin' at the lock,
"Peace on the earth, good will to men
"Are the weans in their bed? for it's now ten
From heav'n's all-gracious King."
o'clock."
Willie Winkie
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
The Angel's Song [1850], st. I
Alfred de Musset
1810-1857
7 I have come too late into a world too old.²
Martin Farquhar Tupper
1810-1889
Rolla [1833]
17 Error is a hardy plant: it flourisheth in every
8 Do Not Trifle with Love.
soil.
Title of a comedy [1834]
Proverbial Philosophy [1838-1842].
9 The most despairing songs are the loveliest of
Of Truth in Things False
all,
$See Wycliffe, 143:12; Webster, 45°:14; Disraeli, 501:6;
I know immortal ones composed only of tears.
Garrison, 505:19; and Lincoln, 523:4
Poésies Nouvelles. La Nuit de
Parker used the same phrase in a speech delivered in
Boston [May 31, 1854] and in a sermon in the Music Hall,
Mai [1835]
Boston [July 4, 1858]. William H. Herndon visited Boston
10 How glorious it is, but how painful it is
and on his return to Springfield, Illinois, took with him
some of Parker's sermons and addresses. In his Abraham
also, to be exceptional in this world!
Lincoln, vol. II, p. 65, Herndon says that Lincoln marked
La Merle Blanc [1842]
with pencil the portion of the Music Hall address, "De-
mocracy is direct self-government, over all the people, by
'Song to help raise volunteers for the Union Army.
all the people, for all the people."
²Je suis venu trop tard dans un monde trop vieux.
⁵Speech at the New England Anti-Slavery Convention,
3On Ne Badine Pas avec l'Amour.
Boston.
724
Stimson - Du Bois
him untrustworthy is to distrust him and
9 The words I use
show your distrust.
Are everyday words and yet are not the same!
p
The Bomb and the Opportunity
You will find no rhymes in my verse, no
[March 1946]
magic.
1
The only deadly sin I know is cynicism.
There are your very own phrases.
On Active Service in Peace and
La Muse Qui Est la Grace [1910]
War [1948], introduction
10 When man tries to imagine Paradise on
earth, the immediate result is a very respect-
able Hell.
Edward Bradford Titchener
Conversations dans le
1867-1927
Loir-et-Cher [1929]
2 Common sense is the very antipodes of sci-
ence.
Systematic Psychology:
Norman Douglas
Prolegomena [1929]
1868-1952
11
You can tell the ideals of a nation by its
advertisements.
Harry Leon Wilson
South Wind [1917], ch. 7
1867-1939
12
No one can expect a majority to be stirred
3
I can be pushed just SO far.
by motives other than ignoble.
Ib. 10
Ruggles of Red Gap [1915]
13 No great man is ever born too soon or too
late.
Ib. I3
Wilbur Wright
14
Many a man who thinks to found a home
1867-1912
discovers that he has merely opened a tavern
and
for his friends.
Ib. 24
Orville Wright
1871-1948
William Edward Burghardt Du Bois
4 Success. Four flights Thursday morning.
1868-1963
All against twenty-one-mile wind. Started
from level with engine power alone. Average
15 The problem of the twentieth century is
speed through air thirty-one miles. Longest
the problem of the color line.¹
fifty-nine seconds. Inform press. Home
To the Nations of the World; ad-
Christmas.
dress to Pan-African conference,
Telegram to the Reverend Milton
London [1900]
Wright. from Kitty Hawk, N.C.
16
Herein lies the tragedy of the age: not that
[December 17, 1903]
men are poor-all men know something of
poverty; not that men are wicked-who is
good? Not that men are ignorant-what is
Émile Auguste Chartier [Alain]
truth? Nay, but that men know SO little of
1868-1951
men.
The Souls of Black Folk [1903]
5 To think is to say no.
17 It is a peculiar sensation, this double-con-
Le Citoyen contre les Pouvoirs
sciousness, this sense of always looking at
6
We prove what we want to prove, and the
one's self through the eyes of others.
real difficulty is to know what we want to
One feels his two-ness-an American, a
prove.
Système des Beaux-Arts [1920]
Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unrecon-
ciled strivings; two warring ideals in one
7
Nothing is more dangerous than an idea,
when it's the only one we have.
dark body, whose dogged strength alone Ib.
keeps it from being torn asunder.
Libres-propos
18
The cost of liberty is less than the price of
repression.
Paul Claudel
John Brown [1909]. The Legacy
1868-1955
of John Brown
8
You explain nothing, 0 poet, but thanks to
19
Liberty trains for liberty. Responsibility is
you all things become explicable.
the first step in responsibility.
La Ville [1897]. act I
¹See Frederick Douglass. 556:8 and 556:9.
Lerner- Solzhenitsyn
895
es, opin-
1 Get me to the church on time!
16 Peace is much more precious than a piece
Ib. II, iii
of land.
standing
Speech in Cairo [March 8, 1978]
Morison
2 Why can't a woman be more like a man?
17 Let there be no more war or bloodshed be-
rial staff
Ib. iv
tween Arabs and Israelis. Let there be no
numer-
3 I've grown accustomed
to her face.
more suffering or denial of rights. Let there
nporary
Ib. vi
be no more despair or loss of faith.
fromthe
4 Don't let it be forgot
On signing the Egyptian-Israeli
ing Tut-
That once there was a spot
peace treaty, Washington, D.C.
interest,
For one brief shining moment that was
[March 26, 1979]¹
) today.
known
English
As Camelot.
Camelot [1960], end
Alexander Solzhenitsyn
besides
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
1918-
ready in
Title of musical [1965]
18 A great writer is, so to speak, a second gov-
ged sec-
6 Pleasure without joy is as hollow as passion
ernment in his country. And for that reason
ude sea
without tenderness.
no regime has ever loved great writers, only
tuals, as
The Street Where I Live [1978].
minor ones.
The First Circle [1964]
its from
My Fair Lady
19 The sole substitute for an experience which
Indians.
Coughing in the theater is not a respira-
we have not ourselves lived through is art
I Shake-
Ib.
and literature.
tory ailment. It is a criticism.
Nobel Lecture [1972]
Bartlett,
20 Literature transmits incontrovertible con-
Men die but an idea does not.
Ib.
d, along
densed experience
from generation to
Sanskrit
generation. In this way literature becomes
Edwin O'Connor
the living memory of a nation.
Ib.
tlett that
1918-1968
21 World literature is
a kind of collec-
earlier
tive body and a common spirit, a living unity
The Last Hurrah.
of the heart which reflects the growing
esource
Title of novel [1956]
spiritual unity of mankind.
Ib.
writer,
22 Violence does not and cannot exist by it-
age and
Anwar al-Sadat
self; it is invariably intertwined with the lie.
time or
1918-1981
Ib.
hat?"
Land is immortal, for it harbors the mys-
23 The Kolyma was the greatest and most fa-
ation, as
teries of creation.
mous island, the pole of ferocity of that amaz-
pick up
ing country of Gulag, which, though scat-
Familiar
In Search of Identity [1978], ch. I
tered in an archipelago geographically, was,
ver just
A man's village is his peace of mind.
in the psychological sense, fused into a conti-
Ib. 2
hanged.
nent-an almost invisible, almost impercep-
#
Most people seek after what they do not
tible country inhabited by the Zek people.
possess and are thus enslaved by the very
The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956,
things they want to acquire.
Ib.
[1974, in translation], I, preface
oreau,
Paradise
Without a vocation, man's existence would
24 The Western world has lost its civil cour-
Are the
be meaningless.
age, both as a whole and separately, in each
[Each man] should
within first recognize and be loyal to his real entity
country, each government, each political
for it is this alone which will en-
party, and of course in the United Nations.
able him to belong and owe allegiance to that
The Exhausted West. Commence-
Entity which is greater, vaster, and more per-
ment Address at Harvard Univer-
manent than his individual self.
sity [June 8, 1978]
Ib. 3
Only when he has ceased to need things
25 I have spent all my life under a Communist
can a man truly be his own master and so
regime, and I will tell you that a society with-
really exist.
out any objective legal scale is a terrible one
Ib.
indeed. But a society with no other scale but
There can be hope only for a society which
the legal one is not quite worthy of man ei-
acts as one big family, and not as many sepa-
ther.
Ib.
rate ones.
Ib.
¹See Begin, 881:14.
PN6081
M4
WHRC
¿A New
DICTIONARY OF
QUOTATIONS
ON HISTORICAL PRINCIPLES
FROM
ANCIENT AND MODERN SOURCES
Selected and Edited by
H. L. MENCKEN
NEW YORK : ALFRED A. KNOPF : 1976
Revolution, American
1035
Reward
A single revolutionary spark may kindle a fire
cans; we may therefore subject them to gov-
that, smouldering for a time, may burst into
ernment.
a sweeping and destructive conflagration. It
SAMUEL JOHNSON: Address to the Electors
cannot be said that the state is acting arbi-
of Great Britain, 1774
trarily or unreasonably when, in the exercise
If there was ever a just war since the world
of its judgment as to the measures necessary
began, it is this in which America is now
to protect the public peace and safety, it
engaged.
seeks to extinguish the spark without wait-
THOMAS PAINE: The Crisis, 1776
ing until it has kindled the flame or blazed
into the conflagration.
If every nerve is not strained to recruit the new
MR. JUSTICE E. T. SANFORD: Majority opin-
army with all possible expedience I think the
ion of the Supreme Court of the United
game is pretty near up.
States in Gitlow vs. the People of
GEORGE WASHINGTON: Letter to his
New York, 1924
brother, Dec. 18, 1776
The history of mankind is one long record of
I desired as many as could to join together in
giving revolution another trial, and limping
fasting and prayer, that God would restore
back at last to sanity, safety, and work.
the spirit of love and of a sound mind to the
E. W. HOWE: Preaching From the
poor deluded rebels in America.
Audience, 1926
JOHN WESLEY: Journal, Aug. 1, 1777
The Socialist revolution begins on national
If I were an American, as I am an Englishman,
grounds, but it cannot be completed on these
while a foreign troop was landed in my coun-
grounds. Its maintenance within a national
try I never would lay down my arms, -
framework can only be a provisional state
never! never! never!
of affairs, even though, as the experience of
WILLIAM PITT: Speech in the House of
the Soviet Union shows, one of long dura-
Commons, Nov. 18, 1777
tion.
If ever there was a holy war, it was that which
LEON TROTSKY: The Permanent Revolu-
saved our liberties and gave us independ-
tion, intro., 1930
ence.
There have been more revolutions which suc-
THOMAS JEFFERSON: Letter to J. W. Eppes,
ceeded at the first assault than revolutions
1813
which were intercepted and brought to a
[The American Revolution] was a vindication
halt.
of liberties inherited and possessed. It was a
ADOLF HITLER: Speech before the gover-
conservative revolution.
nors of the former Federal States of Ger-
W. E. GLADSTONE: Kin Beyond Sea, 1878
many, Berlin, July 6, 1933
(North American Review, Sept.-Oct.)
We must enter and take possession of the con-
sciences of the children, of the consciences
Revolution, French
of the young, because they do belong and
The French revolution was a machine invented
should belong to the revolution.
and constructed for the purpose of manufac-
PLUTARCO CALLES: Speech at Guadalajara,
turing liberty; but it had neither lever-cogs,
July 19, 1934
nor adjusting powers, and the consequences
were that it worked so rapidly that it de-
The revolutionary way out of the crisis begins
stroyed its own inventors, and set itself on
with the fight for unemployment insurance,
fire.
C. C. COLTON: Lacon, 1820
against wage-cuts, for wage increases, for re-
lief to the farmers - through demonstrations,
That which distinguishes the French Revolu-
strikes, general strikes, leading up to the
tion from other political movements is that
seizure of power, to the destruction of capi-
it was directed by men who had adopted
talism by a revolutionary workers' govern-
certain speculative à priori conceptions of
ment.
political right, with the fanaticism and
Manifesto of the American Communist
proselytizing fervor of a religious belief, and
party, April, 1934
the Bible of their creed was the Contrat
Social" of Rousseau.
Those who are inclined to compromise can
W. E. H. LECKY: History of England in the
never make a revolution.
Eighteenth Century, v, 1885
KEMAL ATATÜRK (1881-1938)
[See also Rich and Poor.
A successful effort to get rid of a bad govern-
ment and set up a worse.
Reward
Author unidentified
Still to our gains our chief respect is had;
[See also Atheist, Imperialism, Insurrection,
Reward it is that makes us good or bad.
Politics, Rebellion, Secession, Taste, War.
ROBERT HERRICK: Hesperides, 1648
Blessings ever wait on virtuous deeds,
Revolution, American
And though a late, a sure reward succeeds.
He that accepts protection, stipulates obedi-
WILLIAM CONGREVE: The Mourning Bride,
ence. We have always protected the Ameri-
V, 1697
Victor Hugo
an invasion of armies can he reaisted, but
not an idea whose time has come.
Histoire d'un lime
1852, conclusion
I represent a party wh does not yet exist:
the party of revotution, unilization.
This party will make the twentieth
untury. There will issue from it first the
United States of Europe, then the
United States of the World.
On the wall of the room
m whithings died, Place
do Vorges, Pans
EB White
Democracy is the recurrent mapicion
that morethan have of the people are
right morethan half of the time
The Witch Hay (1946)
JFK
Those who make peaceful revolution
impossible will make bualint
revolution inerritable
address to hat am crips, WH,
3/12/62
CELEBRATED SPEECHES
OF
CHATHAM, BURKE, AND ERSKINE.
TO WHICH IS ADDED,
THE ARGUMENT OF MR. MACKINTOSH,
IN THE CASE OF PELTIER.
SELECTED BY A
MEMBER OF THE PHILADELPHIA BAR.
tulit eloquium insolitum facundia præceps;
Utiliumque sagax rerum et divina futuri
Sortilegis non discrepuit sententia Delphis.-Hor.
Philadelphia:
KEY & BIDDLE-23 MINOR STREET.
1835.
16
MR. PITT'S SPEECH ON AMERICAN TAXATION.
dee of the country The Americans have not acted in all things
with prudence and temper; they have been wronged ; they
have been driven to madness, by injustice. Will you punish
them for the madness you have occasioned? Rather let pru-
LORD CHATHAM'S SPEECH,
dence and temper come first from this side. I will undertake
IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS, JANUARY 9, 1770, IN REPLY TO LORD MANS-
for America that she will follow the example. There are two
lines in a ballad of Prior's, of a man's behavior to his wife, SO
FIELD, ON THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT TO THE ADDRESS TO THE
THRONE.
applicable to you and your colonies, that I cannot help repeat-
ing them:
" That we will, with all convenient speed, take into our most serious considera-
" Be to her faults a little blind
tion the causes of the discontents which prevail in SO many parts of your majes-
Be to her virtues very kind."
ty's dominions, and particularly the late proceedings of the house of commons
Upon the whole, I will beg leave to tell the house what is
touching the incapacity of John Wilkes, Esq. expelled by that house, to be re-
my opinion. It is, that the stamp act be repealed absolutely,
elected a member to serve in this present parliament; thereby refusing, by a reso-
lution of one branch of the legislature only, to the subject his common right, and-
totally, and immediately: That the reason for the repeal be
depriving the electors of Middlesex of their free choice of a representative."
assigned, because it was founded on an erroneous principle. At
the same time, let the sovereign authority of this country over
My LORDS,
the colonies be asserted in as strong terms as can be devised,
THERE is one plain maxim, to which I have invariably ad-
and be made to extend to every point of legislation whatsoever;
hered through life that in every. question, in which my liberty,
that we may bind their trade, confine their manufactures, and
or my property were concerned, I should consult and be de-
exercise every power whatsoever, except that of taking their
termined by the dictates of common sense. I confess, my
money out of their pockets without their consent.
lords, that I am apt to distrust the refinement of learning, be-
cause I have seen the ablest and the most learned men equally
liable to deceive themselves, and to mislead others. The con-
dition of human nature would be lamentable indeed, if nothing
less than the greatest learning and talents, which fall to the
share of SO small a number of men, were sufficient to direct
our judgment and our conduct. But Providence has taken
better care of our happiness, and given us, in the simplicity of
common sense, a rule for our direction, by which we shall
never be misled. I confess, my lords, I had no other guide in
drawing up the amendment, which I submitted to your con-
sideration; and, before I heard the opinion of the noble lord
who spoke last, I did not conceive that it was even within the
limits of possibility for the greatest human genius, the most
subtle understanding, or the acutest, wit, SO strangely to mis-
represent my meaning, and to give it an interpretation SO en-
tirely foreign from what I intended to express, and from that
sense which the very terms of the amendment plainly and dis-
tinctly carry with them. If there be the smallest foundation
for the censure thrown upon me by that noble lord if, either
expressly, or by the most distant implication, I have said or
insinuated any part of what the noble lord has charged me
with, discard my opinions for ever, discard the motion with
contempt.
My lords, I must beg the indulgence of the house. Neither
will my health permit me, nor do I pretend to be qualified to
C.
2*
18
LORD CHATHAM'S SPEECH ON
THE ADDRESS TO THE THRONE.
19
follow that learned lord minutely through the whole of his ar-
incapable of serving in that parliament? and is it not their reso-
gument. No. man is better acquainted with his abilities and
lution alone, which refuses to the subject his common right
learning, nor has a greater respect for them, than I have. I
The amendment says further, that the electors of Middlesex
have had the pleasure of sitting with him in the other house,
are deprived of their free choice of a representative. Is this
and always listened to him with attention. I have not now
a false fact, my lords? Or have I given an unfair representa-
lost a word of what he said, nor did I ever. Upon the present
tion of it? Will any man presume to affirm that colonel Lut-
question I meet him without fear. The evidence which truth
trell is the free choice of the electors of Middlesex We all
carries with it, is superior to all argument; it neither wants
know the contrary. We all know that Mr. Wilkes (whom I
the support, nor dreads the opposition of the greatest abilities.
mention without either praise or censure) was the favorite of
If there be a single word in the amendment to justify the inter-
the county, and chosen by a very great and acknowledged
pretation which the noble lord has been pleased to give it, I am
majority, to represent them in parliament. If the noble lord
ready to renounce the whole. Let it be read, my lords; let it
dislikes the manner in which these facts are stated, I shall think
speak for itself. In what instance does it interfere with the
myself happy in being advised by him how to alter it. I am
privileges of the house of commons? In what respect does it
very little anxious about terms, provided the substance be pre-
question their jurisdiction, or suppose an authority in this house
served; and these are facts, my lords, which I am sure will
to arraign the justice of their sentence? I am sure that every
always retain their weight and importance, in whatever form
lord who hears me will bear me witness, that I said not one
of language they are described.
word touching the merits of the Middlesex election. So far
Now, my lords, since I have been forced to enter into the
from conveying any opinion upon that matter, in the amend-
explanation of an amendment, in which nothing less than the
ment, I did not even in discourse deliver my own sentiments
genius of penetration could have discovered an obscurity, and
upon it. I did not say that the house of commons had done
having, as I hope, redeemed myself in the opinion of the house,
either right or wrong; but, when his majesty was pleased to
having redeemed my motion from the severe representation
recommend it to us to cultivate unanimity amongst ourselves,
given of it by the noble lord, I must a little longer entreat your
I thought it the duty of this house, as the great hereditary coun-
lordships' indulgence. The constitution of this country has
cil of the crown, to state to his majesty the distracted condi-
been openly invaded in fact; and I have heard, with horror
tion of his dominions, together with the events which had de-
and astonishment that very invasion defended upon principle.
stroyed unanimity among his subjects. But, my lords, I stated
What is this mysterious power, undefined by law, unknown to
events merely as facts, without the smallest addition either of
the subject, which we must not approach without awe, nor
censure or of opinion. They are facts, my lords, which I am
speak of without reverence, which no man may question, and
not only convinced are true, but which I know are indisputably
to which all men must submit My lords, I thought the slavish
true. For example, my lords: will any man deny that discon-
doctrine of passive obedience had long since been exploded;
tents prevail in many parts of his majesty's dominions? or that
and, when our kings were obliged to confess that their title
those discontents arise from the proceedings of the house of
to the crown, and the rule of their government, had no other
commons touching the declared incapacity of Mr. Wilkes?
foundation than the known laws of the land, I never expected
"T is impossible. No man can deny a truth SO notorious. Or
to hear a divine right, or a divine infallibility, attributed to any
will any man deny that those proceedings refused, by a resolu-
other branch of the legislature. My lords, I beg to be under-
tion of one branch of the legislature only, to the subject his
stood. No man respects the house of commons more than I
common right Is it not indisputably true, my lords, that Mr.
do, or would contend more strenuously than I would, to pre-
Wilkes had a common right, and that he lost it no other way
serve to them their just and legal authority. Within the bounds
but by a resolution of the house of commons? My lords, I
prescribed by the constitution, that authority is necessary to the
nave been tender of misrepresenting the house of commons.
well-being of the people: beyond that line every exertion of
I have consulted their journals, and have taken the very words
power is arbitrary, is illegal; it threatens tyranny to the people,
of their own resolution. Do they not tell us in SO many words,
and destruction to the state. Power without right is the most
that Mr. Wilkes, having been expelled, was thereby rendered
odious and detestable object that can be offered to the human
imagination. It is not only pernicious to those who are sub-
20
LORD CHATHAM'S SPEECH ON
THE ADDRESS TO THE THRONE.
21
ject to it, but tends to its own destruction. It is what my noble
themselves, and to transmit to their posterity, a known law, a
friend has truly described it; Res detestabilis et caduca. My
certain rule of living, reduced to this conclusion, that instead
lords, I acknowledge the just power, and reverence the consti-
of the arbitrary power of a king, we must submit to the arbi-
tution of the house of commons. It is for their own sakes that
I would prevent their assuming a power which the constitution
trary power of a house of commons? If this be true, what
benefit do we derive from the exchange? Tyranny, my lords,
has denied them, lest, by grasping at an authority they have
is detestable in every shape but in none SO formidable as when
no right to, they should forfeit that which they legally possess.
it is assumed and exercised by a number of tyrants. But, my
My lords, I affirm that they have betrayed their constitnents,
and violated the constitution. Under pretence of declaring the
lords, this is not the fact this is not the constitution. We have
a law of parliament. We have a code in which every honest
law, they have made a law, and united in the same persons the
man may find it. We have Magna Charta, we have the Statute
office of legislator and of judge.
I shall endeavor to adhere strictly to the noble lord's doc-
Book, and the Bill of Rights.
If a case should arise unknown to these great authorities,
trine, which it is, indeed, impossible to mistake, SO far as my
we have still that plain English reason left, which is the found-
memory will permit me to preserve his expressions. He seems
ation of all our English jurisprudence. That reason tells us,
fond of the word jurisdiction; and I confess, with the force and
that every judicial court, and every political society, must be
effect which he has given it, it is a word of copious meaning
vested with those powers and privileges which are necessary
and wonderful extent. If his lordship's doctrine be well found-
for performing the office to which they are appointed. It tells
ed, we must renounce all those political maxims by which our
us also, that no court of justice can have a power inconsistent
understandings have hitherto been directed, and even the first
with, or paramount to, the known laws of the land; that the
elements of learning taught us in our schools when we were
people, when they choose their representatives, never mean to
schoolboys. My lords, we knew that jurisdiction was nothing
convey to them a power of invading the rights, or trampling
more than Jus dicere; we knew that Legem facere and Legem
upon the liberties of those whom they represent. What security
dicere were powers clearly distinguished from each other in
would they have for their rights, if once they admitted, that
the nature of things, and wisely separated by the wisdom of
a court of judicature might determine every question that came
the English constitution but now, it seems, we must adopt a
before it, not by any known, positive law, but by. the vague,
new system of thinking. The house of commons, we are told,
indeterminate, arbitrary rule, of what the noble lord is pleased
have a supreme jurisdiction; and there is no appeal from their
to call the wisdom of the court? With respect to the decision of
sentence; and that wherever they are competent judges, their
the courts of justice, I am far from denying them their due
decision must be received and submitted to, as, ipso facto, the
weight and authority yet, placing them in the most respect-
law of the land. My lords, I am a plain man, and have been
able view, I still consider them, not as law, but as an evidence
brought up in a religious reverence for the original simplicity
of the law and before they can arrive even at that degree of
of the laws of England. By what sophistry they have been
authority, it must appear, that they are founded in, and con-
perverted, by what artifices they have been involved in ob-
firmed by, reason; that they are supported by precedents taken
scurity, is not for me to explain; the principles, however, of
from good and moderate times; that they do not contradict
the English laws, are still sufficiently clear they are founded
any positive law; that they are submitted to without reluctance,
in reason, and are the masterpiece of the human understanding;
by the people; that they are unquestioned by the legislature
but it is in the text that I would look for a direction to my
(which is equivalent to a tacit confirmation) and what, in my
judgment, not in the commentaries of modern professors. The
judgment, is by far the most important, that they do not violate
noble lord assures us, that he knows not in what code the law
the spirit of the constitution. My lords, this is not a vague
of parliament is to be found that the house of commons, when
or loose expression. We all know what the constitution is.
they act as judges, have no law to direct them but their own
We all know, that the first principle of it is, that the subject
wisdom; that their decision is law; and if they determine
shall not be governed by the arbitrium of any one man, or body
wrong, the subject has no appeal but to Heaven. What then,
of men (less than the whole legislature), but by certain laws,
my lords, are all the generous efforts of our ancestors, are all
to which he has virtually given his consent, which are open to
those glorious contentions, by which they meant to secure to
him to examine, and not beyond his ability to understand.-
Now, my lords, I affirm, and am ready to maintain, that the
LORD CHATHAM'S SPEECH ON
THE ADDRESS TO THE THRONE.
22
23
late decision of the house of commons upon the Middlesex
of free men. These three words, nullus liber homo, have a
election, is destitute of every one of those properties and con-
meaning which interests us all; they deserve to be remembered
ditions which I hold to be essential to the legality of such a
-they deserve to be inculcated in our minds-they are worth
decision. It is not founded in reason for it carries with it a
all the classics. Let us not, then, degenerate from the glo-
contradiction, that the representative should perform the office
rious example of our ancestors. Those iron barons (for SO I
of the constituent body. It is not supported by a single prece-
may call them when compared with the silken barons of modern
dent; for the cause of Sir R. Walpole is but a half precedent,
days) were the guardians of the people; yet their virtues, my
and even that half is imperfect. Incapacity was indeed declar-
lords, were never engaged in a question of such importance as
ed; but his crimes are stated as the ground of the resolution,
the present. A breach has been made in the constitution-the
and his opponent was declared to be not duly elected, even
battlements are dismantled-the citadel is open to the first inva-
after his incapacity was established. It contradicts Magna
der-the walls totter-the constitution is not tenable. What
Charta and the Bill of Rights, by which it is provided, that no
remains then, but for us to stand foremost in the breach, to
subject shall be deprived of his freehold, unless by the judg-
repair it, or perish in it?
ment of his peers, or the law of the land and that elections of
Great pains have been taken to alarm us with the consequences
members to serve in parliament shall be free; and SO far is this
of a difference between the two houses of parliament-that
decision from being submitted to by the people, that they have
the house of commons will resent our presuming to take notice
taken the strongest measures, and adopted the most positive
of their proceedings; that they will resent our daring to advise
language to express their discontent. Whether it will be ques-
the crown, and never forgive us for attempting to save the
tioned by the legislature, will depend upon your lordships' reso-
state. My lords, I am sensible of the importance and difficulty
lution; but that it violates the spirit of the constitution, will, I
of this great crisis: at a moment, such as this, we are called
think, be disputed by no man who has heard this day's debate,
upon to do our duty, without dreading the resentment of any
and who wishes well to the freedom of his country yet, if we
man. But if apprehensions of this kind are to affect us, let us
are to believe the noble lord, this great grievance, this mani-
consider which we ought to respect most, the representative,
fest violation of the first principles of the constitution, will not
or the collective body of the people. My lords, five hundred
admit of a remedy; is not even capable of redress, unless we
gentlemen are not ten millions; and if we must have a conten-
appeal at once to heaven. My lords, I have better hopes of
tion, let us take care to have the English nation on our side.
the constitution, and a firmer confidence in the wisdom and
If this question be given up, the frecholders of England are
constitutional authority of this house. It is your ancestors, my
reduced to a condition baser than the peasantry of Poland. If
lords, it is to the English barons, that we are indebted for the
they desert their own cause, they descrve to be slaves! My
laws and constitution we possess. Their virtues were rude
lords, this is not merely the cold opinion of my understanding,
and uncultivated, but they were great and sincere. Their
but the glowing expression of what I feel. It is my heart that
understandings were as little polished as their manners, but
speaks. I know I speak warmly, my lords; but this warmth
they had hearts to distinguish right from wrong; they had
shall neither betray my argument nor my temper. The king-
heads to distinguish truth from falsehood; they understood the
dom is in a flame. As mediators between the king and people,
rights of humanity, and they had spirit to maintain them.
it is our duty to represent to him the true condition and temper
My lords, I think that history has not done justice to their
of his subjects. It is a duty which no particular respects
conduct, when they obtained from their sovereign, that great
should hinder us from performing; and whenever his majesty
acknowledgment of national rights contained in Magna Charta:
shall demand our advice, it will then be our duty to inquire
they did not confine it to themselves alone, but delivered it as a
more minutely into the causes of the present discontents.
common blessing to the whole people. They did not say, these
Whenever that inquiry shall come on, I pledge myself to the
are the rights of the great barons, or these are the rights of the
house to prove, that since the first institution of the house of
great prelates:-No, my lords; they said, in the simple Latin
of the times, nullus liber homo, and provided as carefully for
their late proceedings. My noble and learned friend (the lord
commons, not a single precedent can be produced to justify
the meanest subject as for the greatest. These are uncouth
port that assertion.
chancellor) has pledged himself to the house, that he will sup-
words, and sound but poorly in the ears of scholars; neither
are they addressed to the criticism of scholars, but to the hearts
My lords, the character and circumstances of Mr. Wilkes
24
LORD CHATHAM'S SPEECH ON
THE ADDRESS TO THE THRONE.
have been very improperly introduced into this question, not
25
only here, but in that court of judicature where his cause was
It is not impossible, my lords, that the inquiry I speak of may
tried. I mean the house of commons. With one party he
lead us to advise his majesty to dissolve the present parlia-
was a patriot of the first magnitude; with the other the vilest
ment; nor have I any doubt of our right to give that advice,
incendiary. For my own part, I consider him merely and in-
if we should think it necessary. His majesty will then deter-
differently as an English subject, possessed of certain rights
mine whether he will yield to the united petitions of the people
which the laws have given him, and which the laws alone can
of England, or maintain the house of commons in the exercise
take from him. I am neither moved by his private vices, nor
of a legislative power, which heretofore abolished the house of
by his public merits. In his person, though he were the worst
lords, and overturned the monarchy. I willingly acquit the
of men, I contend for the safety and security of the best and,
present house of commons of having actually formed SO detest-
God forbid, my lords, that there should be a power in this coun-
able a design; but they cannot themselves foresee to what ex-
try of measuring the civil rights of the subject by his moral
cesses they may be carried hereafter; and for my own part, I
character, or by any other rule but the fixed laws of the land:
should be sorry to trust to their future moderation. Unlimited
I believe, my lords, I shall not be suspected of any personal
power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it; and
partiality to this unhappy man. I am not very conversant in
this I know, my lords, that, where law ends, tyranny begins
pamphlets or newspapers; but, from what I have heard, and
from the little I have read, I may venture to affirm, that I have
had my share in the compliments which have come from that
quarter; and, as for motives of ambition (for I must take to
myself a part of the noble duke's insinuation) I believe, my
lords, there have been times in which I have had the honor of
standing in such favor in the closet, that there must have been
something extravagantly unreasonable in my wishes if they
might not all have been gratified. After neglecting those op-
portunities, I am now suspected of coming forward in the de-
cline of life, in the anxious pursuit of wealth and power, which
it is impossible for me to enjoy. Be it SO. There is one am-
bition at least which I ever will acknowledge, which I will not
renounce but with my life. It is the ambition of delivering to
my posterity those rights of freedom which I have received
from my ancestors. I am not now pleading the cause of an
individual, but of every frecholder in England. In what man-
ner this house may constitutionally interpose in their defence,
and what kind of redress this case will require and admit of, is
not at present the subject of our consideration. The amend-
ment, if agreed to, will naturally lead us to such an inquiry.
That inquiry may, perhaps, point out the necessity of an act
D
3
of the legislature, or it may lead us, perhaps, to desire a con-
ference with the other house; which one noble lord affirms is
the only parliamentary way of proceeding; and which another
noble lord assures us the house of commons would either not
come to, or would break off with indignation. Leaving their
lordships to reconcile that matter between themselves, I shall
only say, that before we have inquired, we cannot be provided
with materials: consequently we are not at present prepared
for a conference.
- 14 -
rather lengthy list of Sandinista violations.
Q
On the question of Finlandization again, Gorbachev
has said that the Brezhnev Doctrine is dead and has been replaced by
what some characterize as the Sinatra doctrine -- let them do it
their way. But this does imply that U.S. -- that the Soviets would
continue to influence the direction of the foreign policy of these
Eastern European countries, much as they have in the case of Finland
and so forth. Now, would the President support that, look with favor
upon that, or would he hold out for the unqualified sovereignty of
the nations of Eastern Europe?
MR. FITZWATER: Well, I can certainly understand why the
Soviets are changing their tune on this with the Warsaw Pact
countries all singing, "Please Release Me, Let Me Go."
Q
Ohhhh.
Q
Sing a few bars.
MR. FITZWATER: (Singing) -- Please release me, let me go
-- (laughter.) Anyway, the President would encourage that process.
But we wouldn't set standards and yardsticks and that sort of thing
for progress. But we certainly encourage the process.
Q What's Gerasimov's number? (Laughter.)
Q
Back to Israel-South Africa nuclear missiles. You
said there's a lot you cannot discuss, giving the impression that
there are some things you can discuss. What can you discuss?
MR. FITZWATER: Actually, there aren't any in that
category. (Laughter.)
Q
Marlin, back to the cease-fire and Mr. Ortega. You
said that the President wants to see the peace process succeed.
Well, what if it doesn't? What if Ortega does break the cease-fire?
Will he consider then -- will the President consider a renewed
request for military aid for the Contras?
MR. FITZWATER: Well, we just won't speculate on that
possibility. Our first interest is to pursue the peace process, to
put pressure on Mr. Ortega to live up to the agreement, and we will
not speculate beyond that.
Q
Can you say that he will not consider military aid?
MR. FITZWATER: I can't speculate beyond that.
Q
Your answer to Wyatt mirrored the President's answer
in his news conference where you both bring up the Contras are not
responsible for Ortega. But both sides have violated the cease-fire.
And specifically, has the U.S. done anything to pressure the Contras
or talk to the Contras about not violating the cease-fire? And what
is the U.S. role or responsibility in this?
MR. FITZWATER: Yes, I would say that we have pointed out
to the Contras many times that we expect them to live up to the
agreement. We have advised against offensive operations and
violence. We have been unequivocal in that position. I don't think
anybody questions that. The problem with acknowledging that is that
you tend to overlook the violations by the Sandinistas, which dwarf
any violations by the Contras, believe me. And you can check with
them. any independent organization -- Worldwatch, Americas Watch -- any of
Q
Can you confirm the cut-off -- if I can follow-up.
Can you confirm that we have cut off aid in some instances to Contra
--
MR. FITZWATER: There was one occasion. There was one
occasion when a small amount of aid was cut off to one commander.
MORE
#120-10/30
Cleuss et of
FYI
ARRIVAL STATEMENT: ANDREWS AFB 12/4/89 DD
Thank you. Thank you for that warm greeting on such a brisk
evening. It's great to be home. Back in the U.S.A.
Our mission to Malta, and then Brussels, was about peace.
Not the kind of peace we've known for the last forty years - hard
and cold - but about a new kind of peace. One that is rich with
the promise of permanence. One that is a growing foundation for
freedom.
That was the message I brought to President Gorbachev - a
message that reflects the hopes and aspirations of all Americans.
Many Americans watched on television as the winds of the
Mediterranean tossed our ships about. And I think it's just now
that some of the staff are getting back their appetite.
But as I said in Brussels, it was not an ill wind that
brought Mikhail Gorbachev and me together at Malta. It was the
winds of change. Dramatic change. Witnessed by a world
captivated, awed, by the tumultuous events of 1989.
At Malta, President Gorbachev and I took our first hopeful
step into a new American - Soviet relationship. We took our
first step into the next decade and the new world that is taking
shape - a new world of freedom.
The promise of this new world would not have been possible
without the steadfast support of the American people. It would
not have been possible without the heroes of the East: people
like Lech Walesa, Alexander Dubcek, Sakharov and Solzhenitsyn,
and so many, many more. And, it would not have been possible
without the strength and stability of one of this century's
greatest successes: the NATO Alliance.
[ At Malta, we made much progress. We accelerated the
timetables for reducing arms. We agreed to meet again in June in
the United States. We agreed to press forward on building a
closer economic relationship. We agreed to be pals. ]
You know, during World War II, Winston Churchill called the
island of Malta "democracy's fortress." It withstood one attack
after another, never succumbing to the terrible tyranny of the
Axis assault. En route home from the Teheran Conference in 1943,
Franklin Roosevelt stopped there to deliver the thanks of the
American people, praising Malta as "one tiny, bright flame in the
darkness, a beacon of hope for clearer days."
I thought of that quote as the skies cleared on our second
day of talks. The flame of freedom is casting its glow in many a
dark corner around the world. And ladies and gentlemen, tonight
C_1
new beacons of hope are shining brightly: in Warsaw, in Prague,
in Budapest and Berlin, and, I believe, in Moscow.
And America, as always, will be at the forefront of these
extraordinary times.
Thank you for your warm greeting on this winter's night.
God bless you this Christmas season. And God bless the United
States of America.
BUILDING
A BETTER
AMERICA
"We live in a peaceful, prosperous time, but we can make it better.
A new breeze is blowing, and a nation refreshed by freedom stands ready
to push on. There is new ground to be broken, and new action to be taken."
-- President Bush
Inaugural Address
January 20, 1989
December 11, 1989
December 11, 1989
BUILDING A BETTER AMERICA
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
SUMMARY
As the Bush Administration finishes its first year, the
domestic economy remains strong while, around the world, dramatic
and hopeful changes are taking place. In the international
arena, the President heralded -- in his Inaugural address -- the
historic era of freedom that was dawning: "The day of the
dictator is over." Four decades of strength and solidarity among
the Western democracies, reinforced by the new vigor of American
leadership in the 1980's, have borne fruit. Democracy is
spreading around the world and democratic values of political and
economic freedom are expanding on every continent. The President
seized the initiative -- with new proposals for arms reduction at
the NATO Summit in May; with a series of measures to nurture
democracy in Eastern Europe, dramatized by his historic visit to
Poland and Hungary in July; and, finally, with his invitation to
Soviet President Gorbachev to meet at Malta, in December, to
begin building a new structure for world peace.
The domestic agenda has been full. In the Fall, the
President unveiled his National Drug Control Policy in a
televised address to the Nation and convened an Education Summit
with the Nation's Governors. The Administration proposed
initiatives in a number of areas, this year, ranging from child
care to environmental protection; from fighting violent crime to
ethics reforms. At the same time, the economy remains strong
with current economic expansion continuing to set new records and
create new jobs.
KEEPING THE ECONOMY STRONG
Record Expansion: During the current economic expansion --
in its 84th month as of November -- over 20.7 million jobs
have been created and the unemployment rate has fallen to
levels not seen in 16 years. Income levels have risen
sharply and growth in industrial output is over one-and-a-
half times that of Western Europe. Real per capita income,
output and business fixed investment are at record levels.
Yet, consumer price inflation has remained under five
percent for the past seven years.
Budget Policy: After extensive negotiations by the
Administration with Congress, an agreement was reached on a
budget plan for FY 1990. The plan meets the Gramm-Rudman-
2
Hollings deficit target for the fiscal year with no new
taxes.
Capital Gains: The President proposed a reduction in the
top capital gains tax rate to 15 percent to promote risk
taking and entrepreneurship thereby encouraging new
businesses and small business which provide most of the new
jobs to the American economy. The rate cut would also lower
the cost of capital to American business and encourage a
long-term focus for America's savers and investors.
Majorities in both Houses of Congress are now on record in
support of a capital gains tax rate reduction.
Savings and Loans: In August, the President signed the
Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act
of 1989 to begin resolving the savings and loan situation.
The President's plan, introduced in the first days of the
Administration, addresses the enormous financial crisis that
exists in the thrift industry and implements tough standards
to help ensure such a crisis never happens again.
Minimum Wage: The Administration reached an agreement with
Congress and the President signed legislation to increase
the basic minimum wage in increments to $4.25 an hour by
1991 and create an historic training wage. The training
wage, insisted upon by the Administration, will save
thousands of jobs for the working poor and younger, less
experienced workers.
International Trade: Leading efforts to promote free and
fair trade, the Bush Administration successfully advanced
the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations
including its proposal to correct and prevent trade
distortions in agriculture and its proposal to create rules
for international trade in services. It is engaged in
bilateral trade talks with Japan to discuss impediments to
expanding trade and encourage it to open its markets to U.S.
exports. Reducing some tariffs immediately, the
Administration began the smooth implementation of the new
free trade agreement with Canada.
Third World debt: The Administration has taken the lead in
finding a way to reduce the debt burden and encourage
economic growth in developing countries. At the
Administration's urging, the IMF and World Bank have set
aside funds to support debt reduction programs for
developing countries. Three countries, Mexico, the
Philippines and Costa Rica, have successfully negotiated
agreements under the Administration's debt plan.
3
SEIZING INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEACE
A Resurgence of Democracy: At the outset of the
Administration, the President developed a strategy to
encourage and help sustain the historic processes taking
place, especially in Eastern Europe. In April, the
President spoke in Hamtramck, Michigan, and called for self-
determination in Eastern Europe and an end to the division
of the continent. In May, President Bush called for the
Berlin Wall to come down, and set forth his vision of a
Europe "whole and free" during his visit to Mainz, Germany.
Though the pace of change was even faster than anticipated,
the United States remains on the course set by the President
last spring. In the Western Hemisphere, democracy also
continues to advance. In October, the President attended a
meeting of hemispheric Presidents in Costa Rica to celebrate
100 years of that country's democracy.
Poland and Hungary: The President's strong support for
political pluralism and economic reform in Poland and
Hungary was highlighted by his July visit to those nations
and by the leadership he has exercised to mobilize
international backing for these reforms. In September, the
President proposed a major U.S. package of economic,
environmental assistance and trade and investment incentives
to assist in the economic restructuring of Poland and
Hungary which became the framework for the "Support for East
European Democracy Act," passed by Congress and signed by
the President in November.
"Beyond Containment": The President has welcomed the
extraordinary political and economic changes underway in the
Soviet Union. In a major speech at Texas A&M University in
May, he established a new American policy, "Beyond
Containment, " that seeks to integrate Eastern Europe and the
Soviet Union into the community of nations. Major progress
has been made in arms reduction including negotiations on
conventional forces in Europe, strategic arms reduction, a
global ban on chemical weapons, nuclear testing and a new
"Open Skies" initiative. The bilateral agenda has been
broadened to include transnational issues such as the
environment and the struggle against drug abuse.
NATO Summit: The President seized the arms control
initiative and won the strong support of our allies with a
bold proposal to reduce conventional forces in Europe. The
Alliance also agreed on a rapid pace of negotiations aimed
at reaching an agreement within a year. The U.S. proposal
would involve deep cuts in Warsaw Pact manpower and
equipment, and moderate cuts on the NATO side to achieve a
stable balance in Europe.
4
Economic Summit: Under President Bush's leadership, the
Paris Economic Summit in July agreed to launch concerted
international action to support Polish and Hungarian
economic reforms and to coordinate Western assistance. The
Economic Summit also made further progress on key U.S.
economic and political objectives such as a strengthened
debt strategy, economic policy coordination, completion of
the Uruguay Round by December 1990, and international
cooperation on protection of the environment.
Malta: As European and other events accelerated, the
President conceived the idea of informally meeting with Mr.
Gorbachev for an in-depth, wide-ranging exchange. This took
place on board ships off Malta in early December. The
President offered a number of initiatives on economic
relations, cultural exchange, human rights and arms
reduction. Europe and regional issues, particularly Central
America, were also subjects of discussion. It was agreed to
hold a formal US-Soviet Summit in the last two weeks of
June, 1990, in the United States.
China: Visiting China soon after taking office, the
President underscored the long-term strategic importance of
the Sino-U.S. relationship and his support for the process
of reform. In response to the subsequent suppression of the
democratic movement in China, the President took strong
actions to make clear that the U.S. condemns repression even
while working in its interest to preserve the basic elements
of this important relationship. The President also acted
swiftly to ensure that no Chinese nationals in the U.S.
would be deported against their will -- action that has
since been extended and broadened.
Central America Accord: On March 24, the President and
Congressional leaders agreed on a bipartisan strategy for
peace and democracy in Central America. With the agreement,
for the first time in years, the U.S. has a broadly
supported strategy aimed at bringing about free and fair
elections and the establishment of democracy in Nicaragua.
The Administration also remains committed to the support of
democracy in El Salvador and the rest of the region.
Strengthening our Strategic Deterrent: After a thorough
review of U.S. defense strategy, the President submitted to
the Congress a defense budget that will modernize our
deterrent capability including, after more than a decade of
debate, specific proposals for two mobile ICBMs. The
strategic modernization program also includes the
revolutionary B-2 bomber, the Trident D-5 missile for our
submarine force, and funding to support an informed
development and deployment decision on the Strategic Defense
5
Initiative within the next four years. Although Congress
made some reductions in the Administration's requests for
these and other programs, its actions generally support the
President's objectives.
INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
Education Summit: The President called the Nation's
Governors together for an historic Education Summit. The
Administration and the Governors committed to encourage
education reform in America by: establishing national,
education goals; working for greater flexibility in the use
of Federal funds in exchange for increased accountability;
implementing state-by-state restructuring of the education
system; and adopting improved ways of measuring performance.
Educational Excellence: The President submitted to Congress
a comprehensive set of education initiatives, The
Educational Excellence Act of 1989. The Act includes
proposals for merit and magnet schools, alternative
certification of teachers, excellence awards for teachers,
emergency grants to help urban schools to fight drugs,
increased funding for endowments at Historically Black
Colleges, and a National Science Scholars program.
Research and Development: The President has strengthened
coordination of Federal R&D activities and improved
oversight of science and technology policy by restructuring
the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He
has directed the establishment of the President's Council of
Advisors of Science and Technology drawn from the private
sector to advise him in this area.
National Drug Control Strategy: In his first Address to the
Nation, the President unveiled a comprehensive, coordinated
strategy for fighting illegal drug use. The President has
five priority areas: the criminal justice system; drug
treatment; education, community action, and the workplace;
international initiatives; and interdiction efforts.
Combatting Violent Crime: President Bush transmitted to
Congress The Comprehensive Violent Crime Control Act of 1989
proposing measures to augment enforcement and prosecution,
strengthen current law, to prohibit the importation and
manufacture of gun magazines of more than 15 rounds and to
expand prison capacity.
Clean Air Act Revisions: On July 21, President Bush
transmitted to the Congress the first proposed revisions to
6
the Clean Air Act since 1977. His legislation is designed
to harness the power of the marketplace to drastically
reduce three major threats to the nation's environment: acid
rain, urban air pollution, and toxic air emissions.
O
Clean Water and Coastlines: On March 10, the EPA implemented
a medical waste tracking program to track medical wastes to
ensure proper disposal and prevent ocean pollution -- an
important step forward in a comprehensive program to help
keep our beaches clean. The President is also committed to
end ocean dumping of sewage sludge by 1991 and EPA and the
Department of Justice have negotiated compliance schedules
with local jurisdictions to meet the 1991 deadline.
Hazardous Waste: The President announced that he will seek
new legislation to ban all exports of hazardous waste unless
an agreement exists with the receiving country to provide
for its safe handling.
Department of Energy Facilities Cleanup: The Department of
Energy has published an aggressive five-year cleanup plan
which identifies site-by-site Departmental environmental
restoration and waste management initiatives which would
meet the Nation's security needs and comply with
environmental safety and health laws.
O
Global Climate and Ozone Depletion: The President has
accelerated the Administration's activities on global change
and has offered to host a conference next fall to negotiate
a framework treaty on global change. He has enhanced the
Nation's international leadership in this field by
developing an integrated scientific approach, endorsing
NASA's Mission to Planet Earth, and increasing the global
change research budget, already the largest of any nation.
And has announced a White House environmental research
conference to be held next spring. Also, the President
proposed a 28% increase in global environmental research for
FY 1990. The $663 million budget, the largest amount spent
by any nation on global environmental research, will help to
continue the United States' international leadership in this
field. In order to prevent further damage to the earth's
protective ozone layer, the President has called for a total
worldwide phaseout of CFCs by the year 2000, provided safe
substitutes are available.
Natural Gas Deregulation: On July 26, the President signed
into law the Wellhead Decontrol Act of 1989, which ends all
remaining price controls on natural gas. This will phase
out all federal price controls on natural gas by January 1,
1993, marking the first time since 1954 that energy markets
will be completely deregulated.
7
Space: The President has committed the nation to "a
sustained program of manned exploration of the solar system"
and "the permanent settlement of space." To this end, he
has identified as critical elements of the U.S. space
program: the permanently manned Space Station Freedom,
manned missions to the Moon and to Mars, and the Mission to
Planet Earth aimed at understanding Earth's fragile
environment. The President established the National Space
Council under the leadership of Vice President Quayle to
coordinate U.S. space activities.
National Transportation Policy: The Department of
Transportation is developing a National Transportation
Policy to facilitate the allocation of public and private
resources so that transportation systems -- highway,
aviation, mass transit, rail and maritime -- enhance
national economic growth, global competitiveness, national
security, environmental quality and personal mobility.
WORKING FOR A KINDER, GENTLER AMERICA
Affordable Housing: The President unveiled HOPE, a
comprehensive agenda of Homeownership and Opportunity for
People Everywhere. Major elements include provisions to
help first-time home buyers, low-income housing residents,
and the homeless, and to create up to fifty enterprise zones
over the next four years. Secretary Kemp has been charged
with finding new ways to put more FHA foreclosures into the
hands of non-profit groups that serve the homeless.
The Homeless: The President requested full funding of the
McKinney Homeless Assistance Act in FY 1990 and proposed an
additional $50 million to encourage public-private
partnerships to reduce homelessness. The President recently
signed legislation that substantially increases funding for
the McKinney Act.
Head Start: The President also challenged Congress to
increase Head Start funding by $250 million in FY 1990 to
allow 95,000 more four-year-olds to participate in the
program. Congressional action provided $151 million which
will allow the Program to serve up to 37,500 more eligible
four-year olds.
Child Care: The President transmitted to Congress a child
care proposal, the Working Family Child Care Assistance Act
of 1989, which provides a new refundable child care tax
credit of up to $1000 per child under age four, for low-and
moderate-income working families. This legislation will
also make the existing Dependent Care Tax Credit refundable,
8
and does not discriminate against religious or family-based
child care or against two-parent families in which a parent
works in the home caring for the children.
Infant Mortality: To address the all-too-high infant
mortality rate, the Administration forwarded to Congress
legislation to extend Medicaid eligibility to pregnant women
and infants with incomes up to 130 percent of the poverty
line, as well as Medicaid coverage for immunizations for all
children up to age five who are eligible for Food Stamps.
Congress raised the mandatory Medicaid eligibility for
pregnant women and children up to age six to 133 percent of
the poverty level.
Experimental AIDS Eradication Efforts: The President has
promoted wider availability of experimental and therapeutic
drugs such as AZT, to battle HIV and AIDS.
Adoption: In September, the President sent two legislative
proposals to Congress designed to encourage adoption of
special needs children, through tax incentives and expense
reimbursements for adoptive parents. In addition, the
President has directed all Federal agencies to develop plans
for supporting and promoting adoption of special needs
children.
Welfare Reform: The Administration issued final rules on
October 13 to implement the Job Opportunities and Basic
Skills Training program of the Family Support Act of 1988,
as the next step in welfare reform. The Administration is
proposing to spend over three-and-a-half billion dollars
over the next five years to implement the JOBS program. The
Act will help reduce the number of individuals who need
welfare.
National Service: The President is spearheading a movement
to engage all individuals and institutions in America in
community service. He announced the formation of a
foundation known as "The Points of Light Initiative" to:
encourage all Americans to take steps to address social
problems as their own; identify, enlarge and multiply
successful community service initiatives; and discover,
encourage, and develop new community leaders.
Disabled Americans: The President is committed to
legislation that would extend civil rights protection to
disabled Americans. This legislation, called the Americans
with Disabilities Act, would represent the most significant
expansion of federal civil rights laws in the past two
decades. With the support of the Administration, a version
of the Act passed the Senate on September 7, and has been
under consideration in the House since then.
9
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Civil Rights: Working with Congress, the President has
signed legislation reauthorizing the Commission on Civil
Rights through FY 1991. The Administration has endorsed the
Hate Crimes Bill, which provides for the collection of data
about crimes motivated by racial, religious, or ethnic
animosity. The Civil Rights Division of the Department of
Justice has vigorously pursued the enforcement of the Fair
Housing Amendments Act of 1988, which became effective in
March.
Ethics: Numerous ethics reforms proposed in President Bush's
ethics legislation were enacted by Congress in the
"Government Ethics Reform Act of 1989" shortly before it
adjourned. Key reforms include the extension of post-
employment "revolving door" restrictions to the Legislative
Branch, tax deferral for Federal employees required to sell
assets to avoid conflicts of interest, reform on rules for
gifts and travel, limitations on outside earned income for
high-level officials and a ban on receipt of honoraria by
all Federal employees (except in the Senate which instead
enacted a reduced ceiling on honoraria) President Bush also
issued an ethics Executive Order in April setting forth
strict principles for the conduct of Executive Branch
employees.
Campaign Finance Reform: The President proposed
comprehensive campaign finance legislation designed to
lessen the power of monied special interests and restore
real competition to American Congressional elections.
# # #
December 11, 1989
BUILDING A BETTER AMERICA
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
KEEPING THE ECONOMY STRONG
Maintaining the current economic expansion with low
inflation is the key to improving standards of living, increasing
job opportunities for all Americans, and increasing investment in
productive capacity. Economic performance during this expansion
has been exceptionally good with extraordinary job growth. The
policies of the Bush Administration are designed to preserve this
strong record.
Record Peacetime Expansion: The current expansion reached 84
months in November. This is the second longest economic
expansion in U.S. history and the longest peacetime
expansion.
Job Creation: Over 20.7 million new jobs have been created
during this expansion, and this year the unemployment rate
has reached levels not seen in over 16 years. The benefits
of robust economic growth have been shared by all
demographic groups as indicated by historically low
unemployment rates for women and minorities. During this
decade, America has created more new jobs than Japan and the
nations of Western Europe combined. A higher percentage of
American adults is at work than at any other time in our
history.
Inflation Under Control: Consumer price inflation has
remained under 5 percent in each of the seven years from
1982 to 1988, and the recent slowing in economic growth to a
sustainable rate will lessen price pressures in the near
future. In the last twelve months, the CPI has increased
only 4.5 percent and, in the last three months, the index
has risen at an annual rate of only 2.6 percent.
Record Income: Real per capita disposable personal income --
personal income after taxes and inflation -- has risen 20
percent during this expansion.
Higher National Saving and Investment: Partly due to the
discipline of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings process, the Federal
deficit has declined from 6.3 percent of GNP in fiscal year
1983 to 3.0 percent in FY 1989. The personal savings rate
averaged 5.3 percent over the first three quarters of 1989,
well above its recent low of 3.2 percent in 1987.
0
New Business Incorporations: During the first nine months
of 1989, 520,108 new corporations were formed. Ninety-eight
percent of these new corporations are small businesses. At
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the same time, business failures numbered just 37,820 -- a
decline of 15.6 percent from the first nine months of 1988.
Improved International Trade Position: The international
trade position of the United States has improved
substantially. U.S. exports are at an all-time high and the
trade deficit (as measured by exports minus imports) has
been cut by 30 percent from its level in 1987.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Implementing Fiscal Restraint: Throughout the year, the
Administration negotiated with Congress to pass a fiscally
responsible budget agreement that met the requirements of
the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law. As a result of the
negotiations, a series of appropriations bills and a budget
reconciliation bill were finally enacted which meet the
deficit reduction targets with no new taxes.
Enhanced Rescission Authority:` On August 4, the President
endorsed the Legislative Line-Item Act of 1989 (S.1553),
providing the President with the enhanced rescission
authority. Such authority will help the President reduce
the federal deficit by allowing him to eliminate wasteful
and unnecessary spending in appropriations bills.
Capital Gains: In February, the President proposed a
carefully designed reduction in the top capital gains tax
rate. Taxpayers who held certain investments would be able
to exclude 45 percent of any gain they received from
taxation. The maximum effective rate would be reduced to 15
percent and families with incomes under $20,000 would be
exempt from capital gains taxation. The President's
proposal would promote risk taking and entrepreneurship
thereby encouraging new businesses and small business which
provide most of the new jobs to the American economy. The
rate cut would also lower the cost of capital to American
business and encourage a long-term focus for America's
savers and investors. Majorities in both Houses of Congress
are now on record in support of a capital gains tax rate
reduction and its passage will be one of the
Administration's top priorities when Congress reconvenes.
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Savings and Loan Reform: The President signed the Financial
Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 on
August 9. This legislation came to grips with the serious
financial problems of the savings and loan industry, and has
helped safeguard and stabilize America's system of thrift
institutions. The President's plan, introduced in the first
days of his Administration, assures that the long developing
problems in our thrift industry will never happen again. It
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significantly reforms the regulation of the thrift industry
and separates the chartering of the institutions from the
insurance of deposits. It establishes strict new standards
including new capital requirements to assure the solvency of
thrift institutions in the future, and sets stiff penalties
for wrongdoing by the officers of insured institutions.
Further, the act provides $50 billion to finance the
resolution of insolvent thrift institutions.
Minimum Wage Agreement: The Administration and
Congressional leaders reached agreement on a plan, now
signed into law by the President, to increase the basic
minimum wage to $4.25 per hour by 1991 and will create an
historic training wage, insisted upon by the Administration.
The training wage will save thousands of job for the working
poor and younger, less experienced workers.
International Trade: The Administration is forcefully
promoting the opening of world markets through the Uruguay
Round of multilateral negotiations under the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and through bilateral
negotiations. It successfully broke a stalemate in the
Uruguay Round's mid-term review and put in place a framework
for negotiations, agreed to by the 96 member nations, to
open markets and create rules for fair play in international
trade in goods and services. It is engaged in bilateral
talks with Japan to identify and eliminate structural
factors that may impede balance of payments adjustment and
efficient patterns of world trade. The approaches being
pursued in these discussions will provide long-term benefits
for both countries. The Administration has also created a
high level interagency group to assure that U.S. trade and
investment interests are addressed as the European Community
works to create a single market in 1992.
Steel Imports: The President initiated, and the
Administration successfully implemented, a two-and-a-half
year Steel Trade Liberalization Program. The program is
designed to phase out, in a responsible and orderly manner,
the Voluntary Restraint Arrangements (VRAs) that currently
limit steel imports into the U.S. and to negotiate an
international consensus to eliminate subsidies and other
trade-distorting practices.
Addressing the International Debt Problem: The
Administration has taken the lead in encouraging commercial
banks to reduce the debt and debt service burdens of
developing countries. Recently, three countries -- Mexico,
the Philippines, and Costa Rica -- reached agreements with
commercial banks under the Administration's debt plan. The
differences in these agreements appropriately reflect
4
differing circumstances in each country and illustrate the
flexibility of the Administration's approach.
International Competitiveness: To further meet the global
economic challenges of the 1990's, the President named Vice
President Quayle chairman of a newly established Council on
Competitiveness. Under the leadership of the Vice
President, the council has developed a strategy for reform
of the existing maze of product liability laws in order to
maintain American competitiveness.
Agricultural Initiatives: The Administration has placed its
comprehensive agricultural proposals before the Uruguay
Round of multilateral trade negotiations. These proposals
would harmonize domestic agricultural programs of producing
countries and reduce distortions to patterns of
international production and trade. In addition, the
Administration has formed a task force to develop a farm
bill for 1990.
National Transportation Policy: The Department of
Transportation is developing a National Transportation
Policy to facilitate the allocation of public and private
resources so that transportation systems -- highway,
aviation, mass transit, rail and maritime -- enhance
national economic growth, global competitiveness, national
security, environmental quality, and personal mobility.
Women and Minority Business Ownership: The President has
called for the promotion of women's business ownership
through a series of procurement and credit conferences
conducted by the Small Business Administration. The SBA has
also implemented a new small loan program beneficial to
women entrepreneurs. To advise the Administration on ways
to promote the growth of minority business ownership, the
President announced the formation of the Minority Business
Development Commission. The S.B.A. has also implemented new
regulations to strengthen the Minority Small Business and
Capital Ownership Development program and further promote
minority business development. In addition, President Bush
has called for the reinvigoration of the Minority Business
Development Agency in the Department of Commerce.
Disaster Assistance: The Administration and Congress have
worked together to provide necessary supplemental funding to
assist victims of Hurricane Hugo and the California
earthquake. This funding is helping to provide those who
lost their homes with temporary shelter, is assisting
uninsured, needy families and business owners to rebuild
their homes and business establishments, and is helping
governments in the affected areas rebuild highways and other
public facilities.
5
SEIZING INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEACE
In his Inaugural Address, the President heralded the
historic new era of freedom that was dawning: "The day of the
dictator is over. The totalitarian era is passing, its old ideas
blown away like leaves from an ancient, lifeless tree." Four
decades of strength and solidarity among the Western democracies,
reinforced by the new vigor of American leadership in the 1980's,
had borne fruit. From the Third World to the Communist World --
including Europe -- the resurgence of the ideals of political and
economic freedom has shaken Marxist-Leninist and other doctoral
regimes to their foundations leading to dramatic and promising
changes. The President has seized the initiative and seized the
opportunity, taking the lead in Western efforts to join with the
Soviet Union to build a new structure of peace and freedom.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
A Resurgence of Democracy: Maintaining America's leadership
role in the world, the President developed a strategy to
encourage and help sustain the historic processes taking
place, especially in Eastern Europe. Early in his
Administration, the President expressed his hope for the
success of perestroika in the Soviet Union. In April, he
spoke in Hamtramck, Michigan, calling for self-determination
in Eastern Europe and an end to the division of the
continent. In May, President Bush called for the Berlin
Wall to come down, and he set forth his vision of a Europe
"whole and free" during his visit to Mainz, Germany. In the
Western Hemisphere, the President strongly has worked to
support the extension of democracy, especially in Nicaragua
and Panama where the United States has worked with the
Organization of American States to encourage free and fair
elections -- and to condemn efforts to thwart the express
will of the people. In October, the President underscored
the U.S. commitment to hemispheric democracy by attending
the 100th anniversary celebration of Costa Rican democracy.
Western Europe: The President proposed new mechanisms for
U.S. consultation and cooperation with the EC Commission and
member states as the European Community works toward
creating a single market in 1992. Seeing the resurgence of
Western Europe as a triumph of democratic values and
principles, the President has welcomed its success,
confident that a mature U.S. - E.C. partnership will serve
our mutual interests and serve as a beacon for the East.
NATO Summit: At the successful NATO Summit in May, the
President's vision of Europe as well as agreement on a new
conventional, arms reduction initiative helped build Alliance
unity and confidence and define the Alliance's future
agenda.
6
Eastern Europe: As Poland and Hungary have taken
unprecedented steps toward pluralism, democracy, and market
economic policies, the United States has encouraged each
step and signaled its strong support. The President has also
encouraged more recent movement towards change in East
Germany, Bulgaria, and Czechoslovakia. The President's
strong support for political pluralism and economic reform
in Hungary and Poland was highlighted by his July visit to
those nations, and by the international leadership he has
exercised in mobilizing major international backing for
these reforms. The President proposed a major U.S. package
of economic assistance and trade and investment incentives
to assist in the economic restructuring of Poland and
Hungary. The President also offered technical assistance to
both countries to the address problems of pollution. All
elements of the President's package were adopted by Congress
and became the framework for the "Support for East European
Democracy Act" that he signed into law in November.
Poland: Following up on the program he announced on April 17
in Hamtramck, Michigan, the President called upon Congress
to declare Poland a beneficiary country under the U.S.
Generalized System of Preferences and to authorize the
Overseas Private Investment Corporation to operate in
Poland. The U.S. proposed a business and economic agreement
that will promote trade, investment and other contacts
between the private sectors of both countries. Congress has
also provided for a $240 million Enterprise Fund to help
capitalize and invigorate the Polish private sector, plus
$125 million in emergency food aid and additional funds for
environmental, labor and other reform projects. The U.S.
has also encouraged the World Bank to move ahead with new
loans to help Polish agriculture and industry. The
Administration signed a cultural agreement with Poland which
will result in the opening of a U.S. cultural center in
Warsaw and also launched a telecommunications infrastructure
development there. The President also asked for and
Congress approved a $200 million grant which would be the
U.S. contribution to the $1 billion Western stabilization
fund the Poles have requested. In November, he sent a
Presidential Mission of experts to Warsaw, headed by
Agriculture Secretary Yeutter, to discuss with the Polish
Government its economic plans and to evaluate them. The
Mission also included Secretaries Dole and Mosbacher, and
Michael Boskin, Chairman of the Council of Economic
Advisers, along with 20 prominent business, labor, and
academic leaders. It is making recommendations to the
President as to the most effective use of the nearly $1
billion in U.S. assistance already authorized by Congress.
The Mission's findings will also be shared with the twenty-
four nation "Group for Economic Assistance to Poland and
Hungary."
7
Hungary: The President also asked Congress to authorize an
Enterprise Fund as a source of new capital to invigorate the
Hungarian private sector. The President informed Congress
that Hungary is now receiving Most-Favored-Nation tariff
treatment for the maximum period allowable under the law.
The President also declared Hungary a beneficiary country
under our Generalized System of Preferences which will allow
duty free entry of Hungarian products into the U.S. market.
He also proposed and Congress passed legislation to allow
OPIC to operate in Hungary, and for greater scientific,
technical, educational, and cultural exchanges between the
U.S. and Hungary. The U.S. will negotiate a comprehensive
business and economic agreement with Hungary to improve its
business environment and will establish an International
Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe in
Budapest. The President also announced that the Peace Corps
would operate in Hungary to enhance English language
training -- the first time in a European country. Finally,
the U.S. subsequently concluded a new science and technology
agreement with Hungary in which both sides will contribute
funds to encourage joint research endeavors in basic and
applied sciences.
The Economic Summit in Paris: Immediately after the
President's historic visit to Poland and Hungary, he
proposed to the other world leaders gathered at the Paris
Economic Summit that the industrial democracies join
together to assist economic and political reform in Hungary
and Poland. This led to the creation of the "Group for
Economic Assistance to Poland and Hungary" which has raised
several billion dollars in financial assistance for these
two countries and is working to assure effective aid
coordination. The industrial democracies also demonstrated
their unity, by dealing with a variety of other issues on
the international economic agenda, as well as the problem of
drugs and the environment.
"Beyond Containment": Seeing an historic process of change
in the Soviet Union, the President has declared his
intention to move beyond the successful policy of
containment of Soviet power to a new policy whose goal is
integrating the Soviet Union into the world community as a
constructive partner. Positive changes so far in Soviet
policies -- in human rights, economic reforms, and
settlement of some international conflicts -- are being
encouraged and broadened. As demonstrated at Malta, the
United States is ready to respond to such further
developments. Already:
--
The U.S.- Soviet dialogue on conflicts in regions of
the Third World has resumed intensively and discussions
have begun on a new range of global problems that
8
require global cooperation, such as terrorism, the
environment, and narcotics.
In arms control, the President has accelerated the pace
of negotiations with a new American initiative on
reducing conventional forces in Europe, endorsed by the
NATO Summit. At the Wyoming Ministerial, the U.S. and
U.S.S.R. resolved major disagreements about the
verification protocols to the Threshold Test Ban and
Peaceful Nuclear Explosions Treaties, opening the way
to completion of the treaties in 1990. The President
proposed an "Open Skies" initiative to improve the
openness of military activities in NATO and Warsaw Pact
countries; it will be the subject of a Canadian-
sponsored international conference early in 1990. In
his speech to the U.N. General Assembly, the President
also proposed a new initiative to further a ban on
chemical weapons challenging the Soviets to early
destruction of the majority of the stocks of these
weapons even while a multilateral treaty is being
negotiated. Finally, in science and technology, the
Administration concluded a new basic sciences agreement
with the Soviet Union which will bring together
researchers of both nations to cooperate in areas as
diverse as physics, life sciences, and science policy.
Malta: The President and Chairman Gorbachev exchanged views
on a variety of issues during their meetings in Malta
including the remarkable events leading to peaceful and
democratic change in Eastern and Central Europe. The
President noted his strong support for perestroika and
suggested that the two leaders work to give major new
impetus to the U.S.- Soviet relationship. The President
conveyed his strong personal commitment to this goal. Among
the ideas that the President proposed were:
Targeting the 1990 Summit for completion of a trade
agreement granting Most Favored Nation status to the
Soviet Union, so that the President can grant a
Jackson-Vanik waiver at that time. To reach that goal,
the President proposed beginning negotiations on a
trade agreement now and urged the Supreme Soviet to
complete action on its emigration legislation early
next year.
Supporting observer status for the Soviet Union in GATT
after the Uruguay Round is completed next year. The
President urged the Soviet Union to use the intervening
time to move toward market prices at the wholesale
level so its economy will become more compatible with
the GATT system.
9
Expanding U.S.- Soviet technical economic cooperation.
The President presented a paper proposing specific
economic projects covering topics such as finance,
agriculture, statistics, small business development,
budgetary and tax policy, a stock exchange, and anti-
monopoly policy.
Resolving all divided family issues by the time of the
1990 Summit. In this regard, the President handed over
a list of people wishing to emigrate.
Speeding achievement of a chemical weapons ban by
offering to end U.S. production of binary weapons when
the multilateral convention on chemical weapons enters
into force, in return for Soviet acceptance of the
terms of our UN proposal to ban chemical weapons.
Proposing to sign an agreement at the 1990 Summit to
destroy U.S. and Soviet chemical weapons down to 20
percent of the current U.S. level.
--
Suggesting joint U.S. - Soviet support for a CFE Summit
to sign a CFE treaty in 1990.
--
Accelerating the START process in order to resolve all
substantive issues and to conclude a treaty, if
possible, by the 1990 Summit.
Hosting a conference next fall to negotiate a framework
treaty on global climate change, after the working
groups of the UN-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change submit their final report.
Significantly increasing university exchanges so that
an additional 1,000 American and 1,000 Soviet college
students are studying in each other's country by the
beginning of the 1991 school year.
O
China: On his visit to China in February, the President
emphasized the long-term strategic importance of the U.S.-
China relationship and his support for the process of
reform. In response to the tragic suppression of the
democratic movement in China in June, the President ordered
the suspension of all government-to-government sales and
commercial exports of weapons, suspension of visits between
U.S. and Chinese military leaders, and review of other
aspects of U.S.- PRC bilateral relations. The President
also acted swiftly to ensure that no Chinese students or
nationals in the U.S. would be forced to return to China
against their will, action that has since been extended and
broadened. The President's policy makes clear that
repression cannot be condoned. But it also seeks to
10
preserve the basic elements of a strategically important
relationship that has, itself, played a major part in
China's recent policy of reform and openness -- and can do
so again in the future.
Asian Initiatives:
--
Japan: The U.S. relationship with Japan has grown
stronger under the Bush Administration. In security
matters, Japan's contribution to the maintenance of
U.S. forces stationed there increased by 12 percent, to
$2.8 billion per year, making it the most generous host
nation support program enjoyed by the U.S. anywhere in
the world. A major project also moved forward to co-
develop an advanced fighter, based on the F-16,
increasing the security of both the U.S. and Japan.
American companies will receive $2.5 billion in
contracts and the first significant technology flow-
back from Japan. As part of an emerging global
partnership with the U.S., Japan will provide
significant development assistance to Poland. On trade
matters, the Structural Impediments Initiative talks
have begun to clarify the long term sources of U.S.-
Japan trade friction. In addition, the Administration
began talks aimed at opening markets for U.S.
satellites, super-computers, and forest products.
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference: The
Administration succeeded in launching -- through joint
leadership with Japan, Korea, Australia and the ASEAN
states -- the first conference on Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) in Canberra, Australia, in November.
This was the first region-wide ministerial meeting to
address collective responses to the great economic
changes underway in the world. The APEC group will
seek to present a united position in the Uruguay Round
of GATT negotiations, establish working groups to study
infrastructural needs of great importance to U.S.
service industries in the region, and improve data
sharing. Although modest at the outset -- by design --
these accomplishments are a solid beginning to
fundamental trade liberalization in Asia and the
Pacific.
--
Cambodia: In September 1989, the U.S. insistence on
the right of self-determination for the people of
Cambodia, occupied by Vietnamese forces since 1978, was
rewarded by the withdrawal of Vietnamese main-force
military units. The United States will continue to
press for a comprehensive solution based on the
Cambodian people's right to choose its own government
in free and fair elections. Internationally-supervised
11
elections, under an interim government led by Prince
Sihanouk, hold the best prospect for denying dominance
to either the murderous Khmer Rouge or the Hun Sen
regime that was installed by the Vietnamese army.
Vice Presidential Asian Initiatives: Vice President
Quayle, in two separate trips to the Pacific rim
countries and Asian nations, has played a key role in
the formulation of policy. In his spring trip to
Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, he worked
to coordinate U.S. policy on Cambodia with that of our
allies in anticipation of the pullout of Vietnamese
forces, and promoted U.S. trade interests. This fall,
in a trip to South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and
Malaysia, the Vice President began delicate base
negotiations with the Philippines government. He also
restated U.S. commitment to Korea; signed an agreement
on space cooperation with Japan; and advanced U.S.
Cambodian policy in the region.
o
Latin America: The President has established a close,
working relationship with Latin American neighbors to foster
a new partnership on hemispheric issues such as democracy,
debt, and drugs. Relations with Mexico are closer than at
any time in recent memory. The Administration is currently
negotiating a new agreement with Mexico to expand trade and
investment opportunities. In October, the President
attended a meeting of hemispheric leaders in San Jose, Costa
Rica, where he stressed the importance of democracy to the
Hemisphere and confirmed Nicaragua's isolation.
-- Panama: The U.S. has also worked with the Organization
of American States to develop a hemispheric consensus
that Manuel Noriega should leave power and permit
restoration of democratic rule. On November 30, the
President denied Panamanian flag vessels access to U.S.
ports after January 31, 1990. This measure will
deprive Noriega's illegal regime of tens of millions of
dollars in revenue.
El Salvador: The President remains committed to
supporting the democratically elected government of El
Salvador against extremists of both right and left. In
Malta, the President insisted that the Soviets take
more effective action to stop Nicaragua and Cuba from
sending arms to the Marxist FMLN guerrillas. The
United States regards the preservation of fundamental
human rights as an integral part of its effort to help
build democratic institutions in El Salvador and will
work with the government to bring human rights
violators to justice. In early February, Vice
President Quayle traveled to El Salvador to support
12
free and fair elections and to deliver a warning to the
Salvadoran military over human rights violations. In
late June, the Vice President again visited El
Salvador, as well as Costa Rica, Guatemala, and
Honduras, advancing the Administration's policy on
Panama and Nicaragua. Costa Rican President Oscar
Arias joined in pressuring the Sandinista regime in
Nicaragua to hold fair elections there.
Bipartisan Accord on Central America: On March 24, the
President and Congress agreed on a bipartisan plan for peace
and democracy in Central America:
--
Regional peace: The President and Congress agreed that
the region's democracies deserve our support, that
Nicaragua's subversion of its neighbors must end, and
that Soviet and Cuban support for violence and
subversion in the hemisphere must also end.
Humanitarian aid: Congress agreed to support the
Administration's request for continued humanitarian
assistance for the Nicaraguan Resistance at current
levels through the elections in Nicaragua scheduled for
February, 1990.
Democracy: The Marxist Sandinistas are being put to the
test to permit a real democratic electoral contest for
political power, fulfilling the promises of democratic
pluralism that they have made and broken so often
before. Aid to the Nicaraguan opposition to help bring
about a free and fair election was approved with
bipartisan Congressional support. On November 14, a
Presidential Commission on Election Monitoring in
Nicaragua was formed, including Senators and
Representatives from both sides of the aisle.
Middle East: The Administration is promoting progress
toward peace in the Middle East by supporting the Government
of Israel's May 14 initiative calling for Palestinian
elections in the occupied territories. A five-point
framework advanced by the United States is central to these
efforts. These elections can be a step toward a
comprehensive peace settlement that assures Israel's
security and the legitimate political rights of the
Palestinians. The President also is actively supporting the
efforts of the Arab League and others to promote internal
reconciliation, end the internecine warfare, and bring peace
to a united Lebanon that is free of all foreign forces.
Canada: The Administration began an immediate reduction of
tariffs as a first step in a multi-year phase out of trade
13
barriers -- the result of the U.S.- - Upper Canadian Free
Trade Agreement that took effect January 1, 1989.
African Initiatives: A balanced approach of pressure and
incentives may well be achieving progress toward the goal of
dismantling apartheid and establishing a non-racial
democratic society in South Africa. The Administration also
played a significant role in supporting the free and fair
elections in Namibia, which have opened the door to
independence and democracy in that country and in promoting
diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts in Angola,
Mozambique and elsewhere. Our debt forgiveness initiatives
of about $800 million in debt and associated interest
payments provides important assistance to African countries
implementing market-oriented reforms.
A Strong Defense: Congress adopted an integrated package
proposed by the President on strategic modernization that
modernizes the entire strategic triad. Although Congress
made some reductions in amounts requested, its actions
generally support the President's objectives.
--
The President proposed to Congress a two-missile plan
to maintain a strong, modernized strategic deterrent.
The bipartisan consensus to deploy the rail-mobile
Peacekeeper and the road-mobile Small ICBM will also
give the U.S. momentum in strategic arms control
negotiations.
--
The modernization plan capitalizes on the revolutionary
potential of the B-2, and also modernizes our strategic
submarine force. These programs are essential to our
arms control positions.
The President requested funding for the Strategic
Defense Initiative to support an informed development
and deployment decision within the next four years.
--
The President also directed a Defense Management Review
to develop a plan to implement fully the Packard
Commission's blueprint to strengthen and streamline the
defense acquisition system and to manage defense
resources more effectively. The Review has been
completed and its recommendations, now being
implemented, promise to save billions of dollars
annually.
Air Transportation Security: The Administration has taken
several measures to enhance security and efficiency in the
air transportation system. These efforts include:
14
--
New requirements for installation of explosive
detection devices in high-risk airports.
--
Intense international negotiations to enhance security
abroad.
--
Establishment of the President's Commission on Aviation
Security and Terrorism.
A proposed 17% increase in the budget for the Federal
Aviation Administration.
INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
Record economic growth has provided Americans with the
opportunity to invest in a brighter future. The President's
programs are designed to focus our efforts on those initiatives
most likely to continue to create growth in the years ahead.
EDUCATION
The President pledged to provide national leadership in
education reform and mobilize society to achieve literacy for all
Americans. His actions to improve education are guided by four
principles: encouraging excellence; targeting federal assistance
to those most in need; promoting flexibility and choice; and
ensuring accountability.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
o
President Bush convened "The President's Education Summit
with the Governors" on September 27 and 28 in
Charlottesville, Virginia. This event marked only the third
time in U.S. history that a President has convened the
Nation's Governors to address a single issue of national
importance. The Summit brought together the President, his
Cabinet and the Governors in working groups and plenary
sessions to focus on issues of choice and restructuring,
teaching, the learning environment, governance, a
competitive workforce and life-long learning, and
postsecondary education.
-- The President and the Governors issued a Joint
Statement -- a "Jeffersonian Compact" -- committing to
four objectives for education reform in America:
establishing national education goals; increasing
flexibility in the use of Federal funds in exchange for
enhanced accountability; implementing state-by-state
15
restructuring of the education system; and measuring
performance. A commitment was made to develop national
goals and initiatives to increase flexibility and
accountability by early 1990.
On April 5, the President submitted to Congress a
comprehensive set of education initiatives, The Educational
Excellence Act of 1989. The Act proposes:
-- The Presidential Merit Schools program -- to reward
schools that are making substantial progress in raising
students' educational achievement, creating a safe and
drug-free school environment, and reducing the drop-out
rate.
--
A new Magnet Schools of Excellence program -- to
support the establishment, expansion or enhancement of
magnet schools, focusing on disciplines important to
the Nation's economic competitiveness such as math and
science, increasing parental choice and improving
quality education.
:
The Alternative Certification of Teachers and
Principals program -- to assist States interested in
broadening the pool of talent from which to recruit
teachers and principals.
--
President's Awards for Excellence in Education -- to
recognize public and private school teachers in every
state who meet the highest standards of excellence.
:
Drug-free Schools Urban Emergency Grants -- to provide
special assistance to selected urban school districts
that are disproportionately affected by drug
trafficking and abuse.
--
A National Science Scholars program -- to provide
college scholarships to high school seniors who have
excelled in the sciences and mathematics.
I
Additional Funding Authorization for Endowment Matching
Grants at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
(HBCUs) -- to strengthen HBCUs by building endowments,
an especially effective way to create financial
strength and long-term security.
On April 24, the President issued a new Executive Order on
Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Highlights of
the order include:
16
Establishing the President's Board of Advisors on
Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the
Department of Education.
Directing Federal agencies to increase opportunities
for HBCU involvement in Federal programs and directing
the Secretary of Education to develop an Annual Federal
Plan for Assistance.
Calling for the White House Office of National Service,
along with other Federal offices to work to encourage
private sector support of HBCUs.
On June 5, the President announced his intention to create
the President's Education Policy Advisory Committee.
Chaired by Paul O'Neill, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Alcoa, the committee's membership includes
representatives from education, business, labor and the
media. The committee, which met for the first time in
November, advises the President on issues related to
education policy.
Job Training Partnership Act Amendments: As part of an
overall effort to prepare those least skilled and most
disadvantaged young Americans for the workforce of the
future, the Administration has proposed amendments to the
Job Training Partnership Act. The revisions to this
nation's most successful job training program would provide
a total support system for our at-risk youth -- job training
plus remedial education, basic skills training, literacy,
counseling and financial assistance.
Hispanic Initiative: The President has directed the
Secretary of Education to form a Task Force on Hispanic
Education to assess how well federal education programs
serve Hispanics and recommend ways to enhance the federal
role.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Research and development provides new knowledge that enables
progress toward a wide range of national objectives. The
President promised to strengthen Federal science and technology
policy and oversight to ensure that national security and
economic programs are based on sound scientific and technological
principles. A number of major areas have been targeted as
critically important to the Nation's economic health including:
the physical sciences and engineering, life sciences and medical
17
issues, education, information policy, international R&D affairs,
industrial technology, and industrial competitiveness.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Office of Science and Technology: The President
restructured the Office of Science and Technology Policy
(OSTP) which will work with the Office of Management and
Budget in analyzing and preparing federal R&D budgets and
will play a central role in developing and coordinating
Federal science and technology strategies. At the
Adminstration's request, Congress provided a 78 percent
increase in the budget for the OSTP.
Tax Credit: The President proposed that the tax credit for
research and development expenditures be made permanent and
that the allocation rules be revised to provide a greater
incentive for private sector investment in R & D. The FY
1990 Budget Reconciliation Act provided a temporary
extension of the tax credit.
National Science Foundation Budget: The President called
for a doubling of the National Science Foundation budget by
Fy 1993. This proposal would greatly expand support for
individual researchers, research groups and research
centers-of-excellence. The final Fy 1990 appropriations
bill provided a smaller increase than requested by the
President but will permit continued progress toward the his
goal.
Supercollider: The President announced his support for the
development of the Superconducting Supercollider, the
largest pure science project ever undertaken. The
Superconducting Supercollider will yield important new
information on the fundamental structure of matter, opening
the door to countless new developments in science and
technology. Congress supported the President's proposal by
providing $218 million in FY 1990, more than doubling the Fy
1989 level.
Federal Coordinating Council: The President revitalized and
upgraded the Federal Coordinating Council for Science,
Engineering, and Technology (FCCSET) to coordinate and
integrate R&D planning among agencies government-wide.
Council of Advisors: The President also established a
Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST),
composed of twelve distinguished scientists, mathematicians,
and engineers from the private sector, to advise him on
science and technology.
18
FIGHTING DRUG ABUSE
A new assault in the war on drugs began with the
announcement of the President's National Drug Control Strategy.
The President set major new priorities in five principle areas:
the criminal justice system; drug treatment; education, community
action, and the workplace; international initiatives; and
interdiction efforts. Throughout, the strategy emphasizes the
principle of user accountability.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
In his first televised Address to the Nation, the President
unveiled the National Drug Strategy, in September,
describing a coordinated and comprehensive plan of attack
under the leadership of the Director of National Drug
Control Policy, William Bennett.
The National Drug Control Strategy recommends the largest
dollar increase in the history of the drug war -- nearly
$2.2 billion, 39 percent above the FY 1989 level. Elements
of the Strategy include:
Expanding the criminal justice system by providing
funds for more agents, jails, prosecutors, and courts;
and requiring drug testing of prisoners, parolees, and
arrestees.
Improving drug treatment by holding Federally-funded
treatment programs accountable for their effectiveness
through performance criteria; requiring drug testing in
treatment programs receiving Federal funds; exploring
the expanded use of "civil commitment, " whereby addicts
are sent by the courts to residential treatment
facilities; and improving drug treatment services for
pregnant women.
Promoting education, community action, and the
workplace by emphasizing community-level prevention of
drug use; requiring schools and colleges to implement
firm drug-free policies as a condition of receiving
Federal funds; working for safe and drug-free public
housing; promoting drug-free workplace policies in the
private sector and implementing drug-free workplace
policies within the Federal government; and by
recommending testing for job applicants and employees
in safety and sensitive positions.
Increasing emphasis on international initiatives, such
as dismantling drug trafficking organizations,
targeting international efforts closer to production
19
and trafficking sources; and reducing trafficking
profits by focusing increased efforts on money
laundering. The Treasury Department has initiated the
Financial Crime Enforcement Network (FINCEN), a multi-
source money laundering intelligence, analysis and
targeting bureau. The President has also raised drugs
as a priority in U.S. foreign policy. He approved an
Andean strategy involving a $2.2 billion five-year
program to help the Andean nations attack production,
processing and trafficking in drugs and to provide
trade benefits in support of their efforts. Further,
he called for increased cooperation and coordination of
anti-drug programs with our allies, the Soviets and
international bodies.
Taking a fresh approach to interdiction efforts by
creating interagency and interdisciplinary teams to
analyze and target smuggling patterns, methods, and
routes; targeting key individuals and high-value
shipments; and enhancing the border interdiction
systems, operations, and activities of the U.S. Coast
Guard, Customs Service and the Department of Defense.
Anti-Drug Treaty: The Vienna Convention on Illicit Drugs
and Psychotropic Substances was strongly endorsed by the
President and forwarded to Congress for ratification. This
is the most significant and far-reaching treaty on
international cooperation on drug trafficking, chemical
precursor control, and money laundering ever to be signed.
COMBATTING VIOLENT CRIME
The President is working to strengthen the Nation's criminal
justice system and the Federal, state, and local law enforcement
partnership. Four principles underlie the goals of our criminal
justice system and the means for accomplishing them: First, to
protect citizens and their property; to hold those who commit
violent crimes accountable for their actions; to have as the
objective of our criminal justice system the swift and certain
apprehension, prosecution and incarceration of those who break
the law; and finally, to ensure a sustained, cooperative effort
by Federal, state and local law enforcement authorities.
20
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
o
On June 15, President Bush sent to Congress The
Comprehensive Violent Crime Control Act of 1989 to combat
violent crime. The President's initiative includes:
Strengthening Current Laws: The President is calling
on Congress to double the mandatory minimum penalties
-- from five years to ten years in Federal prison --
for the use of semi-automatic weapons in violent or
drug-related crimes. In addition, the Attorney General
has advised federal prosecutors to end plea bargaining
with persons accused of violent firearms offenses.
President Bush called on Congress to enact the
legislation necessary to implement the death penalty
for the most serious Federal crimes, and urged state
Governors to match these Federal initiatives -- new
mandatory sentencing, tougher rules on plea bargaining,
and implementing the death penalty -- in the States.
Controlling Certain Semi-Automatic Weapons: In July,
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms took action
to ban permanently the importation of those semi-
automatic weapons which fail to meet the criteria
specified in the Gun Control Act of 1968. The
President also called for enhanced penalties and the
closing of loopholes related to the sale and transfer
of such guns by certain classes of criminals, and he
proposed prohibiting the importation, and manufacture,
of gun magazines of more than 15 rounds.
--
Augmenting Enforcement: The President has directed the
Attorney General and the Treasury Secretary, working
together with state and local authorities, to launch a
comprehensive, coordinated offensive against America's
most violent criminals. President Bush requested
funding for the hiring of 825 new Federal agents and
staff -- 375 at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms; 300 at the FBI; and 150 Deputy U.S. Marshals.
This interagency effort, which also counts on the
cooperation of state and local enforcement authorities,
will target violent criminals and repeat offenders.
Enhancing Prosecution: The President proposed
increased funds for the U.S. Attorneys' Offices to
support 1,600 new prosecutors and staff, and increased
1990 funds for the Justice Department Criminal Division
to support 168 new positions, to handle drug cases,
weapons offenses, and other priority matters.
Expanding Prison Capacity: The President proposed an
additional $1 billion for Federal prison construction,
21
bringing the total FY 1990 budget to over $1.5 billion.
This will add 24,000 new Federal prison beds to the
32,000 beds currently available. Each of the above
proposals for increased funding to fight violent crime
was addressed in the appropriations bills for drug-
related activities passed by Congress at the close of
the first session and signed by the President on
November 21.
THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
President Bush, a life-long environmentalist, has taken
strong action to protect the environment. He has placed
environmental protection, conservation, and wise management of
our natural resources as high priorities on America's national
agenda.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Clean Air Legislation: On June 12, the President announced
proposals that will take advantage of the power of the
marketplace to reduce emissions which cause acid rain, urban
smog and toxic air pollution. The proposals, the first
major overhaul of the Clean Air Act to be proposed by an
Administration in over a decade, call for a 10 million ton
reduction in SO2 emissions by the year 2000, a 2 million ton
reduction in NOx from projected levels, a 40 percent
reduction in emission of volatile organic compounds, and a
reduction of 75 to 90 percent in air toxic emissions. The
proposal also calls for the use of alternative fuels in one
million vehicles by 1997. Alternative fuels, while reducing
emissions that cause smog, will also reduce the toxic
aromatics which come from conventional gasoline. The
President submitted a comprehensive Clean Air bill to the
Congress on July 21 embodying the proposals announced on
June 12.
Clean Coal Technologies: The President proposed $710 million
in FY 1990 for the Clean Coal Technology program.
Asbestos Ban: On July 7, EPA announced an almost total
phase-out of nearly all uses of asbestos by 1997. The ban
will prohibit importation, manufacture, and processing of
asbestos, a carcinogen linked to lung cancer and
mesothelioma (lung and chest cancer).
Clean Water and Coastlines: On March 10, EPA implemented a
medical waste tracking program to track medical wastes to
ensure proper disposal and prevent ocean pollution -- a
22
major step forward in a comprehensive program to help keep
our beaches clean.
Ocean Dumping: To meet the President's commitment to end
ocean dumping, the EPA negotiated agreements with local
jurisdictions to stop dumping of sewage sludge by the end of
1991. This initiative also resulted in civil judicial or
administrative penalty actions against 61 cities in 1989.
Cleanup of Hazardous Wastes: On March 10, The President
announced he will be seeking legislation to amend the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act in order to give the
United States Government authority to ban all exports of
hazardous waste unless an agreement exists with the
receiving country providing for the safe handling and
management of those wastes.
Department of Energy Facilities Cleanup: Spending has been
increased by $500 million for waste cleanup at Department of
Energy facilities. On August 31, the Energy Department
published an aggressive, five-year cleanup plan which
identifies site-by-site Departmental environmental
restoration and waste management initiatives. In addition,
the Department published a five-year Environmental
Restoration and Waste Management Research and Development
Plan which will exclusively focus its attention on
addressing the contamination problems the Energy Department
faces at its facilities. The Research and Development Plan
will be the major effort to reduce outyear costs of cleanup
of DOE facilities and should have major implications for
private technology transfer.
Superfund: The President's budget proposed $1.75 billion to
pursue an aggressive cleanup schedule of toxic waste sites;
the Administration opposed Congressional efforts to cut the
Superfund budget to $1.5 billion. On June 14, EPA
Administrator Reilly, following the President's direction,
concluded a Management Review of the Superfund Program. To
implement reforms, E.P.A. is adding five hundred people to
take aggressive enforcement action and ensure that sites are
cleaned up.
Alaskan oil Spill: The President sent a Cabinet-level team
to assess the Alaskan oil spill, and a joint federal-state
resource recovery team was convened. Vice President Quayle
twice visited the cleanup site and met with local officials
and affected businessmen. The National Transportation
Safety Board is investigating the accident. Exxon has
accepted the responsibility of paying for the cleanup, and
for employing local civilian personnel necessary to control
further damage. The Department of Transportation is heading
the Administration's cleanup efforts while the EPA is
23
coordinating the Departments of Agriculture and Interior and
the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration on long-
range planning to restore the environment of Prince William
Sound. The President has ordered a review of existing
contingency plans for accidents such as this. The
Administration has also called for Exxon to pay the full
cost of environmental damages resulting from the spill.
The President proposed, and the Paris Summit leaders
accepted, a call for increased international efforts on oil
spill prevention and cleanup.
oil Spill Legislation: On May 11, the Administration
transmitted to Congress comprehensive oil pollution
liability and compensation legislation that broadens and
strengthens our existing patchwork of laws. The bill
provides swift and assured compensation for cleanup costs
and damages through a liability system based on strict
financial responsibility requirements for shipowners backed
up by an oil industry financed-fund. The Interior
Department also initiated a $6 million, 3-year project with
the American Petroleum Institute to conduct research and
development on oil spill cleanup technology.
Offshore Oil Drilling: The President postponed lease sales
and offshore oil and gas development in environmentally
sensitive areas off the coasts of California and Florida.
The President set up a task force to examine the issues and
report back to him in January of 1990.
Global Climate Issues: The President has accelerated the
Administration's activities on global change. Following the
conclusion of the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change sponsored by the United Nations, which the
Administration strongly supports and is participating in,
the President has offered to host a conference next fall to
negotiate a framework treaty on global change.
Also, the President increased global environmental research
for FY 1990 by 28 percent, to over $663 million and endorsed
NASA's Mission to Planet Earth as a key element in this
research effort to ensure that critical global data sets are
established. The President has announced a White House
International Environmental Research Conference for the
spring of 1990 to be attended by national delegations of
science, environment, and economic ministers.
Stratospheric Ozone Depletion: The President called for a
worldwide phaseout of ozone-depleting CFCs and halons by the
year 2000 if safe substitutes are available. In addition,
the U.S. has imposed fees on CFC production to reduce CFC
emissions. The President's Clean Air initiative would also
reduce pollution, cap emissions and create a powerful
24
incentive for conservation thereby reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.
Wetlands, National Parks, and Reforestation: The President
is also committed to a national goal of "no net loss" of
wetlands and is directing his executive branch agencies,
through an interagency task force, to make recommendations
to achieve that goal. He has also proposed a major increase
in funding to expand and improve parks, wildlife refuges,
forests, and recreational land. He included $206 million in
new money in the FY 1990 budget which was accepted by
Congress, to expand and improve America's parks and wildlife
refuges, preserving them for generations to come. Finally,
the President supports increased lending by the development
banks for reforestation programs. He also endorsed the call
by the Paris Economic Summit for an end to deforestation
worldwide. The Department of Agriculture has initiated a
number of reforestation programs both domestically and
abroad and the President has focused national attention on
the importance of trees in his speeches and appearances
around the country.
Ban on African Elephant Ivory: On June 5, the
Administration announced a ban on imports of African
elephant ivory into the United States, making importation
from any country illegal. The ban covers both commercial
and non-commercial shipments. Since announcement of the
ban, world trade in ivory has fallen sharply.
Driftnet Fishing Agreements: The Administration successfully
persuaded Japan, Taiwan, and Korea to enter into driftnet
fishing agreements to monitor driftnet practices, and
enforce laws prohibiting the taking of U.S. origin salmon.
Council on Environmental Quality: The President has begun
revitalizing his Council on Environmental Quality in the
Executive Office of the President to adequately serve its
important environmental advisory function within the White
House.
Food Safety: In order to improve the federal government's
ability to protect American consumers and the environment
from potential dangers posed by the use of pesticides,
President Bush proposed a comprehensive program to enhance
food safety. The President's plan calls for major revisions
to two key laws to streamline EPA's ability to remove
potentially hazardous pesticides from the market. The
President's proposal also strengthens enforcement,
establishes scientifically sound threshold tolerance levels
for pesticides in or on food, and provides for national
uniformity in tolerance levels following a review of the
latest scientific evidence.
25
National Energy Strategy: The President directed the
Secretary of Energy to develop a comprehensive national
energy strategy for the Nation. The strategy will lay out
short, mid and long-term options to help the Nation meet our
energy security and environmental responsibilities and, at
the same time, ensure that markets will provide a sensible
mix of energy sources to protect America's economic
competitiveness. In the meantime, the Administration has
moved to enhance energy security and conserve our natural
resources by accelerating the filling of the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve to 750 million barrels.
Natural Gas Decontrol: On July 26, the President signed into
law the Wellhead Decontrol Act of 1989, which, by 1993, will
end all remaining price controls on natural gas, a clean-
burning, domestically abundant fuel.
Improved Forecasting: The Commerce Department announced that
beginning in Fiscal Year 1990, the National Weather Service
will modernize and restructure its operations to provide
improved forecasting and weather warning systems. The new
system will include advanced weather radar, observation
automation, and a new communications system.
EXPLORING SPACE
The President has committed this nation to an aggressive
program to explore and use space in support of our national
well-being. U.S. leadership in space continues to be a
fundamental objective guiding U.S. space activities.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
National Space Council: On April 20, the President
demonstrated the importance he attaches to the U.S. space
program by signing an Executive Order establishing the
National Space Council. President Bush named Vice President
Quayle Chairman of the Council which is charged with
bringing "coherence, continuity, and commitment to our
efforts to explore, study, and develop space. "
Three-pronged Program: On July 20, the President announced
a three-pronged program for the manned exploration of the
solar system. In the 1990's the U.S. will construct the
permanently manned orbiting space station, Freedom; for the
future, a return to the Moon, this time to stay; and, then,
travel to the planet Mars. The National Space Council is
studying resource requirements and the feasibility of
international cooperation in the President's Human
Exploration Initiative.
26
National Space Policy Directive: On November 2, the
President approved a new national space policy updating and
reaffirming U.S. goals and activities in space. The policy
was set forth in the National Space Policy Directive #1, a
new Presidential directive system which gives space a unique
policy status in the Bush Administration. Areas affected
include space exploration, remote sensing, space
transportation, space debris, commercial space activities,
and Space Station Freedom.
Shuttle and Unmanned Missions: During the past year, the
U.S. space program has returned an improved Space Shuttle
Fleet to flight operations and successfully completed five
demanding missions. In the space science area, a major
revival of the planetary exploration program has included
launches of unmanned missions to Venus and Jupiter in May
and October, and the August encounter of the planet Neptune
by the Voyager 2 spacecraft.
WORKING FOR A KINDER, GENTLER AMERICA
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The President is committed to bringing basic shelter and
affordable housing within reach of millions of Americans. His
HOPE initiative addresses the full range of housing concerns:
shelter for the homeless, affordable housing and homeownership
for low-income families, open access to expanded job
opportunities, and help for first-time home buyers.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
O
On November 10, the President unveiled HOPE, a comprehensive
agenda of Homeownership and Opportunity for People
Everywhere. Major elements include:
--
First-time Home Buyers: The President will ask Congress
to enact legislation allowing first-time buyers to
draw, without penalty, on IRA savings as a down payment
for their first home. The President has asked HUD
Secretary Jack Kemp to convene a Blue Ribbon Commission
to identify barriers to affordable housing, and to make
recommendations on how these barriers can be removed.
Low-income Housing: The President called on Congress to
renew the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. President
Bush also supports housing vouchers that empower low-
income families to choose where they want to live; and
27
resident ownership and resident management of low
income housing.
Job Creation: He has also called on Congress to create
up to 50 Enterprise Zones over the next four years,
using labor and capital-based incentives to create jobs
and entrepreneurial activity in our most distressed
communities. In the hardest-hit urban areas, he has
called for a complete elimination of the capital gains
tax on certain investments in enterprise zones.
FHA Reforms: The Administration has announced major
reforms to ensure that FHA is true to its primary
mission of making housing affordable for low and
moderate income families. In record time, Congress
responded to the Administration's reform initiative and
passed legislation incorporating most of the
Administration's proposals. The President charged HUD
with finding new ways to move FHA foreclosures into the
hands of non-profit groups to help reduce homelessness
to fight inner city poverty.
Homelessness: The President requested full funding of
the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act; and, on November
9, signed a bill that substantially increased funding
for programs under the Act. As part of the HOPE
initiative, the President will request $236 million for
an initiative to reduce homelessness among the
chronically mentally ill and recovering substance
abusers through public-private partnerships.
HEAD START
The President also challenged Congress to increase funding
for Head Start by $250 million in FY 1990. This expansion would
have enabled up to 95,000 more four-year-olds to participate in
the program. Congressional action provided only $151 million of
that request which will allow the Program to serve up to 37,500
more eligible 4-year-olds.
CHILD CARE
The changing nature of American society heightens the need
for child care that suits both children's needs and families'
circumstances. President Bush wants to put choice in the hands
of parents so that they -- not government -- have the power to
select the best and safest environment for their children.
28
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Child Care: The President transmitted to Congress a child
care package, the Working Family Child Care Assistance Act
of 1989 which:
--
Provides a new refundable child care tax credit of up
to $1000 per child under age four, for low and moderate
income working families.
Makes the existing Dependent Care Tax Credit
refundable.
Does not discriminate against religious- or family-
based child care, or against two-parent families in
which a parent works in the home and cares for the
children.
Liability Insurance: The President has directed Secretary
of Labor Dole to examine the role played by liability
insurance in employer decisions on employer-provided child
care.
EXPANSION OF MEDICAID
The President is committed to ensuring quality health care
for disadvantaged mothers and children, the disabled, and poor,
aged Americans. To help achieve this goal, Federal spending on
Medicaid will be $39.1 billion for FY 1990, an increase of $4.3
billion, or 12.3 percent over the FY 1989 level.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Infant Mortality: President Bush has taken concrete steps
toward improving health care for at-risk populations and
toward decreasing infant mortality. This year, he asked
Congress to raise mandatory Medicaid eligibility for
pregnant women, infants and children to 130 percent of the
poverty level. Congress took action to raise the
eligibility to 133% -- consistent with the President's
proposal. In addition, he requested an expansion of
Medicaid coverage of immunizations for all children under
age 6 who are eligible for Food Stamps.
AIDS INITIATIVES
The President has made combatting AIDS a national priority.
The Administration is moving on a number of fronts in its fight
against the spread of AIDS.
29
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
AIDS Clinical Trials Information Service: The
Administration developed a toll-free information service
through which AIDS patients and their doctors can get up-to-
date information on clinical trials of AIDS therapies --
whether Federally or privately sponsored.
New Drugs Approved: The Administration approved three new
therapies for treating persons infected with HIV, which for
the first time gives doctors approved treatments to use with
HIV-infected people before they become sick with AIDS.
Additional Clinical Trials: The Administration initiated
clinical trials for promising new therapies for HIV-infected
individuals.
Experimental Drugs: The Administration allowed an expansion
in the availability of experimental therapeutic drugs used
to treat people with AIDS and HIV infection.
Wider Use of Existing Treatment: The Administration
announced in August that AZT, the only drug currently
approved for treating persons with AIDS, has proven to help
HIV-infected persons who have not yet developed AIDS.
AIDS Prevention Guide: The Administration worked with the
National Parent Teachers Association to develop and
distribute 500,000 copies of the "AIDS Prevention Guide" for
use by parents and teachers nationwide.
Waivers for Medical Treatment: The Administration adopted
an immigration policy which would grant waivers to
foreigners, with AIDS, who wish to enter the U.S. in order
to obtain medical treatment or to participate in an activity
which advances efforts to find a cure.
ADOPTION
The President is committed to promoting adoption, especially
of special needs children.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Legislation: In September, the President sent two
legislative proposals to Congress designed to encourage
adoption of special needs children:
30
The first would permit adoptive parents to deduct $3000
from taxable income for adoption-related expenses.
The second would provide Federal employees who adopt
with a reimbursement of up to $2000 for expenses.
Special Needs Children: In addition, the President has
directed all Federal agencies to develop plans for
supporting and promoting adoption of special needs children
(e.g., flexible leave.)
WELFARE REFORM
The Administration has implemented a major new education and
job training program to help recipients of Aid to Families with
Dependent Children move off welfare and become economically self-
sufficient.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Welfare Reform: The Administration issued final rules on
October 13 to implement the Job Opportunities and Basic
Skills Training Program (JOBS) of the Family Support Act of
1988. The rules are designed to:
--
Assist welfare recipients to become self-sufficient by
providing needed employment-related activities and
support services.
Provide maximum level of flexibility to AFDC parents in
obtaining the type of child care that best suits their
needs, consistent with the principle of parental choice
embodied in the Administration's legislative proposals
on child care.
--
The Administration is proposing to spend over three-
and-a-half billion dollars over the next five years
implementing the JOBS Program. The changes will pay
benefits in the future by reducing the number of
individuals on welfare. It is estimated that there
will be 138,000 fewer families on the welfare rolls
over five years as a result of this program.
Low Income Opportunity Board: To continue progress in the
area of welfare reform, the President reinstated this
welfare policy coordinating unit established under President
Reagan as the Interagency Low Income Opportunity Advisory
Board. The Board enhances interagency coordination of
Executive Branch activities designed to lift low-income
Americans up from dependency, and assists States that seek
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to demonstrate more effective approaches for using Federal
dollars to serve the low-income population.
NATIONAL SERVICE
The President's vision to help overcome the disintegration
of communities and build a better America -- not through a
federal government program, but through a nationwide community
service movement -- has three elements: first, to call all
individuals and institutions to take steps to address society's
problems; second, to identify, enlarge, and multiply what is
working; and third, to discover and encourage new leaders.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
o
The President's Call: In a series of speeches, President
Bush called on all Americans and all American institutions,
large and small, to make community service central to their
daily life and work.
Points of Light Initiative Foundation: The President
announced the formation of a foundation called the Points of
Light Initiative, of which he will serve as Honorary
Chairman. Formed to identify and build upon what is
working, the Foundation will act as a magnet for the best
ideas and brightest programs in community service and then
serve as a catalyst to project these ideas into every corner
of the Nation. The Administration will ask Congress for $25
million annually to support this initiative and will, in
turn, seek matching funds from the private sector. The
President has encouraged all communities nationwide to join
the movement by forming local "Points of Light Action
Groups" composed of outstanding leaders.
--
Through a Foundation initiative called the ServNet
Project, professional firms, corporations, unions,
schools, religious, civic and not-for-profit groups
will be asked to donate the services of some of their
most talented and promising people for a period of
time. Peer-to-peer working groups will be formed to
implement examples of successful initiatives and
provide training, technical assistance and other
support to enable other institutions to devise similar
initiatives.
Another Foundation initiative, the ServLink Project,
will help improve existing methods of matching would-be
volunteers with purposeful service opportunities.
ServLink will stimulate the development, through
private sector resources, of "technology links" like
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telephone hotlines, interactive computer programs,
electronic bulletin boards and other mechanisms between
those who wish to serve and those needing service in
the inquirer's own community.
--
The President has named a Presidential Commission to
advise him on the legal structure of the Points of
Light Initiative Foundation and the legislation needed
to accomplish the Foundation's goals. The Commission
is scheduled to report to the President in early
December.
--
The Foundation will also discover, encourage and
develop new community service leaders by sponsoring
workshops, forums, and symposia on community service
leadership development, and by recognizing new leaders
and exemplary initiatives through at least three new
Presidential forms of recognition:
--
The National Service Youth Leadership Awards will
be given each year to individuals.
-- The "Daily Points of Light Program" which each day
recognizes individuals or initiatives that are
making a positive difference in the lives of their
communities.
--
The President's Build A Community Awards will
honor those people and institutions who have
worked together to rebuild families or to
revitalize communities.
CIVIL RIGHTS
The Bush Administration is committed to reaching out to
minorities, and to striking down barriers to free and open
access. The President has made it clear that this Administration
will not tolerate discrimination, bigotry, or bias of any kind.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Civil Rights: The Administration has taken a number of
actions to protect the civil rights of all Americans,
including several court actions in key civil rights cases.
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-- The President called upon Congress to reauthorize the
Commission on Civil Rights. Following Congressional
action, the President signed legislation reauthorizing
the Commission through FY 1991.
-- The Administration endorsed the Hate Crimes Bill, which
provides for the collection of data about crimes
motivated by racial, religious, or ethnic animosity.
-- On March 13, Attorney General Thornburgh announced the
filing of Federal housing discrimination lawsuits
seeking monetary damages and civil penalties under the
expanded enforcement authority of the Fair Housing
Amendments Act of 1988.
Disabled Americans: The President is committed to
legislation that would extend civil rights protections to
disabled Americans. This legislation, called the Americans
with Disabilities Act, would represent the most significant
expansion of federal civil rights laws in the past two
decades. A version of the Act passed the Senate on
September 7, and has been awaiting consideration in the
House since then. As passed by the Senate:
-- The legislation would provide new protections against
discrimination in the area of employment, requiring
reasonable accommodation be made by employers for
disabled employees and job applicants unless undue
burdens are imposed.
-- Most new buildings would be required to be accessible
to the disabled.
-- In most cases, stores, providers of services,
restaurants, and other establishments in existing
buildings would be required to permit access and
provide services to disabled Americans and remove
barriers where that is readily achievable.
-- New public buses would have to be accessible to persons
with mobility impairment.
-- Telephone companies would be required to provide
equivalent telephone service for those with speech and
hearing impairments.
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ETHICS
President Bush is committed to high ethical standards for
his Administration and will enforce these standards strictly,
comprehensively, and fairly. The Administration also remains
committed to an overhaul of the existing campaign finance system.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Ethics Law Reform: The President issued an Executive Order
creating the President's Commission on Federal Ethics Law
Reform, which submitted its recommendations on March 9. The
President, on April 12, sent to Congress a sweeping ethics
bill and simultaneously issued an Executive Order announcing
ethical principles for the conduct of Executive Branch
employees. Recently, Congress, in consultation with the
President, enacted the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, which
carries out many of the President's original proposals and
also includes a pay raise for members of Congress, Federal
judges, and certain other Federal officers and employees.
Together, the measures in the new Act and the President's
ethics Executive Order include:
:
Stronger post-employment restrictions -- applying for
the first time to Congress -- to protect against
individuals abusing the revolving door for private
gain.
A ban on receipt of honoraria by all Federal employees
for speeches and articles, and a cap on outside earned
income for higher salaried non-career employees in all
three branches. (As enacted, neither these limits nor
the concomitant salary increase applies to Senators or
Senate employees.) Full-time, non-career Presidential
appointees in the Executive Branch may not receive any
outside earned income.
Deferral of tax liability when individuals are required
by the Office of Government Ethics to divest assets in
order to avoid conflicts of interest. The President's
Commission on Federal Ethics Law Reform endorsed this
reform and identified divestiture as "the single most
important device" to eliminate conflicts of interest.
Establishment of consistent financial disclosure rules
across the three branches of government.
:
Creation of uniform conflict-of-interest rules for
high-level House and Senate staff that prohibit contact
with Executive Branch agencies about matters in which
staff members have personal financial interests.
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--
Development of a single Executive-Branch-wide set of
standards of conduct regulations.
Campaign Finance Reform: The President's comprehensive
campaign finance reform proposal is designed to lessen the
power of monied special interests and enhance the role of
individuals and the political parties in elections. It also
seeks to restore real competition to American Congressional
elections. Below are proposal highlights:
-- Eliminating political action committees (PACs) funded
by corporations, unions, or trade associations, and
prohibiting such entities from paying for the overhead
or administrative costs of any independent PAC.
-- Strengthening political parties by increasing the
support they are permitted to provide congressional
candidates. Heightened party involvement would enhance
our political system, and further neutralize the power
and influence of monied special interests.
-- Addressing the problem of the "permanent Congress" by
reforms designed to reduce the unfair advantages of
incumbency. Specifically, the proposals would
drastically reduce Congressional mailings under the
frank, ban the rollover of campaign funds from one
election cycle to the next, and legislate fair neutral
criteria for the redistricting of Congressional and
legislative lines that will follow the 1990 census.
-- Requiring full disclosure of all "soft money" spent by
the political parties and all labor unions,
corporations, and trade associations to influence a
Federal election.
Whistleblower Protection: On April 10, the President signed
the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989. This law will
strengthen the protections and procedural rights available
to those Federal employees who report misdeeds and
mismanagement.
-- This new law enhances the authority of the Office of
Special Counsel, and whistleblowers will also now be
allowed to take their cases to the Merit Systems
Protection Board. The statute alters the legal burdens
of proof, making it easier for employees to be
vindicated when they are wrongfully penalized for
whistleblowing.
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