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National Association of Wholesalers 2/1/89 [OA 4425]
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National Association of Wholesalers 2/1/89 [OA 4425]
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Mary Kate Grant Subject Files
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This is not a textual record. This is used as an
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Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
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Speechwriting, White House Office of
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Grant, Mary Kate, Files
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Subject File, 1988-1991
OA/ID Number:
13882
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13882-008
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National Association of Wholesalers, 2/1/89
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19
2
7
7
REMARKS FOR MEETING WITH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF WHOLESALER-DISTRIBUTORS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1989
It's GREAT TO BE HERE TODAY, SEEING so MANY OF YOU
AGAIN. ((BUT THERE IS ONE MAN I HAVEN'T RUN INTO YET --
HAS ANYBODY SEEN THE PORK RIND DISTRIBUTOR AROUND?
You SEE, I'D LIKE TO ASK HIM ABOUT GETTING INTO THE
BUSINESS MYSELF -- I'VE GOT ENOUGH PORK RINDS NOW TO LAST
ME TO THE YEAR 2000.))
2
I REMEMBER, VERY WELL, THE DAY I FIRST ADDRESSED THE
N.A.W. ANNUAL MEETING IN SAN JUAN TEN YEARS AGO. THAT WAS
THE SAME DAY THE FIRST GEORGE BUSH FOR PRESIDENT
EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE WAS FORMED. IN FACT, THE N.A.W. AND
THE N.A.W. PAC WERE THE FIRST BUSINESS GROUPS TO ENDORSE
MY CANDIDACY. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU HAS INVOLVED MANY
"FIRSTS" -- AND NOW TODAY YOU ARE THE FIRST BUSINESS GROUP
I'VE MET WITH AS PRESIDENT.
BACK IN 1981, I WAS IN THE EAST ROOM AT A RECEPTION.
DIRK [VAN DONGEN, N.A.W. PRESIDENT] CAME UP TO ME AND
3
SAID, "MR. VICE PRESIDENT, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU IN THE
WHITE HOUSE." WELL, TODAY I CAN SAY, IT'S GREAT TO SEE
ALL OF YOU IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
As I LOOK AT SOME OF THE FACES IN THIS ROOM, I KNOW
WE HAVE HERE THE TOP LEADERSHIP OF THE WHOLESALE
DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY. You KNOW I'VE BEEN TALKING LATELY
ABOUT ETHICS -- AND THE NEED FOR HIGHEST STANDARDS BOTH IN
AND OUT OF GOVERNMENT. I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN LEADERSHIP
BY EXAMPLE. AND I BELIEVE THE EXAMPLE YOU SET WILL GO A
4
LONG WAY IN TERMS OF ENSURING AN HONEST AND ETHICAL
BUSINESS COMMUNITY -- FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT YOU'VE GIVEN ME OVER THE
YEARS, AND NOW WE'RE FACING THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO
US -- REDUCING THE DEFICIT, KEEPING TAXES DOWN, SUSTAINING
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT WILL BE AT THE FOREFRONT EARLY
ON, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THEM.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE SMALL BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATOR-DESIGNATE, SUSAN ENGELEITER, WHOM I'M SURE
5
MANY OF YOU WILL BE WORKING WITH IN THE FUTURE. AND I
UNDERSTAND YOU JUST HEARD FROM SECRETARY DOLE, AND FROM
SECRETARY MOSBACHER. I KNOW THEY CAN COUNT ON YOU AS MY
ADMINISTRATION MOVES AHEAD ON THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THE
ECONOMY.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE NO ONE BREAKS THE BACK OF THIS
ECONOMIC RECOVERY THAT WE'VE GOT GOING FOR OVER SIX YEARS
NOW. I'M EXCITED THAT WE HAVE NICK CALIO, THE FORMER
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE N.A.W., ON BOARD HERE AT THE
WHITE HOUSE IN LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS TO HELP ON THAT FRONT.
6
HE'LL BE WORKING WITH CONGRESS TO KEEP THE ECONOMIC
EXPANSION ROLLING AND KEEP THE HAND OF GOVERNMENT OUT OF
OUR BACK POCKETS.
ONE FINAL NOTE: I MET WITH THE COFIRE COALITION IN
DECEMBER, AND I KNOW THE N.A.W. IS VERY ACTIVE IN
SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS TO BRING DOWN THE DEFICIT WITHOUT
NEW TAXES. To DIRK AND VICK [KANNERS, OUTGOING CHAIRMAN
OF N.A.W.], I WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR YOUR GOOD WORK -- AND
7
I HOPE THAT I CAN COUNT ON THE SUPPORT OF YOUR
CHAIRMAN-ELECT, ERNIE HODAS.
OUR WORK IS CUT OUT FOR US. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT,
AND I ENJOYED SEEING YOU TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
###
2nd Draft
( (Grant) )
January 30, 1989
8 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: MEETING WITH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF WHOLESALER-DISTRIBUTORS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1989
It's great to be here today, seeing so many of you again.
( (But there is one man I haven't run into yet -- has anybody seen
the pork rind distributor around?
You see, I'd like to ask him about getting into the business
myself -- I've got enough pork rinds now to last me to the year
2000.) )
I remember, very well, the day I first addressed the NAW
Annual Meeting in San Juan ten years ago. That was the same day
the first George Bush for President Exploratory Committee was
formed. In fact, the NAW and the NAW PAC were the first business
groups to endorse my candidacy. My relationship with you has
involved many "firsts" -- and now today you are the first
business group I've met with as President.
Back in 1981, I was in the East Room at a reception. Dirk
[Van Dongen, NAW President] came up to me and said, "Mr. Vice
President, it's great to see you in the White House." Well,
today I can say, it's great to see all of you in the White
House.
As I look at some of the faces in this room, I know we have
here the top leadership of the wholesale distribution industry.
You know I've been talking lately about ethics -- and the need
for highest standards both in and out of government. I'm a big
believer in leadership by example. And I believe the example you
set will go a long way in terms of ensuring an honest and ethical
business community --- from top to bottom.
I appreciate the support you've given me over the years, and
now we're facing the issues that matter most to us -- reducing
the deficit, keeping taxes down, sustaining economic growth and
expanding economic opportunities. These are the issues that will
be at the forefront early on, and I look forward to working with
you on them.
I understand you just heard from Secretary Dole, and I know
she can count on you as my Administration moves ahead on these
issues.
We've got to make sure no one breaks the back of this
economic recovery that we've got going for over six years now.
I'm excited that we have Nick Calio, the former Senior Vice
President of the NAW, on board here at the White House in
Legislative Affairs to help on that front. He'll be working with
Congress to keep the economic expansion rolling and keep the hand
of government out of our back pockets.
One final note: I met with the COFIRE Coalition in December,
and I know the NAW is very active in supporting our efforts to
bring down the deficit without new taxes. To Dirk and Vick
[Kanners, outgoing Chairman of NAW], I want to say thanks for
your good work -- and I hope that I can count on the support of
your Chairman-elect, Ernie Hodas.
Our work is cut out for us. I look forward to it, and I
enjoyed seeing you today. Thank you very much.
VALIS ASSOCIATES
December 27, 1988
The Honorable David Demarest
Office of the President Elect
1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20270
Dear Dave:
I enclose a copy of my letter to Jim Cicconi, which I believe
is self-explanatory. As you can see, I am requesting that the
President address the 200 elected officers of the National
Association of Wholesaler-Distributors on Wednesday, February 1,
1989, at approximately 3 - 4:30 p.m. in room 450 of the Old
Executive Office Building. Whether or not the President is
available, I am trying to arrange a program featuring Elizabeth
Dole, Dick Darman and John Sununu.
NAW was the first business PAC to formally endorse George
Bush for President (see July 15 NAW Report), and Dirk Van Dongen
and Nick Calio have excellent ties with Lee Atwater, Rich Bond
and most of the high Bush command. I am certain they will
endorse this project.
More important, this will be a great outreach opportunity to
leaders of the 120 trade associations that comprise the NAW.
Virtually the entire power structure of the nationwide
wholesaler/distributor infrastructure will be present. It will
be an "invitation only" opportunity for the presidents and
executive directors of these associations.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me, or to
check with Cicconi, Atwater, Bond or Elizabeth Dole. They will
confirm what staunch allies the NAW members are. With best
wishes.
Sincerely,
Wayne
Wayne H. Valis
Encl.
1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Suite 1201
Washington, D.C. 20006
202 833-5055
VALIS ASSOCIATES
December 27, 1988
The Honorable Elizabeth H. Dole
Secretary-Designate, Department of Labor
Union Pacific
Columbia Square
555 13th Street, N.W., Suite 450 West
Washington, D.C. 20004
Dear Elizabeth:
First, congratulations on your appointment. The President
couldn't have made a better pick. You will do an outstanding job
in bridging the gulfs among the Bush Administration, labor and
the business community. As you well know, you will be facing
many contentious issues that will be highly visible. As always,
I am only too happy to be of assistance to you.
Second, I will be sending two or three resumes to you via
Bob Davis. I will only forward the resumes of outstanding
individuals who combine excellent character, loyalty, political
savvy and honesty. I also may have some information on the
political coalitions that deal with labor issues, which I will
forward via Bob.
Finally, I would like to request a favor of you for our
friend Dirk Van Dongen. Dirk and NAW are conducting their Annual
Meeting in Washington (for the first time) on Wednesday, February
1, 1989. He has arranged a wonderful program, with stars from
the worlds of business, the media and the Congress.
Unfortunately, there is a hole in his program during the
afternoon (approximately 3 - 5 p.m.) which was to be "Policies
and Priorities of the New Administration", and has been
advertized as "representatives of the new administration".
As you can see from my enclosed letters to Jim Cicconi and
Dave Demarest, I am requesting, for NAW, an EOB 450 briefing from
3 - 4 p.m. for the 200 elected heads of the 120 associations that
comprise the NAW and its Board. I am asking you to address this
group, as well as to assist in scheduling the briefing,
regardless of your availability. I am also asking Jim and Dave
to assist in getting President Bush, Dick Darman and John Sununu
to appear. Dirk has had some discussions with Jim Cicconi on
this already.
You know Dirk's leadership role with the business community,
his organization's early endorsement (in July) of George Bush
(see attached), and the importance of NAW's active support to the
success of the new Administration. I will expend whatever
efforts are necessary to help my friend make his first Washington
Annual Meeting a rousing success. I hope you will be able to
assist us in this and I look forward to discussing this with you
or a member of your staff.
1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Suite 1201
Washington, D.C. 20006
202 833-5055
Elizabeth Dole
-2-
December 27, 1988
Thanks once again for the courtesy of your pre-Christmas
phone call. Your kindness, thoughtfulness and friendship are
appreciated more than you can possibly know. I hope to repay
them in some small measure during the next several decades of
what I hope will be our productive and continuing friendship.
As ever,
Wayni
Wayne H. Valis
Encl.
Thoughs again!
VALIS ASSOCIATES
December 27, 1988
The Honorable James W. Cicconi
Office of the Secretary Designate
Department of State
S-TT Room 1208A
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Jim:
As you know, Dirk Van Dongen and the National Association
of Wholesaler-Distributors, for the first time, is conducting
its 1989 annual meeting in Washington, DC (instead of at a
warm-weather resort, as is their custom). They have a wonderful
program arranged with heavyweights from the Congress and the
media. However, there is a hole in their program on Wednesday,
February 1 in the afternoon (3 - 5 p.m.). This is scheduled to
be the session on "Policies and Priorities of the New
Administration" and is advertised to the NAW leadership as
"representatives of the new administration". At the moment,
due to the normal vagaries of the transition, no representatives
of the Bush Administration have been scheduled. Time flies and
Dirk now needs to move to schedule this program.
I am asking your assistance in scheduling room 450 of the
Old EOB from approximately 3 - 4 p.m. to brief the elected
officers of the 120 associations that comprise NAW. This
"invitation only" event would be a great outreach opportunity to
directly address the power structure of the nationwide
wholesaler-distributor infrastructure. I propose a power packed
lineup that would include President Bush, Secretary Dole,
Director Darman and Chief of Staff Sununu. The entire event
would be about an hour long. Should the President not be
available, I would respectfully suggest going ahead with the
program and these guests.
I need not belabor points by reminding you of the political
importance of NAW, or the fact that NAW was the first business
PAC to endorse George Bush for President (see enclosures). You
know Dirk and his efforts on behalf of tax, budget and virtually
all this Administration's domestic policy agenda. These efforts
will continue in spades during the Bush Administration, and this
would be a wonderful opportunity to ask for NAW's continued
support of the President's domestic policy agenda. With Dirk's
entire power structure in attendance, I hope that you can use
your good offices to arrange President Bush's call to action to
them.
1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Suite 1201
Washington, D.C. 20006
202 833-5055
J. Cicconi
-2-
December 27, 1988
I am certain that Lee Atwater, Rich Bond, Elizabeth Dole,
Dick Darman and many others would endorse this project. Dirk is
one of the real leaders in the Washington business community and
his organization is a key one. I am willing to go to the mat on
this and expend whatever political capital is necessary. Please
let me know what I can do to help get this scheduled.
Thanking you in advance for your courtesy and consideration,
I am,
As ever,
Wayne
Wayne H. Valis
Encl.
15r Draft
((Grant))
January 27, 1989
8:00 a.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: MEETING WITH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF WHOLESALER-DISTRIBUTORS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1989
-
It's great to be here today, seeing so many of you again.
(( But there is one man I haven't run into yet -- has anybody
seen the pork rind distributor around?
You see, I'd like to ask him about getting into the business
myself -- I've got enough pork rinds now to last me to the year
2000. ))
I remember, very well, the day I first addressed the NAW
Annual Meeting in San Juan ten years ago. That was the same day
the first George Bush for President Exploratory Committee was
formed. In fact, the NAW and the NAW PAC were the first business
groups to endorse my candidacy. My relationship with you has
involved many "firsts" -- and now today you are the first
business group I've met with as President.
Back in 1981 after we won that important vote on Gramm Latta
-- with the help of the NAW -- I was in the East Room at a
reception
congratulating our supporters. Dirk [Van Dongen, NAW President]
came up to me during the reception and said, "Mr. Vice President,
it's great to see you in the White House." Well, today I can
say, it's great to see all of you in the White House."
As I look at some of the faces in this room, I know we have
here the top leadership of the wholesale distribution industry.
I appreciate the support you've given me over the years, and I
now we've facing the
look forward to working with you on the issues that matter to us
sustaining econ
reducing the deficit, keeping taxes down, fighting mandated
growth, and and Expanding toward ECOM opportunities
benefits, working product liability reform. These are
I look forward
issues that will be at the forefront early on, and we-need-your
to working with you on them
help -- especially at the grassroots leyel from the very
start.
[Insert] 3
just heard from
[I understand you met earlier this afternoon with Dick
she
Darman and Secretary Dole, and I know -I can count on the you
industry's support as my Administration prepares to move ahead on
these issues.]
We've got to make sure no one breaks the back of this
economic recovery that we've got going for over six years now.
I'm excited that we have Nick Calio, the former Senior Vice
President of the NAW, on board here at the White House in
Legislative Affairs to help on that front. He'll be working with
Congress to keep the economic expansion rolling and keep the hand
of government out of our back pockets.
One final note: I met with the COFIRE Coalition in
suppo. Bno
December, and I know the NAW is very active in this as we work to
to is ing down the af w/o new taxes
keep taxes down. To Dirk and Vick [Kanners, outgoing Chairman of
NAW], I want to say thanks for your good work -- and I hope that
I can count on the support of your Chairman-elect, Ernie Hodas.
Our work is cut out for us. I look forward to it, and I
enjoyed seeing you today. Thank you very much.
You know I've been speaking vately of ethics - and the
need for the highest s10@darcz both in and out
of government. I'm a big believer in leaders mp
by ex simple And I believe the example you set
will go a long way in leading workers to a more life. ethical for
This is samething very important to me and I would like it to be Fout
way of
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 30, 1989
MEMORANDUM FOR CHRISS WINSTON
DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
FOR COMMUNICATIONS
FROM:
C. BOYDEN GRAY CR9
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT:
Presidential Remarks: Meeting With National
Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
Counsel's office has reviewed the above-referenced Presidential
remarks, and we believe that portions do not strike an
appropriate Presidential tone. We are particularly concerned
that these campaign-style remarks, and particularly the reference
to hiring a former NAW officer, will be viewed as a promise to
benefit NAW as a trade-off for their past and future support. We
believe this sends the wrong signal to this and other groups.
We are also concerned that praising the NAW for its work in
support of previous legislation and the call for them to engage
in grassroots lobbying on behalf of future initiatives raises
the "anti-lobbying" restrictions in 18 U.S.C. § 1913 and various
appropriations acts. We are reviewing these restrictions as they
relate to the President's own particular interests in separation-
of-powers issues, but believe that we should take a conservative
approach until the results of that review are ready.
CC: James W. Cicconi
001197
Document No.
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
1/27/89
1/30/89 NOON
DATE:
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: MEETING WITH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
SUBJECT:
WHOLESALER-DISTRIBUTORS
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
STUDDERT
BATES
UNTERMEYER
BREEDEN
WINSTON
CARD
CICCONI
DEMAREST
FITZWATER
GRAY
HAGIN
REMARKS:
Please forward your comments directly to Chriss Winston, x2930,
Rm. 122, with an info copy to my office, by noon on Monday,
January 30, 1989. Thank you.
RESPONSE:
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
((Grant))
January 27, 1989
8:00 a.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: MEETING WITH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF WHOLESALER-DISTRIBUTORS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1989
It's great to be here today, seeing so many of you again.
(( But there is one man I haven't run into yet -- has anybody
seen the pork rind distributor around?
You see, I'd like to ask him about getting into the business
myself -- I've got enough pork rinds now to last me to the year
2000. ))
I remember, very well, the day I first addressed the NAW
Annual Meeting in San Juan ten years ago. That was the same day
the first George Bush for President Exploratory Committee was
formed. In fact, the NAW and the NAW PAC were the first business
groups to endorse my candidacy. My relationship with you has
involved many "firsts" -- and now today you are the first
business group I've met with as President.
Back in 1981 after we won that important vote on Gramm Latta
-- with the help of the NAW -- I was in the East Room
congratulating our supporters. Dirk [Van Dongen, NAW President]
came up to me during the reception and said, "Mr. Vice President,
it's great to see you in the White House." Well, today I can
say, it's great to see all of you in the White House."
As I look at some of the faces in this room, I know we have
here the top leadership of the wholesale distribution industry.
I appreciate the support you've given me over the years, and I
look forward to working with you on the issues that matter to us
-- reducing the deficit, keeping taxes down, fighting mandated
benefits, and working toward product liability reform. These are
issues that will be at the forefront early on, and we need your
help -- especially at the grassroots level -- from the very
start.
[I understand you met earlier this afternoon with Dick
Darman and Secretary Dole, and I know I can count on the
industry's support as my Administration prepares to move ahead on
these issues.]
We've got to make sure no one breaks the back of this
economic recovery that we've got going for over six years now.
I'm excited that we have Nick Calio, the former Senior Vice
President of the NAW, on board here at the White House in
Legislative Affairs to help on that front. He'll be working with
Congress to keep the economic expansion rolling and keep the hand
of government out of our back pockets.
One final note: I met with the COFIRE Coalition in
December, and I know the NAW is very active in this as we work to
keep taxes down. To Dirk and Vick [Kanners, outgoing Chairman of
NAW], I want to say thanks for your good work -- and I hope that
I can count on the support of your Chairman-elect, Ernie Hodas.
Our work is cut out for us. I look forward to it, and I
enjoyed seeing you today. Thank you very much.