    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [January 25, 1991]
    [Pages 63-65]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter Accepting the Resignation of Clayton K. Yeutter as Secretary of
    Agriculture
    January 25, 1991

    Dear Clayton:
        It is with deep regret that I accept your resignation as Secretary
    of Agriculture, effective March 1, 1991, although I am delighted that
    you will continue to be a part of my team as Chairman of the Republican
    Party. You have been an outstanding Secretary and an extraordinarily
    effective and productive member of my Administration.
        As Secretary of Agriculture, you have pursued an agenda that will
    guarantee America's farmers continue to be second to none. Our farmers
    export one-third of all they produce, and you have worked tirelessly
    toward our mutual goal of further opening the world's markets to
    increase their opportunities in global trade.
        The success of American agriculture is the envy of the world. It is,
    therefore, fitting and commendable that you and the Department of
    Agriculture have taken a leading and critical role in assisting Eastern
    Europe in its transition to a market-oriented economy.
        I commend you for your tremendous effort in successfully negotiating
    the 1990 Farm Bill of which we can both be proud. It is a market-
    oriented bill that keeps our farmers competitive, keeps our rural areas
    environmentally sound, and lets farmers make more of their own
    production decisions. It also encourages crucial agricultural research
    and ensures a safe and wholesome food supply for all Americans.
        I am also grateful for your many other important accomplishments,
    including supporting the development of alternative fuels; encouraging
    rural economic development; increasing opportunities for minorities and
    women at USDA; boosting the Women, Infants and Children and other food
    programs for those in need; and bringing balance and good common sense
    to a number of delicate food safety and environmental issues.
        Confident of your tremendous ability and grateful for your service
    to our country, I am extremely pleased to know that you will assume the
    chairmanship of our great Party. I know the future of the Party is
    secure with your strong, capable leadership. Barbara and I wish you and
    Jeanne the very best as we continue to work together in meeting the
    great challenges that lie ahead.
        Warmest personal regards.
        Sincerely,

                                                                 George Bush

    Dear Mr. President:
        At this time I respectfully submit my resignation as Secretary of
    Agriculture, effective March 1, 1991, so that I may assume the
    chairmanship of the Republican National Committee.

    [[Page 64]]

        During my service to you over the past two years my admiration for
    you and my respect for your extraordinary leadership and your exemplary
    human traits have only grown. These traits have all been vividly
    illustrated in the recent Persian Gulf crisis, which you have handled so
    admirably.
        You have always encouraged your cabinet to pursue the challenges
    that most affect the American people. America's farmers have their share
    of challenges, but because of the groundwork laid by your market
    oriented policies, they are now better able to meet the future with
    optimism. You recognized the fundamental reforms needed in global
    agricultural trade when you asked me to serve as your Secretary of
    Agriculture. All of American agriculture is now poised to capitalize on
    these reforms when they come to fruition in the Uruguay Round and other
    negotiations. Mr. President, we are deeply grateful for your unwavering
    support in these efforts.
        One of our major domestic accomplishments, achieved in cooperation
    with the Senate and House Agriculture Committees, was the 1990 Farm
    Bill, for it will guide our agricultural policies for the next 5 years.
    No farm bill in memory has been written under such complex
    circumstances. Not only was it necessary to project the needs of
    American agriculture over the ensuing 5 years, but we had to do so in
    the context of demanding budget realities, increasing global
    competition, heightened trade disputes, and the need for farmers to
    expand their roles as stewards of the environment. What emerged is not a
    perfect piece of legislation, but it is certainly a respectable work
    product that balances well innumerable sensitive and divergent
    interests.
        The 1990 Farm Bill continues the market oriented approach of the
    1985 Act through aggressive export assistance programs, increased
    research efforts, and added production flexibility for farmers. The new
    act also encourages tree plantings through your America the Beautiful
    initiative, and fosters our domestic food assistance programs that help
    so many needy Americans.
        Reducing the federal budget deficit will bring benefits to all
    Americans, and particularly our nation's farmers. Although income
    supports will be reduced under the 1990 Deficit Control Act, our farmers
    will benefit greatly from the resulting lower interest rates and reduced
    inflation. In the long run they'll be better off, and so will future
    generations of farm families.
        You have guided American foreign policy through two of the most
    tumultuous years in world history. The incredible changes in Eastern
    Europe have been fostered by your courageous and straight-forward
    approach, and we at USDA have pursued a facilitating role in the
    transition. From the day you asked that I lead a Presidential mission to
    Poland, we have sought to assist the region by providing the food,
    technical assistance, and training necessary to accomplish agricultural
    development and privatization.
        On the home front, we have initiated an aggressive effort to expand
    opportunities for women, minorities and the disabled here at the
    Department of Agriculture. We now have in place a Workforce Diversity
    Program which will ensure that employees of the Department of
    Agriculture more closely reflect the composition of American society.
    And we've dramatically expanded our summer internship program for
    minority students.
        From a managerial standpoint, we have developed and are implementing
    an Electronic Benefits Transfer Program which will improve the integrity
    and efficiency of our domestic food assistance programs, and we are
    upgrading our technology at the National Finance Center which services
    not only our payroll but many other agencies as well. We've become a lot
    more sophisticated everywhere these past 2 years.
        Your Administration has faced a plethora of environmental
    challenges. Agriculture has been at the center of many of them, from
    wetlands to water quality, global change, and the protection of
    endangered species. We have sought to balance interests in this very
    sensitive area in a fair and rational way, and I believe we have done
    so.
        Recognizing the economic and demographic hardships facing rural
    America, you created a Presidential Council on Rural Development. This
    Council met for the first time this week, and this group of outstanding
    leaders from business, government and academia will soon be providing
    you with

    [[Page 65]]

    their counsel on how best to ensure the future growth and viability of
    America's rural communities.
        There are many other accomplishments here at USDA, most of them not
    attributable to me but to the fine team we've assembled here. That team
    exemplifies competence, and they'll continue to serve you well after my
    departure. From increasing our funding of research in the areas of food
    safety, the environment, and U.S. competitiveness, to assisting youth at
    risk in society as a whole, we have been motivated and guided by your
    leadership.
        It has been a high privilege to have served you and the American
    people as Secretary of Agriculture. I now look forward with enthusiasm
    to the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead for the chairman of
    the Republican party.
        Sincerely,

                                                                     Clayton

                                                             Clayton Yeutter