    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [June 28, 1991]
    [Pages 735-737]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters Aboard Air Force One
    June 28, 1991

        The President. Well, look at it this way, it's Friday. T.G. it's
    Friday. I'm ready to get out of there, I'll tell you.

    Resignation of Supreme Court Associate Justice Marshall

        Q. Did you watch Justice Marshall--did you watch the news conference
    on TV?
        The President. No. No, I didn't see it. What did he say?
        Q. He basically said that you should pick the best person for the
    job and race wouldn't be a factor. Do you agree?
        The President. Well, I'm going to try and do exactly that. And I
    saluted him yesterday. I didn't see the press conference, but I want to
    go for excellence, and I want to keep in mind representation of all
    Americans. But I would agree with him if that's what he said. Again, I
    didn't hear it, so I'd have to be careful.
        Q. Do you feel pressured, Mr. President?
        The President. I don't feel pressured at all. I want to move soon,
    though. I feel pressure to get this matter, get our nomination, up to
    the Senate as soon as possible. So, I would hope to have it resolved in
    a very few days.
        Q. Is the process starting all over, sir, or are you going to pick
    up from the last time?
        The President. No. As you know, we went through a screening process
    earlier on at the time the vacancy came forward that was filled by Judge
    Souter. So, the process didn't have to start from scratch, square one.
    That's not to say that other names are not being considered. But in
    anticipation, we always try to keep a current look at these matters. Who
    knows what's going to happen?
        Q. Sir, would you like to be able to name a black to this seat?
        The President. I'd like to just weigh all the options and go for the
    best qualified candidate.
        Q. Do you have a short list in your mind, sir?
        The President. Fairly short.
        Q. What do you mean by keeping in mind representation of all
    Americans?
        The President. Somebody that will be seen as keeping with the
    judicial philosophy that I've always expounded in terms of
    interpretation, not legislation. Somebody that is very broad-minded on
    issues.
        Q. Sir, some people are saying the decision is very near; indeed,
    you have already made it.
        The President. No, I've not already made it. And it is near, but
    I've not made it.
        Q. How short a list do you have?
        The President. Well, I can't help you with

    [[Page 736]]

    that.
        Q. Is there any chance you'll name----
        The President. A handful of names.
        Q. Is there any chance you'll name someone before you return back to
    Washington?
        The President. I wouldn't say there's any decision to do that, but I
    don't know. I'd have to hedge on that because I just don't know the
    answer to that. If I said yes, why, then you'd anticipate it.
        Q.  Why are you so eager to----
        The President. Because it's better. As long as you're as close as we
    are, it's better to get the choice made so you don't get a lot of
    needless lobbying and pressure. There's plenty of pressure on it anyway,
    but I mean, I don't want a lot of needless putting forward of names that
    might not be considered--good people, I might add. But we've narrowed it
    down so that we're not looking for 20 new suggestions. And I think if we
    get people's hopes up or to have some advocate of a certain person and
    then not have that person seriously considered is not fair. It's not
    fair to the individual.
        Q. Can you tell us anything about the traditional philosophy you're
    looking for?
        The President. No, just the definition, the broad definition that
    I've always adhered to or that I've advocated, that I ran for President
    on. I'm not about to change my view on that.
        Q. Is there a quota system on the Courts?
        The President. I don't think so. I don't think there's a quota
    system on the Courts, nor do I think there should be a quota system on
    the Courts. It's a good question, and I don't think the appointment of a
    minority or one who represents a so-called majority should be viewed as
    quotas one way or the other.

    Iraq

        Q. How concerned are you, sir, about reports of Iraq fighting with--
    --
        The President. I'm very concerned. I understand the Secretary-
    General had a press conference on this expressing the concern of the
    United Nations, generally. And if, again, this is represented to me that
    he condemned these actions, why, clearly, we're in that view. But we've
    got some serious work now ahead of us--diplomatic, diplomatic process
    has to start. We can't, from a U.S. standpoint, permit this brutal bully
    to go back on what was a solemn agreement and to threaten people that
    are there under U.N. jurisdiction. And that's exactly what he appears to
    have done.
        The man has no shame. And he goes to these extraordinary ends, and I
    think world opinion will mount fast against him on this issue. I mean,
    shooting in the air to scare off people sanctioned by the United Nations
    who are there to expose what this man has done. I mean, I don't think
    the world will support this at all, anybody. The United States certainly
    won't. So, now the question is, what do you do about it? Deliberately
    take time to work the diplomacy, and this is under the auspices of two
    United Nations resolutions. And I think we need to be sure that we start
    immediate consultation at the U.N.
        And then don't press me what I'll do beyond that because I'm not
    prepared to say, not prepared to say what we'll do.
        Q. I just wonder whether the coalition might feel that it's entitled
    under certain circumstances, this time with the U.N. sanction of these
    actions, to take military action.
        The President. Well, I think some could argue that the U.N.
    resolutions have already spoken on all means necessary, 678 having been
    incorporated into a more recent resolution. So, that's the way I'd
    answer that.
        Q. Are you satisfied that, in fact, he has violated the cease-fire--
    --
        The President. Yes, I'm totally satisfied of that. I've seen
    incontrovertible evidence to this effect, incontrovertible. Unarguable.
    Clear.
        Q. Beyond just simply not letting people in----
        The President. Oh, yes, absolutely. We shared that information with
    the several different countries.
        I've got to run.
        Q. What kind of things----
        The President. A wide array.

                        Note: The exchange took place at 12:01 p.m. while
                            the President was en route from Washington, DC,
                            to Kennebunkport, ME. In his responses,
                            President Bush referred to Thurgood Marshall and
                            David H. Souter, Associate Justices of the
                            Supreme Court;

    [[Page 737]]

                            United Nations Secretary-General Javier Perez de
                            Cuellar de la Guerra; and President Saddam
                            Hussein of Iraq. A tape was not available for
                            verification of the content ot this exchange.