    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [March 29, 1991]
    [Page 318]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters on the Death of Lee Atwater
    March 29, 1991

        The President. Happy Easter, everybody.
        Q. Good morning.
        The President. Good morning. Happy holidays.
        Q. Mr. President, can you share your thoughts about Lee Atwater?
        The President. Well, I will make a comment on that because I'm very
    saddened. Barbara and I are heartsick about it. Our whole family is. Lee
    was a very close friend to my sons and daughter as well as to Barbara
    and me. He suffered a lot. But I guess what I'd like to say is that we
    extend our love and best wishes to his family and, on the professional
    side, say that I was very proud to have him at my side as I campaigned
    for the Presidency and, after I became President, to have him as head of
    the Republican National Committee. He was doing a superb job until he
    was stricken by this brain tumor.
        But I think now it's sadness and respect and giving the man credit
    for the job he did. He practiced the art of politics with zeal and
    vigor. And I was very proud of him, proud to serve with him.
        Q. What did you make of his Life magazine apology to Michael
    Dukakis?
        The President. Well, I found that very interesting and very
    enlarging. And I think, as he took stock of his life, he wanted to make
    things right, heal some wounds; and that was a very noble thing. And I
    salute him in death as I did in life.
        This is about a friend of ours who died today, who was head of our
    party.
        Q. ----in Moscow, Mr. President?
        The President. You want to turn this into a full-scale press
    conference? I've got to hear--I've got to learn something from our guest
    here.
        See how it works out. That's an internal affair.
        Q. What does ``seven'' mean?
        The President. What?
        Q. Your answer, ``seven''?
        The President. [Laughter] That's one more than six. [Laughter]
        Q. Is this from your CIA days?
        The President. That means I don't want to answer. What was the
    question--then I'll tell you what the answer means. [Laughter]

                        Note: The exchange began at 10:38 a.m. in the Oval
                            Office at the White House, prior to a meeting
                            with President Arnold Ruutel of Estonia. H. Lee
                            Atwater was former chairman of the Republican
                            National Committee, and Michael Dukakis was the
                            1988 Democratic Presidential candidate. Earlier
                            that morning, President Bush had responded to a
                            reporter's question on the situation in Iraq by
                            saying, ``Seven.'' A tape was not available for
                            verification of the content of this
                            exchange.