    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [June 19, 1991]
    [Pages 694-696]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters
    June 19, 1991

    Chief of Staff's Travel

        Q. Mr. President, are you angry at the Chief of Staff?
        The President. No.
        Q. The papers said that you're ready to take some action.
        The President. Well, I've looked into this matter and, given the
    circumstances, I think it was appropriate. We had a lot of very
    important negotiation on legislation. We have a very important speech
    that needed fine-tuning. He knew I wasn't happy with that. He made
    plenty of phone calls. You know, I recognize, and I think the Governor
    does, there's an appearance problem. But when you look at the facts
    surrounding this particular trip, this beating that he's taken is
    unwarranted in my view. And I will say it's special for reasons I've
    outlined to you. But nobody likes the appearance of impropriety. On the
    other hand, I think fairness dictates you ought to look at the
    particular fact about it. And so, that's my view. In fact, I back him up
    on this----
        Q. Have you encouraged him to exercise more caution on the
    appearance question?
        The President. I think when you have an appearance problem, I think
    all of us would agree you want to try to avoid it as much as possible,
    and I think all of us have. But you shouldn't be judged by appearance;
    you ought to be judged by the fact. And so, that's what I'm saying here.
    And there's plenty of reason that this was done, and it doesn't set a
    precedent. It doesn't say anybody that has access to a car can go
    anyplace anyone wants at any time. The Governor would be the first to
    say that.
        So, that's the way I look at it. And I'd say it's special, and I've
    looked at the facts. And I feel very comfortable with it----
        Q. Have you discussed this with him personally?
        The President. Of course, I did. We discussed it----
        Q. Do you think he's being victimized?
        The President. Well, can I rephrase your question?
        Q. Okay.
        The President. Do I think there's a piling on----
        Q. Do you think he's being targeted?
        The President. Do you think there's a piling-on syndrome out there?
    Yes, I do. And you can interpret that one any way you want to.
        Q. You got anyone in mind? [Laughter]
        The President. So far, the UPI is clean as what they call a hound's
    tooth--[laughter]. Don't ask me about----
        Q. Those are the most deadly words in history. [Laughter] You're
    1,000 percent behind him, aren't you? [Laughter]
        Q. Is the Governor's job safe, sir?
        The President. Yes. And he's doing a first-class job, and I think
    the people around this table would attest to that. We've done well.
    We've got a good domestic agenda. And I think the American people are
    beginning to understand it.
        The problem is, to get that message out, you've got to beat down a
    bad domestic agenda first because we don't have the proper numbers. And
    so, we've got a good program. And as soon as you all leave, which I know
    will be very soon, we will have a chance to discuss--[laughter]--that's
    one of the things we're going to discuss today, is where we stand on
    some of this

    [[Page 695]]

    important legislation.
        I don't think I need to tell you all again I want a civil rights
    bill, and I don't want a quota bill. I think the American people want a
    civil rights bill, and they don't want a quota bill. And that's one of
    the things that John Sununu and Boyden and others around here are
    working closely with the Congress on. The transportation bill--we've got
    a lot of things to discuss--the crime bill. We've got a good domestic
    agenda.
        And why some people don't understand that, I don't know. I can
    understand the Democrats not understanding it because, very candidly,
    they've got a different domestic agenda. It happens to be a bad domestic
    agenda, but nevertheless it seems to dominate. We're asked to sing from
    their music, and I'm not going to do that. We haven't in the past, and
    we're not going to do it now.
        So, there's a lot going on, and I say that John Sununu's been right
    in the heart of a lot of this serious negotiation in attempting to get
    things done, and I'm very grateful to him for that.

    Civil Rights Legislation

        Q. Do you like the Danforth compromise, sir, on civil rights?
        The President. Well, we've got some reservations, but I like the
    fact he's trying, and I like the fact other Senators are working with
    him, because Republicans want a civil rights bill that eliminates, as
    best a bill can, discrimination in the workplace. I will repeat: They
    don't want a quota bill. And I, frankly, resent it when some of my
    political opponents up there--or put it this way, our political
    opponents up there charge me or charge Members of Congress who agree
    with me as having some kind of a political agenda here.
        I sent this bill up 2 years ago, or maybe year ago. Certainly when
    the winning political--the '92 political connotations. And so, I wish
    people would interpret things that way, because that's the way the facts
    are. But I haven't seen much defense of that, and I haven't seen much
    advocacy of our bill. I haven't seen anything that says what's wrong
    with our legislation.
        You know what my deal would be to these people? Look, if you really
    want an antidiscrimination civil rights bill and you're not happy with
    the President's, try it. Take four steps forward. You might not get all
    five you want; take four and see if it doesn't help eliminate
    discrimination in the workplace. But don't inflict the American people
    with something that inevitably, in the opinion of the Attorney General,
    our own counsel, and many of the staff people on the Hill lead to
    quotas. And that's what the issue is. And I get very hot under the
    collar when we get accused as a party or as an administration that
    doesn't care about the civil rights aspects of all of this.
        So, I'm going to keep talking about it and keep trying to be
    rational and keep trying to work with Congress constructively. We've got
    to do that to get a decent bill passed. But I am not going to sign a bad
    bill.
        Well, that's just one. We've got a lot of other issues that--I don't
    know how I got off on this diatribe here, because----
        Q. You don't think you're being political?
        The President. No. I will be when the time comes.
        Q. Not at all?
        The President. Well, yes. I was out at a fundraiser, and then I
    loved it. I was very political. But we're moving into that season. But
    do you think anytime people criticize the President that they're being
    political? Do you think anytime they accuse me of not having a domestic
    agenda up there? Do you think anytime they go off down to some salon
    retreat down here in Virginia and come out with diatribes against me
    that that's political? Sure it is, Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press
    International]. We're all grown up. But we know how it works. But we've
    tried to approach legislation, sometimes to the distress of some, in a
    very nonpartisan way because that's the only way I can get something
    done for this country. But I'm not going to yield on fundamental
    principle, and that is not political. That's something I believe.
        But sure, we're moving into a political season. I'm hearing all
    kinds of weird voices out of the past coming out criticizing on the
    other side. Not our side, of course. We don't do that kind of stuff.
        Q. Well, it's a two-way street, isn't it? And

    [[Page 696]]

    you'll put a label on every time when it isn't political?
        The President. Well, yes, label this as a nonpolitical conversation
    this morning, but you'll know. [Laughter] It's like Potter Stewart on
    pornography: You'll know it when you see it. [Laughter]
        Q. That's the quote.
        The President. Now, would you all kindly fold the--hooks? [Laughter]
    It's been a joy. Now, get the--[laughter].
        Q. We've got to go to work. [Laughter]
        The President. Does this count as a press conference?
        Q. No.
        Q. No.
        Q. Pretty close. [Laughter]
        The President. Marlin? [Laughter]
        Q. Pretty close, Marlin.
        Q. We were told the President wasn't going to talk at all.
    [Laughter]

                        Note: The exchange began at 10:03 a.m. in the
                            Cabinet Room at the White House, prior to a
                            meeting with the Republican congressional
                            leadership. The following persons were referred
                            to: John H. Sununu, Chief of Staff to the
                            President; C. Boyden Gray, Counsel to the
                            President; Senator John C. Danforth; Attorney
                            General Dick Thornburgh; Potter Stewart, former
                            Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; and
                            Marlin Fitzwater, Press Secretary to the
                            President. A tape was not available for
                            verification of the content of this exchange.