[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[June 4, 1991]
[Pages 603-604]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 603]]


Remarks Announcing the Nomination of Robert Strauss To Be United States 
Ambassador to the Soviet Union
June 4, 1991

    The President. Let me just say that I am delighted to announce my 
intention to nominate an old friend and an experienced diplomat, Robert 
Strauss, to be our next Ambassador to the Soviet Union.
    Bob Strauss has taken on difficult and delicate assignments in the 
past for Presidents of both parties. I know that he's the right man to 
represent the United States in this fantastic period of change in the 
Soviet Union. And at this moment, we are considering any number of ideas 
to foster democratic reform, to foster economic change in the Soviet 
Union. And at the same time, the status of East-West relations is being 
redefined by the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe and by President 
Gorbachev.
    We have an important role in leading and defining a new world order 
in which the United States and the Soviet Union continue to work 
cooperatively for the betterment of mankind. And I frankly can think of 
nobody, no one, more qualified or more talented to bring to this 
representation what we need: contacts with high officials, a knowledge 
of America, a guarantee that two ships--big ships, important ships--
won't pass in the night for lack of understanding. And I'm very proud 
that he will be our representative to the Soviet Union during this 
important, I would say, critical period.
    And Bob, I just can't tell you how grateful I am to you and I ought 
to say to Helen, too, your wife, for being willing to undertake this 
important assignment. It's a wonderful thing for our country. And I am 
confident that this appointment will be well-received by your many 
friends on both sides of the aisle of the United States Senate, of the 
Congress, and certainly by the American people. So, thank you for 
suiting up once again, and I believe it's a wonderful thing for the 
United States. Thank you for being willing to do this.
    Now, please say a word, if you will. And then we'll get the 
Secretary.
    Mr. Strauss. I have no statement to make other than, a week ago if 
anyone had told me I would be standing here, I would have thought they 
were crazy. I spent the last several days in consultation with the 
President and with the Secretary of State and with Helen Strauss, I 
might add. And I have concluded that if there is a role I can play, I'm 
delighted to play it with the Secretary of State and with this 
President.
    I enter this administration as a Democrat, as all of you know. It's 
a nonpolitical appointment, if ever there was one and could be one, and 
I certainly will come out a Democrat. And in the meantime, I'll do my 
damnedest, Mr. President, to represent this nation as you and the 
Secretary would want me to.
    I'll take a question or two later on after the Secretary says 
something, if you like.
    Secretary Baker. Mr. President, Ambassador Strauss, let me simply 
echo, Mr. President, what you've said with respect to this appointment. 
We are extraordinarily pleased that Ambassador Strauss is willing to 
undertake this responsibility. It is a real plus for America. It's a 
plus for the American people. It is a plus, a big plus, for the 
developing relationship and the emerging and continually positively 
forward-moving relationship between the United States and the Soviet 
Union.
    The President. Bob, thank you. And I have an 11:15 a.m., but if you 
want to fire a couple of questions at----
    Q. Mr. President, are we going to have a summit at the end of the 
month?
    Q. Mr. President, are you going to Moscow at the end of the month?
    The President. We're talking about that all in the next couple of 
days here. I have no comments on any of these stories right now. I want 
to keep the focus on this wonderful new appointment. And Bob will take 
some questions. And I don't know whether--Jim, do you want to stay with 
him?

                    Note: The President spoke at 11:07 a.m. in the Rose 
                        Garden at the White House. In his

[[Page 604]]

                        remarks, he referred to President Mikhail 
                        Gorbachev of the Soviet Union; Mr. Strauss' 
                        wife, Helen; and Secretary of State James A. 
                        Baker III. Following the President's remarks, 
                        Mr. Strauss, who was a former U.S. Trade 
                        Representative, responded to questions from the 
                        press.