[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[January 24, 1991]
[Page 62]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters
January 24, 1991

Meeting With Republican Leaders

    Q. Mr. President, do you subscribe to Mr. Yeutter's suggestion that 
the vote against the war resolution be an issue in the next election?
    The President. We're here today to talk about a wide array of 
issues. This is my first meeting, formal meeting, with the Republican 
leadership. We've been in touch on the Hill, obviously, because of the 
Gulf, with the Democrats and Republicans. But we're moving forward now 
towards a new domestic agenda that's going to require a lot of 
legislation, and that's what the subject matter here is. We will have a 
briefing on the number one issue of the day, the Gulf crisis. We'll 
probably be talking about events inside the Soviet Union that concern 
all of us, Democrats and Republican alike. And then we'll focus in on 
the domestic agenda. And that's the last question I'll answer.
    Thank you all very much.
    Secretary Yeutter. And you need a little more precision on what Mr. 
Yeutter said. [Laughter]
    Q. What did you say?
    Secretary Yeutter. We'll tell you about that later.
    Q. ----that you said it, Mr. Yeutter. Is that a not--is he 
misquoting you, sir?
    Secretary Yeutter. I will have more to say on that 4 weeks from now.
    Q. Why wait that long?
    Q. Four weeks?
    Q. Truth should be told immediately.

                    Note: This exchange began at 10:05 a.m. in the 
                        Cabinet Room at the White House. Secretary of 
                        Agriculture Clayton K. Yeutter was nominated to 
                        be chairman of the Republican National 
                        Committee. A tape was not available for 
                        verification of the content of this exchange.