[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[January 25, 1991]
[Pages 63-65]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter Accepting the Resignation of Clayton K. Yeutter as Secretary of 
Agriculture
January 25, 1991

Dear Clayton:
    It is with deep regret that I accept your resignation as Secretary 
of Agriculture, effective March 1, 1991, although I am delighted that 
you will continue to be a part of my team as Chairman of the Republican 
Party. You have been an outstanding Secretary and an extraordinarily 
effective and productive member of my Administration.
    As Secretary of Agriculture, you have pursued an agenda that will 
guarantee America's farmers continue to be second to none. Our farmers 
export one-third of all they produce, and you have worked tirelessly 
toward our mutual goal of further opening the world's markets to 
increase their opportunities in global trade.
    The success of American agriculture is the envy of the world. It is, 
therefore, fitting and commendable that you and the Department of 
Agriculture have taken a leading and critical role in assisting Eastern 
Europe in its transition to a market-oriented economy.
    I commend you for your tremendous effort in successfully negotiating 
the 1990 Farm Bill of which we can both be proud. It is a market-
oriented bill that keeps our farmers competitive, keeps our rural areas 
environmentally sound, and lets farmers make more of their own 
production decisions. It also encourages crucial agricultural research 
and ensures a safe and wholesome food supply for all Americans.
    I am also grateful for your many other important accomplishments, 
including supporting the development of alternative fuels; encouraging 
rural economic development; increasing opportunities for minorities and 
women at USDA; boosting the Women, Infants and Children and other food 
programs for those in need; and bringing balance and good common sense 
to a number of delicate food safety and environmental issues.
    Confident of your tremendous ability and grateful for your service 
to our country, I am extremely pleased to know that you will assume the 
chairmanship of our great Party. I know the future of the Party is 
secure with your strong, capable leadership. Barbara and I wish you and 
Jeanne the very best as we continue to work together in meeting the 
great challenges that lie ahead.
    Warmest personal regards.
    Sincerely,

                                                             George Bush

                    
Dear Mr. President:
    At this time I respectfully submit my resignation as Secretary of 
Agriculture, effective March 1, 1991, so that I may assume the 
chairmanship of the Republican National Committee.

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    During my service to you over the past two years my admiration for 
you and my respect for your extraordinary leadership and your exemplary 
human traits have only grown. These traits have all been vividly 
illustrated in the recent Persian Gulf crisis, which you have handled so 
admirably.
    You have always encouraged your cabinet to pursue the challenges 
that most affect the American people. America's farmers have their share 
of challenges, but because of the groundwork laid by your market 
oriented policies, they are now better able to meet the future with 
optimism. You recognized the fundamental reforms needed in global 
agricultural trade when you asked me to serve as your Secretary of 
Agriculture. All of American agriculture is now poised to capitalize on 
these reforms when they come to fruition in the Uruguay Round and other 
negotiations. Mr. President, we are deeply grateful for your unwavering 
support in these efforts.
    One of our major domestic accomplishments, achieved in cooperation 
with the Senate and House Agriculture Committees, was the 1990 Farm 
Bill, for it will guide our agricultural policies for the next 5 years. 
No farm bill in memory has been written under such complex 
circumstances. Not only was it necessary to project the needs of 
American agriculture over the ensuing 5 years, but we had to do so in 
the context of demanding budget realities, increasing global 
competition, heightened trade disputes, and the need for farmers to 
expand their roles as stewards of the environment. What emerged is not a 
perfect piece of legislation, but it is certainly a respectable work 
product that balances well innumerable sensitive and divergent 
interests.
    The 1990 Farm Bill continues the market oriented approach of the 
1985 Act through aggressive export assistance programs, increased 
research efforts, and added production flexibility for farmers. The new 
act also encourages tree plantings through your America the Beautiful 
initiative, and fosters our domestic food assistance programs that help 
so many needy Americans.
    Reducing the federal budget deficit will bring benefits to all 
Americans, and particularly our nation's farmers. Although income 
supports will be reduced under the 1990 Deficit Control Act, our farmers 
will benefit greatly from the resulting lower interest rates and reduced 
inflation. In the long run they'll be better off, and so will future 
generations of farm families.
    You have guided American foreign policy through two of the most 
tumultuous years in world history. The incredible changes in Eastern 
Europe have been fostered by your courageous and straight-forward 
approach, and we at USDA have pursued a facilitating role in the 
transition. From the day you asked that I lead a Presidential mission to 
Poland, we have sought to assist the region by providing the food, 
technical assistance, and training necessary to accomplish agricultural 
development and privatization.
    On the home front, we have initiated an aggressive effort to expand 
opportunities for women, minorities and the disabled here at the 
Department of Agriculture. We now have in place a Workforce Diversity 
Program which will ensure that employees of the Department of 
Agriculture more closely reflect the composition of American society. 
And we've dramatically expanded our summer internship program for 
minority students.
    From a managerial standpoint, we have developed and are implementing 
an Electronic Benefits Transfer Program which will improve the integrity 
and efficiency of our domestic food assistance programs, and we are 
upgrading our technology at the National Finance Center which services 
not only our payroll but many other agencies as well. We've become a lot 
more sophisticated everywhere these past 2 years.
    Your Administration has faced a plethora of environmental 
challenges. Agriculture has been at the center of many of them, from 
wetlands to water quality, global change, and the protection of 
endangered species. We have sought to balance interests in this very 
sensitive area in a fair and rational way, and I believe we have done 
so.
    Recognizing the economic and demographic hardships facing rural 
America, you created a Presidential Council on Rural Development. This 
Council met for the first time this week, and this group of outstanding 
leaders from business, government and academia will soon be providing 
you with

[[Page 65]]

their counsel on how best to ensure the future growth and viability of 
America's rural communities.
    There are many other accomplishments here at USDA, most of them not 
attributable to me but to the fine team we've assembled here. That team 
exemplifies competence, and they'll continue to serve you well after my 
departure. From increasing our funding of research in the areas of food 
safety, the environment, and U.S. competitiveness, to assisting youth at 
risk in society as a whole, we have been motivated and guided by your 
leadership.
    It has been a high privilege to have served you and the American 
people as Secretary of Agriculture. I now look forward with enthusiasm 
to the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead for the chairman of 
the Republican party.
    Sincerely,

                                                                 Clayton

                                                         Clayton Yeutter