[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.