[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[June 28, 1991]
[Pages 735-737]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters Aboard Air Force One
June 28, 1991

    The President. Well, look at it this way, it's Friday. T.G. it's 
Friday. I'm ready to get out of there, I'll tell you.

Resignation of Supreme Court Associate Justice Marshall

    Q. Did you watch Justice Marshall--did you watch the news conference 
on TV?
    The President. No. No, I didn't see it. What did he say?
    Q. He basically said that you should pick the best person for the 
job and race wouldn't be a factor. Do you agree?
    The President. Well, I'm going to try and do exactly that. And I 
saluted him yesterday. I didn't see the press conference, but I want to 
go for excellence, and I want to keep in mind representation of all 
Americans. But I would agree with him if that's what he said. Again, I 
didn't hear it, so I'd have to be careful.
    Q. Do you feel pressured, Mr. President?
    The President. I don't feel pressured at all. I want to move soon, 
though. I feel pressure to get this matter, get our nomination, up to 
the Senate as soon as possible. So, I would hope to have it resolved in 
a very few days.
    Q. Is the process starting all over, sir, or are you going to pick 
up from the last time?
    The President. No. As you know, we went through a screening process 
earlier on at the time the vacancy came forward that was filled by Judge 
Souter. So, the process didn't have to start from scratch, square one. 
That's not to say that other names are not being considered. But in 
anticipation, we always try to keep a current look at these matters. Who 
knows what's going to happen?
    Q. Sir, would you like to be able to name a black to this seat?
    The President. I'd like to just weigh all the options and go for the 
best qualified candidate.
    Q. Do you have a short list in your mind, sir?
    The President. Fairly short.
    Q. What do you mean by keeping in mind representation of all 
Americans?
    The President. Somebody that will be seen as keeping with the 
judicial philosophy that I've always expounded in terms of 
interpretation, not legislation. Somebody that is very broad-minded on 
issues.
    Q. Sir, some people are saying the decision is very near; indeed, 
you have already made it.
    The President. No, I've not already made it. And it is near, but 
I've not made it.
    Q. How short a list do you have?
    The President. Well, I can't help you with

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that.
    Q. Is there any chance you'll name----
    The President. A handful of names.
    Q. Is there any chance you'll name someone before you return back to 
Washington?
    The President. I wouldn't say there's any decision to do that, but I 
don't know. I'd have to hedge on that because I just don't know the 
answer to that. If I said yes, why, then you'd anticipate it.
    Q.  Why are you so eager to----
    The President. Because it's better. As long as you're as close as we 
are, it's better to get the choice made so you don't get a lot of 
needless lobbying and pressure. There's plenty of pressure on it anyway, 
but I mean, I don't want a lot of needless putting forward of names that 
might not be considered--good people, I might add. But we've narrowed it 
down so that we're not looking for 20 new suggestions. And I think if we 
get people's hopes up or to have some advocate of a certain person and 
then not have that person seriously considered is not fair. It's not 
fair to the individual.
    Q. Can you tell us anything about the traditional philosophy you're 
looking for?
    The President. No, just the definition, the broad definition that 
I've always adhered to or that I've advocated, that I ran for President 
on. I'm not about to change my view on that.
    Q. Is there a quota system on the Courts?
    The President. I don't think so. I don't think there's a quota 
system on the Courts, nor do I think there should be a quota system on 
the Courts. It's a good question, and I don't think the appointment of a 
minority or one who represents a so-called majority should be viewed as 
quotas one way or the other.

Iraq

    Q. How concerned are you, sir, about reports of Iraq fighting with--
--
    The President. I'm very concerned. I understand the Secretary-
General had a press conference on this expressing the concern of the 
United Nations, generally. And if, again, this is represented to me that 
he condemned these actions, why, clearly, we're in that view. But we've 
got some serious work now ahead of us--diplomatic, diplomatic process 
has to start. We can't, from a U.S. standpoint, permit this brutal bully 
to go back on what was a solemn agreement and to threaten people that 
are there under U.N. jurisdiction. And that's exactly what he appears to 
have done.
    The man has no shame. And he goes to these extraordinary ends, and I 
think world opinion will mount fast against him on this issue. I mean, 
shooting in the air to scare off people sanctioned by the United Nations 
who are there to expose what this man has done. I mean, I don't think 
the world will support this at all, anybody. The United States certainly 
won't. So, now the question is, what do you do about it? Deliberately 
take time to work the diplomacy, and this is under the auspices of two 
United Nations resolutions. And I think we need to be sure that we start 
immediate consultation at the U.N.
    And then don't press me what I'll do beyond that because I'm not 
prepared to say, not prepared to say what we'll do.
    Q. I just wonder whether the coalition might feel that it's entitled 
under certain circumstances, this time with the U.N. sanction of these 
actions, to take military action.
    The President. Well, I think some could argue that the U.N. 
resolutions have already spoken on all means necessary, 678 having been 
incorporated into a more recent resolution. So, that's the way I'd 
answer that.
    Q. Are you satisfied that, in fact, he has violated the cease-fire--
--
    The President. Yes, I'm totally satisfied of that. I've seen 
incontrovertible evidence to this effect, incontrovertible. Unarguable. 
Clear.
    Q. Beyond just simply not letting people in----
    The President. Oh, yes, absolutely. We shared that information with 
the several different countries.
    I've got to run.
    Q. What kind of things----
    The President. A wide array.

                    Note: The exchange took place at 12:01 p.m. while 
                        the President was en route from Washington, DC, 
                        to Kennebunkport, ME. In his responses, 
                        President Bush referred to Thurgood Marshall and 
                        David H. Souter, Associate Justices of the 
                        Supreme Court;

[[Page 737]]

                        United Nations Secretary-General Javier Perez de 
                        Cuellar de la Guerra; and President Saddam 
                        Hussein of Iraq. A tape was not available for 
                        verification of the content ot this exchange.