[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[June 25, 1992]
[Pages 1016-1017]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on the Railroad Strike and an Exchange With Reporters

June 25, 1992
    The President. Let me just simply say that we're now in the second 
day of a national rail strike. And Secretary Card and his associates and 
others have worked all night, working with a bipartisan group on Capitol 
Hill to get the legislation to stop this strike. The trains are not 
moving as of this minute, however. Clearly the national interest is at 
stake here. We now face a complete halt of passenger and commuter rail 
lines. I urge the House and Senate to act to end this strike today; the 
national interest requires no less. There must be no further delay.
    So I salute the Secretary and his people at the Department of 
Transportation, those Members that are working to end this strike. But 
it must happen, and it should happen today.
    Q. What is the holdup?
    The President. Well, Andy can give you more detail, but there's a 
difference of opinion amongst some of the Senators, I mean, some of the 
House Members and Senators. But the point is, no finger pointing here, I 
just want to use this office to encourage the Congress to move and move 
fast and settle this matter once and for all. I believe they can do it. 
In fact, I think they should do it.
    Q. Well, is there something happening today that you know of?
    The President. Well, talking's still going on on the legislation, 
yes.
    Q. Mr. President, are you amenable to a 30-day cooling-off period 
and the appointment of----
    The President. Look, we want that matter resolved once and for all. 
And that's what the administration position is----
    Q. Mr. President, did you make a mistake the other day----
    The President. ----that's in the best interest of the American 
people.

Perot Investigations

    Q. Mr. President, did you make a mistake the other day when you 
criticized Ross Perot in an indirect fashion concerning the possible----
    The President. I'm not taking any questions on that here, Jim [Jim 
Miklaszewski, NBC News]. Thank you very much. Nice try.
    Q. Well, did you write a very amenable, friendly letter to him?
    The President.  Yes, I certainly did.
    Q.  Why, if he investigated your children?
    The President.  Well, go look at the dates, is the only thing I can 
suggest.
    Q.  But do you think he did investigate your kids?
    The President.  I don't know, Rita [Rita Beamish, Associated Press]. 
And I'm not going to take any more questions on it.
    Q.  Do you know anything abut Republican dirty tricks?

[[Page 1017]]

    The President.  I'm not going to take any more questions. Jim, you 
guys are getting a little hard of hearing here today. [Laughter]

                    Note: The President spoke at 11:56 a.m. in the Oval 
                        Office at the White House, prior to a meeting 
                        with Secretary of Transportation Andrew H. Card, 
                        Jr. A tape was not available for verification of 
                        the content of these remarks.