[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[February 15, 1992]
[Pages 258-260]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Bush-Quayle Campaign Welcome in Derry, New Hampshire

February 15, 1992
    The President. It is great to be here. Thank you all very much. And 
Governor, first may I thank Governor Gregg and Kathy for their 
leadership and terrific support. I'm just delighted to have him as the 
head of this campaign in New Hampshire. We're very, very lucky. And may 
I salute Governor Jock McKernan of Maine and his marvelous wife, 
Congresswoman Olympia Snowe, who are with us tonight. He's doing a great 
job for that State. And then from Massachusetts, our new and great 
Governor, Bill Weld, and Paul Cellucci, first-class job as Lieutenant 
Governor.
    And of course, the man so well-known not just for his leadership in 
New Hampshire but for his leadership, sound, sensible leadership in 
Washington, Warren Rudman. I'm just delighted to be at his side. And may 
I salute Congressman Bill Zeliff and thank him for his support. And 
also, Mayor Dowd, the mayor of this wonderful town, he and his wife 
doing a superb job in the political leadership. And you met the visiting 
friends, those Congressmen that were with me, Congressmen Regula and 
Hobson and Dick Shulze from Pennsylvania. They've had to move on.
    But now, first of all, thanks to the parents, the students, and the 
staff of Pinkerton Academy for opening the gym for tonight's event. And 
thanks to the Shaw Brothers for sending a little music our way. And of 
course, my thanks to Arnold, Arnold Schwarzenegger. You know, he and I 
have been out on the campaign trail before several years ago, now again 
today. But he's working on a new film about Congress; he calls it ``The 
Procrastinator.'' [Laughter] You know, I might just take a tip from 
``Kindergarten Cop.'' When Congress doesn't behave, take away their 
recess, and let's get something done for the country.
    But thanks to all of you here for coming from four corners of the 
State of New Hampshire to Derry on this Saturday night. And we've come 
here for one reason: Together we are going to win an election on 
Tuesday.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. And in about 9 months from now, with your help, we're 
going to win an election in November. Make no mistake about that.
    We've got much to be proud of and many challenges still ahead of us. 
But the remarkable changes of these last 3 years have shown without a 
doubt the United States of America is the undisputed leader of the 
world. And from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the last gasp of imperial 
communism, from the four decades of the cold war to the 40 days of 
Desert Storm, America has led the way. And America has changed the 
world.
    And now the change and the challenge, as it has before, it's come 
home. And time after time, we've lifted ourselves up. And time after 
time, we've asked more of ourselves, more of each other. And each time, 
America met the challenge. And this time, America will do it again.
    Next Tuesday, New Hampshire makes its choice. You take part in this 
State's proud tradition as first in the Nation. And you know this is 
serious business. You understand the importance of your vote. You go to 
the polls not to send a signal, not to register a protest; you go to the 
polls to elect the President of the United States of America.
    The first order of business in our country and in this election is 
the economy. And

[[Page 259]]

count on this: We are getting this economy moving again, and we will get 
New Hampshire back on the road to recovery. Three weeks ago I laid out a 
two-part plan to New Hampshire and to the Nation: a short-term to jump 
start our economy, long-term to keep us competitive and strong into the 
next century. And I want, and the country needs, both parts of this 
program enacted by the Congress this year. It is just that important.
    My plan boosts investment, and it gives incentives to businesses to 
buy equipment and upgrade their plants and hire more workers. And it 
helps restore the value of real estate, gets the housing market going 
again, gives a $5,000 tax credit to first-time homebuyers. And our plan 
takes an ax to 246 Government programs because Government is too big and 
it spends too much. And I need Congress to pass it.
    The Democrats have a different idea, as you saw coming out of the 
Ways and Means Committee the other day. But there's one thing my plan 
doesn't do: It won't raise taxes on the American families who are 
overtaxed as it is.
    And you know what I think, my plan is just what the economy ordered. 
When it comes down to me and the other candidates, from the left or from 
the right, here's the only difference that counts: I have a plan, and 
they don't have a clue.
    Everyone knows we've got to work fast----
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. Everyone knows we've got to work fast to get the 
economy on its feet, but some are pushing protectionism, escape from 
economic reality. And they say they're going to play defense, they're 
going to fight back. Sounds tough, until you think about it. It's not 
the schoolyard bully; it's the boy who wants to take his ball and go 
home and get off the playing field. America is not that kind of country. 
And our national symbol is not the ostrich; it's the eagle.
    Never in this Nation's history, never in this Nation's long history 
has America turned its back on a challenge. To succeed economically at 
home, you've got to lead economically abroad. You see, I believe in the 
American worker. We'll go head to head with anyone. The American worker 
can outthink, outproduce, outperform the competition anywhere, anytime.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. These are the things that Tuesday is about, the 
course we set for our country and the future we build for our kids----

[At this point, AIDS activists interrupted the President's remarks.]

    May I just make a comment because these people, understandably, are 
concerned about AIDS. But unfortunately, because of their tactics, they 
sometimes hurt their own cause. But let me just give you a figure here. 
It's a very serious problem. When I came into office the first year, an 
increase, we spent $2.3 billion; this year, $4.9 billion. We are going 
to whip that disease. We're doing everything we can. And we're going to 
keep on until we succeed.
    Sure, this is a tough race----
    Audience members. We want Bush! We want Bush! We want Bush!
    The President. Sure, this is a tough race, but I've been in tough 
races before. And yes, the stakes are high, not just for me but for you 
and our country as well. And I know the voters of New Hampshire. And 
you've been subjected to a lot of this negative campaigning that Senator 
Rudman talked about. You've seen the ads, the kind that only tear people 
down and, I believe, turn people off. Well, I am confident that you 
understand that this election isn't about who can trash another's 
candidacy in a 30-second spot.
    New Hampshire voters have even been told some flat-out lies about 
the plan I sent to Congress. Here it is. Here's the bill I sent to the 
United States Congress immediately after the State of the Union. And in 
it are provisions for student loans deductions and, perhaps most 
importantly, tax relief for America's families with children. It's in 
this plan. It's before the Congress. And it's all right here. It gives 
me another opportunity to say to the Congress: Pass this plan; pass the 
whole plan. We need action by Congress.
    Next Tuesday matters because you don't

[[Page 260]]

just choose a candidate, you choose a future. You set the course this 
country will follow for the next 5 years. And here's what I know about 
this country's future. No matter how tough times are now, America's best 
day always lies ahead. I believe that now. I believe it every day I live 
because that's the great glory of the United States of America.
    And I felt it today from Nashua to New Boston. The people of New 
Hampshire, like citizens all across this country, are ready to move 
ahead, ready to move forward to meet a new American destiny. Everyone 
sees the need for change. Everyone feels the excitement. Everyone is 
impatient to begin. Everyone, that is, except the crowd that controls 
the Congress, the liberal Democrats who still control both Houses of the 
United States Congress.
    So, you won't be surprised to hear what's happening to this action 
plan, the part to jump-start this economy. And here it is here, seven 
key points. The Democrats who control the Ways and Means Committee 
pulled a back-room stunt and tried to make this plan disappear. Thank 
goodness I kept a copy.
    I'm a patient man. I know Congress can't pass my plan overnight, and 
that's why I gave them 52 days. And I know they say the deadline is 
arbitrary; they say the deadline is too early; they say the deadline is 
unfair. You know what I say? The deadline is March 20th, and the 
American people want action.
    I cannot get this job done without your help. And so, Tuesday my 
request is this: Send this President, who's done his very best, who's 
turned this world around, who's working for economic recovery all across 
our country, send this President back to Washington for 4 more years.
    Thank you, New Hampshire, for your trust and your support. And may 
God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much.

                    Note: The President spoke at 6:46 p.m. at Pinkerton 
                        Academy. A tape was not available for 
                        verification of the content of these remarks.