[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[January 9, 1992]
[Pages 57-58]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister Kiichi 
Miyazawa of Japan in Tokyo

January 9, 1992

President's Health

    Q. Mr. President, what can you say to reassure people that you're 
all right, sir?
    The President. Tell them to talk to my doctor. I feel pretty good. 
Coming back strong. I've got a 24-hour flu. But I feel pretty good. I 
had a fair sleep, slept this morning. Still mainly on fluids. But I 
think it was just one of those bounces that come along. But I'm feeling 
all right.
    Try to pace it for this afternoon, go over a little business here 
with--and I apologize to the Prime Minister for such a shabby 
performance.
    But you know one thing, Mr. Prime Minister, it was wonderful, the 
flowers and cards from your associates. It was very touching. And it is 
not that serious, but it was so sweet to do that.
    Q. Are you back to normal, sir, or are you

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still a little under the weather?
    The President. Well, I don't think I'll go running this afternoon. 
But I'm, I'd say, close to back to normal. This is a 24-hour thing, and 
apparently I got it over the evening. But I really do feel pretty good, 
Rita [Rita Beamish, Associated Press]. Not as strong as I'd like to be, 
but strong enough to continue on now.
    Q. Are you going to slow down the pace a little bit, sir?
    The President. Nope.
    Q. Why not?
    The President. Well, because everybody gets the flu. Some of you 
guys have had it. You can't change your pace because of that. This is 
just a 24-hour bug. I've been very lucky, lucky, knock on wood, for the 
last 3 years, and I've been relatively spared of the flu. I've had a flu 
shot, so I hoped that that would guard against it. But all the signs--
Burt Lee can tell you--but the heart and all, the EKG, all the things 
they do just to doublecheck are perfect, absolutely perfect.

Trade With Japan

    Q. Sir, are you going to get the sweeping changes on trade that you 
wanted instead of the piecemeal changes that you talked about and said 
you didn't want?
    The President. Well, we're going to talk about that today. But the 
Prime Minister has been extraordinarily cooperative, and we're going to 
have some good discussions. But I'd rather wait until we get a full 
package to be discussed. But put it this way, I don't want to put words 
in his mouth, but I'm quite encouraged. And as you know, from day one, 
even before we got here, Prime Minister Miyazawa's approach has been one 
that I've appreciated very, very much. The things he has said and now 
the way he is driving his team to do what I'm doing, driving our team to 
come to agreement.
    So, did you want to add to that?
    The Prime Minister. I'm so glad, President, that I think everything 
is all right. We will shortly announce our joint resolve this afternoon. 
And I'm glad the President is in such good shape that he can now enjoy 
the rest of his stay here, and he's having dinner this evening.

President's Health

    The President. So anyway, why, it all worked out well. A little 
alarmed there. I felt so embarrassed.
    The Prime Minister. No, no, that happens to everybody.
    The President. I got a preview in the receiving line. And I turned 
to the Prime Minister, and I said, ``Would you please excuse me?'' And I 
rushed into the men's room there, and then I thought that had taken care 
of it. But back I came, and it happened, and oh, it was just the 
beginning.
    Q. Are you going to tell him to take it easy on you today in the 
trade talks because you've been ill? [Laughter]
    Q. Mr. President, did you see the TV pictures of what happened last 
night, sir?
    The President. I'm not sure I want to, but I heard it was pretty 
dramatic.
    The Prime Minister. I did.
    The President. Did you see it?
    The Prime Minister. Just normal, kind of, nothing out of the 
ordinary.
    Q. When did you start feeling ill? Early in the day or earlier?
    The President. Really sick, you mean? Well, late in the afternoon I 
had a little indication, then at the reception, and then, of course, at 
the dinner.
    Thank you all.
    Q. Feel better, sir. Feel better.
    The President. Thanks a lot. I really do.

                    Note: The exchange began at 1:38 p.m. prior to an 
                        expanded bilateral meeting at the Akasaka 
                        Palace. In his remarks, the President referred 
                        to Dr. Burton J. Lee III, Physician to the 
                        President.