[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[January 14, 1992]
[Pages 82-83]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters Prior to a Meeting With Earvin (Magic) Johnson

January 14, 1992

Johnson's Role on AIDS Commission

    Q. Mr. President, what kind of contribution do you think Magic 
Johnson can make in the AIDS battle?
    The President. Well, it is my view that he can make an enormous 
contribution. He already has when you read the interviews and the 
reaction that he's having on the young people of this country for this 
very honest, compassionate, and sensitive view he's taken. It makes an 
impression on you. And he'll make a contribution on the Commission.
    I wrote him a letter, a personal letter, some time ago and said that 
I recognize there are all kinds of opportunities now to serve mankind 
and that I'd love to have him on this Commission but he should feel free 
to say no if there were other priorities. And if he accepted that there 
would be no pressure, not that you could pressure a guy this size 
anyway--[laughter]--but no pressure to do anything other than do what 
the umpire does: Call them as they see them. And he's doing that. And 
he's out on his own around this country.
    I think it's a wonderful thing, and I think he's already having an 
effect on lifestyle, for one hand, and, on the other hand, this whole 
question of compassion and understanding for people that are afflicted 
by this. So, it's a two-way street as I see it. One is the education 
process, and the other is just because of who he is, his character. The 
way people look up to him in this country, he can probably make a better 
appeal for compassion and understanding for victims of this than any 
American. It's that simple.

AIDS Funding

    Q. Mr. President, have you committed in your new budget to spend 
more on AIDS treatment and research?
    The President. In anticipation of getting that question, I will 
point out the fact that we are spending $4.25 billion total now. We are 
spending on research $1.8 billion, which is more than we do on cancer, 
more than we do on heart disease. And we will do the utmost possible.
    I have been in close touch with the people at NIH, and I expect, 
Magic, you'll be if you haven't: Dr. Fauci and Dr. Broder and some out 
there. And we will try to get

[[Page 83]]

the maximum research funding level possible. They are not in the mode to 
tell me that the Federal Government has not come forward with a good 
level of funding. I mean, they've been quite positive about that. But if 
there's some place where you can put a little more money to get this 
problem solved, of course, we want to be sensitive to that.

Johnson's Role on AIDS Commission

    Q. Mr. President, what sort of impression did Earvin's announcement 
have on you personally?
    The President. Emotional. And of course, the Bush family are sports 
fans, and we've followed Magic. We've done it with great respect and 
admiration. But it's been not just that, not just a great athlete hit, 
but it's been the way he's handled it. It's been that that's had the 
real emotional effect. And people see this around the country. They 
really do. I'm not just saying it because I'm sitting next to this big 
guy; I'm just telling you that's the way they see it. They see it as 
here's a man that's got hit, and he's standing up and doing something 
about it and helping others. That's what this country's about.
    Q. Did you have any hesitation yourself in joining this Commission?
    Mr. Johnson. No. After I received President Bush's letter, I mean, 
first of all I felt honored, and I just wanted to learn a little bit 
about the Commission, what were my duties, what my responsibilities were 
before I accepted. Once I found out what the Commission was all about, I 
was ready to jump in right away. You always want to help in any way you 
can, and this can only help the battle that I had already taken before 
that, my stand to try to help people.
    Q. Do you have any suggestions for what the President might do to 
further help to fight AIDS?
    Mr. Johnson. Well, the President and I are going to sit and talk.
    The President. Talk about that.
    Mr. Johnson. Maybe we'll let you know later. [Laughter]

Presidential Campaign

    Q. Mr. President, what about the New Hampshire poll that showed a 
closer contest than before?
    The President. I'm not going to talk about polls here today. I'll 
take care of that when the election rolls around. This is a nonpolitical 
event with a nonpolitical guy who's out there doing the Lord's work. So, 
I'd rather defer that until some more appropriate time. But thank you 
for inquiring.

                    Note: The exchange began at 1:50 p.m. prior to a 
                        meeting in the Oval Office. In his remarks, the 
                        President referred to Anthony S. Fauci, 
                        Associate Director for AIDS Research, and Samuel 
                        Broder, Director of the National Cancer 
                        Institute, at the National Institutes of Health. 
                        Professional basketball player Earvin (Magic) 
                        Johnson was a member of the National Commission 
                        on AIDS.