[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[September 26, 1992]
[Pages 1657-1658]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on Beginning a Whistlestop Tour in Columbus, Ohio
September 26, 1992

    What a great day in Ohio. Barbara and I are delighted to be here. 
May I salute our longstanding friends, George and Janet Voinovich, and 
say you are very lucky in this State to have this man as your Governor. 
Also I want to single out another one, and that's Chalmers Wylie. He and 
I went to Congress on the same day, and he served Columbus with great 
distinction. If we had more like him they wouldn't be yelling all the 
time, ``Clean House!'' to get rid of all those Democrats that have been 
there in

[[Page 1658]]

control for 38 years, for 38 years.
    I want to see John Kasich reelected. I want to thank your great 
Mayor, Greg Lashutka. My gosh, you've got a good one here in Columbus, 
Ohio. Also, if you really want to help change this country, elect Mike 
DeWine to the United States Senate.
    May I thank and give a special salute to the Marching Tigers. Others 
can blow the saxophone, but I'll stand with the Purple Pride of 
Pinkerton. You try to say that. [Laughter] It's great to be back in 
Ohio. It's a great, beautiful day, football weather. I should say 
``Buckeye weather'' here.
    You know, over the next couple of days we're taking our crusade to 
Ohio and to Michigan, eight towns and cities, over 233 miles. We're 
going to talk about what it takes to match peace around the world with 
peace of mind here at home. For 4 months another candidate for President 
has been tearing down the United States of America, running the country 
down. Maybe he's inhaled too many of those bus fumes. I think he did 
inhale them. Well, let's get that bus off the side of the road, because 
on this train trip we're going to blow the whistle on Governor Clinton. 
I am tired of his lousy record in Arkansas.
    Here's what we're going to do. We're going to talk about what's 
right about America and what we're doing to change it, what we need to 
do to change Congress, change the direction of the country. Then we're 
also going to talk about what's going on down in Arkansas and who is 
doing that to the good people of that State. He has a lousy record in 
Arkansas, and we don't need that for the United States of America.
    So for the next 2 days it's ``All aboard, America.'' The Spirit of 
America is on its way, and it's all aboard for a better future where 
Government serves the people, not the other way around. It's all aboard 
for the freedom to save and invest and, yes, to keep more of what you 
earn. It's all aboard for an agenda which can renew and literally change 
America, just as America, and I am proud to have been a significant part 
of this, has reduced the threat of nuclear war for these young people 
here today.
    And so what do we want for America? We want smart schools and safe 
streets. We want to lower taxes and less regulation. We want to 
strengthen families that are working, hoping, and building and dreaming. 
That's very different than what the Governor of Arkansas is proposing.
    You know, my granddad knew how America was blessed, and he lived 
here in Columbus. His company, Buckeye Steel, made couplings for the 
railroads. My father was born here in Columbus, Ohio. He was raised as a 
child, lived over on East Broad Street for a while. He knew how this 
city loved the American spirit, how you lived it from one generation to 
the next. And today, Barbara and I are very proud to begin this voyage 
in a city which has blessed our family, a city that we love.
    For you see, this train trip is much more than about my reelection. 
It's about creating an America where every day has that spirit of the 
Fourth of July, the kind of America these young people here today 
deserve. That is the real spirit of America, always been and always will 
be.
    Now we're off to Marysville and Arlington and Bowling Green and then 
on into Michigan, the heart of America, the real America. With this 
spirit we see here today, we are going to win this election.
    Thank you all very, very much. May God bless each and every one of 
you. Thank you very, very much, indeed. All aboard!

                    Note: The President spoke at 9:45 a.m. on the 
                        observation deck of the Spirit of America train 
                        at the Old Mound Freight Yard station.