    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [May 25, 1993]
    [Page 730]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 730]]

    Exchange With Reporters Prior to a Meeting With House Democratic Leaders
    May 25, 1993

    White House Travel Office

        Q. Mr. President, we haven't actually been able to get your view on
    the dealings the White House had with the FBI on all this travel stuff.
    Could you tell us what your view of all that is? Was it appropriate? Did
    you know about it?
        The President. The only thing I know is that we made a decision to
    save the taxpayers and the press money. That's all I know. We saved 25
    percent on the first plane ride and saved the taxpayers a bunch of
    money. Any other questions, I'll just refer you to Mr. McLarty----
        Q. Was it your decision to go around the Attorney General and have
    the FBI issue a very rare statement?
        The President. I had nothing to do with any decision, except to try
    to save the taxpayers and the press money. The press has been
    complaining for years that they were overcharged by the way the thing
    was done before. The first trip out we saved 25 percent for the press,
    and the taxpayers saved a lot of money. That's all I know about it.

    Note: The exchange began at 8:45 a.m. in the State Dining Room at the
    White House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    this exchange.