[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
[November 22, 1993]
[Page 2046]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 2046]]



Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President Fidel Ramos 
of the Philippines
November 22, 1993

American Airlines Strike

    Q. Mr. President, are you willing to intervene in the American 
Airlines strike?
    The President. Well, I'm concerned about it. I've asked the 
Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Labor to look at the 
situation, and we're looking into it now. But I don't want to raise any 
false signals. We're looking into it, we're examining it, and we're 
looking at all the options. No decision has been made.

Congressional Priorities

    Q. Mr. President, what are your priorities now if Congress wraps up 
before they head home?
    The President. Well, as they head home here, I hope the House will 
pass campaign finance reform today. And I still have a little hope that 
they can work out their differences over the Brady bill and give it to 
the American people for a Thanksgiving present. I would like that very 
much.

Deficit Reduction Proposal

    Q. What about the Penny-Kasich----
    The President. Well, as you know, I think that's a mistake. I think 
if it were to pass, if it were to actually become law, it would imperil 
health care. It would raise the prospect of further defense cuts, which 
are very unwise. It also sort of heads off the disciplined approach we 
had planned for next year with the entitlements commission and with the 
further budget cuts that are scheduled anyway that we still have to 
make. So I think it would be a mistake.
    Q. Were you surprised----

North Korea

    Q. Have you ruled out a preemptive strike in North Korea?
    The President. I have nothing to say other than what I said at the 
APEC meeting about that. We're working hard on that issue, and I've 
consulted with the South Koreans and with the Japanese and with the 
Chinese at the APEC meeting extensively about that issue.

Handgun Control Legislation

    Q. Were you surprised that the Brady bill got a new lease on life? 
And you thought it would happen?
    The President. I mean, I think that those who were filibustering it 
really considered where they were and where the American people were, 
and they were out of harmony with the American people. The American 
people want us to act on crime. They want us to do something about 
violence. They want us to move forward. And the Brady bill is symbolic 
of the serious effort to move forward. And so I was very pleased. I 
appreciate the fact that the filibuster was abandoned.

[At this point, one group of reporters left the room, and another group 
entered.]

Philippines

    Q. Mr. President, what in the Philippines interests you?
    The President. Well, just about everything that goes on in the 
Philippines interests me. Our country and the Philippines have a long 
and deep friendship that goes back many decades. And I was very 
impressed with the leadership that President Ramos showed at the APEC 
meeting in Seattle and the vision he demonstrated about the importance 
of our remaining partners in the Asian-Pacific region in the years 
ahead. So I'm looking forward to having the chance today to talk to him 
about what the two of us can do together to strengthen our partnership.

Note: The exchange began at 1:15 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this 
exchange.