[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
[November 23, 1993]
[Pages 2054-2055]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters Prior to a Meeting With 
Congressional Leaders
November 23, 1993

    The President. I want to make a brief statement; then I'll answer a 
question or two.
    The primary purpose of this meeting is for me to have a chance to 
thank the bipartisan congressional leadership for their cooperation and 
for our good working relationship here in this first year. I first met 
with this group on January 26th. We've met many times since then. I've 
been to Capitol Hill, I think, 15 times. This is only the second time in 
60 years when there's been no Presidential veto in a year. Sometimes the 
major initiatives that were passed were passed with partisan votes but 
many times with bipartisan votes. And this was a remarkable year.
    We passed the big deficit reduction package, which has kept interest 
rates down and inflation down and has contributed to a major increase in 
investment and job growth in the country. We passed with bipartisan 
support national service, NAFTA, the family and medical leave bill, 
major flood relief for people in the Middle West; both Houses have 
passed the campaign finance bill, a crime bill, the Brady bill. Health

[[Page 2055]]

care reform has been introduced. This has been a very productive year, 
and I am extremely grateful to the leadership of both Houses for working 
so closely with the White House.
    I also want to just thank the Members of Congress for working so 
hard. By my count they spent about 40 percent more hours in session than 
is normal for this year. And I appreciate that, and I wish them a good 
Thanksgiving.
    The last point I would like to make is, as most of you know, the 
person who handled my congressional relations, Howard Paster, will be 
leaving the White House at the end of the year. And I want to publicly 
thank him for the work he did with both Houses, in both parties, and 
representing me so effectively. I think he's done a wonderful job, and 
he's going to be hard to replace.

Representatives Bonior and Gephardt

    Q. You don't think that Bonior and Gephardt did you any favors this 
year, do you?
    The President. They did me a lot of favors. If they hadn't voted for 
the budget and helped me pass it, we would have never gotten it enacted.

Handgun Control Legislation

    Q. Mr. President, what's your reaction to Senator Dole's latest 
attempt to hold up the Brady bill? And what do you think you can do 
about it?
    The President. Wait a minute. We're working on that. And I think--
they're not as far apart as you think, at least Senator Dole. I still 
have--you know me, I believe in miracles. I believe that we may still 
get this worked out.
    Senator Dole. He called me--when I came in. [Laughter]
    Q. Is Senator Mitchell going to call the Senate back if they don't 
pass it today?
    The President. Well, that's up to Senator Mitchell. But let us work 
today. Let's see what we can do today. We're working on something today, 
and let's let today pass, and then we'll be able to talk about it.
    Q. Well, what does Senator Mitchell say?
    Senator Mitchell. It's very nice of you to come here and wish us a 
happy Thanksgiving.
    No, the answer is that if we don't work it out and pass it today, we 
will be back next week.
    Q. Senator Dole, what will it take for you to throw your support 
behind the Brady bill now?
    Senator Dole. I think we can talk to you later. [Laughter]
    The President. We're trying to get this worked out. Give us a 
chance. We're trying to get this worked out.

Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs

    Q. And who's replacing Howard?
    The President. I haven't made a decision. Are you interested in the 
job, Jim [Jim Miklaszewski, NBC News]?
    Q. No, thank you. I've seen what he had to go through this past 
year.
    The President. Lower pay and longer hours, it's the kind of thing--
--

Note: The President spoke at 9:35 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.