[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[December 19, 2000]
[Pages 2729-2730]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 2729]]


Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President-Elect George 
W. Bush
December 19, 2000

Advice for the President-Elect

    Q. What's your best advice----
    President Clinton. Get a good team and do what he thinks is right.

National Economy

    Q. Mr. President-elect, you've spoken about the economy, about 
problems with the economy. Are you going to inherit a recession from 
President Clinton? And President Clinton, what are your thoughts about 
that?
    President-elect Bush. I really don't have any comments. I look 
forward to talking to the President. I'm so honored that he extended his 
hospitality to me and my wife yesterday. He didn't need to do this, and 
I'm most grateful that he would do so.
    Q. [Inaudible]--what do you think about a recession?
    President Clinton. Well, a recession is two quarters in a row of 
negative growth. I don't think we're going to have that. But we couldn't 
keep up 5 percent growth a year forever. I think 49 of the 50 blue chip 
forecasters think that growth will be 2.5 percent or better next year, 
and that will keep unemployment low. But I think there will be things to 
be managed. He'll have economic challenges, and you ought to give him a 
chance to meet them, if not try to figure it all out in advance.

Advice for the President-Elect

    Q. Are you going to----
    Q. What advice do you have for him, Mr. President?
    Q. [Inaudible].
    President Clinton. My only advice to anybody in this is just to get 
a good team and do what you think is right.

North Korea

    Q. Are you going to North Korea?
    President Clinton. No decision has been made on that. We've been 
talking, our people have, about what we've attempted to do in North 
Korea. It's interesting, when I had this meeting 8 years ago with the 
President-elect's father, he told me that the biggest problem that we 
were facing was the nuclear program in North Korea. And we were able to 
build on the work they had done and put an end to that.
    And now the big problem there is the missile program. We may have a 
chance to put an end to it, and if we can, I think we should. But this 
is something that I want to consult with the President-elect and his 
team about, and we'll see what the facts are, and I'll try to do what's 
best for the country.
    Q. Governor, I understand that you're not against him going. Is that 
right?
    President-elect Bush. I haven't had a chance to talk to the 
President yet, Helen [Helen Thomas, Hearst Newspapers].
    President Clinton. We've got to talk about this.

Discussion With the President-Elect

    Q. What will you tell him is the biggest problem, Mr. President?
    President Clinton. I want to talk to him, not you. [Laughter] He can 
talk about that. I waited 8 years to say that. [Laughter]

The White House

    Q. Governor, how different is it to come to this house in your 
position now than what it was as a family member?
    President-elect Bush. It's vastly different. It's such a huge honor 
to come as the President-elect. I don't think I'll really fully realize 
the impact until I swear-in. I suspect the President would say the same 
thing. I am humbled and honored, and I can't thank the President enough 
for his hospitality. He didn't need to do this.
    Q. Yes, he did. [Laughter] It's protocol.
    President-elect Bush. I hadn't quite finished yet. [Laughter]
    Q. Go ahead and finish.
    President-elect Bush. And I'm grateful. And I look forward to the 
discussion. I'm here to listen. And if the President is kind enough to 
offer some advice, if he is, I will take it in.
    Q. Are there questions you have for the President, sir?
    President-elect Bush. If there are, I'm going to ask it in private--
and afterwards not share them with you.

[[Page 2730]]

Note: The exchange began at 11:27 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this 
exchange.