[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 4 (Monday, February 1, 1993)]
[Page 102]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to a Meeting With the Close-Up Foundation

 January 29, 1993

Gays in the Military

    Q. Mr. President, when are you going to announce your policy on gays 
in the military? What time today?
    The President. Well, we're waiting for an analysis of the court 
decision now and how it affects what we would have to do anyway. So, 
that sort of--we were here, as you know, last night with Senator Nunn, 
and I thought it was quite close to an agreement that would give the 
military what I think ought to be done without anybody agreeing to 
change their position now--give them a chance to look into what the 
practical problems are. But this court decision may change that, and we 
are looking at it. And I will probably have something to say later 
today.
    Q. But do you--decision because--get through now?
    The President. Well, we talked about it a little last night, but I 
wanted to--the staff stayed here quite late. I thought they ought to get 
a chance to get a little sleep and then think through it. So, as you 
know, there is virtual agreement on everything but one issue anyway. So, 
you are trying to figure out how this court case fits, that and whether 
it changes anything for either side.
    So, we'll talk about it this morning and then try to resolve it 
soon.
    Q. Are you concerned, Mr. President, that this controversy this week 
has given the American people the wrong idea of what your priorities 
are?
    The President. Yes, I do. Of course, I didn't bring it up; people in 
the Senate did. I just tried--I have not, frankly, spent very much time 
on it compared to the time I'm spending on the economy, which is what I 
was elected to do. And we've been working on that hard. So, I'm just 
going to keep doing what I was elected to do and try to stick up for 
what I believe and see if we can work through this.

Note: The President spoke at 8:37 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.