[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 5 (Monday, February 6, 1995)]
[Pages 171-172]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Military Leaders and an Exchange With 
Reporters

February 1, 1995

Defense Budget

[The President's remarks are joined in progress.]

    The President. ----I'm especially glad to have this chance to be 
here. And a lot has changed and a lot has happened since we met last 
year. I want to get a good briefing on the readiness issues and on the 
quality of life issues that are implicit in the request that we're 
making in the defense budget. We've got to maintain our preparedness; 
we've got to maintain our readiness. I also want to emphasize how 
important my supplemental recommendation is to the Congress. We need to 
get that approved as quickly as possible. I know it's important to all 
of you. And Secretary Perry and Deputy Secretary Deutch talk to me about 
it all the time. We're working hard on that supplemental, and we're 
going to do our best to get it passed.

Baseball Strike

    Q. Mr. President, the baseball negotiators--changing the subject--
[laughter]----
    The President. National security. [Laughter]
    Q. On a subject dear to many Americans, after 40 days they are 
starting to talk again today in Washington. And you have imposed this 
February 6th deadline for some progress. Is there anything you can do 
personally to get baseball off the--to get it going again?
    The President. I am doing whatever I can do personally. But the less 
I say about it, the better. We're all working. This administration has 
worked hard. But I think Mr. Usery, our mediator, should be given a 
chance to work through this last process to try to come up with an 
agreement between the parties. If they don't, I've urged him to put his 
own suggestions on the table. We'll just keep working through this until 
we get to a--hopefully get to a successful conclusion.

Mexican Loan Guarantees

    Q. Mr. President, what do you think about the international response 
to your Mexico decision so far?
    The President. So far I'm encouraged. I think it was the right thing 
to do, and I'm encouraged. I hope we have another good day today. 
Yesterday was very encouraging, good for our country, good for our jobs, 
good for the stability of the region.

[[Page 172]]

Note: The President spoke at 10:18 a.m. at the Pentagon. A tape was not 
available for verification of the content of these remarks.