[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 6 (Monday, February 13, 1995)]
[Page 216]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Chancellor Kohl

February 9, 1995

Former Vice President Dan Quayle

    Q. Mr. President, have you heard that former Vice President Quayle 
has decided not to run for the Republican nomination?
    The President. I was literally--I was informed of that 3 minutes 
ago.
    Q. What do you think about it?
    The President. I'm a little surprised. But it's a hard decision, and 
it's an intensely personal one. I wish him well. I know it must have 
been a difficult decision for him.

Death of J. William Fulbright

    Q. Do you have anything to say, sir, about Senator Fulbright?
    The President. Yes. As you know, he was a very close friend of mine. 
And if it hadn't been for him, I don't think I'd be here today. I had a 
wonderful visit with him and with Mrs. Fulbright over Christmas. They 
came to the White House to see the decorations, and we had a great, 
great visit. And I was in his home a few weeks before that. So I've kept 
in close touch with him in these months of his illness.
    He made an amazing contribution to the life of our country and, of 
course, to our home State. And he was a great inspiration to thousands 
and thousands of us who were young when he was a Senator and serving. 
And the country is in his debt.
    Q. Do you think you'll go to his funeral?
    The President. I certainly hope so. We're--I was informed early, 
early this morning that he had died during the night, and I told the 
folks to try to work it out.

Surgeon-General-Designate Henry Foster

    Q. What do you think of Dr. Foster's performance on ``Nightline''?
    The President. I'm sorry to say, I didn't see it because I went to 
bed early last night; I was very tired. But I heard he did quite well. 
And I think he's a good man. I think he just needs to keep talking about 
his life and his record and what he wants to do. I'm looking forward to 
the hearings.

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

President Boris Yeltsin of Russia

    Q. Mr. President, may I ask a question? Do you see eye to eye with 
the Chancellor when it comes to supporting Boris Yeltsin?
    The President. I think we are almost completely in agreement on our 
positions. Now, we haven't had a chance to talk; we've just arrived. But 
certainly over the last 2 years since I've been President, our positions 
have been the same. And we have worked very hard to try to promote 
democracy and progress within Russia. And we have done it together, and 
I think we will continue to work together on this.
    Q. Do you support economic sanctions because of the situation in 
Chechnya?
    The President. I don't think--we just started, and we haven't had a 
chance to have a conversation yet. We'll have a press conference later, 
and we'll all answer questions then.

Note: The exchange began at 10:40 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this 
exchange.