[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 14 (Monday, April 7, 1997)]
[Pages 439-440]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on April Fool's Day and an Exchange With Reporters

April 1, 1997

    The President. I came here today because I thought I should 
personally deliver some disturbing news. Mike McCurry has just made a 
fool of himself by taking an unfortunate fall on dimly lit steps here at 
the White House.
    We believe he may have torn a tendon in his upper right thigh, which 
could get him a 6-inch incision above the place where he's torn it, but 
we won't know for sure until he's been thoroughly examined. And so until 
we can bring him back to full health, Kris Engskov is going to do the 
daily briefing today. [Laughter] And he will be my Press Secretary 
during Mike's absence, and he has some truly disturbing things to 
comment on. And frankly, I do not have the courage to stand here and 
listen to what he's about to tell you. But I am responsible for all of 
it. [Laughter]
    Q. Will his accent get in the way of his job?
    The President. I thought we should have a Press Secretary that did 
not have an accent for the first time in 4 years. [Laughter]
    Q. Is there a danger of Mr. McCurry getting his old job back?
    The President. I think McCurry's job is in real danger now. 
[Laughter]
    Q. Will he be taking narcotics, pain--[laughter]----
    The President. Yes. And under the 25th amendment he has already 
signed his authority over to Kris Engskov. [Laughter]
    Q. How come the pool wasn't notified earlier about this accident?
    The President. It's because we're pretty sneaky around here. 
[Laughter]
    Q. Was he using alcohol before he fell? [Laughter]
    The President. And beer and wine. [Laughter] But only after he 
watched 4 hours of advertisements on television. He was shaking beyond 
all belief.
    Q. What about controlling legal authority here?
    The President. Well, Kris Engskov is, I'm reliably informed, still 
underage. [Laughter]
    I first met this man when he was 3 years old, in his grandfather's 
store. And he still looks like he's 3 years old to me. [Laughter]
    Q. Sometimes acts like it.
    The President. That's right. Which makes him a perfect choice for 
the Presidential Press Secretary. [Laughter]
    Mr. Engskov, this is your big chance. Don't blow it. [Laughter]

Note: The President spoke at 2:20 p.m. in the Briefing Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Press Assistant Kris Engskov.

[[Page 440]]