[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 38 (Monday, September 27, 1999)]
[Pages 1790-1791]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Departure for the Hay-Adams Hotel and an Exchange With 
Reporters

September 22, 1999

U.S. Lawsuit Against the Major Tobacco Companies

    The President. Good afternoon. Last January, in my State of the 
Union Address, I announced that the Justice Department was preparing a 
litigation plan to recover the costs of smoking-related illnesses. Over 
the years, smoking-related illnesses have cost taxpayers billions of 
dollars through Medicare, veterans' health, and other federal health 
programs.
    Today the Justice Department declared that the United States is, in 
fact, filing suit against the major tobacco companies to recover the 
cost borne by taxpayers. I believe it's the right thing to do. The 
tobacco companies should answer to the taxpayers for their actions. The 
taxpayers of our country should have their day in court.
    Thank you very much.
    Q. Mr. President, the tobacco companies say this lawsuit is pure 
politics, sir. What do you say?
    The President. Well, if you look at the record of this 
administration, we've been out there on this issue a very long time. No 
one else ever tried to do that. We did our best to work with them and 
with the Congress to resolve many of these matters legislatively, and 
they declined. And I believe this is the appropriate thing to do.

[[Page 1791]]

North Korean Moratorium on Missile Testing

    Q. Do you think the North Koreans, sir, are going to stick to their 
moratorium on missile testing now, after the lifting of sanctions?
    The President. I do. And of course, if the future proves otherwise, 
then there are always other options open to us. But former Defense 
Secretary Bill Perry, and others who worked with him, worked very hard 
on this, and then our negotiator in Berlin did a very good job. We 
worked very closely with the Japanese and with the South Koreans on this 
approach. They are agreed with it. And it offers the most promising 
opportunity to lift the cloud of uncertainty and insecurity and danger 
that otherwise would hand over that whole region, including the American 
service men and women who are there.
    So I'm very, very hopeful about it. If it works, it does; if it 
doesn't, then there will be other options open to us.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 5.45 p.m in the West Portico at the White 
House.