[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 3 (Monday, January 21, 2002)]
[Pages 85-86]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to a Meeting With the President's Council on Bioethics

January 17, 2002

    The President. It's nice to see everybody.
    Participant. We're very pleased to be here.
    The President. I'm glad you're here. First, let me just say a couple 
of comments. One, I think--let me thank Leon for taking on the 
assignment. I appreciate so very much Leon's counsel early on in my 
administration about how to deal with some very important issues. And 
then, obviously, I made the decision to put together a council, and I 
want to thank you all for serving.
    I just told NBC News in there that I really think you can help be 
the conscience of the country, to help us understand some really, really 
difficult issues that face America and will really face us as we go down 
the road, and what a vital, vital contribution that you're going to 
make. It'll help people like me understand what the terms mean and how 
to come to grips with how medicine and science interface with the 
dignity of--the issue of life and the dignity of life and the notion 
that life is--you know, that there is a Creator.
    This is, I think, one of these historic moments for our country, as 
we come to grips with a new world and how to deal with the new world. 
And I hope you take this--I know you take this seriously, and I just 
want to assure you I take it seriously and so does this administration. 
We all have consciences, and we wrestle with very tough issues. And 
there's no easy answer to some of the issues. It's hard to look at a 
parent of a child who's dying and believes if you take life, it will 
save a life. I mean, these are tough, tough issues to confront.
    And I've confronted one already, and there will be others. And I 
look forward to your advice and counsel, and so does the Nation. It's 
not just me, it's the country that's going to count on you to really 
think through what we face.
    And not only that, it will serve the world, because we're now in a 
unique position. I

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don't want to be megalomaniac about my views, but we're leading--we're 
leading on a lot of fronts. And this is another front in which this 
country can lead, because I can assure you that other leaders are 
looking at it. I've talked to them, and they don't know what to do. 
They're wrestling with decisions, and when America makes up her mind to 
do something, a lot of people listen. So this is a huge forum.
    So thanks for taking it on. And I want to thank Leon for his 
leadership. And I want to thank Tommy for being here--and Dr. Marburger. 
And I'll be glad to listen, answer questions. I'm not sure what we ought 
to do, Leon, but first you ought to say something.

[At this point, Dr. Leon R. Kass, bioethicist, University of Chicago, 
and Chair, President's Council on Bioethics, made brief remarks.]

    The President. Let me say two other things, and then I will listen. 
One, you need to monitor the stem cell issue. That was the charge I gave 
on national TV that day, and I forgot to mention that. And the other 
thing is that I have spoken clearly on cloning. I just don't think it's 
right. On the other hand, there is going to be a lot of nuance and 
subtlety to the issue, I presume. And I think this is very important for 
you all to help the Nation understand what this means.
    And with that, I'd be glad to hear folks. Mr. Carter.

Note: The President spoke at 3:55 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Health and Human Services 
Secretary Tommy G. Thompson; John H. Marburger III, Director, Office of 
Science and Technology Policy; and Stephen Carter, William Nelson 
Cromwell Professor of Law, Yale Law School. The Office of the Press 
Secretary released the names of 17 members of the President's Council on 
Bioethics on January 16. The transcript released by the Office of the 
Press Secretary also included the remarks of Dr. Kass. A tape was not 
available for verification of the content of these remarks.