Administration of George Bush, 1992 / Aug. 21

Remarks to the Republican National Committee in Houston August 21, 1992

I think the Republican National Commit- full 3,000 police officers that serve this city tee, under Rich Bond and Jeanie Austin’s that Barbara and I love so much. leadership, put on the best convention that As I was walking down the rope line, we’ve ever had. It was first-class. Bill Harris one of the press reporters inquired, ‘‘Well, was to be here. But Craig Fuller and so what about the tax plan?’’ I said, ‘‘Well, many others were intimately involved in all it’s fairly simple.’’ You see, I do believe, of this. It was a complex organizing job. as I said last night, that the Government It was done in a wonderfully imaginative is taxing too much and spending too much. way. I think that the convention gives us So I mentioned something like that. I said, now a great lift as we take the battle to ‘‘Well, it’s a very easy plan. What you do the opposition, but more importantly, take is you tax people less, and the Government this positive message to the American peo- spends less.’’ ‘‘Well, how is it going to ple. I first wanted to come over here and work?’’ And I said, ‘‘Well, it’s going to work say thanks. No longer will we tell Rich to because it benefits the taxpayers.’’ There cool his jets. We’ll simply suggest that he was a follow-on question, as always happens, keep doing what he’s doing. and the police officers standing there, cer- Let me just mention another item of busi- tainly not the highest tax brackets of all, ness which I hope you all agree with me were saying, ‘‘Hey, we’re taxpayers. We’re on, and that is I’ve recommended, as you taxpayers. It will help us.’’ know, Sam Skinner to be general chairman, I think that we’ve got a good message the same role that Paul Laxalt had. We now to take to the American people. It’s thought long and hard about that, but Sam been there one way or another. I thought has earned my confidence through superior when put it in perspective in performance, not just in the trenches politi- what I felt was an outstanding speech by cally where he and I have been shoulder him last night, incidentally. I was sitting to shoulder for a long, long time, out in behind the podium, and I watched the reac- Illinois particularly, but more recently as tions of various people in the audience that Secretary of Transportation. One of the they focused in on. Not just that part of major accomplishments of this administra- his speech but the whole thing resonated tion, and you’re going to hear more and very well, indeed. more about this as the campaign goes on, We came down here to Houston with is an innovative, creative, job-creating na- more dire predictions, more gloom-and- tional transportation bill. No one deserves doom negativism than I’ve ever seen in my more credit for that major national accom- long, long time in the political arena or, plishment than Sam Skinner. indeed, in the private arena. I think, first So when Jim Baker came back, I wanted thanks to the work of the organizers of the to keep Sam suited up, out front, working convention, then thanks to the speeches and for the cause. He and Rich will do a superb the presentations at the forums of so many job there at the committee. He is good, of our party leaders and so many just plain and I know he’s most enjoyable to work grassroots Republicans, a lot of that is turn- with, so I strongly recommend that. ing around. Barbara and I just came from another Now I’ve got a big job on my shoulders; event. When I saw what our local law en- Barbara does; Dan and Marilyn do. But forcement people went through at this con- I just want to say one thing: I really am vention to keep the peace and to give every- ready for this challenge. We’ve got so much body their rights, and I mean those that at stake. were inside the hall as well as those out, As I tried to say last night, it isn’t just a we decided that we wanted to go over and question of my winning an election. That thank the police officers. So we went over really is coincidental to who can do the there just now, had a representation of the best

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job for the country. We’re going to take are blocking legal reform: Congress, Bill this out there to the American people not Clinton, and Gore. Let them try to sever just on the financial issues but on the ques- it. They’re not going to be able to do it tions of values. And then in the final analy- because they can’t. sis, as I touched on last night, it’s going The American people don’t yet have that to be a question of trust. in focus. When we’re through with the next I, for 6 months, have been letting Bill 70-some days or whatever it is, I guarantee Clinton define me, erroneously, I might you they will. Then in the final analysis, add, to the American people. Perhaps I mis- as I say, I think that people are going to calculated, because I said, look, it’s more go into that voting booth, and I hope that important to try to get something done. It’s they’re going to say that this President has more important to keep working with Con- upheld the public trust. I hope they’re going gress to get some incentives that will put to say, ‘‘Look, we may not agree on this people back to work or to pass a strong issue or that. He might have done a better anticrime bill or to get our energy bill that job on this phase of our agenda or that, we talked about last night out or to try but he has demonstrated that he has our to make some steps on passing our health trust. He has treated the White House and care reform bill. I really felt that it was the Presidency with a certain respect and more important to get that done. dignity. He has had a clean administration, The Congress stalled and did nothing. So, free of scandal, and he stands with us on as I told you last night, I’m going to link these fundamental values.’’ And that’s what the Gore-Clinton, G–C, to the gridlocked I want the people to say. Congress. G–C, put them right together. And if we are—well, put it this way, when Put them right in there, and don’t let them we are successful, we’ll be accompanied by come apart. a lot of new people to town, these new The reason it will work is because it’s Congressmen. It’s going to happen anyway. true. It’s true. The American people, if they We’ll get out, and we’ll try again. We’ll don’t understand it yet, will understand it say: You’ve been out to the American peo- when I get through, because it’s factual. ple, and you’ve been elected. And you It is accurate. That one institution, the wouldn’t have been elected if you didn’t House of Representatives, that hasn’t listen to them this year, because this is a changed for 38 years, is now going to have strange political year. And I wouldn’t be not just a one-way street, which they’ve standing here now with 4 more years to been pounding me on, every one of those go if I hadn’t listened to the American peo- leaders up there; I’m going to take it to ple and touched a chord representing what them. And I’ll go into a congressional dis- they believe. trict, and I’ll do exactly what Harry Truman So let’s try again to get something done did. I’ll go into a congressional district, and for every family in America. I know it will I’ll say, ‘‘You have the worst Congressman work. It will work especially if all of you, that you know. You think he’s a nice guy, whatever organizations you represent, but he’s terrible because here’s what he’s whether it’s the RNC or Huda Jones’ mar- doing on a crime bill or energy or edu- velous group in the Federation or the Young cation, health reform, or whatever it is.’’ Republicans or the , We’re going to single them out because the State parties which are so vital. We they, each one of those liberal Democrats have the State leadership here, of course, in Congress, have been singling me out and members of the RNC. If we bring all of singling the Vice President out for the last this together, under Rich Bond and Jeanie 31⁄2 years and smiling when I go up there Austin’s able leadership, I know we can get to the Congress. the job done. They say Clinton has a good reaction Thank you all very, very much for what squad. We’re going to give him plenty to you’re doing. react to, every single minute. Let them try to sever that umbilical cord. Let them sever Note: The President spoke at 8:05 a.m. at the umbilical cord between the people that the Hyatt Regency Hotel. In his remarks, he

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referred to Rich Bond, chairman, and Jeanie tion chairman; Paul Laxalt, former general Austin, cochairman, Republican National chairman, Republican National Committee; Committee; William D. Harris, convention and Huda Jones, president, National Federa- manager; Craig Fuller, Bush-Quayle conven- tion of Republican Women.

Remarks at a Bush-Quayle Rally in Gulfport, Mississippi August 21, 1992

The President. Wow. Thank you very, very has been very positive. If those overnight much. This is good for the soul. polls are any barometer, the American peo- Audience members. Four more years! ple agree with me that I do look better Four more years! Four more years! in my jogging shorts than Bill Clinton. The President. Thank you, thank you. You know, last night we answered some Thank you so very much. Thank you for questions for the American people. One of this warm Mississippi welcome. It is great them is, ‘‘Well, why spend any time any- to be back in Gulfport, great to be back more on foreign policy?’’ Well, remember in Fordice, Lott, Cochran, and Bush-Quayle the days when some of these school- country. Thank you very, very much. children, or when some of you all were This is our first stop after Houston, the schoolchildren, hiding under the desks in first step into the future. We’re here to drills to prepare for nuclear war. Well, I kick off a crusade to bring back values and saw a chance to rid our children’s dreams to build a stronger, more secure America. of the nuclear nightmare. And I did it, with We’re grateful to be here with your the help of many others before me. Mayor and our Lieutenant Governor, Eddie Seriously, do you know that over the past Briggs. And may I single out my dear friend, 4 years, more people have breathed the a man of real values, a man of real talent, fresh air of freedom than in all of human Ricky Scaggs. history? We saw a chance to help, and we You talk about southern hospitality, let did it. And understand something: These me thank all the Republican leadership, those who greeted us on the ground, all were the two defining opportunities, not of you who worked on this fantastic rally, of a year, not of a decade but of an entire and those who came with me on Air Force span of human history. We can all take great One. This is, as I say, our first step out pride in that. of Houston, on to the election. I am de- And yes, now that we have made the lighted to be back here in this place which world safer and more secure, it’s time to has sound family values, great tradition, and build a safer and more secure America. believes in a strong America. Here in Gulfport, you understand how the I understand that since my last visit, Biloxi world has become linked, interconnected. is something of the Monte Carlo of the The challenge before America today is to gulf coast. Well, my pastor may be listening, bring together foreign policy, economic pol- so I want to say I never was much of a icy, and national security policy to make gambler. But let me offer a little sporting a difference in your home. advice: Don’t bet against us in November. So this election isn’t simply, as the opposi- We are going to win this election. tion, as that new twin ticket says, simply Now, let me put something in perspec- about change. It’s about who do you trust tive. You’ve been reading about some of to make the change work for you. That these crazy reports about my health. Well, is the question. let me say I am blessed with good health, And our opponents, my opponent is—— blessed with good health. Last night I laid Audience members. George Bush! George out an agenda for America, and the reaction

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