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because of all the film that was being shot. [At this point, one group of reporters left the Q. Are you relieved, sir, that you have finally room, and another group entered.] settled upon an Attorney General? Q. Mr. President, will you meet with the Japa- The President. I’ll discuss that at 4:30 p.m. nese Prime Minister by the end of March? Have Q. Are you asking for greater access for any plans? American goods in Japan? The President. I don’t think a specific date The President. This is just the beginning of has been set yet, but I want very much to meet our relationship. We had a little talk about trade. with him in the near future. The Japanese- And Minister Watanabe said that he thought American relationship is very important, not only that we shouldn’t become protectionist in our to Japan and to America but to the rest of relationship. And I agreed, but I said I thought the world. And I think it’s important that we we had to bring the trade deficit down and that I would be working with him on it very meet pretty soon, and I’m trying to set it up firmly. now. Q. Did he agree to that? Q. Was there a big agenda for this meeting, The President. Yes, he agreed. As a matter today’s meeting? of fact, he discussed some things that he thought The President. Was there a big agenda? Well, would be done. So we had a good talk. But we talked for a good while, as you probably it was very preliminary. You shouldn’t attach know, about a wide range of things, everything any burden on him because he came to see from the AIDS crisis to the situation in Russia, me today. to the GATT round, to the necessity of resolving Q. So you’re going to be friends? the trade differences between our two countries. The President. Well, I think we’ll be friends It was a good first meeting. I thought it was and we’ll have a few disagreements and a lot a good first meeting. of agreements. Q. [Inaudible]—diplomatic? Q. So is this lawyer you mentioned a woman? The President. It’s my job. The President. At 4:30 p.m. Q. At each photo op you go a little bit further. Q. Will we see her on the way out? NOTE: The exchange began at 2:35 p.m. in the The President. I hope not. Oval Office at the White House.

The President’s News Conference With Attorney-General-Designate Janet Reno February 11, 1992

Nomination of Janet Reno To Be Attorney Americans demand and deserve freedom from General crime in their homes, at their schools, and on The President. Good afternoon. One of my the streets. Talking tough is easy. Actually get- central missions as President is to reconnect the ting results is much more difficult and much Government of the American people with the more rare. Thousands of prosecutors and police people who sent us here. Government cannot across America have been developing successful be an abstract, distant entity. It must be directly ways to fight crime and, just as important, to linked to the real lives of real people. I pledged restore the sense of security that makes commu- when I ran to reach beyond Washington to bring nity possible in our Nation. I expect my Justice the best from America’s statehouses and court- Department to take those lessons and apply houses to our Government. And I believe that them nationally, to be an innovator for law en- my Cabinet and other appointees have fulfilled forcement. that pledge so far. After years of political controversy and abuse, No agency needs an injection of innovative the Justice Department also needs an Attorney spirit more than the Department of Justice. General who will bring a sense of pride, integ-

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rity, and new energy to that agency. The De- law enforcement, the bar, community leaders, partment’s dedicated career staff need leader- civil rights leaders. People from all walks of ship to help the Department pull together to life have hailed her achievements and her re- focus on the urgent interests and issues of jus- markable dedication to public service. She has tice and law that brought the employees of the won election five times and is the single biggest Justice Department into public service in the votegetter in Dade County. The overwhelming first place. They need an administrator schooled support of the people who know her best is in the management of tough and complex prob- the most telling testament to her skills that I lems and difficult-to-call legal cases, things that know of. affect matters in the office and on the streets As an experienced law enforcement leader, of America. she will be an effective voice in our fight against I am proud to announce today that I intend violent crime, spearheading our efforts to put to nominate Janet Reno, the State attorney from 100,000 new police officers on the street, to Miami and Dade County, Florida, to be our keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of next Attorney General. She is a front-line crime criminals, to make greater use of boot camps fighter and a caring public servant. She has de- and other alternative means of service for young voted her life to making her community safer, offenders, to increase aid to local law enforce- keeping children out of trouble, reducing do- ment, to expand the use of community policing mestic violence, and helping families. She has and to tackle the problems of violence against truly put people first. women and the need for tougher child support She grew up as the daughter of two respected enforcement. Florida journalists. She worked her way through She will join with local leaders and environ- Cornell University, graduating in 1960. Three mental advocates to make sure that those who years later, in 1963, she was one of a handful pollute our air and our water pay for their ac- of women to graduate from the Harvard Law tions and take responsibility for the needed School, a year behind her distinguished Senator, clean-up. She will work to invigorate our civil Bob Graham. After a decade in the private prac- rights laws and to ensure that every person has tice of law, she was appointed the State attorney an equal chance to contribute to and to partici- in 1978. pate in all our country has to offer. And she’ll Janet Reno is ready to tackle the Justice De- lead the fight against crime in the suites, as partment’s problems. Serving successfully as the well as crime in the streets, ensuring that every chief prosecutor in a complex, diverse urban possible penny is recovered from people who community is a really tough job. And she has have bilked the S&L’s and other white-collar done that job and done it well. She supervises criminals. an office of 900, including 230 attorneys. Her Finally, I want to say to you that every one office handles over 120,000 cases per year, I know who knows and has worked with Janet 40,000 of them felonies, and has won 80 capital Reno agrees that she possesses one quality most punishment convictions for first degree mur- essential to being Attorney General: unques- derers since she became prosecutor. tioned integrity. She’s demonstrated throughout She has pioneered innovative programs to re- her career a commitment to principles that I duce crime, violence, and drug abuse. She want to see enshrined at the Justice Depart- launched a drug court program that has become ment. No one is above the law. Our legal system nationally acclaimed that gets young first-time must protect the innocent and punish the offenders back on track. She’s piloted a commu- wrongdoers. That the promise of equal justice nity policing program, helping to reduce crime under law must be a reality for every American. in blighted urban areas, something we want to This remarkable public servant still lives in do all across America. She began one of the a house in Florida that her mother built with first and best domestic violence programs com- her own hands. She has a listed phone number, bating spousal and child abuse. She runs a tough and she’s told me many times that people who child support program that is at the leading edge find that their ex-spouses are delinquent in their of making deadbeat parents pay up. child support call her at home because they She has been a fair-minded and effective believe that she can go collect their child sup- prosecutor. Her balanced approach has won port. She has lived the kind of life, in real con- wide praise from across the community, from tact with the toughest problems of this country,

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that I think will serve her very well as the Na- Q. Did she participate in the interviewing? tion’s chief law enforcement officer. The President. No, not at all. Janet Reno. I want her to give a statement first. Inslaw Case Q. Mr. President, will she clean up the Inslaw [At this point, Attorney-General-designate Reno case, that case where Meese and others stole made a statement.] a great system for using computers and didn’t FBI Director William Sessions pay for it, and the House Judiciary Committee Q. Does this mean you’re going to have a has recommended that there be an independent house-cleaning of the Justice Department, and counsel to clean this up? It’s a scandal on the that Sessions is on his way out as FBI Director? face of the United States Government. The President. Well, first of all, I think it’s Attorney-General-Designate Reno. What I will important that we put the new Attorney General do is what I do in each of these instances. in and get our leadership team in at Justice. I’ll make sure that we review it carefully, look And I don’t want to speak for her, but I think at the evidence, look at what should be done the appropriate thing is to wait until the final based on the evidence and the law, and take report is in on the FBI Director and give the appropriate action. Attorney-General-designate a chance to review Death Penalty that before we say anything else about that. Q. Do you have any ideas on that subject? Q. Ms. Reno, could we get your views on the death penalty, and is there a difference be- Selection Process tween your view and the President’s view? And Q. Mr. President, how much was your selec- if there is, is that significant, and how will that tion guided by a determination to have a woman affect your policy at the Justice Department? as the first Attorney General? Attorney-General-Designate Reno. I’m person- The President. Somewhat, but not entirely. I ally opposed to the death penalty, as I’ve told also reviewed a large number of men for this the President, but I’ve probably asked for it position. And in the last several weeks, actually, as much as many prosecutors in the country I decided that I would just do it as if I were and have secured it. And when the evidence doing it all over again. I would go back to and the law justify the death penalty, I will ground one. I reviewed a large number of po- ask for it as I have consistently. I will advocate tential candidates, both men and women. for it as the law of the land in particular situa- I have to tell you, if I might be permitted tions if we can secure such penalties. a little personal moment, I’ve had a high regard Q. Will you move to reverse the death pen- for Janet Reno for some time because my broth- alty? er-in-law is the defense attorney in the drug court about which I spoke so I’ve known about Nominee’s Qualifications her exploits for some time. And I considered Q. Mr. President, can you assure us today, her even in the beginning, even though she sir, that of all the candidates you either reviewed and I never had a conversation. So I think it’s or could have reviewed for this job, that the fair to say that in my mind at least she prevailed one you have chosen is the absolute best quali- in a fleet of very fine candidates, both men fied person possible? and women. The President. I can assure you that based Q. Mr. President, can you tell us what role on my criteria I think she’s the best. Somebody Mrs. Clinton had in this selection because we else might have other criteria. My criteria were know that Janet Reno has a great deal of experi- the ones that I outlined. I wanted to bring ence in child issues and that she’s come to Mrs. someone to the Justice Department who had Clinton’s attention last year at least? had both management experience and legal ex- The President. None except to say that she perience. I want to bring someone to the Justice liked her a lot. I mean, that she knew her and Department who had dealt with a wide range liked her a lot. And of course, Hillary’s brother of real-world problems and who had a keen had been in the drug court. So I knew that eye for excellence and talent, to restore a sense from my own direct knowledge, though she of movement and energy and vitality. There are didn’t even talk to me about that. an awful lot of good people at the Justice De-

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partment who want to be part of a Department Law Enforcement on the move and feel good about it. Q. Mr. President, given the tight budget con- And the one thing I thought—I can tell you straints that you have been focusing on over this—this is ironic since I’m now naming Janet the past weeks, how do you and this Attorney Reno. I want to be forthright and answer the General plan to go about fulfilling your cam- question fully. paign promise to hire 100,000 police officers In the beginning of my deliberations weeks for this country? ago, the one reason that I did not pursue this The President. Well, I think there are three more was because Janet Reno had always been things that I would point you to, and keep in a State prosecutor and not a Federal U.S. attor- mind we don’t have to do it in the first year. ney or not a higher Justice Department official. We have—when you all talk to me about my But the more I dug into it and the more I campaign commitments, remember I’ve got a talked to people about it, the more I realized 4-year term—[laughter]—at least that. that you couldn’t be the State’s attorney in Dade I want to do that from three sources. Number County for 15 years without having enormous one, I hope we can bring that crime bill back exposure to a wide range of issues that the Jus- up that almost passed but didn’t last time and have some funds for local law enforcement to tice Department deals with and without working hire more police officers. Number two, I want with the United States attorney. You might want to proceed at a pace with the national service to ask her for some specifics. program, which will give priority in every State So finally, I said, well, why don’t I just call to people who want to pay their college loans and explore this. And I did, and I was fully back by working as police officers. Number satisfied that she had more than enough famili- three, I want to pursue the idea that Senator arity with the Federal system to do the job. Nunn first raised, at least he was the first one Q. Mr. President, can you outline for us, I ever heard raise it, of helping people who when you say ‘‘somewhat,’’ that her gender was are going to be mustered out of the military somewhat of a factor, can you explain to us service to qualify to move quickly into careers how big a role that played, and why? And I’d as police officers or teachers. like to ask Ms. Reno how she feels about taking And so, we believe from those three sources, a position that seems to have been set aside with the funding that I have set aside in the for a woman. budget I will recommend, and the other things The President. It was not set aside. I’ll tell that we will do over the next 4 years, we will you again, I considered a significant number be able to meet that goal. of men for this position. And as I said before— Susan [Susan Spencer, CBS News]. someone asked me about this double standard Selection Process issue—there were also a significant number of Q. Is it safe to assume that Ms. Reno has men who couldn’t go forward in this process (a) never hired an illegal alien, legally or ille- because of some of the same problems that you gally; (b) paid all her Social Security taxes? And all have written about. finally, as you look back on the soap opera that I thought it was important not to disqualify has led to this, how do you assess whatever women just because of what happened before. political damage you may or may not have in- And I really believe—I’m not sure you could curred? find anybody around the country that would get The President. Oh, I don’t think there is any more favorable and broad-based support much. I think what happened—I just would re- than I have been given in spontaneous com- mind you, though, I nominated one other person ments. I just left a Member of the House of for this, Zoe Baird, and I took responsibility Representatives who doesn’t live within 200 for that fact that our vetting procedure was inad- miles of Janet Reno, who heard that I was going equate. It was my personal responsibility. Since to name her and just went out of his way to then, all the other things that you have written tell me that it was a great appointment, what about are things that you found out about in a wonderful thing it was that I had done. I ways that I don’t know, but our procedure feel very comfortable with this appointment on worked and worked quite well. And I didn’t the merits. discuss anybody or anything until I got ready

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to nominate somebody else. So I think they Nominee’s Qualifications did a good job. Q. Are you a feminist? If there were any mistakes made in the in- The President. You want to answer that? terim, it was people who worked here, worked Q. Are you a feminist? around here, or were talked to by us who said Attorney-General-Designate Reno. The ques- things to you they shouldn’t have. But otherwise, tion is whether I’m a feminist. My mother al- the system worked pretty well as it was sup- ways told me to do my best, to think my best, posed to have worked. and to do right and consider myself a person. Q. First question: we can assume that all of The President. I do think I need to make these other matters are not a problem? one factual disclosure and then I promise to The President. Well, why don’t you ask her? call on Mr. Lauter [David Lauter, Los Angeles Attorney-General-Designate Reno. I’ve never Times]. There was one factor which affected hired any illegal aliens, and I think I’ve paid me about Janet Reno, which is that Senator all my Social Security taxes. Certainly in the Gore and I, when he was Senator and I was vetting process in the last week we’ve covered Governor, we carried Dade County in the Presi- everything. dential election by 4 percentage points. The last The Vice President. She made sure that a time Janet Reno had an opponent, she carried lot of others have, too. it by 40 percentage points. [Laughter] That had Q. Mr. President, to the extent that you want- a lot more to do than gender with convincing ed to fulfill these commitments, did you feel me that she could handle things at the Justice hamstrung by the pledge or the perception of Department. If you know anything about Dade a pledge that you had set aside this job for County, you know that is a truly astonishing a woman? achievement. The President. No. Q. If I could ask Ms. Reno, the President mentioned that he was attracted to your experi- Q. And part two, if we can ask Ms. Reno, ence as a State prosecutor which gave you a we never got an answer to Ruth’s question about lot of experience on the criminal law side. But how she feels about being appointed to a job you obviously haven’t had direct experience with in which there is that perception of a pledge. a number of Federal issues that will come up, The President. No. As I said, I interviewed— constitutional issues that will come up. Do you I even talked to—I don’t know how it didn’t feel that you’ll have a substantial learning curve get into the paper, but it didn’t—both men as that you’ll have to get over in order to be able well as women about this job. And I seriously to deal with those Federal law issues that you considered, seriously considered, at least four haven’t been dealing with in your career, cer- men for this job. I really concluded in the end tainly for the last 15 years? that Janet Reno would be best. I never felt Attorney-General-Designate Reno. I think one hamstrung by any commitment, even though I of the splendors of the law is that it covers did want to name a woman Attorney General. so many areas and that if you’re going to be I thought it would be a good thing. There are Attorney General, it’s going to be very difficult a lot of women lawyers in the country, a lot for any one person to be skilled and to be of women judges in the country, a lot of women experienced in every area that the Attorney prosecutors in the country. And I thought it General must cover. I think I can do the job, would be a good and interesting thing to do. and I think I can do it by building a team But I never felt hamstrung by the commitment. dedicated to excellence, to professionalism, a Attorney-General-Designate Reno. I think this team where the hallmark is integrity. And using is one of the greatest challenges that any lawyer the base of the tremendous career lawyers that could have in America. And I want to try my exist in the Department of Justice, I think we’re level-best. I have been so impressed with mem- going to have a great team. bers of the administration and with the vetting Q. Mr. President, this has been a frustrating team and with the approach to Government, process for you in some ways. If you had it the approach that Government can work to put to do all over again, what would you do dif- people first. And I’m just delighted to be here, ferently? and I’m going to try my level-best. The President. Oh, I would have called Janet

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Reno on November 5th. [Laughter] Confirmation Immigration Law Q. Mr. President, how long do you think it’s going to take to get this nominee confirmed? Q. Ms. Reno lives in an area which is full The President. Well, I talked to Senator Biden of immigrants, legal and illegal, and a lot of today, and he said that he would proceed in things about the confusing laws of immigration an expeditious way. So I think that you should came out in the past few weeks, as we all know. ask Senator Biden about that. I think that the What will she do to clear up all these problems? Attorney-General-Designate Reno. Again, what committee will take it up in an appropriate fash- I would like to do is work with members of ion. I don’t expect them to race it through or the administration, members of the Department anything, but I think they will do it in a prompt of Justice, to look at the problem, to consult way when they come back. with the President, and to make recommenda- Q. Can you think of any issues at all that tions based on a thorough study of the matter. might complicate the confirmation process? Any- thing that will have to be explained? Abortion The President. I don’t. I think that she may Q. Can you tell us your views on freedom have to—she just explained one issue here. I of choice? can tell you this: If you’ve been a prosecutor Attorney-General-Designate Reno. I am pro- for 15 years, it’s like if you’ve been a Governor choice. for 12 years. Not every call you make is right; not every case you pursue is won. But I can Florida Corruption Investigation just tell you, I have been literally amazed at Q. Ms. Reno, could I ask a question? The the quality of the recommendations that I re- county—Dade County—some of the critics have ceived for Janet Reno. said that you have passed along questions of local corruption, government corruption, to the Federal courts and the Federal system. The question is why did you choose to do that? Justice Department Staff Attorney-General-Designate Reno. Let me Q. Mr. President, have you make any deci- give you a classic example. My office was re- sions yet on any other top positions at Justice, sponsible for investigating and putting together and what is Webb Hubbell’s role going to be a case against a significant number of corrupt at Justice? officials. Florida has very liberal discovery rules The President. Well, we’ll have to discuss that that give defense attorneys the right to question with the Attorney General now. But I will say all the witnesses, somewhat far more liberal than this for the hometown press: He has done a Federal court. The Federal authorities also have magnificent job for the last 3 weeks under rath- the Internal Revenue Service. It seemed to us er adverse circumstances, just trying to keep as the case progressed that it would be best things together there and to keep the morale handled in Federal court. I didn’t ship the case up and help at least to do the things that had over there. I shipped the case with my prosecu- to be done. I hope he will be staying there. tors, who were cross-designated to the Federal And the answer to your other question is, as court. you might imagine, we have done an enormous One of the things that interested me when amount of work on top-flight candidates for I asked the U.S. Attorney to work with us in other positions, and I would expect that if this this effort is that he said, ‘‘Janet, that’s political nomination goes as I expect it to, we will be suicide. People will think you’re ducking.’’ And able to fill out the Justice Department with first- I said, ‘‘Mr. Kellner, I want to do what’s right class lawyers very, very quickly. Thank you. for the case and right to see that justice is Q. Are you sure you’re not troubled by the secured.’’ Our prosecutors participated in that fact that her parents were both journalists? prosecution. I think it gave me an understanding [Laughter] of Federal process, Federal procedure, Federal The President. No, actually, I thought the fact law. And I think it’s an example of what State that her parents were both journalists and she and Federal officials can do working together, still was a surviving elected politician made her without everybody being concerned about turf doubly qualified to be Attorney General. and taking credit for something. [Laughter]

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NOTE: The President’s third news conference to Webster Hubbell, Acting Assistant to the Attor- began at 4:40 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the ney General. White House. In the news conference, he referred

Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters on Child Immunization at the Fenwick Center in Arlington, Virginia February 12, 1993

The President. Thank you. We are delighted of 20 months, get her a polio vaccine, which to be here today. I want to thank all of you is an oral vaccine. So it was nice to see someone for hosting us and coming out in such wonderful be vaccinated without pain. [Laughter] numbers, and I want to especially thank the We came here today to make this day a land- young people who are here. mark and to fight to protect the health of mil- I want to begin my introducing the First lions of our children. I can think of no better Lady, my wife, Hillary. As many of you know, place to announce a new immunization policy she is the chair of the President’s Task Force than right here on the front lines of the fight on Health Care and came today to review the to provide accessible, affordable health care to work of this wonderful clinic in anticipation of every family in this area. our presenting to the Congress a program to I’m pleased to be joined here by the chil- provide affordable health care for all Americans dren’s advocates whom I have introduced. And in the next several weeks. I do want to say again our thanks to Sue Adams, We’ve had a wonderful time here today. And the director of this clinic, and all the wonderful I want to introduce the person to my left who staff that came out and said hello to us and will speak in a moment, the Secretary of Health encouraged us along the way. and Human Services, Donna Shalala. I also want This week I was startled to read of the case to introduce two United States Senators who of a young boy named Rodney Miller, a 20- came with us today: first, the chair of the Senate month-old child who lives in Miami, currently Committee on Labor and Human Resources, being treated for meningitis in the Jackson Me- Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts; and morial Hospital. He’s there because he did not Senator Don Riegle of Michigan. receive a meningitis vaccine that cost $21.48. I’d like to thank Jim Hunter, the Arlington The bill for his stay in the hospital has already County Board chair, for meeting us here. I know topped $46,500. we have members of the Virginia Senate and In the health care policy that our national House here, and the school board chair, Frank task force is developing, nothing will be more Wilson. I thank all of them for being here. But important than preventive care. Today, Amer- the two people I’d like to thank most today ican taxpayers are being hit with $10 in avoid- are the two fine public servants who showed able health care costs, avoidable health care us around. I’d like to ask them to stand and costs, for every $1 we could be spending on be recognized: Dr. Susan Allan, the Arlington immunizing our young people. The recent resur- County health director—where is Susan?—and gence of measles in our country afflicted over Sue Adams, the Family Health Bureau chief. 55,000 people, most of whom were children. Thank you, Sue. The epidemic cost this country $20 million in We’ve had a wonderful time today. We got avoidable hospital costs alone. Prevention would to walk through the process of what it was like have cost $1 million. And those figures don’t for a parent to have a child immunized here. begin to take into account the terrible human We saw the good news, which is that this place cost, the agony of a young man like Rodney is doing a wonderful job of reaching people. Miller with his joints swollen, with his ankles We also saw some of the bad news, which is so swollen they have to be relieved with nee- it’s still pretty cumbersome to have a child im- dling to get the pus out, that the pain and munized. And we did get to see a young woman problems that he and many others will take

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