For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 2, 2002
Press Gaggle with Claire Buchan
Aboard Air Force One
En Route to Kennebunkport, Maine
12:30 P.M. EDT
MS. BUCHAN: I'll start out -- I'll tell you a little about the
President's day, give you some week-ahead for next week, and then also
look ahead to the President's tour of the heartland.
Today the President started his day with his regular intelligence
and FBI briefings. He then taped his radio address. He dropped by --
the National Security Advisor had a meeting with the Russian American
Media Entrepreneurship Dialogue, which was launched in
Crawford/Washington.
Q What is the topic of the radio address?
MS. BUCHAN: In the radio address he'll be talking about the
accomplishments that have been achieved, as well as work that remains
to be done.
Q What was the group? That's all I heard -- Russian.
MS. BUCHAN: I'll fill you in later.
And then he signed the supplemental, which provides urgent funding
for our homeland security, as well as our national security, and is
also an important victory for fiscal discipline.
He then met with the U.S. Men's World Cup Soccer team, and has now
departed for Maine, where he will spend the weekend with his family.
Q Was the signing announced at the White House?
MS. BUCHAN: The President referenced it when he did his departure
statement.
Q -- put out paper so it's all clear to everybody back in
Washington that's been signed? Did you put out some sort of paper back
there?
MS. BUCHAN: Paper will be going out, if it hasn't already.
Q Who's the family? Who's going to be there?
MS. BUCHAN: His mother and father will be there; his brother,
Marvin; his sister, Dorothy.
Q And Doro?
MS. BUCHAN: Sister, Dorothy.
Q Is there any particular reason they're coming up this
weekend, or it just was a good weekend to get away? Is there like a
particular event, a birthday or something?
MS. BUCHAN: The President is a family man, he enjoys spending time
with his family, and he looks forward to doing that this weekend.
Q Are any of his relatives flying with him today?
MS. BUCHAN: Yes, a couple of them are.
Q Which ones?
MS. BUCHAN: His brother-in-law and a couple of his nephews.
Q There's some reports out that the head of Bush's corporate
task force sold -- made a few million dollars off of selling shares
three days before they tanked in Providian. Do you guys have any
response to those reports?
MS. BUCHAN: -- the Justice Department.
Q What about Iraq's offer for weapons inspections?
MS. BUCHAN: The Iraqis have signed an agreement that allows
inspectors any time, anywhere, by anyone. That is what they're
expected to do. They have that obligation, so it's time for action,
not discussions.
Q There have been Senate hearings on Iraq for the last two
days. Has the White House been paying attention to that? Has the
President been watching that testimony, or have any sort of reaction to
it?
MS. BUCHAN: I don't know if he's watched the testimony or not.
But the President's view is that -- the position of this government is
that we need a regime change in Iraq, and he continues to consider all
options with regard to that.
Q Does the President believe that members of the House and
Senate Intelligence Committee folks should be required to take a
polygraph?
MS. BUCHAN: I saw those reports that you're referring to. This is
an investigation that has been asked for by the Congress, and we're
confident that they will work it out.
Are you guys ready for a week ahead?
Q Quickly, just to be clear, neither Mrs. Bush, nor the
daughters are on -- going to be in Kennebunkport, correct?
MS. BUCHAN: Mrs. Bush is in Texas.
Q And the daughters? I'm sorry.
MS. BUCHAN: I don't know where they are.
Q What was the question over there, I didn't hear it, the
last question you answered? Something about the Congress asked for
this?
MS. BUCHAN: The question was about the polygraph tests.
Okay, we've got a week ahead. Monday morning, the President will
depart Kennebunkport, Maine for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he will
meet with Pennsylvania coal miners, first responders and their
families. The President will also attend a Fisher for Governor
Luncheon. That afternoon, the President will sign the Born Alive
Infants Protection Act of 2002 before returning to Washington.
Tuesday, the President will undergo his annual physical in
Bethesda, Maryland, after which he will return to the White House and
sign the Trade Act of 2002 in the East Room.
Q Time?
MS. BUCHAN: We'll get that for you. That afternoon, the President
will travel to his ranch in Crawford.
On Wednesday, he will travel to Jackson, Mississippi, where he will
make remarks at the Mississippi welcome and attend the Pickering for
Congress Fundraiser before returning to his ranch. Then he will have no
other public events scheduled for this week -- for that week.
Q I'm sorry, who for Congress in Jackson?
MS. BUCHAN: Pickering.
Q Could I just clarify, what was your response to the
question about the polygraphs? I didn't hear any of that.
MS. BUCHAN: The Congress asks for this investigation, and we're
confident they'll work it out.
Okay, let me give you more information on the President's return to
the heartland. He will travel to approximately 15 cities focusing on
education, the economy and trade.
The week of August 12, the President will host an economic forum,
where he will bring together government policymakers, small investors,
industry experts, business ethicists, union members, corporate leaders,
business students and others to discuss the economy and talk about the
President's agenda for increasing growth. Then he will, later that
week, travel to Wisconsin, Iowa and South Dakota.
The week of August 19th, the President will visit the West Coast,
traveling to Oregon, California and New Mexico. He'll also host
Secretary Rumsfeld at the ranch to discuss a variety of issues related
to defense programs and the budget, transformation of the military to
meet 21st century challenges and missile defense.
The week of August 26th, the President will make a series of day
trips with multiple stops, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Michigan and
Pennsylvania. And I also expect it's likely that there will be other
events that we'll announce to you in the weeks to come.
And a final note, on September 11th, the President will travel to
Pennsylvania, New York, and the Pentagon in memory of the one-year
anniversary of the attacks on America. And we'll have details of that
in the weeks ahead.
Q What's the date of the Rumsfeld visit? Do we have that?
MS. BUCHAN: We don't have a date yet. It's the week of August
19th.
Q Can you tell us about that infants born alive legislation,
and is he making -- why is he signing that in Pennsylvania?
MS. BUCHAN: I'll need to get more on the specific legislation. I
don't know all the details of it.
Q On the coal miners,
does that mean the Quecreek nine, that
he's going to meet with them? He'll meet with them right in
Pittsburgh, not going to their hometown?
MR. DICKENS: In Pittsburgh.
MS. BUCHAN: In Pittsburgh.
Q What's the plan for that? We see them? Will he meet with
them privately?
MR. DICKENS: He'll have a closed meeting, and then he'll make
remarks to the families of first responders and the miners. They'll be
a part of the audience for the remarks.
Q Do you know what the theme of those remarks -- the theme of
that speech is going to be?
MS. BUCHAN: I don't have -- I haven't seen the remarks on it, but
I would expect that the President would herald the spirit of these --
of the miners and those who rescued them. Clearly a great moment for
them, and they represent sort of the spirit of America.
Q There's an actual signing ceremony, as part of that event?
MS. BUCHAN: A signing ceremony? Of what?
Q For the legislation.
MS. BUCHAN: Oh, it's a totally separate event.
Q Is it in Pennsylvania, or back in Washington?
MS. BUCHAN: The President will do several things in Pennsylvania.
He'll meet with the families, he'll make remarks, and he also has a
separate signing event of this legislation.
Q What does the legislation do?
Q The signing is not public?
MS. BUCHAN: There will probably be pool coverage.
Q What does the legislation do that he's signing?
MS. BUCHAN: I don't have the details on the legislation.
Q On the September 11th trip, will he visit the site where --
in Pennsylvania, where the fourth plane crashed?
MS. BUCHAN: Yes.
Q Presumably he'll go to Ground Zero in New York?
Q He'll actually visit the sight where 93 went down?
MS. BUCHAN: Yes.
Q For those of us who had a hard time hearing it, can you
repeat your Iraq answer, please, the question about the invitation to
the head U.N. weapons inspector to come in for talks?
MS. BUCHAN: Sure, that Iraq has agreed to inspections any time,
anyplace, by anyone. And that's what needs to happen. There is no --
it's time for action, not discussions.
Q Is this a new agreement --
MS. BUCHAN: I'm sorry?
Q Did this agreement just happen? Did they just sign this?
MS. BUCHAN: You're talking about what?
Q The Iraq agreement.
MS. BUCHAN: No, this is -- I think it's '98.
Q I have another question. When he goes and talks about
education on this heartland tour, you said that's going to be one of
his themes. One of the things he said in Charleston last Monday was
that he doesn't believe a college education is a way to bring dignity
to welfare recipients, that he disagrees with Olympia Snowe's amendment
to the Senate Finance Committee bill, allowing welfare recipients to
work off their work requirement by going to college. And he said
something like, that's not my view of an understanding of how the
importance of work -- giving people a sense of dignity. Does he really
believe that a college education --
MS. BUCHAN: I'd have to look at his exact remarks that are in the
context of them, because certainly the President believes that
education is important. But there is dignity in work, as well. And
I'd need to look at his exact remarks.
Q The bill that he supports wouldn't allow for any kind of
education. They want to put people straight into work -- the welfare
reauthorization bill.
MS. BUCHAN: Let me get back to you on that. I don't think that's
exactly accurate.
Q If you could --
MS. BUCHAN: I think that there are provisions for education and
training counting toward the work hours.
Q I have the quote, and I can get it to you later.
MS. BUCHAN: I'd be happy to look at the context of it.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
MS. BUCHAN: Thank you.
END 12:43 P.M. EDT
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