For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 11, 2001
Press Conference of the President
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
Listen to the President's Remarks
2:04 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good
afternoon. First, let me begin by talking about how pleased
I am that a budget has been agreed upon. And it's now time
for the Congress to act quickly. It's time for the Congress
to pass meaningful, real tax reform, and I urge them to do so before
Memorial Day.
Tax relief will be good for our
economy. But tax relief is also a very important way to help
deal with high energy prices. And so the Congress needs to
act. I'm confident if they have the will to do so, that they
can, that they can get this done before Memorial Day.
And, secondly, I believe strongly that the
Attorney General made the right decision today. Any time
we're preparing to carry out the death penalty, we have a solemn
obligation to make sure that the case has been handled in full
accordance with all the guarantees of our Constitution. The very
foundations of our democracy depend on our ability to assure our
citizens that in all criminal cases -- and especially in the death
penalty -- defendants have been treated fairly.
This decision is going to create some
frustration amongst people whose lives were destroyed and turned
upside-down by Mr. McVeigh. But it is very important for our
country to make sure that in death penalty cases, people are treated
fairly.
I'll be glad to answer some questions,
starting with Mr. Fournier.
Q Mr. President, thank
you, sir. Attorney General Ashcroft, on the topic you were
just talking about, said, "There is no doubt in my mind, or anyone's
mind, about the death of Timothy McVeigh."
First, as someone who signed 152 death
warrants in Texas, do you agree that there is no doubt that McVeigh is
guilty? And, secondly, did Louis Freeh know about these
documents when he tendered his resignation?
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Freeh, Director
Freeh never brought this up to me. I found out about this last
evening. My conversation with Mr. Freeh, when he came and
said he was leaving, the subject never came up.
Secondly, Mr. McVeigh himself has admitted to
the crime. Mr. McVeigh, as I recall, said he did it, and I
take him for his word.
Q Mr. President?
THE PRESIDENT: Actually, I've been
given an order. You're second, Steve.
Q Mr. President, thank
you very much, sir.
A lot of families are struggling to pay for
gasoline at record prices. What can you do to help them in the
short-term? Will your energy report address
that? And do you agree with your Energy Secretary, that OPEC
bears some responsibility for these prices?
THE PRESIDENT: The price of crude
oil has got something to do with the price of gasoline, but not nearly
as much as the fact that we haven't built a refinery in
years. What this nation needs to do is to build more
refining capacity. And we're prepared to work with the
industry to encourage capital development, capital to be deployed to
develop more refining capacity. And that may require us to
analyze all regulations that discourage development.
But the best way to make sure that people are
able to deal with high energy prices is to cut taxes, is to give people
more of their own money so they can meet the bills, so they can meet
the high energy prices.
I'm not so sure you're it
next. Gregory. You're soon.
Q Mr. President, can I
follow up on that point? Your party in the past has argued
in favor of either suspending or rolling back the federal gasoline
tax. Will you consider doing either? And,
secondly, what would you say to American families who may pay as much
as $3 at the pump this summer, at the same time that oil companies in
this country are experiencing and enjoying record profits?
THE PRESIDENT: What is say is I
worry about the fact that hard-working people are paying high prices at
the pump. It concerns me a lot. And, therefore,
the Congress needs to cut taxes as quickly as possible, to give people
money to be able to deal with this situation.
I also say we need to build more refining
capacity. We need more supply. We need to meet
the increasing demands with better supply. I'm optimistic in
the long-term, not only will we increase supplies, but that our
automobiles will become more technologically adept at dealing with the
energy situation now. In other words, we'll have new types
of automobiles, hybrids.
And in the energy plan I'm going to be
discussing, you'll see some incentives for hybrid
automobiles. But the quickest way to get money in people's
pockets to deal with prices is tax relief.
Bill Plante.
Q Mr. President, are
you really going to let Republicans in Congress go home for the next
recess without some kind of other short-term relief? You
know the Democrats are after you and the Vice President, saying you're
a couple of former oil men, protecting the industry. Would
you at least support the Republican bill in the House, which would ease
some emission standards in California?
THE PRESIDENT: Back to David's
question, I'll listen to everybody's suggestions. But I want
to remind the members of Congress, both Republican and Democrat, all of
us are concerned about high energy prices and prices at the gas pump
being too high. Let's get the tax relief done and do it
quickly.
I hope there is no intention to
delay. There needs to be money in the pockets of our
consumers as quickly as possible. We've got the wherewithal
to do so. But as to suggestions, I'm open-minded for any
suggestions somebody may have.
Q What about that
emissions --
THE PRESIDENT: I'll look at all
options. But the clearest way to get things done quickly is
tax relief.
Now, the American people have got to
understand that this is a situation that's going to require some
long-term planning to get the situation in hand for the -- to have a
stable future. There is no such thing as immediate
supply. This is a situation that's been developing over the
years and it's going to take a while to correct.
The quickest way to help people with their
energy bills is tax relief. That is the quickest, surest way to do
so.
Q All options,
including the gas tax, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: If anybody thinks
they've got a good idea, I'll listen. But, for certain, what
needs to happen is additional refining capacity, as well as tax
relief.
Yes, Terry.
Q Mr. President, 51
percent of the American people now, according to a recent poll, support
a moratorium on executions; and support for the penalty in general has
dropped considerably over the past couple years. Does what happened in
the McVeigh case, coupled with the more than 75 people now who have
been released from death row when evidence of their actual innocence
came to life, does all of that lead you to reflect at all on the
fairness and accuracy of the death penalty and the way it's actually
administered day to day?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I am pleased
to be able to report, as for the first case that came to my desk at the
federal government, that my administration is going to take its time to
make sure that justice has been administered fairly.
Q But do you reflect at
all on the general accuracy and fairness of the death penalty, and the
way it actually works day to day?
THE PRESIDENT: As Mr. Fournier
brought up, I was the governor of a state that had a death penalty and,
as far as I was concerned, I reviewed every case and I was confident
that every person that had been put to death received full rights and
was guilty of the crime charged.
Q So no second thoughts
about the death penalty?
THE PRESIDENT: Not as far as I'm
concerned -- so long as the system provides fairness. And
today is an example of the system being fair.
Major.
Q Mr. President, on the
question of repealing the gas tax, even some Republicans have
questioned the leadership and the clarity of voice from this White
House about what they should do. I've talked to several
Republican leaders who have said the White House has said, look, if you
can figure out a way to pass it, we'll say it's okay, but we're not
going to propose it. And what they say is, if the White
House would say they're for it, it would be easier for us to pass it.
Can you tell the American people right now --
THE PRESIDENT: Major, I can tell --
let me say it again, see if I can be more clear. To the
Congress, who is interested in helping consumers pay high gas prices,
pass the tax relief as quickly as possible. We've set aside
$100 billion to help consumers with high energy
prices. That's the quickest way to help
consumers. I am deeply concerned about consumers, I am
deeply concerned about high gas prices.
To anybody who wants to figure out how to help
the consumers, pass the tax relief package as quickly as possible.
Jim.
Q Mr. President, there
are a number of people, including Senator Leahy, who was here today,
who are suggesting that there needs to be much tighter oversight of the
FBI. Aside from the McVeigh matter, there have been a number
of things over the years -- the FBI labs, the Hanssen case and a number
of other things. Do you believe it's time for a more
sweeping look at what is going on at the FBI?
THE PRESIDENT: There are two looks
at what's happening in the FBI. One, of course, is the commission that
Louis Freeh put together, headed by Judge Webster. I'm
confident that that commission will take a full look at the proceedings
within the FBI, in regards to security matters.
And, secondly, the Attorney General is going
to be conducting an investigation as to why the documents were not
given to Mr. McVeigh's lawyers. And I look forward to seeing
what those findings reveal.
Yes, ma'am.
Q Mr. President, to
follow up on energy. You're developing closer relations with
Nigeria, Mexico and Canada. Could you use your leverage with
these countries to have them convince Saudi Arabia to open the spigots
and provide more fuel?
THE PRESIDENT: The reason why we
have a problem at the gas pump at this particular moment in history is
because we haven't built any refining capacity. When you
don't increase supplies of a commodity and demand continues to
increase, the price is going to go up.
And so our nation must expand refining
capacity. And we've got to do that within our
hemisphere. Otherwise, when you transport refined product
from far distances, it doesn't meet market tests. So we need
more refining capacity.
I am working with Canada and Mexico to
increase the supply, particularly of natural gas. We have a
serious situation in the state of California, as you're very
aware. We've been working with the officials of California
to expedite the development of new electric generating capacity.
We're also doing our part as a good citizen to
reduce demand for electricity in peak hours. But the new
plants that are being brought on stream in California are going to be
driven by natural gas. And we need more natural gas to make
sure there is fuel for those plants.
So I am working with Mexico and I am working
with Canada to try to figure out ways for us to encourage exploration
in our own neighborhood. I had a good discussion today with
the President of Nigeria, who is talking about increasing their amount
of production, coming from Nigeria. That is positive news
for U.S. consumers. The more supply on the market, the lower
-- the less pressure there will be on price.
Ron.
Q Given what's going on
with energy prices and the difficulties in the economy, can you assure
the American people at the start of your term that they'll be better
off at the end of it than they are today? And, if they're
not, should they blame you?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I certainly
hope they're better off. There's no question that the minute
I got elected the storm clouds on the horizon were getting nearly
directly overhead. In other words, the economic news started
to deteriorate.
The truth of the matter is, the market started
to adjust March of last year. In other words, the so-called
downturn has been in the making for a while. I believe with
good policy from the Fed, as well as good fiscal policy, that we can
recover, that that robust growth we all hope for will come
back. I wish I could tell you when. I'm not an
economist; but if I were, I'd probably say there's a 50 percent chance
it would happen soon and a 50 percent chance it wouldn't.
Q And if it doesn't
work out, does that mean it's not your fault?
THE PRESIDENT: Listen, presidents,
whether things are good or bad, get the blame. I understand
that.
But, Ron, I'm not really that concerned about
standing in polls. I am doing what I think is the right
thing to do. And the right thing to do is to have proposed a
tax relief package that is an integral part of a fiscal policy that
makes sense.
I proposed the plan. I campaigned
on the plan. Many of you, the truth be known here, didn't
actually think it was going to happen. Now there's a budget
in place, $1.25 trillion of tax relief, coupled with $100 billion of
immediate stimulus that's now available.
If I had my way, I'd have it in place
tomorrow, so that people would have money in their pockets to deal with
high energy prices, so people would have money in their pockets to be
able to plan for the future. The Congress needs to
act. I'm confident that that will help an economic
recovery.
Q Mr. President?
THE PRESIDENT: Bob.
Q Sir, how are the
recent controversies in the FBI affecting your search for a new
director? Just what kind of person are you looking to head
the FBI?
THE PRESIDENT: We've just started,
Bob. I look forward to seeing what the Webster report says,
I look forward to hearing what the Attorney General says about the --
about the reason why Mr. McVeigh's attorneys did not get -- did not see
certain documents.
And I am looking for somebody who will do a
couple of things: one, enforce the law; two, keep morale
high at the agency, somebody who is a good manager; and somebody who
can work with the Attorney General in my administration.
Q What's your
timetable?
THE PRESIDENT: As soon as
possible. I'm not sure what that means, though, to be
perfectly frank with you. I mean, we're beginning to look at
different candidates and it's a -- obviously, it's a process that's
going to take a while. Director Freeh assured me that the
number two person there could do a good job, if it took us a while to
find a replacement.
Glen.
Q Mr. President, some
of those who have interviewed Tim McVeigh say that he will actually
revel in what happened today.
THE PRESIDENT: Really?
Q That it will be a
sign of FBI incompetence. What message should he take from
this whole episode, in your mind?
THE PRESIDENT: He should say he's
lucky to be in America, is what he ought to say; that this is a country
who will bend over backwards to make sure that his constitutional
rights are guaranteed; that as opposed to rushing his fate, that the
Attorney General, with my strong support, said, we better make sure
that all guarantees are fulfilled.
Mr. McVeigh is lucky to be in a country like
this. It's unfortunate that he would feel like reveling, at
all, after what he supposedly has done. There are a lot of
people's lives he affected, there are a lot of people in Oklahoma City
-- I went to the memorial, I got to see the faces of people, the
pictures of people whose lives were lost. I talked to
relatives who still weep when they think about a relative.
This isn't a time to revel.
Q But to follow up on
that, what will those relatives, what will those families of victims
gain, what will -- how will they benefit from Timothy McVeigh's
execution?
THE PRESIDENT: You need to talk to
them about that.
Q In your opinion.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I can't
possibly put myself in their stead.
Q Why is his execution
so important and the death penalty so important, then?
THE PRESIDENT: Because it needs to
send a signal to anybody who thinks what Timothy McVeigh did was okay,
that in this society we're not going to tolerate that kind of heinous
act.
But you need to talk to the -- all I can tell
you is, I'm sure there's going to be some frustration by the family
members, by the decision that the Attorney General made, supported by
me. I'm sure there will be, and we'll probably hear from
them. But they must understand that we live in a country
that protects certain rights. And the Attorney General did
the right thing in this decision.
Mike.
Q Mr. President, what
is your level of concern about U.S. citizens who remain held in China,
and what are you doing for them?
THE PRESIDENT: We've sent clear
signals to the Chinese that we expect our citizens that have been
detained, and/or citizens who have been detained with U.S. relatives,
that we expect them to be treated fairly. And we'd like for them to
have whatever due process the Chinese can offer. We have expressed our
concerns. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they don't.
Our relations with China are relations that
are going to be based upon a consistent message with the
Chinese: one, we expect there to be trade, and I hope there
is trade; but, two, that we expect people to be treated fairly inside
that country. And hopefully they'll respond.
Q Mr. President, is
your confidence in the FBI undermined by this episode?
THE PRESIDENT: I'm obviously
concerned about an incident where documents have been
misplaced. But I withhold judgment until I find out the full
facts, to find out what the Attorney General's investigation finds
out.
Martha.
Q Mr. President,
following up on that, do you think our American justice system is
healthy, or does it need fixing?
THE PRESIDENT: I think, by and
large, the system is healthy. And I think today proved why
it is healthy. That ours is a government that when found
that documents hadn't been given to the defense attorney, even though
those documents reviewed by our own -- by our Justice Department
lawyers didn't feel like it was going to change the
verdict. But we delayed until Mr. McVeigh's attorneys have a
chance to look at the documents.
Q Mr. President, if I
can follow up. You know that those documents could have been
discovered days after Timothy McVeigh had been executed. You also know
that there is some concern about a forensic scientist in Oklahoma City
who was involved in a number of death penalty cases, a number of --
THE PRESIDENT: Say that again on
the forensic scientist?
Q In Oklahoma City, who
was involved in a number of death penalty cases. Those
inmates happened to be executed. What can you say to the
American people --
THE PRESIDENT: Well, in this case
--
Q Let me just finish.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay, I'm
sorry. I beg your pardon. (Laughter.)
Q Thank you,
sir. (Laughter.)
What can you say or what can you do as
President to ensure that, at the federal/state level, the death penalty
is always administered fairly?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, at the state
level, I encourage governors to be diligent and to look at all the
facts and to make sure that people get full access to the courts, and
that there is no question about the person's guilt.
At the federal level, I'm pleased to report,
that on the first case that came toward my desk, my administration
reacted the way it should have. Which is, given the fact that
documents had been misplaced, the Attorney General recommended the
delay of the execution until the -- Mr. McVeigh's rights were fully
vetted; in other words, his lawyers have a chance to look at those
documents.
It was the right thing to do. And
you bring up a hypothetical, but that's not the way it
happened. The way it happened was, was that the evidence was
brought forth and we made a decision and it was the correct decision.
Yes, sir.
Q Mr. President, you
would not equate the baby that was killed in retaliatory Israeli fire
in the Gaza Strip with a 13- and 14-year old Jewish boys, one of them a
U.S. citizen, who were tied up, beaten to death and mutilated near
Tekoa, would you?
THE PRESIDENT: I was kind of
smiling, it sounded kind of like an editorial.
But the death in the Middle East is abhorrent,
and our nation weeps when people lose their lives. And what
we must do is work hard to break the cycle of violence. It's
going to be very difficult for us to be able to bring people to the
peace table so long as there is violence. And we will
continue to work to break the cycle of violence.
Tommy.
Q Thank you, Mr.
President. Did you speak to Secretary General Annan this
morning about the United Nations vote to kick the U.S. off the Human
Rights Commission? And, if so, what did you tell him?
THE PRESIDENT: I did. I
told him it was hard for me to envision a Human Rights Commission
without the United States on it and Sudan being on it -- let me put it
that way. We're off and Sudan is on. I'm not so
-- you know, that sent an awfully, awfully strange signal to the world,
it seems like to me.
Yes.
Q A
follow-up. Did you -- or do you believe that some U.S. back
dues to the United Nations should be withheld as a result of that vote,
as some in Congress were asking?
THE PRESIDENT: I do
not. I think we have made an agreement with the United
Nations, an agreement that had been negotiated in good faith, and I
think we ought to pay our dues. Having said that, the
decision was an outrageous decision. To me, it undermines
the whole credibility of this commission -- to kick the United States
off, one of the great bastions of human rights, and allow Sudan to be
on. And I think most reasonable people in the world see it
that way.
But I did bring up the
subject. Thank you for pinning me.
Q Did he agree?
THE PRESIDENT: He listened
carefully.
Yes, sir.
Q Another energy
question, if I may, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Please.
Q What would you tell
an American citizen who is suspicious that your energy policy is going
to benefit the oil industry, because of your background and Vice
President Cheney's background in the industry?
THE PRESIDENT: I would tell the
American people I'm going to tell the truth when it comes to energy;
that we have a serious problem; that we need to do a couple of
things. One, we need to encourage the development of
technologies to help us conserve. We need to be more
conservation-minded in America.
But I'm also going to say, as plainly as I
can, we won't conserve our way to energy independence. We
must also increase supply. It's in the consumer's interests
that we do so. The more supply there is, relative to demand,
the less the price will be.
And I believe that we can have exploration and
sound environmental policy go hand in hand. The only thing I
know to do, sir, is to tell the truth the way I see it. And
we can play like there's not an energy crisis, or hope there's not a
problem; there is a problem. And there's a problem that's
going to confront this nation. And my job as the President
is to take the problem on and propose the solutions I think necessary
to solve the problem. And again, I repeat: it's a
combination of good conservation and an increase in
supplies. And I believe we can do both.
And so, I think most of the American people
understand that. Thank you.
Q Mr. President,
Japan's new Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, has accepted your
invitation to visit the United States as early as possible. He now
enjoys very good support of more than 80 percent, mainly to his strong
commitment to economic reforms in Japan.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q Mr. President, now
are you more optimistic about the future of the second-largest economy
of the world, or are you still very concerned?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I am
concerned, but I am optimistic when I read what the Prime Minister has
said about reforms. Now, I believe he's a man who is intent
up on reforming the system. I had a good visit with him on
the telephone. I look forward to meeting him in
person. I look forward to discussing ways in which our
important friendship can remain strong. And I look forward
to hearing from him what he and his government intend to do to reform
the system.
Japan is a very important partner of the
United States. And it's not only an economic partner, but
it's an important partner to keep stability in the Far
East. It's important for us to work closely together, and I
look forward to meeting him soon. And I'm confident we'll
have a very good dialogue when I'm able to do so.
Thank you all very much. Have a
very good weekend.
END 2:30
P.M. EDT
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