From: Clinton-HQ@Campaign92.Org (Clinton/Gore '92)
Newsgroups: alt.politics.reform,alt.politics.usa.misc,alt.activism
Subject: CLINTON: Press Briefing, January 27, 1993
Date: 27 Jan 1993 19:53:27 -0500
Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab
NNTP-Posting-Host: life.ai.mit.edu


	


                           THE WHITE HOUSE

                    Office of the Press Secretary

_____________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                January 27, 1993


                           PRESS BRIEFING
                      BY GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS


                          The Briefing Room


12:45 P.M. EST
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The President is going to meet this
afternoon at 2:00 p.m. with leaders in the Congress on the economic
committees, including the Appropriations, Ways and Means, Finance,
Budget and other members of the congressional leadership.
             
             Q    Bipartisan?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No -- House and Senate Democratic
chairmen.
             
             Q    Photo op?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think so.
             
             Any questions?
             
             Q    Is the topic of that meeting going to be strictly
the economy, or are they going to talk about --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Yes, I think -- they want to have
the opportunity to discuss what -- the President's thinking on the
economy.  He wants to hear what they're thinking as he prepares for
his address to Congress on the 17th.
             
             Q    George, is the President surprised by the
outpouring of opposition, phone calls on the Hill from military rank-
and-file to his intention to put gays in the military?  Can you give
us a reading on the phone calls coming into the White House?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think that the President
understood when he made this decision that it was likely to be a
controversial decision.  And there have been a fair amount of phone
calls here in the White House as well -- I don't know if I have the
exact numbers -- but I would just point out that there is general
support for the principle the President is defending, which is that
individuals who want to serve their country should not be prevented
from serving their country simply on the basis of their status and
their private lives.
             
             Q    As a follow-up, does the President plan to broaden
the policy, broaden this discussion, including subjects such as
sexual harassment, the Tailhook incident, to make it more palatable?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, I think the President's
concerned about sexual harassment in general; we'll have strict
guidelines on that.  He believes there must be a strict code of
conduct in the military.  And he would make not exceptions to that
policy.
             
             Q    George, speaking of the economy, is the NAFTA free
trade agreement an integral part of President Clinton's plan to
revitalize the economy?  And when will he order the initiation of the
negotiation of the supplementary agreement still pending?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't have a date yet, but he
does believe that we can have a good NAFTA if we make sure that we
have the right protections in environment and labor standards.
             
             Q    Why was the announcement delayed today, and what is
the White House doing in this -- delay on the announcement of the
gays in the military policy?  What's happening in this --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  We want to have the opportunity for
more consultations with the Hill and the military.  And there have
been consultations throughout the day by Secretary Aspin, by members
of the White House staff.  I believe the President has also spoken
with a few members of Congress as well; and we'll have more
discussions.  But we just needed a little more time for consultation.
             
             Q    Do you think that consultation will result in a
change in the President's expected announcement tomorrow?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, I mean, the announcement
hasn't been made, so I don't know what we're changing from.  But I
think the President intends to keep his commitment, and he will keep
his commitment.  But he also wants to make sure that we have the
proper consultations with the military and the Congress.
             
             Q    When you say he's going to keep his commitment,
could you just explain the principle that he plans to keep?  What is
his basic intent?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  He believes that individuals should
not be prevented from serving their country solely on the basis of
their status.  There should not be discrimination solely on the basis
of status.
             
             Q    So what is the purpose of consultations?  He's not
going to change his view based on the complaints by the Joint Chiefs
and various members of Congress.
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, I think that one of the
things all of us have learned, and the President was aware of, that
there are real questions on the best way to implement this policy
over the long run:  How to do this throughout the services.  And
those are the kinds of things that we're consulting on, and we intend
to keep consulting on.
             
             Q    Is he considering lifting the ban but keeping it in
terms of combat?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, that's one of the details I
think we have to get into in the future.  I have nothing to say on
that right now.
             
             Q    And can you tell us whether this was discussed with
Bob Kerrey during their run this morning?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I assume that this is one of the
issues that they discussed, but beyond that I'm not sure.
             
             Q    George, did the Senator speak with Senator Nunn? 
And could you tell us the names of the other members of Congress with
whom he discussed this issue today?  
             
             Q    The President.
             
             Q    Did the President speak with Senator Nunn?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think he has spoken to Senator
Nunn in the last 24 hours.  I don't know the exact time.  And he
clearly spoke with Senator Kerrey this morning.  I don't know beyond
that.
             
             Q    But when he spoke with Senator Nunn, did he -- what
was the thrust of this conversation?  Was he trying to get Senator
Nunn to accept some sort of compromise on this?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think that they were just talking
through their positions and the different concerns that Senator Nunn
had -- the different questions that he had over the policy.  And
those consultations are continuing throughout the day today.
             
             Q    Do you still expect Senator Nunn to make a speech?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't know.
             
             Q    Why didn't you consult with the Congress before
this period on this policy?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  There was consultation with the
Congress throughout the transition period, and there was consultation
with the military.  I believe that John Holum had over 40 meetings
with different representatives of the military during the transition
period.  I don't know the exact number, but I believe that's what he
had.  So we've tried to have full consultation throughout this
transition process.
             
             Q    Since you're talking about it being based on
status, stopping questioning about an individual's status when they
enlist and stopping the efforts to get people discharged from the
military if they're found out, is that enough, at least for the time
being, for him to feel he's fulfilled his campaign pledge?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think that the President wants to
make sure that we don't have discrimination on the basis -- that is
clearly -- those are clearly steps in the right direction.
             
             Q    But that's not enough?  I mean, do you have to do
more than that?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  We'll have a full announcement, I
think, within the next day or two, and that's all I can say right
now.
             
             Q    George, are you putting a lot of stock in the
hopeful compromise by Congressman Foley -- the code of conduct?  Do
you think changing the code of conduct and making it more strict for
everyone across-the-board will bring more Senators --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think that is very likely to be
part of the eventual policy.  The President has always said that he
believes there has to be strict codes of conduct.
             
             Q    George, was it a political mistake to go ahead with
hot button social issues like abortion and gays in the military
before an economic plan actually was presented?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  First of all, I would say that
we're very happy that the President was able to sign the executive
orders overturning the gag rule and other issues relating to health
and choice last week.  And I think that it's made a real difference
in the lives of a lot of people over the last week.  
             
             As far as this commitment goes, the President made a
commitment in the campaign and he intends to keep it.  But I would
also remind you that this is something that we would have faced a
vote on in the Senate regardless.  People who oppose this policy 
feel very strongly.  They were going to force a vote.  We were just
trying to proceed with our commitment in the best manner possible.
             
             Q    Isn't it a problem for you politically not to come
out with an economic plan first, which is apparently the basis of
what President Clinton ran on, and then --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The President's been working on his
economic plan every day.  He had meetings yesterday with the
Congressional leaders.  He'll have more meetings today.  His Cabinet
officials are working around-the-clock to prepare this economic plan. 
And it's important that we get it right.  But he will continue to
work on it and I think that we'll have a solid announcement on the
17th.
             
             Q    On the gays in the military issue, how important is
Nunn?  If you all get Nunn on board to whatever you all propose, do
you believe you can then get it through Congress?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, the President has great
respect for Senator Nunn.  As you know, he carries great respect
throughout the Senate and the House.  That would obviously be
helpful.  And that is why we're working with Senator Nunn and this
consultation process.
             
             Q    There are two examples now where the White House
seems to at have at least read the public sentiment -- Zoe Baird and
now this.  Who in the White House is doing --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't know if I agree with that. 
The President understood that this was going to be a controversial
decision.  He also believes that he's doing the right thing. 
             
             Q    Isn't it time for the President to shift his image
around?  We have thousands of people being laid off -- tens of
thousands in the defense industry, we have our troops over in the
Persian Gulf still engaged in conflict over there.  Is this the time
for the President to be picking a fight with the military chiefs of
this country, and should he be turning this around and showing that
he is a strong Commander-In-Chief and going on with the business at
hand, with the economy?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The President is going on with the
business at and the economy, and developing this program to create
growth and jobs.  He has meetings on the economy every single day
with his Cabinet officials, with his economic adviser Bob Rubin, with
the congressional leaders.  He is working together to put together a
growth package that will increase incomes and increase jobs in the
long term for the United States.  He is also working with the Joint
Chiefs of Staff in the most appropriate way to fulfill his campaign
commitment.
             
             Q    George, what do you hope to get from Senator Nunn,
I mean, in a real sense?  Do you expect him to drop his opposition? 
Do you expect him just to stand aside?  What are you trying to get
him to do?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think that we just want to make
sure that we work with him so that there's full consultation and a
real discussion of his concerns, and we're able to develop a process
to make sure that all that consultation can take place.
             
             Q    I understand the talking back and forth, but what
do you want him to do?  Do you want him just to say it's okay now, I
won't oppose lifting the ban?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think again, we just want to make
sure that we have an orderly process for consideration of these
questions.
             
             Q    What political fallout do you see from a spring
filled with hearings on this issue while you're working on your
economic plan?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think during the spring you're
going to have a spring filled with action on the economy and health
care, and that's what we're going to be committed to -- be committed
to passing a strong economic program and getting our health care
reform package ready for introduction and eventual package.  That is
why the President appointed his Health Care Task Force two days ago
with Mrs. Clinton in charge.  That's why he met with congressional
leaders.  And we expect that to be the focus of our activity, and it
will be.
             
             Q    Any reaction to the layoffs announced yesterday by
Boeing, Pratt & Whitney and Sears?  Will that be one more thing
causing the economic leaders to -- 
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, it's troubling news.  I mean,
one of the problems with the economy not only over the last several
months, but over the last several years is that we've had sluggish
job growth.  We haven't been creating the jobs that you need to
create to keep our economy competitive.  And that's what the
President's economic program is designed to address.
             
             Q    George, speaking of jobs, what is the situation on
the attorney general -- expect an announcement?  Has the President
interviewed any candidates?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't know that the President's
interviewed any candidates, and we don't have a timetable yet.  But
he is working on it.
             
             Q    Do you expect something this week, or has the
situation with gays in the military interfered with that?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't know that that's interfered
at all, but the President -- I don't know exactly when he's going to
be ready to make the announcement.
             
             Q    On that topic, George, on several other
announcements that he made during the transition, the President
announced not only a cabinet secretary, but also a deputy or an under
secretary.  When he does the attorney general nomination, would you
expect a similar sort of package, or is he planning only to do the
attorney general?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't know.  I wouldn't rule it
out. 
             
             Q    What about Sessions' job -- the job that he may
need to fill?  Is he -- on that?  Has he finished reviewing the
rebuttal?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The Counsel is still reviewing the
rebuttal, and as you know, there is still a continuing investigation
going on in the Justice Department.  They've just received some new
information from Director Sessions over the last couple of days, and
they're continuing that review.
             
             Q    Can you explain to us what the continuing review is
at the Justice Department?  Is that simply responding to the
Director's response to their report, or it there something new
happening?
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:   No, I believe that there was some
information on his mortgage payment.  So they needed more information
on -- they just received it over the last 24 or 48 hours and they're
continuing to investigate that.
             
             Q    George, is the President -- 
             
             Q    George, on a different topic, how much money has
been talked about to give to the Ukraine to help dismantle the
weapons under the START Agreement, and is it the $175 million that
the Bush Administration had talked about?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't have a set number right
now, but you can go to State for further details.
             
             Q    George, will the President be convening his
National Security Council tomorrow to -- for the first time?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't know if it will be tomorrow
but I expect it sometime soon.
             
             Q    George, is it true that Prince Bandar has been able
to see the President but Turgut Ozal, who was here and has been
trying to, has not?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Not that I know of.  I don't know
that he's had a meeting with the President.
             
             Q    Bad news.  So you don't know about a Bandar
meeting.  
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No.
             
             Q    What about Ozal?  I gather he has been trying to
see the President and has so far been unsuccessful.
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, the President has not met
with any foreign leader that I know of recently.
             
             Q    Ozal is in town this week.  Will he be seeing him
this week?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Not that I know of, but I can
check.
             
             Q    Is there any reason why -- why would he not see
Ozal, who's been a fairly central figure there as an ally?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  He has.  He's been working on the
economy and several other issues, and I believe he also made a
commitment that the next foreign leader he would see would be Prime
Minister Mulroney.
             
             Q    Is there a date on Mulroney yet?
             
             Q    You said that you didn't know -- did you say you
didn't know whether the President had met with any candidates or that
the President has not met with any candidates?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't believe he's met with any
candidates.
             
             Q    And on the meeting this afternoon with the economic
leaders, is this something -- when you say consultation, do you mean
they are getting together and talking back and forth about the things
that they would like see in the State of the Union speech?  Is he
soliciting opinions?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think he wants to hear their
thoughts on the state of the economy right now, the kinds of programs
they would like to see in the economic package and just hear their
views on it.
             
             Q    Prioritizing for the speech or just for the --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I wouldn't limit it to the speech. 
He wants to get their views on the economy.
             
             Q    In light of the generally negative --
             
             Q    On that topic, will there be any presentation to
the congressional leaders by Mr. Rubin of tentative decisions that
are going to --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No, I think it's just a general
discussion.
             
             Q    George, in light of the generally negative reaction
on many -- from many quarters to the concept of a gasoline tax or a
broader -- more broadly based energy tax, is that still a live
option?  And I have a follow-up on that.
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No, right now we're considering all
our options.
             
             Q    That is still a live option?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Sure.
             
             Q    Does the President believe that a revenue package
has to be part of his larger package?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, I think the President
believes that everything has to be looked at right now, but he's made
no final decisions beyond that.
             
             Q    George, will the President attend Thurgood
Marshall's funeral?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Yes, he will.
             
             Q    George, in the guard shack at the Northwest Gate,
there's sketch on the wall of the suspect in the CIA shootings.  It
would seem to, you know, suggest some concern.  In view of that, why
is the President jogging, out jogging twice in the streets of
Washington?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well the President has his Secret
Service detail and we feel that he can be fully protected.
             
             Q    -- the streets of Washington, Pennsylvania -- look
out Pennsylvania Avenue, 17th Street --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  He enjoys running down Pennsylvania
Avenue and he enjoys running down the Mall and he feels perfectly
safe.
             
             Q    George, do you consider that a secure area?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Absolutely.
             
             Q    George, can you explain why it seems that the new
administration neglected to consult with two important members of the
Senate?  Moynihan complained publicly that nobody had called him; and
Nunn said a couple days ago that he wasn't part of any strategy.  It
seems that you haven't really gotten these people on board early
enough.  Why was that?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think that there were meetings
with Senator Nunn.  I believe that Secretary Aspin has met with him. 
But we're always looking to do as much as we can.  And we'll take
their suggestions.  The President has spoken with Senator Moynihan. 
And we expect real close consultation.
             
             Q    He's spoken with him now, but why did he wait so
long to do that?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think that there were some other
discussions over time, but sometimes you might miss a trick here or
there, but we're trying to do the best we can. 
             
             Q    George, having to do with the Justice Department
again, is the White House interested in naming a special prosecutor
to investigate what has been called Iraqgate, the financing the of
arms sales to Iraq through the BNL --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The President has said he supports
extending the special prosecutor law, and that would be a subject the
attorney general would surely take into advisement.
             
             Q    George, could you tell me, do you think the
Republicans can be blocked from putting an amendment on the military
ban onto other legislation, for example, family leave next week?  And
if you can't block it, will that be an embarrassment if that vote
comes up?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Not necessarily if a vote comes up. 
I mean, the President -- the Senate rules are relatively flexible. 
As you know, it's tough to keep any senator from putting an amendment
that he wishes to have considered on the floor.  But we are working
with the Senate now to come up with an acceptable solution.
             
             Q    During the campaign, the President said the world
community should take a much tougher stand on Bosnia.  Does the
President still intend to go after the Serbs if the abuses of human
rights, et cetera, persist?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't know if I'd use your
language, but the President is very concerned by the abuses of human
rights in Serbia and Bosnia.  He's concerned about ethnic cleansing. 
He wants to make sure that we enforce the no-fly zone.  And his
advisers and he are reviewing all of his options right now.
             
             Q    George, the Bosnian community is circulating word
that the NSC is meeting today, in fact, on their question.  And
they're asking for American weapons.  Is the NSC meeting, in fact,
today?  And what's the President's --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't believe there is an NSC
meeting today.
             
             Q    What's the President's position on supplying
weapons to these forces against the Serbs?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The President is reviewing -- and
his staff are reviewing all their options right now.
             
             Q    If the ban on gays in the military is put on a
bill, the family leave bill or another piece of legislation the
President supports, will he veto it?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, that's a hypothetical. 
Let's wait and see what happens.  We're working on a solution right
now.  And the President is a strong supporter of the family leave
bill.
             
             Q    The trade issue -- another trade issue.  Is the
administration planning to impose duties on countries that dump steel
in the United States?  There have been some reports to that.
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The Commerce Department had an
announcement at noon today, announcing preliminary determinations in
a number of steel cases.  These are preliminary.  It's been a
nonpolitical process that I think has been going on since last
November, last June actually, but that's just preliminary.  And there
will be further determinations later in the year.  The Secretary of
Commerce has also made an announcement on this.
             
             Q    George, what is the President's thinking on gay
couples in the military?  Would they be eligible for the same
privileges that heterosexual couples enjoy -- vis a vis, housing and
so forth?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The President's concern is making
sure that people aren't discriminated against solely on the basis of
their status.  And he has not endorsed anything beyond that.
             
             Q    Has he thought through how the mechanics of that --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  That's one of the issues that has
to be discussed during the consultation process, during the review.
             
             Q    George, why did he agree to it during the campaign
without thinking through all of these other problems that have now
been brought up by the Joint Chiefs and others concerned about
military lifestyle?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Those are all questions about how
to fulfill his commitment.  It's proper to consult with the military
authorities once you've made that determination.  And that's exactly
what he intends to do.
             
             Q    But someone suggested he should have considered
these practical problems prior to making his commitment.
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  He did consider fully all of the
issues, but now is the time to do the consultation, not that he is in
office.

             Q    So, he doesn't think that these practical problems
are in any way an obstacle to fulfilling his commitment?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No, the President wants to fulfill
his commitment, but he also wants to work with the military and the
Congress in working out these details.  
             
             Q    George, let me follow that, if I may.  You continue
to call the details, and you really have refused for several days now
to get into the details of what the President will propose.  But it's
also --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, it's not appropriate to get
into those details before the President makes the announcement.
             
             Q    It is also a question of the measure of how
completely the President is committed to ending discrimination
against gays in the military.  You have said that he will end
discrimination based on status.  Are you willing to stand here and
give us a commitment that the President will end discrimination
against gays in the military totally, that they will be able to
practice their lifestyles in the military?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I am not willing to say that right
now.  I am willing to stand by the President's commitment, which is
to end discrimination solely on the basis of status.  Questions of
conduct are a separate issue.
             
             Q    Do you expect the President to make any changes in
his plan or strategy because of this day's delay?  Is he negotiating,
is he going to change his announcement? 
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, the announcement -- she was
asking if there was any change in the announcement based on these
consultations.  The President has a commitment to ending
discrimination based on status.  He intends to fulfill that
commitment.  He has been consulting with the leaders on how best to
make that approach, and how best to work after the announcement is
made on the details of that, and that's what he intends to do.
             
             Q    So what he was going to announce today, he is still
--           
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No, there is no announcement.  When
there is an announcement, that is his policy.  I mean, he is
consulting to figure out the best way to fulfill his commitment.
             
             Q    Is it possible with the announcement that there
would be a delay even in the initial steps that the administration
was prepared to take, in terms of stopping, asking people about their
sexual orientation and expelling people from the military who are
found to be homosexual?  Is it possible that that would not happen
immediately as envisioned, but rather would wait for six months as
this process goes on?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, we'll have the announcement
tomorrow.
             
             Q    You can't rule that out?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't want to rule it in or out. 

             Q    Is Johnetta Cole continuing to advise the
administration on policy and appointments -- any area, particularly
education?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I believe the cluster groups are no
longer operative.  I think she's back at Spelman.
             
             Q    But she doesn't have any continuing role with the
administration that you know of?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No formal official role.  Not that
I know of.
             
             Q    -- any formal adviser, do you know?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  She's friends with Mrs. Clinton and
with the President.  They certainly respect her and respect her
judgment, but she has no official position.
             
             Q    Who, George?
                  
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Johnetta Cole.
             
             Q    -- make the announcement tomorrow, George?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, I'm not certain when it will
be tomorrow, what time or what the manner will be, but I expect that
we will have an announcement by tomorrow.
             
             Q    George, Senator Nunn's statement this afternoon --
was there any consultation or discussion with the White House and him
on what he would he say?  And can we expect it to perhaps dovetail
perfectly with whatever it is the President will be announcing
tomorrow?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I'm not sure of that.  I know there
have been discussions with Senator Nunn.  I don't know if it's
specifically about his statement this afternoon.
             
             Q    What kinds of discussions?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  As I said, the President has spoken
with Senator Nunn.  I believe that Secretary Aspin has spoken also
with Senator Nunn and perhaps -- and others have been in contact with
his staff.
             
             Q    But the White House has not reviewed his speech or
his remarks?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Not that I know of, no.
             
             Q    George, does the President plans to meet with
members of the Armed Services Committee today?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think that's very possible.  I
don't know if it's been finally scheduled yet. 
             
             Q    Would that be here at the White House?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Probably, yes.
             
             Q    Would it include only Democratic members of the
Committee?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I would imagine so, but I don't
think it's been finally set yet.
             
             Q    Why only Democrats?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, he just wants to work with
his Democratic members and talk through their concerns.
             
             Q    George, what is the possibility of --
             
             Q    Photo op?  When is he going to that?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I'm not sure.
             
             Q    -- the President coming down to make the
announcement on the --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Excuse me?
             
             Q    What is the possibility the President coming down
to the Briefing Room to make the announcement on the gays in the
military?  The past practice had been used by former presidents to
come down on issues such as this.
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't know the details of how he
will make that announcement, but we should have it within the next
day or two.
             
             Q    Could we go back to the Armed Services meeting?  Is
this a likely meeting?  Has it taken place already?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No, I don't think it's taken place
yet, no.  
             
             Q    What time is it tentatively scheduled --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  There is no set time yet.
             
             Q    But is gays the topic of that meeting?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I assume they would talk about
other issues, but clearly this is on their minds.
             
             Q    Did they ask for it?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Not that I know -- this is
something the President wants to do.
             
             Q    Of all -- he made a lot of promises during the
campaign.  Of all the promises that he made, why this one now?  Is
there something about this particular pledge that caused him to do it
in the very first weeks of his administration?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  As I said, I think this is an issue
we would have faced on the Senate Floor regardless of what
presidential action he took at this time. But he does believe in the
commitment that he's made.  He stands by his commitment not to
discriminate against individuals solely on the basis of status, and
that's why he's moving ahead.
             
             Q    Then was this a political calculation to take the
hit while you're as popular as perhaps you will be?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, the President knew that this
was going to be controversial, but he felt it was important to move
forward.
             
             Q    Is he feeling now that he --
             
             Q    Does the President have any thoughts about why this
is so controversial?  Is it just because -- aversions to changing a
tradition; a reaction to a President without military experience; or
is it just homophobes?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, I'm not exactly sure.  I'm
sure there's lots of different strands of opposition to this policy. 
But the President believes -- and I think that there's strong public
support for the principle that people shouldn't be discriminated
against simply for their status.
             
             Q    -- will the underlying -- will one of the
underlying principles in the order be that there is a difference
between who you are and what you do?  And how would that transmit --

             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think it is important to draw a
line between status and conduct, yes.
             
             Q    Is that something that would be --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't know how it would be worked
out in the final policy, but it is something the President clearly
envisions.
             
             Q    On February 17th, will he be presenting legislative
proposals on the economic package?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't know if we'll have the
budget or the legislative plan.  In fact, I don't expect that the
budget will be presented.  But clearly the outlines of the
President's strategy --
             
             Q    What about the short-term stimulus package?  Will
you have a legislative proposal on that?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, I'm not positive that we
would have the actual bill, but we would clearly outline the policy.
             
             Q    On that -- obviously one of the biggest things the
government spends money on right now is health care.  The health care
plan won't be finished for -- until several months after February
17th.  How is he planning to coordinate --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think you have to make some
assumptions about the economic impact of the health care plan, even
though you don't have the final plan ready.
             
             Q    So will he necessarily have to make some
preliminary decisions about which way he's going to go on health care
by February 17th in order to make those decisions?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, he's already made some
preliminary decisions of the direction he'd like to go in.  Again,
that is something -- you would have to figure out what you would
assume various savings to be and which programs you would have to
look at to get those savings.  But beyond that, I don't know.
             
             Q    Just one other thing.  The President during the
campaign had suggested that you could have some substantial savings
in the near term from health care.  More recently, he's talked about
savings in the longer term -- five to eight years.  Is it now his
position that whatever savings might be achieved in terms of the
budget over the next four years in order to meet the deficit
reduction goal he's set would have to come from reductions in
existing programs, rather than from overall reforms?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think that's more likely. 
Clearly, the bulk of health care savings will come in the long term
through these reforms.  But there are also some near-term reforms to
get some savings as well.
             
             Q    George, do you have any reaction to Chairman
Greenspan's testimony today before Congress?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The President wants to work closely
with Chairman Greenspan.  I think they share the same goals.  They
share the goals of getting growth in this economy, increasing jobs. 
I think the President shares Chairman Greenspan's judgment that we've
had some sluggish job growth over the past several months and years,
and is something we have to address.  And that's what he intends to
do.
             
             Q    George, you talked about distinguishing between
status and conduct.  Does the President see this issue of gays in the
military as a civil rights issue?  Is that an accurate
characterization? 
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, it's important to protect
individual rights and the rights of an individual to serve his or her
country.
             
             Q    But would it be in the category of civil rights?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Sure. 
             
             Q    Is that the only right protecting, George, the
right of the individual to serve his or her country?  Is he not also
committed to the right of a person to sexual preference?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The President is committed to the
right of a person to serve their country regardless of their sexual
preference.
             
             Q    George, on the distinction between status and
conduct, does the President believe not only that people who are
homosexual have a right to serve their country, but that they have
some right to, in proper circumstances, behind closed doors, however
you draw those distinctions, to engage in whatever kind of sexual
conduct they want to engage in?  Currently, the Uniform Code of
Military Justice prohibits sodomy, which has a broad definition. 
Does the President believe that at least some forms of conduct ought
to be protected?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't think I should get into
that at this time.  He'll have his announcement in the future.
             
             Q    George, on Bosnia --
             
             Q    Just one other question along those lines.  Does
the President believe that whatever rules of conduct there should be,
should be neutral in terms of sexual preference?  In other rules,
whatever rules of conduct there are should apply equally to
homosexual service members and heterosexual service members; or does
the President envision a separate code of conduct for homosexual
service members?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Clearly, there should be strict
codes of conduct.  How exactly they would be applied, I'm not sure
yet and we'll be working on that.
             
             Q    Is that, then, leaving open the possibility that
there would be one code of conduct governing heterosexuals and a
separate, stricter code of conduct for homosexuals?  Or are you
talking about a strict code of conduct that would govern all service
members?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I wouldn't want to rule -- I
wouldn't rule that in or out at this point.
             
             Q    George, on Bosnia, the administration has expressed
concern about oil getting through the embargo.  Is the United States
contemplating a naval action to try to better enforce that embargo?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  We've been in touch with Romania
and Bulgaria.  And they have the authority under the U.N. Security
Council resolutions to enforce that embargo.  I would add though that
if -- we would regard any action by Serbia to sabotage or blow up
these ships in any way as an act of environmental terrorism and a war
crime.  
             
             Q    And would that be something that wouldn't -- do you
envision that the United States would end up joining that naval
blockade?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, right now we believe that
Bulgaria and Romania have the authority under the U.N. Security
Council resolutions to enforce that.
             
             Q    Did you advise Romania and Bulgaria to use force to
stop these ships or --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  We've just been in touch with them
about these violations, and we believe they have the authority.
             
             Q    You've asked them to be tougher?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, I can't get into the exact
instructions. 
             
             Q    Is this as well as lifting the arms of arms embargo
part of the NSC's considerations?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Everything is being considered.
             
             Q    George, two questions, one of them a clarification. 
So far you've said announcement of the President's policy on gays in
the military within the next couple of days, in the near future,
tomorrow, within the next day or so --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't have the exact timing.  I
believe it will be by tomorrow.
             
             Q    By tomorrow, but that's not sure.
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  It's not definite.  It will get
done when we're ready, but I believe it will be by tomorrow.
             
             Q    Okay, second thing, on an entirely different
subject.  The Israeli Prime Minister has said that he expects the
United States to veto any sanctions in the U.N. Security Council
against Israel over deportees.  Will you do it?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  We've been intensifying contacts
with all parties involved in this issue.  And we are also in close
consultation with Israel.  We've asked that any action be delayed
until the Supreme Court has the chance to act and until the parties
have a further opportunity to try and work this issue out.
             
             Q    George, what are your plans for the Camp David
retreat this weekend?  And also a technical issue, is it being called
a State of the Union Address or is it an Address before a Joint
Session of Congress?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  It's an Address before the Joint
Session of Congress.  I think the State of the Union becomes
shorthand.  
             
             This weekend the President wants to meet with his
Cabinet members to get an assessment of just their plans for the
first 100 days, to talk to them about what's going on in their
departments and to build a real team approach to running this
administration.
             
             Q    -- and is there any photo op available?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I'm not sure about the photo op.  I
expect they'll overnight Saturday.
             
             QQ   -- the Palestinians -- the deportees for a minute. 
If the United States is willing to ask for a delay on this in order
to let the peace process work itself, out doesn't it open itself up
to criticism that it's not willing to ask for delays on sanctions
against other nations?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't think so.  We want to make
sure that the parties have a chance to work this out.  They are
working on that.  We've intensified our contacts with all parties to
further that effort and we feel that's the best course. 
             
             Q    George, concerning Haiti -- 
             
             Q    -- possibility before -- you said you weren't
ruling it in or out; that there might not be an immediate move to
stop expulsions or stop questioning the people about their sexual
orientations.  If there were to be a delay in doing that, would that
be consistent, do you think, with the President's campaign promise?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The President will fulfill his
pledge.  And, again, I can't characterize a hypothetical situation
like that, but I believe he will have an announcement that fulfills
his pledge.
             
             Q    George, concerning Haiti?
             
             Q    George, may I just follow up on -- you weren't
trying to open up the possibility --
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No.
             
             Q    -- when he makes his announcement, it will be to
say I'm postponing any decision?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I'm not trying to -- I'm trying not
to characterize in any way.  He will have the -- (laughter).
             
             Q    George, concerning Haiti.  Jesse Jackson, went to
Haiti on a private visit.  Jesse Jackson just came back.   Has
President Clinton received a report on Mr. Jackson's trip to Haiti?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't think he has.  
             
             Q    George, is Connie Garamendi at the White House
today to meet with the President and is she on the consideration for
Peace Corps Director?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Not that I know of.  I don't
believe that there -- I don't know that she's had a meeting scheduled
with him.
             
             Q    Are they guests at the White House tonight,
overnight?
             
             MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I'll have to check.  I just don't
know.  
             
             THE PRESS:  Thank you.

                                 END                    1:20 P.M. EST
             
                                                             #6-01/27


Xref: sparky alt.politics.reform:263 alt.politics.usa.misc:980 alt.activism:21464