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>>> I,
GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH,
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR
THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY
EXECUTE THE OFFICE
OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES,
AND WILL TO THE BEST
OF MY ABILITY
PRESERVE, PROTECT,
AND DEFEND
THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES.
SO HELP ME GOD.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> IF ONE WERE TO ASK WHERE
THE TEN BUSH GRANDCHILDREN
ARE, THEY ARE NOT ON THE
STAND, THE ANSWER IS THEY
ARE INSIDE THEIR PRIVATE
DINING ROOM, BEING
ENTERTAINED BY A MAGICIAN
AND BEING FED LITTLE CHEESE
SNACKS.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
>> ONCE AGAIN, 12:03
EASTERN TIME ON YET ANOTHER
OCCASION.
VAST POWER HAS BEEN
BESTOWED AND PEACEFULLY
TRANSFERRED.
>> JACK,
>> MR. CHIEF JUSTICE,
MR. PRESIDENT, VICE
PRESIDENT QUAYLE,
SENATOR MITCHELL,
SPEAKER WRIGHT, SENATOR
DOLE, CONGRESSMAN MICHEL.
FELLOW CITIZENS,
NEIGHBORS, AND FRIENDS.
THERE IS A MAN HERE WHO HAS
EARNED A LASTING PLACE
IN OUR HEARTS AND
IN OUR HISTORY.
PRESIDENT REAGAN, ON BEHALF
I HAVE JUST REPEATED WORD
FOR WORD THE OATH TAKEN
BY GEORGE WASHINGTON
200 YEARS AGO.
AND THE BIBLE ON WHICH
I PLACED MY HAND IS
THE BIBLE ON WHICH HE PLACED
HIS.
IT IS RIGHT THAT THE MEMORY
OF WASHINGTON BE WITH US
TODAY, NOT ONLY BECAUSE THIS
IS OUR BICENTENNIAL
INAUGURATION, BUT
BECAUSE WASHINGTON REMAINS
THE FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY.
HE WOULD, I THINK,
BE GLADDENED BY THIS DAY.
FOR TODAY IS THE CONCRETE
EXPRESSION OF A STUNNING
FACT -- OUR CONTINUITY THESE
200 YEARS SINCE OUR
GOVERNMENT BEGIN.
WE MEET ON DEMOCRACY'S FRONT
PORCH.
A GOOD PLACE TO TALK
AS NEIGHBORS AND AS FRIENDS.
FOR THIS IS A DAY WHEN
OUR NATION IS MADE WHOLE,
WHEN OUR DIFFERENCES ARE,
FOR A MOMENT, SUSPENDED.
MY FIRST ACT AS PRESIDENT IS
A PRAYER.
"HEAVENLY FATHER, WE BOW
OUR HEADS AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR LOVE.
ACCEPT OUR THANKS
FOR THE PEACE THAT YIELDS
THIS DAY AND THE SHARED
FAITH THAT MAKES
ITS CONTINUANCE LIKELY.
MAKE US STRONG TO DO
YOUR WORK, WILLING TO HEAR
AND HEED YOUR WILL,
AND WRITE ON OUR HEARTS
THESE WORDS -- USE POWER
TO HELP PEOPLE.
FOR WE ARE GIVEN POWER NOT
TO ADVANCE OUR OWN PURPOSES
NOR TO MAKE A GREAT SHOW
IN THE WORLD NOR A NAME.
THERE IS BUT ONE JUST USE
OF POWER, AND IT IS TO HELP
PEOPLE.
HELP US REMEMBER, LORD.
AMEN."
I COME BEFORE YOU AND ASSUME
THE PRESIDENCY AT A MOMENT
RICH WITH PROMISE.
WE LIVE IN A PEACEFUL,
PROSPEROUS TIME, BUT WE CAN
MAKE IT BETTER, FOR A NEW
BREEZE IS BLOWING
AND A WORLD REFRESHED
BY FREEDOM SEEMS REBORN.
THE TOTALITARIAN ERA IS
PASSING, ITS OLD IDEAS BLOWN
AWAY LIKE LEAVES
FROM AN ANCIENT,
LIFELESS TREE.
A NEW BREEZE IS BLOWING
AND A NATION REFRESHED
BY FREEDOM STANDS READY
TO PUSH ON.
THERE'S NEW GROUND TO BE
BROKEN AND NEW ACTION TO BE
TAKEN.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN
THE FUTURE SEEMS THICK
AS FOG.
YOU SIT AND WAIT,
HOPING TO A MIST WILL LIFT
AND REVEAL THE RIGHT PATH.
BUT THIS IS A TIME WHEN
THE FUTURE SEEMS A DOOR
YOU CAN WALK RIGHT THROUGH
INTO A ROOM CALLED TOMORROW.
GREAT NATIONS OF THE WORLD
ARE MOVING TOWARD
DEMOCRACY.
THROUGH THE DOOR TO
FREEDOM.
MEN AND WOMEN OF THE WORLD
MOVE TOWARD FREE MARKETS
THROUGH THE DOOR TO
PROSPERITY.
THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD
AGITATE FOR FREE EXPRESSION
AND FREE THOUGHT THROUGH
THE DOOR TO THE MORAL AND
SPWELUAL SATISFACTIONS THAT
ONLY LIBERTY ALLOWS.
WE KNOW WHAT WORKS.
FREEDOM WORKS.
WE KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT.
FREEDOM IS RIGHT.
WE KNOW HOW TO SECURE A MORE
JUST AND PROSPEROUS LIFE
FOR OUR MAN ON EARTH --
THROUGH FREE MARKET,
FREE SPEECH, FREE ELECTIONS,
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS
CENTURY, FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN ALL HISTORY, MAN DOES NOT
HAVE TO INVENT A SYSTEM
IN WHICH TO LIVE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK LATE
INTO THE NIGHT ABOUT WHICH
FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS
BETTER.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WREST
JUSTICE FROM KINGS.
WE ONLY HAVE TO SUMMON IT
FROM WITHIN OURSELVES.
WE MUST ACT ON WHAT WE KNOW.
I TAKE AS MY GUIDE THE HOPE
OF A SAINT.
IN CRUCIAL THINGS, UNITY.
IN IMPORTANT THINGS,
DIVERSITY.
IN ALL THINGS, GENEROSITY.
AMERICAN TODAY IS A PROUD
FREE NATION, DECENT
AND CIVIL, A PLACE WE CANNOT
HELP BUT LOVE.
WE KNOW IN OUR HEARTS -- NOT
LOUDLY AND PROUDLY,
BUT AS A SIMPLE FACT -- THAT
THIS COUNTRY HAS MEANING
BEYOND WHAT WE SEE, AND THAT
OUR STRENGTH IS A FORCE
FOR GOOD.
BUT HAVE WE CHANGED
AS A NATION EVEN
IN OUR TIME?
ARE WE ENTHRALLED
WITH MATERIAL THINGS,
LESS APPRECIATIVE
OF THE NOBILITY OF WORK
AND SACRIFICE.
MY FRIENDS, WE ARE NOT
THE SUM OF OUR POSSESSIONS.
THEY ARE NOT THE MEASURE
OF OUR LIVES.
IN OUR HEARTS, WE KNOW WHAT
MATTERS.
WE CANNOT HOPE ONLY TO LEAVE
OUR CHILDREN A BIGGER CAR,
A BIGGER BANK ACCOUNT.
WE MUST HOPE TO GIVE THEM
A SENSE OF WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE A LOYAL FRIEND,
A LOVING PARENT, A CITIZEN
WHO LEAVES HIS HOME,
HIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND TOWN
BETTER THAN HE FOUND IT.
WHAT DO WE WANT THE MEN
AND WOMEN WHO WORK WITH US
TO SAY WHEN WE ARE NO LONGER
THERE?
THAT WE WERE MORE DRIVEN
TO SUCCEED THAN ANYONE
AROUND US, OR THAT
WE STOPPED TO ASK IF A SICK
CHILD HAD GOTTEN BETTER
AND STAYED A MOMENT TO TRADE
FRIENDSHIP?
NO PRESIDENT,
NO GOVERNMENT, CAN TEACH US
TO REMEMBER WHAT IS BEST
IN WHAT WE ARE.
BUT IF THE MAN YOU HAVE
CHOSEN TO LEAD THIS
GOVERNMENT CAN HELP TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE, IF HE CAN
CELEBRATE THE QUITER,
DEEPER SUCCESSES THAT ARE
MADE NOT OF GOLD AND SILK,
BUT OF BETTER HEARTS
AND FINER SOULS -- IF HE CAN
DO THESE THINGS,
THEN HE MUST.
AMERICA IS NEVER WHOLLY
HERSELF UNLESS SHE IS
ENGAGED IN HIGH MORAL
PURPOSE.
WE AS A PEOPLE HAVE SUCH
A PURPOSE TODAY.
IT IS TO MAKE KINDER
THE FACE OF THE NATION
AND GENTLER THE FACE
THERE ARE THE HOMELESS,
LOST AND ROAMING.
THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE
NOTHING, NO LOVE
AND NO NORMALCY.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO CANNOT
FREE THEMSELVES OF
ENSLAVEMENT TO WHATEVER
ADDICTION -- DRUGS,
WELFARE, THE DEMORALIZATION
THAT RULES THE SLUMS.
THERE IS CRIME TO BE
CONQUERED, THE ROUGH CRIME
OF THE STREETS.
THERE ARE YOUNG WOMEN TO BE
HELPED WHO ARE ABOUT
TO BECOME MOTHERS
OF CHILDREN THEY CANNOT CARE
FOR AND MIGHT NOT LOVE.
THEY NEED OUR CARE,
OUR GUIDANCE AND EDUCATION,
THOUGH WE BLESS THEM
FOR CHOOSING LIFE.
THE OLD SOLUTION, THE OLD
WAY WAS TO THINK THAT PUBLIC
MONEY ALWAYS COULD ENDS
THESE PROBLEMS, BUT WE HAVE
LEARNED THAT IS NOT SO.
AND IN ANY CASE OUR FUNDS
ARE LOW.
WE HAVE A DEFICIT TO BRING
DOWN, WE HAVE MORE WILL THAN
WALLET.
BUT WILL IS WHAT WE NEED.
WE WILL MAKE THE HARD
CHOICES.
LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE
AND PERHAPS ALLOCATING IT
DIFFERENTLY, MAKING
OUR DECISIONS BASED
ON HONEST NEED AND PRUDENT
SAFETY.
AND THEN WE WILL DO
THE WISEST THING OF ALL.
WE WILL TURN TO THE ONLY
I AM SPEAKING OF A NEW
ENGAGEMENT IN THE LIVES
OF OTHERS.
A NEW ACTIVISM, HANDS
ON AND INVOLVED THAT GETS
THE JOB DONE.
WE MUST BRING IN
THE GENERATIONS HARNESSING
THE UNUSED TALENT
OF THE ELDERLY AND
THE UNFOCUSED ENERGY
OF THE YOUNG.
FOR NOT ONLY LEADERSHIP IS
PASSED FROM GENERATION
TO GENERATION, BUT SO IS
STEWARDSHIP.
AND THE GENERATION BORN
AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR
HAS COME OF AGE.
I HAVE SPOKEN OF A "THOUSAND
POINTS OF LIGHT".
OF ALL THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE LIKE
STARS THROUGHOUT THE NATION
DOING GOOD.
WE WILL WORK HAND IN HAND
ENCOURAGING, SOMETIMES
LEADING, SOMETIMES BEING
LEAD, REWARDING IT.
WE WILL WORK ON THIS
IN THE WHITE HOUSE,
IN THE CABINET AGENCIES.
I WILL GO TO THE PEOPLE
AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE
THE BRIGHTER POINTS
OF LIGHT, AND I WILL ASK
EVERY MEMBER OF MY
GOVERNMENT TO BECOME
INVOLVED.
THE OLD IDEAS ARE NEW AGAIN
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT OLD,
THEY ARE TIMELESS -- DUTY,
SACRIFICE, COMMITMENT,
>> WE NEED A NEW ENGAGEMENT
TOO BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE
AND THE CONGRESS.
THE CHALLENGES BEFORE US
WILL BE THRASHED OUT
WITH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.
WE MUST BRING THE FEDERAL
BUDGET INTO BALANCE.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT AMERICA
STANDS BEFORE THE WORLD
UNITED -- STRONG AT PEACE
AND FISCALLY SOUND.
BUT THINGS MAY BE DIFFICULT.
WE NEED COMPROMISE.
WE HAVE HAD DISSENSION.
WE NEED HARMONY.
WE HAVE HAD A CHORUS
OF DISCORDANT VOICES.
CONGRESS, TOO, HAS CHANGED
IN OUR TIME.
THERE HAS GROWN A CERTAIN
DIVISIVENESS, WE HAVE SEEN
THE HARD LOOKS AND HEARD
THE STATEMENTS IN WHICH NOT
EVEN OTHERS IDEAS ARE
CHALLENGED BY EACH OTHERS
MOTIVES.
OUR GREAT PARTIES HAVE TOO
OFTEN BEEN FAR APART
AND UFRN TRUSTING OF EACH
OTHER.
IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE
VIETNAM.
THAT WAR CLAVES US STILL.
BUT FRIENDS, THAT WAR BEGAN
A QUARTER CENTURY AGO.
SURELY THE STATUE
OF LIMITATIONS HAS BEEN
REACHED.
THIS IS A FACT.
THE FINAL LESSON OF VIETNAM
IS THAT NO GREAT NATION CAN
LONG AFFORD TO BE THUNDERED
BY A MEMORY.
TO MY FRIEND -- AND YES,
I MEAN FRIEND --
IN THE LOYAL OPPOSITION --
AND YES I MEAN LOYAL --
I PUT OUT MY HAND.
I AM PUTTING OUT MY HAND
TO YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I AM
PUTTING OUT MY HAND TO YOU,
MR. MAJORITY LEADER,
FOR THIS IS THE THING.
THIS IS THE AGE OF
THE OFFERED HAND.
WE CAN'T TURN BACK CLOCKS,
AND I DON'T WANT TO.
BUT WHEN OUR FATHERS WERE
YOUNG, MR. SPEAKER,
OUR DIFFERENCES ENDED
AT THE WATERS EDGE.
WE DON'T WISH TO TURN BACK
TIME, BUT WHEN OUR MOTHERS
WERE YOUNG, MR. MAJORITY
LEADER, THE CONGRESS
AND THE EXECUTIVE WERE
CAPABLE OF WORKING TOGETHER
TO PRODUCE A BUDGET ON WHICH
THE NATION COULD LIVE.
LET US NEGOTIATE SOON
AND HARD, BUT IN THE END,
LET US PRODUCE.
THE PEOPLE AWAIT ACTION.
THEY DID NOT SEND US HERE
"IN CRUCIAL THINGS,
UNITY" AND THIS, MY FRIENDS,
IS CRUCIAL.
TO THE WORLD, TOO, WE OFFER
NEW ENGAGEMENT AND A RENEWED
VOW --
WE WILL STAY STRONG
TO PROTECT THE PEACE,
THE OFFERED HAND IS
A RELUCTANT FIST,
BUT THE FIST, ONCE MADE,
IS STRONG AND CAN BE USED
WITH GREAT EFFECT.
THERE ARE, TODAY,
AMERICANS WHO ARE HELD
AGAINST THEIR WILL
IN FOREIGN LAND AND
AMERICANS WHO ARE
UNACCOUNTED FOR.
ASSISTANCE CAN BE SHOWN
HERE, AND WILL BE LONG
REMEMBERED.
GOOD WILL BEGETS GOOD WILL.
GOOD FAITH CAN BE A SPIRAL
THAT ENDLESSLY MOVES ON.
GREAT NATIONS, LIKE GREAT
MEN, MUST KEEP THEIR WORD.
WHEN AMERICAN SAYS
SOMETHING, AMERICA MEANS IT,
WE WILL ALWAYS TRY TO SPEAK
CLEARLY, FOR CANDOR IS
A COMPLIMENT.
BUT SUBTLETY, TOO, IS GOOD
AND HAS ITS PLACE.
WHILE KEEPING OUR ALLIANCES
AND FRIENDSHIP STRONG,
EVER STRONG, WE WILL
CONTINUE THE NEW CLOSENESS
WITH THE SOVIET UNION,
CONSISTENT BOTH WITH
OUR SECURITY AND
WITH PROGRESS.
ONE MIGHT SAY THAT OUR NEW
RELATIONSHIP IN PART
REFLECTS THE TRIUMPH OF HOPE
AND STRENGTH OVER
EXPERIENCE.
BUT HOPE IS GOOD, AND SO IS
STRENGTH.
AND VIGILANCE.
HERE TODAY ARE TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF OUR CITIZENS
WHO FEEL THE UNDERSTANDABLE
SATISFACTION OF THOSE WHO
HAVE TAKEN PART IN DEMOCRACY
AND SEEN THEIR HOPES
FULFILLED.
BUT MY THOUGHTS HAVE BEEN
TURNING, THE PAST FEW DAYS,
TO THOSE THAT WOULD BE
WATCHING AT HOME --
TO A OLDER FELLOW WHO WILL
THROW A SALUTE BY HIMSELF
WHEN THE FLAG GOES BY,
AND A WOMAN WHO WILL TELL
HER SONS THE WORDS
OF THE BATTLE HYMMS.
I DO NOT MEAN THIS TO BE
SENTIMENTAL.
I MEAN THAT ON DAYS LIKE
THIS WE REMEMBER THAT WE ARE
ALL PARTS OF A CONTINUM,
INESCAPABLY CONNECTED
BY TIES THAT BIND.
OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING
IN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT
OUR NATION, AND TO THEM
I SAY THANK YOU FOR WATCHING
DEMOCRACY'S BIG DAY,
FOR DEMOCRACY BELONGS TO ALL
OF US.
FREEDOM IS LIKE A BEAUTIFUL
KITE THAT CAN GO HIGHER
AND HIGHER WITH THE BREEZE.
TO ALL I SAY, NO MATTER WHAT
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES OR WHERE
A PRESIDENT IS NEITHER
PRINCE NOR POPE, AND I DO
NOT SEEK A WINDOW ON MEN'S
SOULS.
IN FACT, I YEARN
FOR A GREATER TOLERANCE
AND EASY-GOINGNESS ABOUT
EACH OTHERS ATTITUDE AND WAY
OF LIFE.
THERE ARE FEW CLEAR AREAS
IN WHICH WE AS A SOCIETY
MUST RISE UP UNITED
AND EXPRESS OUR INTOLERANCE,
THE MOST OBVIOUS NOW IS
DRUGS.
WHETHER THE FIRST ***
WAS SMUGGLED IN ON A SHIP,
IT MAY AS WELL HAVE BEEN
A DEADLY BACTERIA, SO MUCH
HAS IT HURT THE BODY OF THIS
COUNTRY.
THERE IS MUCH TO BE DONE
AND TO BE SAID, BUT TAKE
I DO NOT MISTRUST
THE FUTURE, AND I DO NOT
FEAR WHAT IS AHEAD.
FOR OUR PROBLEMS ARE LARGE,
BUT OUR HEART IS LARGER.
OUR CHALLENGES ARE GREAT,
BUT OUR WILLS ARE GREATER.
AND IF OUR FLAWS ARE
ENDLESS, GOD'S LOVE IS TRULY
BOUNDLESS.
SOME SEE LEADERSHIP AS HIGH
DRAMA AND THE SOUND
OF TRUMPETS CALLING,
AND SOMETIMES IT IS THAT.
BUT I SEE HISTORY AS A BOOK
WITH MANY PAGES, AND EACH
DAY WE FILL A PAGE WITH ACTS
OF HOPEFULNESS AND MEANING.
THE NEW BREEZE BLOWS, A PAGE
TURNS, THE STORY UNFOLDS,
AND SO TODAY A NEW CHAPTER
BEGINS.
A SMALL AND STATELY STORY
OF UNITY, DIVERSITY,
AND GENEROSITY -- SHARED
>> FROM DEMOCRACY'S FRONT
POUR MUCH, AS HE CALLS IT,
THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST ACT
IS TO SAY A PRAYER THAT HE
MIGHT -- THAT WE MIGHT USE
POWER TO HELP PEOPLE.
>> THE SPEECH ABOUT
COMMITMENT AND PATRIOTISM
THAT, AS THE PRESIDENT
SAYS, FINDS ITS IMPRESSION
IN TAKING PART AND PITCHING
IN.
A MOVING, WARM TWIBT AT THE
BEGINNING TO PRESIDENT
REAGAN.
>> PLEASE REMAIN STANDING
FOR THE BENEDICTION BY
REVEREND BILLY GRAHAM AND
REMAIN STANDING FOR THE
SINGING OF OUR NATIONAL
ANTHEM BY STAFF SERGEANT
ALVY POWELL.
>> SHALL WE PRAY.
OUR FATHER, WE THANK THEE
FOR THIS GREAT DAY IN THE
HISTORY OF DEMOCRACY.
MAY IT TOUCH THE WHOLE
WORLD.
AND NOW MAY THE LORD BLESS
THEE AND KEEP THEE, THE
LORD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE
UPON THEE AND BE GRACIOUS
UNTO THEE.
THE LORD LIFT UP HIS
COUNTENANCE UPON THEE AND
GIVE THEE PEACE.
AMEN.
♪ O SAY CAN YOU SEE ♪
♪ BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪
♪
♪ AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING? ♪
♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES ♪
♪ THRO' THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪
♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS
♪ WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING? ♪
♪ AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE ♪
♪ THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪♪
♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT ♪
♪ THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE ♪
♪ O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE ♪
>> AND SOMEWHERE OVER THERE
IN THAT CROWD ANOTHER
TRANSITION, THE ONE WE
DON'T SEE, THE ONE MILITARY
AIDE HANDING TO ANOTHER THE
FOOTBALL IN WHICH ARE KEPT
THE NUCLEAR CODES FROM
PRESIDENT REAGAN'S MIDTEAR
AIDE TO PRESIDENT BUSH'S
MILITARY AIDE.
>> SOMEBODY OUT SOMEWHERE
IN THE BACK OF THE STAGE.
>> HE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY
IN THE BACK SEAT TO SET OFF
A NUCLEAR WAR.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY IT
SEEMS TOW TYPICAL, DAVID,
BUT MRS. BUSH JUST WIFRNGD
AT US.
-- WINKED AT HIM.
>> THEY HAVE LITTLE
SECRETS.
>> WE'VE ALL HEARD A LOT OF
POLITICAL SPEECHES AND
PROMISES OF WONDERFUL
PERFORMANCE.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO AWAY
FOR 45 SECONDS.
DON'T LEAVE.
WE'LL BE BACK.
PRESIDENT BUSH IS ABOUT TO
SAY GOODBYE TO PRESIDENT
REAGAN.
>> PRESIDENT BUSH WILL NOW
--
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> FIRST TIME I'VE EVER
HEARD THAT.
>> COME ON, DAN.
IT'S A MOVING -- I MEAN,
MOVING ON, DAVID, FOR A
SECOND FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN
HAPPEN TO WHAT WE'RE ABOUT
TO SEE HAPPEN.
THE DEFINITIVE END OF THE
REAGAN ERA IN WASHINGTON.
YOU WERE TALKING A FEW DAYS
AGO AND REMINDED ME HOW
SELF-CONSCIOUS JOHN ADAMS
FELT HAVING HIM AROUND 20
YEARS AGO BECAUSE THE
COUNTRY WAS LESS
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HAVING
JOHN ADAMS.
>> HE KNEW THE COUNTRY WORE
SHIPPED GEORGE WASHINGTON.
HE DIDN'T WANT WASHINGTON
AROUND TO OVERSHADOW HIM.
THERE HAS BEEN NO PRESIDENT
SINCE THEN THAT HAD THAT
KIND OF POWER.
WE'VE HEARD ALL SORTS OF
PROMISES ABOUT RETURNING TO
BIPARTISANSHIP IN FOREIGN
POLICY AND SO ON.
AND IN A RECENT DECADES, IT
HAS NOT HAPPENED.
I HAD THE FEELING TODAY
THAT GEORGE BUSH REALLY
MEANT IT AND WILL TRY AS
HARD AS I CAN AND HONESTLY
AS HE CAN TO BRING IT
ABOUT.
IT USED TO EXIST.
IT ENDED WITH VIETNAM WHEN
HALF OF THE COUNTRY TURNED
AGAINST THE OTHER HALF OF
THE COUNTRY.
WE'VE NEVER REALLY
RECOVERED FROM IT.
AS HE SAID, IT CERTAINLY IS
TIME THAT WE DID.
>> WERE YOU SURPRISED TO
HEAR HIM MENTION VIETNAM
AND MAKE MENTION OF A WAR
THAT CHE -- CLEAVES US
STILL?
>> IT WOULD BE HARD FOR HIM
NOT TO MENTION IT BECAUSE
THERE ARE SORE SPOTS ABOUT
IT.
THAT'S WHY I THINK HE MEANT
IT BECAUSE HE DID BRING IT
UP.
HE GAVE THE REASON FOR THE
FOREIGN POLICY CONFLICT
BETWEEN THE CONGRESS AND
THE WHITE HOUSE.
I THINK HE TRULY MEANS TO
TRY TO STOP IT.
I WISH HIM LUCK.
>> I'D LIKE TO JUST GET
SOME FIRST REACTIONS IF I
MAY FROM SOME OF OUR OWN
PEOPLE.
BRIT HUME FROM WHAT YOU
HEARD?
>> WELL, PETER, MY SENSE IS
THAT THIS IS A SPEECH THAT
WILL BE APPRECIATED WHO
DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR A LOT
OF PARTISAN BICKERING.
IT WAS SHORT ON DETAILS
EXCEPT FOR THE ONE CLEAR
PROMISE I THINK THAT WE
HEARD, WHICH WAS THAT HE
WOULD ELIMINATE THE SCOURGE
OF ***.
HIS PRESCRIPTION FOR
DEALING WITH SOME OF THE
NATION'S SOCIAL ILLS SEEMS
TO BE A MORAL CALL TO
VOLUNTEERISM WHICH IS AN
OLD REPUBLICAN IDEA AND
WHICH PRESIDENT BUSH HOPES
TO BREATHE NEW LIFE.
HE SAID WE HAVE MORE WILL
THAN WALLET BUT WILL IS
WHAT WE NEED.
NICE LINE.
THAT WAS THE OLD THOUSAND
POINTS OF LIGHT IDEA.
>> HE SPOKE OF VOLUNTEER
AGENCIES AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
JEFF GREENFIELD?
>> THIS WAS A SPEECH THAT
WAS ALMOST A PERFECT PITCH
SPEECH FOR GEORGE BUSH.
IT WAS DRAFTED BY PEGGY
NOONAN.
BUSH REHEARSED IT WITH
ROGER AILES ON WEDNESDAY
AND THURSDAY.
IT WAS DELIVERED LOW KEY.
ONCE AGAIN, YOU NOTICE THE
BREAK WITH THE REAGAN
STYLE.
HE SAYS SOME PEOPLE SEE
LEADERSHIP WITH TRUMPETS
AND DRAMA.
THAT'S RONALD REAGAN.
THIS IS A SPEECH THAT'S
VERY MUCH THE JIMMY STEWART
KIND OF SPEECH.
STEWARDSHIP.
THE YANKEE INSTEAD OF THE
COW BOY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY WELL
CRAFTED TO SAY OF BUSH, I
AM NOT RONALD REAGAN, I AM
MY OWN MAN NOW.
THIS IS THE TONE OF THE
NATIONAL CONVERSATION THAT
IS GOING TO BE TAKING PLACE
OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
I THINK IT WAS PERFECTLY
SAID.
>> IN THE ROTUNDA IS JIM
WOOTEN.
I SENSE A PRACTICAL
ADDRESS, DO YOU?
>> YES.
I THINK SO.
THE PRESIDENT AND MRS. BUSH
ARE JUST PRECEDING
PRESIDENT REAGAN AND MRS.
REAGAN OUT THE EAST
ENTRANCE OF THE ROTUNDA,
WHERE THE PRESIDENT WILL
LEAVE IN A HELICOPTER.
GETTING BACK TO THE SPEECH,
I THINK IT WAS A VERY
PRACTICAL SPEECH.
THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT
-- THAT I FOUND IN TERMS OF
CAPITOL HILL IS THAT THE
NEW PRESIDENT TURNED AND
SPOKE DIRECTLY TO THE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, MR.
WRIGHT, AND HE TURNED AND
SPOKE DIRECTLY TO SENATOR
MITCHELL, THE MAJORITY
LEADER OF THE SENATE.
IN SO DOING HE SAID, LET'S
WORK THIS OUT, GUYS.
THE PEOPLE DIDN'T SEND US
UP HERE TO BICKER AND
SQUABBLE.
LET'S GET SOME THINGS DONE.
THAT ALL SOUNDS VERY GOOD.
I SUSPECT IF YOU TALK TO
SPEAKER WRIGHT OR SENATOR
MITCHELL, THEY WOULD SAY
THEY AGREE WITH THAT.
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE
HARD PART, I EXPECT THAT
THERE MAY BE SOME MORE
DIFFICULTIES THAN CAN BE
SEEN OR EXPRESSED IN AN
INAUGURATION SPEECH OF THIS
TONE.
>> PRESIDENT BUSH SPOKE FOR
JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN 20
MINUTES.
YOU'RE NOW LOOK AT THE EAST
SIDE OF THE CAPITOL.
SHORTEST SPEECH ON RECORD
EVER WAS NOT QUITE 200
YEARS AGO.
IT WAS GEORGE WASHINGTON'S
SECOND, 135 WORDS.
>> ROOSEVELT IN 1944 WAS
VERY SHORT.
>> WILLIAM HARRISON MADE
THE LONGEST.
RICHARD NIXON, WHEN HE WAS
PREPARING HIS FIRST
INAUGURAL TRIED TO GET SOME
SENSE OF WHAT THEME WAS.
HE FOUND IT WAS ALMOST
ALWAYS UNITY, SACRIFICE,
CONFIDENCE IN CRISIS.
LET'S JUST WATCH THIS FOR A
MINUTE.
>> THIS IS A GOODBYE.
THEY WILL BE BACK IN
WASHINGTON, OF COURSE.
VISITING.
>> ANY LAST THOUGHTS AS YOU
GO OUT TODAY?
>> JUST CARRY ON.
>> WHAT'S NEXT?
>> WE'LL SEE.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY'RE
SAYING GOODBYE TO.
>> I DON'T KNOW EITHER.
>> VERY TOUCHING LITTLE
SCENE, PETER.
YOU >> CLEAN.
I JUST KNEW IT WOULD
HAPPEN.
BUT THEY WOULD SALUTE ONE
ANOTHER.
>> THE HELICOPTER WILL TAKE
THEM TO ANDREWS AIR FORCE
BASE WHICH IS 20-ODD MILES
FROM HERE.
FROM THERE HE'LL FLY TO
CALIFORNIA.
>> PRESIDENT BUSH SAID IT,
BUT HE REALLY DIDN'T NEED
TO SAY IT, BECAUSE ALL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY,
AND PRESIDENT BUSH WENT OUT
OF HIS WAY TO INVOLVE
PEOPLE, IN SCHOOLS, IN
HOME, WATCHING THIS ON
TELEVISION, TO THINK BACK
UPON THE REAGAN YEARS AS
PRESIDENT BUSH SAID OF MR.
REAGAN, THANK YOU FOR THE
WONDERFUL THINGS YOU HAVE
DONE FOR AMERICA.
THAT WILL BE IN SOME
RESPECTS MORE READILY
DEBATEABLE NOW THAN IT HAS
BEEN PERHAPS IN THE LAST
FEW DAYS.
TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE WORLD, DAVID,
WHO DON'T ALWAYS QUITE GET
THIS THE WAY IT IS DONE,
WITH SUCH GRACE AND SUCH
EFFICIENCY.
A LITTLE FANFARE.
>> WELL, THERE IS NO OTHER
GOVERNMENT LIKE OURS IN THE
WORLD.
THERE ARE OTHER DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNMENTS, OF COURSE, BUT
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS
IN THE CHANGE OF LEADERS
WHEN THEY CHANGE.
IN QUITE DIFFERENT WAYS.
OURS IS SOMEWHAT
COMPLICATED.
THEY DO FIND IT HARD TO
UNDERSTAND.
>> I THINK IT WAS JIM
WOOTEN WHO MENTIONED
EARLIER IN THE BROADCAST
EIGHT YEARS AGO, JIMMY
CARTER WAS GOING OUT,
RONALD REAGAN WAS COMING
IN.
I WAS IN WEST GERMANY
WAITING FOR THE HOSTAGES TO
BE RELEASED.
AND WE WERE TALKING
YESTERDAY ABOUT HOW SUDDEN
THE TRANSFER OF POWER IS
AND RECALLING THAT PASSAGE
IN HAMILTON JORDAN'S BOOK,
WHEN POWER PASSED TO THE
OTHER, PHONED THE
OPERATIONS ROOM IN THE
WHITE HOUSE TO SEE WHAT WAS
HAPPENING TO THE HOSTAGES.
HE WAS HELD ON HOLD FOR
JUST A MOMENT AND A VOICE
CAME BACK ON THE LINE AND
SAID, I'M SORRY, MR.
JORDAN, YOU'RE NO LONGER
CLEARED TO GET THAT
INFORMATION.
HAMILTON WRITES IN HIS
BACK, UNTIL THAT MOMENT, HE
DIDN'T HAVE ANY CLEAR
AWARENESS OF HOW SUDDENLY
POWER PASSES.
>> INSTANTANEOUS.
AT THE MOMENT THE OATH IS
TAKEN, IT ALL CHANGES.
BUT AS PROFESSOR GRAFF HAS
SAID, ONE OF THE MARVELS OF
MODERN HISTORY IS THE
AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM
IN WHICHEVER I LEADER HAS
LEFT WHEN HIS TIME RAN OUT
AND NOBODY EVER THOUGHT
ABOUT IT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE
WATCHING THE PRESIDENT DO
ONE LAP OVER THE ELLIPSE.
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING,
PROFESSOR?
>> THAT THIS CALL TO DUTY,
CALL TO UNITY.
IT PROVIDED NO PROGRAM, BUT
IT WAS AN APPEAL TO THE
DEEPEST AND BEST INSTINCTS
OF THE PEOPLE BY A VERY
DECENT AND CIVILIZED MAN
WHO WOULD LIKE THIS COUNTRY
TO SHINE IN THE WORLD AS A
DECENT CIVILIZED PLACE.
I WAS VERY MOVED.
>> PRESIDENT REAGAN IS ON
HIS WAY TO ANDREWS AIR
FORCE BASE.
WE SHALL BE THERE WHEN HE
LIVES.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
I CARRY KEYS. I CARRY LIPSTICK. I CARRY MEDIPREN,
'CAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT NEED.
HEY! MEDIPREN.
I HAD THIS REAL BAD BACKACHE,
AND I ASKED THE DOCTOR.
HE SAID, "TAKE MEDIPREN."
I DON'T LIKE TAKING PAIN RELIEVERS,
BUT SOMETIMES YOU NEED THEM,
AND MEDIPREN WORKS GREAT FOR ME.
MEDIPREN'S MADE FOR TOUGH PAIN,
BECAUSE IT'S MADE WITH IBUPROFEN,
THE SAME MEDICINE AS IN MOTRIN,
AND...
IT REALLY HELPS MY ARTHRITIS.
IF I GET A HEADACHE, IT'S MEDIPREN FOR ME.
THIS IS WHAT I WONDER--
IF THIS IS JUST RIGHT, HOW CAN THAT ONE BE JUST RIGHT?
I MEAN, HERE THEY HAVE FRUIT AND NUTS
WITH ALL THOSE FLAKES,
AND THERE THEY HAVE FIBER NUGGETS...
SO THIS ISN'T JUST A LITTLE BETTER?
OR MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE WORSE.
IT'S JUST RIGHT, JUST LIKE THE OTHER ONE?
HEY, THEY BOTH TASTE GREAT
AND GIVE YOU ALL THOSE VITAMINS
BUT THE THING IS,
THEY'RE DOING IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
SO THEY MAY BOTH SEEM JUST RIGHT, BUT...
IT'S JUST NOT PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE.
KELLOGG'S JUST RIGHT.
THINK BUTTER HAS A TON OF CALORIES?
THINK AGAIN.
BUTTER HAS JUST 36 CALORIES A PAT
THE SAME AS MARGARINE.
SO FOR NO MORE CALORIES, YOU GET BUTTER'S GREAT TASTE.
>> THE PRESIDENT SIGNING
DOCUMENTS.
>> HE HAS GOT A LINE OF
PENS ON THE INTENTION THAT
THEY WILL BE SOUVENIRS THAT
PEOPLE WANT.
LYNDON JOHNSON ONCE SIGNED
HIS NAME WITH ABOUT 15
PENS.
>> I REMEMBER WATCHING IT.
IT IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD
EVER SEEN IT.
RAS THE AS THE PRESIDENT
DOES THIS, WE WANT TO
LISTEN TO SOME VOICES.
IN THIS CASE, WITH THE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND
THE NEW SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER THERE ON THE
PRESIDENT'S RIGHT.
>> MITCHELL.
>> SENATOR MITCHELL FROM
MAINE.
LET US START IN LONDON WITH
FRANCOIS HESBURG.
MR. HESBURG, DID YOU HEAR
SOMETHING IN THE
PRESIDENT'S SPEECH THAT IS
GOING TO RES SON NATE
OVERSEAS?
>> I THINK THAT OVERSEAS
REALLY THREE WORDS WILL
HAVE BEEN PICKED UP,
RELIABILITY, COMPROMISE AND
BIPARTISANSHIP.
WHAT WE WILL BE WATCHING
VERY CLOSELY IS WHERJ THE
NEW PRESIDENT WILL BE ABLE
TO DELIVER ON THOSE WORDS.
BUT THE TIME AND THE
FORCEFULNESS WITH WHICH HE
SPOKE ABOUT THE NEW
ESTABLISHMENT OF
BIPARTISANSHIP WILL I THINK
HAVE TO BE NOTED VERY
CAREFULLY.
THERE IS ANOTHER ASPECT
WHICH I HAVE NOTED AND THAT
IS THAT HE TALKED
SPECIFICALLY AT ONE STAGE
ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES
AND THE SOVIET UNION.
INDEED, THAT IS THE ONLY
SPECIFIC BILATERAL
RELATIONSHIP HE MENTIONS.
IT IS SOMETHING WHICH WILL
PROBABLY HAVE BEEN PICKED
UP IN MOSCOW.
IT IS RECOGNITION OF THE
SOVIET UNION'S SPECIFIC
SUPERSPOUR STATUS.
>> MR. HEISBOURG, HE MAKE
A VERY GOOD POINT.
WE HAVE GENNADI GERASIMOV,
WHO MANY AMERICANS
RECOGNIZE AS MIKHAIL
GORBACHEV'S SPOKESMAN.
WHAT DID YOU HEAR THAT
IMPRESSED YOU?
>> WELL, MY CONCLUSION FROM
THE SPEECH WAS THAT IT'S
WINDY TODAY IN WASHINGTON,
D.C. , BECAUSE THE
PRESIDENT MENTIONED BREEZES
AT LEAST FOUR TIMES IN HIS
SPEECH.
WE DO HAVE OUR OWN BREEZES
HERE.
WE CALL THEM PERESTROIKA.
SO IF WE UNDERSTAND HIS
REFERENCE TO BREEZES AS THE
WISH TO HAVE A FRESH START,
A LITTLE BIT OF DISCONTINUE
THE CAUSE THAT PRESIDENT
REAGAN HAD, WE WISH HIM WEM
AND WE HOPE TO WIN THE
POLITICAL DIALOGUE.
>> IS THERE ANY OTHER
INITIATIVE YOU SENSE IN
THERE AT ALL?
>> THE SPEECH IS MAINLY ON
THE DOMESTIC ISSUES A AND
THE USUAL REPUBLICAN OR
MAYBE DEMOCRATIC RHETORIC.
BUT WE DO WISH TO CONTINUE
OUR DIALOGUE AND TO
CONSERVE THE DYNAMISM WHICH
WE HAVE IN OUR RELATIONS.
AND AS I UNDERSTAND JAMES
BAKER, LOSS GOING TO BE THE
SECRETARY OF STATE, TALKED
ABOUT THIS DYNAMISM, THAT
THEY WANT TO RETURN-TO
RETAIN IT.
>> MR. GERASIMOV, WE
TRANSFER POWER IN THIS
COUNTRY MUCH DIFFERENTLY
THAN YOU DO IN THE SOVIET
UNION.
ARE YOU IMPRESSED WITH THE
WAY WE DO IT?
>> THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> ARE YOU IMPRESSED WITH
THE WAY WE DO IT?
>> WELL, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT
ON THE SCREEN.
BUT I KNOW THAT IT IS AN
IMPRESSIVE WAY, YES.
YOU EVER THE SAME BIBLE FOR
200 YEARS.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKE THE
TIME.
GENNADI GERASIMOV.
THAT IS PRESIDENT REAGAN
ARRIVING AT ANDREWS AIR
FORCE BASE OUTSIDE
WASHINGTON.
AND AS HE DOES, LET US
LISTEN MOMENTARILY TO OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY
CORRESPONDENT JOHN MCWETHY.
JOHN, PRESIDENT BUSH
MENTIONED THE HOSTAGES.
WHAT DO YOU THINK HE IS
GOING TO DO, IF ANYTHING,
DIFFERENT FROM PRESIDENT
REAGAN?
ANY HINT?
>> IT IS SOMEWHAT
SURPRISING THAT HE DID
MENTION THE HOSTAGES,
PETER.
AS YOU REMEMBER EIGHT YEARS
AGO IT WAS JIMMY CARTER WHO
HAD SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME
ON THIS DAY OF THE TURNING
OVER THE POWER TO THE NEW
ADMINISTRATION, THE IRAN
HOSTAGES THEN OFRK.
BUT PRESIDENT BUSH IS GOING
TO HAVE THE SAME DIFFICULTY
PROBLEM THAT RONALD REAGAN
HAD AND THAT IS WHAT IN THE
WORLD TO DO ABOUT THE
HOSTAGES, TO LET THE WORLD
AN LET THE COUNTRY KNOW
THAT THE HOSTAGES ARE
IMPORTANT, BUT THEN
BASICALLY TO LIE LOW ON
FURTHER STRATEGY.
>> JOHN, YOU COVERED
DIPLOMACY FOR US.
I AM CONVINCED I HEARD A
CLEAR MESSAGE IN THAT
SPEECH TO IRAN WHEN
PRESIDENT BUSH SAID "THERE
ARE TODAY AMERICANS WHO ARE
HELD AGAINST THEIR WILL IN
FOREIGN LAND, AND AMERICANS
WHO ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR."
THEN HE SAID "ASSISTANCE
CAN BE SHOWN HERE AND WILL
BE LONG REMEMBERED.
GOODWILL BEGETS GOODWILL.
GOOD FAITH CAN BE A SPIRAL
THAT ENDLESSLY MOVES ON."
POSSIBLE PLENGS TO IRAN?
>> IT CAN VERY WELL BE A
PLEDGE TO IRAN, PETER.
I THINK PERHAPS THE MOST
IMPORTANT MESSAGE IN THE
SPEECH IS THE MESSAGE TO
THE SOVIET UNION THAT THE
UNITED STATES WANTS TO
CONTINUE THE CLOSE
RELATIONSHIP THAT HAS BEEN
DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS.
THAT'S A MESSAGE WHICH IS
HEARD NOT ONLY IN MOSCOW
BUT ALL AROUND THE WORLD
BECAUSE WHEN THE SUPERPOWER
RELATIONSHIP DOES NOT WORK,
THEN OF COURSE IT HAS
REPERCUSSIONS ALL OVER THE
PLACE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IN JUST A MOMENT, WE ARE
GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO
SAM DONALDSON, WHO IS OUT
AT ANDREWS.
SAM, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
SAM DONALDSON MADE HIS WAY
FROM THE NORTH LAWN OF THE
WHITE HOUSE OUT TO ANDREWS
AIR FORCE BASE, BECAUSE AS
HE POINTED OUT EARLIER, HE
IS ONE THE A SMALL HANDFUL
OF REPORTERS WHO IN HIS
CASE COVERED PRESIDENT
REAGAN FOR EIGHT YEARS, THE
LONGEST, I BELIEVE, WAS LOU
CANNON.
BUT THEY HAVE INVITED A
SMALL HANDFUL OF THEM TO GO
BACK WITH PRESIDENT REAGAN
AND MRS. REAGAN BACK TO
CALIFORNIA.
AND WE ARE MAKING A CHANGE
OF OUR OWN.
SAM IS GOING TO LEAVE
COVERING THE WHITE HOUSE
WHERE WE'VE ALL BEEN VERY
PROUD OF HIM AND IS GOING
TO BE REPLACED BY BRIT
HUME, WHO'S GOING TO MOVE
FROM CAPITOL HILL DOWN TO
THE OTHER END OF
PENNSYLVANIA AEFR.
SAM, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> WELL, YES, PETER, WE ARE
AT ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE.
ON ANY GIVEN DAY, SURELY
THE COLDEST, IF NOT THE
WINDIEST PLACE IN THE
WASHINGTON AREA.
PRESIDENT AND MRS. REAGAN
HAVE JUST ARRIVED BY
HELICOPTER AND THEY ARE
WALK TOWARD TO A POSITION
WHERE HE CAN TAKE THE
SALUTES OF AN ALL-SERVICE
HONOR GUARD.
THE BAND INTENDS TO PLAY
FOUR NUMBERS FOR HIM.
THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS NOT
EXPECTED TO SPEAK BUT OF
COURSE IF HE CHOOSES TO SAY
SOMETHING, EVERYBODY WILL
LISTEN.
THERE IS A LARGE CROWD OF
MILITARY DEPENDENTS AND
MILITARY PERSONNEL GATHERED
HERE TOO WISH HIM WELL.
YOU SEE SIGNS IN THE CROWD
SAYING "WE STILL LOVE YOU
BOTH."
AND "CONGRATULATIONS."
DL- THEY ARE.
NANCY REAGAN, FORMER
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN.
IN FRONT OF THE HONOR
GUARD.
>> YESTERDAY OUR POLLS,
SAM, SHOWED THAT THE
PRESIDENT HAS THE HIGHEST
POPULARITY RATING LEAVING
OFFICE THAN ANY PRESIDENT
SINCE ROOSEVELT?
>> YES, I THINK IT IS AS
HIGH AS IT WAS WHEN HE CAME
INTO OFFICE, WHICH IS AN
EXTRAORDINARY THING.
YOU CAN'T DEBATE THE FACT
THAT HE IS EXTREMELY
POPULAR.
NO RUFFLES AND FLOURISHS
FOR THE LAST TIME HERE AT
ANDREWS FOR RONALD REAGAN.
>> HOW MUCH DO YOU SUPPOSE
HE IS GOING TO MISS ALL
THIS?
DAVID, I THINK YOU WERE
ABOUT TO ASK SAM A
QUESTION.
>> I WAS WONDERING HOW MUCH
WHEN HE GETS BACK TO LOS
ANGELES AND BELAIRE ALL OF
THIS WILL AS IF BY MAGIC
DISAPPEAR.
ALL THE FIRING OF GUNS AND
THE PLAYING OF BRASS.
>> WELL, DAVID, LON RONALD
REAGAN LOVES CEREMONY MORE
THAN ANYONE I KNOW.
FOR INSTANCE, HE LOVES TO
SALUTE MORE THAN ANYONE IN
OR OUT OF THE SERVICE THAN
I'VE SEEN.
YOU WILL SEE HIM SALUTE, I
BET, WHEN HE GETS TO THE
STEPS OF HIS PLANE, THE
MILITARY GUARD THERE.
I THINK HE WILL MISS THE
CEREMONY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, HE HAS TOLD
US ALREADY HE IS GOING ON
THE MASHED POTATO CIRCUIT.
HE IS GOING TO SPEAK UP FOR
CAUSES THAT HE BELIEVES IN.
HE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE AT
REPUBLICAN DINNERS.
IT IS NOT AS IF HE IS GOING
TO DISAPPEAR FROM SIGHT.
>> WHILE THE PRESIDENT IS
REVIEWING THIS HONORS
GUARD, WE CAN PERHAPS HEAR
FROM YOU, GEORGE WILL, SOME
THOUGHTS ON THE TRANSITION.
>> BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST
TIME IN 60 YEARS AND
ACTUALLY SIX YEARS BACK IN
1929 IN A MORE LEASH YOU
ARELY AMERICAN AIRJS WE
DIDN'T INAUGURATE
PRESIDENTS UNTIL EARLY
MARCH, BUT THE FIRST TIME
SINCE THEN A PRESIDENT HAS
BEEN SUCCEEDED BY A
PRESIDENT OF HIS OWN PARTY
IN A NORMAL INAUGURATION.
IN A WAY, THE TRANSITION
FOR TO THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION STARTED LONG
AGO.
SO THIS IS, AS I SAY, A
SEEMLESS TRANSITION AND
ONE, THAT I THINK, REFLECTS
THE GOOD WILL THAT GEORGE
BUSH HAS LABORED HARD TO
CREATE HERE.
THE THEME THAT OUR FOREIGN
COMMENTATORS PICKED UP ON,
THE STRESS ON THIS SPEECH
WAS ON BIPARTISANSHIP.
IT IS A USEFUL FICTION BUT
USUALLY A FICTION TO SAY
THAT BIPART SANSHIP IS THE
AMERICAN NORM.
IT MAY SEEM THAT WAY TO
PEOPLE WHO LIKE GEORGE BUSH
CAME OF AGE DURING THE
GREAT BIPARTISANSHIP OF
WORLD WAR II.
FROM THE FIGHTING OF MEXICO
TO THE CUBAN ADVENTURE OF
1898, THERE HAS BEEN FIERCE
PARTISANSHIP IN AMERICAN
FOREIGN POLICY, OFTEN ALONG
PARTY LINES AND THERE IS NO
REASON TO THINK IT WILL
STOP.
BUT IT IS PERFECTLY
UNDERSTANDABLE THAT
PRESIDENT BUSH WANTS TO
PRETEND THAT IT WILL.
>> GEORGE, I MUST SAY THAT
AT LEAST FROM THIS VANTAGE
POINT, I SENSED AN APPEAR
TIGHT FOR IT IN THE LAND,
WHEN THE PRESIDENT SAID,
THEY DIDN'T SEND US HERE TO
BICKER.
THEY ASKED US TO RISE ABOVE
THE CRUCIAL UNITY AND THIS,
MY FRIENDS, IS CRUCIAL.
HE GOT THE BEST ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
>> HE CERTAINLY DID.
THEY SENT A REPUBLICAN TO
THE WHITE HOUSE AND THEY
SENT DEMOCRATS TO CONTROL
THE LEGISLATURE AND
BICERING IS INHERENT IN
THAT RECIPE.
>> BACK TO ANDREWS AIR
FORCE BASE AND SAM
DONALDSON.
>> THE PRESIDENT HAS JUST
TROOPED THE LINE AND NOW HE
IS GOING TO GO TO HIS
PLANE, WHICH, AS YOU KNOW,
IS NOT AIR FORCE I BECAUSE
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES WILL NOT BE ABOARD
IT.
IT IS SIMLY ONE OF THE
PLANES THAT THEY USE.
THE NEWEST OF THE 707'S
THAT HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE
SINCE THE 60'S.
PRESIDENT AND MRS. REAGAN
WAVING AT PEOPLE.
MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A WORD
WITH HIM, MAYBE NOT.
WHAT WOULD BE RONALD REAGAN
GOING SOMEWHERE WITHOUT ONE
LAST SHOT AT A QUESTION.
>> GO HAVE A GO, SOOM.
>> THEY HAVE THEIR DOG WITH
THEM.
HE GETS TO GO TO
CALIFORNIA, I THINK, FOR
THE FIRST TIME.
>> HOW ABOUT A WORD, MR.
PRESIDENT?
>> NO.
>> NO TIME, HUH?
>> IT'S TOO COLD.
>> TELL US HOW YOU FELT
WHEN THE MOMENT PASSED.
OK.
IT IS KIND OF WINDY OUT
HERE.
I THINK MRS. REAGAN LOOKS
LIKE SHE MIGHT WANT TO SAY
A WORD.
BUT NO, SHE GOES WITH HER
HUSBAND.
THIS IS COLONEL TELEFARIS,
THE VICE COMMANDER OF THE
DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AND
HIS WIFE, WHO HAS BEEN
DESIGNATED TO SAY GOODBYE.
LET'S SEE IF I'M RIGHT OR
WRONG.
HE IS A LUETD AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE STEPS.
WHEN HE GETS ON TOP, HE'LL
WAVE AND THEN HE'LL SALUTE
INTO THE DISTANCE.
HE'S SALUTEING THE CONTROL
TOWER THAT YOU CAN'T SEE
OUT OF THE PICTURE.
HE ALWAYS SAYS GOODBYE TO
THEM.
SINCE YOU NOTED WE ARE
CHANGING OUR OWN GUARD
HERE, BRIT HUME IS GOING TO
TAKE OVER THE WHITE HOUSE
AND I'M HISTORY JUST LIKE
RONALD REAGAN, THAT I'VE
ENJOYED MY 12 YEARS THERE,
I'VE APPRECIATED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE THERE, I
HOPE I HAVEN'T VEXED TOO
MANY PEOPLE, AND I WISH
BRIT HUME WELL.
SIGNING OFF FROM ANDREWS.
>> PUT DOWN THAT
MICROPHONE, SAM.
GET ON THE PLANE.
AFTER ALL THE YEARS YOU
MISREAD THE PRESIDENT.
HE DIDN'T SALUTE.
BUT THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR
EFFORTS.
YOU'VE DONE GREAT.
EXECUTIVE ONE IT IS NOW
CALLED.
NO LONGER AIR FORCE ONE.
IT'S ALMOST AS IF, ALMOST
AS IF THE PRESIDENT HAD
THAT INATE SENSE THAT HE
WAS NO LONGER COMMANDER IN
CHIEF AND THEREFORE WASN'T
REQUIRED OR DIDN'T FEEL
INSTINCTIVELY LIKE HE
WANTED TO SALUTE FROM THE
TOP OF THE STEPS.
>> IT'S INTERESTING THAT
THE PRESIDENT HAS CONTINUED
TO USE THE 717, WHICH WAS
THE FIRST COMMERCIAL JET
AIRLINER BUILT IN COUNTRY.
IT WAS A MILITARY JET
BEFORE THAT.
VERY SOON THEY'RE GOING TO
HAVE TWO, MAYBE THREE --
>> TWO.
>> 747'S OUTFITTED FOR THE
PRESIDENT.
>> LET US RETURN AT LEAST
TO LISTEN TO CAPITOL HILL
AS WE WATCH THE PRESIDENT'S
EXECUTIVE ONE PREPARE FOR
TAKEOFF AND LISTEN AGAIN TO
OUR NEW WHITE HOUSE
CORRESPONDENT BRIT HUME.
BRIT?
>> PETER, I'D FIRST LIKE TO
THANK SAM FOR HIS GOOD
WISHES, I'LL NEED THEM.
I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING A
TOUGHER PERFORMANCE TO
FOLLOW THAN HIM, PROBABLY
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS
STREET CORRESPONDENTS IN
HISTORY.
THE BUSH FAMILY AND THE
SENATE AND ALL THE PEOPLE
AND THE PRESIDENT-ELECT AND
ALL THESE PEOPLE -- AS YOU
CAN SEE, THE CHAIRS ARE
GONE, THE RUG IS BEING TORN
UP.
THIS CEREMONY MAY HAVE BEEN
A CELEBRATION OF THE
PERMANENCE OF OUR
GOVERNMENT, BUT THE TRAP
-GS OF THE CEREMONY ARE
IMPERMANENT INDEED.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT
WILL TAKE TO TEAR THE
PLATFORM DOWN, BUT IT WILL
BE GONE SOON INDEED.
>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEE
YOU -- SEEING YOU ON THE
NORTH SIDE OF THE WHITE
HOUSE NEXT.
THIS IS WHERE THE PRESIDENT
IS GOING TO HAVE LUNCH WITH
SENIOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
THEN MAKE HIS WAY BACK TO
THE WHITE HOUSE BECAUSE IN
A LITTLE MORE THAN AN HOUR
FROM NOW, THE INAUGURATION
PARADE IS GOING TO BEGIN.
THAT IS PROBABLY THE
HARDEST ROOM ON ALL OF
CAPITOL HILL IN WHICH TO
HAVE A CONVERSATION.
ONE OF THE REASONS, DAVID,
THEY MOVED OUT OF THAT
ROOM.
>> BECAUSE IT RESONATES,
ECHOS.
AT THE LUNCH TODAY, THE
INAUGURAL LUNCH FOUR YEARS
AGO THEY SERVED QUAIL.
TODAY IT WILL BE CHICKEN.
>> TODAY IS GRILLED
POUSSAINT -- BUT YOU'RE
QUITE RIGHT, CHICKEN.
I WANT TO GET SOME THOUGHTS
FROM CAPITOL HILL.
>> NOW THAT THE TRANSFER OF
POWER HAS HAPPENED, WE CAN
SAY WHAT A LOT OF US HAVE
HAD ON OUR MINDS.
RONALD REAGAN BROKE THE
JINX.
EVERY PRESIDENT ENDING IN
THE YEAR ZERO HAS DIED IN
OFFICE, HARDING, MCKINLEY,
KENNEDY.
RONALD REAGAN CAME NARROWLY
TO DYING SIX WEEKS IN.
WE ALL FEEL A SIGH OF
RELIEF THAT THAT JINX HAS
NOW BEEN ENDED.
THAT'S A NICE WAY TO END
IT.
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK OF
THE SPEECH IN >> THE BUSH
SPEECH I THOUGHT SET
EXACTLY THE RIGHT TONE.
I THINK THAT THE GESTURES,
THE TURNING TO THE CONGRESS
MEN, WHICH DID INDEED GET A
BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE WAS
AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN THE HIGH
GROUND.
IT WAS BUSH'S WAY OF
SAYING, I'M CLAIMING THE
GROUND OF THE NONPARTISAN
OR BIPARTISAN WORKER SO
THEREFORE IF THERE'S
DISCORD, IT'S YOUR FAULT.
THIS WAS A NICE WAY OF
PUTTING AN EDGE ON THIS --
I APOLOGIZE -- THIS KIND
AND GENTLE SPEECH.
>> MY MIND WAS RUSHING
AHEAD TO THIS AFTERNOON
WHEN THE PARADE WILL BE
SEEN.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO COME
BACK?
2:00?
2:00 WE'RE GOING TO COME
BACK, EASTERN TIME.
WE WILL BE JOINED ON THAT
OCCASION BY BARBARA
WALTERS, WHO HAS BEEN
TALKING TO PRESIDENT BUSH
AND MRS. BUSH.
AND WE HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU
THEN.
FOR DAVID BRINKLEY AND
EVERYBODY ELSE WHO HAS
WORKED ON THIS, WE'LL SEE
YOU IN 55 MINUTES.
>>> IT IS A REALLY LOVELY
DAY HERE IN THE NATION'S
CAPITAL, A LITTLE CLOUDY,
NOT TOO COLD.
GETTING A LITTLE COLDER.
MAYBE IT WILL BLOW BY THE
TIME THE AFTERNOON IS OFRMT
BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF
PEOPLE ON PENNSYLVANIA
AVENUE NOW WAITING FOR THE
41ST PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES, GEORGE BUSH,
TO FINISH HIS LUNCH UP ON
CAPITOL HILL AND MAKE HIS
WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
AND THIS AFTERNOON WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE A PARADE, AN
INAUGURATION PARADE.
200 YEARS AFTER GEORGE
WASHINGTON WAS SWORN IN,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN
INAUGURATION PARADE THAT
HAS ALL THE EARMARKS OF A
FUN AFTERNOON.
WE ARE GLAD YOU COULD JOIN
US.
LARGE CROWD ON PENNSYLVANIA
AVENUE ALREADY.
WE ARE GOING TO CALL IT
REVOLUTIONARY PENNSYLVANIA
AVENUE IN A MOMENT BECAUSE
WE ARE GOING TO GO UP THERE
AND FIND THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE HAVE COME FROM NEAR
AND FAR AND HAVEN'T BEEN
ABLE TO SEE QUITE AS WELL
AS THEY HAD ANTICIPATED.
THE PARADE ROUTE, FROM
CAPITOL HILL DOWN
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE PAST
THE TREASURY TO THE WHITE
HOUSE.
>> THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING
LUNCH IN STATUARY HALL.
AND WE WERE ALLOWED A BRIEF
GLIMPSE OF PRESIDENT BUSH.
AS HE LUNCHS WITH THE
LEADERS.
DAVID DAVID BRINKLEY?
>> HE PUTS SWEET 'N' LOW IN
HIS COFFEE.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF
I COULD HAVE YOUR ATTENTION
FOR A MOMENT PLEASE --
>> IN A MOMENT, THERE WILL
BE AN EXCHANGE OF TOASTS
BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND
THE LEADERSHIP OF CONGRESS.
IF YOU WERE WITH US EARLIER
THIS MORNING, YOU KNOW THAT
THE PRESIDENT REACHED OUT
REALLY QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY
IN THE SEN FOR
BIPARTISANSHIP WITH
CONGRESS.
LET US LISTEN.
>> I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW
MUCH I APPRECIATE THE CHIEF
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME
COURT OF THE UNITED STATES.
WHEN HE REACHED IN HIS
POCKET AND PULLED OUT A
MERIT AND PUT A LIGHTER TO
IT AND STARTED SMOKING, I
FELT IT WAS A COMMAND
PERFORMANCE FOR ME AND I
HAD TO PULL OUT ONE, TOO.
>> HE'S FROM KENTUCKY, A
TOBACCO-GROWING STATE.
WENDELL FORD, SENATOR FORD.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, AND MR.
VICE PRESIDENT, THE
GREATEST GIFT THIS COUNTRY
CAN GIVE WAS GIVEN TO YOU
ON LAST NOVEMBER THE 8TH.
THE PEOPLE SHOWED THEIR
CONFIDENCE IN AND FOR YOU
TO BE THE LEADER OF THE
GREATEST AND STRONGEST
NATION IN THE WORLD.
IF WE COULD HAVE THE BOX,
WE'LL BE GLAD TO PRESENT A
GIFT TO THE PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS
HAND-BLOWN ONE-OF-A-KIND
CRYSTAL BOWL BY LENNOX
CRYSTAL COMPANY DISPLACE
THE CAPITOL ON ONE SIDE AND
AN ARBOR OF CHERRY TREES ON
THE NEAR SIDE CREATE AGO
THREE-DIMENSIONAL EFFECT
THE BASE IS IN ENSCRIBEED
COMMEMORATING YOUR SWEARING
IN AT THIS BICENTENNIAL
INAUGURATION, JANUARY THE
2OTH -RKTS 1989.
IT IS MY PRIVILEGE, MR.
PRESIDENT AND MY HONOR, TO
PRESENT THIS GIFT TO YOU
FROM THE CONGRESS AND FROM
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SHOW
OUR LOVE AND AFFECTION TO
YOU AND BARBARA.
>> I DON'T HOW GOOD LOOK WE
ARE GOING TO GET AT THIS.
I HAVE SEEN IT, DAVID, AND
IT IS ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS.
AND I DON'T WANT TO SOUND
TOO MUCH LIKE A PROMOTIONAL
ANNOUNCEMENT.
BUT PEOPLE THAT WATCH
"WORLD NEWS TONIGHT," THEY
WILL GET AN UNUSUAL VIEW OF
THIS BOWL AND LEARN MORE
ABOUT ITS HISTORY.
>> AND MR. VICE PRESIDENT,
WE, THE CONGRESS ALSO HAVE
A SIMILAR GIFT FOR YOU AND
MARILYN.
IT MAY BE A LITTLE SMALLER,
BUT WITH THE SAME LOVE AND
AFFECTION.
>> THE VICE PRESIDENT-THE
FIRST TIME WE HAVE A LOOK
AT HIM SINCE THE SWEARING
IN.
>> WHAT WOULD THEY USE THAT
FOR?
>> MR. PRESIDENT, TODAY WE
CELEBRATE THE BICENTENNIAL
INAUGURAL OF THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
WE HAVE USED THE FIRST
GREAT SEAL OF THIS COUNTRY
THROUGHOUT OUR PORTION OF
THIS DAY.
THE GREAT SEAL WAS DESIGNED
TO SYMBOLIZE THE HOPE AND
PROMISE OF A NEW NATION.
THAT HAD HIGH INSPIRATIONS
AND GRAND HOPES FOR THE
FUTURE.
THE BICENTENNIAL INAUGURAL
THAT WE CELEBRATE TODAY IS
LIVING PROOF THAT THOSE
HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS HAVE
NOT ONLY BEEN ACHIEVED BUT
THEY STILL ENDURE.
MR. PRESIDENT AND FIRST
LADY, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE
HAVING ANOTHER LUNCHEON
TODAY IN THIS BUILDING.
WE VISITED THEM A FEW
MOMENTS AGO.
YOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND MY
GRANDCHILDREN ALONG WITH
CHILDREN OF PARTICIPANTS IN
THIS LUNCHEON, ARE DINING
ON GRILLED CHEESE
SANDWICHES, CHICKEN
NUGGETS, FRESH FRUITS, SOFT
DRINKS AND MILK.
I'VE CHECKED, MR.
PRESIDENT, AND AT THAT
LUNCHEON, THERE HAS BEEN NO
TALK OF POLITICS.
>> IN FACT, AS YOU
MENTIONED EARLIER -- THEY
HAVE GOT A MAGICIAN.
>> TO ENTERTAIN THE KIDS.
>> IT IS A CHALLENGE.
TO YOU AND ALL OF US, NOT
AS REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS
BUT AS AMERICANS, TO SEE
THAT BEFORE THEY AND OTHERS
OF EVERY RACE, CREED, AND
COLOR LEAVE THIS ERJS, THEY
ARE NOURISHED IN MIND, AND
IN BODY, AND IN SPIRIT.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH AND LONG LIFE
WITH YOUR LADY AT YOUR
SIDE.
SO WE AND THE CONGRESS --
>> GIVES YOU SOME SENSE OF
THE ACOUSTICS IN THAT HALL,
WHICH ARE TERRIBLE.
YOU COULD HEAR THOSE CHAIRS
SLIDING BACK.
>> THANK VERY MUCH.
WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM THE
PRESIDENT.
>> THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVESS USED TO
MEET THERE, BUT THEY
COULDN'T HEAR ONE ANOTHER.
SO THEY MOVED OUT.
>> CHAIRMAN FORD AND -- THE
PARADE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN,
SO LET ME JUST SAY A COUPLE
OF WORDS.
I LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM AND
I SEE MANY FRIENDS WITH
WHOM I SERVED IN THE
CONGRESS AND MANY FRIENDS
WITH WHOM I WORKED FOR THE
LAST EIGHT YEARS WHEN I WAS
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.
I FIRST WANT TO THANK
SENATOR FORD AND HIS
COMMITTEE, TED, OTHERS, WHO
HAVE DONE JUST AN
OUTSTANDING JOB ON MAKING
THIS PEOPLES' DAY SO
SPECTACULARLY SUCCESSFUL
AND I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL OF ■
YOU.
WENDELL JUST SAID, MR.
PRESIDENT, AS WE WALKED OUT
OF THE PLATFORM THERE
COMING UP TO THE -- UP SOME
STEPS AND THEN DOWN SOME
STEPS TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO
PRESIDENT REAGAN, THE
SERGEANT AT ARMS OF THE
HOUSE SAID "MR. PRESIDENT"
AND I'M STANDING THERE
WAITING FOR PRESIDENT
REAGAN.
AND I FEEL SOMETHING THAT
WAS BETWEEN AN AFEX
NATIONAL HUG AND A KIDNEY
PUNCH.
THE SILVER FOX TELLING ME
TO GET GOING.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.
THE PARADE IS GOING TO BE A
GOOD ONE.
NO POLITICS TODAY.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY
SPECIAL DAY FOR THE COUNTRY
AS IT HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST
200 YEARS.
AND BAR AND I ARE JUST
DELIGHTED TO HAVE THIS
SIGNIFICANT PART IN IT THAT
WE REALLY CAME HERE AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THIS LUNCH TO
SAY THANKS TO THE MEMBERS
OF THE HOUSE AND THANKS TO
THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE
FOR THIS WONDERFUL WAY TO
START OFF THIS PRESIDENCY.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU,
SIR.
WELL-DONE AND MAY I PROPOSE
A TOAST TO THE MEMBERS OF
THE CONGRESS, TO THE
INSTITUTION, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, THE SENATE
>> BY NOW, YOU PERHAPS WILL
BE GETTING FAMILIAR TO THIS
REFERENCE TO THE SILVER
FOX.
PRESIDENT BUSH IS OF COURSE
TALKING ABOUT THE WOMAN WHO
HE ALSO REFERS TO AS BAR,
BARBARA BUSH, THE FIRST
LADY.
AND HE HAD THE EXPERIENCE
THIS MORNING THAT OTHER
PRESIDENTS HAVE HAD, ALL OF
A SUDDEN THEY ARE BEING
CALLED "MR. PRESIDENT."
AND THAT CROSS BETWEEN A
KIDNEY PUNCH AND AN
AFFECTIONATE HUG WAS
BARBARA BUSH .
BARBARA WALTERS, HAVEN'T
SEEN YOU IN PERSON FOR
QUITE SOME TIME.
AND YOU BLESS US WITH YOUR
PRESENCE TODAY.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THIS
MORNING?
>> I MUST SAY AS A VIEWER
WATCHING, I WAS VERY WEEPY,
WHEN THEY SANK THE NATIONAL
ANTHEM, I WAS WEEPY.
I FOUND IT VERY MOVING.
IT IS INTERESTING TO HEAR
WHAT PRESIDENT BUSH SAID,
SUDDENLY REALIZING HE WAS
PRESIDENT BECAUSE, AS YOU
KNOW, WE TALKED TO HIM ON
MONDAY, AND WE SAID, HAS IT
SUNK IN.
HE SAID, YES, IT DOESN'T
SEEM AS DRAMATIC AS I
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
IT IS NOT A SHOCK TO ME.
BUT I GUESS IT IS SOMETHING
TO ACTUALLY BEING THERE
WHEN YOU ARE CALLED "MR.
PRESIDENT" THAT'S
DIFFERENT.
NOTHING CAN PREPARE YOU.
>> THERE WAS A MOMENT EVEN
BEFORE VICE PRESIDENT
QUAYLE WAS SWORN IN UP ON
THE HILL TODAY WHEN GEORGE
BUSH LOOKED MORE SOLEMN,
MORE OF THE MOMENT THAN I
CAN EVER RECALL BEFORE.
>> IT MUST BE A CRUSHING
EXPERIENCE.
SUDDENLY I AM THE
PRESIDENT.
SUDDENLY I AM RESPONSIBLE
FOR EVERYTHING.
LOOKING BACK.
>> HE IS VERY RELAXED.
EASY, FUNNY.
I MEAN, A VERY DIFFERENT
MAN THAN THE MAN WE WERE
SEEING IN THE CAMPAIGN.
BUT AGAIN, AS HE'S BEEN
SAYING, THAT'S HISTORY.
THIS IS THE REAL GEORGE
BUSH.
>> BARBARA, YOU HAVE KNOWN
THEM FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT TELL US A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THE INTERVIEW.
>> THIS SILVER FOX
EXPRESSION IS KIND OF NEW
THIS WEEK.
PRESIDENT BUSH WAS CALLING
HER FOR A FEW MOMENTS THIS
WEEK THE GRAY FOX.
SHE DIDN'T LIKE THAT.
SHE PREFERED WHEN THE
SECRET SERVICE CALLED HER,
WHICH WAS "TRANQUILLITY."
WHAT I THOUGHT OF MOST OF
THIS INTERVIEW AND YOU WILL
SEE IT TONIGHT ON "20/20,"
IS THE INTERCHANGE BETWEEN
THE TWO OF THEM.
THEY ARE FUNNY, THEY ARE
RELAXED, THEY ARE A HAPPY
COUPLE OF 44 YEARS OF
MARRIAGE.
IT ISN'T THE KIND çóOF
ROMANTIC ALMOST HONEYMAN
FEELING YOU FELT BETWEEN
THE REAGANS.
IT IS TWO PEOPLE WHO AREN'T
AFRAID OF TEASING EACH
OTHER.
>> THIS ISN'T NEW, BARBARA.
THEY FELT EARLY ON IN THE
CAMPAIGN THAT THEY WERE
BEING OUTPERFORMED IN THIS
REGARD BY THE DUKAKISS.
>> THEY WEREN'T BEING ROMAN
*** ENOUGH.
THEY SCRAP WITH EACH OTHER
A BIT.
>> PUNCH EACH OTHER IN THE
KIDNEYS.
>> HE'LL SAY TO HER, COME
ON, HONEY, YOU CAN SAY
THAT.
IT IS EASY AND IT IS REAL.
IT IS WHEN YOU SEE THEM
TOGETHER.
>> I AM VERY GLAD YOU ARE
WITH US THIS AFTERNOON.
WE CAN --
>> ACTUALLY, WE WERE
WONDERING WHAT THEY COULD
PUT IN THOSE CRYSTAL BOWLS
AND SHE SAID "PORK RINDS."
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
I'M SURE YOU ARE GOING TO
EAT MORE THAN YOU EVER
WANTED TO EAT.
MRS. BUSH HAS SAID SHE IS
SO SORRY HE EVER SAID THAT.
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE THE
JELLYBEANS.
ENOUGH WITH THE PORK RINDS.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY
ARE?
>> YES, ISN'T IT THE SKIN?
>> YOU ARE SO
KNOWLEDGEABLE.
>> BECAUSE MY DESK IS PILED
UP WITH THEM AND I JUST
READ THE LABEL ON ONE OF
THE BAGS.
IT IS SKIN.
PIGS THAT DO NOT TURN INTO
FOOT BALLS, TURN INTO
PORKBALLS.
>> LET US DIGRESS FOR A
LITTLE BIT AND LISTEN TO
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THE
INTERVOO THAT BARBARA DID
WITH PRESIDENT AN MRS. BUSH
THIS WEEK.
>> YOUR VIEW HAS CHANGED.
IT IS AS IF YOU BECAME
SUPERMAN.
>> THAT WILL CHANGE, TOO.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT YOU
HAVE CHANGED OR MAYBE THE
CAMPAIGN OR ELECTION GAVE
DIFFERENT FEELING ABOUT
YOURSELF.
YOU DON'T THINK HE HAS.
>> NO.
I REALLY DON'T.
>> I DO THINK IN FAIRNESS
TO THE CRITICS THAT WHEN
YOU ARE NOT THE NUMBER TWO
ON A TEAM, THAT ARE BUT ARE
REALLY HEADING A TEAM AS A
PRESIDENT MUST DO, IT'S
DIFFERENT.
I HOPE THAT I DEMONSTRATED
AS VICE PRESIDENT A CERTAIN
SENSITIVITY TO THE WHITE
HOUSE STAFF, THE
PRESIDENT'S STAFF, AND
CERTAINLY TO THE PRESIDENT
FOR WHOM I HAVE LASTING
RESPECT AS HE HEADS OUT TO
THE WEST.
I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM
THIS MAN.
IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME TO
GO OUT THEN AND SAY
SOMETHING EVEN THOUGH I
MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENCE
WITH WHAT HE DECIDED.
AS A TEAM PLAYER, SOME OF
YOUR OWN PASSIONS ARE
PROPERLY SUBLIMATED.
SO THERE'S THAT DIFFERENCE.
>> MR. BUSH, YOU DON'T LIKE
TO DANCE.
YOU'VE GOT ALL --
>> HE'S A VERY GOOD DANCER,
TOO.
>> EVERYTHING I'VE READ
SAYS YOU'RE NOT A GOOD
DANCER.
>> HE SAYS HE'S NOT BECAUSE
HE DOESN'T REALLY LIKE IT.
>> THAT'S SHOW BUSINESS.
YOU GET UP THERE FOR ABOUT
TWO MINUTES ON THE THING
AND THAT'S ALL.
THAT'S ALL I'M GOOD FOR.
I READ THAT SOMEBODY ELSE,
SOME FAMOUS GUY FELT THE
SAME WAY ABOUT IT.
>> GEORGE CAME FROM A
FAMILY WHERE MANY OF THEM
WERE VERY GOOD DANCERS.
ALSO SINGERS.
SOMEHOW THEY MADE HIM FEEL
THAT HE WASN'T EITHER A
GOOD DANCER OR GOOD SINGER.
>> AND?
>> NOBODY LIKES TO DO
ANYTHING THAT YOU DO BADLY.
>> WE'LL NEVER ASK YOU TO
SING.
>> PLEASE.
>> THERE'S A LOT TO TALK
ABOUT THE NEW PRESIDENT
THIS AFTERNOON, HIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH MRS.
BUSH, HIS DANCING.
I LIKED THE REFERENCE TO
SOME FAMOUS GUY, AS IF HE
WERE NOT.
>> WELL, YOU HEARD
PRESIDENT BUSH HIMSELF SAY
A SHORT WHILE AGO TO THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE SENATE
AND THE HOUSE, THE PARADE
IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.
THERE'S PENNSYLVANIA
AVENUE.
THE CROWD IS GATHERING.
HERE'S THE ROUTE.
IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST
FAMILIAR WALKING ROUTE IN
THE COUNTRY.
IT'S REALLY PRETTY EASY.
YOU LEAVE THE CAPITOL, GO
OUT THE DOOR, TURN LEFT,
HEAD DOWN PENNSYLVANIA
AVENUE.
IT'S ABOUT A MILE AND A
HALF.
GO UP 15TH STREET, TURN
LEFT AT THE TREASURY, DOWN
PAST WHAT THEY CALL THE
COURT OF HONOR RIGHT IN
FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
ALL ALONG THE ROUTE, ABC
NEWS CORRESPONDENTS ARE
WAITING TO REPORT ON THE
PEOPLE'S DAY.
LET'S HEAR FROM CAROLE
SIMPSON.
WHAT IS THIS REVOLUTION ON
YOUR HANDS?
>> PETE ARE -- PETER, I'M
AT 13TH AND CONSTITUTION.
THERE ARE BLEACHERS FOR
2,000 PEOPLE, IMPORTANT
PEOPLE INCLUDING
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF
HONOR WINNERS AND MEMBERS
OF THE QUAYLE FAMILY AND
MEMBERS FROM THE SHIP WHO
FISHED PRESIDENT BUSH OUT
OF THE WATER WHEN HE WAS
SHOT DOWN.
WHAT'S WRONG?
>> BASICALLY WE PAID DOLLAR
100 APIECE FOR THE TICKETS.
WE WERE ASSURED OF A
PREMIUM SEAT AND OUR VIEW
IS OBSTRUCTED BY THESE
PEOPLE WHO ARE STANDING IN
FRONT OF US ON SOME SORT OF
A STEP.
I DON'T THINK THE COMMITTEE
HAS DONE A GOOD JOB.
>> PEOPLE ARE TEN-12 DEEP.
>> WE CAN'T EVEN SEE THE
ROAD FROM WHERE WE'RE
SITTING, WHICH IS THE
FOURTH ROW.
WHEN ALL YOU SEE IS
PEOPLE'S BACKS, IT'S
DISAPPOINTING.
>> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO
DO?
>> WE'RE NOT SURE.
TRY TO GET AHOLD OF
SOMEBODY FROM THE PARADE
COMMITTEE.
BUT UNTIL THEN, WE DON'T
SEE ANY OF THE PARADE UNTIL
THE POLICE GET OUT AND MOVE
SOME OF THE PEOPLE OUT OF
OUR WAY.
>> MAYBE YOU'LL SEE THE
TOPS OF THE FLOATS.
THAT'S IT.
BACK TO YOU, PETER.
>> THE TALLER FLOATS.
I DON'T THINK THEY'D GET
ANYBODY FROM THE PARADE
COMMITTEE TODAY, GENTLEMEN.
BUT WE CAN GIVE YOU A
GLIMPSE OF THE FLOATS
BECAUSE BILL GREENWOOD IS
OVER THERE.
WE HAVE MORE HORSES, BANDS.
>> ACTUALLY, THERE WILL BE
214 UNITS IN THE PARADE.
I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY
HOW MANY BANDS, BUT THEY
ARE AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN
SEE.
BEHIND ME IS THE NEEDHAM B.
BROUGHTON FROM RALEIGH,
NORTH CAROLINA.
I'M ON A STAGING AREA.
THERE ARE LITERALLY WALL TO
WALL BANDS FROM HERE TO THE
CAPITOL, TO THE WHITE
HOUSE.
WE HAVE BANDLOCK, YOU MIGHT
CALL IT.
NO ONE CAN MOVE UNTIL THE
PARADE STARTS.
THE BANDS WHICH HAVE NOW
FORMED AT THE FOOT OF THE
CAPITOL WILL MAKE A U-TURN,
GO DOWN PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE
TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND
START MOVING ALONG BEHIND
ME UNTIL THIS PARADE ENDS
PERHAPS AN HOUR AND A HALF
OR TWO HOURS FROM NOW.
>> THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
COMMITTEE SAYS IT'S GOING
TO BE TWO HOURS ON THE
NOSE.
WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF MONEY
RIDING ON THAT ONE.
>> WHICH WAY?
>> WE ARE NOT GOING TO
OVERWHELM YOU EITHER WITH
FACTS AND FIGURES THIS
AFTERNOON.
BUT 53 HIGH SCHOOL AND
COLLEGE MARCHING UNITS
ALONE.
NOT TO MENTION THE MILITARY
BANDS.
AT THE OTHER END OF
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.
RIGHT BEFORE THE
PRESIDENTIAL REVIEWING
STAND IS BARRY SERAFIN.
>> PETER, IT'S BEEN FILLING
UP DOWN HERE IN THE PAST
HOUR OR SO.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE BEST
SEATS IN THE HOUSE,
ADJACENT TO THE
PRESIDENTIAL REVIEWING
STAND WHICH IS A BLOCK
AWAY.
THESE ARE EXPENSIVE SEATS,
THEY RUN $75 TO $100
APIECE.
PEOPLE ARE IN A GOOD MOOD
AND IT'S CLEARLY NOT GOING
TO RAIN ON GEORGE BUSH'S
PARADE.
THE SUN IS SKIPPING IN AND
OUT AND EVERYBODY IS IN A
GOOD MOOD.
A LOT OF PEOPLE FILLING
THESE SEATS ARE PEOPLE WHO
WORKED FOR MR. BUSH DURING
THE CAMPAIGN.
>> JEFF GREENFIELD DID SUCH
A GOOD JOB ANALYZING THE
PRESIDENT'S INAUGURAL
ADDRESS, WE GAVE HIM THE
BEST SEAT FOR THE PARADE.
JEFF, YOU'RE RIGHT OPPOSITE
WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS
GOING TO SIT.
>> THE BEST SEATS ARE OVER
MY SHOULDER.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU, PETER,
I WAS OFFERED HUGE BRIBES
BY LONG-TIME LIBERAL
COLLEAGUES TO DESCRIBE
THINGS LIKE THE ABOUT A
LOONG FEDERAL DEFICIT
BALLOON.
I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT, I
WANT YOU TO KNOW, BECAUSE I
AM A REAL JOURNALIST.
>> HOW MUCH DID THEY OFFER,
YOU JEFF?
>> NOT ENOUGH, OBVIOUSLY.
THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT
REWARDS IN ANY INAUGURAL IS
THE RIGHT TO SIT IN THE
REVIEWING STAND AND WATCH
WITH THE PRESIDENT.
IN FACT THE PROBLEMS THAT
CAROL WAS TALKING ABOUT IS
SYMPTOMATIC OF HAD ONE
THING THAT HAS GONE ON.
HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE COME FROM ALL
OVER AMERICA, PAY A LOT OF
MONEY, AND FIND OUT JUST
HOW INSULTED YOU CAN BE BY
SPENDING HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
THE PRINCIPAL STATEMENT
TONIGHT WILL BE, HOW LONG
DOES TAKE TO GET A DRINK
AROUND THIS PLACE?
>> WHO IS GOING TO SIT OVER
BY THE VICE PRESIDENT AND
PRESIDENT BESIDES THE
GRANDCHILDREN?
>> CABINET, TOP WHITE HOUSE
STAFF PEOPLE, AND THOSE WHO
HAVE A FAMILIAR
RELATIONSHIP -- FAMILIAR
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BUSH
FAMILY.
>> BOB HOPE AND CHUCK
YEAGER ARE THE INAUGURAL
PARADE'S GRAND MARSHALS.
>> THEY'LL RIDE UP FRONT IN
A CONVERTIBLE AT THE HEAD
OF THE PARADE AND PROBABLY
NEVER SAY A WORD.
EVEN BOB HOPE I'M SURE WILL
NEVER SAY A WORD.
>> IS THIS THE BIGGEST
PARADE IN THE COUNTRY?
>> IT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE.
THIS WHOLE INAUGURATION HAS
BEEN THE MOST EXPENSIVE.
>> $35 MILLION IS THE
FIGURE THAT'S BEEN PUT ON
IT.
>> THAT'S THE WHOLE THING,
FOR THE DANCES AND SO ON.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
PARADE IS, I WAS TALKING
ABOUT THE WHOLE
INAUGURATION.
PEOPLE WERE WONDERING WHAT
THEY MISSED FOUR YEARS AGO.
IT WAS A LONG TIME SINCE
WE'VE SEEN A PARADE.
FOUR YEARS AGO IT WAS SO
COLD THE PARADE WAS
CANCELED.
IT'S BEEN EIGHT YEARS SINCE
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WATCH
AN INAUGURATION PARADE.
>> WHAT DOES HAPPEN IN
TERMS OF PEOPLE
PARTICIPATING IS THAT THEY
RAISE THE MONEY THEMSELVES
TO COME.
I THINK THERE WAS OR IS,
I'M NOT SURE, ONLY ONE
STATE IN THE UNION NOT
REPRESENTED BECAUSE IT
COULDN'T RAISE MONEY.
>> NORTH DAKOTA.
>> THEY FINALLY DID.
>> THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
COMMITTEE HELPED IN SOME
INSTANCES, LIKE ALASKA HAD
SOME DIFFICULTY GETTING THE
KIND OF REPRESENTATION IT
WANTED TO HAVE.
THIS QUESTION OF MONEY,
THOUGH.
IT'S A SEMI-CONTROVERSIAL.
$30 MILLION.
IS IT WORTH IT?
>> AND CORPORATIONS BEING
ABLE TO DONATE, THE BIG
CORPORATIONS GETTING THEIR
"IN" BY GIVING THIS HUGE
AMOUNT OF MONEY.
THE INTEREST-FREE LOANS
THEY'RE EXPECTING TO PAY
BACK THROUGH ALL THE
FESTIVE PARTICIPATE.
IT'S ALL LEGAL AND FINE,
BUT IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
>> WELL, ON PAPER IT'S ALL
QUITE PRISTINE.
THEY LEND THE MONEY TO THE
INAUGURAL COMMITTEE SO THEY
CAN PUT UP THE GRANDSTANDS.
THE THEORY BEING, AFTER
THEY SELL THE TICKETS, THEY
GET PAID BACK.
THEY DON'T USUALLY GET PAID
BACK, SOMETIMES THEY GET A
PART OF IT.
I BELIEVE THE FIRST REAGAN
INAUGURAL THEY HAD MONEY
LEFT OVER AND THEY PUT IT
INTO SOME KIND OF
SCHOLARSHIP FUND.
SO YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN
JUDGMENT ABOUT THAT.
>> BUT IT IS ABOVE ALL
TODAY A CHANCE TO SORT OF
RENEW THIS STATEMENT ABOUT
DEMOCRACY.
WE WERE JOINED THIS MORNING