March 17, 1981
Well, I thank you both, and I thank you all. I think the very evidence of our meeting here this
morning, in the eyes of the public, this early in the morning is an indication that we are prepared
to work together, and I'm looking forward to it. And I also appreciate this opportunity to thank
all of you, because you not only have been cooperating, you have put it on a fast track, this
program of ours. A schedule already has been agreed to and set as to where we're going to go
with it.
And I am optimistic, possibly because of what both you and Bob have said about the people.
Every indication, every evidence -- and I know this true in your own mail; it is in ours at the
White House and anytime we go out among the people -- we find that they are in support of this
program. They know that something has to be done, different than we've been doing things from
some time past.
So, I'm convinced that together we're going to be able to get this problem and get the economy of
this country back on the upturn where it should be, take our rightful place once again out in world
competition. And that means, for our people, bringing to an end the inflation that's been
destroying them at every level and putting our people back to work who are out there who know
now the indignity of unemployment.
So, I'll come up to the Hill as often as necessary. We've been busy down at our end, as you well
know, sending things here. We thought every once in a while we'd better come down here.
[Laughter] But actually we're here now because now we've passed that stage, and we're at the
stage where together we must go forward and get this program for the people of this country.
Note: The President spoke at 8:15 a.m. in Room S - 207 of the Capitol. He was introduced by
Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr., of Tennessee, majority leader of the Senate, and Representative
Robert H. Michel of Illinois, minority leader of the House of Representatives.