Remarks at the
Swearing-In Ceremony for Frank C. Carlucci as Secretary of Defense
The President. Well, let me welcome
all of you here today. And I'm going to begin exactly the way you would expect
me to by saying how proud I am that someone with as illustrious a record as
Frank Carlucci will be taking over at Defense. As you know, Frank has earned a
reputation as an experienced and skillful administrator -- a man who knows the
bureaucracy, knows the Hill, and knows how to work with both to achieve
remarkable results for our national security. I've worked closely with Frank
here at the White House; it's been a privilege to come to know him well. He's
earned my respect, my full trust, and confidence. I know firsthand of his deep
commitment to a strong defense. And I look forward to working with him in a
capacity -- the importance of which I've stressed from day one of this
administration -- the national defenses and military readiness of the
Now,
I'm not going to recite all of Frank's accomplishments, because I know they're
so well known to all of you. But it should be noted that his background as
national security adviser, an intelligence manager, a career diplomat, a
businessman, and Deputy Secretary of Defense makes him the most qualified
individual in history to assume this post.
Frank,
there are going to be extraordinary challenges, and I'm certain you're up to
them. As you know, you'll face the day-by-day task of strengthening our
military preparedness and the longer term work of using our military technology
-- through programs like SDI -- to make this a safer world for peace and
freedom. But there's also the difficult but honorable work of maintaining one
of this administration's proudest accomplishments: the return of pride in our
Armed Forces and the appreciation of those devoted young men and women who wear
our country's uniform.
I
think Frank knows better than anyone the importance of that last point I've
just mentioned. A few years back, when all the experts were telling him
differently, Frank persevered in supporting democracy in
Frank
Carlucci is living proof to all of us and to the world that ``only in
Secretary
Carlucci. Thank you, Mr. President, for those very kind
and challenging words. I know it's customary to focus on one's new
responsibilities in this kind of situation, but, Mr. President, I'd just like
to take a minute to comment on my experience here at the White House under your
leadership.
First
of all, let me thank you for the tone that you have set in our relationship.
You have made a tough job seem easy. I also want to thank you for your
willingness to tolerate my viewpoint even when you've known that it has not
accorded with yours. We've had some spirited discussions in the Oval Office,
but always in an atmosphere of friendship and cordial debate. And I will miss
those discussions, although I will be back to see you in my new capacity.
Let
me also express my appreciation to Howard Baker, Ken Duberstein, and the White
House staff for the extraordinarily cordial relationships that we have had and
for the support that they have given to me and to the NSC. Someone said, Mr.
President, you never had a White House staff that has gotten along so well
together, and I can certainly endorse that. Your staff is serving you well, and
they are worthy of your continuing support.
Cap
just handed me a letter as I came in, which I suspect goes back to the days in
1980 when he asked me to be his deputy in Defense. And after wavering a bit, I
said yes. And I said, ``Cap, you know I have only one goal, and that is to help
make you the finest Secretary of Defense in our nation's history.'' And I'm
proud to say, Mr. President, that I have played some small role in achieving
that goal, because surely, as you said the other day, Cap will go down in history
as our finest Secretary of Defense. And, Cap, I will try to carry on in your
tradition.
Lastly,
I would like to express my appreciation to the NSC staff that has been so
supportive and to my wife, Marcia, who has been very supportive throughout my
days in the White House. It is a big job in the Pentagon, Mr. President, but
it's a special department, because you head it. You are the CINC, the Commander
in Chief. I know that you have a special feeling in your heart for our men and
women in uniform and for the thousands of civilians that support them. And
solid in that knowledge, I know that I can work with you to build on the very
significant achievements of your administration to date and continue the fine
Pentagon tradition that makes our Armed Forces the greatest in our country's
history.
Thank
you very much.
Reporter. Mr. President, why did you name an
active-duty military man [Colin L. Powell] to replace Mr. Carlucci? The
Iran-contra report recommended against an active-duty military man in the NSC
job.
The President. I guess I wasn't
listening to them. [Laughter]
Q.
You don't think that's a good idea?
The President. I think the man that I
appointed has served as Frank's next-in-command, his deputy. I have seen him
operate, and I think he is excellent for that particular job. And I don't think
that wearing our country's uniform and a few stars take away anything from
that.
Q.
Is the INF treaty in any trouble? Are we going to get it?
The President. Wait until the plane
lands -- [laughter] -- from
Q.
Mr. President, the markets now seem to be terribly oppressed with the budget
compromise.
The President. They probably haven't
looked at it yet. [Laughter]
Note: The President
spoke at