Informal Exchange With Reporters
Compensation
for Iranian Jetliner Victims
Q.
Mr. President, have you made a decision on compensation for the families of the
victims of the airliner in
The President. Well, I, from the
first, have said we're a compassionate people, and I think that we all have
compassion for the families of those unfortunate people who were on that plane.
And later today there will be a statement with regard to that.
Q.
I assume it's going to be in the affirmative.
Q.
Are you worried about American public opinion, Mr. President, being opposed to
compensating the victims' families?
The President. I think that they have
tied that to our feelings about the Government and what it did with regard to
our people in the Embassy there when the Ayatollah came in. And I want to make
it plain that there's certainly going to be no compensation for the Government
of Iran or anything of that kind, because we don't feel that any such thing is
called for. But as I've said, I think we all can have compassion for the
innocent people who were the victims.
Q.
How much? How much are you going to give?
Q.
Mr. President, we've been told that there are those who oppose this in the
Government on the grounds that it sets a bad precedent.
The President. I don't ever find
compassion a bad precedent.
Q.
How much money do you think it will involve?
The President. Don't know.
Q.
Do you have to get congressional approval for that or send a bill to Congress,
Mr. President?
The President. Well, there are some
details about that that are still being considered and worked out.
Attorney
General
Q.
Do you have a replacement for Meese yet?
The President. Well, there will be an
announcement coming shortly on that, too.
Q.
Today?
Q.
Today or this week?
The President. I can't give you a date
and hour on that.
Q.
Sounds like you're close, though.
The President. What?
Q.
Sounds like you're close.
The President. Possible.
Q.
Anyone we know? [Laughter]
The President. You've probably heard
of him.
Note: The exchange began
at