Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Bush prepares for Clinton visit, farewell address Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 15:07:56 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION \HD Bush prepares for Clinton visit, farewell address \BY Frank J. Murray \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES President Bush, reportedly considering a major farewell speech in January, looked beyond that to shift gears yesterday as he prepared to show President-elect Bill Clinton around the Oval Office tomorrow. Mr. Clinton declined Mr. Bush's offer of Blair House and an Air Force plane for his Washington visit. Transition spokeswoman Marla Romash said the Arkansas governor will use one of the campaign's charter planes and will stay at the Hay-Adams Hotel. "We're shifting gears to the new administration. We're referring all questions to that," a close-mouthed Mr. Bush told reporters during a White House courtesy meeting with Israeli President Chaim Herzog. No agenda was set for tomorrow's meeting except that the two men are scheduled to be alone for an hour, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Senior officials said Mr. Bush may ask his successor to come early for lunch and spend more time than scheduled. Neither staff members nor Hillary Clinton were officially scheduled to accompany Mr. Clinton on his first White House visit as president-elect, according to White House press secretary Marlin Fitzwater. But Ms. Romash said Mr. Clinton's top transition officials, chairman Vernon Jordan and deputy directors Alexis Herman and Mark Gearan, will meet separately with administration transition director Andrew Card. Mrs. Clinton will tour her family's new residence and state rooms on Thursday, a visit delayed because Barbara Bush, who will serve as guide, is house-hunting in Houston until tomorrow night. Although Mr. Bush plans to seek the traditional last word before surrendering the presidency, he told Chief of Staff James A. Baker III yesterday that he hadn't yet taken the time to decide how to do it. There is nothing traditional about the method presidents have chosen since George Washington started the custom on Sept. 17, 1796. Ronald Reagan summed up a world on the verge of change in a speech at the University of Virginia. Jimmy Carter wrote his thoughts and sent them to Congress as a report on the state of the union. Dwight Eisenhower reflected his concerns to a National Press Club audience. Mr. Bush was rested and a bit red in the cheeks from the Florida sun yesterday but seemed no more eager to talk with reporters than he has been since Election Day. He plans another five-day getaway next week, over the Thanksgiving Day weekend. "I don't care to answer any questions at all, but smiling happily," Mr. Bush said, flashing a momentary grin. Mr. Fitzwater also sought to brush off a report in Sunday's New York Times that Mr. Bush is demoralized and in despair. "It's your whole life, and so it takes a day or two to turn around your thinking. But by this time, everybody is in good shape," the spokesman said. "He respects the people's voice in the electoral process. They spoke, the vote is over, and now it is time to go on to other things." Mr. Bush initiated tomorrow's meeting in a telephone call to Mr. Clinton on Wednesday, but Mr. Fitzwater said yesterday that the president-elect's transition team originally asked for use of Blair House and a military plane. "There's no fixed agenda - whatever President-elect Clinton wants to talk about," Mr. Fitzwater said, a statement echoed by Ms. Romash. "President Bush will simply reiterate that he wants a smooth transition and will cooperate in any way possible," Mr. Fitzwater said. "I'm sure they'll have some matters to discuss in terms of international affairs and perhaps also dealing with Congress." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM