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 urges finishing job 'with style' Date: Fri, 6 Nov 92 11:28:29 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION;ELECTIONS '92 \HD Bush urges finishing job 'with style' \BY Frank J. Murray \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES President Bush told thousands of loyalist political appointees he will support "the new president" as he returned in defeat yesterday to the White House, where tears competed with the light drizzle. "I can think of nothing other to say except let's finish this job with style. . . . Now we will go inside, start readjusting, but you have given us a marvelous lift," an emotional Mr. Bush told a crowd whose energy seemed so spent that even the Marine Band couldn't stir them much. He took pains to praise the strength and help of Vice President Dan Quayle, who was beside him. "It's been a wonderful four years and nobody can take that away from any of us," he said with what sounded like lingering hostility to the press coverage he accused of having the worst bias in the history of American politics. "I think we've really contributed something to the country and maybe history will record it that way." After making his battles with Congress an issue in the election, he got in a last shot at Congress on the flight back from Texas by vetoing the massive 647-page tax bill. Senate Democrats and lobbyists theorized he might renege on a veto pledge after the election to leave a legacy of pet projects the bill also contained in spite of a $33 billion tax increase and other provisions Mr. Bush found onerous. It was the 46th veto of his administration. Only one was overridden. His stand required him to forgo provisions he wanted since it also would have repealed luxury taxes, created 50 inner-city "enterprise zones," eased the rules on alternative minimum taxes, restored real estate "passive loss" provisions lost in 1986, allowed those who buy businesses to write off "good will," and continued credits for research and development, low-income housing and targeted jobs programs. "The original focus of the bill, to help revitalize America's inner cities, has been lost in a blizzard of special-interest pleadings," Mr. Bush said. The usually cool and composed Barbara Bush seemed deeply affected by the outpouring of affection from workers of all ranks. She wiped tears from her cheek as Mr. Bush waved with both arms from the top of the steps on the South Portico, where they were joined by three grandchildren and Dan and Marilyn Quayle. Notably among the missing was Chief of Staff James A. Baker III, whose transplant from secretary of state to campaign chief 10 weeks before the election failed to save the day. "My immediate plans are to go to my South Texas ranch and start shooting birds," a blue-jeaned Mr. Baker told reporters in Houston. The president seemed overcome by a gift of roses, and it took six tries during an awkward stillness for him to start the next sentence after laying down the law to his staff for transition behavior. "Let's get this job done, cooperate fully with the new administration. The government goes on, as well it should, and we will support the new president and give him every chance to lead this country into greater heights," Mr. Bush said from a platform set up where his helicopter usually lands. He started it all by responding to cheers and a blur of tiny flags waving back and forth with a joke on himself: "Maybe you didn't read the election returns. It didn't work out quite the way we wanted." Almost no one laughed, however. The welcome ceremony was tempered by the fact that virtually everyone present had just gotten the equivalent of two months' notice that they are out of work and that their governing philosophy will be out of power after 12 years. Junior aides cried. Some swapped business cards and home telephone numbers. They packed close to shake Mr. Bush's hand as he took a long walk across the wet South Lawn among crowds that got 10 or 20 deep on both sides of him. Many workers brought spouses and children. Emotion knew no rank. Transportation Secretary Andrew Card clutched a colleague at the White House diplomatic entrance. At a quiet corner of the lawn two very senior aides - acting Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger and the president's personal physician, Dr. Burton Lee - consoled each other with a bear hug. Mr. Bush singled out Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole for special praise, calling the Kansas Republican's election-night comments "a class act." 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