Full Text of Bush-McCain<br>Press Conference

Here is the full text of the Tuesday, May 9, 2000 news conference by Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., as transcribed by the Federal Document Clearing House:color>

I've always respected John. We had a tough primary. I told him point blank he made me a better candidate. He raised a really good campaign, and he put me through my paces. And as a result of the campaign, I stand I'm better prepared to become the president. That's exactly what I intend to do as well.

John?

MCCAIN: Thank you very much.

We had a very good meeting. We talked about a variety of issues. We're in agreement on a lot more issues than which we are in disagreement.

I have said from the very beginning that I will support the nominee of the party. I look forward to enthusiastically campaigning for Governor Bush for the next six months, between now and November. I believe that it's very important that we restore integrity and honor to the White House. I am convinced that Governor Bush can do that more than adequately.

We are not in agreement on every issue; that was made clear during the primary. We are in agreement on more issues than we are in disagreement. And I'd like to say that I will not give up on the reform agenda.

I will continue to pursue the issues of reform, and I want to assure those people that supported me in the primary that I will continue to pursue this agenda. They are not contradictory to my support of Governor Bush, and I look forward to working with him and others as we can reform the institutions of government, including campaign finance reform. We are in agreement on the reform of education and health care, the military. Many of those issues we had a very good discussion about.

So we had a good meeting. I hope that our next meeting will not attract nearly as much attention as this one did, and I look forward to further discussions with Governor Bush and being present when he is inaugurated as the next president of the United States.

Q: (off-microphone)

MCCAIN: Yes.

Q: (off-microphone)

MCCAIN: I think your “take the medicine now” is probably a good description.

Actually, as I said before, I want to work to elect Governor Bush. I want to elect and re-elect Republicans so we will maintain control of the House and the Senate. Governor Bush and I agree that that is vital to his ability to effectively be president of the United Statesto work with a Republican Congress. I will continue a very heavy pace of campaigning for Republican House and Senate candidates, as well as assisting Governor Bush. And I look forward to that opportunity.

Q: Senator, why do you have difficulty using the word “endorsement” when you talk about your support for Governor Bush? ...

MCCAIN: I endorse Governor Bush. I endorse Governor Bush, I endorse Governor Bush, I endorse Governor Bush, I endorse Governor Bush, I endorse Governor Bush.

BUSH: By the way, I enthusiastically accept.

Q: Does that have to do with the feelings you still have about the kind of primary that you two ran and the bitterness you had at the time about some of the tactics that Governor Bush used.

MCCAIN: Look, the only way you can approach American politics in seeking elective office is to move forward. For me to look back in anger with any rancor would be a mistake. It would harm me, it would harm Governor Bush, and it would harm those who supported me in this campaign.

I look forward and not back. I hold no rancor.

Others will be the judge of this campaign, not me. And my job is to further our efforts to bring about institutions reforming the institutions of government. I can't do that effectively if I look back rather than forward.

Q: Pat Robertson said this weekend (of-microphone). ... Do you repudiate that remark, again, the remarks the reverend leveled at Senator Rudman during the primary.

BUSH: Listen, I, like John, I'm looking forward. I intend to become the president. Now John's a friend, he is a good man, he's a man of good judgment, and I look forward to working with him. I don't. ...

Q: ... recent polling showing a hypothetical three-way race that the man you're standing with still has a significant amount of support in this country.

BUSH: That's why I enthusiastically accept his endorsement.

Q: How important is that endorsement to you, A? And, B, what do you say to that bloc out there 23 percent, according to a recent poll on this day that he's endorsing you to make sure that they fall in line behind. ...

BUSH: Well, I think his endorsement's important because of that reason. There's a lot of people who think John is not only a great American but a person who's got a good solid agenda for the future. And as we just said, there's a lot of areas where we agree. And I intend to continue talking about reform, and it's very helpful to have John embrace reform.

And I'll tell you a good area where we both agree and there's going to be a stark difference of opinion and that's on Social Security. There's a lot of Americans who understand it's time to have a different attitude when it comes to making sure there's pension plans available for younger workers.

John and I both agree we must trust younger workers with some of their money in the private sector. We both agree, and he came out with a very interesting idea, along with Senator Moynihan and Senator Kerrey tht said, why don't we form a commission of some of the legislative branch, maybe some appointed by the next president, to put a plan before the Congress with an up or down vote as to whether or not the Congress has got the will necessary to save Social Security for younger workers. And that includes the ability of younger workers to manage some of their money in the private sector.

John and I agree strongly on that idea. And it's going to be a big difference of opinion between what he and I believe and what Vice President Gore believes. Vice President Gore's willing to accept the status quo, he's willing to think the current system is going to work, and we don't. And so people are going to find out that we agree on a lot of areas.

Q: Did you pop the question to Senator McCain about whether he'd like to be considered as your running mate or maybe. ...

BUSH: I asked his advice about the vice presidency.

MCCAIN: And I asked that I not be considered for vice president of the United States.

Q: Did you ask who would be considered? And did the name of Governor Tom Ridge surface at all during those discussions?

BUSH: Yes, it did.

QUESTION: Can you expand?

BUSH: The name of Governor Tom Ridge surfaced during the discussions. ... He surfaced it, by the way.

MCCAIN: No, I have the greatest respect and affection for Governor Ridge, but also I feel that Governor Bush is blessed with a large number of highly qualified men and women who have served as Republicans and served the country. Tom Ridge is one of those. Tommy Thompson, John Engler, Christie Todd Whitman, Elizabeth Dole. The list goes on of many others Chuck Hagel, Fred Thompson, John Kasich. There's a long list of very highly qualified men and women who I believe will serve with distinction and help Governor Bush become president of the United States.

QUESTION: (off-microphone)

MCCAIN: My secretary of reform.

QUESTION: Governor Bush, Senator McCain said that he didn't want to be considered it. Is that it? Is it over?

BUSH: I take him for his word.

QUESTION: (off-microphone)

MCCAIN: I think the single most important reason is that Governor Bush is the most qualified person to be president of the United States. He has the vision, he has the knowledge and the expertise to carry out the mission of maintaining United States supremacy, both militarily and economically, in the world.

I think that it's clear that Governor Bush's philosophy, his ideals and his ability to articulate a vision for the future, is the major reason why he should be president of the United States and not Al Gore. And I want to emphasize one more time, and I made it very clear to Governor Bush, I will continue to pursue the issues of reform. That is the agenda that drove me in my campaign and will drive me as long as I am in public service.

I believe we will have disagreements, but I also believe we will have a lot more agreements than disagreements. And I think our discussions and ou debate will be healthy, and in the long run, helpful to the party and the country.

Q: Can you discuss at all what your role in the convention or did you all talk about a role for Senator McCain?

BUSH: Not yet, but I would hope that John would play a key role in the convention. One reason why is we don't even have the format down yet. There's nothing to discuss until there's a pretty clear view about how the program is going to work. As you know, Andy Card has been named the head of the convention, and Andy's going to start working on the program and the timing of the different speeches, and John deserves a spot there at the convention.

Q: For either of you or both: Did you discuss taxes at your meeting and use of the surplus? And did you come to any common ground on that?

MCCAIN: I didn't hear the question.

BUSH: She asked about taxes.

Yes, we did discuss taxes and tax reform. And yes, we did.

QUESTION: (off-microphone)

BUSH: No, not really. We talked about some disagreements on areas. We'd rather talk about the areas where we agree, though, if you don't mind.

The good news is, we had a very frank discussion. John's a plainspoken fellow. I'm a pretty good listener. And I think that when on all issues, I spoke my mind and he spoke his, and that's good. That's the way I like my relationships. I like people that come into a room and say, listen, here's what I think. And he listened to what I had to say and I listened to what he had to say. And it's we've got a good relationship.

We had a good relationship before the primaries and we've got a good relationship now. And we'll have a good relationship when I become the president.

MCCAIN: Could I also emphasize that it was a private conversation. If we had wanted, we would have saved everybody a lot of time by just having you in the room, if we wanted to discuss every detail of our conversation.

But I think it is fair to characterize it as a very useful and helpful conversation, as we had envisioned when we set up this meeting.