THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE OF STATE LEGISLATORS
State Dining Room
4:15 P.M. EST
Q Mr. President, do you think Yeltsin's going to survive?
THE PRESIDENT: I think that he is the duly-elected President of Russia and a genuine democrat, small d, and that he is leading a country that is trying greatly to do two things: one, escape from communism into market economics, a world they never lived in before; and second, to preserve real democracy. That's a tough job. Pretty hard to do here. (Laughter).
I intend to do what I can to be supportive of that process and to be supportive of him while he's serves as President of Russia. I don't know what else to tell you. I'm not a seer, I don't know what's going to happen to him or me tomorrow. I have confidence in him; I want to work with him as long as I can.
Q What about Janet Reno?
THE PRESIDENT: I'm elated by that. I told -- I had some senators in the office, and I said, that may be the only vote I carry 98 to 0 this year. (Laughter and applause.) She's a very good person, and I think she will do well.
Q When is she going to be sworn in?
THE PRESIDENT: When?
Q When?
THE PRESIDENT: Soon, I hope. I've been waiting for someone to -- (laughter.)
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END4:20 P.M. EST