THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN PHOTO OP WITH CHANCELLOR KOHL

The Oval Office

10:40 a.m. EST

Q: Mr. President, have you heard that former Vice President Quayle has decided not to run for the Republican nomination?

THE PRESIDENT: I was literally -- I was informed of that three minutes ago.

Q: What do you think about it?

THE PRESIDENT: I'm a little surprised. But it's a hard decision; and it's an intensely personal one. I wish him well. I know it must have been a difficult decision for him.

Q: Do you have anything to say, sir, about Senator Fulbright?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. As you know, he was a very close friend of mine. And if it hadn't been for him, I don't think I'd be here today. I had a wonderful visit with him and with Mrs. Fulbright over Christmas. They came to the White House to see the decorations and we had a great, great visit. And I was in his home a few weeks before that. So I've kept in close touch with him in these months of his illness.

He made an amazing contribution to the life of our country and, of course, to our home state. And he was a great inspiration to thousands and thousands of us who were young when he was a senator and serving. And the country is in his debt.

Q: Do you think you'll go to his funeral?

THE PRESIDENT: I certainly hope so. We're -- I was informed early, early this morning that he has died during the night, and I told the folks to try to work it out.

Q: What do you think of Dr. Foster's performance on Nightline?

THE PRESIDENT: I'm sorry to say, I didn't see it because I went to bed early last night; I was very tired. But I heard he did quite well. And I think he's a good man. I think he just needs to keep talking about his life and his record and what he wants to do. I'm looking forward to the hearings.

Q: Mr. President, may I ask a question? Do you see eye to eye with the Chancellor when it comes to supporting Boris Yeltsin?

THE PRESIDENT: I think we are almost completely in agreement on our positions. Now, we haven't had a chance to talk, we've just arrived. But certainly over the last two years since I've been President, our positions have been the same. And we have worked very hard to try to promote democracy and progress within Russia. And we have done it together, and I think we will continue to work together on this.

Q: Do you support economic sanctions because of the situation in Chechnya?

THE PRESIDENT: I don't think -- we just started and we haven't had a chance to have a conversation yet. We'll have a press conference later and we'll all answer questions then.

END

10:45 a.m. EST