On the recordOctober 23, 1992
The goals are restore economic prosperity to this country. That is the single overriding goal. As Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, as custodian of the national security, I've got to guarantee against threats to the United States or threats to the free world, really, and I take that responsibility very, very seriously. In terms of the next person to serve there, I have had differences with Governor Clinton. And some say to me, ``You're old-fashioned. I find it difficult to understand how the Commander in Chief reacts,'' taking the position that he did, that it's okay to organize demonstrations against your country when your country is at war in a foreign land. People say, ``What's the difference in a foreign land?'' I don't know. I make a distinction. If you want to protest, come to the White House and do it. That's the American way. Everybody else does. Why don't you come along and do that? But I have big differences. But my differences with Governor Clinton in terms of the custodianship of the--or the being Commander in Chief is the problem that he has with kind of coming down on one position. On the war he said, ``I agree with the minority, but I guess I would have voted for the majority.'' You can't do that in the Oval Office. You have to make a decision. And sometimes it's painful, and you'll make a mistake and you say, ``Look, I fouled that up. I made a mistake.'' But on the war, we did the right thing, and I thought his position was waffling around out there. So I can't pass judgment on how anybody else would behave. But I've tried to uphold the honor. Honor, duty and country: I believe in that. I believe in service to country. And I think I'm a better Commander in Chief because I fought for my country. I don't think it's a mandatory requirement, but I just think it's made me more sensitive when you have to commit somebody else's son or someone's daughter to combat, having been there. Mr. Wills. Mr. President, we've run out of time. Thank you so much for being here with us tonight. That was our last question. We know there are so many others. We'd like to get them all in, but we have used up all of our time. We hope that the Florida News Network, through their town meetings, has helped you make an informed choice on November 3d. Ms. Bishop. I'm sure last month you saw Governor Clinton on our town meeting, and the Florida News Network has issued an invitation to Ross Perot. We are waiting for his response. We thank all of you for joining us on television. Thank you here in our studio and our other studios around the State. And of course, thank you, Mr. President, for being with us.
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