George H.W. Bush: “Well, I don't respond to Governor Clinton on these matters. We have a national emergency here, and we're trying to get…”

“Well, I don't respond to Governor Clinton on these matters. We have a national emergency here, and we're trying to get this job done. And I have full confidence in the people that are trying to get the job done. I don't take that as critical. If there are ways to improve what we're doing, fine. But this isn't a business of second-guessing; it's a business of trying to help people. And that's what we're about here. Again, I salute those who are involved. Andy Card had hardly any sleep down there working with these local officials. Governor Chiles is being as cooperative as he possibly can; same with the Senators down there, one Democrat and one Republican, trying to help us, Senator Graham, Senator Mack. And so I look for the positive things in a matter of this nature. We're not going around trying to find blame or make some politics out of a national disaster.”