west@sdcsla.UUCP (Larry West) (06/20/85)
One interesting pastime I've found is to read the full transcripts
of Reagan's news conferences. Once past the prepared text, he's
left to his own devices. This often leads to answers like the one
below.
The following is a verbatim, unedited extract from transcript of
the President's news conference (source: the New York Times,
Wednesday 19 June 85, p11 -- I believe this is non-copyrighted
material):
The context is, as you may be able to guess, the hostage situation
in Lebanon (TWA flight 847).
Question:
Could I follow up? In terms of your own assessment of
American power in the world and how it relates to this
episode -- in 1984 when you were running for re-election,
you told American voters that America was standing tall
again -- comparing it with supposed weakness under your
predecessor. Is America standing tall today?
Answer:
Yes. I think we are. I think terrorism is -- I don't
know -- I can't recall in my lifetime anytime when it has
been used to such an extent as it is now. And the very
fact that the terrorists are not all from one source -- if
they could be linked to a country -- if you know the source
and what they were trying to do -- but we've got a variety
of terrorist organizations. And sometimes recently we've
found that here and there a couple of them claim that
they've cooperated in some terrorist act. But again, the
situation isn't one that can be talked about because the
first priority is the safety of the victims. I think I'd
better go -- Candy?
[going on to the next question.]
Sorta scary when you consider that he was well-rested and briefed
for this conference.
( One other thing -- reading transcripts like these will put to )
( rest any notion that the press unfairly characterizes Reagan. )
( At least the printed media & radio; I don't watch television. )
Note -- I do not condone the use of the term "America" to mean
the United States of America.
Rational comments welcomed. Flames to /dev/tty.
--
Larry West Institute for Cognitive Science
(USA+619-)452-6220 UC San Diego (mailcode C-015) [x6220]
ARPA: <west@nprdc.ARPA> La Jolla, CA 92093 U.S.A.
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