pd07my01 Remarks at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner...

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friends, and our allies is in our interests or in the interests of world 
peace.
    This new framework must encourage still further cuts in nuclear 
weapons. Nuclear weapons still have a vital role to play in our security 
and that of our allies. We can and will change the size, the 
composition, the character of our nuclear forces in a way that reflects 
the reality that the cold war is over.
    I am committed to achieving a credible deterrent with the lowest 
possible number of nuclear weapons consistent with our national security 
needs, including our obligations to our allies. My goal is to move 
quickly to reduce nuclear forces. The United States will lead by example 
to achieve our interests and the interests for peace in the world.
    Several months ago, I asked Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to examine 
all available technologies and basing modes for effective missile 
defenses that could protect the United States, our deployed forces, our 
friends, and our allies. The Secretary has explored a number of 
complementary and innovative approaches.
    The Secretary has identified near-term options that could allow us 
to deploy an initial capability against limited threats. In some cases, 
we can draw on already established technologies that might involve land-
based and sea-based capabilities to intercept missiles in midcourse or 
after they reenter the atmosphere. We also recognize the substantial 
advantages of intercepting missiles early in their flight, especially in 
the boost phase.
    The preliminary work has produced some promising options for 
advanced sensors and interceptors that may provide this capability. If 
based at sea or on aircraft, such approaches could provide limited but 
effective defenses.
    We have more work to do to determine the final form the defenses 
might take. We will explore all these options further. We recognize the 
technological difficulties we face and we look forward to the challenge. 
Our Nation will assign the best people to this critical task. We will 
evaluate what works and what does not. We know that some approaches will 
not work. We also know that we will be able to build on our successes. 
When ready, and working with Congress, we will deploy missile defenses 
to strengthen global security and stability.
    I've made it clear from the very beginning that I would consult 
closely on any important subject with our friends and allies who are 
also threatened by missiles and weapons of mass destruction. Today I'm 
announcing the dispatch of high level representatives to allied capitals 
in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Canada to discuss our common 
responsibility to create a new framework for security and stability that 
reflects the world of today. They will begin leaving next week.

[[Page 688]]

    The delegations will be headed by three men on this stage: Rich 
Armitage, Paul Wolfowitz, and Steve Hadley; Deputies of the State 
Department, the Defense Department, and the National Security staff. 
Their trips will be part of an ongoing process of consultation involving 
many people and many levels of government, including my Cabinet 
Secretaries.
    These will be real consultations. We are not presenting our friends 
and allies with unilateral decisions already made. We look forward to 
hearing their views, the views of our friends, and to take them into 
account.
    We will seek their input on all the issues surrounding the new 
strategic environment. We'll also need to reach out to other interested 
states, including China and Russia. Russia and the United States should 
work together to develop a new foundation for world peace and security 
in the 21st century. We should leave behind the constraints of an ABM 
Treaty that perpetuates a relationship based on distrust and mutual 
vulnerability. This Treaty ignores the fundamental breakthroughs in 
technology during the last 30 years. It prohibits us from exploring all 
options for defending against the threats that face us, our allies, and 
other countries.
    That's why we should work together to replace this Treaty with a new 
framework that reflects a clear and clean break from the past and 
especially from the adversarial legacy of the cold war. This new 
cooperative relationship should look to the future, not to the past. It 
should be reassuring rather than threatening. It should be premised on 
openness, mutual confidence, and real opportunities for cooperation, 
including the area of missile defense. It should allow us to share 
information so that each nation can improve its early warning capability 
and its capability to defend its people and territory. And perhaps one 
day, we can even cooperate in a joint defense.
    I want to complete the work of changing our relationship from one 
based on a nuclear balance of terror to one based on common 
responsibilities and common interests. We may have areas of difference 
with Russia, but we are not and must not be strategic adversaries. 
Russia and America both face new threats to security. Together, we can 
address today's threats and pursue today's opportunities. We can explore 
technologies that have the potential to make us all safer.
    This is a time for vision, a time for a new way of thinking, a time 
for bold leadership. The Looking Glass no longer stands its 24-a-hour-
day vigil. We must all look at the world in a new, realistic way to 
preserve peace for generations to come.
    God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 2:40 p.m. outside Eisenhower Hall at Fort 
McNair. In his remarks, he referred to Vice Adm. Paul G. Gaffney II, 
USN, president, National Defense University; and President Saddam 
Hussein of Iraq.


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
 [frwais.access.gpo.gov]
                         

[Page 688-690]
 
Pages 679-711
 
Week Ending Friday, May 4, 2001
 
Remarks on the Bipartisan Congressional Tax Relief Agreement and an 
Exchange With Reporters

May 1, 2001

    The President. Good afternoon. This is a great day for the American 
people and the American taxpayer. Working together, Republicans and 
Democrats in the House and the Senate have agreed on a proposal that 
will provide $1.35 trillion in tax relief over the next 11 years. One 
hundred billion will be distributed right away, this year and next, to 
help stimulate our economy and put money in people's pockets quickly. 
The rest of tax relief will be provided over the next decade.
    I congratulate the Members of the Senate and the House, Republicans 
and Democrats, who have worked so hard to achieve this bipartisan 
agreement. You all deserve great credit for agreeing to provide the 
American people with meaningful, significant, sweeping tax relief--the 
most tax relief in a generation.
    Today Republicans and Democrats have agreed to help Americans send 
their children to college, pay off their mortgages a little faster, or 
cope with rising energy costs. In short, once we've funded our Nation's 
priorities, we've agreed to let the American people spend their own 
money on their own priorities.
    Today's agreement has a larger message, as well. By finding common 
ground on an issue that divided the two parties throughout

[[Page 689]]

last year's campaign, Republicans and Democrats have today proven we can 
work together to do what is right for the American people. Achieving the 
agreement on significant tax relief can help pave the way for consensus 
on other vital issues, including reforming our public schools, 
strengthening Social Security and Medicare, and transforming our 
national defense.
    When I spoke to a joint session of Congress just a few months ago to 
outline my budget and tax relief proposals, I said that in the end, 
we'll be judged not only by what we say but by what we're able to 
accomplish.
    We have more work to do to complete the full budget. But today we 
have accomplished significant tax relief and shown we can work together 
in a constructive way to get things done for the people of this country.
    Thank you.

Federal Spending

    Q. Mr. President, are you going to be able to keep spending in check 
in order to be able to fund your tax cuts?
    The President. Well, I'm absolutely convinced we'll be able to fund 
the tax cuts.
    Q. Are you going to be able to keep spending----
    The President. I've worked with Members of the House and the Senate 
to have a discretionary spending at a reasonable level. I hope--we're 
making progress. There's a lot of discussions going on. I suspect I'm 
going to have to remain diligent over the next year to keep the spenders 
in check. That's a good job for the Chief Executive Officer.

Conversation With President Vladimir Putin of Russia

    Q. Mr. President, how did your conversation with President Putin go?
    The President. Terry [Terry Moran, ABC News], it was good. We had a 
very constructive conversation. I called him early this morning to let 
him know that I'd be giving the speech that I just gave. I wanted to 
assure him that my plans were in the best interests of our two 
countries, that we are going to consult with the Russians, as well as 
our other friends and allies.
    But I also made it clear to him that it's important to think beyond 
the old days of when we had the concept that if we blew each other up, 
the world would be safe. I told him the cold war is over and that Russia 
was not our enemy, and I'd help try to define the threats as 
realistically as I could and that we needed to have defenses to meet 
those threats.
    I also told him that we would work to reduce our own nuclear 
arsenals and would do so in time. He asked me whether or not there is a 
chance we could meet before our upcoming summits. I told him I would 
love to meet with him beforehand to look him in the eye and let him know 
how sincere I am about achieving a new way of keeping the peace.
    He reminded me at one point in time that he talked about the need to 
address current threats in our world with systems that might be able to 
intercept missiles on launch--boost phase--I talked about today. So I 
felt that it was a very constructive meeting.

Resignation of FBI Director

    Q. Mr. President, are you concerned about Director Freeh's 
resignation? Did that catch you by surprise?
    The President. Actually, Director Freeh came to see me late 
yesterday afternoon. And he asked if we could meet alone. I said, ``Of 
course.'' And he said, ``I'm resigning.'' And it did catch me by 
surprise. And I'm disappointed. I would hope--I was hoping that he would 
stay on. I think he's done a very good job. I'm sure he explained to 
you--I didn't see his press conference, but I suspect he explained to 
you the reason why, and that is, he wanted to spend more time with his 
family. I found Louie Freeh to be a fine public servant, and our Nation 
owes him a great debt of gratitude for his service to our country. And 
now we'll begin the process of finding replacements.

National Missile Defense

    Q. What response do you expect from the European allies on missile 
defense? Do you think they will get along--go along eventually, and will 
participate?
    The President. Well, I think we've got a lot of explaining to do. 
That's why yesterday I called the leaders of France and Britain

[[Page 690]]

and Canada and Germany to explain to them exactly what I--and the head 
of the NATO--to explain to them exactly what I just explained--I told 
you, that--Mr. Putin. The phone call I made yesterday was nothing new, 
however. I had met with those leaders before and talked to them about 
what I meant.
    And during the course of the campaign, when I talked about providing 
defenses to meet the true threats of--that all of us are now faced with, 
the leaders were pleased that we're sincere about our desire to go 
through consultations. I've sent a high level team--a team of high level 
members of my administration, Deputies Armitage, Hadley, and Wolfowitz. 
It's a clear signal about how, one, important this issue is and how, 
two, how seriously we take the idea of consulting with our allies and 
friends. They are very pleased with that.
    But they are going to have to speak for themselves. I am a little 
hesitant to put words in their mouth.

Social Security Reform

    Q. Mr. President, on the Social Security Commission, some are saying 
that if the membership is going to be sort of stacked in a way that 
preordains a recommendation of privatization. What is your----
    The President. Well, I think--I think--let us--tomorrow is a day 
when we will be talking about Social Security and that would be a very 
good question to the members of the Commission, to make sure that there 
is an objective analysis of Social Security: How do we save it; what do 
we do to make sure it is viable in the future?
    There is a lot of speculation about the Commission that will be 
cleared up tomorrow afternoon, if I'm not mistaken, right here in this 
very spot.
    Thank you all very much.

Note: The President spoke at 4:05 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to President Jacques Chirac of 
France; Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom; Prime Minister 
Jean Chretien of Canada; Chancellor Gerhardt Schroeder of Germany; and 
NATO General Secretary George Robertson.


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 690]
 
Pages 679-711
 
Week Ending Friday, May 4, 2001
 
Statement on the Retirement of Federal Bureau of Investigation Director 
Louis J. Freeh

May 1, 2001

    Louis Freeh is a dedicated public servant who has served his country 
and the FBI with honor and distinction. I regret the Director is leaving 
Government. We are fortunate to have had a man of his caliber serve our 
country, and we will miss him.


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
 [frwais.access.gpo.gov]
                         

[Page 690-691]
 
Pages 679-711
 
Week Ending Friday, May 4, 2001
 
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Proposed Legislation To Extend the 
Filing Deadline for Undocumented Immigrants

May 1, 2001

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. Leader:)

    I am a strong proponent of government policies that recognize the 
importance of families and that help to strengthen them. To the extent 
possible, I believe that our immigration policies should reflect that 
philosophy. That is why I support legislation to extend the window 
created under section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
during which qualified immigrants may obtain legal residence in the 
United States without being forced to first leave the country and their 
families for several years.
    According to agency estimates, there are more than 500,000 
undocumented immigrants in the country who are eligible to become legal 
permanent residents, primarily because of their family relationship with 

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