Raw Footage of U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg's Endorsement of Bob Dole's Presidential Campaign in Concord (New Hampshire)

You do it. How do. You look so pretty. That's a pretty dress. Is everybody ready. You're all set. OK. You tell us when. OK great. Well it's certainly a pleasure for me to be here today to take this opportunity to speak to my friends and neighbors here in New Hampshire about my thoughts on the upcoming presidential election. This is obviously in my opinion a critical election November. Last November we set the stage for a fundamentally reforming the way that this federal government works. We put in place Congress which is committed to reducing the size of the government to sending more authority back to the states to giving individuals more control over their life creating government that's more family friendly more friendly to savings.

But this task is not completed is simply ongoing. And we have a tremendous amount still to do. And the question for us as a party is who should lead us as we go into the next stage of this undertaking. Who do we want to be our nominee for president as we go into the 1996 elections. We obviously have an excellent field of candidates and I think that reflects the vibrance of our party and the energy of our party. But as I thought about the folks who are considering seeking this office of one name kept coming up to me is the person who is the most logical and effective choice. And that was because this individual has made an extraordinary commitment to this country over his political life and over his personal life first in the hills of Italy fighting for our nation and then coming from Kansas to fight for our nation in the political arena. But more importantly this individual

understands that what this election is about is the future of our children the need to be able to pass on to our children a prosperous and fulfilling lifestyle. We face unfortunately a situation where if the federal government is allowed to continue to spend money at a rate that is presently spending it if it's allowed to continue to suffocate our people with the bureaucracy our entrepreneurs with the bureaucracy which is presently put in place on them if it is allowed to interfere with the independence of the individuals and practicing their moral commitments and their commitments to values we're going to undermine the qualities that make this country great. And we're going to end up with a generation our generation which passes less onto our children than was given to us by our parents. That's not right and it's not fair. And what we need is leadership in this country that understands that what we have to pass on to our children is a more prosperous country a country that

is committed to the basic morals and values that have made a great the ideas of hard work honesty integrity and commitment to neighbor and nobody has made a stronger commitment in this area and has a stronger understanding of this need than Bob Dole and that's why I'm supporting him for president. Bob Dole represents the type of values which we intend to carry into the next century so that our children will have as good a prosperous life as we have had the opportunity to have. And with his leadership I know that the revolution that we began on November 8th and I use that term but some others may use a more cautious term but I believe it's a revolution. The revolution that changed this country and to bring our government under control will be carried forward and that we will see a nation which is able to deliver to our children people like Ryan and Lauren who are sitting here in the front row. More opportunity and a better lifestyle. And so it's a great pleasure for me today

to endorse the candidates. Bob Dole and to say to my friends and neighbors here in New Hampshire I hope you'll take a hard and serious look at this election as I know you well. We have a unique duty and opportunity here in New Hampshire to pick the leader not only of our party in the 96 election but I believe the next president. And after you've taken that hard and I'm sure intense look I believe and hope that you'll join me in supporting Bob Dole for president. Thank you very much. Bob. Well first of all I'm very honored to have Judd Gregg of support. I have known Judd for a long time. I learned in 1988 how effective he is. And I've thought about it a lot since that. But I think we tend to speak of these sayings in political terms from time to time. It's not just that Judd has respect and a great political organization in this state.

He's respected because of his efforts on behalf of New Hampshire and not only on behalf of New Hampshire on behalf of all of us around the country because of his judgment and his wisdom and in his willingness to make the hard choices and we have to make the hard choices we've got to fight. The judge indicated runaway spending big government more taxes more bureaucracy. And that's what this election is going to all be about. The judge indicated we have a number of outstanding Republican candidates they're all my friends I've worked with each of them in one way or another. So we have a good field in my view the American people are looking for probably a lot of things but basically character experience and leadership. And I believe I've been tested in all those areas and I believe I can demonstrate to the people in New Hampshire that I can provide the leadership

for the balance of this century and into the next century. Our message is all about. I guess you'd say the three R's running in the federal government if there was one message from this political earthquake last November 8 is the American people have plenty of federal government they like to reduce it. We know the government does a lot of good things. They like to rein it in and make it smaller and make it more sensitive and more cost effective. And I've suggested the elimination of 40 apartments two of which I voted against creating in the first place one was created back in 1993 when only Senator Thurmond was there. Secondly. Reconnecting our government with American values. Again as Judd indicated hard work integrity opportunities families opportunities for children moral leadership in this

decade and into the next century. And finally I think reasserting our interests around the world American interests around the world. I think it's fair to say the last two years we have not had strong leadership world leadership. President Clinton as much as said early on he wanted to stick to domestic policy which you can always do that. There's always something happening around the world. So I believe I'm prepared on day one to be the proud the United States. I'm willing to make the tough decisions I've already made a lot of tough decisions in my lifetime and not only in politics but in other ways too. So I'm very proud to have Judd Gregg standing here with me because it says a lot about. Leadership in this state. A judge is going to be responsible for a

number of states in New England and to be an area chairman and we're finding wherever we go a great deal of support and we want to build on it. I made many many friends in New Hampshire over the years and most of them are still with me which means I hope it means that they've interpreted what I've been doing in the United States Senate. He's playing a constructive role doing the very things I'm talking about now as far as slowing down the government and slowing down a lot of other things that the American people have had enough of. So I thank you very much and I look forward to working with you on whatever daily basis weekly basis whatever it takes in New Hampshire. We're ready to go. This is another step and we've made a lot of big steps. We've only been in business eight weeks but we've made a lot of steps toward the nomination for president

and I'm proud to be a Republican. I'll be proud to represent my party as the nominee. Thank you Bob. I would note it has made a genuine commitment to be in New Hampshire a great deal and that's part of the New Hampshire tradition of campaigning. I very much appreciate his willingness to do that because of being in New Hampshire a great deal he's carrying basically the Republican agenda in the United States Senate. And let's face it without Bob Dole's leadership we would have had a national health care plan that would have ended up taking over our health care system. We would have had a stimulus package which would have taxed us into a depression or not a depression but a severe recession in my opinion we would have had more regulations more government and more institutions put on our back of the small business people in this state and this country over the last two years as this administration tried to bring back the liberal welfare state with enthusiasm. So he's got two big jobs he's doing and he's doing them both extraordinarily well and his commitment to come to New Hampshire and campaign aggressively is something I very much appreciate.

Take questions. You're going to have a number of responsibilities. In fact I have a small group of my colleagues I've started meeting on it at least once a week. Judge a member of that group about seven of my colleagues in the Senate who are supporting me to talk about legislation about where we might be going about a lot of other things. And I think for a while I shouldn't attend the meetings I want to be very frank and very open and very honest about Bob Dole and what we ought to be doing in addition that obviously be helping us in New Hampshire. But there are other states who have early primaries and we hope that and know that it be all is in Vermont and in Maine and Connecticut and other areas where we as the time we're going to have a national campaign that's going to be a well organized campaign and it's going to be

an effective campaign. No no I didn't I don't say anything about they're all my friends I said I'm going to say Don't you want me to be destructive. No. Obviously I can't. I simply said and I read about I read the New York Times that you know that this has been a big shift in my position. I voted against the ban and I simply stated in the letter that we would have a vote on it. You know they worked very hard for us in many states and they thought they least should have a vote. What a pass. Well depends on whether or not we can get enough votes to shut off debate but there's another side to it. Most people don't write about or don't even think about. We banned 19 assault weapons to have been discontinued. Seven have been modified

they're already back on the street. Seven of those 19 and others are going through modification. And that's a point we try to make on the Senate floor. You've got to go after the person because they're going to modify these weapons and there is a different category. So what I want and still want is an instant check. Seven states have an instant check. It's like walking into buy merchandise you put your little card in it says tilt. You don't get any gun handgun long gun or anything else. And we believe that could be implemented nationwide could have been by now if we'd had some cooperation from this administration that we haven't had that cooperation. So my view is that certainly we want to stop the violence. I want to stop anybody being shot with a gun. I know how it feels and it just seems to me that we ought to do it by going after people who shouldn't have guns in the first place through the instant check. We're not going to give up on that and hopefully we bring up the crime bill.

We'll have that as a part of our package. No no Arlen the my good friend we both come from Russell Kansas. And you know I'd tell him I try not to miss too many votes he didn't miss any votes today. But you know there are so many candidates. But we schedule our schedule. I've just come in in New Hampshire today and knowing that for some time. Luckily I now have just at my side. But we'll be back on April 10th for our announcement in Exeter. I hope the weather is good. I have a lot of people show up. Well again Pete I started Pete for 12 years in the Senate. I know him. I like him. I think he's a great governor.

I'm not aware that he has. In 1988 I was with George Bush because I felt strongly that George Bush had been an excellent vice president and it served Ronald Reagan very well and would be an excellent president. This is a new campaign a new year a new opportunity to elect a Republican president. And I'm with Bob Dole because I believe very strongly that he will carry forward our commitment to bringing this country back to the morals and values that we think are critical to giving our children a decent opportunity. You didn't win. That summarizes well.

My view is that the way you win a campaign in New Hampshire is you go out and you talk to folks take their questions and you get their ideas and you listen and you respond forthrightly to them. That's what I've always done. That's the way I think you are competitive in New Hampshire and I think it's wonderful that Bob has made the commitment that he's made in a time frame to be up here to do that and he's going to be around a lot of people who are going to have the opportunity to talk to him and make up their mind and that's the way New Hampshire voters want to do it. So that's the way we'll do it. Well I don't I think we did a good job back in 87 and 88 obviously we fell short. But I talked to President Bush after we had nine a series of nine town meetings up there so I called President Bush. I said I don't know how you must have felt that he 788 when the fire marshals said you couldn't have any more people there. And I was very happy to have 80 people at my event but. And he said well I'll

understand you been doing quite well there. But I think the point is I hope I've become known to most Americans. Somebody you can trust somebody will give you stability. Somebody isn't going to go off the edge and somebody who understands how it works. You know a lot of people want reassurance. They want to know that somebody at the helm is going to be steady and understand precisely what may result from any action taken by whoever occupies the White House. And I hope I can convey that message. It's it's it's message it's messages message. No I'm not perfect as I read from time to time but I'm working on it. And we do the best we can. My wife Elizabeth will be joining me. She'll be leaving the Red Cross at some appropriate time and she'll be joining me and she's a great asset too. In fact I was reminded in Keene when I

said well we came to Keene and area we carried in 1988 a lady advised me that said you didn't care. Elizabeth did. So I knew I was back in New Hampshire. But in any event. They. Gave it to you straight. Yes. My view is it ought to be looked at fact to be rather important. But I can't make it the day I'll make it Monday was Speaker Gingrich which will I think indicate the direction we're headed when it comes to a flat tax and tax reform generally not another layer on the present system of tax reform and looking at the IRS and how it functions and looking at some of the burdens placed on business men and business women. We're going to have a total look at the tax system the present tax system. And I think it's a very exciting announcement we'll make Monday at 1:00 in the

nation's capital. Other questions. Well we pardon. Well. I'll be there. But I think it's it's I think it's important and I think it's a good question. We want to look at simplicity and fairness and we don't want to shift the burden from the upper class to the middle class. We don't want any more tax increases. President Clinton keeps forgetting the big tax increase he imposed when he talks about how much he's cut the budget and as Judd knows they're not getting the spending cuts but we're getting the tax increases and they talk about a $500 billion package. I think it's less than 400 billion now because they haven't gotten the spending cuts. The president talks the president just the other day and we're trying to work with him where we can. But I would say as I said earlier I think when we're talking about celebrating the victory or whatever's happening in Haiti today. Keep in mind it's already cost the

taxpayers one and a half billion dollars and it's headed for two billion dollars. We've turned it over to day to the United Nations and remember what happened in Somalia when we turn it over the United Nations. In my view we shouldn't have gone to Haiti in the first place. I'm certainly proud of the young men and women who served there. And I'm certainly pleased that we've had very few casualties. In fact one of the young men who was wounded is married to a young lady from New Hampshire. But in any event I think the president made a mistake in the first place and somebody has to pay for it. Going to be taxpayers up here and around the country. Thank you very much. For. Having. Me On.

Oh. Hello. Hello. Yes. Sure. Really it's just. A. Long. Way to go. This. Is. Going. To. Go. And.

Then. We don't do it that way. There was some sort of situation. There. Was some very soft heart for me because I'm sure we're. In. The top to the bottom. I said before I was sort of the manager and the candidate. You know I wasn't a very good manager candidate. Then later on we got management and. Mismanagement or whatever but I don't always tell this time we're going to give it all a dream analysis days raise 17 million or something like that. Let's do

it. Day six do you think campaign money is is this early is somehow crippling the system in any way. Well I think they have to raise it. You know we've only been at it eight weeks we've raised about four million. We've got a big week coming up our next week. You have to raise the money. But you also have to be out there and you let people know it's not all money. I mean if you get focused on money. I've seen a lot of good candidates with a lot of money. Didn't make it because Instagram is too focused on money. Oh I don't know I'm not going to characterize what you done but I'm just going to say we'll raise you open need to raise. And obviously as you started earlier. And he had a lot of you know going into You've been at it for a year and a half eight weeks now we're not going to be constrained on that and we're going to just on talking to folks and that's always been Bob's approach and that's what we're going to do. I'll let you know I don't I'm worried about the money. I figure if it's not there well we just had more

one on ones. You don't think that