THE MEETING

	May 9, 2000
	The long-awaited Bush-McCain meeting: Kwame Holman reports.

KWAME HOLMAN: The former combatants appeared side by side this morning just after their 90-minute meeting in a Pittsburgh hotel suite. GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH: John McCain and I just had a very good meeting. I guess it's the nature of American politics that we would meet and then walk into a room with over 100 people to hear how the meeting went. There's a lot of things we agree on. I'm going to let him talk to you about... he'll express his own opinions. Here's mine: We agree that we need to change the tone and temperament of Washington. We agree there needs to be substantial reform when it comes to education and Social Security; reform when it comes to campaign funding laws. We agree that a President can change the temperament of America, can unite our country, and call upon the best of our citizens to serve their fellow man. We agree on a lot. I've always respected John. We had a tough primary. I told him pointblank he made me a better candidate. He raised a really good campaign. He put me through my paces. And as a result of the campaign, I stand better prepared to become the President. That's exactly what I intend to do as well. John? SEN. JOHN McCain: Thank you very much. We had a very good meeting. We talked about a variety of issues. We're in agreement in a lot more issues than which we are in disagreement. I have said from the very beginning that I will support the nominee of the party. I look forward to enthusiastically campaigning for Governor Bush for the next six months between now and November. I believe that it's very important that we restore integrity and honor to the White House. I am convinced that Governor Bush can do that more than adequately. We are not in agreement on every issue. That was made clear during the primary. We are in agreement on more issues than we are in disagreement. And I'd like to say that I will not give up on the reform agenda. I will continue to pursue the issues of reform, and I want to assure those people that supported me in the primary that I will continue to pursue this agenda. They are not contradictory to my support of Governor Bush, and I look forward to working with him and others as we can reform the institutions of government, including campaign finance reform. We are in agreement on the reform of education, health care, the military. Many of those issues we had a very good discussion about. So, we had a good meeting. I hope that our next meeting will not attract nearly as much attention as this one did, and I look forward to further discussions with Governor Bush and being present when he is inaugurated as the next President of the United States. As I said before, I want to work to elect Governor Bush. I want to elect and re-elect Republicans so we will maintain control of the House and the Senate. Governor Bush and I agree that that is vital to his ability to effectively be President of the United States, to work with a Republican Congress. I will continue the very heavy pace of campaigning for Republican House and Senate candidates as well as assisting Governor Bush, and I look forward to that opportunity. KWAME HOLMAN: McCain was asked if he had difficulty saying "endorsement" and talking about his support for Bush. SEN. JOHN McCain: I endorse Governor Bush. I endorse Governor Bush. I endorse Governor Bush. I endorse Governor Bush. I endorse Governor Bush. (Laughing) GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH: By the way I enthusiastically accept. KWAME HOLMAN: Senator McCain was then asked if he felt any reluctance after the bitterness he expressed about some of Governor Bush's tactics in their battles during the primary campaign. SEN. JOHN McCain: Look, the only way you can approach American politics in seeking elective office is to move forward. For me to look back in anger or with any rancor would be a mistake. It would harm me. It would harm Governor Bush. And it would harm those who supported me in this campaign. I look forward and not back. I hold no rancor. Others will be the judge of this campaign, not me. And my job is to further our efforts to bring about institutions, reforming the institutions of government. I can't do that effectively if I look back rather than forward. GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH: We talked about some disagreements on areas. We'd rather talk about the areas where we agree though if you don't mind. The good news is we had a very frank discussion. John is a plain, spoken fellow. I'm a pretty good listener. I think that when... on all issues I spoke my mind and he spoke his. And that's good. That's the way I like my relationships. I like people that come into a room and say, "listen, here's what I think." He listened to what I had to say and I listened to what he had to say. We've got a good relationship. We had a good relationship before the primaries and we have a good relationship now. We'll have a good relationship when I become the President. KWAME HOLMAN: McCain also said that he asked that he not be considered as a vice presidential running mate. Bush said he took him at his word.