Remarks following a meeting with business leaders and an exchange with reporters in Chicago

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Oct 6, 2003

September 30, 2003

The President. Mr. Mayor, thank you. I want to thank the business leaders here from the Chicago area for sharing with me their concerns about our economy. I think it's safe to say most people share the sense of optimism I do but recognize there's still work to be done, particularly when it comes to job creation.

We talked about good legal policy. We talked about the need for an energy plan. We talked about fair trade for American manufacturers. We talked about the need for China to make sure that China's got a monetary policy which is fair. And I assured the leaders here that I would work to--I'd represent the manufacturing sector and the--all sectors of our economy when it comes to world trade.

The thing I'm concerned about is people being able to find a job. We put the conditions in place for good job creation, but I recognize there's still people who want to work that can't find a job. And we're dedicated to hearing the voices of those folks and working hard to expand our economy.

And so I want to thank you all for taking time. Mr. Mayor, I wish the Cubs all the best. [Laughter] I made a significant contribution to the Cubs, as you might recall.--

Participant. Sammy.

The President.--when I was a--yes, Sammy Sosa. I'll take great delight when they win.

Participant. Thank you for Sammy.

The President. Thanks for coming.

Let me answer a couple of questions. Then we've got to go to Cincinnati. Deb [Deb Reichmann, Associated Press].

Justice Department Investigation of Classified Information Leak

Q. Do you think that the Justice Department can conduct an impartial investigation, considering the political ramifications of the CIA leak, and why wouldn't a special counsel be better?

The President. Yes. Let me just say something about leaks in Washington. There are too many leaks of classified information in Washington. There's leaks at the executive branch; there's leaks in the legislative branch. There's just too many leaks, And if there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is. And if the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of.

And so I welcome the investigation. I'm absolutely confident that the Justice Department will do a very good job. There's a special division of career Justice Department officials who are tasked with doing this kind of work. They have done this kind of work before in Washington this year. I have told our administration--people in my administration to be fully cooperative.

I want to know the truth. If anybody has got any information, inside our administration or outside our administration, it would be helpful if they came forward with the information so we can find out whether or not these allegations are true and get on about the business.

Yes, let's see, Kemper [Bob Kemper, Chicago Tribune]. He's from Chicago. Where are you? Are you a Cubs or White Sox fan? [Laughter] Wait a minute. That doesn't seem fair, does it? [Laughter]

Q. Yesterday we were told that Karl Rove had no role in it.

The President. Yes.

Q. Have you talked to Karl, and do you have confidence in him--

The President, Listen, I know of nobody--I don't know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take the appropriate action. And this investigation is a good thing.

And again I repeat, you know, Washington is a town where there's all kinds of allegations. You've heard much of the allegations. And if people have got solid information, please come forward with it. And that would be people inside the information who are the so-called anonymous sources, or people outside the information--outside the administration. And we can clarify this thing very quickly if people who have got solid evidence would come forward and speak out. And I would hope they would. And then we'll get to the bottom of this and move on.

But I want to tell you something, leaks of classified information are a bad thing. And we've had them--there's too much leaking in Washington. That's just the way it is. And we've had leaks out of the administrative branch, had leaks out of the legislative branch, and out of the executive branch and the legislative branch, and I've spoken out consistently against them, and I want to know who the leakers are.

Thank you.

NOTE: The President spoke at 2:10 p.m. at the University of Chicago. In his remarks, he referred to Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago and Chicago Cubs baseball player Sammy Sosa. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these remarks.