*EPF201 08/14/01
White House Report, August 14: Bush Foreign Policy Remarks
(Speaks in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park) (400)

U.S. "CAN'T BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE," BUSH SAYS

"We are sending a clear message overseas that ours is a proud nation that will promote the peace, but we are not going to sign on to every single agreement that somebody thought might have been good," President Bush said in remarks August 14 at Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colorado.

"We're going to stand tall for freedom in America. What's good for America is going to be paramount to my way of thinking. I think we're making good progress explaining to our allies that we'll be loyal friends, but we can't be all things to all people."

Bush said he hopes his administration is "breaking new ground" in its discussions with Russia's President Vladimir Putin -- "welcoming him to the West, saying to him that the old days of mistrust, aiming missiles at each other have got to end.

"The Cold War is over," Bush said. "It's finally over and now it's time to have a new strategic thinking about how to keep the peace."

The bulk of Bush's remarks in his Estes Park speech were focused on what he called "the spirit of America" and the character and values of its citizens.

It was Bush's first overnight trip away from his Texas ranch since beginning a vacation there 10 days ago. On the morning of August 14, he flew to Colorado where he was scheduled to spend the night before flying on to Arizona.

In Estes Park, Bush participated with a group of young people in a fire-prevention and trail-clearing effort high up in the mountains at Rocky Mountain National Park. Reports said it was the first visit to that park by a President in more than 70 years.

In the evening, Bush was to speak at a fund-raising banquet in Denver for Republican candidates for office, and then was to watch the Colorado Rockies play the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field.

In New Mexico August 15, Bush was to attend a back-to-school event at an Albuquerque classroom, open a new job opportunity training facility and speak at a fund-raiser for incumbent U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, Republican-New Mexico before returning to his Texas ranch.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
NNNN