Nation: Thoughts from Camp David

(2 of 2)

President, one thing you have to remember is that they can't sell something on Wall Street unless someone digs it up first." It's a reminder of the fact that some of us have been in a recession all our lives.

∙I believe this moment that a successful addressing of the energy question can be kind of a marshaling try or a binding point or a cutting edge to prove to our people again that our nation is capable of the individual initiative that comes from human freedom, the free-enterprise system that brings out innovation, a Government that is flexible and resilient and responsive, I hope. These factors and others I think can give us an ability to take a tremendous advance.

-I think I need to speak with a clear voice. I think I've been too bogged down in the management of the mechanism of the Government in Washington. I've not done as good a job as I should have governing our people, of staying as focused on our people as I was when I first came into Washington. I think I need to present my programs more clearly. There's only one person really who can consistently speak with a clear voice to the American people. That's the President.

But unless I'm able to do it successfully, I think it might be a time before we have this opportunity again. I think it's kind of a turning point, and I really am convinced after this week that the people are ready for it. A lot of the very diverse and very independent members of Congress, the very senior members, say, "Mr. President, for God's sake, you just tell us what to do and we will do it."