from every child's heart and replace it with a nightmare."

During that same address, I outlined a series of initiatives we're taking to deal with the problem head on. These initiatives include working more closely with foreign countries to combat drug trafficking, seeking to ensure that our nation's schools and workplaces become drug free, and strengthening law enforcement activities that put pushers and dealers behind bars.

As part of these efforts, I'll be convening on October 6th and 7th a meeting of our Ambassadors from those countries which face major drug production, consumption, and transportation problems. And Nancy and I will meet with them to discuss how we can mobilize an international commitment to win the war against illegal drug use. As I've said before: No drug network will remain alive.

But the point I want to stress before you today is that while government can accomplish certain important, but limited, objectives, the fight against drug abuse can only be won through a great national effort involving all Americans-and especially organizations like yours, as you've been doing since 1971.

I know that the organizations represented here, as I say, are already actively involved increasing public awareness to the problem and establishing programs for students and parents in your communities. I commend you for that, and I'm grateful to know that we can continue to count on your support in the months to come.

So, please, continue helping all Americans say no to drugs. And just as here in Washington we've established national goals, you can establish local goals of your own-drugfree communities and drug-free homes. As I said at the outset, you're the experts when it comes to Americans helping each other. And I know that when you put your minds to it, you'll be able to come up with ways to help that nobody in government ever would think of.

I know at the same time that you help to create a national intolerance for drug abuse. Please join Nancy and me in stressing the positive side-all that awaits our young people if they'll only stay drug free. We must remember that turning to drugs is very often an act of hopelessness and that,

in case after case, the strongest weapon against drugs is hope itself.

One figure says a great deal in this regard. During the past 4 years, the number of high school seniors using marijuana on a daily basis has dropped from 1 in 14 to 1 in 20. Of course that's still much too

high; but it does represent quite an improvement, and it shows that indeed we can stop drugs. And I would submit that it has much to do with the trends in the Nation-the nation at large that I cited a few moments ago the new jobs, the new self-confidence, the new sense of opportunity.

As author George Gilder has observed, the policies we've pursued in recent years have created countless opportunities for our young people. And in his words: "Opportunities summon initiatives. Initiatives develop character and a sense of responsibility, a feeling of optimism. The future looks more open and promising to students than it did before, for the simple reason that it is more open and promising."

Nancy has brought back to me so many stories from her visits out to treatment centers, schools, and so forth. Could you beunbelievable, some of lieve-they're them could you believe a boy in the fourth grade, 8 years old-and this boy is not only a user; already he's a pusher. And he carries a beeper. If he's in class and the beeper goes off, he excuses himself from class because that means there's a customer outside waiting for him. What have we let happen in this country of ours over these recent years?

God bless all of you, and I thank you for all that you've already done-all the hope that you've shed throughout our nation for these past hundred years.

Now, if I didn't know so much about what you've been doing, I would have been here asking you to join our crusade. But now, I hope you won't mind if our crusade joins you-and this crusade against drug abuse-we can all be together. And I really mean it when I say, "join you," because when we made that speech, my own view was that, yes, government can do some things; yes, we step up our efforts and continue to try to intercept the drugs and so forth and to catch the pushers. But the real

way it is going to be done is when-as has happened so many times in this countrywhen 240 million Americans out here make up their minds that we are going to do away with drugs, and right from the community level and the neighborhood on up, the people mobilize to put a stop to this. That's when we'll bring an end to it.

To paraphrase Nancy-and by the way, I'm kind of glad I came on my own today. [Laughter] I found out on that recent broadcast, she has the darndest way of stealing the show. [Laughter] But to paraphrase Nancy, to say no to drugs is to say yes to life.

And, once again, you've been responsible for creating life and making life better for so many that I feel a little humble in your presence, very proud indeed to have taken up your time to be here.

Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 2 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at the J. W. Marriott Hotel.

Veto of a Bill for the Relief of Paulette Mendes-Silva

Message to the House of Representatives Returning H.R. 2316 Without Approval. September 25, 1986

To the House of Representatives:

I am returning herewith without my approval H.R. 2316, a bill for the relief of Paulette Mendes-Silva.

This bill would give the United States District Court for the District of Columbia jurisdiction to hear Ms. Mendes-Silva's claim that the Public Health Service was negligent in inoculating her against yellow fever on March 12, 1963, despite the fact that Ms. Mendes-Silva never filed an administrative claim or filed suit in a timely manner, as required by the Federal Tort Claims Act.

While I feel sympathetic to Ms. MendesSilva because of her condition, I cannot sign H.R. 2316 because there is no equitable basis for relief. The bill's beneficiary failed to pursue the remedies available to her in a timely manner. Moreover, available medical evidence contradicts her assertion that the

Government was responsible for her disability.

I am greatly concerned with the adverse precedential impact that my approval of H.R. 2316 would have upon litigation against the Federal government. There must be some limit to the time during which the Government must remain prepared to defend itself against specific claims. That limit is set forth in the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. at 2401(b).

I am also greatly concerned that this private relief bill would allow claimant to circumvent the orderly administrative process for asserting claims against the United States as prescribed by the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. 2675. Other individuals who have also failed, for whatever reason, to file their claims within the required time, have been likewise precluded from the relief Ms. Mendes-Silva seeks in this bill.

For these reasons, I cannot approve H.R. 2316.

The White House, September 25, 1986.

Ronald Reagan

Financial Reporting System for Executive Branch Employees

Executive Order 12565. September 25, 1986

PRESCRIBING A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and statutes of the United States of America, including section 7301(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, and section 207(a) of title 5 of the United States Code Appendix 4, as amended, and section 301 of title 3 of the United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Executive Order No. 11222 of May 8, 1965, as amended, is further amended by:

(a) Striking section 306 of part III;

(b) Striking sections 401-406 of part IV and inserting in lieu thereof:

"Section 401. Policy. In order to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the Government and to preserve and promote ethical standards, a system of non-public (confidential) financial reporting shall be established for officers and employees of the Executive Branch. Such non-public (confidential) reporting shall complement the public financial disclosure system established by title II of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended.

Section 402. Definition. For purposes of this Part, the term

(a) The "Act" refers to the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended.

(b) "Employee" means any officer or employee of an agency, including a special Government employee (as defined in 18 U.S.C. sec. 202(a)).

(c) "Executive Branch" includes each Executive agency (as defined in 5 U.S.C. sec. 105) and any other entity or administrative unit in the Executive Branch unless such agency, entity or unit is specifically included in the coverage of title I or III of the Act.

Section 403. Comprehensive System of Financial Reporting. There shall be a comprehensive system of financial reporting for employees in the Executive Branch pursuant to title II of the Act. Such comprehensive system shall require

(a) Reports subject to public disclosure by those employees whose positions are covered under section 201 of the Act; and

(b) Non-public (confidential) reports by those employees whose positions have been designated for this purpose pursuant to section 404 of this Part. These reports shall be held in confidence as required by section 207 of the Act and as authorized by the Freedom of Information Act at 5 U.S.C. sec. 552(b) (3), (4) and (6). Any disclosure of the reports must satisfy the terms of the Privacy Act at 5 U.S.C. 552a.

Section 404. The Office of Government Ethics. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Order, the Office of Government Ethics shall be responsible for administering this part by

(a) Developing, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Office of Personnel Management, regulations setting forth

(1) criteria for the guidance of agencies of the Executive Branch in designating the positions for which non-public (confidential) reports will be required and the type of information to be obtained in such reports in light of applicable conflict of interest statutes and regulations and the authorized activities of each agency; and (2) the time and place for submission of such reports; (b) Assuring that each Agency of the Executive Branch designates its respective positions for which non-public reports will be required from employees holding such positions; and

(c) Assuring that implementing regulations issued by the agencies of the Executive Branch are properly administered."

confidentiality of the current system of fiSec. 2. Savings Provision. To preserve the nancial reporting, financial reports filed pursuant to the authority of Executive Order No. 11222, 5 C.F.R. Part 735, and individual agency regulations in which confidentiality for such reports has been assured shall continue to be held in confidence.

The White House, September 25, 1986.

Ronald Reagan

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 10:12 a.m., September 26, 1986]

Tax Reform

Statement by the Principal Deputy Press
Secretary to the President on Action by the
House of Representatives.
September 25, 1986

The President welcomes today's vote by the House. The country is now only one vote away in the Senate from enacting the President's number one domestic prioritya tax system that will promote economic growth, simplify tax returns for the vast majority of Americans, return the Code to a promise of fairness and equity, and most important of all, reduce rates for most Americans.

Supreme Court of the United States

Remarks at the Swearing-in Ceremony for William Rehnquist as Chief Justice and Antonin Scalia as Associate Justice. September 26, 1986

The President. Members of the Court and ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the White House, and thank you for coming to witness this historic occasion. This ceremony is the culmination of our constitutional process which involves each of the three branches of government. I've had the honor of nominating Justice Rehnquist to be the next Chief Justice of the United States and Judge Scalia to be the Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. The Senate has confirmed my nominations, and I now ask that Chief Justice Warren Burger administer the constitutional oath of office to Justice Rehnquist and Judge Scalia.

Mr. Chief Justice.

Chief Justice Burger. Thank you, Mr. President.

Justice Rehnquist, before I ask you to take the oath, I would like to make this observation with your lead, Mr. President, that we will have today the 16th Chief Justice of the United States in almost 200 years, and Judge Scalia will be the 103d Justice of the Court. For me it is not only an honor but a personal privilege to take part in the ceremony involving Justice Rehnquist, who has been a colleague and a friend, a warm friend for 15 years, and Judge Scalia, with whom I have worked on extrajudicial activities relating to the administration of justice.

And now, without more, I ask Justice Rehnquist, are you prepared to take the oath?

Justice Rehnquist. I am, Chief Justice.

Chief Justice Burger. If you will place your left hand on the Bible and raise your right hand and repeat after me:

I, William H. Rehnquist, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God.

Justice Rehnquist. I, William H. Rehnquist, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God.

Chief Justice Burger. My congratulations. Chief Justice Rehnquist. Thank you. Mr. President, I know that I speak for all of my colleagues, and for all of my family, when I thank you for inviting us to these proceedings at the White House, signifying the transition in the Supreme Court.

Today Chief Justice Burger retires after 17 years of distinguished service. I receive your appointment to be Chief Justice. And Judge Scalia, by virtue of your appointment, becomes Justice Scalia. The process established by the Constitution is thus fulfilled.

At the conclusion of the second part of these proceedings in our Court this afternoon, I will become the 16th Chief Justice of the United States. Forty-five years ago, when Harlan Stone succeeded Charles Evans Hughes in that position, he wrote to his predecessor that he now realized he must bear some burdens which John Marshall did not know. So, I'm sure, it will be with me.

Mr. President, I am grateful beyond measure to you for affording me the opportunity to serve the Court and to serve my country as Chief Justice of the United States. And I pray that God will grant me the patience, the wisdom, and the fortitude to worthily follow in the footsteps of my illustrious predecessors in discharging the responsibilities of this high office.

Chief Justice Burger. Judge Scalia, are you prepared to take the oath of office? Judge Scalia. I am, Chief Justice.

Chief Justice Burger. Would you approach, and if Mrs. Scalia will hold the Bible, place your left hand on the Bible, raising your right hand, and repeat after

me:

I, Antonin Scalia, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, for

eign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God.

Judge Scalia. I, Antonin Scalia, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God.

Chief Justice Burger. My congratulations to you.

Justice Scalia. Thank you. This is an occasion for thank you's. It's very easy to know where to begin; it's very hard to know where to end. I'd begin, of course, with President Reagan, who has chosen to think me worthy of this appointment for which I'm very grateful and will do my best to live up to his confidence. I have to thank my wife, Maureen, who's an extraordinary woman and without whom I wouldn't be here or if I were here, it wouldn't have been as much fun along the way. [Laughter] And I have to thank a lot of other people, going way back to teachers in Public School 13 in Queens, Xavier High School in Manhattan, up to my colleagues on the Court on which I presently serve who are here today.

In the course of my last tour of duty on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, I have come to know in one way or another all of the current Justices on the Supreme Court, I have an enormous respect for that institution, and I have an enormous personal regard for each of them. I look forward to working with them in our common enterprise for many years to

years since its founding. One Chief Justice of our Supreme Court has stepped down, and together with a new Associate Justice, another has taken his place. As the Constitution requires, they've been nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and they've taken the oath of office that is required by the Constitution itself-the oath "to support and defend the Constitution of the United States . . . so help me God."

In marking this moment of transition, let me first say, on behalf of all Americans, how grateful we are to Chief Justice Burger. For 17 years on the Supreme Court, and for 13 years before that on the DC Circuit, the Chief Justice's service to the Nation has been a monument of integrity and of dedication to principle-and especially to the judiciary itself. But, Mr. Chief Justice, we know your service isn't ending today. How appropriate it is that you will be guiding the bicentennial celebration of that Constitution that you have served with such distinction over the years. And what a lasting contribution this will be. Because of your work, Americans in all walks of life will come to have an even more profound knowledge of the rule of law and the sacred document upon which it rests. Your service as Chief Justice has been outstanding, and it's a mark of your generosity that you've agreed to offer yourself for additional service to your country and the law.

Our new Chief Justice is one of America's most brilliant jurists. From his days in law school, where he graduated first in his class, he has been recognized for his extraordinary legal insight. On the Court, he has distinguished himself through the brilliance of his reason and the clarity and the craftsmanship of his opinions. I nominated William Rehnquist because I believe he will be a Chief Justice of historic stature.

Associate Justice Antonin Scalia is also a brilliant judge. He had a distinguished career as a lawyer and as a professor of law before joining the Court of Appeals nearly 4 years ago. There he became known for his integrity and independence and for the force of his intellect.

Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justice Scalia, congratulations to both of you.

With these two outstanding men taking their new positions, this is, as I said, a time