December 18, 1981

Q. Mr. President, can we do anything to try to find General Dozier and free him from the Red Brigades?

The President. Well, I think that everything is being done that can be done. This is, I think, a terrible situation. And it's a most frustrating situation, because I would like to be able to stand sometime -- I'm sure that we all would -- and say to the people that do these things, they are cowardly bums. They aren't heroes, they don't have a cause that justifies what they're doing. They're cowards. They wouldn't have the guts to stand up to anyone individually in any kind of a fair contest. And I think it is -- well, I can't say any more than that.

Yes, we're doing everything we can.

Note: The exchange began at approximately 12:30 p.m. as the President was beginning a luncheon meeting with American automobile industry representatives in the Cabinet Room at the White House.

Date
12/18/1981