President won't ask Americans to conserve gasoline, despite rising oil costs. Bush won't demand conservation

President Bush said Tuesday that he will not call on Americans to conserve gasoline despite the rising price of oil, saying consumers are "smart enough" to figure out for themselves that they should drive less.

"They're smart enough to figure out whether they're going to drive less or not. I mean, you know, it's interesting what the price of gasoline has done," Bush said at a news conference in the White House press room, "is it caused people to drive less. That's why they want smaller cars: They want to conserve. But the consumer's plenty bright. The marketplace works."


"You noticed my statement yesterday, I talked about good conservation and — you know, people can figure out whether they need to drive more or less," he said. "They can balance their own checkbooks."

"It's a little presumptuous on my part to dictate how consumers live their own lives," the president added. "I've got faith in the American people."

Bush was asked about an earlier news conference in which he said he had not heard of forecasts that gasoline could reach $4 a gallon, a mark that was soon eclipsed.

“I’ve heard of it now,” he quipped.

The president said the “psychology” of the oil markets must be considered in carrying out an effective energy policy.

“It seems like it makes sense to me to say to the world at we’re going to use, you know, new technologies to explore for oil and gas in the United States … to send a clear message that the supplies of oil will increase,” he said.

“The president doesn’t have a magic wand,” the president added. “You can’t just say: ‘Low gas!’ ”

As the former oilman has throughout his administration, he referred to oil as “product,” in the industry lingo.

Bush was asked for the first time about "What Happened," the blistering memoir by former White House press secretary Scott McClellan.

“I have had — no comment now on Scott’s book,” he said.

Bush looked and sounded jaunty despite the weight of the issues, responding to a reporter’s greeting by saying it’s always a good morning when you’re serving the country.

At one point he referred sardonically to “your wonderful newspapers” and “your TV shows.”

“Is that what you call them – TV shows?” he teased. “Newscasts!”