I Bush pledges cooperation with Clements By JIM MICHAELS 4141 Staff writer Vice President George Bush, arriv- ing in San Antonio to attend a fund- raiser for gubernatorial hopeful Bill Clements, promised that the Reagan administration would work closely with the former governor if he regains his post. "We'll return his phone calls for one thing," Bush told reporters at a short news conference after arriv- ing at 11:20 a.m. Saturday at San Antonio Internation- al Airport. Bush came to San Antonio to be the main attraction at a Republican fund-raiser at the home of Jim and Tena Gorman. One hundred and fifty people turned out for the $1,000-a-plate luncheon. Bush lashed out at Gov. Mark White for sniping at the Reagan administration during his term in office. White "has elected to be highly partisan about our ad- ministration," Bush told reporters. Clements, on the other hand, would have a good working relationship with the Reagan administration, Bush said. "We've worked with Bill Clements." Bush conceded he and Clements differ over an im- port fee on oil, which Reagan opposes. But he said Cle- ments would be a persuasive advocate for imposing one. Clements' relationship with Bush goes back to 1962 when Clements was state finance chairman for Bush's unsuccessful Senate campaign. Bush was elected to Congress two years later. A number of other state Republicans were guests at -4g r r-r3...• • POLITICAL ALLIES: Vice President George Bush looks on as Bill Clements addresses a crowd the fund-raiser, including Roy Barrera Jr., the Repub- lican nominee for state attorney general; Rep. Tom Loeffler; congressional candidate Lamar Smith; state party chairman George Strake; and former Sen. John Tower were guests at the luncheon. Bush, who will be wrapping up a four-day swing through Texas to stump for Republican candidates, was scheduled to go to Dallas in the afternoon and J. MARTIN KELLY in San Antonio Saturday. Bush was in town to back Clements' bid for governor. then appear at another Clements fund-raiser in Hous- ton Saturday night. At his news conference, Bush predicted the Repub- licans would hold on to control of the Senate in 1986, despite tough races in some states. "We may have some senators in trouble, but a lot of incumbents are doing better than we thought," Bush said.
