Information on previous presidential administrations goes to the National Archives, and snapshots of the previous whitehouse.gov are helpfully archived. Clinton’s complete letters and speeches are available as well.

The full context of the Bush quote turned up in the New York Times, December 21, 2000, from a news conference naming the treasury secretary.

Q. Mr. President-elect, this morning your office spoke about the need for a new energy policy. Can you tell us something specific that you would do, for instance, in the first 100 days, to correct rising energy prices?

A. I strongly believe that we must work in concert to increase the amount of supply available for American consumers. Supply of natural gas, supply of coal, supply of plant and equipment.

I believe we need to review all federal land policy to make sure that we’re not missing an opportunity to explore for natural gas in the country. Natural gas is hemispheric; I like to call it hemispheric in nature, because it is a product that we can find in our neighborhoods, and it is immune from price manipulation by OPEC. It is — there are supplies of gas to be discovered in America.

The issue with natural gas is not only its discovery, but its transportation. So we must review all policies that would prevent that construction of pipeline to be able to move gas from field to market.

When we’re undersupplied as a nation and demand increases, prices will go up. And that’s what’s happening in the energy field.

I look forward to working with Congress to pass clean coal technologies, money for clean coal technology, so that we can explore and develop the vast coal reserves in our country with the comfort of knowing that we’re not going to ruin our environment.

I look forward to working with our friends and allies in our own hemisphere to put together a hemispheric energy policy, an energy policy that will allow for the free flow of natural gas, in particular, across our respective borders to make sure there is ample supply, ample supply to meet the demand of this nation.

And so, Carl, I look forward to when I’m swearing in as to put together a strategy that will make clear to the American people that we will address the needs. . . .