TOKYO -- President Bush awoke Thursday still weak with the intestinal flu that prompted him to collapse at a state dinner, but the White House said all vital signs were normal and that he was in 'good spirits.'
Bush, in the 11th day of a grinding trade mission to Asia, canceled morning appearances and postponed by a several hours another round of talks with Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa.
'Dr. Burton Lee, the president's physician, reports that the president is in overall excellent health and should recover with this bout of flu in a normal period of time,' Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater said in a news conference broadcast live in the United States as well as Japan.
Bush keeled over at dinner at Miyazawa's residence at 8:20 p.m. local time (6:10 am. EST Thursday) moments after vomiting.
He was helped to the floor by Secret Service agents, promptly aided by Lee and within a few moments managed to rise to his feet and give a thumbs up sign.
Fitzwater said he had but lost consciousness only for a few seconds.
He said Lee explained that a person with the flu would be prone to pass out after vomiting and losing fluids.
Although an ambulance was summoned and a hospital alerted, Bush managed walk on his own power to his limousine and rode back to the Akasaka Palace, where he is staying during his three-day stay in Japan, which ends Friday.
Fitzwater said Thursday morning, 'He's up and about at the Akasaka Palace. 'He's still suffering from some weakness related to the flu, but the major symptoms have subsided.
'All the president's vital signs are normal as they were last night. There is no indication of any other illness other than the common flu. No medication has been prescribed for today.'
'He's a little weak from the loss of fluids last night, and is resting for that, and he has a little bit of nausea,' Fitzwater said. 'He's sipping fluids at this point. He has not had solid foods.'
Fitzwater said Bush is concerned about the inconvenience caused when he vomited, keeled over in his chair and fell to the floor. 'He joked he might have a large dry cleaning bill to deal with.'
Treasury Secretary Nicholas Brady and Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbacher filled in for Bush as two morning meetings, but the president planned to meet with the prime minister, hold a news conference and attend another state dinner, Fitzwater said.
Fitzwater said Bush, 67, fainted midway through the dinner, and was advised by his doctor, Dr. Burton Lee, to remain on the floor until hiscondition could be fully assessed. Lee earlier noticed Bush was looking pale, he said.
Anna Perez, a spokeswoman for Barbara Bush, said the first lady conceded she was 'very frightened for a moment' when she saw Bush keel over, but was quickly reassured he was in no danger by his doctors and by seeing his color return quickly.
At an earlier briefing after the president collapsed, Fitzwater quoted Lee, Bush's personal physician, as saying 'the president is in good shape' and will require no extraordinary care.
'The president is human,' Fitzwater said. 'He gets sick.'
'I feel good,' Bush told a pool of reporters as he left the prime minister's residence, where the dinner was held.
Bush was given the drug Tigan to control nausea, Fitzwater said, and went to bed early to rest. The president, who was nearing the end of a four-nation, 12-day trip, had complained in a television interview earlier in the day of not getting enough sleep and had taken a small dose of a sleeping pill.
Bush canceled a breakfast meeting Thursday with business leaders, but was to hold the second of two days of talks with Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa later in the day. He was to return to Washington Friday.
Opening up Japanese markets to American goods and evening out the U. S. trade imbalance with Tokyo was the major focus of Bush's trip. Talks with Miyazawa earlier Wednesday produced no major breakthroughs and Fitzwater acknowledged the discussions were 'severe.'
Vice President Dan Quayle and other officials in Washington were notified of Bush's collapse shortly after it occurred at 8:20 p.m. (6:20 a.m. EST). After determining the president was fine, Quayle continued with his regular schedule, including going to New Hamsphire to campaign as Bush's surragate in advance of the Feb. 18 Republican primary.
Quayle's press secretay, David Beckwith, said there was no talk of transferring presidential powers to the vice president.
The White House said Bush planned to continue his three days of domestic traveling next week, which includes a stop in New Hampshire.
Bush's doctor determined that Wednesday's problem had 'no connection whatsoever with the atrial fibrillation' he suffered last spring that caused him to collapse while jogging at Camp David, Fitzwater said.
'All aspects of the examination indicate that it is a common case of the flu,' Fitzwater said. A number of people traveling with Bush have also come down with flu symtoms during the Asian trip.
In addition to his trade talks, Bush has been playing the role of tourist to the hilt and kept a very active schedule that including playing Emperor Akihito in tennis earlier in the day.
The state dinner was to cap his first full day in Japan. But well into the dinner Bush was stricken and as stunned dinner guests watched, the limp president was lowered to the floor with the help of aides. One held his head.
'He was in a faint condition,' Fitzwater told reporters.NEWLN: more
Mrs. Bush, in brief remarks, stood beside her husband's empty chair and displayed her trademark, spunk and humor.
'I rarely get to speak for George Bush, but tonight I know he would want me to thank you.'
'I can't explain what happened to George because it never happened before,' she said, adding, jokingly, that the incident could have been prompted by the tennis match he lost earlier in the day.
'We Bushes aren't use to that,' she said. 'He felt much worse than I thought.'
Last May 4, Bush collapsed while jogging at Camp David, suffering from atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat. After tests at Bethesda Naval Hospital, it was discovered that he had Graves' disease, a thyroid condition that also has afflicted the first lady.
Bush has said in many interviews that only health would keep him from running for re-election, but in the most recent interview with David Frost last week, Bush said he was in fine health.
Last Sept. 13, a battery of doctors gave him a complete medical checkup and said, 'The president has been restored to his usual vigorous state of good health.'
Fitzwater said chief of staff Samuel Skinner, who remained in Washington, was notified of the president's condition. Skinner then notified 'all other appropriate officials.'
Quayle spent most of the morning in his office near the Oval Office. When he left for the campaign trip, Quayle replied, 'Fine' and held thumbs up when asked how the president was.
In an interview earlier Wednesday with NBC's John Cochran, Bush said he had had difficult sleeping due to jet lag and had taken half a Halcion sleeping pill earlier in the day.
'I feel pretty good right now (but) its been a long trip,' said Bush, conceding he was a bit tired.
Halcion is one of the most widely prescribed medications worldwide, but is also highly controversial because of alleged side effects that may include psychiatric disorders. Britain has banned the drug while the Food and Drug Administration has it under investigation.
Fitzwater, asked if the incident might prompt the president to reduce his heavy travel, said no. Bush is the most traveled president in U.S. history, having gone to 34 foreign in three years.
'The president's schedule is one that he has carried out in similar fashion for more than three years (as president) and one that he enjoys, ' the press secretary said. 'He is a very physical and able man and I don't expect any changes.'
Bush's collapse momentarily took the spotlight away from the economic problems at the center of his Asian trip. Eighteen chief executive officers of major U.S. corporations, including the Big Three auto makers, traveled to Japan to try to open markets and cut into Japan's $41 billion annual trade surplus with the United States.
In talks Wednesday before the state dinner, Bush pressed Miyazawa to lower Japanese barriers, but Japan and the United States remained at odds over the contentious issue of automobile and auto parts trade.
'Regretfully, we have not yet reached a broad agreement,' Japanese Internal Trade and Industry Minister Kozo Watanabe told a news conference. He described his talks with Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbachar as 'very severe' and said Japan will make no further concessions on auto imports.
'I think we can do it,' Bush said. 'It is in our interest,' and, turning to the Japanese, he said, 'It is in your interest.
'We've got to iron out these differences between us so we can go forward without tensions mounting and (without) the world dividing up into trading blocs,' Bush said.
Bush also used his discussion to encourage Japan to take a higher profile in Asian security matters, despite the disintegration of the Soviet Union, administration officials said.
'Before tonight's state dinner, at Predient Miyazawa's official residence, President Bush told his physician he felt somewhat ill,' Fitzwater said. 'Dr. Lee examined the president and determined he had a touch of the flu, that the president wanted to attend the state dinner.'
Fitzwater said Bush 'slumped over in his chair, was feeling weak, and was helped to the floor by Secret Service agents. The president recovered in a few minutes.'
The gathering appeared to give a collective sigh of relief and a smiling first lady joked about her husband's tough defeat to the emperor on the tennis court earlier in the day.
When he rose to his feet, Bush looked like a man who had just awakened. He smiled broadly and gave the thumbs up sign with his left hand while using his right hand to shake hands with Miyazawa, who led the gathering in a round of applause.
Bush and Miyazawa had engaged in tough trade talks with the president just hours earlier.
The president collapsed during the tenth day of his grueling 12-day, four nation sprint across the Asian Pacific, and came just hours after he played what his wife, Barbara, later described as a 'vigorous' tennis match with Emperor Akihito.
Three hours earlier, in an interview with John Cochran of NBC News, Bush confessed to having difficulty dealing with the jet lag and sleeping and said he had taken half of a halcion tablet the night before.
An ambulance had been summoned and a nearby hospital alerted, but after Lee's quick examination it was determined that no extraordinary medical attention was needed and the president walked out of the residence to his limousine and rode back to the Imperial Palace.
Fitzwater said that Bush 'is in good shape' and that he was 'asleep at the hotel.'
The dinner continued and the prime minister, standing next to the empty chair that had been the president's, raised a toast saluting Bush.
Shortly before 9 p.m., Miyazawa ended his toast and read a note to the gathering, which read: 'The president is fine and resting.'NEWLN: more
Fitzwater told reporters that the president 'was nauseous. He did vomit just before he slumped to the floor.'
Bush was taken by his limousine from the dinner to Asasaka Palace, although an ambulance had been standing by and a hospital had been alerted.
The dinner went on with national security adviser Brent Scowcroft reading Bush's prepared remarks. Mrs. Bush even remained at her seat.
Mrs. Bush then informed the gathering that her husband had played tennis earlier in the day with Emperor Akihito, suggesting he may have been tired. She added that Bush's team had been 'badly beaten and we Bushes are not used to that.'
She added, 'He felt much worse than I thought.'
Wearing a lacey evening gown, Mrs. Bush rose at the head table to jokingly say:
'I rarely get to speak for Geoge Bush but tonight I know he would want me to thank you on behalf of the administration and the Americans traveling with us.
'I can't explain what happened to George because it never happened before. But I blame it on the ambassador ... because he and the ambassador were beaten at tennis in a game with the emperor.'
Last May 4, Bush collapsed while jogging at Camp David, suffering from atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat. After tests at Bethesda Naval Hospital Center, it was discovered that he had Graves' disease, a thyroid condition that also has afflicted the first lady.
Bush has said in many interviews that only health would keep him from running for re-election, but in the most recent interview with David Frost last week, Bush said he was in fine health.
He is scheduled to return to Washington Friday morning.
Last Sept. 13, a battery of doctors gave him a complete medical checkup and said, 'The president has been restored to his usual vigorous state of good health.'
Fitzwater said chief of staff Samuel Skinner, who remained in Washington, was notified of the president's condition. Skinner then notified Vice President Dan Quayle 'and all other appropriate officials.'
Fitzwater said there was 'no need for special alarm.'
Quayle was scheduled to make campaign stops in New Hampshire later Wednesday.
President Bush pressed Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa Wednesday to lower Japanese barriers in their showdown summit, but Japan and the United States remained at odds over the contentious issue of automobile and auto parts trade.
Following a welcoming ceremony for Bush attended by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, the leaders of the world's richest nations met at Akasaka Palace and scrutinized Japan's massive $41 billion annual trade surplus with the United States.
With Bush aiming for export-driven jobs in the United States, economic issues dominated his talks with Miyazawa as well as separate negotiations between U.S. Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbacher, Internal Trade and Industry Minister Kozo Watanabe, 18 American business moguls including the chairmen of the 'Big Three' automakers and their Japanese counterparts.
'Regretfully, we have not yet reached a broad agreement,' Watanabe told a news conference. He described the session with Mosbachar as 'very severe' and said Japan will make no further concessions on auto imports.
Seventy-five percent of the U.S. trade deficit with Japan is in automobiles and auto parts.
White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater acknowledged the talks 'are severe.'
'We're pressing them hard,' Fitzwater said. 'They're feeling the pinch and they're screaming about it, but we'll find out where we are (Thursday).' Fitzwater said talks will continue during the night
Earlier, Bush and Miyazawa dropped by the meeting and urged the participants to settle their differences.
'I think we can do it,' Bush said. 'It is in our interest,' and, turning to the Japanese, he said, 'It is in your interest.
'We've got to iron out these differences between us so we can go forward without tensions mounting and (without) the world dividing up into trading blocs,' Bush said.
'President Bush and I are working hard to advance our bilateral relationship, including its economic aspect, not only for the sake of our two countries, but also for the rest of the world,' Miyazawa said.
Under pressure from the government, Japan's top automakers agreed to more than double their purchases of U.S. auto parts to $20 billion in fiscal 1994 from the current levels, while pledging to boost sales of American vehicles in Japan.
Watanabe said Japan and the United States are split over perceptions of the openness of the Japanese market.
'While Japan believes it is trying more than any other country to open its markets, Washington regards the effort as insufficient,' Watanabe said.
Bush, suffering from sagging popularity in an election year, is aiming for export-driven jobs in the United States. At every previous stop on his Asian-Pacific trip to Australia, Singapore and South Korea, he has hammered Japan for what the administration regards as protectionist trade policies.
Although Bush and Miyazawa announced no trade agreement in their first day of talks, they did produce a general 'strategy for world growth.'
In it, the United States and Japan, recognized their responsibility as the two richest nations to 'pursue policies that strengthen the international economy and global trading system.'
While Japan pledges to develop budgets to increase domestic demand as a means of achieving a 3.5 percent growth and a decline in its trade surplus, it sets no goals on how deep to cut that surplus.
For his part, Bush reaffirmed his intent to submit to Congress in his Jan. 28 State of the Union address a plan to strengthen the U.S. economy.
Bush and his trade negotiators have long maintained they do not want special favors but fundamental changes in the Japanese system to remove barriers to imports.
Prior to the summit's start, Japanese officials said the two sides reached basic agreement on relaxing inspection standards for imported cars, with Japan agreeing to a U.S. request to hike the number of annual imports of particular U.S. car models passing through simplified car certification inspections.
Currently, up to 1,000 foreign vehicles of the same model clear Japanese screening in one year. The United States asked Japan to boost the number to 5,000.
The two sides anticipate concluding two documents by the end of the talks Thursday. One, the 'Tokyo Declaration,' is intended to confirm the longterm global partnership between the two countries and span political, security and economic issues.
The other, an 'Action Plan,' will contain Japan's specific responses to complaints about trade.
Bush also urged Miyazawa to open Japan's long-closed rice markets to imports and help the Uruguay Round of world trade talks conclude successfully. Japan has long maintained it needs to protect its rice farmers to ensure self-sufficiency in the national staple food.
The two discussed the continued need for a security system in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world despite the collapse of the Soviet Union, and Bush encouraged Japan to make a contribution to the peace settlement in Cambodia.
Bush also solicited Japanese financial support for a $8.2 billion supercollider project in his adopted home state of Texas to advance physics research.
