President Bush says it is too soon to cut defense spending during an interview in the Oval Office, saying "we are not in that posture." President Bush addresses his meeting with Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney in the South Portico during the evening. November 30 – President Bush signs the Intelligence Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1990 into law. President Bush says the legislation authorizes appropriations aligned with the Fiscal Year 1990 budget. November 30 – President Bush signs the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, which he states "important reforms that strengthen Federal ethical standards." December December 1 – President Bush orders US warplanes into Manila. December 2 – President Bush meets with Mikhail Gorbachev at a summit, Bush proposing the two collaborate on a strategic arms reduction treaty for another summit in six months. December 3 – Aboard the Maxim Gorky, a soviet ship, President Bush and Gorbachev have a joint news conference. December 4 – In Brussels, ahead of a NATO summit, President Bush talks with Prime Minister of Britain Margaret Thatcher and Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney. December 7 – President Bush delivers a speech at the Acres Homes War on Drugs Rally in Houston, Texas. December 8 – President Bush states his wishes to attend a Colombia summit in spite of recent bombings. December 11 – President Bush says the trip to China taken by Brent Scowcroft and Lawrence Eagleburger was meant to brief Chinese officials on the Malta summit and that he is pleased with China's announcement earlier that day that China is not intending to sell Syria M-9 missiles. Bush also admits to a potential lack of funds in cleaning up the saving and loan disaster of the US from a 50 billion thrift bailout while speaking to editorial writers in Washington. December 11 – First Lady Barbara Bush unveils the Christmas decorations at the White House for the first time. December 12 – Secretary of State Baker visits East Germany, telling denizens there that the US supports the changes "taking place in this country." The White House announces the Bush administration's possible authorization of three telecommunication satellites to China following cancellation as a result of the Tiananmen Square bloody demonstrator crackdown. President Bush attends the Catholic University of America Anniversary Dinner at the Pension Building during the evening. December 13 – President Bush signs a repeal of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act.