1908 Sept. 26 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1998 two, if your doctor says that he or she can crawling on whom in Washington, DC—ev- no longer treat your condition and you need erything is going to be fine. So I ask you, to see a specialist, you ought to be able to go out there and make sure that’s what it’s see one. Number three, if you work for a about. small business who changes providers, health Thank you very much. care providers, at a given time during the year, you still shouldn’t have to change your NOTE: The President spoke at 3:35 p.m. at a pri- vate residence. In his remarks, he referred to doctor if you’re in the middle of a critical luncheon hosts William S. and Star Lerach; Leon- treatment. ard Barrack, national finance chair, Democratic Now, let me just graphically demonstrate National Committee; Lynn Schenk, candidate for what that means. This happens. These things State attorney general; and San Diego City Coun- happen. You remember when you had your cil member Christine Kehoe, candidate for Cali- first child. How would you feel if you were fornia’s 49th Congressional District. 7 months pregnant and your employer says, ‘‘I’m sorry, go get another obstetrician’’? If anybody in your family has ever had chemo- Statement on Social Security therapy—I’ve been through that—if your September 26, 1998 family member needs chemotherapy, you sit The Republican tax plan drains billions of around thinking; you try to figure out ways dollars from the surplus before we have done to make jokes about it. My mother stood the hard work of strengthening Social Secu- there thinking, ‘‘Well, maybe I won’t lose my rity. First things first. I will insist that we hair, or when I do, maybe I will finally get reserve the entire surplus until we have a wig.’’ I never had to—you think—you try seized this historic opportunity to save Social to be funny about it. And then you wonder Security, and veto any bill that doesn’t meet whether you’re going to be too sick to eat, that principle. While it is regrettable that this right? In the middle of a chemotherapy treat- plan survived today, I am heartened by the ment, do you think somebody would say, strong commitment to fiscal discipline and ‘‘I’m sorry, go get another doctor’’? That’s Social Security shown by those who opposed what this is about—basic things. it. Our bill also protects the privacy of your medical records, which I think is very, very important and will become more important Remarks at a Unity ’98 Dinner in Los in the years ahead. Angeles, California Now, the House of Representatives, the September 26, 1998 Republican majority passed a bill that guar- antees none of these rights and leaves 100 Thank you very much. I hate to begin with million Americans out of what little it does a request, but if there was any way to turn cover. The Senate wouldn’t even vote on the down some of these lights, I would like it. bill because they didn’t want to be recorded, I can’t see any of you out there. Can you so they shut down business. turn these lights down? It’s not a nightclub That’s what this election is about. Don’t act. But I’d just like to know that you’re out be fooled about a smokescreen. This election there, you know? [Laughter] Thank you. is: Are we going to have a Patients’ Bill of Let me begin by telling you how very Rights? Is our policy going to be to grow the grateful I am for the warm welcome you have economy and preserve the environment? Are given me tonight, to those of you whom I we going to put education first? Are we going saw earlier. I thank you especially for the per- to stabilize the global economy, so we can sonal messages you had for me and for Hil- continue to grow? Are we going to save Social lary. You know, even Presidents and their Security first? That’s what it’s about. families have to be people, too, and that And if we go out and say, we are Demo- means a very great deal to us. And I thank crats, this is what we’re running for; we be- you more than you will ever know. lieve elections should be about the people I want to thank Haim and Cheryl for hav- that live outside Washington, not about who’s ing me back in their home and having all Administration of William J. Clinton, 1998 / Sept. 26 1909 of you here in this beautiful, beautiful set- I want to say, too, that I’m very glad Bar- ting. I’d like to thank Michael McDonald for bara Boxer is here tonight. You know she’s that wonderful song. We were all up there in a tough race. She’s always been in a tough singing but not as well as you. I want to thank race. She was in ’92; she is now; she has been the staff of our Unity events, the people who since the spring. But I think she’s tougher catered this wonderful dinner, and the peo- than her race is. And I can say this about, ple who served it. I thank them all. They to some extent, every Member of Congress did a wonderful job for us. Thank you. who’s here. But I want you to remember that I want to thank Gray and Sharon Davis many of the things for which the American for being such good friends to Hillary and people very generously give our administra- me and such good friends to the people of tion credit, which flow from the economic California. You have to make sure that on prosperity we have—on one August night in election night they’re victorious, and I be- 1993, hung by the thread of a single vote— lieve they will be. I thank you so much for first in the House and then in the Senate. being here. I thank my friend, Phil And we did not have a vote to spare when Angelides, for being here and for running for we passed the economic plan that brought office. the deficit down 92 percent, before we Let me say to all the Members of Congress passed the bipartisan Balanced Budget Act. here, I’m very proud of this Unity event. We That plan cut taxes for 15 million working began to do this in 1996, to work together families on modest incomes. I invested dra- through the Democratic committee and the matic new monies in health research, as Senate campaign committee and the House Nancy said, and education. It gave real incen- campaign committee. We found that our tives for people to invest in inner cities that contributors were relieved because they were had been left behind in the development we only being hit once, instead of three times. had enjoyed. And it hung by a single vote. But we also found that when we pooled our And Barbara Boxer, who had been elected efforts, as is always true in life, when we work in a narrow race in California in 1992, never together, we do better. And Nancy Pelosi and blinked. She just went up there and did the Bob Torricelli have done a wonderful, won- right thing for America. And now the voters derful job and a great thing for our country. of California should never blink. They should I’d like to thank the other Members who go to the polls and do the right thing for are here. You may have heard through the California and for America and reelect her, applause what Nancy said about Brad Sher- because we need her in Washington, DC, man, that he was on Speaker Gingrich’s top very, very badly. 10 hit list. Well, for whatever it’s worth, he’s I would also like to thank Dick Gephardt on my top 10 protect list, and I think he’s and Tom Daschle for their sterling leader- going to win in November, thanks in no small ship of our caucus in the Senate and the measure to your help. And I thank you for House through some very, very difficult days that. and tough decisions. Again, I say to you many I have a lot of things to be grateful to of the things for which the administration is Henry Waxman for, but one thing stands out credited required the support of Democrats. above all. He has put the public health of Even in the bipartisan legislation, we never the children of this country over the interests would have gotten the money to ensure 5,000 of the tobacco industry that has done so children who don’t have health insurance— much to undermine it and to stop us from 5 million children. We never would have got- passing comprehensive tobacco legislation. ten the funds to give a $1,500 tax credit to He fought that battle a long time before it virtually every family in the country for the was popular and before we in our administra- first 2 years of college, and tax breaks for tion got into it. And Henry, we’re going to the other costs of higher education and to win sooner or later, sure as the world, and expand dramatically the student loan pro- when we do, it will be in no small measure gram and the scholarship programs if it because of you. And I thank you for what hadn’t been for the leadership of Tom you’ve done for our children. Daschle and Dick Gephardt. 1910 Sept. 26 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1998

So every time you think about the good Indeed, one of the things that I regret the things that I have been able to achieve, if most about so much of the rancor of Wash- a law was required and a change was re- ington is that it undermines what we so des- quired, I can tell you that if it hadn’t been perately need in this country now, which is for those two men sharing the same values, a deepening spirit of unity and what we have the same hopes, the same dreams, and being in common with our neighbors and friends, willing to pay the same heat it would not have no matter what the differences are. And I happened. And I want to see them and their wanted America to be a force for peace and counterparts rewarded in this election be- prosperity and freedom throughout the cause they have consistently, in the majority world. and the minority, done the right thing for And in the last 6 years, because of what the United States. They are builders, not we were able to do together, I’m very proud wreckers; they are uniters, not dividers; and of the fact that we have the lowest unemploy- they ought to be the leaders of the United ment rate in 28 years and the lowest crime States Congress. rate in 25 years and the smallest percentage Let me just say one final thing of apprecia- of people on welfare in 29 years, and we’re tion for the Democratic Party. I want to about to have the first balanced budget and thank the chairs of this event nationally and surplus in 29 years. I’m proud of the fact the chairs in California. I want to thank Steve that we have advanced the cause of peace Grossman, who did the right thing to go back and freedom around the world and that we home to his child; and Len Barrack, our fi- banned assault weapons at home and passed nance chair. the Brady bill and passed the family and We’ve had a wonderful couple of days. Hil- medical leave law and did a lot of other things lary just got back from Washington and Or- to change life for people who could never egon, campaigning for our House candidates. afford to come to an event like this. I’m She was in northern California with Barbara proud of all that. last night, and we got to spend the evening with Chelsea, and the morning until noon. But the real issue is, what are we going And I was in Illinois yesterday and in San to do with this moment of prosperity and Jose last night, in Silicon Valley. I went to confidence? And you showed me once again San Diego earlier today, and I’m here, and tonight that adversity is not our enemy. Ad- I’m going on to Texas in the morning. versity is our friend. It’s a harsh teacher America knows that it has a decision to sometimes. And I think we’ve all experienced make. And I want to talk to you pretty seri- that in one way or another in our lives. But ously about that just for a moment. The kind it animates us to action and it forces us to reception you gave me is an indication of a get to the bottom of ourselves and ask what deep feeling that you and millions of other we really believe in and what we really care Americans have about what’s going on in about and what we’re prepared to work for Washington. But what I desperately want this and to sacrifice for. No, adversity is not our election to be about is what’s going on out- enemy in this election season, but compla- side of Washington, in the lives of the Amer- cency and cynicism are enemies. ican people. Our opponents in the other party believe You know, I ran for this job because I did that they’re going to pick up seats in this mid- not believe the country was moving in the term election and because of what I call the right direction, and I didn’t think we had a M&M syndrome—midterms and money. vision to get to the new century. And I be- Even though you’re here tonight, they’ll still lieve that we had some ideas—I and the peo- have more money than we do for the next ple who were working with me—that would, few weeks—quite a bit more. first of all, make America work for ordinary And usually at midterm elections, the elec- people again; and secondly would bring us torate is older and wealthier and more likely together in a spirit of reconciliation and com- to be Republican. In order for us to win, munity across this incredible diversity that which I clearly believe we can, the American we have in our country. people have to understand what the real Administration of William J. Clinton, 1998 / Sept. 26 1911 choice is and have to believe that just be- future. But we know right now we cannot cause times are good doesn’t mean we can maintain the present Social Security system sit on our lead because we can’t. and take care of the elderly—and I remind All you have to do is look around the world you that half of the elderly people in this today. Ron Burkle and I were talking tonight country are lifted out of poverty today be- before I came over here about the troubles cause of Social Security. They would be in in Asia, the troubles in Japan, the terrible poverty were it not for Social Security, even challenges the people of Russia are facing, those that have other sources of income. the fear that many of us have that it could Now, I have not said I’m against tax cuts. spread to our friends in Latin America who We have tax cuts in my budget, in the bal- are actually doing a pretty good job running anced budget, for child care, for education, their economies; and what Alan Greenspan for the environment. All I said is we shouldn’t said the other night, that America could spend the surplus on tax cuts until we save never remain—or at least not forever re- Social Security for the 21st century. And main—an island of prosperity in a sea of eco- that’s very important. Everybody I know— nomic distress. there are some baby boomers here tonight— The world is changing very fast. That’s why everybody between 34 and 52 is a baby I have said that we ought to be using this boomer. I’m the oldest of them, though it time to look at the big problems facing our grieves me to say so. [Laughter] country and to take action. Let me just men- But I can tell you—not very long ago I tion a couple very quickly that I think are was home in Arkansas eating barbecue with important and then give you the real com- 20 people I grew up with, and very few of parison of what’s going on. them would classify as upper middle class. Number one, we’re going to have this sur- Most of them have very modest incomes, plus on October the 1st. We’ve been waiting they’re just good, hard-working Americans for it for 29 years and every Member of Con- doing the best they can to raise their kids. gress and I in this room, we’ve been working But every one of them was plagued with the on it for 6 years. Now, I would like to see notion that when they got ready to retire and the red ink turn to black and dry a little. there were only two people working for every I’m just waiting for October 1st, just to take one person on Social Security, if we don’t a deep breath and say that’s another thing do something about this now, we would have we did that was good for America. to take lots more money from our children The leaders of the other party, they want and undermine their ability to raise our to give an election-year tax cut. Just a few grandchildren just to sustain our retirement. weeks before the election, it would be popu- Now, you heard Bob Torricelli quoting de lar; it would be great politics. But it’s wrong. Tocqueville—we’re going to see, because it’s It is the wrong thing to do. It’s wrong for a clear choice in this election. They’re offer- two reasons. ing everybody a quick-fix tax cut that won’t One is we need to show stability and dis- amount to a lot of money to most people, cipline. We quadrupled the debt of this but it sounds great before an election. And country in the 12 years before I became we’re going into the teeth of the election and President. And now, with so much of the rest we say, we would like to tell you this, but of the world in trouble, we need to show we’re not going to do it, we’re going to tell people we have got our head on straight and you truth: America needs to set a financial we are not going to knee-jerk in the manage- example, and we need to save Social Security ment of our economy, we’re going to be a first before we use any of that surplus for force of strength and stability for the whole spending or for tax cuts. That’s our position. world. It’s a big issue, and it’s the right thing for The second, and really the more important America. issue, is that everybody knows the Social Se- The second big issue—I never thought I’d curity system we have now is not sustainable ever be giving a speech about this within 6 when the baby boomers retire. It’s fine now. weeks of an election—is whether we’re going And it will be fine for several years in the to fund the International Monetary Fund. 1912 Sept. 26 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1998

Most Americans probably don’t know what It would provide college scholarships to it is. But I can tell you this, if you like the 35,000 young people that they could pay off fact that your country has almost 17 million by going out into our most troubled school new jobs and you want us to continue to lead districts and giving a few years of their lives the world and you understand that 30 per- to teach. It would provide for 3,000 charter cent of our growth has come from what we schools over the next few years, something sell to our friends around the world and a that California is leading the way in. It is a quarter of the world today is in a serious re- good program. It ought to be passed, and cession—in Asia, where so much of Califor- I can promise you it will not be passed by nia’s wealth has come from in the growth this election, and it won’t be passed in toto of our trading with Asian markets—then you unless we have a Democratic Congress. And know that America has to do something to that’s a good reason to fight for the people lead the way. who are here and all the people they rep- I’m doing my best to get all the other resent throughout this country. wealthy countries in the world to focus on Finally, let me just give you one other issue this, to try to help Asia recover, to try to get because to me it is sort of the crystal rep- Japan restored to growth, to try to help Rus- resentation of the differences in our parties sia, not only because it’s the morally right now. For 8 months, I have been trying to thing to do for them but because it’s in our pass a Patients’ Bill of Rights. It sounds good, interest. We can’t grow and continue to pros- but let me tell you what it really means— per unless our friends and neighbors grow. 160 million of us Americans are in managed And for 8 months, I’ve been asking this care plans now. I have supported managed Congress to fund our contribution to the care because when I became President, infla- International Monetary Fund. They need the tion costs in health care were going up at money, and I can’t do the job without it. And 3 times the rate of inflation, and it was going we can’t possibly be expected to lead if we’re to absolutely bankrupt the country if we the biggest piker on the block and we won’t didn’t do something about it. pay our fair share. So that’s a big issue in On the other hand, I want to manage the this election. health care system as best as possible, con- The third thing I’d like to talk to you about sistent with the main goal, which is keeping is education. Eight months ago, in the State people healthy or making them well if they of the Union, I gave the United States Con- get sick. That’s the goal—it’s not managing gress an education agenda to try to make sure the system. You manage the system so you that all of our children have access to world- can use your forces to advance the health class elementary and secondary education. It of Americans. But in too many cases, health was based on the best research available of care decisions are being made by account- what we know works. The plan, paid for in ants, not by doctors. And in too many cases— the balanced budget, would put 100,000 cruel individual cases—the interest of ordi- teachers out there to lower average class size nary people are being washed away. to 18 in the early grades. It would build or So let me tell you what our bill does. It repair 5,000 schools, because a lot of schools says that if, God forbid, you get hit by a car are overcrowded or breaking down. It would leaving this party tonight, and you’re in a hook up all the classrooms in the country to managed care plan, you should be taken to the Internet by the year 2000. It would pro- the nearest emergency room, not one 10 or vide for the development of voluntary na- 15 miles away just because it’s covered by tional standards, exams to measure whether your plan. It says if your physician tells you the kids were meeting them, and would re- that he or she can’t treat you and you need ward school districts that are in trouble if to see a specialist, you have a right to see they end social promotion and adopt tutor- one. It says that if you’re in the middle of ing, after-school and summer school pro- a treatment of some kind, and your employer grams for the kids who need it, so we don’t changes health care providers, you can stay tell them they’re failures because they’re in with your doctor until you finish your treat- a system that’s failed. ment. Administration of William J. Clinton, 1998 / Sept. 26 1913

Just imagine—this actually happens in Security first, for putting the education of our America now. Most of us—some of you have children before any other investment prior- young children here, some of us have chil- ity. We stand for America’s continued leader- dren that are grown or children who think ship to keep our own growth going and to they are grown. [Laughter] But just remem- help the world economy. We stand for a Pa- ber when your first child was born. How tients’ Bill of Rights. would you have felt 6 months into the preg- What have they done this year with their nancy if somebody had said, ‘‘I hope you’re year in the Congress? They have killed the all right, but you’ve got to change obstetri- tobacco legislation that would have helped cians’’? It happens. our children. They killed campaign finance Have you ever had anybody in your family reform. They are killing the Patients’ Bill of in chemotherapy? I have. And if you have, Rights. They’ve taken no action on the Inter- you’ll identify with what I’m about to tell you. national Monetary Fund, no action on the You know it happens and you try to find a education program. And insofar as they have way to put on a happy face and be brave taken action, they’ve moved backwards on and even try to find a way to make jokes saving Social Security first, and they’re still about whether your loved one is going to lose continuing their stealth attack on the envi- their hair or not. And then you wonder when ronment. you’re going to be so sick you can’t eat any- Now, that’s what this is about. It’s about more. It’s tough enough. If you’re in the mid- what kind of country America is going to be. dle of a chemotherapy treatment, how would So we have a choice to make. It in some you feel to be told that you have to change ways grieves me to make these speeches. I doctors? had hoped by the time I’d been here 6 years This is serious business. That’s all our bill trying to bring people together that we would does. It gives you these basic, human protec- have a greater sense of bipartisanship in tions. And it says your medical records ought America; that there would be a greater sense to be kept private. Now, for 8 months there’s of harmony here, just as I believe there is been no action on our bill. But let me tell a greater sense of understanding across racial you what the majority in the other party has and ethnic and religious lines in this country done. In the House of Representatives, they than there was 6 years ago. passed a bill which they called the Patients’ But you know the truth. You knew the Bill of Rights which did not guarantee a sin- truth when you stood up and cheered. I gle, solitary thing I just described to you, and wanted you to hear it tonight not in a politi- left 100 million Americans out of what little cal, rah-rah speech, but in calm, direct, but it did provide. very blunt terms. This is a very great country. In the Senate, when Senator Daschle and We are blessed to be in this moment. But his friends attempted to bring up the Pa- we have a solemn responsibility to our chil- tients’ Bill of Rights, the Senate Republican dren, to our legacy, and to the world to make leader was so frightened of it, was so afraid this election about the American people, not to have his Members recorded voting against about the squabbles in Washington, DC. And it that he actually shut down the Senate for if you will go out and do that, I promise you 4 hours—unheard of. He called off business. we’ll spend every red cent you have given They turned out the lights. They ran away us tonight to do that. But you have friends; and hid under their desk to kill it by stealth you have neighbors; you have means of com- because they did not want to be caught vot- munication. You need to talk to people about ing for the insurance companies instead of what’s really at stake here. for the people of this country. And you tell them you know what the Forty-three managed care plans are en- other guys are for; the Democrats are for dorsing our bill. Why? Because they take keeping the economy strong, saving Social good care of their people, and they’re being Security first, putting the education of our punished for it. children above all other investment prior- Now, I want you to think about this. What ities, and passing that Patients’ Bill of Rights. do we stand for? We stand for saving Social They’re for an American coming together. 1914 Sept. 26 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1998

They’re for progress, not partisanship. I want to say a special word of appreciation They’re for people, not politics.1 for the life and career of a man who has been If you do that, we’re going to have a stun- my friend for more than 25 years, Henry B. ning victory in November—against all the Gonzalez. You can be really proud of what tide of history, and against all the money and he has done. all the midterm arguments they can make, And I want to thank my friend Ann Rich- because it’s the right thing for our country, ards for finding ways to say things no one for our children, and for our future. else can say that make a point no one could Thank you, and God bless you. misunderstand. [Laughter] She’s unbeliev- able. NOTE: The President, spoke at 9:42 p.m. at a pri- vate residence. In his remarks, he referred to din- I want to tell you why I wanted to come ner hosts Haim and Cheryl Saban; musician Mi- here today, for reasons other than the fact chael McDonald; California gubernatorial can- that Garry Mauro has been my friend since didate Lt. Gov. Gray Davis and his wife, Sharon; 1972. Phil Angelides, candidate for State treasurer; Audience member. Mango ice cream! Leonard Barrack, national finance chair, and The President. And the mango ice cream. Steve Grossman, national chair, Democratic Na- tional Committee; and Ron Burkle, chairman, [Laughter] Yucaipa Companies. A portion of these remarks First of all, many of you whom I’ve already could not be verified because the tape was incom- met have said some wonderful personal plete. things to me about my family, and I thank you for that. You know, it’s easy to forget in Washington, but Presidents and their fam- Remarks at a Reception Honoring ilies are still people, and it meant more to Gubernatorial Candidate Garry me than you’ll ever know, and I thank you Mauro in San Antonio, Texas for that. September 27, 1998 But I also want to tell you that I des- perately want this election year, all across The President. Thank you very much. America and in Texas, not to be about what’s Audience member. Don’t give up! The President. Well, ladies and gentle- going on in Washington, DC, but what’s men—you don’t have to worry about me giv- going on in San Antonio, in El Paso, in ing up. [Applause] Thank you. Garry Mauro Lufkin, and towns like them all over America. promised me that if I came to Texas in the You know, this is still a democracy; you’re wake of all this controversy, I would get a still in the driver’s seat, but you have to get warm welcome. And he nearly overdid it behind it and drive if you want to be heard. today. [Laughter] Now, I ran for President—I started almost It’s great to be back here. I want to thank 7 years ago—in just about a week it will be Frank Herrera and his whole family for mak- the 7th anniversary of my declaration for ing us feel so welcome at their humble little President. When I started, nobody but my homestead here. We ought to give him a wife and my mother thought I could win. hand. Thank you. [Applause] I had a lot of good friends in Texas and got I want to thank all the people who pro- two-thirds of the vote in the Democratic pri- vided our music and catered our food and mary here on Super Tuesday, and it cata- made this such an enjoyable occasion. I want pulted me on. to thank the candidates who are here who Now, I ran for President because I wanted are running for office—Jim Mattox, Charlie to make this country work for ordinary citi- Gonzalez—Richard Raymond is not here— zens again; because I wanted us to be a lead- Joe Henderson. I want to thank Molly Beth er for peace and prosperity and freedom in Malcolm, your State chair, and all the mem- the rest of the world, to which we’re closer bers of the Texas House and Senate who are and closer tied; and because I wanted to here. bring this country together in a spirit of har- mony and unity across all the lines that divide 1 White House correction. us.