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brown, yellow, Lord only knows what, a lot when you were over on the Vineyard this of them are Haitian-Americans. summer, and I’m sorry I missed you. But we We got every Haitian-American soldier we sort of feel like you’ve made Massachusetts could find and sent them down there so your second home, so we’re delighted you’re somebody could speak Creole to those folks. coming on back. It was unbelievable. And just look at their The President. I’m glad to be back; look- eyes, and they knew that this was a good ing forward to coming up there tomorrow. country, standing for something good, doing something good, bringing out the best. That’s Education the way of the rest of us have to be. In our Ms. Clapprood. So let’s talk about a cou- minds, we have to put on a uniform every ple of things. First of all, you need to know day. We have to say we are not going to let that all the kids over at Framingham High this country go down; we’re going up. And are looking forward to your coming down we are certainly not going to let this country with Senator Kennedy. And let’s talk about go back; we’re going forward. And if we have this education bill. Even Jack Anderson is that feeling, that spirit, then all the facts will calling you the education President. fall into place. And our story will be credible. The President. Well, we’ve worked very And our Governor will be reelected. He is hard on education, and Senator Kennedy has a national treasure, but he really is New had a lot to do with it. A lot of our education York’s treasure. Every one of you know. initiatives have not attracted a great deal of Every one of you know. public notice, maybe because we’ve been I kind of promised myself I wasn’t going successful in getting bipartisan support for to mention this, but I’m going to. Every one them, for most of them, all but the college of you know that he could have had another loan program. The program to provide mid- job with longer tenure. [Laughter] Every one dle class college loans at lower interest rates of you know that he stayed here because he had no Republican support because we took loves you; he loves that neighborhood he on some organized interest groups. But all grew up in in Queens. He cannot imagine the others did. And it’s a real tribute to Ted walking away from this fight until we have Kennedy because he got the expansion of had a chance to do every last thing we can Head Start in; he got the national service pro- to give every kid in this State a chance at gram in. a better future. You take care of it and make And this education act we’re signing in sure he’s reelected. Boston tomorrow, or in Framingham, has an Thank you, and God bless you all. incredible amount of good things in it. It’s a dramatic reform in terms of putting more NOTE: The President spoke at 9:09 p.m. in the Imperial Ballroom at Sheraton Centre. responsibility back on local school districts, giving them freedom from Federal rules and regulations but giving them very high stand- Interview With Marjorie Clapprood ards to shoot for. It’s a really—it’s a very of WRKO Radio, Boston, modern, exciting, and I think, effective piece Massachusetts of education legislation. I’m proud to be sign- October 19, 1994 ing it. The President. Good morning, Marjorie. Senator Kennedy Ms. Clapprood. How are you? Ms. Clapprood. Well, you know, Mr. The President. Great. It’s a beautiful day President, Senator Kennedy is not only de- down here. lighted to have you here signing that particu- Ms. Clapprood. I’ve got to tell you some- lar bill, but as you know, this is the toughest thing, sir. I have been waiting a long time race the Senator has ever faced in 32 years. on getting you on this program. And for many of us in Massachusetts, we’re The President. Well, it’s high time. surprised to know that nationally he is one Ms. Clapprood. It is high time. I even of several seats that we’re looking at that went down for the big old Clinton watch could be in very serious jeopardy. Your com-

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ing out here to help him will be bringing Kennedy’s opponent, Mitt Romney, is really a message to Massachusetts voters that says just another clone for Phil Gramm and an- what? How important is Senator Kennedy other Senator ‘‘no’’ for you. Are you as wor- and his reelection to the completion of your ried about that? Do you want to make any agenda as you go back to Washington? predictions on all of these GOP threats that The President. He’s terribly important to they are going to be taking over the Senate doing it. And he’s important for some reasons and taking over the Congress this time that people, I think, may not be aware of around? in Massachusetts. I mean, the rap that his The President. Well, I don’t think they critics are saying is that, ‘‘Well, he’s been will if we can get the facts out there. I mean, there long enough. He’s yesterday’s politi- we have made the Government work for or- cian.’’ But I can tell you, I’ve been talking dinary Americans. We’ve passed things like around here the last week, just asking people, family leave and the Brady bill and immuni- and there is a general feeling here that of zations for all the kids in this country under all the people in the Congress, Ted Kennedy 2, against ferocious Republican opposition. is one of the four or five who are most recep- We’ve got the economy coming back. We’ve tive to new ideas, to trying new things, to got more high-wage jobs coming into the breaking out in new directions. economy in 1994 than the previous 5 years And if you just look at what we’ve done combined. Unemployment is down. Employ- in education, we have changed the whole na- ment is up. The deficit is down. If we can tional approach to education. It’s much more get the record out, we should be winning grassroots, local control: Have national stand- seats, not them. ards, have the National Government helping, But the problem is that they are great talk- but give people the freedom at the grassroots ers, and they promise the Moon, and they level to try new things and to do things that will go like robots off of a cliff together. And will work. And he’s also been instrumental that’s what I’m worried about. It’s no offense in developing a national apprenticeship pro- to Mr. Romney, but they all—in the last few gram for young people who don’t go to col- days of the legislative session up here, we lege and, as I said, this college loan program. had an important piece of environmental leg- We’ve had the most impressive set of islation, the Superfund bill to clean up toxic achievements in the last year and a half in waste dumps. education we’ve seen in the last 35 years, a Ms. Clapprood. Right. lot of cutting-edge, new ideas, and Ted Ken- The President. Everybody in America was nedy has done it. for it. We had the chemical companies, the The other thing he’s very good at that I unions, the Sierra Club; they were all for it— think people don’t appreciate is he’s the best first time they had ever agreed on anything. Democratic legislator at getting Republicans There was no one in America against it ex- to support what he’s doing. He’s the best at cept over 40 Republican Senators who fili- getting bipartisan support. bustered it to death to keep people like Ted Ms. Clapprood. So I’ve heard, yes. Kennedy from coming back to Massachusetts The President. And I think that if the and saying we helped to clean up toxic waste people of Massachusetts know that, they dumps. They were willing to leave the poison would be more inclined to reelect him, be- in the ground. That’s how bitter and partisan cause he’s really a very forward-looking and obstructionist they are. They killed lobby Member of the Congress, and we need him reform and campaign finance reform. And back. all the lobbyists were cheering Senator Helms when he walked off the floor of the Midterm Elections Senate and saying how great it was. Ms. Clapprood. Well, one of the things Now, I don’t think the American people that the First Lady said when she was in a want to turn the Congress over to them. And couple of weeks back—I was happy to be especially, I don’t think they want to go back at the dinner that she hosted for the Sen- to trickle-down Reaganomics. That’s what ator—she went so far as to say that Senator they’ve promised to do, you know. They’ve

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promised to give us the economic policies talk radio has done a disservice? It seems to that they did in the eighties that put New me that’s the national pastime of a lot of my England in the ditch. And I don’t think that colleagues on the air; that’s just the ‘‘get good the people will support it once they know ratings if you kick Bill around.’’ that. The President. Well, what I think is im- Ms. Clapprood. Well, you know, one of portant, let me say—one thing I like about the things that I loved about your campaign, radio is—— Mr. President, was the slogan ‘‘It’s the econ- Ms. Clapprood. Me. omy, stupid.’’ And it seems as though, with The President. Oh, I like you. all the indicators macroeconomically looking Ms. Clapprood. Good. so terrific—what is the deal with cynical vot- The President. But generally, I like radio ers? I mean, how do we get this message because it’s an immediate, it’s almost an inti- out? It seems to me that you can’t win for mate thing. People feel like they’re right losing, even when everything looks good. there. The President. Well, I think there are two Ms. Clapprood. Right. problems. One is a substantive one. And that The President. And people feel that they is that we’ve had 20 years when most wages have a chance to have their say. But a lot have been stagnant for hourly wage earners of these folks who are on the far right, they and when people have been changing jobs never have anybody on that disagrees with more frequently, so that makes them more them, they never have an honest discussion, insecure. The average 18-year-old, for exam- and they’re not as careful as they ought to ple, will change jobs six, seven times in a be with their facts. I think it’s good to have lifetime now. And those feelings don’t your critics on there and to have honest de- change overnight. So even though people bates. We shouldn’t all agree on everything, may say the unemployment rate is dropping and no one in America, including the Presi- and new jobs are coming into America, into dent, is right about everything. There are al- Massachusetts, there is still an unsettled feel- ways things we can learn. But what I think ing. A lot of people themselves haven’t gotten the American people ought to insist on from a raise. A million Americans lost their health talk radio is a conversation, not a screaming insurance last year; that’s why we have to ad- match, and strict adherence to the facts. dress that. There’s plenty to argue about when we get Then there’s a political problem, which is the facts straight. that when Congress is in session, particularly That’s the only thing that bothers me. I with the bitter partisan obstruction we’ve think generally this talk radio phenomenon seen, what tends to get covered is the fights, can be a great instrument in promoting de- the bad news, the failures, the process. So mocracy. People feel so isolated from Wash- a lot of people just don’t know the facts about ington, so isolated from the bureaucracies. the economy. So what I’m going out to do A lot of folks even feel isolated from their now, in the last 3 weeks, is to say, ‘‘Look, State capital. So if talk radio makes people we’re making Government work for ordinary feel like they’ve got a voice, they can be people. We’re bringing the economy back. heard, then that’s good. But it ought to be The world is a more peaceful, more secure a conversation, not a screaming match, and place for Americans, with opportunities for we ought to get our facts straight. prosperity. We should be very upbeat about Ms. Clapprood. Yes. And I’ve got this big the future, and we ought to reward the peo- problem—my mother always said to me, a ple that are building the future, not reward position that is not articulated ceases to exist. the people that are tearing it down.’’ And sometimes, if that other side isn’t heard, Talk Radio people actually believe it’s their reality. The President. I agree with that. Ms. Clapprood. Do you have any further comments, other than those that you made on KMOX about talk radio? Do you think Foreign Policy Accomplishments that the right-wing conservative bashing of Ms. Clapprood. Yes.

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I wanted to ask you a little bit about inter- President’s Golf Game national affairs, if we can. Coming on the Ms. Clapprood. By the way. I know I heels now of what looks like a fairly peaceful heard on your birthday one of your wishes transition and return of Jean-Bertrand was to break 80. Did you ever do that? Aristide to power in Haiti, you’ve got an The President. I never have. awful lot on your international plate, with the Ms. Clapprood. You never have. Middle East, with what’s happening in Ku- The President. But the last 10 games of wait, and I understand you’re on your way golf I’ve played I had 80 once, 81 twice, 82 next week to the signing of the peace accord three times, so I’m playing—— between Israel and Jordan. Do you feel as Ms. Clapprood. Oh, man. though you’ve turned a major corner in your The President. I’m playing pretty well, for administration in terms of not only the matu- me. That’s about as good as I can play. And rity of the Clinton administration but in pub- if I lowered my handicap when I was Presi- lic perception finally cutting you a break and dent, the American people would never be- saying, ‘‘You know what, he’s doing all right’’? lieve that I’m working as hard as I am. The President. Well, I hope so. I think, [Laughter] So I probably should not want first of all, a lot of these problems are very to break 80. But still, I do. difficult, and they don’t yield overnight. And The Presidency a lot of them are things we have been work- ing on here for 2 years. But I’m very proud Ms. Clapprood. I know. It makes you very of what our people, particularly our young charming and endearing, because the rest of men and women in uniform, have done in us can all relate to that. Haiti and in the Persian Gulf. I’m proud of Let me ask you just a couple wacky ques- the role the United States is playing toward tions. The thing that I remember most about you from the first time that I heard about peace in the Middle East and in Northern the Governor from Arkansas that wanted to Ireland. And I’m very proud of the work that be President was a picture I saw of you with Ambassador Gallucci did in hammering out then-President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, a this agreement with the North Koreans, personal hero of mine but also someone here which will enable us to avoid a confrontation from Massachusetts. And I grew up in his with them, and enable them to move toward hometown of Brookline. And I saw that pic- a more normal relationship with South Korea ture recently on sort of a retrospective of and with the rest of the world, and take a your tenure over this last year and half as major nuclear threat away. President. And I wondered, from that ideal- But I’m feeling good about it. You know, istic young man that you were, to now sitting last year we devoted ourselves intensely to in the Oval Office and dealing with questions two things: getting our relationship straight like sending the 82d Airborne down to Haiti with the Russians and reducing the nuclear while Sam Nunn and Jimmy Carter and threat in that part of the world, and toward Colin Powell sat there, making decisions on getting an international economic order set war and peace, is it everything that you up. We worked on NAFTA, the Asian Pacific thought it was going to be? And what are countries, the GATT world trade agreement. your biggest surprises now that you’re actu- And then this year, we had some good suc- ally sitting where you worked so hard to get? cess, as you have pointed out, in Haiti and The President. Oh, yes, it is that much the Middle East and elsewhere. So I’m very and more. I mean, if anything, I am more hopeful. And I’m very excited, as I know a hopeful, more optimistic about the future of lot of people in Massachusetts are, about the this country than I was before I got here. moves toward peace in Northern Ireland. Ms. Clapprood. You never want to say, And we’re working hard on that as well. ‘‘Quit your bitching. Quit your whining. Why Ms. Clapprood. You don’t even have time is everybody being so unreasonable?’’ to go bowling anymore. The President. Yes. Well, I do want to The President. No. I miss bowling. I like say that some. I mean, sometimes I think that to bowl, actually. Americans in this time are a little too prone

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to see the glass as half empty instead of half Palm Sunday. Now she’s got a picture of you full. Our optimism, our unfailing faith in our and Hillary there, as well. ability to make the future better has been The President. Oh, wow. one of the great secrets to our successes over Ms. Clapprood. You’ve got a place of the last 200 years. And so I do feel that. I honor, sir. And I thank you very much for regret that at this moment in our history joining us. Can I ask one favor? there is a lot of accumulated cynicism and The President. Sure. frustration and that it is, in some ways, more Ms. Clapprood. As you go out jogging difficult for the President to communicate di- around the Charles River Thursday morning, rectly to the American people than it has would you put on your little ‘‘walkwoman’’ been in the past, because of all the indirect and listen to Clapprood and Whitley right filters between me and the American people. here on WRKO? The Presidency is more isolated than I wish The President. If I can find one of those, it were, partly because of the security con- I’ll do that. Thanks. cerns that exist in this day and age. Ms. Clapprood. Yes. You’ve pushed my But having said all that, it is a joy and an buttons. I thank you, sir, for joining us. God honor to go to work here every day. And I bless. feel good about the fact that the economy The President. Goodbye. Bless you. is coming back. I feel good about the fact NOTE: The telephone interview was recorded at that we’re facing up to problems that have 11:05 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White been ignored for years and years here. I feel House for broadcast and release at 7 a.m. on Octo- good about the fact that we’re able to do ber 20. things like this family leave law and to give tax breaks to working families with children Remarks on Signing the Improving to keep them out of poverty, because I don’t America’s Schools Act of 1994, think anybody that works full-time with a kid in the house should be there. Framingham, Massachusetts These are things I take pride in, not for October 20, 1994 me but for our country. And to see how much Thank you. You know, we wanted to come America is still looked up to in other parts here because this school has a reputation for of the world and how people want us in- academic excellence and because it is so di- volved in Northern Ireland, in South Africa, verse, because it’s a school that really looks in the Middle East peace process, and in like America. But if I had known we were Haiti, that is a source of great pride. going to get such an enthusiastic reception, So with all the down sides of this job and I would have come yesterday instead of today with all its frustrations, it’s still an oppor- and just waited. [Applause] Thank you. tunity to make America a better place. And I also want to say a special word of appre- this system of ours does work. It’s worked ciation to your student council president. I for over 200 years. And the only thing I hope thought he did a fine job up here. I can tell I can do is a better job of communicating you this, if he continues to speak so well, with the American people about what we’re so much to the point, and so briefly, he’ll trying to do and getting them to believe more win a lot more elections. [Laughter] Very im- in themselves and their future. We ought to pressive. be quite optimistic based on what is going I’d like to thank your principal, Mr. on here in this country now. Flaherty, your superintendent, Dr. Thayer, Ms. Clapprood. Well, I’ll tell you what, your school board chairman, Mr. Petrini, and we’d like to be part of making this a regular all the people here who made this wonderful morningside chat with you. And if it means visit possible. anything, my sainted mother, who lives in I’d like to thank all the Members of Con- fine Whiskey Point, in Massachusetts, always gress who have joined us. I especially want had a picture of John Fitzgerald Kennedy to thank those who have come from other next to the praying hands and the palms from States, Senator Pell and Congressman Reed

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