Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents

Monday, May 1, 1995 Volume 31—Number 17 Pages 685–733

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Addresses and Remarks Communications to Federal Agencies Counter-terrorism initiatives—723 Regulatory reform, memorandum—695 Iowa Interviews With the News Media Arrival in Des Moines—703 National Rural Conference in Ames—707, Exchange with reporters in the Cabinet 709 Room—723 State Legislature in Des Moines—714 Interview with ‘‘60 Minutes’’ on CBS—689 Students at Iowa State University in Letters and Messages Ames—710 Minnesota Public Service Recognition Week, message— American Association of Community 729 Colleges in Minneapolis—696 Proclamations Departure from Minneapolis—703 Oklahoma, memorial service for the bombing Law Day, U.S.A.—726 victims in Oklahoma City—688 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week—724 President’s Service Awards—724 Small Business Week—729 Radio address on the Oklahoma City Statements by the President bombing—685 Teacher of the Year award—727 Armenian massacre anniversary—694 Death of Naomi Nover—723 Freedom Day in South Africa—726 Communications to Congress Supplementary Materials Canada-U.S. income tax convention, message Acts approved by the President—733 transmitting protocol—706 Checklist of White House press releases—733 Cyprus, letter transmitting report—723 Digest of other White House Jordan-U.S. extradition treaty, message announcements—730 transmitting—707 Nominations submitted to the Senate—731

WEEKLY COMPILATION OF regulations prescribed by the Administrative Committee of the Federal Register, approved by the President (37 FR 23607; 1 CFR Part 10). PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS Distribution is made only by the Superintendent of Docu- ments, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Published every Monday by the Office of the Federal Reg- The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents will be ister, National Archives and Records Administration, Washing- furnished by mail to domestic subscribers for $80.00 per year ton, DC 20408, the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Docu- ($137.00 for mailing first class) and to foreign subscribers for ments contains statements, messages, and other Presidential $93.75 per year, payable to the Superintendent of Documents, materials released by the White House during the preceding Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The week. charge for a single copy is $3.00 ($3.75 for foreign mailing). The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is pub- There are no restrictions on the republication of material lished pursuant to the authority contained in the Federal Reg- appearing in the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Docu- ister Act (49 Stat. 500, as amended; 44 U.S.C. Ch. 15), under ments.

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Remarks by the President and to protect you. That’s really important for Hillary Clinton to Children on the each of you to know. Oklahoma City Bombing I also want you to know that there are April 22, 1995 many more good people in the world than bad and evil people. Just think of what we The President. Today, I’ve been joined have seen in the last few days. Think of all by the First Lady and by children of people the police officers and the firefighters, the who work for our Federal Government, be- doctors and the nurses, all of the neighbors cause we are especially concerned about how and the rescue workers, all of the people who the children of America are reacting to the have come to help all of those who were hurt terrible events in Oklahoma City. Our family in Oklahoma. Think about the people around has been struggling to make sense of this the country who are sending presents and tragedy, and I know that families all over writing letters. Good people live everywhere America have as well. in our country, in every town and every city, We know that what happened in Okla- and there are many, many of them. homa is very frightening, and we want chil- Like many of the families in America, our dren to know that it’s okay to be frightened family has spent a lot of time in the last few by something as bad as this. Your parents days talking about what happened in Okla- understand it. Your teachers understand it. homa, sharing our own feelings, our anger, And we’re all there for you, and we’re work- our tears, our sorrow. All of that has been ing hard to make sure that this makes sense very good for us. And I hope you are doing to you and that you can overcome your fears it at home as well. and go on with your lives. I want all of the children to talk to people. The First Lady has been very worried Talk to your parents. Talk to your grand- about all the children of our country in the parents. Talk to your teachers. Talk to those aftermath of this tragedy, and she wants to grownups who are around about how you are talk with you, too, today. feeling inside, how this makes you feel about Mrs. Clinton. I’m very happy to have this yourself, so that they can give you the kind chance to talk with children here in the of reassurance, the hugs, the other ways of White House and children who maybe have showing you that you can feel better about been watching cartoons or just getting up this because they love you and care about around the country and turning on the tele- you very much. vision set. I know that many children around And finally, I want children to think about the country have been very frightened by ways that all of you can help. Sometimes writ- what they have seen and heard, particularly ing a letter or drawing a picture when you’re on television in the last few days. And I’m sad or unhappy can make you feel better. sure that you, like many of the children I’ve Perhaps you could even send those pictures already talked to, are really concerned be- and letters to children in Oklahoma City. cause they don’t know how something so ter- Maybe you could send a toy or a present. rible could have happened here in our coun- Maybe you can also just be nicer to your own try. friends at school and to help take care of But you know, whenever you feel scared each other better. I think that’s one thing or worried, I want you to remember that your that all of us can do. parents and your friends and your family Thankfully, we’re going to be able to help members all love you and are going to do the people there, and we’re going to pray everything they can to take care of you and very hard for everybody who was injured and

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everyone who died. But let’s also try to help [At this point, the address ended and the each other. And there are many ways we can President and Hillary Clinton answered chil- do that. And if we remember that, then I dren’s questions.] think all of us can get over being afraid and The President. What about all of you, how scared. do you feel about this? You got anything you The President. I’d like to take a moment want to say about what happened at the to say a few words about this whole thing bombing? What? to the parents of America. I know it always— Q. It was mean. or, at least, it’s often difficult to talk to chil- The President. It was mean, wasn’t it? dren about things that are this painful. But What did you think when you heard about at times like this, nothing is more important it the first time? for parents to do than to simply explain what Q. I didn’t like it. has happened to the children and then to Mrs. Clinton. It was very mean. reassure your own children about their fu- Q. I thought the—those people that did ture. it should be punished very badly—to hurt Experts agree on a number of steps. First the children. of all, you should encourage your children Mrs. Clinton. That’s right, and they will to talk about what they’re feeling. If your be. children are watching news about the bomb- The President. They should be punished, ing, watch it with them. If they have ques- and they will be. tions, first listen carefully to what they’re ask- Q. I feel sorry for the people that died. ing, and then answer the questions honestly The President. You feel sorry for the peo- and forthrightly. But then reassure them. ple that died. Good for you. Tell them there are a lot of people in this Q. When I first heard about it, I thought, country in law enforcement who are working who would want to do that to kids who had hard to protect them and to keep things like never done anything to them? this from happening. Tell them that they are Mrs. Clinton. It’s hard to imagine, isn’t safe, that their own school or day care center it? is a safe place, and that it has been checked The President. That’s very hard to imag- and that you know it’s safe. ine. There are some people who get this idea And make sure to tell them without any in their minds that there are people who have hesitation that the evil people who commit- done something to them when they haven’t ted this crime are going to be found and pun- done anything to them and who are told over ished. Tell them that I have promised every and over again that it’s okay to hate, it’s okay child, every parent, every person in America to hate, it’s okay to lash out, even at people that when we catch the people who did this, they don’t even know. And that’s a wrong we will make sure that they can never hurt idea. another child again, ever. That’s the other thing I want to say to you. Finally, and most important of all, in the We need to—we need to all respect each next several days, go out of your way to tell other and treat each other with respect and your children how much you love them. Tell be tolerant of our differences so that we don’t them how much you care about them. Be have other people developing this crazy atti- extra sensitive to whether they need a hug tude that it’s okay to hurt people you never or just to be held. This is a frightening and even knew. troubling time. Good for you. But we cannot let the terrible actions of Q. I feel really bad for the people that a few terrible people frighten us any more died and the people that are in the hospital, than they already have. So reach out to one especially for the parents because it’s really another and come together. We will triumph hard to lose a child. over those who would divide us. And we will The President. It’s so hard. overcome them by doing it together, putting Mrs. Clinton. And I think all of us have our children first. to do everything we can to help the people God bless you all, and thanks for listening. who were hurt and to make sure they get

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everything they need, not only in the hospital That’s something that schools and day care but after that because they’ll need people to centers could do all over the country. talk to as well. And we have to be everything The President. I think something should we can be to help the people who lost family be done so that all of us remember those members, like you said. It’s going to take a children in Oklahoma City, don’t you? And very long time. all those people. The President. And we have to feel bad Q. [Inaudible]—write notes—— for their parents, too. You know how much Q. You can pray for the family members your parents love you, and can you imagine and the rescue workers who have been help- how they would feel? So we’ve got to feel ing people throughout this terrible incident bad for their parents, too, and give them a and for the family members who lost their lot of support. employees and children. Q. I think—[inaudible]—in jail. The President. That’s right. That’s some- Mrs. Clinton. You are right. You are right. thing every one of you can do. You could There are many, many people working hard say a prayer for them. It’s a gift you can give all over the country to find out who did this. them. It’s very important. Thank you for say- And they’re actually making some progress ing that. in finding out who did it, and they will keep Q. We can write letters and notes and let doing that until the people are caught—— them know that we understand how they’re Q. [Inaudible]—newspaper. feeling. Mrs. Clinton. Yes, that’s right. And they’ll The President. I think that’s important, be caught, and then they’ll be punished. too. The President. Anybody else want to say Yes. Do you want to say something? You anything? want to say something? Anybody else like to Mrs. Clinton. What do you think you can say anything? You got any other ideas of do here, which is far away from where it hap- things we can do? pened, that could help other people and to How many of you have really thought do things that would be nice and, you know, about this a lot in the last couple of days? as a way of helping? Have you thought about it? You feel a little Q. To send money to—[inaudible]—— better now than you did a couple of days Mrs. Clinton. That’s a good idea. ago? Q. Send cards and presents. Q. Yes. The President. To Oklahoma City. The President. Have you talked about it Mrs. Clinton. I think sending some- in your home? What about at school? Have thing—that would be good. they talked about it at school a lot? I think Q. ——send some of your old clothes and it’s really important. everything. One more thing you can do is to go back Mrs. Clinton. Whatever they need, right? to what the First Lady said earlier, is when If somebody needs that, we should do that. you see people at your school, if they’re get- Q. Like, we can bring them flowers some- ting angry or they’re getting mad or they say times. something bad about somebody just because Mrs. Clinton. Bringing flowers to some- of—because they’re different than them, you body is a really nice thing to do. Do you ever ought to speak out against that. You ought bring flowers to your mom or to a friend just to say, ‘‘Look, we’re all Americans, we’re all because you love them? It’s a good thing to here. We have to treat each other with re- do. spect. We’re all equal in the eyes of God.’’ Q. At my brother’s day care when my And we cannot—we cannot permit people school was closed, we planted trees to re- to have the kind of hatred that the evil people member the kids that got hurt. had who bombed that building in Oklahoma Mrs. Clinton. That is a wonderful idea. City. That is a—it’s an awful thing. And every Did you all hear what she said, they planted one of you, every day, can be a force against trees to remember the kids who got hurt. that kind of thing. You can change the coun-

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try with your prayers and with your voice and I think that we should wait until this whole by reaching out in all the ways you said. matter is thoroughly investigated and until Thank you all very much. we know the facts to draw final conclusions. Mrs. Clinton. I’m so glad you could be But I will say that—that all of us, just as here. I told these children—all of us need to be Q. Mr. President? more sensitive, to treat each other with toler- The President. Yes. ance, and not to demonize any group of peo- Q. I’d like to thank you for having us here ple and certainly not these fine people who today and speaking to all the children. work for the Nation’s Government. They are, after all, our friends and neighbors. We go Mrs. Clinton. Thank you. to school with their children. We go to The President. Thank you, Colonel. And church with them. We go to civic clubs with I want to thank all the parents who are here. them. This is—this is not necessary, and it And I want to thank you for your service to is wrong. our country and for working for our Govern- But I will have some more to say about ment and assure you that most Americans, this whole matter as we know more facts millions of them, the huge majority, really about this case and about where we’re going respect all of you. And all Americans are hor- in the future. rified by what has happened. And we thank Thank you. you for being here, and we thank you for being good parents as well as serving our NOTE: The President spoke at 10:06 a.m. from country and our Government. the Oval Office at the White House. These re- Goodbye. marks were broadcast live on radio and television. Mrs. Clinton.Thank you all. The President. And bless you. Q. Mr. President? President Clinton, there Remarks at a Memorial Service have been increasing reports about these so- called militia groups. Do you feel that the for the Bombing Victims in general atmosphere of anti-Government Oklahoma City, Oklahoma statements has contributed to the growth of April 23, 1995 groups like this? The President. Let me say that first of Thank you very much. Governor Keating all, that this is coming on us in a couple of and Mrs. Keating, Reverend Graham, to the waves. When I was Governor of my State families of those who have been lost and in the early eighties, we dealt with a number wounded, to the people of Oklahoma City who have endured so much, and the people of these people and groups at home. That’s of this wonderful State, to all of you who one reason I felt such a horrible pang when are here as our fellow Americans. I saw what happened in Oklahoma, you I am honored to be here today to represent know, because it’s just next door to Arkansas. the American people. But I have to tell you And we had two incidences near the Okla- that Hillary and I also come as parents, as homa border in the early eighties. husband and wife, as people who were your And in—as you probably know, there was neighbors for some of the best years of our just an execution in Arkansas a couple of days lives. ago of a man who killed a State trooper and Today our Nation joins with you in grief. who was a friend of mine and a businessman We mourn with you. We share your hope in southwest Arkansas, who was part of this against hope that some may still survive. We whole movement. And there were other in- thank all those who have worked so heroically stances as well. to save lives and to solve this crime, those And then it went down a while, you know, here in Oklahoma and those who are all the sort of the venom, the hatred, the atmos- across this great land and many who left their phere got better and the American people own lives to come here to work hand in hand rose up against that kind of thing. with you.

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We pledge to do all we can to help you and courage, they ought to come to Okla- heal the injured, to rebuild this city, and to homa. bring to justice those who did this evil. To all my fellow Americans beyond this This terrible sin took the lives of our Amer- hall, I say, one thing we owe those who have ican family, innocent children in that build- sacrificed is the duty to purge ourselves of ing only because their parents were trying the dark forces which gave rise to this evil. to be good parents as well as good workers, They are forces that threaten our common citizens in the building going about their peace, our freedom, our way of life. daily business and many there who served Let us teach our children that the God of the rest of us, who worked to help the elderly comfort is also the God of righteousness. and the disabled, who worked to support our Those who trouble their own house will in- farmers and our veterans, who worked to en- herit the wind. Justice will prevail. force our laws and to protect us. Let us say Let us let our own children know that we clearly, they served us well, and we are grate- will stand against the forces of fear. When ful. But for so many of you they were also there is talk of hatred, let us stand up and neighbors and friends. You saw them at talk against it. When there is talk of violence, church or the PTA meetings, at the civic let us stand up and talk against it. In the clubs, at the ball park. You know them in face of death, let us honor life. As St. Paul ways that all the rest of America could not. admonished us, let us not be overcome by And to all the members of the families evil, but overcome evil with good. here present who have suffered loss, though Yesterday Hillary and I had the privilege we share your grief, your pain is unimagina- of speaking with some children of other Fed- ble, and we know that. We cannot undo it. eral employees, children like those who were That is God’s work. lost here. And one little girl said something Our words seem small beside the loss you we will never forget. She said, we should all have endured. But I found a few I wanted plant a tree in memory of the children. So to share today. I’ve received a lot of letters this morning before we got on the plane to in these last terrible days. One stood out be- come here, at the White House, we planted cause it came from a young widow and a that tree in honor of the children of Okla- mother of three whose own husband was homa. It was a dogwood with its wonderful murdered with over 200 other Americans spring flower and its deep, enduring roots. when Pan Am 103 was shot down. Here is It embodies the lesson of the Psalms: that what that woman said I should say to you the life of a good person is like a tree whose today: ‘‘The anger you feel is valid, but you leaf does not wither. must not allow yourselves to be consumed My fellow Americans, a tree takes a long by it. The hurt you feel must not be allowed time to grow and wounds take a long time to turn into hate but instead into the search to heal. But we must begin. Those who are for justice. The loss you feel must not para- lost now belong to God. Some day we will lyze your own lives. Instead, you must try be with them. But until that happens, their to pay tribute to your loved ones by continu- legacy must be our lives. ing to do all the things they left undone, thus Thank you all, and God bless you. ensuring they did not die in vain.’’ Wise words from one who also knows. NOTE: The President spoke at 3:32 p.m. at the You have lost too much, but you have not Oklahoma State Fair Arena. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Frank Keating and his wife, lost everything. And you have certainly not Cathy, and evangelist Billy Graham. lost America, for we will stand with you for as many tomorrows as it takes. If ever we needed evidence of that, I could Interview With ‘‘60 Minutes’’ on CBS only recall the words of Governor and Mrs. April 23, 1995 Keating. If anybody thinks that Americans are mostly mean and selfish, they ought to Steve Kroft. Thank you, Mike. Mr. Presi- come to Oklahoma. If anybody thinks Ameri- dent, you said this afternoon that our one cans have lost the capacity for love and caring duty to the victims and to their families is

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to purge ourselves of the dark forces which I do believe the habeas corpus provisions of gave rise to this evil. Can you bring the coun- the Federal law, which permit these appeals try up to date on the status of the investiga- sometimes to be delayed 7, 8, 9 years, should tion? be changed. I have advocated that. I tried The President. Well, as you know, an- to pass it last year. I hope the Congress will other person was arrested today, and the in- pass a review and a reform of the habeas vestigation is proceeding aggressively. I have corpus provisions, because it should not take always tried to be very careful not to reveal 8 or 9 years and three trips to the Supreme any evidence and to let the Justice Depart- Court to finalize whether a person, in fact, ment, the Attorney General, and the FBI Di- was properly convicted or not. rector decide what should be released when. Mr. Bradley. But without a change in the But I can tell the American people we have law, you think that is what will happen? hundreds of people working on this. They The President. It may not happen. We are working night and day. They are doing can still have fairly rapid appeals processes. very well. We are making progress. But the Congress has the opportunity this Mr. Kroft. You said immediately after the year to reform the habeas corpus proceed- attack that we will find the people who did ings, and I hope that they will do so. this, and justice will be swift, certain, and Mike Wallace. Mr. President, Mike Wal- severe. If it had turned out that this had been lace. Are we Americans going to have to give an act of foreign-sponsored terrorism, you up some of our liberties in order better to would have had some limited but very clear combat terrorism, both from overseas and options. You could have ordered bombing at- here? tacks. You could have ordered trade embar- goes. You could have done a lot of things. The President. Mike, I don’t think we But it seems almost certain now that this is have to give up our liberties, but I do think home-grown terrorism, that the enemy is in we have to have more discipline and we have fact within. How do we respond to that? to be willing to see serious threats to our The President. Well, we have to arrest liberties properly investigated. I have sent a the people who did it. We have to put them counter-terrorism, a piece of legislation to on trial. We have to convict them. Then we Capitol Hill, which I hope Congress will pass. have to punish them. I certainly believe that And after consultation with the Attorney they should be executed. And in the crime General, the FBI Director, and others, I’m bill, which the Congress passed last year, we going to send some more legislation to Con- had an expansion of capital punishment for gress to ask them to give the FBI and others purposes such as this. If this is not a crime more power to crack these terrorist networks, for which capital punishment is called, I both domestic and foreign. don’t know what is. We still will have freedom of speech. We’ll Ed Bradley. Mr. President, this is Ed have freedom of association. We’ll have free- Bradley in New York. There are many people dom of movement. But we may have to have who would question our system of criminal some discipline in doing it so we can go after justice today in the United States—in fact, people who want to destroy our very way of many people who have lost faith in our crimi- life. nal justice system. With so many people lan- You know, we accepted a minor infringe- guishing on death row today for so many ment on our freedom, I guess, when the air- years, how can you say with such assurance port metal detectors were put up, but they that justice will be certain, swift, and severe? went a long way to stop airplane hijackings The President. Well let me say first of and the explosion of planes and the murder- all, it’s been a long time since there has been ing of innocent people. We’re going to have a capital case carried through at the national to be very, very tough and firm in dealing level. But our new crime bill permits that. with this. We cannot allow our country to Now, when I was Governor, I carried out be subject to the kinds of things these poor our capital punishment laws at the State people in Oklahoma City have been through level. We just pursued the appeals vigorously. in the last few days.

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Mr. Wallace. People are wondering, Mr. the right to kill them and then turn around President, if you’re going to close down and kill the people who live there. I cannot Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White believe that any serious patriotic American House to regular traffic. There are barriers believes that the conduct of those people at there, of course, all the time. But there are Waco justifies the kind of outrageous behav- those who suggest, particularly because of ior we’ve seen here at Oklahoma City or the the man who tried to shoot up the White kind of inflammatory rhetoric that we’re House, that maybe Pennsylvania Avenue it- hearing all across this country today. It’s self should be shut down. wrong. The President. Well, I hope that they Ms. Stahl. But, Mr. President, there are won’t have to do that. I hope that ways can tens, maybe more—tens of thousands of men be found to make the front of the White and women dressing up on weekends in mili- House secure without doing that, because tary garb going off for training because millions of Americans go by Pennsylvania Av- they’re upset about Waco. Just what—de- enue every year and see the White House spite what you say, we’re talking about thou- and the overwhelming number of them are sands and thousands of people in this country law-abiding, good American citizens, and I who are furious at the Federal Government hope they won’t have to do that. for what you say is irrational, but they believe Mr. Wallace. Lesley Stahl has been out it. in Michigan with the Michigan militia for the The President. Well, they have a right to past 24 hours. Lesley. believe whatever they want. They have a Lesley Stahl. Mike. Mr. President, what right to say whatever they want. They have I kept hearing from the militia men there— a right to keep and bear arms. They have and I gather this is true among all these so- a right to put on uniforms and go out on called patriots—is the Waco incident. It the weekends. They do not have the right seems to be their battle cry. It’s their cause. to kill innocent Americans. They do not have They say that the Feds went into a religious the right to violate the law. And they do not compound to take people’s guns away. They have the right to take the position that if say no Federal official was ever punished, no somebody comes to arrest them for violating one was ever brought to trial. I’m just won- the law, they’re perfectly justified in killing dering if you have any second thoughts about them. They are wrong in that. the way that raid was carried out? This is a freedom-loving democracy be- The President. Let me remind you what cause the rule of law has reigned for over happened at Waco and before that raid was 200 years now, not because vigilantes took carried out. Before that raid was carried out, the law into their own hands. And they’re those people murdered a bunch of innocent just not right about that. law enforcement officials who worked for the Mr. Kroft. Mr. President, you have some Federal Government. Before there was any personal history yourself—— raid, there were dead Federal law enforce- The President. I do. ment officials on the ground. And when that Mr. Kroft. ——with right-wing para- raid occurred, it was the people who ran their military groups when you were Governor of cult compound at Waco who murdered their Arkansas. You considered proposing a law own children, not the Federal officials. They that would have outlawed paramilitary oper- made the decision to destroy all those chil- ations. Do you still feel that way? And what’s dren that were there. your—what, if anything should be done? Do And I think that to make those people he- we have the tools? What should be done to roes after what they did, killing our innocent counteract this threat? Federal officials and then killing their own The President. Well, let me say, first of children, is evidence of what is wrong. People all, what I have done today. I’ve renewed my should not be able to violate the law and then call in the Congress to pass the antiterrorism say if Federal law enforcement officials come legislation that’s up there, that I’ve sent. I on my land to arrest me for violating the law have determined to send some more legisla- or because I’m suspected of a crime, I have tion to the Hill that will strengthen the hand

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of the FBI and other law enforcement offi- The President. There may be some things cers in cracking terrorist networks, both do- that we can do both to eliminate them or mestic and foreign. I have instructed the to make it more difficult to aggregate them Federal Government to do a preventive ef- or to make sure that the elements will be fort on all Federal buildings that we have identified in some way if they’re ever used today. And we’re going to rebuild Oklahoma in a bomb so people know they’re far more City. likely to get caught. All these things are being Now, over and above that, I have asked discussed now, and that’s what I’ve asked the the Attorney General, the FBI Director, and Attorney General, the FBI Director, and the the National Security Adviser to give me a National Security Adviser to make rec- set of things, which would go into a directive, ommendations to me on. about what else we should do. I don’t want Members of Congress have various ideas to prejudge this issue. and have made suggestions. Law enforce- When I was Governor of Arkansas, this is ment people and other concerned folks over 10 years ago now, we became sort of around the country have. They’re going to a campground for some people who had gather up the best ideas and make these rec- pretty extreme views. One of them was a tax ommendations to me in fairly short order. resister who had killed people in another Mr. Bradley. Mr. President, do you think State, who subsequently killed a sheriff who that what happened in Oklahoma City is an was a friend of mine and was himself killed. isolated incident carried out by a handful of people or is part of a larger, more coordi- One was the man, Mr. Snell, who was just nated effort involving a larger network of executed a couple of days ago, who killed these groups? a State trooper in cold blood who was a The President. I don’t think the evidence friend of mine and servant of our State, and that we have at the present time supports got the death penalty when I was Governor. the latter conclusion. And I think we should One was a group of people who had among stick to the evidence. Just as I cautioned the them women and children but also two men American people earlier not to stereotype wanted on murder warrants. And thank God any people from other countries or of dif- we were able to quarantine their compound. ferent ethnic groups as being potentially re- And that was all resolved peacefully. sponsible for this, I don’t want to castigate But I have dealt with this extensively. And or categorize any groups here in America and I know the potential problems that are there. accuse them of doing something that we I don’t want to interfere with anybody’s con- don’t have any evidence that they have done. stitutional rights. But people do not have a I do want to say to the American people, right to violate the law and do not have a though, we should all be careful about the right to encourage people to kill law enforce- kind of language we use and the kind of in- ment officials and do not have a right to take cendiary talk we have. We never know who’s the position that if a law enforcement officer listening or what impact it might have. So simply tries to see them about whether we need to show some restraint and dis- they’ve violated the law or not, they can blow cipline here because of all the people in this him to kingdom come. That is wrong. country that might be on edge and might be Mr. Kroft. One of the things, or one of capable of doing something like this horrible the most frightening things about this whole thing in Oklahoma City. business, has been the fact that most of the Mr. Wallace. To follow on Steve’s ques- materials that this bomb was made from are tion, Mr. President, no longer does terrorism readily available. Great Britain, for example, have to be state-supported. There’s terror on has placed some controls over the concentra- the cheap now. It cost the World Trade Cen- tions of certain chemicals and explosives in ter bomber, we understand, conceivably fertilizer, for example. Are there things that $3,000, $4,000 for all of what was involved, can be done to eliminate availability and the including the rental of the van. And today, accessibility of ingredients that can turn I learned, that it’s about $1,000 worth for deadly? the explosives and the van and so forth in

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the Oklahoma City bombing. What do you The President. Well, we’ve always had a do about terror on the cheap? fair amount of violence. But organized, sys- The President. Well, you’re right about tematic, political violence that leads to large that. And of course, the same thing could numbers of deaths has not been very much be true of the terrible things they’ve been in evidence in American history except from going through in Japan. But the nations of time to time. That is, we’re a nation—we’re this world are going to have to get together, still a kind of a frontier nation. We’re a nation bring our best minds together, and figure out that believes, indeed, enshrines in our Con- what to do about this. stitution the right to keep and bear arms. A We have been working hard to try to get lot of us, including the President, like to hunt the legal support we need to move against and fish and do things like that. And then, terrorism, to try to make sure that we can of course, the number of guns in our country find out who’s doing these kind of things be- is far greater than any other, and a lot of fore they strike. But I do think there are them are misused in crimes and a lot of them some other things that we can do. lead to deaths. And there are a lot of knives At one point people thought we couldn’t and other weapons that don’t have anything do anything about airplanes, but we made to do with guns that lead to death. some progress, significant progress, because So we’ve had a lot of crime and violence of things like airport metal detectors and in our country, but not this sort of organized, other sophisticated devices. And we’ll tackle political mass killing. And we have got to take steps aggressively to shut it down. And I’m this. We’ll make progress on this. We’ll un- going to do everything in my power to do ravel it. But it is true that in a free society just that. that is very open, where technological Mr. Wallace. You asked—I’m sure you changes bring great opportunity, they also asked yourself—we ask, why did—why did make it possible to do destructive things on these people do it? The director of the Ter- the cheap—to use your phrase. rorism Studies Center over at the University So we’re going to have to double up, re- of St. Andrew in Scotland says that these at- double up our efforts and then figure out tacks, he expects, are going to be increasingly what to do about this. But we’ll move on it, brutal, more ruthless, less idealistic. For and I am confident that I’ll have some further some, he says, violence becomes an end in recommendations in the near future. itself, a cathartic release, a self-satisfying Mr. Wallace. CBS News has a report— blow against the hated system. Little that can or had a report, late this afternoon; I don’t be done about that, if indeed the man’s right. know whether you’re familiar with it—about The President. Well, I think two things a man by the name of Mark Koernke, from that could be done—these are things that you the Michigan Militia, who apparently sent a could help on. For all those people who think fax, a memo, to Congressman Steve Stock- that they are going to have a self-satisfying man of Texas, who held onto it for awhile, blow against the system, I wish they could and finally sent it to the NRA. And then the have seen that young woman that I stood by NRA held it—and it was important informa- today who showed me the picture of her two tion, apparently—held it for 24 hours before young boys that are dead now or those three they sent it on to the FBI. Can you shed children that I saw today whose mother died any light on that? last year of an illness who lost their father— The President. No. I can’t shed any light he still has not been found. I wish they could on that. I don’t want to do or say anything see the faces of these people. There is no that would impair our investigation in this such thing as a self-satisfying blow against case. And I have urged other Americans to the system. These are human beings, and show that kind of restraint, and I must do there are consequences to this kind of behav- so as well. ior. Mr. Kroft. Mr. President, do you think The other thing I think we could do, in that we are a violent nation, that violence addition to showing those people, is to ask is part of the American way of life? the American people who are out there just

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trying to keep everybody torn up and upset the country. People should examine the con- all the time, purveying hate and implying at sequences of what they say and the kind of least with words that violence is all right, to emotions they are trying to inflame. consider the implications of their words and to call them on it. We do have free speech in this country, NOTE: The interview began at 6:03 p.m. from the and we have very broad free speech, and I Oklahoma State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. support that. But I think that free speech The President was interviewed by CBS cor- runs two ways. And when people are irre- respondents Steve Kroft, Ed Bradley, Mike Wal- sponsible with their liberties, they ought to lace, and Lesley Stahl. be called up short, and they ought to be talked down by other Americans. And we need to expose these people for what they’re doing. This is wrong. This is wrong. You never know whether there’s some fragile per- son who’s out there about to tip over the edge thinking they can make some statement Statement on the 80th Anniversary of against the system and all of a sudden there’s the Armenian Massacre a bunch of innocent babies in a day care cen- April 23, 1995 ter dead. And so I say to you, in America, we can On this solemn day, I join with Armenians be better than that. The predictions of the throughout the United States, in Armenia, expert in Scotland don’t have to be right for and around the world in remembering the America. But we’re going to have to examine 80th anniversary of the Armenians who per- ourselves, our souls, and our conduct if we ished, victims of massacres in the last years want it to be different. of the Ottoman Empire. Their loss is our loss, Mr. Wallace. Final question—do we see their courage a testament to mankind’s in- too much violence in movies and television domitable spirit. in the United States? It is this spirit that kept the hope of Arme- The President. Well, I have said before, nians alive through the centuries of persecu- I said in my State of the Union Address, that tion. It is this spirit that lives today in the I think we see it sometimes when it’s disem- hearts of all Armenians, in their church, in bodied and romanticized, when you don’t their language, in their culture. And it is this deal with the consequences of it. I think— spirit that underpins the remarkable resil- when a movie shows violence, if it’s honest ience and courage of Armenians around the and it’s horrible and it’s ugly and there are world. The Armenian-American community, human consequences, then maybe that’s a re- now nearly one million strong, has made alistic and a decent thing to do. That movie enormous contributions to America. Now, ‘‘Boyz N the Hood,’’ I thought, did a good with the emergence of an independent Ar- job of that. menia, the Armenian people are bringing the But when a movie—when movie after same determination to building democracy movie after movie after movie sort of roman- and a modern economy in their native land. ticizes violence and killing and you don’t see Even as we commemorate the past— the human consequences, you don’t see the which we must never forget—we commit faces of the mothers and the children that ourselves today to Armenia’s future as an I saw today, the husbands and the wives, then independent and prosperous nation, at peace I think too much of it can deaden the senses with its neighbors and with close ties to the of a lot of Americans. And we need to be West. That is why the United States has pro- aware of that. vided more than $445 million in assistance But it’s not just the movies showing vio- to alleviate humanitarian needs and support lence. It’s the words spouting violence, giving democratic and economic reform. I will do sanction to violence, telling people how to everything in my power to preserve assist- practice violence that are sweeping all across ance levels for Armenia.

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I continue to be deeply concerned about Memorandum on Regulatory Reform the conflict in the region surrounding Arme- April 21, 1995 nia. The terrible effects of this war have been felt throughout the Caucasus: tens of thou- Memorandum for the Secretary of State; the sands have died, more than a million have Secretary of the Treasury; the Secretary of been displaced, economies have been shat- Defense; the Attorney General; the Secretary tered, and security threatened. The United of the Interior; the Secretary of Agriculture; States is committed to working with the Or- the Secretary of Commerce; the Secretary of ganization on Security and Cooperation in Labor; the Secretary of Health and Human Europe (OSCE) to encourage Armenia and Services; the Secretary of Housing and Urban Azerbaijan to move beyond their cease-fire Development; the Secretary of to a lasting political settlement. I plan to Transportation; the Secretary of Energy; the nominate a Special Negotiator for Nagorno- Secretary of Education; the Secretary of Karabakh at the rank of Ambassador to ad- Veterans Affairs; the Administrator, vance those negotiations. And I pledge Unit- Environmental Protection Agency; the Administrator, Small Business ed States support of OSCE efforts to back Administration; the Secretary of the Army; that settlement with a peacekeeping force. the Secretary of the Navy; the Secretary of The U.S. also seeks to encourage the re- the Air Force; the Director, Federal gional cooperation that will build prosperity Emergency Management Agency; the and reinforce peace. I commend the recent Administrator, National Aeronautics and decision of the Government of Turkey to Space Administration; the Director, National open air corridors to Armenia, which will Science Foundation; the Acting Archivist of make assistance delivery faster, cheaper, and the United States; the Administrator of more reliable. We had urged that it do so General Services; the Chair, Railroad and hope this is a first step toward lifting Retirement Board; the Chairperson, other blockades in the region, initially for hu- Architectural and Transportation Barriers manitarian deliveries and then overall. Open Compliance Board; the Executive Director, borders would help create the conditions Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation needed for economic recovery and develop- Subject: Regulatory Reform—Waiver of ment, including construction of a Caspian oil Penalties and Reduction of Reports pipeline through the Caucasus to Turkey, which is a key to long-term prosperity in the On March 16, I announced that the Ad- region. ministration would implement new policies The administration’s efforts, assistance in to give compliance officials more flexibility in dealing with small business and to cut back support of reform, reinforced efforts toward on paperwork. These Governmentwide poli- peace settlement, building broad regional co- cies, as well as the specific agency actions operation and encouraging the development I announced, are part of this Administration’s of a Caspian oil pipeline through the continuing commitment to sensible regu- Caucasus to Turkey, represent the key build- latory reform. With your help and coopera- ing blocks of U.S. policy to support the devel- tion, we hope to move the Government to- opment of an independent and prosperous ward a more flexible, effective, and user Armenia. friendly approach to regulation. On this 80th anniversary of the Armenian A. Actions: This memorandum directs the massacres, I call upon all people to work to designated department and agency heads to prevent future acts of such inhumanity. And implement the policies set forth below. as we remember the past, let us also rededi- 1. Authority to Waive Penalties. (a) To the cate ourselves to building a democratic Ar- extent permitted by law, each agency shall menia of prosperity and lasting peace. use its discretion to modify the penalties for

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small businesses in the following situations. B. Application and Scope: 1. The Director Agencies shall exercise their enforcement may issue further guidance as necessary to discretion to waive the imposition of all or carry out the purposes of this memorandum. a portion of a penalty when the violation is 2. This memorandum does not apply to corrected within a time period appropriate matters related to law enforcement, national to the violation in question. For those viola- security, or foreign affairs, the importation tions that may take longer to correct than or exportation of prohibited or restricted the period set by the agency, the agency shall items, Government taxes, duties, fees, reve- use its enforcement discretion to waive up nues, or receipts; nor does it apply to agen- to 100 percent of the financial penalties if cies (or components thereof) whose principal the amounts waived are used to bring the purpose is the collection, analysis, and dis- entity into compliance. The provisions in semination of statistical information. paragraph 1(a) of this memorandum shall 3. This memorandum is not intended, and should not be construed, to create any right apply only where there has been a good faith or benefit, substantive or procedural, en- effort to comply with applicable regulations forceable at law by a party against the United and the violation does not involve criminal States, its agencies, its officers, or its employ- wrongdoing or significant threat to health, ees. safety, or the environment. 4. The Director of the Office of Manage- (b) Each agency shall, by June 15, 1995, ment and Budget is authorized and directed submit a plan to the Director of the Office to publish this memorandum in the Federal of Management and Budget (‘‘Director’’) de- Register. scribing the actions it will take to implement William J. Clinton the policies in paragraph 1(a) of this memo- randum. The plan shall provide that the [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, agency will implement the policies described 4:25 p.m., April 24, 1995] in paragraph 1(a) of this memorandum on NOTE: This memorandum was released by the Of- or before July 14, 1995. Plans should include fice of the Press Secretary on April 24, and it was information on how notification will be given published in the Federal Register on April 26. to frontline workers and small businesses. 2. Cutting Frequency of Reports. (a) Each agency shall reduce by one-half the fre- Remarks to the American Association quency of the regularly scheduled reports of Community Colleges in that the public is required, by rule or by pol- Minneapolis, Minnesota icy, to provide to the Government (from April 24, 1995 quarterly to semiannually, from semiannually to annually, etc.), unless the department or Thank you very much. Secretary Riley, agency head determines that such action is thank you for your introduction. If I were not legally permissible; would not adequately you, I would go bowling. [Laughter] We’re Laughter protect health, safety, or the environment; going to save your job. [ ] Thank you, Secretary Reich, for your enthusiasm, for would be inconsistent with achieving regu- being enthusiastic about the right things. In latory flexibility or reducing regulatory bur- your heart alone you have enough domestic dens; or would impede the effective adminis- content to be the Secretary of Labor. Thank tration of the agency’s program. The duty to you, Jacquelyn Belcher and David Pierce. I make such determinations shall be nondele- also want to say how very glad I am to be gable. joined here by the distinguished United (b) Each agency shall, by June 15, 1995, States Senator from Minnesota, Senator Paul submit a plan to the Director describing the Wellstone and his wife, Sheila, who’s here. actions it will take to implement the policies Two of our colleagues in the House of Rep- in paragraph 2(a), including a copy of any resentatives, Congressman Bruce Vento and determination that certain reports are ex- Congressman Bill Luther, also back there. cluded. Thank you for being here.

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I want to say a special word of congratula- working to try to help them put their lives tions to the 20 students who were named to together. the 1995 All-USA Academic Team. I want But I will never forget, more than anything to thank those who are watching us via sat- else, the faces and the stories of the family ellite. And I also want to say a special word members of the victims. I was walking about some fine students and advocates I met through the room shaking hands with them, just before I came in here. I met two students and I saw a lady with her children who had who have benefited from our direct loan pro- been in the Oval Office just a few weeks ago gram. I’ll talk more about them in a moment. as her husband left my Secret Service detail Two students who are critically interested in to go to what seemed to be a less hectic pace public assistance to education, because with- of duty in Oklahoma City. I saw the children out that they would not have been able to of a man who was a football hero at the Uni- go to school. And I met a gentleman who versity of Arkansas when so many people who is devoting his time to organizing people are now on the White House staff were against the attempt in Washington to start friends of his. The young Air Force Sergeant charging interest on student loans while stu- took out two pictures his wife had taken of dents are still in college. Sandra Tinsley, Jes- me just 3 weeks ago when I visited our troops sica Aviles, Jeffrey Lanes, Robbie Dalton- in Haiti. And she was one of those troops, Kirtley, who is also one of the academic team but she came home because we wound down all Americans, and Dave Dahlgren, I thank our mission there, and she married her fi- all of them for meeting with me, and they’re ance. And 3 days later, she went to the Fed- here somewhere. If they are, they ought to eral building to change her name. And so wave or stand up—there’s Jeffrey. Thank he had to give me the pictures his wife took. you. Thank you very much. I saw three children, teenage children, with Before I begin today to talk about edu- a woman and another child taking care of cation and training, I’d like to say just a word them. One of them had one of my Inaugural or two if I might before this audience of edu- buttons on. Their mother died last year of cators and people who believe in and appre- an illness. Their father went to our Inaugural, ciate the value of free speech, about where and they asked me to sign the pin to their we are in the aftermath of the Oklahoma father who is still missing—three teenagers bombing and what we are going to do about losing both parents. the kind of America our children will inherit. I could go on and on and on. I say to all Yesterday, Hillary and I joined tens of of you, first we must complete the rescue thousands of people in Oklahoma City, and effort and the recovery effort. Of course, we of course millions of you all across the coun- must help that community rebuild. We must try, to witness the end result of abject hatred. arrest, convict, and punish the people who I was there as President to represent all of committed this terrible, terrible deed, but you in the mourning. But also, I felt that we our responsibility does not end there. were there, Hillary and I, as ordinary Amer- In this country we cherish and guard the ican citizens well—as husband and wife, as right of free speech. We know we love it parents, as neighbors of those people. when we put up with people saying things No words can do justice to how moving we absolutely deplore. And we must always it was to be there yesterday. No words can be willing to defend their right to say things do justice to the courage of those who we deplore to the ultimate degree. But we worked in the rescue operation around the hear so many loud and angry voices in Amer- clock. And one person has already given her ica today whose sole goal seems to be to try life in that endeavor. No words can do justice to keep some people as paranoid as possible to the small acts of kindness and generosity, and the rest of us all torn up and upset with all the people in Oklahoma who won’t take each other. They spread hate. They leave the money at the gas station or the local coffee impression that, by their very words, that vio- shop or the barber shop or even at the airline lence is acceptable. You ought to see—I’m ticket terminal for people who are there sure you are now seeing the reports of some

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things that are regularly said over the air- day with the future. You have important work waves in America today. to do. I ask you only to think of how different Well, people like that who want to share what you do is from what you have been our freedoms must know that their bitter hearing from the voices of division. words can have consequences and that free- Why do community colleges work? Well, dom has endured in this country for more first of all, they’re not encumbered by old- than two centuries because it was coupled fashioned bureaucracies. By and large, they with an enormous sense of responsibility on are highly entrepreneurial. They are highly the part of the American people. flexible. They are really democratic—small If we are to have freedom to speak, free- ‘‘d’’—they’re open to everybody, right? In dom to assemble, and, yes, the freedom to the best sense. They are open to everybody. bear arms, we must have responsibility as And people work together. And when some- well. And to those of us who do not agree thing doesn’t work, they go do something with the purveyors of hatred and division, else. That’s what you do. You do it in a spirit with the promoters of paranoia, I remind you of cooperation. You are remarkably unpolit- that we have freedom of speech, too. And ical in that sense. we have responsibilities, too. And some of In other words, every experience you us have not discharged our responsibilities. have—and you see people of all ages coming It is time we all stood up and spoke against through your doors, walking out your doors, that kind of reckless speech and behavior. going on to better, more fulfilling, more satis- If they insist on being irresponsible with fying lives, able to help themselves and our common liberties, then we must be all strengthen America in the process. It is the the more responsible with our liberties. direct antithesis of the kind of paranoia and When they talk of hatred, we must stand division and hatred that we hear spewed out against them. When they talk of violence, we must stand against them. When they say at us all over this country, day in and day things that are irresponsible, that may have out, by people exercising their free speech egregious consequences, we must call them to make the rest of us miserable. And it con- on it. The exercise of their freedom of speech tradicts the experience of what works in makes our silence all the more unforgivable. America. So exercise yours, my fellow Americans. Our So today, that is why I have asked you to country, our future, our way of life is at stake. do this. I also want to talk to you a little bit I never want to look into the faces of another about what I hope we can do in education. set of family members like I saw yesterday, You want Americans to be more hopeful, you and you can help to stop it. want this to be a more positive place, you Our democracy has endured a lot over want people to be rewarded for their la- these last 200 years, and we are strong bors—strengthen education in America, enough today to sort out and work through build the community colleges, open the all these angry voices. But we owe it to our doors to all. That’s the way to build the future children to do our part. Billy Graham got of this country, not by dividing us and bring- a standing ovation yesterday when he said, ing us down but by uniting us, building us ‘‘The spirit of our Nation will not be de- up, and pointing us toward the future. feated.’’ I can tell by your response that that You know, I have seen the faces of Ameri- is true. But you must begin today. ca’s future. I met a 46-year-old former wel- The little girl who read the poem yesterday fare mother at San Bernardino Community at our service said, ‘‘Remember the trust of College, full of enthusiasm and hope for the the children. Darkness will not have its day.’’ future. I met a 73-year-old Holocaust survi- The trust of the children is what we are here vor in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, who built a to talk about. successful business and is now committed to This whole community college movement investing in the education and training of his has made as big a contribution to the future employees using his local educational institu- of America as any institutional change in the tion. I met a 52-year-old woman at Galesburg United States in decades. All of you live every Community College in Illinois, laid off from

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a factory job after 20 years but building a cation deficit as well. And we have to cure better future. them both. We are still living with the legacy Today, I met some impressive people. I of the explosive debts of the last 12 years. met this fine, young man down here, Jeffrey The budget cuts we have made already and Lanes, who had an injury but didn’t let it the taxes we have asked the top one and a defeat him. Instead, he went back to school half percent of our people to pay—listen to with the help of public assistance to make this—would balance the budget to today. a new and better life for himself. But we are Today we would have a balanced budget ex- better off that he is going to have a better cept for the interest we owe on the debt run life. He is giving us a better America, and up between 1981 and the end of 1992. we thank him for it, and we ought to support So we are bringing the deficit down. We opportunities for other people just like him. are committed to that, but we have to re- I mentioned her before, but when I met member we have more than one deficit. You Robbie Dalton-Kirtley, who’s part of the All- heard the Secretary of Labor talking about USA Academic Team—she’s one of these this. But I have been obsessed since the late nontraditional students. She waited until her 1980’s with the increasing inequality in youngest child was in kindergarten, and she America. went back to school. She’s from Flat Rock, You know, when I was born at the end North Carolina. But she is building a future of World War II, I grew up in the American that will strengthen not only Flat Rock, dream. And the great domestic crisis we had North Carolina, and her family but all the was a civil rights crisis. And we thought if rest of us as well. So I thank you for what we could just get over racial prejudice, that you are doing. And I ask you how we can our economy was so strong, our society was do more of it? And what should we be doing so powerful, that the American dream could in Government? Well, when I ran for President, I ran with just be opened up for everyone. a heavy bias toward education. I look out on And from the end of the Second World this crowd today and I see a lot of people War until the late seventies, that is pretty from our community colleges in Arkansas. much what happened—all income groups in- I’m proud of the fact that when I was Gov- creased together. And in fact, the poorest 20 ernor we built more of them, we helped to percent of our people did slightly better than strengthen the ones that were there, we the rest of us in terms of where they started. helped some of the vocational schools to ei- We were growing together and going for- ther convert or merge or to become more ward. alike by diversifying their curriculum to com- Today, we are going forward. Our econ- munity colleges. omy has produced over 6 million new jobs. In fact, I was looking at a couple of people You heard what the Secretary of Labor said: out there. I was at their places so often they We had the lowest combined rate of unem- probably wanted me to leave so they could ployment and inflation in 25 years, but we get some work done when I was a Governor. are not growing together. And that is why [Laughter] so many Americans say they do not feel more I ran for President in large measure be- secure, even though we’re having an eco- cause I felt that the work of America that nomic recovery. They say, ‘‘Yeah, I read that was being done out in the grassroots, the in the papers, but it’s not affecting my life. work of creating opportunity and demanding I haven’t gotten a raise.’’ responsibility and rewarding it, was not being Sixty percent of our people are living on done in Washington, that we were increasing the same or lower wages than they were mak- our Government’s debt at a rapid rate and ing 10 years ago, working a longer work unbelievably reducing our investment in our week. Why? Because of the combined impact future. of the global economy, the technology revo- I believed then and I believe more strongly lution, the lack of a Government response now that this country has two deficits. We’ve to it. In fact, the Government response made got a budget deficit, but we’ve got an edu- it worse.

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The minimum wage next year—if we don’t our parents, our administrations, and our stu- raise it this year—the minimum wage next dents to meet them; school-to-work pro- year will be at its lowest level in 40 years. grams so our young people who don’t go on That is not my idea of how to get to the 21st to 4-year colleges would have the opportunity century. So we have these—[applause] to move into the workplace with the kind of Thank you. training and skills that would give them jobs So we basically are splitting apart economi- that would raise their incomes, not drive cally. If you look at it, it is clear that the them down; tech-prep programs as a part of fault line is education. Earnings for high school to work. A lot of you are involved in school dropouts have dropped at a breath- the tech-prep issue, and it’s something I taking rate in the last 15 years. Earnings for know a lot about from my personal experi- high school graduates have dropped at a less ence, enabling high school students to get dramatic rate. work experience and to go straight to com- The only group for which earnings have munity colleges. We created AmeriCorps, increased steadily are earnings for people our national service initiative. And more than who have at least 2 years of post-high school 30 community colleges and this association education and training. You, you are at the are participating in AmeriCorps. We’ve got fault line in America. The fault line of Amer- people doing everything from helping the el- ican society is education. Those who have it derly in Kentucky to tutoring kids in inner- are doing well. Those who don’t are paying. city Chicago to helping with community po- And the future offers more of the same at licing in Rochester, New York, thanks to the a faster rate. community colleges. And I thank you very Therefore, it is clear that our common mis- much for your endeavors. sion, if we want to help people help them- Now, what should we do? Number one, selves and strengthen this country, must be do no harm. Don’t undo what we just did. focused on a relentless determination to see Number one, do no harm. Number two, yes, that every American lives up to the fullest we need to reduce the deficit, but we should of his or her capacities. It is in our common increase the Pell grant program as we have interest. proposed, not reduce it, as some have pro- So all these wonderful stories you can tell posed. Yes, we should cut the deficit, but one about your community colleges, all these way to cut the deficit that is absolutely wrong touching individual triumphs, are also the is to start charging interest on student loans story of America’s rebirth at the dawn of the while the students are still in school. 21st century. Make no mistake about it, you There is an answer, you know, in education are doing more than helping individual to the budget conundrum. Almost unbeliev- Americans live out their dreams; you are cre- ably there is an answer. It is our direct stu- ating the system in which we can keep the dent loan program. We want to make it avail- American dream alive for our country and able for anyone who wants to finance assist- the American idea alive for all the world in ance to college. the 21st century. If you succeed, we will. You The student loan program, the direct loan must succeed, and the rest of us must make program, started when I became President sure we do what we can to help you do it. because I wanted to find a way to cut the I want to make some brief points today cost of college loans, to cut the unbelievable about what we are trying to achieve in this bureaucratic paperwork headache, and to Congress and what we are trying to stop from give students more options about how to being achieved in this Congress. And I want repay loans, because I began to see students to ask for your help. in our State who were dropping out of col- In the last 2 years, we had broad bipartisan lege because they were terrified that they support for the most substantial increased ef- would never be able to repay their loans, es- fort by the National Government to support pecially students who were going to do things education in a generation: big increases in that were important to our society but didn’t Head Start; world-class standards for our pay a lot, students who wanted to be teach- schools and more flexibility for our teachers, ers, students who wanted to be nurses, stu-

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dents who wanted to be police officers, stu- or Sandra Tinsely, they’re both here. Go ask dents who wanted to serve the public and them about it. Listen to them talk about how knew that they would have big loans and much quicker they got the loan and what a modest salaries to repay them with. So we joy it was not to have to go through the hassle began to look around for ways to do this. and the delay and the uncertainty. And we settled on, and the Congress adopt- But here’s the good news. If we keep going ed, the direct college loan program. until we make the student loan program When I took office, everybody in the coun- available to all the schools on a voluntary try was complaining about the way the stu- basis, it will save the taxpayers $12 billion dent loan program worked. Students com- over 5 years or about the same amount of plained that they couldn’t get loans or if they money that would be saved if we started did it took them too long and it was an abso- charging interest on student loans while the lute nightmare to fool with the paperwork. students are in college. Colleges complained that the paperwork was So if we want to reduce the deficit, let’s driving them crazy. And everybody was wor- reduce the deficit by increasing education, ried about the nature of the repayment terms not by reducing it. That’s the message that and the fact that there weren’t enough op- I want you to take out there. tions. There was also, I might add, an uncon- The second thing I want to say to you is scionable amount of loan default, people who that we have a lot of Americans who are un- would not pay their loans back, costing the employed or underemployed who want more taxpayers $2.8 billion a year. And the banks training and education. And a lot of them didn’t have much incentive to help, because now only have access to certain highly speci- they had a 90 percent guarantee. So by the fied and difficult-to-understand and access time—if they brought some sort of action, Government programs. There are dozens of they’d spend the 10 percent trying to collect Federal training programs, most of them en- the rest. So why not just take a check from acted with the best of intention by Congress. the Government? What we proposed to do is to put the Well, the direct loan program addresses American people who need training in con- all those problems. It lowers costs for stu- trol of their own destiny with these programs, dents. It allows borrowers to choose flexible instead of just shifting the power from a Fed- repayment arrangements, including a pay-as- eral bureaucracy even to a State one. What you-earn option. Therefore, it doesn’t doom we propose to do is to consolidate all these anyone to a crushing debt burden. It’s also, training programs and create a skill grant, es- believe it or not, helping us to save billions sentially a training voucher to people who of dollars of taxpayers’ money. That, plus are unemployed or underemployed or quali- Secretary Riley’s more vigilant enforcement fied for Federal help, let them get the vouch- of the loan program, have cut your losses as er, and take it to their local community col- taxpayers from $2.8 billion a year to $1 billion lege and have access to the programs you a year, a reduction of almost two-thirds. offer for up to 2 years to get the training But get this—what are we going to do necessary for the future. now? In the first year, we had 104 schools That is a much better expenditure of that with over 252,000 students in the program. money than to continue in these programs In the second year, we’ll have more than which may or may not be easily accessible 1,400 schools representing 37 percent of all and which require a whole lot of paperwork loans committed to enrolling. Today I am and are very confusing. We want to consoli- proud to announce that in our third year, be- date the money, give it directly to the people ginning July 1996, 450 new schools will join who are entitled to it in the form of a vouch- the program which will mean 45 percent of er, and let them take it to you to get the all student loans will be administered education you need. I hope you will help us through this program. pass that as well in this Congress. Now, that’s the good news. You don’t have Finally, let me talk about the tax cut issue. to take my word for it. You can look at the Everybody is for a tax cut. Who could be students that I just mentioned, Jessica Aviles against it? Sounds great. But I would remind

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you that this is a serious issue, this deficit what partnerships they’re going to create, issue. We have worked very hard to reduce chances are a hundred to one you can’t tell it by $600 billion. When we brought the defi- whether there’s a Republican or a Democrat cit down, that’s what drove interest rates talking at the board meeting. down in 1993. That’s what gave us our eco- Community colleges are open to people nomic recovery. That’s what unleashed the of all races and backgrounds and religious engine of American enterprise. And the un- faiths and views. They bring people together. certainty that hangs now around whether we They are America at its best. We need more continue to show discipline in our budget is of that in Washington. So if you believe that causing difficulties for our economy. we shouldn’t start charging interest on the We cannot afford a $200 billion tax cut loans, especially since there’s a better way and continue to reduce the deficit and meet to reduce the deficit; if you believe we should our responsibilities to education and our fu- increase the Pell grants, not decrease them; ture. We cannot afford to tilt most of the if you believe we should keep expanding the benefits of the tax cut to upper income peo- direct loan program on a purely voluntary ple. They are doing very well in the economy as it is. They are doing very well. And this basis and see if our program is as good as is not a statement of class warfare. I want I think it is and people keep using it; if you to create more millionaires. I am proud of believe we should have this training voucher the fact that a lot of people have become instead of this complicated welter of Federal millionaires since I have been President. programs; if you believe it’s important to cure But what will do that is a strong economy, the education deficit and the budget deficit a healthy economy in which everybody has and therefore we should focus on a tightly the opportunity to succeed. That’s what will targeted education related tax cut, then go create more successful entrepreneurs. If we back home and ask the students and the fac- have a system that grows the middle class ulty members and the board members to sign and shrinks the under class and keeps this petitions that you can send to your local economy strong, the entrepreneurs will do Members of Congress and your Senators, well. without regard to party. So what we should do is have a much We dare not let education become a politi- smaller tax cut. It should be targeted sharply cal partisan issue in America. It was not in to people who need it, middle class people. the last 2 years; it should not be in 1995 and And in my judgment it should be targeted 1996. Every American has a vested interest to education. People should get a deduction in seeing that we all go forward in education. for the cost of education after high school, Every single, solitary bit of evidence shows because that will raise their incomes over the us it is the fault line standing between us long run as well as over the short run. They and a future in which the American dream will more than pay it back to the Treasury is alive for everyone. If you want to reward in future years because we will be accelerat- hard work in America, that work must be ing the number and the intensity and the smart work. Our future is on the line. pace of those getting an education in Amer- So I implore you, when you go home, ica. That’s the kind of tax cut we need—less, target it to middle class, and focused like a make your voices heard. Say it is not a par- laser beam on education. We need an edu- tisan issue. It is not a political issue. It is cation tax cut. That’s all we need for this a question of keeping the American dream country. alive into the 21st century. Let me close by asking you once again to Thank you, and God bless you all. make your voice heard in another way. The community colleges of America look like NOTE: The President spoke at 11:46 a.m. in the America. If you go to a board meeting of Grand Ballroom at the Minnesota Convention a community college and hear people talk Center. In his remarks, he referred to Jacquelyn about what programs they’re going to have Belcher, chair, and David Pierce, president, and what projects they’re going to have and American Association of Community Colleges.

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Remarks on Departure From cans will join with many of you in special Minneapolis service all across America. It is fitting that April 24, 1995 National Volunteer Week should come now because volunteering is one of the best ways Thank you. I’m so glad to see you all. As that Americans, and especially those fine you can see, I’m here with Senator and Mrs. people in Oklahoma, can deal with their grief Wellstone and Congressman Vento and Con- and their pain and their loss. gressman Luther and Attorney General I must tell you that yesterday when I saw Humphrey. And I’m glad to be here with them and I realized what they had been all of them, and I’m glad to be with you. through and how so many of them had con- I also want to tell you, I’m glad I’ve got tinued to work to help their friends and this big wind because I just had lunch down- neighbors and loved ones—some of them town at a place called Peter’s Grill, and I’m haven’t slept in days—it reminded me once so full, I need a nap. [Laughter] again that service is the greatest gift of citi- Let me thank you for coming out today zenship in this country. and tell you that I have had a wonderful trip And for all of you who are giving your serv- to Minnesota. I want to thank the people ice, whether here in the Reserve Unit, or in here at the airbase for making me feel wel- AmeriCorps, or in some other way through come, as they always do, and the Air Force your churches and synagogues or clubs or reservists for their service, and I want to schools, I thank you, because the real heart thank the young AmeriCorps members who of America is not in the Nation’s Capital; it’s are here today for their service. out here with all of you and what you do The men and women here at this Air Re- every day to make your lives and this coun- serve Unit have gone all across the globe to try’s life better. preserve our freedom and to fight for the Thank you, and God bless you all. freedom of others. They served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. They deliv- NOTE: The President spoke at 3:15 p.m. at the ered food and supplies to people in Bosnia Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. In his remarks, he referred to Hubert H. Humphrey III, to help them survive. That’s the longest airlift Minnesota attorney general. in history, thanks to the United States Armed Forces and the people here. And people here have even helped to fight the fires in Califor- Remarks on Arrival in Des Moines, nia. We’re grateful to all of them for all those Iowa services. April 24, 1995 I want to say something about the AmeriCorps volunteers here. In Minnesota Thank you very much. Thank you very alone, in this first year for AmeriCorps, much, Senator Harkin, and thank you, ladies they’re making 200 houses or apartments into and gentlemen, for that wonderful welcome. real homes for working families. And that is It’s great to be back in Iowa when it’s dry. a noble thing to do. You’re teaching more [Laughter] I am glad to be here. than a thousand children who might not I want to thank the State officials who make it without you, and I hope you’ll keep came here to greet me at the plane. Standing working with them, because they need you. behind me, your attorney general, Tom Mil- They need you as role models and mentors. ler; your secretary of state, Paul Pate; your And in their work, they are also piling up State treasurer, Mike Fitzgerald; your State some credits for themselves to help them pay auditor, Richard Johnson; and your secretary for the cost of going to college. They rep- of agriculture, Dale Cochran, I thank them resent the tradition of American service at all for coming. I am also glad to see some its best, and we thank all these young people old friends here: your former Congressman, for their service. Thank you very much. Neal Smith, who’s been a great friend of You know, this coming week is our Na- mine. I’m glad to see him. tional Volunteer Week, and tomorrow is a I’m glad to see all those folks from the national day of service when a million Ameri- United Rubber Workers Union, Local 310

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here. Good luck to you. And I want to say sense where hard work is rewarded, where a special word of welcome and thanks to the families can be strong, where people can live young, national service AmeriCorps volun- in the way they want to live if they work hard teers for their work. Thank you. I’d like to and play by the rules. thank the base commander here, General I got tickled when Tom Harkin said, re- Don Armington, for welcoming me and for minded me—I’d forgotten this—that Harry making available this facility. Truman said, no one ought to be President And as Tom Harkin said, I’m here for the who doesn’t know anything about hogs. National Rural Conference. I want to say to [Laughter] And I thought, now, how many all of you before I begin that, how much I hogs jokes do I know that I can actually tell appreciate what Senator Harkin said and the in front of this crowd? [Laughter] One of response that you had to the terrible tragedy the things that you have to know is how far that the people of Oklahoma City have been you can go if you live on the farm and when through and that our entire Nation has been you’re going too far. I’ll tell you one hog story through. You, I know, are very proud of them about that. for the way they have responded, the work When the famous, or infamous, Huey they have done, and the courage they have Long was Governor of Louisiana and the shown. It was a very profoundly moving day country was in a depression, Huey was trying yesterday. to convince everybody that the answer was Today and in all the days ahead as we help to just take the wealth away from everybody them to rebuild and as we continue to search who had it and give it to people who didn’t. for total justice in that case which we will And President Roosevelt was following a see carried out, I ask all of you to remember much more moderate but commonsense what I said yesterday. This is a country where course to try to put the people back to work we fight and where people have died to pre- again. serve everyone’s right to free speech, indeed, So Huey Long was out on a country cross- to all the freedoms of the Bill of Rights, the roads saying—he was giving his speech about freedom of speech, the freedom to associate how we ought to share the wealth, and he with whomever we please, the right to keep saw this fellow out in the crowd he recog- and bear arms, the right to be treated fairly nized, and he said, ‘‘Brother Jones, if you had and without arbitrary action by your Govern- three Cadillacs, wouldn’t you give up one of ment, all those freedoms. them so we could go ’round to all these But we’re around here after 200 years be- places and gather up the little children and cause of people like the people in Iowa, be- take them to school during the week and to cause we know that with all freedom comes church on Sunday?’’ And the guy said, ‘‘Well, responsibility. And the freer you are, the of course, I would.’’ And he said, ‘‘Brother more responsible you have to be. We are the Jones, if you had $3 million, wouldn’t you freest Nation on Earth after over 200 years give up a million dollars just so all these peo- because over time we have always been the ple around here could have a decent roof most responsible Nation on Earth. over their head and good food to eat?’’ He So when you hear people say things that said, ‘‘Well, of course, I would.’’ And he they are legally entitled to say, if you think said, ‘‘And Brother Jones, if you had three they’re outrageous, if you think they either hogs—’’ And he said, ‘‘Now, wait a minute, explicitly or implicitly encourage violence Governor. I’ve got three hogs.’’ [Laughter] and division and things that would under- So one of the things that you learn in a sen- mine our freedoms in America, then your sible, rural environment is when not to go free speech and your responsibility requires too far. you to speak up against it and say, ‘‘That’s I wanted to have this rural conference not the America I’m trying to build for my here, and we’d indeed planned to have it a children and my grandchildren. That’s not few months earlier, but as Senator Harkin what we want.’’ knows, along toward the end of last year we You know, the America we’re trying to had a very important vote on the GATT trade build is an old-fashioned America of common treaty and whether we would be able to open

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more markets to American farm products of it is a farm problem, but it goes beyond and whether we’d be able to require our trad- that. Most Americans, most Iowans who live ing partners and competitors in Europe to in rural America do not live on the farm. And reduce their farm subsidies to levels that are so we have great challenges today. fair with us. And so because we were fighting How can we keep the economic recovery that battle, a battle important to you, we had going? How can we work together to do that, to put off the rural conference. but how can we overcome this inequality by But we’re back here, and we’re back here getting wages up again? And how can we for a very clear reason. We know that in spite overcome the difference in opportunity be- of the fact that the overall statistics for the tween rural and urban America? Because I American economy look good, there are still think we all know that a lot of the problems profound challenges in the American econ- that urban America has would be smaller if omy. And I’ll just give you a few. more people could make a good living in We have the lowest combined rates of un- small towns and rural areas, that a lot of the employment and inflation we’ve had in 25 aggravated problems of the urban life in the years. That’s the good news, and it’s some- United States, and I might add, throughout thing we can be proud of. the world, are as difficult as they are because But in spite of that, we know that we’re it’s harder and harder and harder for people continuing to have problems. I’ll just give you to make a living and raise families and have two studies that have come out in the last a stable life in rural areas. month, one showing that in spite of all this So we thought we ought to come to Iowa economic growth, in spite of over 6.3 million to talk about these things. Yes, a lot of the new jobs in the last 2 years, inequality is in- conversation tomorrow will be about the new creasing in America among working people. farm bill, and there will be a lot of talk Why is that? Because we’ve got a global economy and a technological revolution that about—there’s been a lot of talk about it. have driven down wages for people with rel- And I don’t want to get into all the details atively low skills, because a smaller percent- today except to tell you this: I did not work age of our work force is unionized today, be- for 2 years to get our competitors to lower cause we have not let the minimum wage their farm subsidies to a rate that would keep up with inflation, and because we have make it possible for us to compete with them, not invested in the continued education and to turn around and one more time on our training and skills of our people. The second own, destroy all the farm supports in this study shows that this is more pronounced in country so once again we give our competi- rural America where the population is likely tors the advantage. I don’t think that’s how to be older with a lower income because we should proceed. more and more young people are having a I believe the American farmers that I know hard time making it. would gladly give up all their Government I just left Senator Harkin’s colleague, Sen- support if they thought all their competitors ator Paul Wellstone, who told me that—he would. But we are in a global economic envi- and Mrs. Wellstone told me that they have ronment, trying to preserve the quality of a child who is married, about to have a baby, rural life, and this is very important. So we living on a dairy farm, trying to make a living need to talk about that. as dairy farmers. And that’s the hardest work We also need to talk about education. We in the world, you know. It’s 7 days a week, need to talk about technology. We need to 24 hours a day, somebody’s got to be there talk about crime. We need to talk about all the time. The milk doesn’t quit coming health care. We have a lot of things we need just because you want to go to church or a to talk about. basketball game on the weekends. And what we’re going to try to do is to But they were talking about how the hard create an environment in which we can build time, they were making it. So this inequality, a bipartisan consensus for a strategy for rural this wage stagnation we’re seeing in America America that will be part of the farm bill, is much more severe in rural America. Part yes, but also part of everything else that

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unfolds in Washington over the next 2 years. raise incomes and to bring this country back That is my goal. together again. In times past, these issues have not nec- We have to believe that we are coming essarily been partisan issues. I am doing my together when we work hard and we play best to reach out the hand of good faith, co- by the rules. That is my goal and that will operation with the Congress. I hope that we be the heart and soul of what is at stake to- can achieve it in many areas: in reducing the morrow in this National Rural Conference deficit, in giving more responsibility back to which ought to be here in Iowa. the States, while preserving the national obli- Thank you, and God bless you all. gation to support our children and to support education, in trying to work toward having a safer and more secure country—I know NOTE: The President spoke at 3:50 p.m. in the that all of you care about that—and in trying National Guard hangar at Des Moines Inter- to have a balanced view toward the things national Airport. that we all have to support, including the quality of life in our rural States and our rural areas. Message to the Senate Transmitting So I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. a Protocol to the Canada-United I’m glad we’re going to do it here. I think States Income Tax Convention the people of Iowa know that our administra- tion has worked hard to try to support the April 24, 1995 interests of rural America. After all, even with Senator Harkin, we needed Vice Presi- To the Senate of the United States: dent Gore to break the tie so that we could I transmit herewith for Senate advice and support our ethanol position. And I’m glad consent to ratification, a revised Protocol he could do that. Amending the Convention Between the I ask all of you to remember now, that United States of America and Canada with here’s where we are in America. You look Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital at these fellows with their caps on; you look Signed at Washington on September 26, at all these children out here; you look at 1980, as Amended by the Protocols Signed these young people who are going to work on June 14, 1983, and March 28, 1984. This in their communities so they can earn some revised Protocol was signed at Washington money to further their own education. There on March 17, 1995. Also transmitted for the is a fault line in America today, and it basi- information of the Senate is the report of the cally is determined by education, along with Department of State with respect to the re- where you live and what sector of the econ- vised Protocol. The principal provisions of omy you work in. We have to preserve the the Protocol, as well as the reasons for the American dream for all of these kids who technical amendments made in the revised are here, going into the 21st century. All Protocol, are explained in that document. these children, we have to hand it back to It is my desire that the revised Protocol them. transmitted herewith be considered in place And we have literally been in the first eco- nomic recovery since World War II where of the Protocol to the Income Tax Conven- jobs went up, the economy seemed to be tion with Canada signed at Washington on growing, inflation was down, but over half August 31, 1994, which was transmitted to of the ordinary Americans did not feel any the Senate with my message dated Septem- personal improvement in either their job se- ber 14, 1994, and which is now pending in curity or their personal income. So the chal- the Committee on Foreign Relations. I de- lenge today is for us to figure out how to sire, therefore, to withdraw from the Senate keep the deficit coming down, how to keep the Protocol signed in August 1994. the economy growing and producing jobs, I recommend that the Senate give early how to keep inflation down, but how to do and favorable consideration to the revised those things that we know we have to do to

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Protocol and give its advice and consent to Treaty and give its advice and consent to rati- ratification. fication. William J. Clinton William J. Clinton The White House, The White House, April 24, 1995. April 24, 1995. Remarks at the Opening Session of the National Rural Conference in Message to the Senate Transmitting Ames, Iowa the Jordan-United States Extradition Treaty April 25, 1995 April 24, 1995 Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President. And thank you, ladies and gentlemen for that To the Senate of the United States: warm welcome. With a view to receiving the advice and The Vice President could have been—you consent of the Senate to ratification, I trans- know, that blue-ribbon remark at the Iowa mit herewith the Extradition Treaty between Fair, he could have stuck it in a little more. the Government of the United States of He could have said that he still lives on his America and the Government of the farm and I haven’t lived on a farm in 40 years. Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, signed at As a matter of fact, I lived on a farm so long Washington on March 28, 1995. Also trans- ago we had sheep and cattle at the same mitted for the information of the Senate is place. [Laughter] I got off because—that’s the report of the Department of State with true—and I got off because one of the rams respect to this Treaty. nearly killed me one day, and because I The Treaty establishes the conditions and didn’t want to work that hard anymore. But procedures for extradition between the Unit- I am delighted to be here. ed States and Jordan. It also provides a legal I want to thank all of the people here at basis for temporarily surrendering prisoners Iowa State who have done such a wonderful to stand trial for crimes against the laws of job to make us feel welcome and all the work the Requesting State. they have done on this. I thank Congressman The Treaty further represents an impor- Durbin, who is here from Illinois, one of our tant step in combatting terrorism by exclud- conference’s chief sponsors and also, a man ing from the scope of the political offense who is not here, Senator Byron Dorgan from exception serious offenses typically commit- North Dakota, who was an originator of this ted by terrorists, e.g., crimes against a Head conference. of State or first family member of either I want to say I’m looking forward to work- Party, aircraft hijacking, aircraft sabotage, ing with Governor Branstad and his col- crimes against internationally protected per- league from Nebraska, Governor Ben Nel- sons, including diplomats, hostage-taking, son, as we work up to the farm bill, because narcotics trafficking, and other offenses for they are head of the Governors’ Committee which the United States and Jordan have an on Agriculture and Rural Development. And obligation to extradite or submit to prosecu- we’re looking forward to that. tion by reason of a multilateral international I don’t want to give a long talk. I came agreement or treaty. here to hear from you today. I will say, you’ve The provisions in this Treaty follow gen- been given some materials for this con- erally the form and content of extradition ference. If you want to know what our record treaties recently concluded by the United is in agriculture, you can read it. We wrote States. it up for you, but I don’t think I ought to This Treaty will make a significant con- waste any of your time on it today. tribution to international cooperation in law I want us to think about the present and enforcement. I recommend that the Senate the future. And I want to make just a couple give early and favorable consideration to the of brief remarks. There are a lot of paradoxes

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in the American economy. And they are mind you that the farm bill was—the sub- clearly evident in rural America today. We sidies programs were cut in ’85; they were have in the last 2 years over 6 million new cut in ’90. We had a modest reduction in jobs, the lowest combined rates of unemploy- ’93. We finally—we worked for years and ment and inflation in 25 years. In Iowa, the years and our administration worked for unemployment rate is about 3.3 percent, I nearly 2 years to bring the Europeans to the think, which the economists say is statistically table in the GATT agreement, to cut the sub- zero. And yet—I just got the report this sidies in Europe. And finally we’re on an morning—in the last 3 months, compensa- even footing, and I don’t believe that we tion for working people in America, all across ought to destroy the farm support program America, increased at a lower rate than it if we want to keep the family farm and give has in any 3-month period in 15 years, totally up the competitive advantage we won at the against all common sense. bargaining table in GATT. The good news is we have low inflation. We have a $20 billion surplus in agricul- The bad news is nobody’s getting any more tural trade. We’ve got a big trade deficit in money for working. And it is more pro- everything else. I don’t think we ought to nounced in the rural areas of America where give it up. Should we modify it? Can we im- incomes have stagnated. prove it? I’m sure we can. Should we empha- Now, we know something about the divid- size other things? Of course we should, but ing lines of this. We know that education is our first rule should be: Do no harm. a big dividing line. We know that people who The second point I want to make is: I don’t have at least 2 years of education after high think we have done enough in some areas school tend to do well in this global economy that relate to both agriculture and generally wherever they live, and people who don’t to rural development, especially in research. tend to have more trouble. And Senator Harkin and Governor Branstad We know also, unfortunately, that rural were talking to the Vice President and me areas are not doing as well as urban areas. before we came out here about the pork re- But we know that, in a way, technology gives search project that was funded here at this us a way out of this because there are a lot school last year, that was targeted for dele- of things that rural areas have that urban tion in the House’s so-called rescission bill. areas would like to have, affordable housing, The rescission bill is a bill designed to cut clean air, lower crime rates. And we know some spending so we can pay for what we that technology permits us, if we are wise have to pay for, for the California earthquake enough to bring economic opportunity to and to cut the deficit more. But we need places where it hasn’t been before. to know what we should cut and what we So what I want us to focus on today is, shouldn’t. yes, agriculture specifically and the farm bill, We need more agricultural research, not but beyond that, what about rural America? less. If you want to—for example, I know What is our strategy to make rural America it’s a big controversy here in Iowa, and I don’t stronger economically, to reward the good pretend to know what the answer is, but I values that reside there, to help to make it know this: I know if you want to have the an important part of America’s life in the 21st kind of position you’ve got in pork produc- century, to help to make it a place where tion, if you want to keep having $3 billion people will want to come back to and provide a year income in hogs, you’ve got to find a some balance in this country that we so des- way to preserve the environment. And if you perately need. want family farmers to be able to do it, you I’d just like to mention just three examples have to figure out a way to work the econom- if I might, one, in agriculture specifically. ics out. Laws will never replace economics. When this farm bill comes up, there’s going And the research—[applause]—and there- to be a lot of people saying, ‘‘Well, we ought fore we should not back up on research. We to just get rid of the whole program or cut should intensify research. As we give more it way, way back because we’ve got a deficit.’’ responsibilities back to State and local gov- Well, we do have a deficit, but I would re- ernments, more responsibilities back to the

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private sector, the National Government still I would like again to congratulate the Sec- has a commitment, it seems to me, and an retary of Agriculture and the Deputy Sec- obligation to support adequate research. retary and others on the fine work they did The third thing I would like to say is, it here. I want to thank the President of this seems to me that we need a much more seri- fine university and all the people who have ous national effort to focus on what our re- worked so hard to make this a success. sponsibilities are in the area of rural develop- I want to remind all of you—I think you ment in general. I have spent nearly 10 years can see today that we care a lot about these seriously working on this issue. A long time issues, and we’re committed to doing some- before I ever thought about running for thing about them. So if you had ideas that President, I was worried about the broader were not expressed, fill out those forms and issues of rural development. I headed a com- give them to us. They will not just be thrown mission called the Lower Mississippi Delta away. Rural Development Commission several Finally, let me thank the State of Iowa, years ago. And I have worked on this for a Senator Harkin, the Governor who is not long time. I am convinced there are things here anymore but spent some time with us. we can do nationally that don’t cost a lot of Attorney General Miller was here. And we money that can help to support a real revolu- have the State treasurer, Mike Fitzgerald, tion in the economic opportunities and the and the State agriculture commissioner, Dale social stability of rural America. Cochran. Thank you all for being here. So I hope if you have ideas on that, you Let me close by leaving you with this will bring them out, because even in Iowa, thought: The balance of power, political only one in five rural residents lives on a power in this country has shifted. Never farm. We have to think about everyone else. mind whether you think it’s Republican, And we’ll have more people living on a farm Democrat, liberal, or conservative. It’s basi- and being able to sustain living on a farm cally shifted to a suburban base. And most if there is a more balanced economic envi- of those folks in the suburbs either once lived ronment throughout rural America. in a city or once lived in the country. But So these are the things that we’re inter- most—a lot of them are doing reasonably ested in. I’m looking forward to this very well in the global economy. And if they much. I’d like to ask the president of this aren’t, the only thing they may think they fine institution to come up and offer a few need from the Government is help with a words, and then I would invite Governor student loan for their kids. And otherwise Branstad and Senator Harkin up here. And they may view anything any public entity then I’d like for our Secretary of Agriculture, does as doing more harm than good. Dan Glickman, to tell you about the hearings, What we have seen today on this panel— the town hall meetings he had leading up and I know, and most of you don’t, but I to this conference, and then we’ll get right know that we had people up here who are into the first panel. Republicans and people who were Demo- Thank you very much. crats. And I’ll guarantee you’ll listen to this conversation, you couldn’t tell one from an- NOTE: The President spoke at 9:13 a.m. in the other. Why? Because what works is practical Great Hall of the Memorial Union at Iowa State University. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. commitment to partnerships and to solving Terry E. Branstad of Iowa. problems each as they come up, to develop- ing the capacities of people, to dealing with the options that are there, and to going for- Remarks at the Closing Session of ward. the National Rural Conference in So we have two problems today in coming Ames up with good legislation in the farm bill and April 25, 1995 in coming up with other approaches that are appropriate. One is that Washington tends First of all, let’s give all the panelists a big to be much more ideological and partisan hand for all the work—[applause]. than main street America, particularly rural

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America. And we need more of main street and for his heroic efforts in the United States up there, not more of what’s up there down Senate on behalf of the people of Iowa and here. the people of this country. Whether they are The other is that demographically our farmers or people in rural areas, students, country’s political center has shifted away or the disabled, he is always there. I’d also from the urban areas and the rural areas into like to say that I know Tom lived here for the suburbs, and a lot of the people who have a while with his wonderful wife, Ruth, who to make decisions on these matters, without was once the county attorney here in this regard to their party or their philosophy, have county. She is now the head of the Overseas no direct experience or direct lobbying in the Private Investment Corporation. And she has best sense on these issues. done more to create American jobs by fi- Therefore, I think what we need—I cannot nancing international trade than any person tell you how strongly I feel this—is for, in who ever held her position. And you can be States like Iowa and every other State here proud of her as well. represented, we need for people of goodwill I want to thank Mayor Curtis for welcom- to try to get together at the community level, ing me here to Ames. I was looking forward across party lines, and come up with positions to meeting Mayor Curtis, but to be fair, I’m on these matters that can be communicated such a big basketball fan, I was hoping to to the Congress because Dick Durbin and meet the other ‘‘Mayor’’ here as well. If I Tom Harkin and Senator Grassley and others could shoot like that, I’d still be in the NBA; on the Republican side will be trying to craft I wouldn’t be up here today. [Laughter] And legislation that makes sense in some way that thank you, President Jischke, and all of you will be much more difficult unless your voice at Iowa State for making us feel so welcomed. is heard in partnership, not partisanship, and I thank the band for playing. And I’m glad the voice from the rural heartland. I implore they provided seats for you to see the event. you to do that. When I used to play at things like this, they Meanwhile, I pledge to you that your day never gave us a seat, so I’m glad to see your here has not been wasted. I have learned a smiling faces. And thank you, singers, for lot, and we will act on what we have learned. singing and for looking so wonderful up Thank you so very much. there. Ladies and gentlemen, we had a wonderful NOTE: The President spoke at 2:47 p.m. in the rural meeting today, and I want to talk a little Memorial Union at Iowa State University. bit about that. But before I do, I want to thank all of you who have come up to me Remarks to Students at Iowa State already today and expressed your sympathy University in Ames with and support for the people in Oklahoma April 25, 1995 City. There was a sign over there—show me that sign you all waved. I want everyone to Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Vice see that. It says, ‘‘Oklahoma City, Iowa President, for your stirring speech. He tells Cares.’’ all those jokes, and then he goes about dis- You may know that this is National Service proving them with his speech. [Laughter] Week in the United States, and today is our Thank you for your service to America. When first annual National Day of Service. That’s the history of our administration is written, why I’m so glad to see all the young there may be differing opinions about the AmeriCorps members here doing their work. quality of the decisions that I have made, but I know that all of you are thinking about no one will doubt that the right thing was how we can serve and help the people of done in naming Albert Gore Vice President Oklahoma City as they work through the next and then providing him the opportunity to stages of their tragedy. I can tell you that be the most influential Vice President in when Hillary and I were there on Sunday, American history. we saw people who had not slept, who were I also want to thank my friend Tom Harkin working heroically, some at considerable risk for being here with me and for what he said to themselves, to try to clean out the last

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measure of the wreckage and to try to find say so to protect our own freedom of speech. those who are still unaccounted for, working That is our responsibility. in the hospitals, working on the streets. The Words have consequences. To pretend police and firemen—many of them had not that they do not is idle. Did Patrick Henry seen their families for days. stand up and say, ‘‘Give me liberty or give The response of our country to this bomb- me death,’’ expecting it to fall on deaf ears ing shows what a strong country we are when and impact no one? Did Thomas Jefferson we pull together. I saw it when you had the write, ‘‘We hold these truths to be self-evi- 500-year flood here. And I thought all the dent, that all men are created equal, en- top soil was going to be somewhere in the dowed by their Creator with certain inalien- Gulf of Mexico before it got through raining. able rights, among these are life, liberty, and But I really saw it down there in the face the pursuit of happiness,’’ did he say that of this terrible madness that those fine peo- thinking the words would vanish in thin air ple have endured. and have no consequences? Of course not. We must take away from this experience Are you here in this great university because a lot of things. But we must never forget that you think the words you stay up late at night it was a terrible thing. I will do all I can to reading, studying, have no consequence? Of make sure that we see the wheels of justice course not. grind rapidly, certainly, fairly, but severely. We know that words have consequences. But we must take away from this—[ap- And so I say to you, even as we defend the plause]—we must take away from this inci- right of people to speak freely and to say dent a renewed determination to stand up things with which we devoutly disagree, we for the fundamental constitutional rights of must stand up and speak against reckless Americans, including the right to freedom of speech that can push fragile people over the speech. We have to remember that freedom edge, beyond the boundaries of civilized con- of speech has endured in our country for over duct, to take this country into a dark place. two centuries. The first amendment, with its I say that, no matter where it comes from, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly people are encouraging violence and lawless- and freedom of religion, is in many ways the ness and hatred. If people are encouraging most important part of what makes us Ameri- conduct that will undermine the fabric of this cans. But we have endured because we have country, it should be spoken against whether exercised that freedom with responsibility it comes from the left or the right, whether and discipline. it comes on radio, television, or in the mov- That is what we celebrate when people ies, whether it comes in the schoolyard, or, come to the rural heart of America and talk yes, even on the college campus. The answer about what can be done to develop it. And to hateful speech is to speak out against it every speaker says, what a shame it would in the American spirit, to speak up for free- be if we continue to allow economic decline dom and responsibility. in rural America, where the values of work That is so important to me, especially for and family and community and mutual re- all of you young people. I was so pleased sponsibility are alive and well. to see at the National Rural Conference I ask you on this National Day of Service today so many young people, people who to think of a personal service you can all want to make their lives in rural America, render. Yes, stand up for freedom of speech. people who want to believe that we can make Yes, stand up for all of our freedoms, the economic opportunity come alive in rural freedom of assembly, the freedom to bear America, that people can actually work and arms, all the freedoms we have. But remem- raise their families and children there and ber this: with freedom—if the country is to make a living and be good, fulfilled citizens survive and do well—comes responsibility. there. And that means—[applause]—that means I was encouraged by that. After all, most even as others discharge their freedom of of us in this country who make the speeches speech, if we think they are being irrespon- and make the decisions have lived most of sible, then we have the duty to stand up and our lives. We have already lived the Amer-

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ican dream. We are here in positions—your things have created a situation in which we university president, your Senator, the Vice are able to create large numbers of jobs in President, and I—we’re here because of the United States. In Iowa, the unemploy- what America has already given us. ment rate the last time I checked was 3.3 If they took it all away from us tomorrow, percent—large numbers of jobs where peo- we would have had more than 99.999 percent ple do not have an increase in their income of the people who ever lived in all of human or increase in their sense of job security. history. It is for those of you who still have So you have this unusual circumstance your lives before you that we must most ur- today with the economy growing, the deficit gently work to keep the American dream going down, all the indicators seeming to alive. point us in the right direction, and more than When I assumed this office, I told the half of the adults in America are working American people that I thought we had two harder for the same or lower wages they were great responsibilities standing on the verge making 10 years ago. of a new century. One was to keep the Amer- That is the challenge to America today. It ican dream alive for all of our people, that is a challenge faced by every advanced coun- if you work hard and play by the rules you try faced with foreign competition, faced should have a chance to live up to the fullest with technology, faced with all the changes of your God-given capacities. And the second you know well about. But it is a special chal- was to make sure that our country remained lenge in America because there is more in- the world’s strongest force for peace and equality here than in most other wealthy freedom and democracy, so that we could countries, and yet, we are the country that operate in a world where people competed values the American dream. Whoever you based on what was in their minds and their are, wherever you’re from, if you work hard spirit and what they did with their hands and and do your best to develop your ability, you not what they did with their weapons. And will be rewarded. And so I say to you: That we have pursued those courses with a venge- is our challenge, to reward people who make ance. the effort you are making by being here today If you look at where we are now after 2 in this great university and all others in years, in terms of our objectives, to restore America who are willing to work. economic growth, to grow the middle class So I ask you to think of just this point— and shrink the under class, to help to rebuild there are so many issues to discuss and we the bonds of society by strengthening work talked about a lot of them today—but here and family and the sense of security the I ask you to think of only this: What is the American people have, to give us a Govern- role of education? The middle class in Amer- ment that costs less but works better, and ica, my fellow Americans, is splitting apart to help people do more to help themselves, today. Something we have not known since it is clear that much has been done but much, the end of the Second World War where in- much more is still there to do. equality is increasing among Americans with The deficit is down. Trade has been ex- jobs. It is splitting apart, and the fault line panded. We have the lowest unemployment is education. Why? Because in a global econ- and inflation rates combined in 25 years. We omy, where new technologies are always are moving ahead in so many ways to make changing the nature of work, what we can our people more secure, more police on our earn depends on what we can learn. More street in rural areas and in cities and no Rus- than ever before, the prospects of people all sian missiles pointed at the people of the across our country are determined by wheth- United States for the first time since the er they have enough education to learn and dawn of the nuclear age. learn and learn and whether there is available But make no mistake about it, my fellow to them a system to keep learning for a life- Americans, this is an unusual time—different time. from past times. The global economy, the Therefore, I say to you, as you hear the revolution in technology, the changing pat- debates that are about to resume in the Con- terns of work, all of these things, all of these gress about the Government deficit—yes, we

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have a deficit, it’s a lot smaller than it was national standards of excellence, to have when we showed up 2 years ago and it’s going computers in every rural school, to do the down some more, but it’s still there. But the things that are necessary to open up edu- budget deficit is not the only deficit we have. cational opportunities to all of our children. We also have an education deficit, and you We say, invest the small amount of money have millions and millions and millions of it would take to enable every State in the Americans who go home every night and sit country to have apprenticeship programs to down across the table and look at their wives help the young people who don’t go to col- or their husbands and their children and lege but do want to get some education and wonder whether they have failed, because as training after high school so they could be hard as they work, they cannot make it in in good jobs, not dead-end jobs. We say make the modern economy. And I tell you, the only available to every university and college in way to turn that around is to revolutionize America the direct student loan program, the availability and the quality of education which is now available here at Iowa State to all of our people, without regard to their which cuts the cost of lending to the stu- race, their income, their region, or their age. dents, which cuts the bureaucratic hassle to This should lead us to a clear conclusion. the colleges and to the students, and which With a budget deficit and an education defi- saves the taxpayers money. cit, we cannot solve one at the expense of If the Congress wants to know how to re- the other without hurting our country for a duce the deficit and increase education, the long time to come. We cannot back off of answer is, don’t give in to the special interest our commitment to education. lobby seeking to limit the availability of direct There are proposals in the Congress today loans. Let every school in the country have to require students to begin paying interest the option to do what we’ve done here. Let on their student loans while they’re still in these young people get lower cost loans with school. That will increase the cost of edu- better repayment terms direct from the Gov- cation, reduce the number of people who ernment. Cut out the middle man. You will would take student loans. Over the long run, reduce the deficit, increase the number of it would reduce the number of people suc- college loans, increase the number of stu- cessfully completing their education. We dents, and move this country into the future. ought to be cutting the cost of education to That is the right answer for this problem. our young people, not increasing it, to get And finally, let me say, with all this talk more people in and through college. of tax cuts, remember we have two deficits. There are proposals to limit, and some There should be no tax cut if it’s going to even want to outright eliminate, the National increase the deficit. No tax cut should be Service Program. They say, ‘‘Oh, well, it’s not adopted except in the context of reducing the necessary.’’ deficit. It should be modest. It should be tar- Look at what is going on in rural Iowa. geted to middle class people who need it. Look at what these young people are doing. And I believe it should be targeted to edu- Yes, they’re earning money for a college edu- cation—a deduction for the cost of education cation, but they’re also doing things all across after high school to Americans all across this America to immunize children, to build country. That is the right kind of tax cut. housing for the elderly, to walk streets and One of your distinguished alumni, George keep them safer for all of our people, hun- Washington Carver, said it best when he dreds and hundreds and hundreds of things said—[applause]—when he said, ‘‘Education to build community in America. We should is the key to unlock the golden door of free- not eliminate it; we should have more young dom.’’ Well, when he said it, he was thinking people getting their education through the of personal freedom, personal opportunity, National Service Program. individual opportunity. So our program is very different. We say, But those of us who are here, your presi- yes, reduce the deficit, but increase Head dent, your Senator, the Vice President, and Start. Give our public schools—[applause]— I, we benefited from a new insight about give our public schools more funds to meet education because we were raised in the

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aftermath of World War II. We were raised can we guarantee the benefits of technology, by a generation of people who in return for access to health care, transportation for the their service in the war were given the bene- elderly, decent middle class housing in rural fits of the GI bill. And guess what? It didn’t areas? just give individual opportunity and personal And these things were discussed in prac- freedom to all those people. It exploded the tical, common sense, old-fashioned American possibilities of America. And we grew up in language so that at the end of the day, no the most prosperous country the world had one knew, having heard it all, what they ever known because of millions and millions heard from a Republican, what they heard and millions of people getting individual op- from the Democrat, who these people voted portunity. for in the last election. Why? Because they Now, I can tell you with absolute certainty, were talking about the real stuff of life, not even in the face of all the difficulties and words used to divide people. complexities of the modern world, that edu- So I ask you to remember this: We’ll al- cation is more important to the future of all ways have our fair share of politics in the of us as Americans today than it was to Amer- Nation’s Capital, and the further away you ica at the end of the Second World War when get from the real lives of real people, the the GI bill was adopted. more partisan the rhetoric tends to become. So yes, let us continue to fight to tame But you, you, in this great university and in the beast of the Government deficit. You this community can have a huge influence should know the budget would be balanced in saying, ‘‘Put one thing beyond politics. Do today were it not for the interest we have not sacrifice the future of our education on to pay on the debt run up between 1981 and the altar of indiscriminate budget cutting. 1992. But we have to do better. We have Reduce the deficit in the budget, reduce the to do better. deficit in education, give the next generation But as we do it, let us do it in a way that of Americans the American dream.’’ increases our commitment to and our invest- Thank you, and God bless you all. ment in education because that is the selfish thing to do as well as the selfless thing to NOTE: The President spoke at 4:10 p.m. at the do. Believe me, folks, if I could wave a magic Hilton Coliseum. In his remarks, he referred to wand and do two things to ensure the future Mayor Larry R. Curtis of Ames, IA; Fred ‘‘The Mayor’’ Hoiberg, Iowa State University basketball of America so that I would know it wouldn’t player; and Martin C. Jischke, president, Iowa matter who was elected to any office, it State University. would be these things: I would give every child a childhood in a stable family and guar- antee every American a good education. That Remarks to the Iowa State should be our mission. There would be no Legislature in Des Moines, Iowa poverty, great hope, and an unlimited future April 25, 1995 if that could be done. Lastly, let me say this: In Washington, the Thank you very much, Mr. President, Mr. rhetoric often becomes too political and ex- Speaker, Governor Branstad, Mr. Chief Jus- tremely partisan. What we heard today at this tice and members of the Supreme Court, dis- rural conference, we heard from Republicans tinguished Iowa State officials. And former and Democrats and independents. We heard Congressman Neal Smith, my good friend, people talking about the real problems of real and Mrs. Smith, thank you for being here. people: How can a family make a living on To all of you who are members of the Iowa the farm? What should be in the new farm legislature, House and Senate, Republican bill to allow people to have other kinds of and Democrat, it is a great honor for me to economic development in rural areas? How be here today. can we relieve the stress on families where, I feel that I’m back home again. When I between the mother and father together, met the legislative leadership on the way in they may have three or four jobs and not and we shared a few words and then they enough time to be with the children? How left to come in here, and I was standing

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around with my crowd, I said, ‘‘You know, elected, he will actually serve more years I really miss State government.’’ [Laughter] than I did. I ran for a fifth term as Governor. I’ll say more about why in a moment. We used to have 2-year terms, and then we I’d like to, if I might, recognize one of your switched to 4-year terms. And only one per- members to thank him for agreeing to join son in the history of our State had ever served my team—Representative Richard Running more than 8 years, and only one person had will now be the Secretary of Labor’s rep- ever served more than—two people had resentative. Would you stand up, please. served more than two terms, but those were Thank you. [Applause] Representative Run- 2-year terms—in the whole history of the ning is going to be the representative of the State. So I was—I had served 10 years. I’d Secretary of Labor for region 7, Iowa, Ne- served three 2-year terms and one 4-year braska, Missouri, and Kansas. And if you will term, and I was attempting to be reelected. finish your business here pretty soon, he can And I had a high job approval rating, but actually go to Kansas City and get to work— people were reluctant to vote for me, be- [laughter]—which I would appreciate. cause in my State people are very suspicious I’m delighted to be back in Iowa. I had of too much political power, you know. And a wonderful day here, and it was good to be I thought I was still pretty young and healthy, here when it was dry—[laughter]—although but half of them wanted to give me a gold a little rain doesn’t do any harm. watch, you know, and send me home. We had a wonderful meeting today at Iowa [Laughter] And I never will forget one day State University with which I’m sure all of when I was running for my fifth term, I was you are familiar, this National Rural Con- out at the State fair doing Governor’s day ference we had, designed to lay the ground- at the State fair, which I always did, and I work for a strategy for rural America to in- would just sit there and anybody that wanted clude not only the farm bill but also a rural to talk to me could up and say whatever was development strategy and a strategy gen- on their mind, which was, for me, a hazard- erally to deal with the problems of rural ous undertaking from time to time—[laugh- America, with the income disparities with the ter]—since they invariably would do exactly rest of America, the age disparities with the that. And I stayed there all day long, and rest of America, and the problems of getting I talked about everything under the Moon services and maintaining the quality of life and Sun with the people who came up. And, in rural America. long about the end of the day, this elderly I want to thank Governor Branstad for his fellow in overalls came up to me, and he said, outstanding presentation and the information ‘‘Bill, you going to run for Governor, again?’’ he gave us about the efforts being made in And I hadn’t announced yet. I said, ‘‘I don’t Iowa in developing your fiber optic network know. If I do, will you vote for me?’’ He and developing the health care reform initia- said, ‘‘Yes, I always have. I guess I will again.’’ tives for rural Iowans and many other areas. And I said, ‘‘Well, aren’t you sick of me after I want to thank Senator Harkin for his pres- all these years?’’ He said, ‘‘No, but everybody entation, particularly involving the develop- else I know is.’’ [Laughter] ment of alternative agricultural products as But he went on to say—and that’s the a way to boost income in rural America. And point I want to make about State govern- I want to say a special word of thanks to the ment—he said, ‘‘People get tired of it be- people at Iowa State. They did a magnificent cause all you do is nag us. You nag us to job there, and I know you are all very proud modernize the economy; you nag us to im- of that institution. And you would have been prove the schools; you just nag, nag, nag.’’ very, very proud of them today, for the way But he said, ‘‘I think it’s beginning to work.’’ they performed. And what I have seen in State after State I’m also just glad to be back here in the after State over the last 15 years as we have setting of State government. You know, Gov- gone through these wrenching economic and ernor Branstad and I were once the youngest social changes in America and as we face Governors in America, but time took care of challenge after challenge after challenge, is it. [Laughter] And now that he’s been re- people able consistently to come together to

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overcome their differences, to focus on what speech, I think we should all remember that it will take to build a State and to move for- words have consequences. And freedom ward. And we need more of that in America. should be exercised with responsibility. And In Iowa, you do embody our best values. when we think that others are exercising their People are independent but committed to freedom in an irresponsible way, it is our job one another. They work hard and play by to stand up and say that is wrong. We dis- the rules, but they work together. Those of agree. This is not a matter of partisan politics. us who come from small towns understand It is not a matter of political philosophy. If that everybody counts. We don’t have a per- we see the freedom of expression and speech son to waste. And the fact that Iowa has done abused in this country, whether it comes such a good job in developing all of your peo- from the right or the left, from the media ple is one of the reasons that you are so or from people just speaking on their own, strong in every single national indicator of we should stand up and say no, we don’t be- success that I know of. And you should be lieve in preaching violence; we don’t believe very, very proud of what, together, you have in preaching hatred; we don’t believe in done. preaching discord. Words have con- I saw some of that American spirit in a sequences. very painful way in Oklahoma City this week, If words did not have consequences, we and all of you saw it as well. I know you wouldn’t be here today. We’re here today be- share the grief of the people there. But you cause Patrick Henry’s words had con- must also share the pride of all Americans sequences, because Thomas Jefferson’s in seeing the enormity of the effort which words had consequences, because Abraham is being exerted there by firemen and police Lincoln’s words had consequences. And officers and nurses, by rescue workers, by these words we hear today have con- people who have come from all over America sequences, the good ones and the bad ones, and given up their lives to try to help Okla- the ones that bring us together and the ones homa City and the people there who have that drive a wedge through our heart. suffered so much loss, rebuild. We never know in this society today who I want to say again what I have tried to is out there dealing with all kinds of inner say for the last 3 days to the American peo- turmoil, vulnerable to being pushed over the ple. On this National Day of Service, there edge if all they hear is a relentless clamor is a service we can do to ensure that we build of hatred and division. So let us preserve free on and learn from this experience. speech, but let those of us who want to fight We must always fight for the freedom of to preserve free speech forever in America speech. The first amendment, with its free- say, we must be responsible, and we will be. dom of speech, freedom of assembly, and My fellow Americans, I come here tonight, freedom of worship, is the essence of what as I went recently to the State legislature in it means to be an American. And I dare say Florida, to discuss the condition of our coun- every elected official in this room would give try, where we’re going in the future, and your his or her life to preserve that right for our role in that. We know we are in a new and children and our grandchildren down to the different world—the end of the cold war, a end of time. new and less organized world we’re living in But we have to remember that that free- but one still not free of threats. We know dom has endured in our Nation for over 200 we have come to the end of an industrial years because we practiced it with such re- age and we’re in an information age, which sponsibility; because we had discipline; be- is less bureaucratic, more open, more de- cause we understood from the Founding Fa- pendent on technology, more full of oppor- thers forward that you could not have very, tunity, but still full of its own problems than very wide latitude in personal freedom until the age that most of us were raised in. you also had—or unless you also had—great We know that we no longer need the same discipline in the exercise of that freedom. sort of bureaucratic, top-down, service-deliv- So while I would defend to the death any- ering, rule-making, centralized Government one’s right to the broadest freedom of in Washington that served us so well during

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the industrial age, because times have For about the last 15 or 20 years, half of changed. We know that with all the problems us have been stuck so that our country is we have and all the opportunities we have, growing, but we are growing apart even with- we have to think anew about what the re- in the middle class. When you put that beside sponsibilities of our Government in Washing- the fact that we have more and more poor ton should be, what your responsibility people who are not elderly, which was the should be here at the State level and through case when I was little, but now are largely you to the local level, and what should be young women and their little children, often done more by private citizens on their own where there was either no marriage or the with no involvement from the Government. marriage is broken up so there is not a stable We know now what the central challenge home and there is not an adequate level of of this time is, and you can see it in Iowa. education to ensure an income, you have in- You could see it today with the testimony creasing poverty and increasing splits within we heard at the Rural Conference. We are the middle class. That is the fundamental at a 25-year low in the combined rates of cause, I believe, of a lot of the problems that unemployment and inflation. Our economy we face in America and a lot of the anxiety has produced over 6 million new jobs. But and frustration we see in this country. paradoxically, even in Iowa where the unem- Every rich country faces this problem. But ployment rate has dropped under 3.5 per- in the United States, it is a particular prob- cent, most Americans are working harder lem, both because the inequality is greater today for the same or lower incomes that they and because it violates the American dream. were making 10 years ago. And many Ameri- I mean, this is a country where if you work cans feel less job security even as the recov- hard and you play by the rules, you obey the ery continues. law, you raise your children, you do your best That is largely a function of the global eco- to do everything you’re supposed to do, you nomic competition, the fact that technology ought to have an opportunity for the free en- raises productivity at an almost unbelievable terprise system to work for you. rate so fewer and fewer people can do more and more work, and that depresses wages. And so we face this challenge. I have to The fact that unless we raise it in Washington tell you that I believe two things: One, the next year, the minimum wage will reach a future is far more hopeful than worrisome. 40-year low. If you look at the resources of this country, There are a lot of these things that are the assets of this country, and you compare related one to the other. But it is perfectly them with any other country in the world clear that the economics are changing the and you imagine what the world will be like face of American society. You can see it in 20 or 30 years from now, you’d have to be the difference in income in rural America strongly bullish on America. You have to be- and urban America. You can see it in the lieve in our promise. Secondly, I am con- difference—the aging process in rural Amer- vinced we cannot get there unless we de- ica as compared with urban America. And velop a new way of talking about these issues, if we want to preserve the American dream, a new political discourse. Unless we move we have got to find a way to solve this riddle. beyond the labeling that so often character- I was born in the year after World War izes and, in fact, mischaracterizes the debate II at the dawn of the greatest explosion of in Washington, DC. opportunity in American history and in world Now, we are having this debate in ways history. For 30 years after that, the American that affect you, so you have to be a part of people, without regard to their income or re- it, because one of the biggest parts of the gion, grew and grew together. That is, each debate is, how are we going to keep the income group over the next 30 years roughly American dream alive? How are we going doubled their income, except the poorest 20 to keep America, the world’s strongest force percent of us that had an almost 2.5 times for freedom and democracy, into the next increase in their income. So we were growing century and change the way the Government and growing together. works?

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There is broad consensus that the Govern- And we’re making modest efforts which ment in Washington should be less bureau- ought to be increased to work with the pri- cratic, less oriented toward rule-making, vate sector to develop alternative agricultural smaller, more flexible, that more decisions products. Today I saw corn-based windshield should be devolved to the State and local wiper fluid and, something that I think is im- government level and, where possible, more portant, biodegradable, agriculturally rooted decisions should be given to private citizens golf tees—[laughter]—and a lot of other themselves. There is a broad agreement on things that I think will be the hallmark of that. our future. We have only scratched the sur- The question is, what are the details? What face of what we can do to produce products does that mean? What should we do? What from the land, from our food and fiber, and should you do? That’s what I want to talk we must do more. to you about. There are clearly some national In education we are beginning to see the responsibilities, clearly some that would be outlines of what I hope will be a genuine better served here at your level. bipartisan national partnership in education. The main reason I ran for President is, In the last 2 years, we increased Head Start. it seemed to me that we were seeing a Na- We reduced the rules and regulations the tional Government in bipartisan gridlock, Federal Government imposes on local school where we’d had 12 years in which we ex- systems but gave them more funds and flexi- ploded the deficit, reduced our investment bility to meet national standards of edu- in people, and undermined our ability to cation. We helped States all over the country compete and win in the world. And I wanted to develop comprehensive systems of ap- very badly to end the kind of gridlock we’d prenticeships for young people who get out had and to see some real concrete action of high school and don’t want to go to college taken to go forward, because of my experi- but don’t want to be in dead-end jobs. ence doing what you’re doing now. We are doing more to try to make our job My basic belief is that the Government training programs relevant. And we have ought to do more to help people help them- made literally millions of Americans eligible selves, to reward responsibility with more op- for lower cost, better repayment college portunity, and not to give anybody oppor- loans under our direct loan program, includ- tunity without demanding responsibility. ing over 350,000 students and former stu- That’s basically what I think our job is. I think dents in Iowa, including all those who are we can be less bureaucratic. We have to en- at Iowa State University. Now, if you borrow hance security at home and abroad. But the money under that program, you get it quicker most important thing we have to do is to em- with less paperwork at lower cost, and you power people to make the most of their own can pay it back in one of four different ways lives. based on the income you’re going to earn Now, we have made a good beginning at when you get out of college. Believe it or that. As I said, we’ve been able to get the not, it lowers costs to the taxpayers. deficit down. You know here in Iowa because And we have demanded responsibility. you’re a farming State, that we’ve had the We’ve taken the loan default costs to the tax- biggest expansion of trade in the last 2 years payers from $2.8 billion a year down to $1 we’ve seen in a generation. We now have a billion a year. That is the direction we ought $20 billion surplus in agricultural products to be going in. for the first time ever. This means more to We’ve worked hard to increase our secu- me than you, but we’re selling rice to the rity at home and abroad. The crime bill, Japanese, something that my farmers never which was passed last year by the Congress thought that we’d ever do. We’re selling ap- after 6 years of endless debate, provides for ples in Asia. We are doing our best in Wash- 100,000 more police officers on our street. ington—some of us are—to get the ethanol We have already—over the next 5 years— program up and going. This administration we’ve already awarded over 17,000 police of- is for it, and I hope you will help us with ficers to over half the police departments in that. America, including 158 communities here in

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Iowa. It strengthens punishment under Fed- after the other, about the decisions we still eral law. have to make in Washington. Do we still have The ‘‘three strikes and you’re out’’ law in to cut the Federal deficit more? Yes, we do. the crime bill is now the law of the land. We’ve taken it down by $600 billion. The The first person to be prosecuted under this budget, in fact, would be balanced today if law was a convicted murderer accused of an it weren’t for the interest we have to pay on armed robbery in Waterloo last November. the debt run up between 1981 and 1992. If he’s convicted, he will go to jail for the But it’s still a problem, and you need to rest of his life. understand why it’s a problem. It’s a problem The capital punishment provisions of the because a lot of people who used to give us crime bill will cover the incident in Okla- money to finance our Government deficit homa City, something that is terribly impor- and our trade deficit need their money at tant, in my view, not only to bring justice home now. That’s really what’s happening in in this case but to send a clear signal that Japan. They need their money at home now. the United States does not intend to be We must continue—we must say to the dominated and paralyzed by terrorists from world, to the financial markets: We will not at home or abroad, not now, not ever. We cut taxes except in the context of reducing cannot ever tolerate that. the deficit. America is committed. Both par- We are also more secure from beyond our ties are committed. Americans are commit- borders. For the first time since the dawn ted to getting rid of this terrible burden on of the nuclear age, there are no Russian mis- our future. We must continue to do it. siles pointed at America’s children. And Now, the question is, how are we going those nuclear weapons are being destroyed to do that? Should we cut unnecessary every day. spending? Of course, we should. How do you We have reduced the size of the Federal define it? Should there be more power to Government by more than 100,000. We are State and local governments and to the pri- taking it down by more than a quarter of a vate sector? You bet. But what are the de- million. We have eliminated or reduced 300 tails? programs, and I have asked Congress to In other words, what we’ve got to do in eliminate or consolidate 400 more. We have Washington now is what you do all the time. tried to give more flexibility to States; several We’ve got to move beyond our rhetoric to States have gotten broad freedom from Fed- reality. And I think it would be helpful for eral rules to implement health care reform. you because we need your voice to be heard. And we have now freed 27 States from cum- And at least my experience in the Governors bersome Federal rules to try to help them Association was—or working in my own leg- end welfare as we know it. islature was—that on these issues we could In the almost 2 years since Iowa received get Republicans and Democrats together. So only the second welfare waiver our adminis- let me go through what we’ve done and tration issued, the number of welfare recipi- what’s still to be done. ents in Iowa who hold jobs is almost doubled First of all, I agree with this new Congress from 18 to 33 percent. You are doing it with- on three issues that were in the Republican out punishing children for the mistakes of contract, and two of them are already law. their parents—and I want to say more on Number one, Congress should apply to itself that later—but you are doing it. And that is all the laws it puts on the private sector. We clear evidence that we should give the States should know when we make laws in Washing- the right to pursue welfare reform. They ton what we’re doing to other people by ex- know how to get the job done better than periencing it ourselves. That was a good the Federal Government has done in the thing. past. We should give you all more respon- Number two, I signed the unfunded man- sibility for moving people from welfare to dates legislation to make it harder, but not work. impossible when it’s important, but much Now, here’s where you come in, because harder, for Congress to put on you and your I want to talk in very short order, one right taxpayers unfunded mandates from the Fed-

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eral Government where we make you pay from the farmers of the country in the name for something that we in Washington want of cutting spending. That is not the way to to do. I strongly support that, and I think cut the Federal deficit. all of you do, as well. I’ll give you another example. Some be- The third thing we are doing that we have lieve that we should flat fund the School not finished yet, although both Houses have Lunch Program. And then there’s a big argu- approved a version of it, is the line-item veto. ment in Washington; is it a cut or not? Let Almost every Governor has it. I don’t want me tell you something, all these block grants to embarrass anybody here, but I don’t know are designed not only to give you more flexi- how many times I had a legislature say, bility, but to save the Federal Government ‘‘Now, Governor, I’m going to slip this in this money. Now it may be a good deal, or it bill because I’ve got to do it, and then you may not. You have to decide. But when we can scratch it out for me.’’ [Laughter] And wanted to cut the Agriculture Department it was fine. We did it. Now if they slip it budget—we’re closing nearly 1,200 offices, in a bill, I have to decide what to do or not. we’re reducing employment by 13,000, we I have to decide. When the farmers in Iowa eliminated 14 divisions in the Department desperately needed the restoration of the tax of Agriculture—my own view is, that is better deduction for health insurance, the 25 per- than putting an arbitrary cap on the School cent tax deduction that self-employed farm- Lunch Program, which will be terribly unfair ers and others get for health insurance, there to the number—to the numerous school dis- was a provision of that bill I didn’t like very tricts in this country that have increasing bur- much. I had to decide, am I going to give dens from low income children. There are this back to 3.3 million self-employed Ameri- a lot of kids in this country—a lot of kids— cans and their families, to lower the cost of the only decent meal they get every day is health care by tax day, or not? But when we the meal they get at school. This program have the line-item veto, it won’t be that way. works. If it’s not broke, we shouldn’t fix it. And we need it. So I don’t agree with that. But you have to Here are the hard ones: number one, the decide. farm bill. Should we reduce farm supports? Welfare reform. I’ve already said, we have Yes, we should, as required by GATT. I now given more welfare reform waivers to worked hard to get the Europeans to the States to get out from under the Federal table in agriculture in this trade agreement. Government than were given in the last 12 A lot of you understand that. The deal was, years put together. In 2 years, we’ve given they would reduce their subsidies more than more than 12 years. I am for you figuring we would reduce ours, so we would at least out how you want to run your welfare system move toward some parity, so that our farmers and move people from welfare to work. I am would get a fair break for a change. Now for that. some say, let’s just get rid of all these farm But here are the questions. Number one, support programs. should we have cumbersome Federal rules Well, if we do it now, we give our competi- that say you have to penalize teenage girls tors the advantage we worked for 8 years to who give birth to children and cut them off? take away. We put family farms more at risk. I don’t think so. We should never punish chil- Now if anybody’s got better ideas about what dren for the mistakes of their parents. And should be in the farm bill, that’s fine. If any- these children who become parents pre- body’s got a better idea about how to save maturely, we should say, ‘‘You made a mis- the family farmers, let’s do it. If anybody has take, you shouldn’t do that; no child should new ideas about what should be put in for do that. But what we’re going to do is to rural development, fine. But let us do no impose responsibilities on you for the future, harm. Let us not labor under the illusion that to make you a responsible parent, a respon- having fought so hard to have a competitive sible student, a responsible worker.’’ That’s agricultural playing field throughout the what your program does. Why should the world, having achieved a $20 billion surplus Federal Government tell you that you have in agriculture, we can turn and walk away to punish children, when what you really

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want to do is move people from welfare to pate in the program. Now, you may say, work so that more people are good parents ‘‘Well, we would do that anyway. We have and good workers. You should decide that. a tradition in Iowa of taking care of our own.’’ We do not need to be giving you lectures But what if you lived in a State with a boom- about how you have to punish the kids of ing population growth, with wildly competing this country. We need a welfare bill that is demands for dollars? And what about when tough on work and compassionate toward the next recession comes? Keep in mind, children, not a welfare bill that is weak on we’re making all these decisions today in the work and tough on children. I feel that that second year in which every State economy should be a bipartisan principle that all of is growing. That has not happened in a very us should be able to embrace. long time. Now, the second issue in welfare reform Will that really be fair? How do you know is whether we should give you a block grant. that there won’t be insurmountable pressure Instead of having the welfare being an indi- in some States just to say, ‘‘Well, we can’t vidual entitlement to every poor person on take care of these children anymore; we’ve welfare, should we just give you whatever got to give the money to our school teachers; money we gave you last year or over the last we’ve got to give the money to our road pro- 3 years and let you spend it however you gram; we’ve got to give the money to eco- want? There are two issues here that I ask nomic development; we’ve got environ- you to think about, not only from your per- mental problems.’’ So I ask you to think spective, but from the perspective of every about those things. We can find a way to let other State. you control the welfare system and move In Florida, the Republicans in the legisla- people from welfare to work, but there are ture I spoke with were not for this. And two substantive problems with the block here’s why. The whole purpose of the block grant program that I want to see overcome grant is twofold. One is, we give you more before I sign off on it, because there is a flexibility. The second is, we say in return national responsibility to care for the chil- for more flexibility, you ought to be able to dren of the country, to make sure a minimal do the job for less money, so we won’t in- standard of care is given. [Applause] Thank crease the money you’re getting over the next you. 5 years, which means we’ll get to save money In the crime bill, there is a proposal to and lower the deficit. If it works for every- take what we did last time, which was to di- body concerned, it’s a good deal. vide the money between police, prisons, and But what are the States—there are two prevention and basically give you a block problems with a block grant in this area, and grant in prevention and instead create two I want you to help me work through it, be- separate block grants, one for prisons and cause I am for more flexibility for the States. one for police and prevention, in which you I would give every State every waiver that would reduce the amount of money for po- I have given to any State. I want you to de- lice and prevention and increase the amount cide what to do with this. I want you to be of money for prisons, but you could only get out there creating innovative ways to break it if you decided—a mandate, but a funded the cycle of welfare dependency. But there one—if you decided to make all people who are two problems with this. Number one, if committed serious crimes serve 85 percent you have a State with a very large number of their sentences. of children eligible for public assistance and So Washington is telling you how you have they’re growing rapidly, it’s very hard to de- to sentence people but offering you money vise any formula that keeps you from getting to build prisons. The practical impact means hurt in the block grants over a 5-year period. that a lot of that money won’t be taken care And some States have rapidly growing popu- of, and we will reduce the amount of money lations, Florida, Texas, probably California. we’re spending for police and for prevention Number two, a total block grant relieves programs. I think that’s a mistake. the State of any responsibility to put up the I’m more than happy for you to have block match that is now required for you to partici- grants for prevention programs. You know

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more about what keeps kids out of jail and education or health care costs, purchase of off the streets and from committing crime a first-time home, or care of an elderly parent in Des Moines or Cedar Rapids or Ames or tax-free; number two, allow the deduction of anyplace else than I would ever know. But the cost of education after high school to all we do know that the violent crime rate has American middle class families. Now, that, tripled in the last 30 years and the number I think, will make a difference. of police on our street has only gone up by This is very important for you because, re- 10 percent. And we know there is city, after member, if we have a smaller total tax cut, city, after city in America where the crime if we target it to the middle class, we can rate has gone down a lot, a lot when police have deficit reduction without cutting edu- have been put on the street in community cation, we can have deficit reduction without policing roles. having severe cuts in Medicare. Governor So I say, let’s keep the 100,000 police pro- Branstad said today, one of our biggest prob- gram. It is totally nonbureaucratic. Small lems is the unfairness of the distribution of towns in Iowa can get it by filling out a one- Medicare funds. You are right. It’s not fair page, 8-question form. There is no hassle. to rural America. But there’s a lot more com- And we should do this because we know it ing and more than you need to have if we works. There is a national interest in safer have an excessive tax cut that is not targeted streets, and it’s all paid for by reducing the to education and to the middle class. Federal bureaucracy. So my view is, keep the So that, in brief, is the laundry list of the 100,000 police. Give the States flexibility on new Federalism, the things you need to de- prevention. And I hope that you will agree cide on. I do not believe these issues I have with that. That, at any rate, is my strong feel- spoken with you about have a partisan tinge ing. in Des Moines. They need not have one in Lastly, let me say on education, I simply Washington. don’t believe that we should be cutting edu- But I invite you, go back home—this is cation to reduce the deficit or to pay for tax being televised tonight—go back home and cuts. I don’t believe that. I just don’t believe talk to the people you represent and ask them that. what they want you to say to your Members So my view—my view on this is that the of Congress about what we do in Washing- way to save money is to give every university ton, what you do in Des Moines, what we in the country and every college in the coun- do in our private lives, what should be spent try the right to do what Iowa State has done: to reduce the deficit, what should be spent go to the direct loan program, cut out the on a tax cut, what should be in a block grant, middle man, lower the cost of loans, save the and where should we stand up and say we’ve taxpayer money. got to protect the children of the country. I am strongly opposed to charging the stu- These are great and exciting issues. dents interest on their student loans while Believe me, if we make the right decisions, they’re in college. That will add 18 to 20 per- if we make the right decisions, the 21st cen- cent to the cost of education for a lot of our tury will still be the American century. young people. We’ll have fewer people going Thank you all, and God bless you. to school. We want more people going to school. I think that is a mistake. I believe if we’re going to have a tax cut, NOTE: The President spoke at 7:32 p.m. in the it should be targeted to middle class people Senate Chamber at the State Capital. In his re- marks, he referred to Leonard Boswell, president, and to educational needs. I believe strongly Iowa State Senate; Ron Corbett, speaker, Iowa we should do two things more than anything State House; Gov. Terry E. Branstad of Iowa; Ar- else: Number one, give more people the ad- thur McGiverin, chief justice, Iowa Supreme vantage of an IRA, which they can put money Court; and former Congressman Neal Smith and into and save and then withdraw to pay for his wife, Bea.

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Statement on the Death of Naomi NOTE: Identical letters were sent to Newt Ging- Nover rich, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Jesse Helms, chairman, Senate Committee on April 25, 1995 Foreign Relations. Hillary and I were so saddened to learn of the death of Naomi Nover. Naomi’s years Remarks on Counter-Terrorism of dedication to her craft and her efforts to Initiatives and an Exchange With cover events here at the White House up Reporters until just a few months before her death were a lesson to us all in hard work and the persist- April 26, 1995 ence of the human spirit. She will be missed The President. I asked the leaders of greatly, and our thoughts are with her sisters Congress from both parties to come to the and the rest of her family at this difficult White House today because I know that we time. have a shared commitment to do everything we possibly can to stamp out the kind of vi- Letter to Congressional Leaders cious behavior we saw in Oklahoma City. Ev- Transmitting a Report on Cyprus eryone here is determined to do that, and I want us to work together to get the job April 25, 1995 done. Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. Chairman:) On Sunday, I announced the first series In accordance with Public Law 95–384 (22 of steps we must take to combat terrorism U.S.C. 2373(c)), I submit to you this report in America. Today I’m announcing further on progress toward a negotiated settlement measures, grounded in common sense and of the Cyprus question. The previous report steeled with force. These measures will covered progress through January 31, 1995. strengthen law enforcement and sharpen The current report covers the period from their ability to crack down on terrorists wher- February 1, 1995, through March 31, 1995. ever they’re from, be it at home or abroad. During this period my Special Emissary This will arm them with investigative tools, for Cyprus, Richard I. Beattie, and the State increased enforcement, and tougher pen- Department’s Special Cyprus Coordinator, alties. James A. Williams, visited Turkey and met I say, again: Justice in this case must be with Turkish leaders. Constructive discus- swift, certain, and severe. And for anyone sions were held on how best to move the who dares to sow terror on American land, process forward after the elections in north- justice must be swift, certain, and severe. We ern Cyprus in April. Prime Minister Ciller must move on with law enforcement meas- expressed her willingness to assist in finding ures quickly. We must move so that we can a solution during her recent visit and restated prevent this kind of thing from happening Ankara’s commitment to work with the Unit- again. We cannot allow our entire country ed Nations in producing an overall solution to be subjected to the horror that the people to the Cyprus problem. of Oklahoma City endured. We can prevent On March 6, the European Union agreed it and must do everything we can to prevent to begin accession negotiations with Cyprus it. I know that we would do this together after the conclusion of the 1996 Intergovern- without regard to party, and I’m looking for- mental Conference. On the same date, the ward to this discussion of it. European Union concluded a customs union Q. Civil libertarians are worried there may agreement with Turkey. I believe talks on be some ability by law enforcement agencies membership in the EU for the entire island to abuse the power that you may be given. of Cyprus, together with Turkey’s integration The President. I think we can strike the into Europe, will serve as a catalyst to the right balance. We’ve got to do more to pro- search for an overall solution on Cyprus. tect the American people. Sincerely, NOTE: The President spoke at 5:09 p.m. in the William J. Clinton Cabinet Room at the White House. A tape was

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not available for verification of the content of in schools, neighborhoods, and youth custody these remarks. facilities. They give faces and names to the statistics of crime, opening young peoples’ Proclamation 6791—National Crime eyes to the reality of violence and helping Victims’ Rights Week to plant seeds of responsibility that can last a lifetime. April 26, 1995 We nonetheless recognize that much re- By the President of the United States mains to be done. But with continued part- of America nerships between every level of government, criminal justice and victim advocacy organi- A Proclamation zations, and crime survivors and their fami- Every year, more than 36 million people lies, America can begin to replace the night- in America become the victims of crime. Of- mare of crime with a bright new day of hope. fenders prey on our daughters and sons, sis- Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, ters and brothers, parents, grandparents, and President of the United States of America, friends. Violent crime is creating fear and in- by virtue of the authority vested in me by security in communities across our Nation. the Constitution and laws of the United To ensure justice and promote healing, a States, do hereby proclaim April 23 through grassroots crime victims’ movement has April 29, 1995, as ‘‘National Crime Victims’ worked to enact numerous initiatives in State Rights Week.’’ I urge all Americans to pause legislatures across the country—laws that and remember the victims of crime and to now provide crucial rights for crime victims join in honoring those who serve crime vic- and their families. As we mark National tims and their families by working to reduce Crime Victims’ Rights Week this year, Amer- violence, to assist those harmed by crime, icans join in remembering the fallen, in cele- and to make our homes and communities brating criminal justice reforms, and in envi- safer places in which to live. sioning a future free from violence. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set The Violent Crime Control and Law En- my hand this twenty-sixth day of April, in forcement Act of 1994, which I signed into the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and law this past September, ensures that our ninety-five, and of the Independence of the criminal justice system recognizes the vic- United States of America the two hundred tims. Its provisions include allocution rights and nineteenth. for victims of violent crime and sexual abuse, William J. Clinton truth in sentencing guidelines to ensure that violent offenders serve longer sentences, and [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, sex offender registries designed to monitor 10:35 a.m., April 27, 1995] offenders more effectively. This Act will help NOTE: This proclamation was published in the put 100,000 more police officers on the Federal Register on April 28. streets of our communities. And the land- mark Violence Against Women Act is the first comprehensive Federal effort to address vio- Remarks on Presenting the lence against women. President’s Service Awards But no government can be truly effective April 27, 1995 without the active involvement of its citizens. Victim advocacy—the work of the more than Thank you very much, Eli Segal, for your 8,000 organizations and the countless indi- words of introduction and for your outstand- viduals we honor this week—can be a lifeline ing leadership of our national service efforts. to emotional survival. When random bullets And thank you, Marlee Matlin, for your lead- wound a child, when a battered woman ership in a volunteer capacity of the most needs shelter in the night, when a rape survi- important volunteer efforts in our country. vor seeks help—victim advocates are there Just over a week ago we were reminded to comfort and support. Many of our Nation’s that there are those who want to see our Na- crime victims and advocates work tirelessly tion torn apart. But amid the grief and the

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destruction we have also seen how quickly in hand with the voluntarism we celebrate the overwhelming majority of Americans today. It is a great partnership. come together to help each other to rebuild I want to say a special word of appreciation and to make this country stronger. for Brent Bloom. He lives in Oklahoma City When Hillary and I were in Oklahoma City where he works in a homeless shelter while last Sunday, we saw a community working studying for a pre-med degree at Oklahoma around the clock to rebuild itself. Compas- University. A little more than a week ago, sion and assistance flowed in from all over Brent heard the explosion that was felt all the United States. Americans were united in around America. He went straight to the a spirit of service. It is that spirit which we Federal building, told the first police officer honor today. he saw that he knew emergency first aid, and It gives me tremendous pleasure to be then spent the rest of the day and well into here with all of you to celebrate National Vol- the night sorting through the wreckage and unteer Week and to honor the recipients of saving lives. [Applause] the President’s Service Awards for 1995. In the weeks since, he has been working Today we’ll hear stories of ordinary Ameri- with Feed the Children, helping children, cans doing extraordinary things, teachers and families, and the extraordinary rescue teams. homemakers, carpenters and business lead- He deserves our gratitude and the applause ers, people from small neighborhood organi- you just gave him. He and countless others zations and large corporations. Our honorees who are working to heal the wounds from comfort the sick and fight illiteracy. They re- last week’s bombing are living proof that we pair our parks and keep our young people are truly a nation of volunteers. They show out of gangs. They come from all corners of us once again that altruism will always tri- the Nation. They are diverse in age and back- umph over the forces of divisiveness. ground. Yet they are united by something Let me say, too, if I might, a word of ap- larger than all of us, the simple desire to ful- preciation to another volunteer who is not fill the promise of American life. here today. When the explosion occurred in A couple of days ago I was in Iowa for Oklahoma City, a nurse named Rebecca An- our Rural Conference. Those of us who come derson rushed to the bombed Federal build- from small towns know that we don’t have ing as well to help. She was hit by some fall- a person to waste in our communities or in ing debris in the building, suffered a hemor- our country. Large or small, our communities rhage and later died. She left behind four have never been built with bricks and mortar children. But even in death, she continued alone. They are sustained by the faith that to serve, for she donated her heart for a heart there will always be people there to lend a transplant which occurred yesterday and hand. saved the life of one more person. That is That’s why more than 90 million Ameri- the real America, and no matter what else cans lend a hand every year—90 million. At happens, we should never forget it. a time when the American people are work- You know, voluntary derives from a Latin ing harder and longer than they have been word which means both wish and will. I can- in the last 10 years at their own jobs, they not imagine a more accurate combination for still find time to volunteer to help others. Americans know we can never be fulfilled what we celebrate today; uniting the wish for as a country unless we are prepared to take a better world with the will to make it hap- responsibility for each other. pen, neighbor to neighbor, community to I’m proud that we’re joined to honor this community. year’s award recipients by two young mem- Each act of service pulls us together and bers of AmeriCorps, Brent Bloom and Izabel pushes us forward. Let’s keep it up. De Araugo. They and their fellow corps Thank you very much. members are showing that we gain when we give. In return for help with college, they’re NOTE: The President spoke at 12:54 p.m. in the helping others. AmeriCorps efforts go hand Rose Garden at the White House.

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Statement on the Observance of and our continued prosperity. And it helps Freedom Day in South Africa guide our relationships with other lands. April 27, 1995 When President John F. Kennedy pro- claimed Law Day, U.S.A. in 1962, he re- A full year has passed since South Africa minded us that law, like freedom, demands embarked on a bold course to build nonracial constant vigilance. We must nurture democracy. Americans vividly remember ‘‘through education and example an appre- watching inspiring scenes of the people of ciation of the values of our system of justice South Africa standing patiently in long lines and . . . an increased respect for law and to cast their first votes together. Their work for the rights of others as basic elements of for a democratic future still touches us all. our free society.’’ As we celebrate Law Day Under President Mandela’s wise leader- this year, it is more important than ever that ship, South Africa has taken the road of rec- we rededicate ourselves to reaching these onciliation and consensus building. The Unit- goals. ed States remains determined to assist South Today, America’s system of jurisprudence Africa in these efforts, through our assistance is being challenged as never before. Great program, the U.S.-South African Binational technological advances are leading us to re- Commission launched in March, and a wide define and expand the ways in which laws array of public and private sector initiatives apply to us as individuals and as a Nation. to support the rebuilding of South Africa. From communications to computer software, South Africans are charting a course to international trade to environmental protec- meet the country’s pressing economic and so- tion, our legal system remains an anchor of cial needs. The Government of National freedom, even as it evolves to meet the de- Unity has promoted sound economic poli- mands of our rapidly changing times. cies. The American private sector—business, If we are to further advance the causes private voluntary organizations, and aca- of democracy and human dignity around the demic institutions—has joined efforts to nur- world, we must not falter in enforcing the ture and sustain democracy and economic rule of law here at home. Laws must be ap- growth in South Africa. Over 300 American plied as vigorously on Main Street as on the companies have returned since apartheid information superhighway. The legal com- ended. munity must help to restore Americans’ On this Freedom Day, April 27, I con- sense of security and faith in justice. Most gratulate the people of South Africa on their important, our laws must continue to fulfill progress and courage. They stand as a symbol our Founders’ ideals of fairness and equality. of hope in a strife-torn world. The American Working together, we must strive to ensure people wish them every success. that tomorrow’s generations inherit the truths that have long sustained us as a people and move our Nation forward. Proclamation 6792—Law Day, Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, U.S.A., 1995 President of the United States of America, April 27, 1995 in accordance with Public Law 87–20 of April 7, 1961, do hereby proclaim May 1, 1995, By the President of the United States as ‘‘Law Day, U.S.A.’’ I urge the people of of America the United States to use this occasion to re- flect on our heritage of freedom, to familiar- A Proclamation ize themselves with their rights and respon- Our legal system is the foundation on sibilities, and to aid others seeking to affirm which this Nation was built. It enables us their rights under law. to realize the promises of life, liberty, and I call upon the legal profession, civic asso- the pursuit of happiness. Law protects our ciations, educators, librarians, public officials, homes, our families, and our communities. and the media to promote the observance It secures our borders and safeguards our en- of this day through appropriate programs and vironment. It is the basis for free markets activities. I also call upon public officials to

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display the flag of the United States on all Sunday I announced the first in a series government buildings throughout the day. of new steps to combat terrorism in America, In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set whatever its source. Wednesday I invited Re- my hand this twenty-seventh day of April, in publican and Democratic leaders from the the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and Congress to the White House to do more. ninety-five, and of the Independence of the I announced at that time I would send to United States of America the two hundred Congress new legislation designed to crack and nineteenth. down on terrorism. These new measures will give law enforcement expanded investigative William J. Clinton powers, increased enforcement capacities, and tougher penalties to use against those [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:16 a.m., April 28, 1995] who commit terrorist acts. I’m encouraged so far by the response NOTE: This proclamation was published in the from Members of Congress in both parties. Federal Register on May 1. And I say again, Congress must move quickly to pass this legislation. The American people want us to stop terrorism. They want us to Remarks on Presenting the Teacher put away anyone involved in it. We must not of the Year Award allow politics to drag us into endless quib- April 28, 1995 bling over an important national item. We must not delay the work we have to do to Thank you very much, Secretary Riley, keep the American people safe and to try Governor Knowles, to our distinguished to prevent further acts of this kind. Teacher of the Year. We’re fortunate to be We must allow the American people to get joined here by many friends of education. on with their lives, and all of that is caught I cannot mention them all, but I would like up in this measure. I have put tough legisla- to mention a few: First, my longtime friend, tion on the table. It reassures the American Gordon Ambach, the executive director of people that we are doing all we can to protect the Council of Chief State School Officers; them and, most importantly, their children. Scholastic, Inc. CEO and president Dick We must not dawdle or delay. Congress must Robinson, and senior vice president Ernie act and act promptly. Fleishman; President of the AFT Al Shanker; All Americans have responded with great and I know that Keith Geiger from the— spirit to this awful tragedy. Law enforcement the president of the NEA, was on his way has been swift and sure. The rescue efforts here—I don’t know if he’s here yet—Assist- have been truly heroic and not without their ant Secretary of Education Tom Payzant, I’d own sacrifices. Communities have come to- like to thank him for his work and for coming gether as we reach out to support the people here from a school district to make sure we who have endured so much. Now, working keep grounded in the real world. I want to together, we are going to do more. say a special word of welcome to all these The thing that I notice most, perhaps, fine teachers here who represent, along with about the Oklahoma City tragedy was how our Teacher of the Year, 46 of the total moved all Americans were by the plight of honorees throughout the United States. innocent children. It is hard to think of any- We’re very, very glad to have all them here, thing good coming out of something so hor- and I think we should give them a hand this rible. But if anything, I think the American morning and a welcome. [Applause] people have reaffirmed our commitment to Before I make my remarks about the putting the interests of our children and their Teacher of the Year and the importance of future first in our lives. education today I want to say one word about In the brief time since he took office, the our ongoing efforts to protect the American Governor of Alaska, Tony Knowles, who is people from ever again having to endure sitting here behind me, has already worked what the American people have endured in to do that in Alaska. Alaska, as you know, Oklahoma City. is vast and faces unique problems and chal-

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lenges. Those challenges are being met reverse the gains we have made by expanding through satellite technology the Healthy Head Start, by expanding opportunities for Start program which ensures that children young people who don’t go to college to start school well-nourished and ready to move from school to work with good jobs learn. That is a sort of commitment that all and good futures, by expanding our commit- of us now must take into our lives, into our ment to childhood nutrition and the health States, into our schools, into our commu- of our children, by expanding our efforts to nities. give people the chance to go to college I ran for President to make sure that the through more affordable college loans and American dream would be available to all of the AmeriCorps national service program. our children well into the next century. I We cannot cure one deficit at the expense wanted to make sure that we could deal with of the other. the challenges of today and tomorrow pre- And indeed, in some areas we should sented by the global economy, presented by plainly be doing more. The Goals 2000 legis- the revolutions in technology in ways that lation for the first time set America on a gave everybody a chance to live up to the course of national excellence in education, fullest of his or her God-given capacities. We while giving teachers like the ones we cele- know that more than anything else today, that brate here today more opportunities working requires a good education. with their principals to have flexibility from We know that the technological revolution cumbersome Federal rules and regulations and the global economy, with all of its pres- to do what they know best in educating their sures, have begun in every wealthy nation to children. We should be putting more money put unbelievable strains on the social con- into our schools with less rules and regula- tract, to split apart the middle class. That is tions, but higher standards, higher expecta- happening more in the United States than tions, and honest measurement of edu- any other country, and the fault line is edu- cational progress. cation. If you look at what is happening to We should be doing more of what we’ve adults, working people and their families, in been doing in the last 2 years, not less. And their workplaces all across this country, those we can do it and bring the deficit down. We who are well-educated are doing very well must attack both deficits at once and not sac- in this global economy, and those who lack rifice education on the altar of deficit reduc- an education are having a very difficult time. tion. We owe it to the children of this country We must also realize that the work of to make sure that every one of them has the America is a work that is not done by govern- best possible education. And in doing that, ment alone or even primarily by government. we are being a little bit selfish because this As I used to say over and over again when country itself will not be strong into the next I was a Governor and much closer to the century unless we dramatically improve the schools of our country, nothing we do in gov- reach and depth of our common efforts to ernment will matter at all unless there are educate all of our people. people like the teachers who are being hon- As I have said many times in many places, ored here today. we face two great deficits in this country: a What we do in Washington only empowers budget deficit that is the product of too many people to do better by our children in every years of taking the easy way out and an edu- school in the country. What happens in the cation deficit that is the product of too many home and what happens in the school and years of ignoring the obvious. We have how they relate to and reinforce one another worked hard to try to address both over the will have the deciding influence on the qual- last 2 years, reducing our deficit by $600 bil- ity of education in the United States and the lion over a 5-year period and increasing our future of this country as we move into this commitment to education. new and exciting age. We must do more on both, but we dare Many of you remember Jesse Stuart, who not sacrifice one at the expense of the other. taught in a one-room schoolhouse in the rural The answer to the budget deficit is not to south and wrote a wonderful book called

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‘‘The Thread That Runs So True,’’ in which Message on Public Service he said, ‘‘A teacher lives on and on through Recognition Week, 1995 his students. Good teaching is forever, and April 28, 1995 the teacher is immortal.’’ Well, just like Jesse Stuart, the 1995 National Teacher of the Year Greetings to everyone celebrating Public has taught in a one-room schoolhouse, but Service Recognition Week, 1995. hers is in rural Alaska, where it’s a little cold- Our nation’s government has tremendous er in the wintertime. potential for good when it works in partner- Elaine Griffin’s work at the Kodiak Island ship with citizens to expand opportunity. schools of Akhioc and Chiniak over the past With the assistance of dedicated public em- 20 years has significantly expanded the edu- ployees, our government has helped to ad- cational, social, and cultural environments for vance civil rights, defend freedom, protect the students in her K-through-12 classroom. our environment, and uplift the lives of With her husband, Ned, she brings in mem- countless Americans. All those who serve the bers of the community to share their talents people of the United States can be proud with the students. And as the students learn of their contributions to this important leg- about their own history, they are also being acy. As our Administration continues its efforts taught to understand distant lands. Many of to make government work better and cost the students have participated in foreign ex- less, this week offers Americans a special op- change programs, and I must say that, Elaine portunity to learn more about the importance and Ned have created their own cultural ex- of public service. Every citizen has a solemn change with their three remarkable children, responsibility to understand and become in- whom I just had the privilege of meeting in volved in ensuring our country’s success. I the Oval Office, whom I know that she will encourage all of you to discover the many introduce in a moment. ways in which our government is changing College attendance has increased signifi- to keep pace with the times. Your participa- cantly among their students. In Akhioc, a re- tion can help to ensure a brighter future for mote village where teen pregnancy, alcohol- you and your family and for communities ism and suicide were common, Elaine ex- throughout the land. panded the K-through-8 program so that it Best wishes for a most successful week. included high school. Today, 90 percent of Bill Clinton the children in that remote village graduate from high school. And America is better for NOTE: Public Service Recognition Week will be it. observed May 1–7. Elaine, it is my pleasure to present the 1995 Apple Award, honoring you as the Na- Proclamation 6793—Small Business tional Teacher of the Year and to thank you Week, 1995 on behalf of all the American people for your dedication to your students and to the best April 28, 1995 in this country. You are truly a model for By the President of the United States all the teachers of this country but for all of America the citizens as well. Congratulations, and God bless you. A Proclamation At the heart of our free enterprise system NOTE: The President spoke at 12:05 p.m. in the are the Nation’s 21.5 million small busi- Rose Garden at the White House. A tape was not nesses. They are the engine of our economy, available for verification of the content of these keeping America competitive in domestic remarks. and global markets. These businesses dem-

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onstrate by their achievements and success [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, that the promise of the American Dream is 11:15 a.m., May 1, 1995] within the grasp of every one of our citizens. America’s small business entrepreneurs NOTE: This proclamation will be published in the are risk-takers, venturing into new and often Federal Register on May 2. uncertain territory. As a Nation, we are in- debted to these bold men and women. With unparalleled commitment and determina- tion, they keep us at the forefront of innova- Digest of Other tion and help fuel our economy. White House Announcements During the past decade, more than 600,000 new firms have been created annu- ally. Indeed, just last year, more small busi- The following list includes the President’s public nesses were created than at any time in our schedule and other items of general interest an- country’s history. Through much of this pe- nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and riod, small businesses generated most of the not included elsewhere in this issue. Nation’s new jobs. Today, they employ al- most 60 percent of the country’s private work force. April 23 Growing numbers of women and minori- In the morning, the President and Hillary ties are empowering themselves through Clinton helped plant a tree on the South small business ownership, taking risks, and Lawn in memory of those killed or injured pursuing their entrepreneurial ambitions. in the Oklahoma City bombing. They then New programs are teaching business owner- traveled to Oklahoma City, OK. ship skills to our youth. And our Administra- Following their arrival in the afternoon, tion’s Reinventing Government initiative— the President and Hillary Clinton went to the building a government that works better and State Fair Grounds Arena where they met costs less—will help sustain this entre- with members of search and rescue teams. preneurial spirit for generations to come. Later in the afternoon, they met with families As we approach a new era of economic affected by the bombing. opportunity, our Nation’s small business In the evening, the President traveled to owners continue to inspire us by their exam- Minneapolis, MN. ple. On behalf of all Americans, I thank these hardworking citizens across the country for April 24 helping to keep the American Dream alive. In the morning, the President met with Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, community college students at the Min- President of the United States of America, neapolis Convention Center. by virtue of the authority vested in me by In the afternoon, the President traveled to the Constitution and laws of the United Des Moines, IA, where he met with the edi- States, do hereby proclaim April 30 through torial board of the Des Moines Register. May 6, 1995, as ‘‘Small Business Week.’’ I The President announced his intention to ask all Americans to join me in saluting the nominate Lannon Walker to be Ambassador small business owners of our Nation during to Cote d’Ivoire. this week with appropriate events and cere- The President announced his intention to monies. nominate David C. Litt to be Ambassador In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set to the United Arab Emirates. my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in The President announced his intention to the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nominate James Alan Williams for the rank ninety-five, and of the Independence of the of Ambassador during his tenure of service United States of America the two hundred as the Special Coordinator for Cyprus. and nineteenth. The President announced his intention to nominate Mosina H. Jordan to be Ambas- William J. Clinton sador to the Central African Republic.

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The President announced his intention to April 19, making Federal aid available to af- nominate Donald K. Steinberg to be Ambas- fected individuals in Oklahoma County. sador to Angola. April 27 April 25 In the morning, the President met with In the evening, the President returned to Foreign Minister Andrey Kozyrev of Russia. Washington, DC. Following the meeting, he had a telephone The President announced his intention to conversation with President Boris Yeltsin of nominate Sandra J. Kristoff for the rank of Russia. Ambassador during her tenure of service as The President announced his intention to U.S. Coordinator for Asia-Pacific Economic nominate Richard J. Stern to the National Cooperation. Council on the Arts. The President announced his intention to The President announced his intention to appoint Frank E. (Sam) Maynes as the U.S. nominate William H. LeBlanc III to the Commissioner of the Upper Colorado River Postal Rate Commission. Commission. April 28 The President named the following indi- The President announced his intention to viduals to serve as delegates to the White reappoint the following members to the Fed- House Conference on Aging: Fidel Aguilar, eral National Mortgage Association: Frank Alexander, Samuel Amorose, Lena —William M. Daley; Archuleta, Norma Asnes, Judy Basham, —Thomas Leonard; Theressa Burns, Shirley Cagle, Helen —John R. Sasso; Carlstrom, Amelia Castillo, George Chassey, —Jose Villarreal. Harvey Cohen, Victoria Cowell, Erica The President announced his intention to Goode, Pauline Gore, Helene Grossman, appoint Susan Albert Loewenberg and Wil- Harry Guenther, Richard Gunther, Lars liam E. Morgan as members of the Board Hennum, Sherrye Henry, Peggy Houston, of Directors of the Federal Prison Industries Laura Hyatt, Theresa McKenna, Matthew Corporation. McNulty, Herbert McTaggart, Cecil Malone, Rose Marie Meridith, Wesley Parrott, Mad- eline Parsons, Nancy Peace, Charlie Peritore, Frederick Perkins, Mike Rankin, Linda Rhodes, Kay Ryder, Janice Schakowsky, Nominations Lynn Williams Shipp, Eleanor Slater, Alan Submitted to the Senate Solomont, Viston Taylor, Norman Vaughan, Fredda Vladeck, Diana Wiley, Norma Wisor, The following list does not include promotions of and Ken Worley. members of the Uniformed Services, nominations to the Service Academies, or nominations of For- April 26 eign Service officers. In the morning, the President and Hillary Clinton attended funeral services for Alan G. Submitted April 24 Whicher, a Secret Service agent killed in the Oklahoma City bombing, at St. Patrick’s A. Peter Burleigh, Catholic Church in Rockville, MD. of California, a career member of the Senior The President announced his intention to Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, nominate David W. Burke as Chairman and to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- Edward E. Kaufman, Tom C. Korologos, and potentiary of the United States of America Bette Bao Lord as members of the Broad- to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri casting Board of Governors for the Inter- Lanka, and to serve concurrently and without national Bureau of Broadcasting. additional compensation as Ambassador Ex- The President declared a major disaster in traordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Oklahoma City, OK, following the bombing States of America to the Republic of of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on Maldives.

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David C. Litt, Jenonne R. Walker, of Florida, a career member of the Senior of the District of Columbia, to be Ambas- Foreign Service, class of Counselor, to be sador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- the United States of America to the Czech potentiary of the United States of America Republic. to the United Arab Emirates. James Alan Williams, Larry C. Napper, of Virginia, a career member of the Senior of Texas, a career member of the Senior For- Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, eign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, to to be rank of Ambassador during his tenure be Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- of service as the Special Coordinator for Cy- potentiary of the United States of America prus. to Latvia. Stephen G. Kellison, Ira S. Shapiro, of Texas, to be a member of the Board of of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador dur- Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survi- ing his tenure of service as Senior Counsel vors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal and Negotiator in the Office of the United Disability Insurance Trust Fund for a term States Trade Representative. of 4 years, vice David M. Walker, term ex- pired. R. Grant Smith, Marilyn Moon, of New Jersey, a career member of the Sen- of Maryland, to be a member of the Board ior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Coun- of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Sur- selor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and vivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Plenipotentiary of the United States of Disability Insurance Trust Fund for a term America to the Republic of Tajikistan. of 4 years, vice Stanford G. Ross. Donald K. Steinberg, Submitted April 25 of California, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, Terence T. Evans, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- of Wisconsin, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for potentiary of the United States of America the Seventh Circuit, vice Richard D. Cudahy, to the Republic of Angola. retired.

Lawrence Palmer Taylor, William A. Fletcher, of Pennsylvania, a career member of the Sen- of California, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for ior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Coun- the Ninth Circuit, vice William Albert Norris, selor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and retired. Plenipotentiary of the United States of Sandra J. Kristoff, America to the Republic of Estonia. of Virginia, for the rank of Ambassador dur- ing her tenure of service as U.S. Coordinator Patrick Nickolas Theros, for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation of the District of Columbia, a career member (APEC). of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Min- ister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraor- Mosina H. Jordan, dinary and Plenipotentiary of the United of New York, a career member of the Senior States of America to the State of Qatar. Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- Peter Tomsen, potentiary of the United States of America of California, a career member of the Senior to the Central African Republic. Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- Lannon Walker, potentiary of the United States of America of Maryland, a career member of the Senior to the Republic of Armenia. Foreign Service, class of Career Minister, to

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be Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- posal to settle the contract impasse on the potentiary of the United States of America Metro-North Commuter Railroad to the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire. Submitted April 27 Released April 25 George H. King, Announcement of nomination for two U.S. of California, to be U.S. District Judge for Court of Appeals Judges the Central District of California (new posi- tion). Released April 26 Donald C. Nugent, Transcript of a press briefing by Under Sec- of Ohio, to be U.S. District Judge for the retary of the Treasury for Enforcement Ron Northern District of Ohio, vice Thomas D. Noble, Deputy Attorney General Jamie Lambros, retired. Gorelick, and Deputy Assistant to the Presi- dent for Domestic Policy Bruce Reed on the President’s counter-terrorism initiatives

Checklist Released April 27 of White House Press Releases Transcript of a press briefing by Coit Blacker, Special Assistant to the President for Russia, The following list contains releases of the Office Ukraine, and Eurasian Affairs at the National of the Press Secretary that are neither printed as Security Council on the President’s meeting items nor covered by entries in the Digest of with Foreign Minister Andrey Kozyrev and Other White House Announcements. his telephone conversation with President Boris Yeltsin of Russia Released April 22 Transcript of remarks by Assistant to the Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry President for National Security Affairs An- on the violence in camps in southwestern thony Lake at the National Press Club Rwanda Announcement of nomination for two U.S. Statement by White House Counsel Abner District Judges Mikva on interviews conducted by Independ- ent Counsel Kenneth Starr Released April 23 Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry Acts Approved on the tragedy at the Kibeho camp in Rwan- by the President da Released April 24 NOTE: No acts approved by the President were Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry received by the Office of the Federal Register on the Presidential Emergency Board pro- during the period covered by this issue.

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