Week Ending Friday, March 26, 1999

The President’s News Conference in the village of Racak back in January—in- March 19, 1999 nocent men, women, and children taken from their homes to a gully, forced to kneel Kosovo in the dirt, sprayed with gunfire—not be- The President. Ladies and gentlemen, as cause of anything they had done, but because all of you know, we have been involved in of who they were. an intensive effort to end the conflict in Now, roughly 40,000 Serbian troops and Kosovo for many weeks now. With our police are massing in and around Kosovo. NATO allies and with Russia, we proposed Our firmness is the only thing standing be- a peace agreement to stop the killing and tween them and countless more villages like give the people of Kosovo the self-deter- Racak—full of people without protection, mination and government they need and to even though they have now chosen peace. which they are entitled under the constitu- Make no mistake, if we and our allies do tion of their government. not have the will to act, there will be more Yesterday the Kosovar Albanians signed massacres. In dealing with aggressors in the that agreement. Even though they have not Balkans, hesitation is a license to kill. But obtained all they seek, even as their people action and resolve can stop armies and save remain under attack, they’ve had the vision lives. to see that a just peace is better than an We must also understand our stake in unwinnable war. Now only President peace in the Balkans and in Kosovo. This is Milosevic stands in the way of peace. a humanitarian crisis, but it is much more. Today the peace talks were adjourned be- This is a conflict with no natural boundaries. cause the Serbian negotiators refused even It threatens our national interests. If it con- to discuss key elements of the peace plan. tinues, it will push refugees across borders NATO has warned President Milosevic to and draw in neighboring countries. It will un- end his intransigence and repression or face dermine the credibility of NATO, on which military action. stability in Europe and our own credibility Our allies are strongly united behind this depend. It will likely reignite the historical course. We are prepared, and so are they, animosities, including those that can em- to carry it out. Today I reviewed our planning brace Albania, Macedonia, Greece, even with my senior advisers and met with many Turkey. These divisions still have the poten- Members of Congress. As we prepare to act, tial to make the next century a truly violent we need to remember the lessons we have one for that part of the world that straddles learned in the Balkans. We should remember Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. the horror of the war in Bosnia, the sounds Unquestionably, there are risks in military of sniper fire aimed at children, the faces action, if that becomes necessary. U.S. and of young men behind barbed wire, the de- other NATO pilots will be in harm’s way. The spairing voices of those who thought nothing Serbs have a strong air defense system. But could be done. It took precious time to we must weigh those risks against the risks achieve allied unity there, but when we did, of inaction. If we don’t act, the war will our firmness ended all that. Bosnia is now spread. If it spreads, we will not be able to at peace. contain it without far greater risk and cost. We should remember the thousands of I believe the real challenge of our foreign people facing cold and hunger in the hills policy today is to deal with problems before of Kosovo last fall. Firmness ended that as they do permanent harm to our vital inter- well. We should remember what happened ests. That is what we must do in Kosovo.

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Let me just make one other statement was the combined impact of NATO’s action about this. One of the things that I wanted in Bosnia, plus the reversals they sustained to do when I became President is to take on the ground in fighting, plus the economic advantage of this moment in history to build embargo, that led them to conclude that an alliance with Europe for the 21st century, peace was the better course. with a Europe undivided, strong, secure, Now, he says here that this is not like what prosperous, and at peace. That’s why I have happened last fall, that this threatens Serbia’s supported the unification of Europe finan- sovereignty to have a multinational force on cially, politically, economically. That is why the ground in Kosovo. But he has put that I’ve supported the expansion of NATO and at risk by his decade—and I want to reem- a redefinition of its missions. phasize that—his decade of denial of the au- What are the challenges to our realizing tonomy to which the Kosovars are legally en- that dream? The challenge of a successful titled as a part of Serbia. partnership with Russia that succeeds in its My intention would be to do whatever is own mission; the challenge of a resolution possible, first of all, to weaken his ability to of the difficulties between Greece and Tur- massacre them, to have another Bosnia; and key so that Turkey becomes an ally of Europe secondly, to do all that I can to induce him and the West for the long term; and the chal- to take—it is not my peace agreement. It was lenge of instability in the Balkans. In dif- an agreement worked out and negotiated and ferent ways, all those things are at stake here. argued over, with all the parties’ concerns I honestly believe that by acting now we being taken into account. can help to give our children and our grand- I will say again—for the longest time, we children a Europe that is more united, more did not believe that either side would take democratic, more peaceful, more pros- this agreement. And the fact that the Kosovar perous, and a better partner for the United Albanians did it, I think, reflects foresight States for a long time to come. and wisdom on their part. They did not get I will say again to Mr. Milosevic, as I did everything they wanted. And in a peace in Bosnia, I do not want to put a single Amer- agreement, nobody ever gets everything they ican pilot into the air; I do not want anyone want. We’ve seen it in the Middle East, in else to die in the Balkans; I do not want a Northern Ireland, everywhere else. conflict. I would give anything to be here So it is not my agreement. It is the best talking about something else today. But a agreement that all the parties can get to give part of my responsibility is to try to leave us a chance to go forward without bloodshed. to my successors and to our country in the I believe, also, as I have said publicly to Mr. 21st century, an environment in Europe that Milosevic and to the Serbs, it is their best is stable, humane, and secure. It will be a chance to keep Kosovo as a part of Serbia big part of America’s future. and as a part of Yugoslavia. And so I would Thank you very much. hope that the agreement could be accepted, Mr. Hunt [Terence Hunt, Associated and I’ll do what I can to see that it is. Press]. Q. And the deadline, sir—is there one? Q. Mr. President, as you mentioned, Yugo- The President. I don’t want to discuss slav forces seem to be mobilizing for war in that. We’re working on that. I expect to be Kosovo despite the warnings of NATO air- working on this all weekend. strikes. After so many threats in the past, why Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press should President Milosevic take this one seri- International]. ously? And is there is deadline for him to comply? And is it your intention to keep pounding Serb targets until he agrees to your Chinese Nuclear Espionage peace terms? Q. Mr. President, how long have you The President. Well, there are several known that the Chinese were stealing our nu- questions there, but let me say, I think he clear secrets? Is there any trust left between should take this seriously, because we the two nations? And some Republicans are meant—we were serious in Bosnia. And it saying that you deliberately suppressed the

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information from the American people be- former Republican Senator from New cause of the election and your trade goals. Hampshire, and the President’s Foreign In- The President. Well, let me try to respond telligence Advisory Board to review the chro- to all those things. First of all, the latter nology, to make an assessment, and to make charge is simply untrue. We were notified— any recommendations about what further ac- Mr. Berger was notified sometime in 1996 tion also might need to be taken. So I believe of the possibility that security had been that’s the appropriate thing to do. breached at the labs, the Energy Department Now, the third question is, what, if any- labs where a lot of our nuclear work is done, thing, does this mean about our relationship in the mideighties—not in the 1990’s, but in with China? I don’t believe that we can afford the mideighties—and that there was an in- to be under any illusions about our relation- vestigation being undertaken by the FBI. ship with China, or any other country, for Then, sometime in the middle of 1997, he that matter, with whom we have both com- was notified and I was notified that the extent mon interests and deep disagreements. I be- of the security breach might have been quite lieve the course I have followed with China extensive. So we had the CIA looking into is the one that’s best for America: disagreeing that, the Energy Department looking into where we have serious disagreements; pur- that, and the FBI investigation continued suing our common interests where I thought with the cooperation, the full cooperation of it was in the interest of the United States. the Energy Department. And again, let me say just one or two exam- In early 1998 I propounded a Presidential ples. I think if we hadn’t been working with directive designed to improve security at the China, China would not have signed the labs. And as you know, Secretary Richard- Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the Chem- son’s been talking quite a bit in recent days ical Weapons Convention. They would very about what has been done since that directive likely not have refrained from transferring was signed and what continues to be done dangerous technology and weaponry to coun- today. tries that we don’t believe should get it. I Now, I think there are two questions here doubt if they would have helped us as much that are related but ought to be kept sepa- as they have to try to contain the North Ko- rate. One is, was there a breach of security rean nuclear threat, or that we would have in the mideighties; if so, did it result in espio- had the level of cooperation we had in trying nage? That has not been fully resolved, at to limit the Asian financial crisis, which is least as of my latest briefing. The second is— a serious economic and security problem for there are really three questions, excuse me— our country. the second is, once the executive branch was And I think we should just take the facts notified and the investigations began, was ev- as they come and do what is best for the erything done is a timely fashion? I am con- American people. But I can say categorically fident that we in the White House have done that it never crossed my mind that I should what we could to be aggressive about this. not disclose some inquiry being undertaken Look, if there was espionage against the by the United States Government for reasons United States, I will be very upset about it, of commercial or other gain. That is not true. as I have been every time there has been. I just think we should always pursue what And anybody who committed it ought to be is in the interest of the United States. And punished, just as we went after Mr. Ames, if we think we’ve got a security problem, we anybody else who committed espionage ought to fix it. Plainly, the security was too against the United States. lax for years and years and years at the labs. In an effort to ensure that there was an And a lot of important changes have been independent review of this, in addition to made, and yesterday the Secretary of Energy whatever work is being done by the Senate announced some others. and House committees—who have, as you I think that if anybody did, in fact, commit know, received more than a dozen briefings espionage, it is a bad thing, and we should over the course of this investigation, going take appropriate action. But in our dealings back to 1996—I asked Senator Rudman, with China, we should do quite simply what

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is in the interest of the American people, and I asked the Foreign Intelligence Advisory that’s what I intend to do. Board to do that. Yes. And Larry [Larry McQuillan, Reu- Now, you asked me another question, ters], you’re next. which is can I tell you that there has been Q. Mr. President, if I could follow up on no espionage at the labs since I have been this issue of alleged Chinese spying, you just President. I can tell you that no one has re- said that according to your latest briefing, ported to me that they suspect such a thing you’ve not fully resolved the issue of whether has occurred. Chinese actually spied on the United States. Larry. Are you meaning to suggest that you’re not certain at this hour whether there was, in Kosovo fact, Chinese spying? Q. Mr. President, you met this morning You also said that you’ve had the full co- with Members of Congress. And afterward, operation of the Energy Department. How some of them came out and said that they do you explain, sir, then, that in April of 1997, had trouble imagining how you could justify the FBI made specific recommendations to airstrikes in Kosovo unless the Serbs the Department of Energy about the need launched a new offensive first. In fact, Sen- to tighten security and those recommenda- ator Nickles actually suggested that it might tions were not followed through on for 17 take a significant massacre before such a months? move would get public support. And, finally, sir, you mentioned the spying In your mind, does the mere fact that the in the 1980’s, or the alleged spying in the Serbs refused to sign a peace treaty justify 1980’s. Can you assure the American people airstrikes? Or do you think they need to— that under your watch, no valuable nuclear if they took military action, only then you secrets were lost? could act? The President. Well, you asked several The President. Well, first, I believe they questions there. Let me say, first of all, it’s have already taken provocative actions. And my understanding that the Energy Depart- there was, in the very recent past, the mas- ment has fully cooperated with the FBI in sacre at the village that I mentioned in my investigating the alleged breach in the opening statement. Plus, there is the long un- mideighties, including the person who was questioned record of atrocity in Bosnia. suspected. That is my understanding. So what we have tried to do all along— On the question of what recommendations and frankly, the Russians have been with us were implemented by whom, when, that’s in this; I don’t mean that they support mili- what I’ve asked for the President’s Foreign tary action, but they’ve been with us in the Intelligence Advisory Board and Senator peace process—is we could see that the same Rudman to review, to report to me on, as thing that happened in Bosnia and that had well as to make further recommendations. happened to some extent in Kosovo already, I can tell you that I have—what I said and had already produced tens of thousands about the espionage was that it is my under- of refugees in Kosovo, was going to happen standing that the investigation has not yet de- there. And it seems to me that if we know termined for sure that espionage occurred. that, and if we have a NATO action order That does not mean that there was not a predicated on the implementation of the faulty security situation at the lab. The secu- peace process, and the failure to do it trig- rity procedures were too weak for years and gering reaction, that we ought to do what years and years, for a very long time. And we can to prevent further atrocities. I believe that we are aggressively moving to I understand what Senator Nickles was correct that and a lot of changes have been saying. I think he was saying that the Amer- made. I think Secretary Richardson has been ican public has not seen the sort of atrocities quite vigorous in that regard. there they saw in Bosnia, that that is not fresh The chronology about who did what, in people’s minds. But with all the troops when, I think it’s more important to have that have been massed, and what we know an independent analysis of that, which is why about their plans and what they have publicly

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said about them, I would hate to think that much about public policy; she cares so much we’d have to see a lot of other little children about the issues, especially those that have die before we could do what seems to be, a particular impact on New York, including to me, clearly the right thing to do to prevent the education and economic issues that it. would be very important to the people there. Q. So you would act first then? I But I also have to tell you, the people she’s mean—— talking to must know more than I do because The President. I don’t think it’s accurate I literally don’t have a clue. If you ask me to say we’re acting first. I think they have today whether I thought it was more likely acted first. They have massed their troops. or not that she would run or not run, I could They have continued to take aggressive ac- not give you an answer. I just don’t know. tion. They have already leveled one village She’s doing what I urged her to do, and in the recent past and killed a lot of innocent what I think her instinct was, which is to talk people. I do not believe that we ought to to a lot of people. I think she was, at first, have to have thousands more people slaugh- just immensely flattered that so many people tered and buried in open soccer fields before wanted her to do it, but she couldn’t really we do something. I think that would be un- believe it. And I think now she’s decided to fortunate if we had said we have to have a lot more victims before we can stop what we take a look at it. But I don’t have any idea know is about to happen. what she’s going to do. If she wants to do Wolf [Wolf Blitzer, Cable News Network]. it, I will strongly support it. But I do not know and really have no idea what decision Mrs. Clinton’s Possible Senate Bid/ she will ultimately make. Personal Relationship Q. Mr. President—— Q. Mr. President, there has been a lot of The President Sarah [Sarah McClendon, people in New York State who have spoken McClendon News Service]. [Laughter] with your wife who seemed to be pretty much convinced she wants to run for the Treatment of the President Senate seat next year. A, how do you feel Q. Sir, will you tell us why you think peo- about that; do you think she would be a good ple have been so mean to you? Is it a con- Senator? And as part of the broader question spiracy? Is it a plan? They treat you worse involving what has happened over the past than they treated Abe Lincoln. year, how are the two of you doing in trying to strengthen your relationship, given every- The President. I don’t know. You know, thing you and she have been through over one of my favorite jokes—you know that this past year? story about the guy that’s walking along the The President. Well, on the second ques- Grand Canyon? And he falls off, and he’s tion, I think we’re working hard. We love falling hundreds of feet to certain death, and each other very much, and we’re working at he reaches out—he sees a little twig on the it. side of the canyon, and he grabs it. He takes On the first question, I don’t have any a deep breath, and then all of a sudden he doubt that she would be a magnificent Sen- sees the roots of the twig start to come loose. ator. She told me—oh, I don’t know—over And he looks up in the sky and he said, a year ago, and long before this ever occurred ‘‘Lord, why me? Why me? I pay my taxes. to anybody, long before we even knew Sen- I go to work every day. Why me?’’ And this ator Moynihan wouldn’t run for reelection— thunderous voice says, ‘‘Son, there’s just that she thought we should move to New something about you I don’t like.’’ [Laughter] York when I left the White House, knowing Who knows? Let me say this. Let me give that I would spend a lot of time at home you a serious answer. Whatever happens, I in my library and with the work there, but have been very blessed in my life. Most of that we would also establish a home in New us leave this life further ahead than we would York. I don’t have any doubt that she really be if all we got was justice. Most of us get would be a terrific Senator. She knows so a fair share of mercy, too. And I wouldn’t

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trade anything for having had the oppor- The President. Well, you’ve just made my tunity to be President and do the work I’ve case. I think that the threshold has been done. So I feel very good about all that. crossed. But when I said that the deadline Sam [Sam Donaldson, ABC News]. should not be extended, Mr. Pelley, what I said was that those of us who were trying Juanita Broaddrick to shepherd the process should not extend the deadline. When the parties themselves Q. Mr. President, when Juanita asked for a delay, that’s an entirely different Broaddrick leveled her charges against you kettle of fish. The rest of us can’t be so pa- of rape, in a nationally televised interview, tronizing that we can’t say to both sides they your attorney, David Kendall, issued a state- had no right to ask for a delay. They asked, ment denying them. But shouldn’t you speak themselves, for a delay, and I thought it was directly on this matter and reassure the pub- the right thing to do. I still believe that it lic? And if they are not true, can you tell was the right thing to do. And it did lead us what your relationship with Ms. to one side accepting the agreement. Broaddrick was, if any? You have made another point, which I did The President. Well, 5 weeks ago today— not make in my remarks, but I would like 5 weeks ago today—I stood in the Rose Gar- to make, based on the factual statements you den, after the Senate voted, and I told you made—everything you said was right, all the that I thought I owed it to the American peo- factual things you’ve cited—which is that ple to give them 100 percent of my time and there are, basically, two grounds on which, to focus on their business and that I would in my judgment, NATO could properly take leave it to others to decide whether they action. One is the fact that we have already would follow that lead. said that if the peace agreement were accept- And that is why I have decided as soon ed by the Kosovars, but not by the Serbs, as that vote was over that I would allow all we would take action to try to minimize the future questions to be answered by my attor- ability of the Serbs just to overrun and neys, and I think I made the right decision. slaughter the Kosovars. That’s the first thing I hope you can understand it. I think the I said. American people do understand it and sup- The second thing, what you said is quite port it, and I think it was the right decision. right. While our threat of force last year did Scott [Scott Pelley, CBS News]. result in the drastic reduction of the tension Q. Can you not simply deny it, sir? and a lot of the refugees going home, it is The President. There’s been a statement absolutely true that there have been actions made by my attorney. He speaks for me, and taken since then and forced movements since I think he spoke quite clearly. then that would trigger the other NATO ac- Go ahead, Scott. tion order to use force. The reason that has not been done, frankly, is because the peace Threshold for NATO Action in Kosovo process was going on and we knew that if Q. Mr. President, it seems you’re on the we could just get an agreement from both verge of committing U.S. forces to combat sides that we could end the violence and we without a clear definition of your threshold wouldn’t have to act under either ground. for doing so. In January, Serb troops mas- So from my point of view, as I made clear sacred 44 civilians. You called it murder and to the Congress today, I think the threshold demanded that the Serb forces withdraw. for their conduct has already been crossed. They did not. Last month you said it would John [John Harris, Washington Post]. be a mistake to extend the deadline, but the Q. Sir, if I might follow up. With the deadline passed. Last week your administra- OSCE monitors leaving tonight, if Serbian tion said atrocities would be punished, and forces move into Kosovo, will that trigger then after that a bomb went off in a Kosovo NATO strikes? market and killed numerous children. What The President. I’ve already said, I do not level of atrocities, sir, is a sufficient trigger? believe that—I think that whatever threshold What is your threshold? they need to cross has been crossed. I think

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that, in view of the present state of things, ponents might do now, after the impeach- it would be better if I did not say any more ment struggle is over. But I wonder what about any particular plans we might have. your feelings are after some period of reflec- John. tion on the impeachment process, how you were treated, and if you feel resentment, re- Books by Former White House Staff lief, and how you think people will deal with Members this and see it 10 or 20 years from now. Q. Sir, George Stephanopoulos has written The President. I think it’s best for me not a book that contains some tough and fairly to focus on that now. I think it’s best for personal criticism of you. Earlier, Dick me to focus on my job. I have nearly 2 years Morris had written a somewhat similar book. to go. I have an enormous amount to do. How much pain do these judgments by I am trying to convince the Congress to adopt former aides cause you? And do you consider what, if they do adopt it, would be the most it a betrayal for people to write books on the ambitious set of legislative proposals yet in history of your administration while you’re my tenure, probably even more ambitious still in office? than the economic reforms of ’93 or the The President. Well, like I said last night, balanced budget of ’97 or any of the other I haven’t read it. [Laughter] So I have ab- things that were done—to save Social Secu- sorbed no pain, since I haven’t read either rity and Medicare for the 21st century, to one of the books, but I—or even any articles pay our debt down, to secure our economy about it. I don’t think that furthers the com- for the long run. And it seems to me that mitment I made to the American people to anything I say or do, or any time I spend focus on their business and their future. working on that will detract from my ability What I will say is that I very much value to be an effective President. And I owe that the loyalty and service I have received from to the American people, and so that’s what the overwhelming majority of the people who I’m going to focus on. have worked here in the White House and Yes, go ahead. in the Cabinet and in the administration, often under positions of almost unprece- Personal Savings Rate/National and dented pressure. And I think that very often International Economies that kind of loyalty goes unrecognized, but Q. Mr. President, with the Dow crossing it is not unappreciated by me. the 10,000 mark, the stock market is trading I remember once, in the difficult days of well above any traditional benchmarks. early 1995, a scholar of the Presidency came Meanwhile, the personal savings rate has here and said that I was a most fortunate dropped below zero, largely in part, perhaps, person because I had enjoyed the most loyal because of rising stock prices. Are you wor- Cabinet since Thomas Jefferson’s second ad- ried that the U.S. and the world economies ministration. It took my breath away when have become too dependent on a stock mar- he said it, but the more I thought about it ket that may be overvalued, and if so, is there and the more I read about what had hap- anything the administration can do about it? pened between this time and Mr. Jefferson’s, The President. I think what the adminis- the more I realized he was probably accurate. tration should do is focus on the economic All I can tell you is I am profoundly grateful fundamentals at home and focus on fixing for the service and the loyalty that I have what appears to be, in my judgment, the big- received, that our cause has received, and gest remaining obstacle to continued growth I think the American people have benefited around the world on which our growth de- quite richly from it. pends. I think that the savings rate, the ag- Mr. Walsh [Ken Walsh, U.S. News & gregate savings rate of the country is very World Report]. important for the long-term economic health of America. Post Impeachment Impressions I don’t think there’s any question that the Q. Mr. President, I understand that you savings rate dropping to zero or negative in don’t want to speculate about what your op- the last quarter of last year is in part due

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to the fact that people feel that they have we were used to countries getting in trouble. more wealth. Now, that is not a bad thing We were used to countries getting in trouble that they have more wealth. One of the where they had great big deficits and enor- things that I’m really pleased about is that mous inflation and everything got out of con- through retirement funds and other things, trol. there is a more broad sharing of the wealth What happened in these countries were, in America. there were problems with the financial insti- But I would like to just say the two things tutions, problems with the rules and the I think I should be working on, and this is transparency and making loans and making something I ask all of you to watch as we investments. And we’re trying to make some debate the specific proposals on Social Secu- changes that we’ll try to ratify this summer rity and the specific proposals on Medicare. when we meet in Germany that I think could Because, keep in mind, I carefully made the go a long way toward ensuring that this sort Social Security and Medicare proposals I of thing will not happen again in the future. made so that we could fund them and pay Now, the markets will determine what down the debt, because if we pay down the happened to the markets. What I think I have debt we increase savings, aggregate savings, to do is give the American people good, in America. And when we do that, we assure sound fundamentals, pay this debt down, and the long-term stability of our economy. try to get the financial architecture of the Lower interest rates means higher invest- 21st century straightened out. ment, more jobs, more businesses, lower Mark [Mark Knoller, CBS Radio]. mortgage rates, lower home loan rates—ex- cuse me, lower car loan rates, lower college Independent Counsel Statute loan rates, lower credit card rates, the whole Q. Mr. President, your administration has 9 yards. come out against the extension of the inde- I think that is very, very important. At a pendent counsel statute. And yet, when you time when we have such a low personal sav- signed a reauthorization of it 5 years ago, you ings rate it is very important that we get the called it ‘‘a force for Government integrity Government debt down. and public confidence.’’ Do you think now Secondly, it will help us to do what we that you made a mistake when you signed have to do in the rest of the world. If you that reauthorization 5 years ago? Do you dis- look at Asia, they have—their situation in a avow those comments? And if so, do you feel lot of those Asian countries is more like what that way because you were the target of Ken we went through in the 1930’s; that is, they Starr’s investigation? have a collapse of demand. They need more The President. Well, because of that, be- liquidity. They need more funds. They need cause I was the target, I think it is better more investment. They need more activity. for me to refer you to the conclusions If we are not taking money out of the inter- reached by the American Bar Association national system, but instead paying down our that had the same change of heart, and by own debt, then there will be more funds that the Attorney General and the Deputy Attor- will be able to flow into that part of the world ney General. I believe that their views should to get the economy going—into Latin Amer- be given more weight since they were not ica to keep the economy there from sinking the subject of such investigations. And the under the weight of the Asian problems. So bar association and the Attorney General and this is very important. the Deputy Attorney General have spoken The second thing I’d like to say is, I’m clearly and have said anything I could say. doing my dead-level best to build on the Mara [Mara Liasson, National Public work we’ve been doing for the last 2 or 3 Radio]. years to try to fix some of the problems in the international financial system. Keep in Vice President Gore mind that one of the things that caused such Q. Mr. President, your Vice President has great burden in the Asian financial crisis is, recently been ridiculed for claiming he in- these countries didn’t get in trouble the way vented the Internet and spent his boyhood

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plowing steep hillsides in Tennessee. I’m erybody else who would like to succeed me, wondering what you think of those claims and make your judgments, and the American and what advice you’d give him about how people will be as well. But the Vice President to brag on himself without getting in so much is, by nature, a reticent person, when it trouble. [Laughter] comes to talking about his life and his The President. Well, you know, he came background. And I hope that he will find— a lot closer to inventing the Internet than for all of us, that’s one of the most difficult I did. [Laughter] I mean—I will say this things about running for public office. You about it. First of all, you remember he was want to be able to share formative experi- talking about the information superhighway ences in your life or things you’ve been in- 20 years ago, and he did have a lot to do volved in that you’re particularly proud of, with supporting the development of it and and you want to do it without seeming to supporting the Government research that led toot your own horn too much. And it’s a chal- to these developments. lenge. Keep in mind, I think when I became But I can tell you this. I’ll be happy to President in 1993, there were still only 50 toot his horn in terms of the years that we’ve or 60 sites on the Internet, and now there worked together, because there’s no question are millions and millions. So what I would that he has been integral to all the good like to say is, I don’t know exactly what he things that have happened in this administra- said or exactly how it’s been characterized, tion. but he has been, for 20 years, one of the Yes. major architects of America’s progress in technology, and he deserves a lot of apprecia- President’s Legacy tion for that. The Telecommunications Act, Q. Mr. President, many young Americans which I signed, he was heavily involved in learn the importance of telling the truth the negotiations of our administration’s posi- based on an allegory about our very first tions. I talked to an executive the other day President; George Washington reportedly who said he was absolutely convinced at least said, ‘‘I cannot tell a lie.’’ What do you think 200,000 new high-tech jobs have already your legacy will be about lying? And how im- been created in America as a result of that portant do you think it is to tell the truth, act. especially under oath? As far as his boyhood home, I think—I The President. I think it’s very important, know what you’re saying. You’re saying, well, and I think that what young people will learn he went to St. Alban’s and his daddy was from my experience is that even Presidents a Senator. But it’s also true that he is from have to do that. And that there are con- east Tennessee, and he did learn to do all sequences when you don’t. those things he did on the farm. I’ve been But I also think that there will be a box there, in Carthage, Tennessee. I’ve talked to score, and there will be that one negative, his mother and his father, when he was alive, and then there will be the hundreds and hun- and other people who were there. And I dreds and hundreds of times when the record think it’s important that the American people will show that I did not abuse my authority know more about the Vice President’s as President, that I was truthful with the background. I think it’s important that they American people; and scores and scores of know that he served in the Congress, that allegations were made against me, and widely he served in the Senate, that before that he publicized without any regard to whether was a member of your profession, he was a they were true or not; most of them have journalist and served in the Armed Forces already been actually proved false. And it’s in Vietnam. very hard to disprove every false allegation I think it’s important also that they know against you. that he was a principal architect of the major But we have had more success, frankly, economic and other policies of this adminis- than I was afraid we would when we started. tration. And you know, you all will examine So I would hope that there would be a higher his claims and presumably the claims of ev- regard for truth telling by all people in public

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life and all those who report on it. I think this thing under worse circumstances, at it would be a very good thing. greater cost if we don’t act. And three, this Yes. is, to me, a critical part of the objective I brought to the Presidency of trying to leave Kosovo office with an alliance between the United Q. Mr. President, you said on Kosovo that States and a more unified, more prosperous, if we don’t act, the war will spread. That’s more peaceful, more stable Europe. And this very similar to what we said when we went is one of the big three questions still hanging into Bosnia several years ago. Our troops are out there, as I said in my opening remarks, still there. How can you assure the American and I’m trying to resolve this. people that we’re not getting into a quagmire April [April Ryan, American Urban Radio in Bosnia? Network]. And then Mr. King [John King, The President. Well, first of all, in Bosnia Cable News Network]. we have brought about 70 percent of our troops home. It has not been a quagmire. Police Brutality/Race Initiative I told the America people we might well have some loss of life there, but I was convinced Q. Mr. President, for many years, civil we would lose fewer lives and do more good rights leaders have called for White House over the long run if we intervened when we help in cases of police brutality and police did. profiling. Now, civil rights leaders say more I feel the same way about Kosovo. The needs to be done, like opening old brutality argument that I tried to make for our putting cases. Will you listen to those calls and ex- troops there, if we could reach a peace agree- pand your recent proposals allowing that, and ment, was that we were moving in the right when will you receive your completed draft direction; the Europeans had been willing to of the race book? shoulder a much bigger share of the respon- The President. Let me answer the second sibility; we were only going to be asked to question first because it’s an easier question put up about, oh, 15 percent of the troops. to dispose of. I have received and gone over But I don’t want to get in the position in a number of drafts of the race book, and I’m Kosovo that I was in in Bosnia, where the fairly pleased with where it’s going. And one Pentagon came to me with a very honest esti- of the things we’ll attempt to address is this mate of when they thought we could finish. whole issue of civil rights and law enforce- And we turned out to be wrong about that. ment. And I would hope that it will be ready We were not able to stabilize the situation sometime in the next couple of months. I as quickly as we thought we could. And this hope we’ll have it finished, because we’re business in Kosovo is not helping any. Keep rushing and we’re trying to get it done. in mind, there could be some ramifications Now, on the question of reopening old in Bosnia, as well as in Macedonia, where cases, I have to be candid with you and tell we have troops. you that you’re the first person who has ever So I can just tell you that I think that we mentioned that to me. I know that there have tried to limit our involvement, we have must have been something in the letters tried to limit our mission, and we will con- about it. I will have to discuss that with our clude it as quickly as we can. I think that advisors and see what the appropriate thing in all these cases, you have to ask yourself, to do is. But I would like to make a general what will be the cost and the duration of in- statement about it, maybe to try to emphasize volvement and the consequences if we do not some of the points I attempted to make in move. And I have asked myself that question my radio address on Saturday. as well. I’ve been involved in law enforcement for Again, I would say to you, I would not be more than 20 years now, since I became at- doing this if I did not think, number one, torney general of my State in 1977. Even be- whenever we can stop a humanitarian dis- fore that, when I was in law school, and later aster at an acceptable price, we ought to do when I was a law professor, I used to spend it. Two, I’m convinced we’ll be dragged into a lot of time teaching criminal law, criminal

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procedure and constitutional law to law en- you prepared to support the new installment forcement officers. I think that the police of of IMF funding? And are you on the verge this country know that I honor them and that of an agreement with Russia regarding its nu- I support them and that I think what they’re clear transfers to Iran? doing is profoundly important. The President. Well, first, let me say that I am very proud of the crime bill we passed Mr. Primakov is coming here at an important in ’94, not only because it was—along with time. And I have urged all of us in the admin- the Brady bill—it banned assault weapons, istration, our economic team and our political but because it put 100,000 police on the team, to be acutely aware of the fact that street. And we’re ahead of schedule and the first thing he had to do was to try to under budget on that goal. And my present stabilize his own situation when he took of- budget called for putting 50,000 more out fice. there in community policing in the highest In terms of the economic reforms that he crime areas of the country. needs to pursue, he needs some help from But I think that—and I am mindful of the the Duma. And I would be a poor person fact that when you put on a gun, no matter to be unsympathetic with a man who is hav- how well trained you are, you have to be very ing trouble getting a certain proposal through careful about being under great stress and a Congress. But I think it is important, if fear and making mistakes. But it seems to we are going to help Russia—and we should; me that just as this administration has strong- we should do everything we can—that we ly supported law enforcement in every way do things that are actually likely to make a to try to give us a safer country and a country difference, instead of things that will under- where the law enforcement was closer con- mine confidence over the long run in Russia nected to the community, we have a respon- and in the ability of others to invest there. sibility to deal with these issues of brutality So I’m hoping we can reach an agreement when they arise and the whole question of which will permit the IMF program to go policies of profiling, of presuming that peo- forward, because I think that is important. ple are more likely to be criminals because But it will only work if the money doesn’t of their racial background or some other turn around and leave the country as soon characteristic. as it’s put in. And I hope that our administration, work- ing with civil rights groups, civil liberties In other words, that’s what—what we have groups, and law enforcement groups, will be to persuade the Russians of is that we’re not able to really get a genuine debate on this trying to impose some economic theory on and a resolution of it that is satisfactory, be- them. We’re not trying to impose more—I cause we cannot have the kind of country don’t mean just ‘‘we,’’ the United States; I we want if people are afraid of those folks mean ‘‘we,’’ the international financial insti- who are trying to protect them. tutions, of which the United States is a part— Now, but in terms of opening the old and that we want to see the back wages paid. cases, I just have to look at that. I don’t know We want to see the standard of living of the enough about the facts to give you an in- Russian people rise. We want to see more formed opinion. investment go in there. Mr. King. And then Mr. Cannon [Carl But there have got to be some changes, Cannon, National Journal]. Go ahead. some of which require legislative action in the Duma in order for this to work. Other- Russia wise, even if we put the money in, it will Q. Mr. President, the Russian Prime Min- leave. And so that’s what we’re working on. ister will be here next week seeking your sup- And I’m hopeful that we’ll also get a resolu- port for another very large installment in tion of the second issue you mentioned, and international economic assistance. Yet, lead- I’m optimistic about that. ing officials in your own administration say Q. Mr. President—— there has been a retreat, if not a reversal, Q. Mr. President—— in the pace of market reforms in Russia. Are [Laughter]

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The President. I said Mr. Cannon could exist. If we were to reach a point where we go next. I want to honor my commitment were convinced that no agreement we made there. Oh yeah, yeah, I forgot Wendell [Wen- ever would be kept, where no progress could dell Goler, Fox News Channel]—go ahead. ever be made, then I would ask the American Wendell’s next. people to reassess that. But I believe that the evidence is—and I China cited some specific examples earlier in this Q. We’re jumping around a lot, and I press conference—the evidence is that the apologize, but I’d like to return to China for Chinese would like a constructive relation- just a minute. Officials with your administra- ship with us. Keep in mind, the same sort tion have said that China’s size, that it’s so of debate that’s going on in this country, big, it’s just difficult to ignore, that you can’t there is a mirror image of that debate going just pretend they don’t exist. But in terms on in China today. of human rights, that merely underscores the And there are people in China that are magnitude of the problem. That’s a billion not at a press conference, but they’re saying, people who don’t have freedom of worship, ‘‘You know, the Americans cannot exist with- freedom of the press, the right to peaceably out an enemy; you know they’ve got to have assemble, the right to redress their govern- an enemy; they’ve got to have somebody to ment, the right to form their government. dominate the world against; and what they And you often talk about values when you really want to do is to contain us; they don’t talk about public policy. Does our relation- want us to flower economically; they don’t ship with China now reflect your values? want us to have influence, even if it’s non- The President. I believe our policy toward aggressive influence. And therefore, we need China does. Our relationship is not perfect, to build up our military. Therefore, we need but I think it is the correct course. First of all, I believe that the principal to fight them at every turn. We need to op- problem, human rights problem in China is pose them at every turn.’’ the absence of political rights and the civil These sorts of debates are going on in their rights associated with them. There are some country. And what I have said to President examples of religious—denial of religious Jiang, to Premier Zhu, to everyone who is freedom. There’s also a lot of religious ex- involved on the trip—and I look forward to pression there. You remember, I went to the Premier’s trip to the United States—is church in China, to a church that has regular that we still have to define what kind of fu- services every week, whether we’re there or ture we’re going to have, how we’re going not. to share it, what is the proper arena for com- And there is the special problem of Tibet, petition, what is the proper arena for co- which I engaged President Jiang about in our operation. And we have to judge China as press conference and on which we continue we would judge anyone else and as we would to work. expect to be judged by our actions. So to me, it’s very important, and we have What you have here is a relationship that to continue to press ahead on that. I think is profoundly important, very large and in- the question is, what is the best way for the herently frustrating because it has many dif- United States to maximize the chances that ferent elements, some of which we like, some China will become more open in terms of of which we don’t. And it requires a constant political and civil rights, that any vestiges of evaluation to see whether we’re on the right religious oppression will be dropped, that track, whether we’re doing the right things, Tibet will have a chance as soon as possible whether we’re going in the right direction. to preserve its unique culture and identity? And because it doesn’t fit within neat or I think—and all these questions like that. calming categories, it can be a source of dif- And it seems to me that the best way to ficulty. do it is to work with the Chinese where it’s But I believe that I’ve done the right thing in our interest to do so and to frankly and for America over the long run by trying to forthrightly state our differences where they establish a positive but wide-open—I mean

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eyes wide open—with no illusions relation- Treasury Secretary/Federal Reserve ship with China where we explicitly put our Board Chairman differences on the table; where we pursue Q. Mr. President, can you put to rest ru- them to a point of resolution if possible; mors—you were talking earlier about the sta- where we don’t give up on what we believe bility of your Cabinet. Can you put to rest if we can’t resolve them; and where we do rumors on Wall Street that Treasury Sec- work on the things that we have in common. retary Rubin is going to be leaving soon? Has I believe this is the right thing to do. But he had any discussion about a departure with it is inherently frustrating at the points of you? And in a related question, have you had difference. any conversations with Fed Chairman Wendell, go ahead. Greenspan about his reappointment? Press Secretary Joe Lockhart. This is the The President. The answer to the second last question warning. question is, no, I have not. You should draw no conclusion about that one way or the other. It’s just not come up. And I have not Chinese Nuclear Espionage discussed Mr. Rubin’s plans personally with Q. Thank you, Joe. Mr. President, you said him in quite a long while—maybe a year— just a short while ago that no one has re- I can’t remember; it’s been a good long ported to you they suspect Chinese espio- while. He has served well. He has worked nage at U.S. nuclear labs during your admin- hard. I hope he will stay. Goodness knows, istration, sir. But sources tell Fox News, and he’s given his country a great deal, and he’s we are reporting this evening, that China served us very well. But I do not know what stole the technology for electromagnetic his specific plans are. I’m aware of all the pulse weapons from several nuclear labs dur- rumors, but we’ve not had a conversation ing your first term in office, sir, and that the about it. Chinese have successfully tested these weap- Yes ma’am, in the back. You had your hand ons in China. And the sources also say that up for a long time. the administration, at least, was aware of this. Bosnia Can you tell us, sir, were you not person- ally aware? Are you concerned about this? Q. Mr. President, I’m a Bosnian journalist, And what will be your administration’s re- and my country before war was almost un- sponse to the report? known, during the war, for a long time ne- The President. Well, you didn’t say what glected. And now we feel a little bit forgot- the source of what they sold was. You say ten, if you don’t mind, sir. You’re going to they ‘‘stole,’’ is that the word you used? go to Slovenia soon, and you’re talking about European security and stability as a priority Q. Yes, sir, the technology for EMP weap- of your foreign policy. ons, from 4 of the 11 nuclear labs. I’d like to know, and I believe that The President. To the best of my knowl- Bosnians would appreciate that, if you can edge—and, you know, I try to—not only do say if you have any new initiative to boost I spend a great deal of time every day on a peace process in Bosnia. Bosnian dream national security measures, I try to prepare of a united country is dying slowly—country for these things. To the best of my knowl- is dying slowly. So if you’re going to change edge, no one has said anything to me about some people, as New York Times reported, any espionage which occurred by the Chi- or the State Department hints, sir, what nese against the labs during my Presidency. would be your next step in Bosnia, sir? I will—if you report that, then I’ll do my The President. The Bosnian peace proc- best to find out what the facts are, and I’ll ess has been put under stress recently be- tell you what they are. And if I have misstated cause the Brcko decision was made and had this in any way because I don’t remember to be made within the time frame in which something, then I will tell you that. But I it was made. And I think the most important don’t believe that I have forgotten. thing now is that we try to get beyond that Yes, ma’am. One more. and go on with the business of building the

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common institutions and trying to get more tially dangerous materials; the Poison Pre- economic opportunity there. vention Week Council, which annually dis- I’m very concerned that the politicians tributes poison prevention information to who still want to chip away at the idea of pharmacies, public health departments, and a united Bosnian nation will be able to do safety organizations; and our Nation’s poison it principally because we’re not able to show control centers, which provide lifesaving the benefits of peace to ordinary citizens. It emergency first aid information. Working to- seems to me that is the most important thing gether, these dedicated individuals and orga- we can do once we stabilize the situation in nizations have saved hundreds of lives each the aftermath of the Brcko decision. And I year. think we’re on the way to doing that. But we cannot relax our efforts, because Thank you very much. each life we lose to accidental poisoning is one too many. We must all do our part to NOTE: The President’s 171st news conference protect our Nation’s children by selecting began at 4:01 p.m. in the East Room at the White and properly using child-resistant packaging, House. In his remarks, he referred to President keeping poisonous substances accurately la- Slobodan Milosevic of the Federal Republic of beled and locked away from children, care- Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro); convicted spy Aldrich Ames; former Senator Warren B. fully reading and following all directions and Rudman, Chairman, President’s Foreign Intel- caution labels on packages, and keeping the ligence Advisory Board; David E. Kendall, the number of a poison control center close to President’s personal attorney; Prime Minister the telephone. If a poisoning incident does Yevgeniy Primakov of Russia; and President Jiang occur, we need to respond quickly by con- Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji of China. This tacting the poison control center, relaying the item was not received in time for publication in appropriate information—such as the age the appropriate issue. and weight of the poisoning victim and the type and amount of substance he or she has Proclamation 7174—National Poison ingested—and heeding instructions. These Prevention Week, 1999 simple safety measures can mean the dif- ference between life and death. March 19, 1999 To encourage the American people to By the President of the United States learn more about the dangers of accidental of America poisonings and to take responsible preventive measures, the Congress, by joint resolution A Proclamation approved September 26, 1961 (75 Stat. 681), During National Poison Prevention Week, has authorized and requested the President Americans focus on the progress we have to issue a proclamation designating the third made in reducing the number of accidental week of March of each year as ‘‘National Poi- poisoning that occur each year and reaffirm son Prevention Week.’’ our commitment to preventing further trage- Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, dies. President of the United States of America, We can be heartened by the progress we do hereby proclaim the week beginning have made. In 1962, when President Ken- March 21, 1999, as National Poison Preven- nedy proclaimed the first National Poison tion Week. I call upon all Americans to ob- Prevention Week, 450 young people died serve this week by participating in appro- due to poisoning. That number has fallen priate ceremonies and activities and by learn- dramatically. There are many who share the ing how to protect our children from poisons. credit for this growing success story: respon- In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set sible parents and caregivers, who keep medi- my hand this nineteenth day of March, in cines, cosmetics, household cleaners, insecti- the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and cides, and other poisonous substances out of ninety-nine, and of the Independence of the the reach of children; the U.S. Consumer United States of America the two hundred Product Safety Commission, which requires and twenty-third. the use of child-resistant packaging on poten- William J. Clinton

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