Remarks at a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Fundraiser August 8, 1994
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Administration of William J. Clinton, 1994 / Aug. 8 he and his wife, Eunice, helped to organize a [At this point, Major Leo Mercado, Jr., USMC, conference on juvenile delinquency for the At- Marine Corps aide to the President, read the torney General in 1947 to his efforts for public citations, and the President presented the med- education in Chicago in the 1950's, to his lead- als.] ership of Head Start and legal services and now The President. Ladies and gentlemen, in clos- the Special Olympics, Sargent Shriver has awak- ing let me say that I couldn't help thinking, ened millions of Americans, including many in as the citations were read and I looked into this administration, to the responsibilities of the faces of our honorees and their families, service, the possibilities of change, and the sheer friends, and admirers here, that we too often joy of making the effort. reserve our greatest accolades for our citizens These recipients of the Presidential Medal of when they are gone. I wish that Cesar Chavez Freedom represent different political parties, could be here today. I am grateful that his wife different ideologies, different professions, in- is here, and I am so grateful that all these deed, even different ages. Their different eras, others are here. different races, different generations in Amer- ican history cannot be permitted to obscure the Let us remember today that the greatest gift fact of what they share in common: an unusually any of us can give the Founders of this Constitu- profound sense of responsibility to improve the tion and this Republic is to emulate the work lives of their fellow men and women, to improve of these citizens whom we honor today, every the future for our children, to embody the best day, each in our own way. of what we mean by the term ``American cit- Thank you for being here. God bless you all. izen.'' By their remarkable records of service and by their incredible spirit, we have all been enriched. And now I would ask the military aide to read the citations as I present the Medal of NOTE: The President spoke at 4:40 p.m. in the Freedom. East Room at the White House. Remarks at a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Fundraiser August 8, 1994 Thank you. Thank you very much, Senator and former Congressman Jim Jontz, all of whom Graham. Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you'll have real records of fighting for the interests forgive me. I have my annual August ragweed of ordinary Americans in trying to build this voice. If you don't have allergies and you can't country and all of whom have a real chance tell whether ragweed has come out in Wash- to be elected to the United States Senate if ington, DC, you just wait for me to get my we work hard for them. sort of, you know, raspyÐsurely there's a role Joel Hyatt from Ohio is not here tonight, but for me in the movies when I talk like this. he and I were in law school together. He's I could be the guy that delivers the bad news, younger than I am. Most people are these days. and that wouldn't be any role change I would [Laughter] And those who aren't look younger have to take. [Laughter] now. Joel Hyatt began a program when we were I want to thank many people. I thank the in law school for undergraduates to tutor inner- incumbent Senators who are here, Senator city kids and then went on to become famous Graham and the others who have worked so by making legal representation available to ordi- hard. I also want to congratulate the nominees nary middle class folks. The program he started who are here. We have an exceptionally out- when we were in law school is still operating standing group of people: Bob Carr, Alan there, a real tribute to his capacity to innovate. Wheat, Tom Andrews, Sam Coppersmith, Jim Richard Fisher from Texas is also not here Cooper, all from the House of Representatives, tonight, but he is another longtime friend of 1449 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 14:15 Nov 07, 2000 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 C:\94PAP2\PAP_TEXT txed01 PsN: txed01 Aug. 8 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1994 mine who worked with me in the Democratic win. I know that you can't win in a tough time Leadership Council and tried to bring new ideas if you don't fight, but if you do fight, you're into the party. And believe it or not, in Texas, always in the race. And I know that the Amer- no matter how much the Republicans crow, he's ican people are basically ambivalent about most got an excellent chance to win there, and we're things in their politics today. I think it is largely going to work hard for him. because of the time in which we live. And I The attorney general of Delaware is here, think it is an enormous opportunity for us to Charles Oberly, whoÐnow, that's the job I used show conviction and direction. to have. That's the best job I ever had. I don't And I might sayÐI don't want to single out know why he wants to be in the Senate. When just one of the Senators here, but I am very, you're attorney general, you don't have to hire very proud of the conviction, direction, and people or fire them, except your own staff; you strength that Chuck Robb is showing in his he- don't have to raise taxes or cut spending; and roic fight to be reelected to the United States when you do things that are unpopular, you Senate from Virginia. And I want to begin with can blame it on the Constitution. [Laughter] a story from one of his debates, and then I'll Nonetheless, he wants to leave that wonderful end with another one to illustrate what this elec- institution. And we were together in Delaware tion is all about. a few months ago. It was apparent to me, not When I entered the race for President in only from what I read in the Delaware papers late 1991, when President Bush was at 70 per- but from what I saw of him on the stump and cent approval in the polls and most people, aside the reaction of the people of Delaware, that from my mother, thought I had lost my mind, he had an excellent chance to win that race. I did it because I was very worried that this I also want to note the presence here of Jack National Government had become more about Mudd from Montana who, like me, was a law words than deeds and that we had become ad- professor. But unlike me, he became the young- dicted to seeing the Presidents always worried est law school dean in America. And it hasn't about how they were positioned, rather than seemed to do him much harm; he's here run- what they were doing, and that we were moving ning for the Senate. Everybody I know in Mon- toward the 21st century at a breathtaking pace tana believes that he has a great chance to win. with the economy going down, the deficit going That State went Democratic in the last election. up, the middle class being squeezedÐgenuinely And it's a very tightly fought State, a very closely in danger of losing our position of energy and contested one, but I think he's got an excellent leadership and direction in the world. It seemed chance to win. to me that to keep the American dream alive, I'd like to mention three other folks who are we had to do some simple things that were here, two from the State legislature, Linda not being done. We had to restore the economy, Kushner of Rhode Island and Ken Harper of empower individuals to compete and win in it, Mississippi, and Pat Shea of Utah who used rebuild our communities and support our fami- to be counsel for the Senate Foreign Relations lies, and make Government work for ordinary Committee, a committee that I worked for when people again. I was trying to work myself through college here When I started running for PresidentÐI was in the 1960's. I have had the occasion to meet looking out thereÐJerry McEntee came out for and be with all three of them over the years, me fairly early, and a lot of people thought and I highly recommend them to all of you. he had lost his mind, because some people said, Most of you have heard me speak before. ``Well, Clinton's not enough of a Democrat; he's The last thing you need to hear is me give always working with Republicans and trying to another speech, except when I'm hoarse. But get things done.'' I plead guilty: I did that. I I want to make a couple of points. I ran for was even popular with the previous administra- President as an underdog, as a challenger. I tion until I filed. [Laughter] I believed, you was buried two or three times before the final know, that we had all these problems that did vote came in. One of the things that I know not fit very neatly within the categories that is that you can't win a race unless you want the Democrats and the Republicans had used to win for something bigger than yourself and in the past, and I still believe that.