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Post-Presidential Plans thank you all so much for your steadfast lead- Mr. Klein. I have a couple of ideas. I know ership in this important cause. a guy, the guy who runs the Ford Foundation I also want to thank Senator Lott and Sen- in Asia is really interested in funding ways ator Daschle in their absence and, indeed, to move new technology and biotechnology all the Members who are here. And if you to Third World areas. He would give you a would just indulge me in one personal re- bunch of money for your collaborating on mark, this is probably the largest gathering that. of Members of Congress anywhere in Wash- The President. Well, I’m going to spend ington today, except in the Chambers of the a lot of time working on that. House and Senate. Mr. Klein. My guess is that, just from And I would like to take a moment to pay hearing you talk, that’s the kind of stuff that my respects to the memory of our friend, floats your boat these days. Congressman Bruce Vento, who passed away The President. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I want to earlier today, a great teacher, a great Rep- do stuff that keeps my juices running. resentative, a wonderful human being. Mr. Klein. I don’t think you’re going to I also want to join the previous speakers have any problem with that. in thanking all those who worked so hard on The President. No. I’m going to have a it, Charlene Barshefsky and Gene Sperling, good time. But I’ve got to—if my wife wins who accompanied her to China, and they the Senate seat and my daughter stays in worked on this deal until the 11th hour. We school, I have to make a sizeable income. knew it would take until the 11th hour. We [Laughter] only hoped by then they wouldn’t be too Mr. Klein. One or two speeches a month. tired to tell time, so we would be able to But we’ve still got to play golf next year. finish. The President. You’ve got a deal. We can I thank Secretaries Glickman, Summers, also play this year, if you want to come. and Mineta; and Secretary Slater, Secretary Mr. Klein. By the way, I broke 90 for the Shalala who are here, John Podesta and first time between last interview and this. Sandy Berger. I can’t thank Bill Daley and The President. That’s great. Steve Ricchetti enough for the extraordinary Mr. Klein. Two birdies. job they did to lead our efforts to secure pas- The President. Two? sage of this initiative, along with Chuck Brain Mr. Klein. That meant I screwed up some and Mary Beth Cahill. other holes. I want to thank all the State and local offi- The President. That’s great. If you want cials, the retired officials and business leaders to come to Washington and play, I’d like that. who helped us, and I would like to acknowl- edge two great champions of trade who I just saw in the audience, just because I’m glad NOTE: The interview began at 5:55 p.m. aboard to see them, former Congressman Sam Gib- Air Force One en route from Monroe, MI, to An- drews Air Force Base, MD, and was released by bons and former Congressman and Agri- the Office of the Press Secretary on October 10. culture Secretary Mike Espy. Thank you both A tape was not available for verification of the for being here. content of this interview. This is a great day for the United States and a hopeful day for the 21st century world. This signing ceremony marks the culmina- Remarks on Signing Legislation on tion of efforts begun almost 30 years ago by Permanent Normal Trade Relations President Nixon, built on by President Carter With China who normalized our relations with China, October 10, 2000 pursued firmly by Presidents of both parties, to normalize ties with China in ways that pre- Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank serve our interests and advance our values. you very much, Secretary Albright; Mr. During that time, China has grown more Speaker; Senator Roth; Senator Moynihan; prosperous and more open. As the world Chairman Archer; Representative Rangel. I economy becomes vastly more complex and 2418 Oct. 10 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 interconnected, China’s participation in it, presence and our strong alliances. We will according to the rules of international trade, continue to support, from the outside, those has only become more important for Amer- who struggle within China for human rights ica, for Asia, and the world. Today we take and religious freedom. a major step toward China’s entry into the I want to say a special word of thanks to World Trade Organization and a major step Congressmen Levin and Bereuter. Because toward answering some of the central chal- of them, we will have both normal trade rela- lenges of this new century. For trade with tions and a good new policy tool to monitor China will not only extend our Nation’s un- our human rights concern. They made this precedented economic growth, it offers us a better bill, and all Americans are in their a chance to help to shape the future of the debt. Thank you. world’s most populous nation and to reaffirm There are so many Members here today, our own global leadership for peace and I can’t introduce them all, but some who had prosperity. no institutional mandate to do so also joined I guess I ought to point out that our work’s us in fighting hard for this bill. Among them, not over when I sign the bill. For China must Senator Baucus, Congressman Matsui, Con- still complete its WTO accession negotiations gressman Dooley, Congressman Dreier, and live up to the agreements it has nego- Congressman Kolbe, and Congressman tiated with us and our partners before it can Crane. I, in particular, thank those of you join. But when it happens, China will open who worked so closely with me in this regard, its markets to American products from wheat and all the rest of you who fought hard for to cars to consulting services, and our compa- this. nies will be far more able to sell goods with- Let me say, in case you’ve all forgotten, out moving factories or investments there. this thing was hard to pass. [Laughter] This Beyond the economy, however, America was a lot of trouble. And I would just like has a profound stake in what happens in to close in reiterating something that I often China, how it chooses to relate to the rest said in these endless meetings we had in that of the world, and whether it is open to the room right up there on the third floor where, world, respectful of human rights, upholding ironically, President Franklin Roosevelt had the rule of law at home and its dealings with his office during World War II. other nations. I do think this is a good economic deal Of course, opening trade with China will for America. I think it will increase our ex- not, in and of itself, lead China to make all ports and, over the long run, will strengthen the choices we believe it should. But clearly, our economic position in the world. But I the more China opens it markets, the more think, by far, the most important reason to it unleashes the power of economic freedom, ratify this agreement is the potential it gives the more likely it will be to more fully lib- us to build a safer, more integrated world. erate the human potential of its people. As You heard Senator Moynihan talking about tariffs fall, competition will rise, speeding the the day he joined the Navy. In the last 60 demise of huge state enterprises. Private years of the 20th century we fought three firms will take their place and reduce the role major wars in Asia. We can build a whole of government in people’s daily lives. Open different future there now. We concluded a markets will accelerate the information revo- trade agreement with Vietnam. Today a very lution in China, giving more people more ac- high official from North Korea came into the cess to more sources of knowledge. That will Oval Office to bring a message from the lead- strengthen those in China who fight for de- er of North Korea. But nothing—nothing— cent labor standards, a cleaner environment, can enhance the prospects of peace and the human rights, and the rule of law. prospects of a very different 21st century like We also will continue to press China to having China take the right path into the fu- meet its commitments on stopping the trans- ture. fer of dangerous technology and deadly Like all people in the United States, the weapons. We will continue to be a force for Chinese people ultimately will have to pick security in Asia, maintaining our military their own path. And they will make their own Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Oct. 10 2419 decisions. We can’t control what they do, but Statement on Signing the Beaches we can control what we do. Environmental Assessment and We overcame fears, misgivings, honest dis- Coastal Health Act agreements, to come together in a stunning bipartisan coalition. One Republican House October 10, 2000 Member shook hands with me today, and the Today I am pleased to sign the Beaches first thing he said is, ‘‘Well,’’ he said, ‘‘I’m Environmental Assessment and Coastal glad to see you, Mr. President. This is the Health Act, which significantly strengthens first time I’ve ever come here since you’ve efforts to make America’s beaches clean, been here.’’ [Laughter] And I thought, safe, and healthy. America’s coasts are not ‘‘Well, if there had to be just one time, this only a natural treasure—they are also the is the time,’’ because we did something to- number one destination for vacationing fami- gether here that gives our children and our lies, making their health vital to our Nation’s grandchildren the chance the live in a world tourism industry. Yet each year, pollution that is coming together, not coming apart. forces thousands of beach closures or health It gives all of us the chance to meet the com- advisories. The Beach Act will ensure that mon threats of the future together as free in the future fewer families arrive at the and interdependent people. beach only to discover that it is too polluted Our children will live in a world in which for fishing or swimming. It requires States the information technology revolution, the to adopt enforceable standards for water biotechnology revolution, and the increasing quality, regularly test coastal waters for globalization of the economy will force them health-threatening pollution, and notify the to find ways to meet our common challenges public of unsafe conditions. In addition, it and seize our common opportunities to- provides assistance to States to carry out gether. It’s hard to imagine how that future these efforts. will work if China is not a part of it. This act builds on my administration’s So to every one of you, from every part strong efforts to ensure healthier beaches of America, those in Congress and those who and cleaner coastal waters, greater protection lobbied the Congress, I hope for a long time for endangered and threatened marine spe- to come you will remember this day and be cies, sound fisheries management, and sup- proud of what you did to bring it about. And port for marine protected areas. I urge Con- I hope and believe that our children and gress to fully fund ocean and coastal con- grandchildren will be the beneficiaries of servation programs for the coming fiscal year your labors. so that communities around the country may Thank you, and God bless you. enjoy healthy beaches and clean waters for years to come.

NOTE: The President spoke at 4:52 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White House. H.R. 4444, ap- NOTE: H.R. 999, approved October 10, was as- proved October 10, was assigned Public Law No. signed Public Law No. 106–284. 106–286. In his remarks, the President referred to former Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley; and National Defense Commission First Letter to Congressional Leaders on Vice Chairman Cho Myong-nok and President Health Care Legislation Kim Chong-il of North Korea. The transcript re- leased by the Office of the Press Secretary also October 10, 2000 included the remarks of Secretary of State Mad- eleine Albright, Speaker of the House J. Dennis Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. Leader:) Hastert, Senator William Roth, Representative I am writing to express my serious con- Bill Archer, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, cerns that the Congressional Republican and Representative Charles Rangel. Leadership is preparing to pass unjustifiably