Remarks to the 1999 Stanley Cup Champion Dallas Stars March 16, 2000
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Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Mar. 16 The President. I don’t know. I think they Thanks. know that the majority of the American people support us on this bill, and if they get the bill before the Congress, it will pass. So maybe it’s some strategy to try to keep it from ever being NOTE: The President spoke at 11:50 a.m. on the in an acceptable form to be voted on one way South Lawn at the White House. In his remarks, or the other. I don’t know. You’ll have to ask he referred to Wayne LaPierre, executive vice them. I can’t figure it out. president, National Rifle Association. Remarks to the 1999 Stanley Cup Champion Dallas Stars March 16, 2000 The President. Thank you very much. Please of us, even people like me who don’t skate be seated. I want to welcome Thomas Hicks very well, on the edge of our seats. We watched and his family, Gary Bettman and his daughter Ed Belfour block shot after shot, MVP Joe to the White House. Robert Gainey, the man- Nieuwendyk leading the charge on offense. And ager; and to all the Stars, including the captain, I still remember when Brett Hull shoveled the Derian Hatcher—I might say, the first Amer- last puck past Dominik Hasek, a man I once ican-born captain of a Stanley Cup team. met in Buffalo, to capture the win. I would And I welcome Representative Eddie Bernice be afraid to try to put anything past the guy. Johnson here, who is very proud of this team. [Laughter] This was a very impressive game to We’re glad to have you back in the White those who are initiated and those who are be- House. There are a lot of people from Texas coming initiated into the thrills of professional here today, including many members of our ad- hockey. ministration and former members of our admin- Opening and closing the year with a victory istration. I want to welcome you here. I often— over the Sabres, that final game was a perfect I miss it when you don’t come by. And now ending to a nearly perfect season. The Dallas I know how to get you back. [Laughter] So Stars not only took home the cup but also the thank you. president’s award with the best record in the As all of you know, we’re here to congratulate league for the second year in a row. the 1999 Stanley Cup winner, the Dallas Stars. And I want to also acknowledge someone who Ice hockey is a fascinating game, but for those is not here today, the coach. Every good coach of us who grew up in the South, we know it’s I know, and I’ve been privileged to know quite normally dominated by people north of the a few great ones, always say that the players Mason-Dixon line. There was not a skating rink make great coaches. But great coaches also help in my hometown until I was over 40 years old. the players bring out the best and play as a But the Dallas Stars changed the perception team. of hockey. They were the first Sun Belt team The Stanley Cup is the oldest athletic trophy to win hockey’s Holy Grail in the 107-year his- in North America. So it’s about more than win- tory of the contest. So now Dallas will be known ning. It embodies our fascination with athletics, not just for the Cowboys and Super Bowls but with determination, with teamwork. All the Dal- for the Stars and the Stanley Cup. las Stars earned this Cup. And after seeing It occurred to me when I was getting ready Wednesday night’s victory over the Devils, I see for this that hockey is a lot like Washington you’re not going to give it up without a fight. politics. It’s a rough game—[laughter]—with a I like people who don’t give it up—[laughter]— lot of lead changes. And usually you never know without a fight. who’s going to win until the final moment. Congratulations to all of you. And now I’d And that is, of course, literally what happened like to ask the commissioner of the National last June in game 6, when the Stars clinched Hockey League, Gary Bettman, to say a few their first Cup—3 overtimes, 111 minutes, all words. 477 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 10:23 Feb 01, 2002 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00477 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 C:\PUBPAP~1\PAP_TEXT txed01 PsN: txed01 Mar. 16 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 [At this point, NHL Commissioner Gary Thank you very much. Thank you. Bettman, team owner Thomas Hicks, and team captain Derian Hatcher made brief remarks. Mr. Hatcher presented a Stars jersey to the NOTE: The President spoke at 5 p.m. in the East President.] Room at the White House. In his remarks, he The President. You may have noticed today referred to Mr. Bettman’s daughter Brittany; Dal- that I had this tie on. We had the annual Speak- las Stars general manager Robert Gainey, players er’s Saint Patrick’s Day lunch today a day early Ed Belfour, Joe Nieuwendyk, and Brett Hull, and up on Capitol Hill, so maybe I should just wear head coach Ken Hitchcock; and Buffalo Sabres this tomorrow. [Laughter] This is great. goalie Dominik Hasek. Videotaped Remarks to the Carnegie Endowment’s Annual Nonproliferation Conference March 16, 2000 I am grateful for the opportunity to address It would be foolish to rely on treaties alone the Carnegie Endowment’s Annual Non- to protect our security. But it would also be proliferation Conference. I thank you for coming foolish to throw away the tools that sound trea- together again to focus on the crucial task of ties do offer: a more predictable security envi- curbing the spread of weapons of mass destruc- ronment, monitoring inspections, the ability to tion. All of you know how serious this challenge shine a light on threatening behavior and mobi- is, from North Korea’s nuclear and missile pro- lize the entire world against it. So this year grams, to ongoing risks that sensitive materials we will work to strengthen the Biological Weap- and technologies will spread from the former ons Convention. We’ll increase momentum for Soviet Union, including to Iran, to the impera- universal adherence to the Nuclear Non-Pro- tive of bringing China into global nonprolifera- liferation Treaty. And as to the Comprehensive tion regimes, to the continuing need for vigi- Test Ban Treaty, I am determined that last lance against Saddam Hussein. year’s unfortunate Senate vote will not be Amer- Stemming this tide has been a critical priority ica’s last word. for me for 7 years now, and it will be for this With the leadership of General Shalikashvili, year, as well. In a few days, I’ll travel to South we will work hard this year to build bipartisan Asia. There are those in the region who hope support for ratification. I will continue to call we will simply accept its nuclear status quo and on other nations to forgo testing and join the move on. I will not do that. India and Pakistan treaty. We must not lose the chance to end have legitimate security concerns. But I will nuclear testing forever. We must also take the make clear our view that a nuclear future is next essential step, a treaty to cut off production a dangerous future for them and for the world. of fissile material. And I’ll stress that narrowing our differences I know this conference will assess the poten- on nonproliferation is important to moving to- tial impact of our program directed at emerging ward a broader relationship. missile threats, such as from North Korea, Iran, I know there are some who have never seen and Iraq. I’ve stressed that a U.S. decision on an arms control agreement they like, because a limited missile defense will take into account rules can be violated, because perfect not only the threat, feasibility, and cost but also verification is impossible, because we can’t al- the overall impact on our security and arms ways count on others to keep their word. Still, control. I believe we must work to broaden and strength- The ABM Treaty remains important to our en verifiable arms agreements. The alternative security. Today, dealing with dangerous new is a world with no rules, no verification, and missile threats is also vital to global security. no trust at all. So we will continue to work with Russia on 478 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 10:23 Feb 01, 2002 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00478 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 C:\PUBPAP~1\PAP_TEXT txed01 PsN: txed01.