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Remarks at an Israel Policy Forum Dinner in New York City January 7, 2001

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Remarks at an Israel Policy Forum Dinner in New York City January 7, 2001 Jan. 7 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2001 because of her—because of your children and that she had more capacity and more heart for your future and what we want to do together. public service than anybody I had ever met. So the last thing I want to ask you to do And I worried when we started our lives to- is, I want you to keep your heart burning for gether that somehow I would limit her service. 2 years to make Charlie the chairman of the Your giving her this chance, in my mind, has Ways and Means Committee. I want you to reaffirmed the wisdom she made in moving to remember, not only for 4 years but for the be with me so long ago and all the many roles rest of your life, what happened in the elections she’s played in giving to others and never asking 2000 and what Al Gore did in the 8 weeks for anything for herself until she made this race. afterwards. And I can tell you this: You will not be dis- But I want most of all for you to remember appointed, because I was right about her 30 that America’s work and New York’s work is years ago. never done. And I want you to help my wife Thank you. God bless you. do a good job at what she ran for, which was Now, Mr. Vice President, please reenact the to give people like you, and people outside this ceremony. hall who will never be in a meeting like this, the chance to make the most of their lives and their children’s lives. That’s what I want to ask NOTE: The President spoke at 4:50 p.m. at Madi- you more. You’ve given her a great gift. Now son Square Garden. In his remarks, he referred help her use it for the purpose it was intended. to Garrison Keillor, host of ‘‘Prairie Home Com- Last Wednesday, when Hillary was sworn into panion’’; soprano Jessye Norman; author Toni the Senate, I believe that Chelsea and I were Morrison; musician Billy Joel; Judith Hope, chair, the two happiest people on the planet: Chelsea, New York State Democratic Party; and Senator because she loves her mother and she’s proud Schumer’s wife, Iris Weinshall. The transcript re- of her; me, for the same reasons, but also be- leased by the Office of the Press Secretary also cause when I met Hillary nearly 30 years ago included the remarks of Senator Hillary Clinton now—2 more months, 30 years ago—I thought and Vice President Al Gore. Remarks at an Israel Policy Forum Dinner in New York City January 7, 2001 Thank you very much. Thank you. I want I thank Lesley Stahl. It’s good to see you, to thank all of you for making me feel so wel- and thank you for your kind remarks. I thank come tonight and also for making Hillary and the many Members of Congress who are here Chelsea feel welcome. I thank Michael and also the members of my Middle East peace Sonnenfeldt, who, like me, is going out after team. Secretary Albright and Sandy Berger and 8 years—[laughter]—and will doubtless find others have been introduced, but Secretary Dan some other useful activity. But he has done a Glickman is here, and Kerry Kennedy Cuomo superb job, and I’m very grateful to him. is here, and I thank them for being here. I thank my friend Jack Bendheim for his I want to thank the New York officials who many kindnesses to me and to Hillary. Yesterday are here—Carl McCall, Mark Green, and any he had a birthday, and now, like me, he’s 54. others who may be in the crowd—for your many Unlike me, he has enough children to be elected kindnesses to me over the last 8 years. New President of the United States. [Laughter] And York has been great to me and Al Gore and he’s had a wonderful family and a wonderful even greater to my wife on election day, so life, and I’m delighted that he’s so active in I thank you for that. the Israel Policy Forum. I’d like to thank Judith We just reenacted her swearing-in at Madison Stern Peck for making me feel so welcome and Square Garden. And I was reminded of one for her leadership. of the many advantages of living in New York: Jessye Norman sang, Toni Morrison read, and 2838 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 12:36 Dec 05, 2002 Jkt 188968 PO 00000 Frm 00674 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\188968.013 pfrm12 PsN: 188968 Administration of William J. Clinton, 2001 / Jan. 7 Billy Joel sang. Meanwhile, at least at half time, about how it would bring the world to an end the Giants were ahead. [Laughter] And so I and America’s economy would be a disaster. I said, I felt sort of like Garrison Keillor did about think the only Republican who thought it would Lake Wobegon. I was glad to be in New York work was Alan Greenspan. [Laughter] He was where all the writers, artists, and sports teams relieved of the burden of having to say anything were above average—[laughter]—and all the about it. votes were always counted. [Laughter] But no dilemma I have ever faced approxi- Let me also say a word of warm welcome mates in difficulty or comes close to the choice and profound respect to the Speaker of the that Prime Minister Barak had to make when Knesset, Speaker Burg, for his wonderful and he took office. He realized that he couldn’t kind comments to me, and to Cabinet Secretary Herzog, for his message from the Government know for sure what the final intentions of the of Israel. I want to say a little more about that Palestinian leadership were without testing in a moment. them. He further realized that even if the inten- I want to congratulate Dwayne Andreas, my tions were there, there was a lot of competition good friend—I wish he were here tonight—and among the Palestinians and from outside forces, thank him for his many kindnesses to me. Con- from people who are enemies of peace because gratulations, Louis Perlmutter; Susan Stern, who they don’t give a rip how the ordinary Palestin- has been such a great friend to Hillary, and ians have to live and they’re pursuing a whole you gave a good talk tonight. I think you’ve different agenda. got a real future in this business. And your He knew nine things could go wrong and mother sat by me, and she gave you a good only one thing could go right. But he promised grade, too. [Laughter] himself that he would have to try. And as long And Alan Solomont, who has done as much as he knew Israel in the end could defend itself for me as, I suppose, any American, and he and maintain its security, he would keep taking and Susan and their children have been great risks. And that’s what he’s done, down to these friends, and I thank you for what you’ve done, days. There may be those who disagree with sir. I thank all of you. him, but he has demonstrated as much bravery I’d also like to say how much I appreciated in the office of Prime Minister as he ever did and was moved by the words of Prime Minister on the field of battle, and no one should ever Barak. He was dealt the hard hand by history. And he came to office with absolute conviction question that. that in the end, Israel could not be secure un- Now, I imagine this has been a tough time less a just and lasting peace could be reached for those of you who have been supporting the with its neighbors, beginning with the Palestin- IPF out of conviction for a long time. All the ians; that if that turned out not to be possible, dreams we had in ’93 that were revived when then the next best thing was to be as strong we had the peace with Jordan, revived again as possible and as effective in the use of that when we had the Wye River accords—that was, strength. But his knowledge of war has fed a I think, the most interesting peace talk I was passion for peace. And his understanding of the ever involved in. My strategy was the same used changing technology of war has made him more to break prisoners of war: I just didn’t let any- passionate, not because he thinks the existence body sleep for 9 days, and finally, out of exhaus- of Israel is less secure—if anything, it’s more tion, we made a deal—just so people could go secure—but because the sophisticated weapons home and go to bed. [Laughter] I’ve been look- available to terrorists today mean even though ing for an opportunity to employ it again, ever they still lose, they can exact a higher price since. along the way. There have been a lot of positive things, and I’ve been in enough political fights in my life I think it’s worth remembering that there have to know that sometimes you just have to do been positive developments along the way. But the right thing, and it may work out, and it this is heartbreaking, what we’ve been through may not.
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