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Jackie Robinson Foundation will receive sur- the unique blend of talent and character to charges from the coins, which we will invest do what he did. And it’s made a real dif- in our permanent endowment fund. ference. It made a real difference to the way people 1996 Campaign Financing thought about race. I think that’s more im- Q. Mr. President, what do you think of portant than the fact that he was a great base- all the attacks on your Attorney General? ball player because baseball really was our What do you think of all the attacks on your national pastime then, too, and there was no Attorney General for the decision she made competition from highly televised pro basket- yesterday on the independent counsel? Newt ball or pro football or anything else. It was Gingrich said today he likened that position the thing. And so it was—as important as it to something that John Mitchell would do. was and 3 years later basketball was inte- The President. That cries out for an an- grated and other things happened, this was swer, I guess. Let me say, I think that—I a huge deal. Most Americans now can’t even don’t have anything to add to what I’ve al- imagine how big a deal it was. ready said. She had to make a legal decision This was the year before President Tru- on a legal question. And as I understand it, man signed the order to integrate the Army. she consulted her career staff people there This was a huge deal. and made a decision. And that’s all I know. Mr. Berman. It was really 15 years plus So I don’t have any other comment about before marches in the sixties. I mean, it was it. It should not be a political matter; it so far ahead of its time—— should be a legal matter. And that’s the way The President. Almost a decade before everybody ought to leave it. Rosa Parks. And this was—and it was base- Q. Thank you. ball, so it was a statement about America. Mrs. Robinson. On behalf of the Jackie Anything you said about baseball in the for- Robinson Foundation, we would like to ties and the early fifties, it was a statement present you with our anniversary cap, since about America. we know that you wear caps—— Mr. Berman. By the way, Olerud is at first The President. I do. base with a single, one out. But Bernard Mrs. Robinson. ——we hope to see this Gilkey is up. on your head. [Laughter] The President. He’s doing better in New The President. I hope you see me running York, isn’t he, although—— and playing golf. Mr. Berman. Well, he’s in another—— The President. But he’s hitting well again, NOTE: The exchange began at approximately 6:40 p.m. at Shea Stadium. Rachel Robinson is the and it’s good. It’s been a good move for him. widow of Jackie Robinson. A tape was not avail- Mr. Berman. It kind of got a little stale able for verification of the content of this ex- for him in Toronto. change. Mr. President. Yes. It’s good for him. Mr. Berman. Did you ever get up to see Jackie Robinson play? I don’t know how Interview With Chris Berman of many Cardinal games you went to. Arkansas ESPN was a good drive from there. April 15, 1997 The President. Only one time when I was a child. My father took me on a train to St. [The President’s remarks are joined in Louis to watch a game, but they weren’t play- progress.] ing the Dodgers. But we didn’t get a tele- The President. And if he hadn’t done vision until 1956, but it was right after the what he did and Branch Rickey hadn’t done ’55 season, right after the Boys of Summer. what he did, PeeWee Reese hadn’t run the So for 2 years I sat transfixed in front of my team like he did, it would have been a very television set. And tonight we had a contest different world. But Jackie Robinson—you in the place where I’m sitting to see how know, someone—maybe fate has a way of many people could remember the names of doing that in history, but he was—he had people on the ’55 team—how many names

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you could remember. I had like—I quit at The President. Thank you. I’m glad to be seven. And I hadn’t even thought about it here. Thanks. since. And I still remember the first time I saw Jackie Robinson, with that hitch in his NOTE: The interview began at 8:45 p.m. at Shea swing and the way he ran sort of almost— Stadium. In his remarks, the President referred to civil rights activist Rosa Parks. The press release on television it looked almost like he was bent issued by the Office of the Press Secretary did over. It was an amazing thing. I remember not include the complete opening remarks of the just being transfixed by it. President. Mr. Berman. Well, you have these images all—the old crystal set, right, which was how you followed your baseball. And so many Remarks Honoring Jackie Robinson people did, certainly, in the fifties. When you on the 50th Anniversary of the finally saw him, or now that you’ve seen him Integration of Major League afterwards on the old news reels, et cetera, Baseball in Queens was that the image you had of him as a boy April 15, 1997 listening on the radio, or was he more im- pressive in person? Thank you very much. Ladies and gentle- The President. More impressive in per- men, Mrs. Robinson, members of the Robin- son. But I used to do my homework at night son family. It is hard to believe that it was listening to the Cardinals games on the radio. 50 years ago at Ebbets Field that a 28-year- So I—I probably shouldn’t say, it’s a bad ex- old rookie changed the face of baseball and ample for students of today. the face of America forever. Jackie Robinson Mr. Berman. We all did it; we all did it. scored the go-ahead run that day, and we’ve The President. But I did. And so, he was all been trying to catch up ever since. better than I thought he would be. He was Today I think every American should say beautiful. He was fabulous, watching him. a special word of thanks to Jackie Robinson Mr. Berman. You’re excited about this and to Branch Rickey and to the members evening, aren’t you? of the Dodger team who made him one of The President. I am, it’s very important. their own and proved that America is a bet- I think that it’s also good for baseball. This ter, stronger, richer country when we all night will capture the attention of America work together and give everyone a chance. and make everybody forget about some of And today I think we should remember that the things they didn’t like that happened the Jackie Robinson’s legacy did not end with last 2 years and make people fall in love with baseball, for afterward he spent the rest of baseball again, I hope. his life trying to open other doors and keep Mr. Berman. As we did the night of the them open for all kinds of people. He knew Cal Ripken thing. that education, not sports, was the key to suc- The President. Yes we did. cess in life for nearly everyone, and he took Mr. Berman. I have to ask you this. It’s that message to young people wherever he April 15th. Are your taxes done? went. I congratulate Rachel Robinson for The President. Yes. Paid them all. continuing that mission through the work of Mr. Berman. Because I might be able to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which has get you an extension. given hundreds of young people a chance to The President. I don’t think I ought to. build the life of their dreams. I’ve got to set a good example, you know. I can’t help thinking that if Jackie Robin- [Laughter] I’m surprised all these baseball son were here with us tonight, he would say players shook hands with me tonight. They that we have done a lot of good in the last make more money than Jackie Robinson did, 50 years, but we can do better. We have so they probably weren’t very happy to see achieved equality on the playing field, but me tonight. [Laughter] we need to establish equality in the board- Mr. Berman. Oh, I think they were. I rooms of baseball and throughout corporate think you honored everybody with your pres- America. And we need to make sure that, ence. Thank you for joining us. even as we celebrate his brilliant successor

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