Oct. 11 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

I’ve taken the time to talk about these issues The only thing I can tell you is, I’ve worked today, unconventional at this kind of event, be- as hard as I could to turn this country around, cause I know I won’t be back in western Penn- pull this country together, and move us forward. sylvania, in all probability, between now and the Now it’s up to you. Don’t miss a person. Every election. And I want you to go out and talk one of you knows hundreds of people who will to everybody you can find between now and vote on election day but who will never, ever the election. Look, these elections are close. come to an event like this, never, never have Ron Klink can win if people understand what the chance that you’ve had to engage in this the differences are and what the consequences kind of thinking. are to them, their families, your community, and So go out there and tell them what the eco- your country. nomic differences, the health care differences, So I ask you, please go out there. Talk to the education differences are. And tell them the people about where we were 8 years ago, where future depends upon making a good decision we are today, what Congressman Klink’s role for Al Gore, Joe Lieberman, Ron Klink, and has been in it, and talk to people about the the rest of our crowd. economic issues, the health care issues, the edu- Thank you, and God bless you. cation issues out there. Remember, clarity is our friend. We may never have another chance NOTE: The President spoke at 12:25 p.m. in Room in our lifetime, have a country that is this pros- S–2 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. perous, making this much progress, and pulling In his remarks, he referred to Representative together. Klink’s children, Juliana and Matthew; State Sen- You look at the children in this audience. ator Leonard J. Bodack; Mayor Tom Murphy of We’ve got to do it right for them. We may Pittsburgh; Catherine Baker Knoll, candidate for not have another chance in our lifetime to have State treasurer; Sophie Masloff, former mayor of an election like this. Pittsburgh; former Pittsburgh Steelers running Again, let me tell you I am profoundly grate- back Franco Harris; and Republican Presidential ful for everything the State of Pennsylvania, and candidate Gov. George W. Bush of Texas. Rep- especially this part of Pennsylvania, has done resentative Klink was a candidate for the U.S. Sen- for me and Al Gore and our administration. ate in Pennsylvania.

Remarks to AmeriCorps Volunteers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 11, 2000

Let’s give Ardelia another hand. [Applause] Nation, if the people would vote for me for She was great, wasn’t she? I thought she was President. Eight years later one of the ideas great. Good job. that always got an applause line on the stump, I also want to say to all of you how grateful national service, giving young people a chance I am to be here and how grateful I am to to serve their countries in their communities Pennsylvania’s own Harris Wofford for doing and giving them some funds so they could fur- such a great job in heading our Corporation ther their education, it is reality. You are that for National Service. He’s worked in the Peace reality, and you have changed America for the Corps and AmeriCorps. He’s worked for Presi- better. I am very, very grateful to all of you dents from Kennedy to Clinton. He worked with for that. Martin Luther King, and he’s still helping peo- Today, people who wonder what national ple walk their road to freedom. Thank you, Sen- service is can hear it in the swing of a hundred ator Harris Wofford, for everything you have hammers helping families to build homes, see done. it in the sight of a thousand saplings taking Eight years ago about this time I was crossing root on a charred mountainside, burned in a the country with Vice President Gore, talking fire, and hear the sound of a million children about all the ideas I had to try to change our

2130 Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Oct. 11 learning to read. You get things done, and I our country to join in a crusade for childhood thank you for that. literacy, to make sure that every 8-year-old in It is quite appropriate for us to meet in Phila- our country could read—read well before being delphia to reaffirm our commitment to national promoted. Thanks to AmeriCorps members like service, not only because of the extraordinary Ardelia, hundreds of thousands of children have effort made by the State of Pennsylvania and now been tutored, mentored, or enrolled in this great city to have a disproportionate number after-school programs, and 1,000 colleges have of young people involved in community service given us their students to help go into our ele- through AmeriCorps programs but also because mentary schools to help teach our kids to read. it was here that our Founders declared our Thank you very, very, very much. independence and, in so doing, expressed a In a profoundly inspiring effort, members of commitment not only to the individual liberty the National School and Community Corps, and independence of all of us alone but said CityYear, VISTA, and AmeriCorps have helped that we could only fulfill our own desires and Philadelphia schools expand their pioneering our own personal dreams if we committed our- program for student service. As part of this ini- selves to forming ‘‘a more perfect Union.’’ tiative, 11th and 12th graders are trained to Every day you work, every person you help, tutor second graders one-on-one in after-school you help America become that more perfect reading programs. The students that do the tu- Union of our Founders’ dreams. toring say they learn just as much as the young- All across the country, AmeriCorps volunteers sters they teach. are serving as a catalyst for community action. What I’d like to see is to have this done Studies show that every one of you generates in every school system in America. I think if on average a dozen more volunteers, and that all the juniors and seniors in America were com- adds up. Over the past 6 years, not only have mitted to making sure all the second graders over 150,000 young Americans served in their in America could read by the time they got communities in AmeriCorps—and, I might add, out of the second grade, it would revolutionize we had more AmeriCorps volunteers in 5 years than the Peace Corps did in its first 20—you education in America. That is the symbol that are really moving to change America. But even Philadelphia represents to our future. more than that—listen to this—AmeriCorps Today I’m releasing an independent study that members have recruited, trained, or supervised shows that these efforts are working. Over the more than 2.5 million volunteers in community past school year, AmeriCorps members served projects. in programs tutoring more than 100,000 stu- In Pennsylvania, older volunteers for the Na- dents in grades one through three. Sample tests tional Senior Service Corps serve as foster given at the beginning and the end of the school grandparents to 9,000 children. Thousands of year showed that children’s reading skills in the RSVP volunteers are passing on their wisdom programs where the AmeriCorps volunteers tu- to a younger generation. In Philadelphia, nearly tored improved significantly and exceeded sig- a thousand AmeriCorps members have been nificantly expectations. working with local organizations, running after- In one case, an AmeriCorps member in At- school programs, restoring parts, helping Habitat lanta set out to recruit eight college students for Humanity to build homes, bridging the dig- to tutor struggling kids 4 hours a week. Today, ital divide in poor communities and poor that program has 250 volunteers in 30 schools. schools, engaging other young people in commu- Seventy percent of the second and third graders nity service. participating in the program have increased their We know now from experience that when test scores—listen to this—by at least two read- young people volunteer in their communities, ing levels, two grade levels. they’re less likely to get in trouble and much So we actually have some objective evidence more likely to succeed in school. That’s why that the enthusiasm that you all displayed when the work of AmeriCorps volunteers with our Harris called each of your projects and you young people, helping them to succeed, is per- stood up and cheered actually is making a dif- haps our most important mission. ference, a positive difference in the lives of indi- In 1996 I issued the America Reads challenge. vidual Americans and, in so doing I might add, I asked AmeriCorps and college students across bringing us together across lines that divide us.

2131 Oct. 11 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

One of the most important things about you cross the border into the District of Colum- AmeriCorps I think is that it gives the volun- bia, and somehow it becomes a partisan issue, teers, who come from all different backgrounds, even though no one in America thinks it is. all different races, all different religious back- So I came out here to you because I want grounds, a chance to meet and work with and people to see—in Washington, DC, I want them get to know people who are different from to see your faces tonight, I want them to hear them, to tear down barriers of distrust and mis- your cheers tonight. I want them to know about understanding and old-fashioned ignorance, and your good deeds tonight. I want them to see build a genuine American community. in your lives that AmeriCorps does get things You know, I think it’s a great thing that Amer- done, and I want them to get something done ica is so diverse and growing more diverse. It to reauthorize this bill. makes it more interesting. But it’s also important A generation ago, Senator Robert Kennedy, to recognize that, as we celebrate our dif- who inspired so many young people when I ferences, we have to reaffirm our common hu- was your age, spoke of the power of the single manity. You look anywhere in the world today person to affect change. And he said that each where they’re having trouble, and chances are person and each act of bravery or kindness or they can celebrate their differences, but they’re service sent out a ripple of hope, but that to- having trouble affirming their common human- gether those ripples could become a tidal wave ity, and misunderstanding occurs. that could tear down the worst wall of oppres- If America wants to be a force for good and sion and break down the biggest and sternest peace and freedom in all these places we see barriers to change. You are the living embodi- today—from the Middle East to Northern Ire- ment of those ripples of hope, and you are land to the Balkans to Africa where they’re hav- changing America in profound ways. You do it ing tribal conflicts—we have to first be good in the work that you do. You do it in the way at home. You are helping us to be good at that you do it. You do it in the way your lives home and do the right thing. are changed when you leave AmeriCorps and So it turns out this idea that was just sort you go on about the rest of your lives. of an applause line in my ’92 campaign speech, We are all in your debt. And so I hope, for it was a pretty good idea after all. [Laughter] goodness sakes, that the Congress will give us You proved it. We know it works. We have the funding and the reauthorization we need made it completely nonpartisan. We’ve tried to so that hundreds of thousands of more young take it completely out of the normal day-to- people can have this experience over the next day arguments of American politics, because it 5 years, and millions and millions more of our seems to be, as Harris said, the quintessential fellow Americans of all ages, beginning with our American idea. youngest children, will be the better for it. That’s why it is so important that the Con- Thank you very, very much. [Applause] Now, gress this year rise above politics and reauthorize wait. Wait, wait. I’ve got a job to do. I have the Corporation for National Service with the to swear in the newest AmeriCorps class in the necessary funding for a robust AmeriCorps. United States. So I want them to stand up, We’ve succeeded out in the country, as you all the new class. Stand up, please, all the new heard Senator Wofford say. We have a letter class, people who have not been sworn in. Any- from 49 of the Nation’s 50 Governors. That’s body that has not been sworn in, stand up. 98 percent. You don’t get 98 percent of people All right. Raise your right hand, and repeat the agreeing on anything. So we’ve got 98 percent pledge after me. of the Governors saying, ‘‘Please reauthorize AmeriCorps.’’ Governor Ridge says it’s a vital [At this point, the new members repeated the resource because you get things done in Penn- oath after the President.] sylvania. I will get things done for America, to make I have talked with the congressional leaders our people safer, smarter, and healthier. I will about this. I hope they will follow the Gov- bring Americans together to strengthen our ernors’ lead and act in a bipartisan spirit. I came communities. Faced with apathy, I will take ac- to Philadelphia today because sometimes, every tion. Faced with conflicts, I will seek common now and then, no matter how bipartisan an issue ground. Faced with adversity, I will persevere. is out in the country, something happens when I will carry this commitment with me this year

2132 Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Oct. 11 and beyond. I am an AmeriCorps member, and AmeriCorps volunteer Ardelia Norwood-Ross, I will get things done. who introduced the President; Harris Wofford, chief executive officer, Corporation for National NOTE: The President spoke at 4:13 p.m. at Memo- Service; and Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania. rial Hall. In his remarks, he referred to

Remarks at a Reception for the Pennsylvania Democratic Coordinated Campaign in Philadelphia October 11, 2000

Thank you. Well, thank you for the welcome. Democrats normally do, and I just cannot thank Thank you, Mayor Street. I was honored to help you enough. So coming here to be for the you win because I wanted Philadelphia to win, Democratic ticket, for my long-time friend, and I’m glad you won, and you’re doing great. Catherine Baker Knoll and Jim Eisenhower and Thank you, Senator Tartaglione, for being the Bob Casey, Jr., but especially for Ron Klink, chair of our party and for doing such a good it’s not only easy, it’s an honor. job. Thank you, Bill George. I got here in time I just want to say a couple of things very to hear Bill George’s speech. [Laughter] You candidly. John said them before. I know Ron know, Bill is so restrained and laid back. Klink pretty well. We have worked together for [Laughter] I loved it. He said everything that a long time now. He represents a district in needed to be said and said it well. And he’s western Pennsylvania where the biggest city has been a great friend to me for more than 8 27,000 people. And so as you might imagine, years now, and I thank him for that. they have a lot of concerns that are somewhat And I can’t tell you how grateful I am to different than the ones Lucien used to represent Ed Rendell for being willing to take over the here in Philadelphia. You know, it’s different. leadership of our party, and you should be so And it’s hard for a Member of the House proud of him. He’s done a great, great job. of Representatives from an essentially rural and I came here to campaign for the Democrats, smalltown district way across this vast State to and this is a pretty nostalgic trip for me. As be well enough known on the eastern side of John said, it may be the last time I come to the State for people to know who he is, what Philadelphia to give a speech as President; he stands for, what the differences are between maybe not, though. If I get a chance, I’ll come him and his opponent. back. I love it here. I want to tell you something, folks. I think One of the young men who has been with I know Pennsylvania by now. You know, my me for more than 8 years now, Kirk Hanlin, wife’s family is from here, from Scranton. My is out there smiling. He said, ‘‘Do you remem- father-in-law’s family is there. He’s buried up ber how many times we’ve been to this hotel there. I’ve spent lots and lots of time here over since 1992?’’ [Laughter] What a wonderful time, many years. I have absolutely no doubt that and then we talked about every hotel we’ve if a hundred percent of the registered voters been in, in Philadelphia. And we started talking who will vote on election day knew Ron Klink’s about, you know, going all the way back to early record, knew his opponent’s record, and knew 1992 and our wonderful trips here. what the differences between them on the issues I feel a deep sense of gratitude to the State facing the United States Senate and the United of Pennsylvania. You’ve been good to me and States of America over the next 6 years are, to my family and my administration family. Ron Klink would win and win handily. You’ve given us your electoral votes twice. And Number two, he’s working as hard as he can. both times the great magnet was this breath- He’s working hard. Therefore, if he doesn’t win, taking vote out of Philadelphia, which reverber- it’s our fault, all the rest of us that are for ated into the region here and all over this part him. Now, I don’t know how else to say it. of eastern Pennsylvania. We did better than It’s hard to beat an incumbent, particularly the

2133