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America permanently in debt. The bill as a Federal support for programs such as child care whole would disproportionately benefit the for low-income families and Meals on Wheels wealthiest Americans by, for example, lowering for senior citizens; on many others. capital gains rates, repealing the estate and gift As I have repeatedly stressed, I want to find tax, increasing maximum IRA and retirement common ground with the Congress on a fiscal plan contribution limits, and weakening pension plan that will best serve the American people. anti-discrimination protections for moderate- I have profound differences, however, with the and low-income workers. extreme approach that the Republican majority The bill would not meet the Budget Act’s has adopted. It would provide a tax cut for the existing pay-as-you-go requirements, which have wealthiest Americans and would hurt average helped provide the discipline necessary to bring Americans by denying them the benefits of debt us from an era of large and growing budget reduction and depriving them of the certainty deficits to the potential for substantial surpluses. that my proposals for Medicare and Social Secu- It would also automatically trigger across-the- rity solvency would provide as they plan for board cuts (or sequesters) in a number of Fed- their retirement. eral programs. These cuts would result in a re- I hope to work with Members of Congress duction of more than $40 billion in the Medi- to find a common path to honor our commit- care program over the next 5 years. Starting ment to senior citizens, help working families in 2002, they would also lead to the elimination with targeted tax relief for moderate- and lower- of numerous programs with broad support, in- income workers, provide a better life for our cluding: crop insurance, without which most children, and improve the standard of living of farmers and ranchers could not secure the fi- all Americans. nancing from banks needed to operate their WILLIAM J. CLINTON farms and ranches; veterans readjustment bene- fits, denying education and training to more than The White House, 450,000 veterans, reservists, and dependents; September 23, 1999.

Remarks at a Memorial Service for Lane Kirkland September 23, 1999

Irena, members of the Kirkland family, Father is here today to pay tribute to Lane, it’s a pretty O’Donovan, Monsignor Higgins, distinguished good place for me to start my remarks. Members of Congress, visitors from other lands, He said, ‘‘As one who has been afflicted by and my fellow Americans: both labels, depending on the stance of the I am profoundly honored to be here to pay afflictor and the foreign or domestic nature of tribute to a person I admired for many years the issue, I doubt their utility in this day and before I ever thought I would have the chance age for anyone except slapdash journalists.’’ to work with him as President, a man whom Not only did Lane reject such labels, we all I was honored to present the Presidential Medal know that he defied the labels, ‘‘liberal’’ and of Freedom, because he was, in our time, the ‘‘conservative.’’ In fact, in many ways, he defied very embodiment of the cause of freedom, a all labels. man who was both brilliant and articulate and He was a man of remarkable contrasts. You’ve still almost irrationally passionate about the already heard others speak about his humility. things he knew to be right. He was a true five-star general in the global Back in 1985 Lane Kirkland went home to fight for human liberty, but so down to earth, South Carolina, to the State university, and gave he was offended if anyone called him anything one of the most eloquent speeches on the role but Lane. of Government ever delivered. Perhaps the most He was such a powerful force for justice, he memorable line was his reflection on the terms could lead hundreds of thousands of working ‘‘liberal’’ and ‘‘conservative.’’ If you look at who people to march on Washington. But for years,

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the most powerful force in his own home was he demanded for working men and women a little dachshund named Stanley. He was a throughout the world. He stood up for the little man of idealism and strong opinions, but he guy. It was his ideology. It was also his way was genuinely open to people who had the cour- of life. age to differ with him. He was a gifted intellec- I want to conclude today with a story that tual, but on Sunday afternoons, he put his books was passed along to us at the White House aside to watch the Redskins on TV. He was by one of Lane’s closest advisers. After he a man of the arts, whose perhaps favorite artistry passed away, one of the medics who came to was his harmonica rendition of ‘‘Solidarity For- the house took Irena aside and said, ‘‘When ever.’’ For all of his contrasts, there was a re- I first took this call, the name Kirkland didn’t markable consistency underlying everything he ring any bells. But when I arrived, I realized thought and said and did. who your husband was. As the shop steward Both and Lane used to say, for my EMS unit, I want you to know how ‘‘The role of the trade unions is to try to keep grateful I am for everything your husband did the big guys from kicking the little guys for us. He was a wonderful man, and I know around.’’ That was his philosophy of life. And that everyone in my unit feels the same way.’’ believe me, I got my fair share of lectures about Well, Irena, for all the distinguished speakers it. [Laughter] who will pay tribute to your husband today, He lived it when he walked the picket lines I don’t think any of us could do better than with hotel workers in Las Vegas, when he got that. So let me just say that I am grateful for arrested with miners in Appalachia, when he this giant of a man, a true American hero, a quoted the fiery words of Zapata to mistreated man who stood up for the little guy. I hope Latino janitors in L.A. He lived it when he all of us can be faithful to his admonition to stood in solidarity with the oppressed workers do the same. It is the only way we can give of the Soviet bloc or helped to tear down the him the legacy he has richly earned. Iron Curtain in and elsewhere in the God bless you and your family. communist world. He lived it when he struggled for racial and gender equality, when he fought NOTE: The President spoke at 12:30 p.m. in Gas- to strengthen the Civil Rights Act, when he ton Hall at . In his re- championed the cause of women and minorities marks, he referred to Mr. Kirkland’s widow, Irena; within the America labor movement, when he Father Leo J. O’Donovan, president, Georgetown helped to rescue the NAACP from bankruptcy. University; and Monsignor George G. Higgins, You could see it in his own office, where former director, Social Action Department, Na- he always treated even the most junior members tional Catholic Welfare Conference (later known of his staff with the same dignity and respect as the Catholic Conference).

Remarks Prior to Discussions With Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority and an Exchange With Reporters September 23, 1999

Middle East Peace Process pared to do all we can to assist them in coming The President. Let me say, I am delighted to an agreement. to see Chairman Arafat again. We have a lot I would like to take this opportunity to say to discuss, obviously, about our bilateral rela- that we should first meet our own obligations tions, and especially about the permanent status under the Wye agreement, and I hope the Con- talks. He and Prime Minister Barak have agreed gress will give me the funding, both for Israel on a very ambitious timetable to have a frame- and for the Palestinian Authority, so that we work agreement by February, final agreement can meet our obligations there. And we’re work- ing hard. We’re into the final budget legs now, by next September. The United States is pre- and I’m quite hopeful.

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