Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents

Monday, April 10, 2000 Volume 36—Number 14 Pages 691–770 Contents

Addresses and Remarks Addresses and Remarks—Continued See also Bill Signings White House Conference on the New AFL–CIO Building and Construction Trades Economy Department conference—717 Session 1—732 California Session 2—738 Arrival in San Jose—704 Session 3—743 Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reception in Palo Alto—704 Bill Signings Democratic Leadership Council conference Senior Citizens Freedom to Work Act of in San Jose—709 2000, remarks—761 Democratic National Committee dinner—728 Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Digital divide, efforts to bridge—722 Reform Act for the 21st Century, International Brotherhood of Electrical statements—745, 747 Workers luncheon for Hillary Clinton—694 International family planning assistance, Communications to Congress legislative agenda—764 Japan, Prime Minister Obuchi—704 Corporation for Public Broadcasting, message Nevada transmitting report—727 Democratic National Committee and Energy Policy and Conservation Act Nevada State Democratic Party reception extension, letter on House inaction—692 in Las Vegas—700 Hazardous materials transportation, message Democratic National Committee brunch in transmitting report—747 Las Vegas—697 Korean Peninsula Energy Development One America initiative, corporate leaders— Organization, letter transmitting report— 754 748 Radio address—693 National Endowment for the Arts, message Radio and Television Correspondents transmitting report—758 Association dinner—758 Senator Patrick J. Leahy, reception—727 Communications to Federal Agencies Social Security Internet retirement planner, Emergency Response Assistance Program, radio remarks—767 memorandum—760

(Continued on the inside of the back cover.)

Editor’s Note: The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is also available on the Inter- net on the GPO Access service at http://www.gpo.gov/nara/nara003.html.

WEEKLY COMPILATION OF regulations prescribed by the Administrative Committee of the Federal Register, approved by the President (37 FR 23607; 1 CFR Part 10). PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS Distribution is made only by the Superintendent of Docu- ments, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Published every Monday by the Office of the Federal Reg- The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents will be ister, National Archives and Records Administration, Washing- furnished by mail to domestic subscribers for $80.00 per year ton, DC 20408, the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Docu- ($137.00 for mailing first class) and to foreign subscribers for ments contains statements, messages, and other Presidential $93.75 per year, payable to the Superintendent of Documents, materials released by the White House during the preceding Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The week. charge for a single copy is $3.00 ($3.75 for foreign mailing). The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is pub- There are no restrictions on the republication of material lished pursuant to the authority contained in the Federal Reg- appearing in the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Docu- ister Act (49 Stat. 500, as amended; 44 U.S.C. Ch. 15), under ments. Contents—Continued

Interviews With the News Media Statements by the President—Continued Exchange with reporters in San Jose, CA— Independent Counsel’s investigation of Alexis 704 Herman, conclusion—747 Interview with Dan Rather of the ‘‘CBS Maryland State action on gun safety Evening News’’—748 legislation—726 Proclamations Senate inaction on the supplemental budget Census Day—694 request—726 National Child Abuse Prevention Month—691 Supplementary Materials National Volunteer Week—767 Acts approved by the President—770 Statements by the President Checklist of White House press releases—769 See also Bill Signings Digest of other White House Budget resolution, Democratic amendment— announcements—768 726 Nominations submitted to the Senate—769 Deaths Former Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba—757 John Robert Starr—697 Week Ending Friday, April 7, 2000

Proclamation 7285—National Child parental leave to flexible work schedules, to Abuse Prevention Month, 2000 reduce the stress on working families. Keeping children safe is a community re- March 31, 2000 sponsibility, and prevention must be a com- By the President of the United States munity task. Every segment of society must be involved, including health and law en- of America forcement professionals, schools, businesses, the media, government agencies, community A Proclamation and faith organizations, and especially par- Children are our link to the future and our ents themselves. Teachers and physicians hope for a better tomorrow. Within a few need to recognize the symptoms of child short years, we will look to today’s children abuse; parents need to ask for help in over- for the vision, strength, creativity, and leader- coming addictions or controlling violent be- ship to guide our Nation through the chal- havior; communities must be willing to fund lenges of this new century. If they are to grow programs and services to protect children into healthy, happy adults and responsible from abuse; and the media needs to raise citizens, we must provide our children with public awareness of the availability of those the love, nurturing, and protection they need programs and services. and deserve. My Administration is committed to doing However, many of America’s children are its part to ensure the health and well-being not safe, even in their own homes. The statis- of all our Nation’s children. We have worked tics are staggering. Every year, there are to increase funding at the State level for child nearly one million reported incidents of child protection programs and family preservation abuse; and even more disturbing, more than services. Working with the Congress, we 2,000 of these incidents result in the child’s have enacted the Child Abuse Prevention death. Whether suffering neglect, harsh and Treatment Act and the Adoption and physical punishment, sexual abuse, or psy- Safe Families Act, and we have established chological trauma, the children who survive the Safe and Stable Families Program. Just will carry the scars of their abuse for the rest a few weeks ago, I signed into law the Child of their lives. Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act, We now know that there are a variety of which gives State and local officials greater risk factors that contribute to child abuse and flexibility in using Department of Justice neglect—including parental substance abuse, grant programs to prevent child abuse and lack of parenting skills and knowledge, neglect. This new legislation will increase domestic violence, or extreme stress—and funding to enforce child abuse and neglect there are practical measures and programs laws, to enhance the investigation of child we can use to mitigate such factors. Social abuse and neglect crimes, and to promote service providers can offer substance abuse programs to prevent such abuse and neglect. programs for adults with children; schools Through these and other measures, we con- can offer educational programs to teach par- tinue our efforts to create a society where enting skills to teen mothers or instruct chil- every child is cherished and no child bears dren on how to protect themselves from sex- the lasting scars of abuse or neglect. ual predators; faith organizations can offer Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, respite care for parents of children with spe- President of the United States of America, cial needs; and employers can introduce by virtue of the authority vested in me by family-friendly policies, from child care to the Constitution and laws of the United 691 692 Mar. 31 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

States, do hereby proclaim April 2000 as Na- an essential line of defense against an inter- tional Child Abuse Prevention Month. I call ruption in oil supplies. Although the Senate upon all Americans to observe this month by passed a four-year straight reauthorization of demonstrating our gratitude to those who EPCA, the House has failed to act. It is crit- work to keep our children safe, and by taking ical that the House reauthorize EPCA imme- action in our own communities to make them diately to ensure that the United States main- healthy places where children can grow and tains its ability to use all available tools to thrive. respond to the needs of the U.S. economy. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set In addition, Congress should address other my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the energy measures. Congress should pass my year of our Lord two thousand, and of the comprehensive tax package, which includes Independence of the United States of Amer- new tax incentives for domestic oil producers ica the two hundred and twenty-fourth. to reduce U.S. reliance on oil imports, as well William J. Clinton as other incentives to promote energy effi- ciency and renewable sources of energy that [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, Congress has failed to enact. Congress 8:45 a.m., April 4, 2000] should also fully fund the more than $1.4 bil- NOTE: This proclamation was published in the lion that I have requested in my fiscal year Federal Register on April 5. This item was not 2001 Budget and 2000 Supplemental to pro- received in time for publication in the appropriate mote energy security through the use of do- issue. mestic energy technologies, including more efficient homes and buildings, a new genera- Letter to the Speaker of the House of tion of more efficient vehicles, renewable en- Representatives on House Inaction ergy sources, and natural gas. on Extending the Energy Policy and Finally, I have proposed the establishment Conservation Act of a regional home heating oil reserve in the Northeast to reduce the likelihood of future March 31, 2000 heating oil shortages. Congress should au- thorize a reserve with an appropriate trigger Dear Mr. Speaker: to release heating oil to the market in the While the U.S. economy is the strongest it has ever been and inflation and unemploy- event of a supply shortage. I have directed ment remain at historically low levels, high the Department of Energy to begin the ap- oil prices have caused concern for many propriate environmental reviews of the pro- Americans. As a short-term measure, my Ad- posal to determine the correct approach to ministration urged oil-producing nations to creating this reserve. take steps to narrow the gap between world- These critical steps will strengthen the wide production and consumption of crude sound, comprehensive energy strategy that oil in order to preserve sustained worldwide has helped sustain the longest economic ex- economic growth. Our focused diplomatic ef- pansion in American history. They will en- forts helped produce tangible commitments hance America’s energy security, create jobs, by oil-producing nations to increase produc- protect the environment, and produce long- tion to more appropriate levels that reflect term savings for consumers. Congress should current demand in the global economy. waste no more time in enacting these meas- While my Administration has worked hard ures into law. to increase the supply of oil on the market, Sincerely, the House has failed to take one of the most critical steps necessary to maintain America’s William J. Clinton energy security—an extension of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), which NOTE: This letter was released by the Office of includes authority to operate the Strategic the Press Secretary on April 1. An original was Petroleum Reserve (SPR), authority that ex- not available for verification of the content of this pires today. The option to use the SPR is letter. Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 1 693

The President’s Radio Address standing of a community’s needs, denies peo- April 1, 2000 ple their fair share of resources, and dimin- ishes the quality of life not only for them Good morning. Today I want to speak with but for all of us. If we believe everybody in you about an opportunity to shape the future our American community counts, we simply of our country, and a responsibility we all must make sure everyone is counted. have to make our voices count. I want to talk That’s an enormous undertaking. This about this year’s census and the importance year’s census represents the largest peace- of filling out and sending in your census form time mobilization in American history, in- right away. volving hundreds of thousands of local census The Constitution mandates that our Na- takers and community volunteers. But the tion conduct a census every 10 years. The most important person in the process is you. first was taken back in 1790 and was directed I want to thank the millions of Americans by Thomas Jefferson when he served as Sec- who have sent in their forms. As of today, retary of State. Every decade since then, the census has helped tell the story of America— we’re halfway there. But we must do better. who we are and what we’re becoming. We need the most accurate picture of Amer- Census 2000 is our chance to write the ica in the dawn of the 21st century. latest chapter in the unfolding epoch of So today I’m issuing a proclamation declar- America. Even though the census is taken ing this Census Day and urging all Americans only once in a decade, it has an impact on to take a little time this weekend to fill out our lives every day. A report I’m releasing and send in your form. I’ve also issued a today by the Council of Economic Advisers memorandum to all Federal employees urg- shows just how much we need the census. ing them to do the same. Having completed We need the census to help decide how our census form, I can tell you it only takes almost $200 billion in Federal funds will be a few moments. invested in States and communities. We need You can also fill out your census form on- the census to draw legislative district lines line, as the Vice President did just recently. and allocate seats for each State in the U.S. The on-line form can be found at House of Representatives. We need the cen- www.2000.census.gov. It won’t take long. sus to help our hometowns determine where The short form is the shortest since 1820. to build everything from roads to schools to The long form is the shortest in history. And hospitals to child care centers. And we need every question on both forms was reviewed the census to help businesses make decisions by Congress 2 years ago. about where to invest and help individuals But more important, information from the make informed decisions about where to buy long form is critical for everything from help- a home or take a job. ing communities design mass transit systems For all of these reasons, it’s important to to providing 911 emergency services. It also make sure the first census of the 21st century helps us calculate cost of living increases for is fair, accurate, and complete. After all, if Social Security, military retirement, and vet- we want to make good decisions about where we need to go as a nation, we first have to erans’ pensions. know where we are. I know Americans are concerned about In the last census, we didn’t know where their privacy, and that’s why I also want to more than 8 million people were. They were stress that the information you provide is left uncounted. Many of them were children, strictly, absolutely confidential. Individual in- minorities, and low income families. When formation will not be available to anyone out- people are uncounted, their voices are un- side the Census Bureau for any reason. heard in the Halls of Congress and in their So whether you have a long or a short own communities. form, please fill it out completely and send Those who suggest that filling out your it in promptly. America is counting on you. census form isn’t essential are plainly wrong. This is your future. Don’t leave it blank. An inaccurate census distorts our under- Thanks for listening. 694 Apr. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

NOTE: The address was recorded at 12:38 p.m. and every racial and ethnic group. The cen- on March 31 in the Map Room at the White sus is truly a democratic process in which House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on April 1. The we all can participate. transcript was made available by the Office of the Census 2000 offers each of us an important Press Secretary on March 31 but was embargoed opportunity to shape the future of our Na- for release until the broadcast. tion. By taking part, we help ensure the well- being of our families and our communities, Proclamation 7286—Census Day, and we fulfill one of our fundamental civic 2000 duties. The U.S. Census Bureau has taken April 1, 2000 unprecedented steps to ensure full participa- tion in this first census of the new millen- By the President of the United States nium. At the same time, the Bureau will con- of America tinue its long tradition of protecting the per- sonal information of America’s citizens, and A Proclamation no other Government agency will be able to Every 10 years, as mandated by our Con- see any individual or family census form. I stitution, all persons living in the United strongly urge every man and woman living States are called upon to participate in the in the United States to fill out and return census. As the foremost method of gathering his or her census form or to cooperate with information about our Nation, the census census takers who will help them do so. plays a crucial role in helping us to maintain Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, our democratic form of government. President of the United States of America, An accurate census helps to ensure that by virtue of the authority vested in me by the rights and needs of every person are re- the Constitution and laws of the United corded and recognized as we shape public States, do hereby proclaim April 1, 2000, as policies, programs, and services. Too often Census Day. I call upon all the people of in the past, children, minorities, and low-in- the United States to observe this day with come individuals have not been counted and, ceremonies, activities, and programs that as a result, have not been fully and fairly raise awareness of the importance of partici- served. Census data are also used to deter- pating in Census 2000. mine the number of seats each State is allo- In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set cated in the U.S. House of Representatives, my hand this first day of April, in the year and State and local governments depend of our Lord two thousand, and of the Inde- upon these data to draw legislative districts pendence of the United States of America that accurately represent their residents. the two hundred and twenty-fourth. The census also serves as the basis for William J. Clinton many public funding and private investment decisions. Census results play a part in deter- [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, mining the portion each State receives of 8:45 a.m., April 4, 2000] more than $185 billion in funds distributed NOTE: This proclamation was published in the by the Federal Government each year. State Federal Register on April 5. and local public officials use census data to decide where to build public facilities such as schools, roads, hospitals, and libraries. Remarks at an International Census data also are a valuable resource for Brotherhood of Electrical Workers businesses that are trying to identify where Luncheon for Hillary Clinton to build stores, office buildings, or shopping April 1, 2000 centers. The census is unique. It reaches every [The President’s remarks are joined in population group, from America’s long-time progress.] residents to its most recent immigrants, and The President. ——we couldn’t have every age group from newborns to centenar- done what has been done without you, and ians. The census touches every social class I’ll Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 1 695 never forget you. I would also like to thank But I think the evidence is in, and you Denis and the New York AFL–CIO. They need to think about that in terms of Hillary’s supported—[inaudible]—and me and sup- race, the Vice President’s race, every other ported—[inaudible]—and Hillary. I thought race this year. It’s not as if there is a debate she made a really good talk today. here based on the evidence. We have the I just want to make three points very brief- longest economic expansion in history; we ly. First of all, when I showed up here in have these 21 million jobs; we have the low- January of ’93, thanks to the efforts of many est unemployment and welfare rates in 30 of you and millions and millions of people years; we have the lowest crime rate in 25 like you all across America, and the economy years, the lowest poverty rate in 20 years, was in a shambles, the deficit was huge, and the lowest income tax burden on average the debt had been quadrupled in 12 years, families in 4 years, the lowest female unem- and the social problems were getting worse, ployment rate in 4 years. and Washington was like a political blood This is not some sort of fluke, friends. fight, I had basically some very simple ideas You’re on the right side of history. So when about the economy and how it related to the you fight for the Presidential campaign, and rest of our lives. And I just want to reiterate you fight in the Senatorial race, tell people that because that’s where the differences are that this is not a debate, and they are making between us and our friends in the Repub- a deliberate decision, if they vote for the lican Party. That’s where the differences be- other candidates, to go back to a failed eco- tween Al Gore and George Bush are, and nomic theory, a failed social theory, a failed the differences between Hillary and her op- environmental policy. ponent. And you’ve got to be serious and blunt Number one, I believe you could be pro- here. And I’m not running for anything, and business and pro-labor. And as a matter of you know, most days, I’m okay about it. fact, I didn’t think you could successfully [Laughter] What is at stake here is bigger have an economic policy unless you help both than me or the Vice President or Hillary or labor and business. all of you—it is the direction of our country. Number two, I believe you could be pro- And you need to go out and say you’re not work and pro-family, so that I thought we anti-business; you’ve proved you could be ought to have things like annual leave and pro-labor and pro-business. You’ve proved health insurance, and if people were going you could be pro-family and pro-work. to be required to move from welfare to work, You’ve proved you could clean out the envi- we ought to give them child care and food ronment and grow the economy. That’s and medicine for their kids and transpor- where you are. And they are making a delib- tation to get to work and training to know erate decision to reject policies that have what they were doing, instead of just talking worked for America if they don’t support the about welfare cheats and all of that. I thought Vice President, Hillary, and our whole other you could be pro-work and pro-family. crowd. Number three, I thought you could be for The second thing I want to tell you is, as economic growth and for environmental pro- you can see, my wife is an enormously tal- tection. I thought working families could be ented and passionate person. But what I want able to take their children to parks and that you to know is that, particularly for a State we could generally still grow the economy. like New York, which has always had high- I believed all those things. And essentially, quality people in the United States Senate, our friends in the other party believe that I think she would be a worthy successor to they can only help business by sticking it to Robert Kennedy and Pat Moynihan. I think labor, that every family protection is bad for it’s important for people to understand that the economy and the work ethic, and that she’s not just somebody who lived in the the environment’s a nice thing as long as you White House for 8 years and would now like don’t have to take too much trouble to pro- to be a Senator. For 30 years, she has been tect it. Now, that’s what they believe. And a leading advocate for the cause of families so we’ve had this donnybrook for 71⁄2 years. and children; for 20 years now, for specific, 696 Apr. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 provable advances in the quality of education America, because we’ve got a chance now, for our children. finally, to reject the politics of division. If you There is hardly anybody who runs as a pri- do this one more time, you’ve got a real vate citizen for the United States Senate in chance to elevate the politics of America. my lifetime—I can’t think of anybody who And let me tell you why it’s so important. ran as a private citizen for the Senate who I want to close with this point. In February had as much knowledge as she has or as we celebrated the longest economic expan- much experience as she has on the things sion in the history of this country. And that’s that will really count in the terms of the the good news. The bad news is it might put shape of America and the children who are— people to sleep and think they can afford to [inaudible]. just go through—[inaudible]—or indul- The third thing I want to say is, is this: gences or on a whim or not vote at all in The most important point Hillary made this election, because they think things are about me and us and our politics is that we going along real well. believe that we should try to bring together, And let me tell you why what Hillary not drive them apart. They believe you have said—the most important point she made is to drive people apart in order to win elec- about the politics of division. When we cele- tions. And since they’re wrong on the issues, brated this economic expansion, I asked my they’re right. In other words, people won’t economic advisers—I said, ‘‘Well, when was agree with them on the issues, so the only the last longest expansion in American his- way they could win is to convince them that tory?’’ Do you know when it was? Nineteen we’re the first cousins of space aliens. sixty-one to 1969. Now, let me take you on [Laughter] Now, this is not a complicated a little walk down memory lane. [Laughter] deal. And so that’s why Hillary’s opponent In 1964 I was a senior in high school, a can raise a double ton of money besides graduate. The country was heartbroken being mayor and having special relations with about President Kennedy’s assassination but a lot of those people that—[inaudible]—New were heartened by President Johnson’s lead- York. You’ve got this rightwing—[inaudi- ership, strongly united behind him. We had ble]—machine geared up against her again. low unemployment, low inflation, high You know, when he wanted to be mayor growth. We had a civil rights crisis, but every- of New York, he said, ‘‘I’m a moderate.’’ body thought it was going to be handled in When he wants to be Senator from New the context of the courts, not in the streets. York, he wants all those rightwingers that We had a few people in Vietnam, but nobody helped Governor Bush in the nomination and thought it was going to tear the country up. are represented by the Bob Jones University Everybody thought America would win the flap you all heard about—he gets Richard cold war just in the course of events, because Viguerie to write letters that raise the hair freedom was clearly superior to communism. on the back of your head. And we were happy as clams and totally re- Now, there’s a reason they’ve got to do laxed about it. that: because they like political power and Now, 4 years later I graduated from col- the majority of the people do not agree with lege here in Washington—2 days after Rob- them. They’ve got this figured out now; we’re ert Kennedy was killed; 2 months after Mar- right, and they’re wrong on these big issues. tin Luther King was killed; 9 weeks after So the only way they can win is to convince Lyndon Johnson said he couldn’t run for people that we’re space aliens. But that’s not President because the country was so divided good for America. Far better for them to over Vietnam. modernize their party and their ideas and A few weeks later, Richard Nixon was then engage in a debate and let the people elected President, based on a campaign that move back and forth, depending on who they he represented the Silent Majority. Now, think is right on the specific issues. That’s what were the necessary—[inaudible]—of the way America is supposed to work. that? Those of us who weren’t for him were But I want you to understand what’s at the loud minority. That was the first of these stake in this election in New York and in great ‘‘us’’ versus ‘‘them’’ campaigns, divide Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 2 697 not unite. And we’ve been ‘‘us-ing’’ and NOTE: The President spoke at 12:50 p.m. at the ‘‘them-ing’’ now for 30 years. Hyatt Regency. In his remarks, he referred to And when I ran for President, I said I Denis M. Hughes, president, New York State AFL–CIO; Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New wanted to put people first and have oppor- York City; Gov. George W. Bush of Texas; and tunity for all, responsibility from all, and a Richard A. Viguerie, chairman, chief executive of- community of all Americans. That was the ficer, and president, ConservativeHQ.com. A tape united, not divisive campaign. When we ran was not available for verification of the content for reelection, we said we wanted to build of these remarks. a bridge to the 21st century that everybody could walk across. That’s the united, not a Statement on the Death divisive campaign. of John Robert Starr And one of the reasons Hillary decided to April 1, 2000 enter this race is that she knew how impor- tant it was not only to be right on the specific Hillary and I are saddened to hear that issues but to keep trying to pull the country John Robert Starr has passed away. He was together as we grow more diverse, not tear a legendary figure in Little Rock and Arkan- it apart. And I like the way things are now, sas history. As a former Arkansas bureau but they could be a whole lot better if we chief for the Associated Press, managing edi- just focus and keep working and remember tor of the Arkansas Democrat and Democrat- to be for business and labor, work and family, Gazette, and a tough-as-nails columnist, John the environment and the economy, unite not Robert always said and did what he thought divide. That’s really what her race represents; was right. that’s what Al Gore’s race represents; that’s John Robert was as tenacious a friend as he was a foe. In good and bad times alike, what the referendum on what kind of future I always knew him to speak his mind and we’re going to have represents. And what I say exactly what he felt. That kind of candor want to tell you is, I’ve been waiting since can be strong medicine, but I learned to re- I was a boy of 17, for 35 years and more spect him for it. His legion of readers might now, to see my country in the position we not always agree with his point of view, but were in, in 1964, to build a future of our they read what he had to say. dreams for our children. And this election Hillary and I offer our deepest condo- will determine whether we move to that lences to his wife, Norma, their three chil- level. dren, and their many friends. It took me years just to try to turn this country around and get it going in the right direction and to stop people from trying to Remarks at a Democratic National take things away from you. Now we’ve got Committee Brunch in Las Vegas, a chance to do something good. That’s what Nevada this Senate race is about. That’s what this April 2, 2000 Presidential race is about. That’s what this The President. Let me, first of all, say I’m whole election is about. glad to be back. I never get tired of coming And you just keep in mind, people know, here. And most of you know that Brian and they know we’re right on the issues, so I went to college together—in spite of the they’ve got to beat us some other way. And fact that he now looks younger than me, we you’ve got to stand up for unity and progress did. [Laughter] What can I say? I’ve had a and the right kind of change. harder life. [Laughter] And he and Myra I am grateful to you for what you’ve done have been wonderful to us. And Amy has for me, but what you can do for Hillary, what been good enough to work for me at the you can do for the Vice President, and most White House, and for Mrs. Gore, and we important, what you can do for America and feel that she’s a part of our family. your children’s future will matter even more. Arnold and Rachel have taken me in in Thank you, and God bless you. Arizona, as well as always coming up here 698 Apr. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 when I show up. And I’m just so grateful forget it. And I want you to know that I never to all of you. And Jane always whispers in forgot, and I thank you. my ear and tells me what I should really be Now, here’s what I want to say, and I say working on as President and how I should this to you partly as your President and partly be doing it. [Laughter] as a citizen, because I’m not running for any- Janie Greenspun Gale. Have I been thing this year. I’m the only person I know, wrong? [Laughter] practically, who’s not running for anything. The President. And the thing I really hate [Laughter] And most days, I’m okay about about it is that she’s normally right. [Laugh- it. ter] So I feel very much at home here. I’ll We’re in a position today that is highly un- be quite brief, but I want you to think about usual for any nation. You know, we’re in the a few things. middle of the longest economic expansion in First, I am very, very grateful to the people history. We have the lowest unemployment of Nevada for supporting me and Hillary and rate in 30 years, lowest minority unemploy- Al and Tipper through two Presidential elec- ment rates ever recorded, lowest female un- tions. It’s highly unusual for a Democrat to employment rate in 40 years, lowest welfare rolls in 30 years, lowest poverty rates in 20 carry this State. And we did it—not by much, years, lowest crime rates in 25 years. And but we did it twice. And a lot of you in this the question before the citizens of our coun- room helped. try in this election is, now what? What are I am very grateful for the support that you we going to do with what is truly an unprece- have given all my policies. The nuclear waste dented moment? issue is very important. I will say this to you— If you saw my State of the Union Address, I was not wrong when I said last year—and you know what I think we ought to do. I Brian ran an article in the paper—that we think that we ought to say, this is not a time needed Harry Reid back in the Senate, so for relaxing; this is a time for bearing down— we would have a veto-proof minority. And that this is a chance of a lifetime, and we we also got—and that was really important. ought to identify every major challenge and And Shelley Berkley also worked very hard every major opportunity our country’s got out on that, and we now have—my veto can be there and go after it, because we will never sustained. And that’s very, very encouraging, have a better chance to do it. That’s what and I want to thank all of you for that. I believe. But I’d also, in a larger sense, just like to I think that this is the time to build the thank you for 7 years and a couple of months 21st century education system. This is the of genuine support for a new direction for time to help all these families, where both our country. I want to particularly thank Con- mothers and fathers work, balance work and gressman Bilbray, who would still be in Con- family. This is the time to help deal with the gress if he hadn’t supported me. But I want aging of America, with families who provide you to know that. long-term care to their parents, for disabled We didn’t have a vote to spare in August members of their families, to save Social Se- of 1993, when I asked the Congress to cut curity and Medicare and add a prescription the deficit by at least $500 billion. And I drug benefit. knew if we didn’t do it, we’d never get the It’s time to pay the country out of debt. economy turned around. And it passed by We can get this country out of debt for the a single vote in the House and the Senate. first time since 1835. And if we do, we’ll give And Al Gore cast the tie vote in the Senate, a whole—when Amy’s my age, this country and as he said, whenever he votes, we win. will be more prosperous than it otherwise [Laughter] That broke the tie, I mean. And would have been, if we do that. every single Member of the House that voted It’s a time to deal with the big environ- for that bill can claim a large share of respon- mental challenges. It’s a time to deal with sibility for the economic prosperity this coun- the possibility we now have of making this try has enjoyed ever since. And many of them the safest big country in the world. When laid their jobs down to do it, and I will never I became President, most people didn’t think Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 2 699 the crime rate could go down. It’s gone down quite apart from my personal loyalty to him now 7 years in a row. But no one believes and affection to him, is that I’ve worked with America’s as safe as it ought to be. him for 7 years, and I know that he under- It’s a time to make a major commitment stands the future and has the knowledge and to 21st century science and technology. We experience and the strength to take us there. were talking at the other table about energy And that swamps every one of the specifics. technology and how, if we can just make one The second reason is that I believe that more discovery with biofuels, we’ll be able the Republicans’ advocacy of a tax cut even to create 8 gallons of ethanol with 1 gallon bigger than the one I vetoed last year—for of gasoline. And when you have cars getting it to become law would mean we could not 70 miles per gallon, which will be soon, it get the country out of debt; we would not would be like getting over 500 miles to the have the money to save Social Security and gallon of gasoline. It will change the whole Medicare; we would not have the money to future of the world when this happens. invest in 21st century schools. All of you In a few weeks, we’ll have the honor of would be better off, but only for a little bit. announcing that the consortium that the And I think, far better to have a more modest United States and Great Britain have been tax cut that helps people educate their chil- part of for some years, to unlock the mys- dren, provide decent child care, deal with teries of the human genome, will be com- this long-term care crisis, which is going to pleted. And 3 billion genes in 80,000 se- become bigger and bigger and bigger for all quences will all be out there, thanks to com- of our families, and get the country out of puter technology. And when that happens, debt, keep interest rates down, and keep the it won’t be long until somebody figures out economy going. how to stop people like me when we get old That’s what I believe. But these are huge from getting Alzheimer’s. Two people in my choices. And underneath it all there is some- family have had it. thing that I have—basically has been the They’ll be able to figure out how to block great passion of my life, and that is whether the gene that causes Parkinson’s, that the At- we’re going to go forward as one America torney General and many other well-known or we’re going to go back to politics as usual, people, including Michael J. Fox, now are where we just divide up in camps and see dealing with. They will be able to figure which camp is bigger. out—and Muhammad Ali. They’ll be able to A couple of Sundays ago—more than that figure out how to identify all kinds of cancers now, but just recently, on a Sunday, I had when there are just a few cells collected, and an opportunity to go to Selma, Alabama, to it will dramatically increase the cure rate. All commemorate the 35th anniversary of this stuff is right around the corner. Not to Bloody Sunday, where Congressman John mention the fact that I think within a couple Lewis, then just a young man, and Reverend of years, you’ll actually know what’s in those Hosea Williams and comedian Dick Gregory black holes in the universe. This is going to and a lot of others marched across a bridge be a very interesting time to be alive. over a river at Selma on their way to Mont- We also see, in a more sort of tangible gomery. They were beaten and beaten back. way, the role the United States still has for But a few days later, they marched to Mont- peace and freedom around the world, from gomery, and 6 months later we got the Voting the Middle East to Northern Ireland, fight- Rights Act. ing against terrorism and the spread of weap- And it was one of the—for me as a south- ons of mass destruction, the work I tried to erner, it was one of the great moments of do when I was in India and Pakistan recently. my life. And most of the people who walked And I guess what I would like to say to over that bridge are still alive, and most of you is that beyond all of the specifics, the them walked over that bridge with me again. simple question of this election is, what are But I was thinking about the 35 years that we going to do with this money? And the have—some of you are too young to remem- American people have big choices. And the ber; most of you are around my age. Let me reason that I support Vice President Gore, tell you something about 35 years ago. 700 Apr. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

We celebrated the longest economic ex- It’s a big challenge. We can fix it right now. pansion in history this February. So we were We can basically prepare ourselves for it right sitting around talking about it one day, and now. That’s just one example. But that’s the I had all my economic advisers there. And decision the American people are going to I said, ‘‘Now, before we broke this record, have to make. More than anything else is the when was the last longest economic expan- general thing—are we going to go back to sion in history?’’—1961 to 1969. So in ’64, an approach that is more satisfying in the I graduate from high school—low inflation; short run that we know doesn’t work, or are low unemployment; high growth; Lyndon we going to try to keep building on the Johnson is President; high optimism that he change of the last 7 years? Are we going to will be able to lead the country away from pick leaders that we know understand the the heartbreak of President Kennedy’s assas- future and can take us there, or are we going sination, and we’ll solve all the civil rights to pick people who say things we like to hear problems in the Congress and in the courts. and may make it easier for us in the next We’ve got some people in Vietnam, but no- month or 2? body thinks it’s going to tear the country That’s really what’s going on here. And I apart, and everybody believes America will guess what I would like to tell you—it hit prevail in the cold war—’64. me with Selma—and I say this more as a And even in the bloody conflicts like citizen than as President. I have waited now Selma, it was all part of progress, you know. for 35 years for my country once again to Things were happening. Okay. Four years have a chance to build a future of our dreams later, 1968, we’re graduating from college, for our kids. It’s a long time. It may not hap- Brian and I are. June 8, 1968, we’re at pen again in our lifetime. That’s why this Georgetown finishing college 2 days after election is so important. Robert Kennedy was killed; 2 months after So if they ask you why you came here Martin Luther King was killed; 9 weeks after today, I hope you can give them that answer. Lyndon Johnson said he couldn’t run for Thank you very much. President anymore because the country was just split right down the middle on the Viet- NOTE: The President spoke at 11:39 a.m. at a pri- nam war. vate residence. In his remarks, he referred to A few weeks later, President Nixon is brunch hosts Brian L. and Myra Greenspun and elected on one of these ‘‘us’’ and ‘‘them’’ their daughter, Amy; Mrs. Greenspun’s parents, Arnold and Rachel Smith; Janie Greenspun Gale, campaigns. I call them ‘‘us’’ and ‘‘them’’ cam- vice chairman, board of trustees, Las Vegas paigns. He represented the Silent Majority— Springs Preserve; former Representative James H. that was his slogan—which meant those of Bilbray; actor Michael J. Fox; former boxing us that weren’t for him, we were in the loud champion Muhammad Ali; and civil rights activists minority, and there was something wrong Hosea Williams and Dick Gregory. with us. A few weeks after that, the longest economic expansion in American history came to an end. Remarks at a Democratic National Now, what’s that got to do with this? You Committee and Nevada State know, I’m not trying to be a downer here; Democratic Party Reception I’m an inherently optimistic person. But this in Las Vegas is a moment for making tomorrows. This is April 2, 2000 not a moment for indulging ourselves in all this good stuff that’s going on today. And the Thank you very much. Well, first, let me only way to really ensure that it continues say I am delighted to be here. When I got to happen is to keep thinking about tomor- up this morning—a little early, because we row and keep trying to make them and to had this shift to daylight savings time—it was take on these big challenges we know are cloudy in Washington. And I think I made out there. a good swap. [Laughter] I just talked to There are going to be twice as many peo- Hillary on the phone, and I’m on my way ple over 65 in 30 years as there are today. to northern California to do an event and Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 2 701 see our daughter tonight, and I think I made I want to thank Governor Miller, too, for a good decision to travel West today. I love being my great friend and for all the things coming back to Las Vegas. that we’ve done together. We even took a I will say—you know, Jan was kind of josh- trip to the Balkans together recently, and we ing with me on the way in. I said, ‘‘Gosh, had a good time in Bulgaria. I want to thank I love this house.’’ And she said, ‘‘Well, you you, Ed Bernstein, for running for the know, I’ll give you a lot of variety because United States Senate. It’s a hard thing to do I move every year.’’ [Laughter] And I think as a private citizen, and I thank you. she ought to give this place at least 18 And thank you, Rory Reid, for being the months. This is a wonderful place, and I’m chair of this party. I want to thank all the delighted to be here, and I think we all are. members of the legislature and the city coun- I want to thank Senator Bryan, as he re- cil, the county commissioners, Mayor Gibson tires. I want to wish him well and thank him from Henderson, for being here. I want to for all that he did as Senator, Governor, and thank Ed Rendell, my great friend, who attorney general. I’m so old and creaky, I when he retired as mayor of Philadelphia, served with both Dick Bryan and Bob Miller, I said I had a little part-time job I wanted and I thank you, sir, for everything you did. him to do. [Laughter] And he’s embraced it Thank you, and we wish you well. with gusto. I want to thank Harry Reid, and I want Thank you, Janice Griffin. There was a to thank you, Representative Berkley, for couple here who have not been introduced helping to get the votes that will guarantee that I’d like to acknowledge. They’ve come that when I veto that nuclear waste bill, the from Chicago, and Lou Weisbach and his veto will be sustained. And I thank you for wife, Ruth—he’s the head of our Jefferson that. Trust Program for the Democratic Party. I told the people of Nevada in November And I want to welcome them to Las Vegas of 1998 in no uncertain terms that if they and thank them for coming out here with wanted to have the law observed instead of me. And I want to thank former Congress- short-circuited, they had to reelect Harry man Bilbray for being here. Reid, and that we needed a Member of Con- Let me say one thing about him, as well, gress from our party who had agreed with I said earlier. We celebrated—I will begin us here. And you won, and you won. And and end with this fact—we celebrated the Harry was like Jack Kennedy in 1960; he longest economic expansion in the history of didn’t buy a single vote he didn’t need. America in February. It happened because [Laughter] when Al Gore and I were elected, we first And I want to be heard again publicly on of all said, even before we took office, that this. If it hadn’t been for your delegation we were going to do something about the working the Congress, explaining the issue, crippling deficit and the debt of our country, we would never have gotten enough votes which had quadrupled—quadrupled—in the on our side—and we did better this time— 12 years before I took office. The deficit was to sustain the President’s veto. And I would $290 billion, projected to be about $400 bil- hope the people of Nevada will think about lion this year. And we said we would do this in this coming Presidential race, because something about it. I’m not on the ballot, and I won’t be here And interest rates immediately started to next time. And I’ll guarantee it; it is an abso- drop. Then I presented a program; they start- lute certainty, 100 percent certainty, that ed to drop again. Then, in August of ’93, there is a difference in position between the came decision time. Were we finally, after candidates on this issue. 12 years of irresponsibility, going to actually Keep in mind, when the study was origi- do something about the deficit that was grip- nally done, there were two sides that were ping our country? thought to be appropriate, possibly. One was Now, don’t forget what America was like in Nevada; the other was in rural Texas. So in 1992: high unemployment; high interest I’ll leave it to you. [Laughter] I know you rates; low growth; every time we’d get out can figure this out. of a recession, we’d fall right back in; social 702 Apr. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 problems getting worse; Washington full of and prosperity, and that anybody who wanted name-calling and political division, not much to be a part of that should have a chance. going on. That’s what was happening. And we have now worked for over 7 years. And the Republicans made a decision that We not only have the longest economic ex- they would not give us a single, solitary vote pansion in history and 21 million new jobs, on the deficit reduction package in 1993. Not we’ve got the lowest unemployment rate in one. And the leadership put the word out; 30 years, the lowest minority unemployment no one could budge. And they told everybody rate ever recorded, the lowest female unem- this was nothing but a tax increase, in spite ployment rate in 40 years, the lowest welfare of the fact that we cut thousands of programs rolls in 30 years, the lowest poverty rates in and eliminated hundreds. And they said it 20 years, the lowest crime rates in 25 years, would wreck the American economy, and the highest homeownership in the history of they washed their hands of it. They said, the country. Now, that is the record. ‘‘We’re not responsible for what happens.’’ We have also downsized the Government And they certainly aren’t. [Laughter] to the point—it’s now the size it was when And this man, Jim Bilbray, voted with me. Dwight Eisenhower was President, and that And he gave up his seat in Congress because was a year or 2 ago. And yet, we’re doing of it, because by 1994 the American people more. So there’s not a real debate here. What had not yet felt that the economy was doing we have stood for works. And what we have better. They had not felt it. And the Repub- to decide now is, what are we going to do licans could come out and say, ‘‘Well, they with this moment of prosperity? Are we all voted for tax increases.’’ Well, a few of going to give in to our fears, or are we going you may have had your taxes increased— to act on our hopes? Are we going to take about 1.2 percent of the American people the easy way because there seems to be no did. The rest either had no tax increase or adverse consequence, or are we going to sort an income tax cut. of lift our visions and take on the big chal- But we lost a lot of good people in the lenges of the future? Congress, and he was one. But I want you The real issue is here, not what we’ve done to know, if he hadn’t cast that vote, we for the last 7 years, but now that we have didn’t—we passed that budget by one vote. this moment, what are we going to do with And everything that has happened since, it? And my answer to you is quite simple. right down to the longest economic expan- You get a chance like this once in a lifetime, sion in history, would not have happened if a country does. And we have got to use this we hadn’t gone from deficits to surpluses, moment to take care of the big challenges and gone from high interest rates to low in- that our children are going to face when they terest rates. And I thank you, Mr. Bilbray, grow up. And I’ll just mention a few. for what you did. We could create 21st century schools with Now, let me say—I want to just get out world-class education for all of our kids. But and say hello to you, and it’s a warm day, we’ve got to have high standards, account- and I don’t want you to have to stand a long ability, and support, from after-school and time in the Sun. But I want you to think summer school programs to computers to about this. If I were to ask you, what’s this modernized facilities in a lot of the cities like election about, what would you answer? Philadelphia where the average school build- This is my answer: Seven years and a few ing is 65 years old, and in New York, where months ago, Al Gore and I took office. And many of the schools, believe it or not, are we said we were going to put the people of still heated by coal-fired furnaces built in the this country first by going beyond the politics 19th century. We can build those 21st cen- of division to try to create a country in which tury schools. there was opportunity for every responsible We can deal with the 21st century family. citizen; in which we had one community We have to help people balance work and across all the racial, religious, and other lines family. What does that mean? It means, that divide us; in which we’re the leading among other things, I think people ought to force in the world for peace and freedom get a tax deduction for college tuition. I think Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 2 703 they ought to get a tax credit for long-term cause I think it’s important. Let me tell you care, because more and more families are something—it really matters who is in the taking care of their elderly parents or mem- Senate. They’re going to vote on a com- bers with disability. I think that we ought prehensive test ban treaty; the Republicans to have a tax incentive for child care for work- just voted it down. The first time since the ing families. Those are the kinds of tax breaks dawn of the nuclear age the United States I favor. walked away from its responsibility to a safer I think we ought to raise the minimum world. But he would vote for the Com- wage again. The last time I raised it, they prehensive Test Ban Treaty. It’s a big deal. said it would increase unemployment. Since The world these children are going to live then, we’ve had record job growth. People in will have all kinds of people trying to build ought to make a decent living. I think these small-scale nuclear, chemical, and biological are the kinds of things that we ought to do. weapons. You can’t say it doesn’t matter just I think that we ought to recognize that because we’re out here and things are pros- when we baby boomers retire, there will only perous today. It does matter. be two people working for every one person It matters who—the next President is drawing Social Security, and we should move going to appoint between two and four mem- now—now—not then, now, to lengthen the bers of the Supreme Court. Who do you want life of Social Security to 2053—that’s my pro- voting to confirm them? You need to think posal—out beyond the lifespan of the baby about these things. And I will say again, this boom generation; to save Medicare; to add nuclear waste issue, it will not go away. So a prescription drug benefit. Sixty percent of you need to reelect this fine woman to Con- the seniors in this country today can’t afford gress, and you need to vote for a Senator the prescription drugs they need. We ought who will fight with us, and you need to re- to do it now. member that if you make the wrong decision We ought to act now to prove we can grow in the White House, you can forget it; it’s the economy and preserve the environment history. You need to remember these things. and deal with the problem of climate change Let me just say again, this is the longest and all the other environmental challenges economic expansion in history, and I’m we face. It’s not necessary to hurt the econ- proud of it, and I’m grateful I’ve had a omy to do that. chance to be a part of it. And I’m delighted You get the idea. I remember one of the that I have had an opportunity to be Presi- members of the other party criticized me for dent, and I love this job. I never would quit going to India and Pakistan because we if I weren’t term limited, I don’t think. didn’t, so-called, ‘‘get anything.’’ I think we [Laughter] got a lot out of going to India and Pakistan. But I say this to you as a citizen. The last I don’t want them to have a war, and I think time we had an expansion this long was in that we should do it. I believe America the sixties. And when I—I grew up in it. I should be a force for peace and against dis- graduated from high school in it in 1964, and crimination and hatred—from Kosovo and I did think it would go on forever—low un- Bosnia to the Middle East and Northern Ire- employment, low inflation, high growth. I land, to Africa and India and Pakistan. That’s thought all of the civil rights problems of the what I believe. country would be solved in the Congress and Now, all of this is at issue. I’m for Al Gore the courts. I had a President, Lyndon John- for President not just because I’m devoted son, who was going to do it. I never dreamed to him and I feel loyalty because he’s been the country would be divided over Vietnam the finest Vice President in history, but be- in 1964. By the time I graduated from col- cause I know—because I know he under- lege, Robert Kennedy had been killed 2 days stands the future and he has the experience, before; Martin Luther King had been killed the ability, and the will to lead us in this di- 2 months before; Lyndon Johnson, 9 weeks rection. before, had to get out of the President’s race And I came here to help these folks in because our country was divided over Nevada who are running for Congress, be- Vietnam. 704 Apr. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

Richard Nixon got elected on a campaign restore the Japanese economy and to bring saying he was for the Silent Majority, which Asia back from its financial crisis. means those of us who weren’t for him were And I just wanted to say that the thoughts outcast in the loud minority, launching whole and prayers of the American people are with decades of divisive politics. And just a few him, his family, and the people of Japan. We months afterward, the longest expansion in hope for a speedy recovery. And in the mean- American history was gone—history. It was while, we will work with Acting Prime Min- over. ister Aoki to maintain the strong relationship Now, it’s a pretty warm day, and we’re all we enjoy. in a good humor, and there’s not a more opti- But I think Prime Minister Obuchi is a mistic person out here by this pool than me. very good man, and I—it’s sad news for all But I’m telling you, this is the chance of a of us here in America, but we’re pulling for lifetime. That’s what you’re here for. Are we his recovery, and we will—we will keep our going to take on the big challenges, or go prayers there. back to the easy way out? Are we going to Thank you very much. pull together across the lines that divide us Q. What are you hearing about—about with things like the hate crimes bill and the how he is? employment nondiscrimination bill, or are The President. Nothing. I have tried to we going to go back to ‘‘us’’ and ‘‘them’’ poli- get more information, but all I know is that tics? he’s hospitalized, and the condition was seri- I’ve been waiting for 35 years for this to ous enough to appoint an acting Prime Min- roll around again—35 years since my country ister. That may or may not mean anything, had a chance to build the future of its dreams you know. My guess is that they’ll have to for its children. I’m a Democrat by heritage, wait a while and assess—— instinct, and conviction. I’m proud of what we’ve done. But the best is yet to be. You 2000 Elections go out and tell people that, and we’ll win Q. Mr. President, did you hear—did you in November. hear Mr. Lazio’s comments today indicating Thank you, and God bless you. Thank you. he might get into the New York Senate race? The President. No, I have no knowledge NOTE: The President spoke at 1:06 p.m. at a pri- of that. vate residence. In his remarks, he referred to Thanks. former Mayor Jan Jones of Las Vegas; former Gov. Bob Miller of Nevada; senatorial candidate Ed NOTE: The President spoke at 9:15 p.m. at Bernstein; Rory Reid, chair, Nevada State Demo- Moffett Field. In his remarks, he referred to Act- cratic Party; Mayor James B. Gibson of Hender- ing Prime Minister Mikio Aoki of Japan. A tape son, NV; Edward G. Rendell, general chair, was not available for verification of the content Democratic National Committee; and Janice of these remarks. Griffin, chair, Women’s Leadership Forum. Remarks at a Democratic Remarks on Arrival in San Jose, Congressional Campaign Committee California, and an Exchange With Reception in Palo Alto, California Reporters April 2, 2000 April 2, 2000 The President. Thank you very much. I must say, when Dick was talking about all Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi of Japan those fights we’ve taken on, and I got to The President. I just wanted to say that thinking about some more—when I helped I have heard today the sad news that Prime Mexico. The morning we gave them financial Minister Obuchi has been hospitalized with aid, there was a poll in the paper that said, a stroke. He has been a good friend to me by 81 to 15, the people thought it was a mis- personally, a good friend of the United take. So he kept talking about that. I thought, States. And he has been a tireless worker to Mr. Gephardt is up there describing a fool, Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 2 705 and now I have to get up and speak. [Laugh- the visa issues and a whole range of other ter] issues. I want to especially thank—there are I want to thank Jim and Bridget for having many people here, but I see John Doerr and us here. It is truly beautiful, and I always Eric Schmidt within my line of sight, who like to have an excuse to come back. And have called me on your behalf and badgered I want to thank my daughter for showing up me at all hours of the day and night to move tonight. Those of you—we were just talking the Government faster. They said, ‘‘We real- around the table about newborns. When your ize that the Government is not in the Inter- children grow up, you’re always mildly sur- net age, but at least we ought to be out of prised when they want to spend time with the stone age. Please move.’’ you. It’s actually quite wonderful. [Laughter] I thank them and all the rest of you who So this is quite nice for us. have done that over the last 7 years. Dick I want to thank the Flying Other Brothers. Gephardt’s talked about the issues and the I wonder how many young people here are stakes, and you’re well aware of them. But Dead Heads in the crowd. But they were I would like to say just a few things to you. great. And I apologize, they caught me by First of all, there is a huge difference in surprise. They invited me to play with them, these two parties. And there is no doubt, as and I thought, well, these poor men don’t Mr. Gephardt said, that the Democrats are know that that saxophone mouthpiece has no in the minority in the House of Representa- reed on it. And then after he went back up, tives today because in 1993 and in 1994 they I realized they had actually pickled me some had the courage to vote alone, without a sin- reeds in a jar there. So you guys will have gle Republican vote, to bridle the enormous to give me a raincheck; I’ll do it some other deficit that had quadrupled the American time. We’ll have another chance to do it. debt in 12 years—it was $290 billion a year Band member. We’ll hold you to it. when I took office, slated to be about $400 [Laughter] billion this year. And we just decided we had The President. I want to tell you how to do something about it—that if we didn’t grateful I am to the Members who are here, do it, we’d never get interest rates down; to Patrick Kennedy and Bob Menendez, to we’d never get investment up; we’d never get my good friend Charlie Rangel, and to Zoe growth going in the American economy. We Lofgren and Ellen Tauscher, to Nancy Pelosi had a little bit of a recovery; we were going and Anna Eshoo. California has a marvelous to slip out of it. We just knew that we had combination of women there. We also have to do it. Martin Frost from Texas here and David Wu And from the moment I announced our from Oregon. We’re glad to have them. plan in December of ’92, things really took And I want to thank—and maybe others— off. And then we had the vote, and I’ll never I want to thank Mike Honda and Adam forget this—in August of 1993, when all Schiff for being willing to run for the House these Members were having to walk the of Representatives, and I, too, believe they plank and go down and vote—and not a sin- will win. I want to also thank all of you not gle Republican was going in—all the Repub- only for being here but for the work that we licans were saying, ‘‘You know, this is going have done together actually since I started to be a disaster; it’s going to be horrible; coming out here in 1991. I wanted the we’re not responsible for anything that hap- Democratic Party in the 1992 election to be pens after this.’’ And they’re not. [Laughter] the party of the future in America. And it That’s what they said, and they were right. was quite obvious to me and to anyone who And then we got into the gun business. was paying attention that we couldn’t be the We passed the Brady bill, and we passed the party of the future unless we came to those assault weapons ban, which Senator Fein- of you who are making the future. stein was especially active in passing. And oh, And I want to thank you for all the things they said the world was going to come to we’ve worked on—to pass a pro-competition an end. And we lost—I’m telling you, we lost Telecommunications Act in 1996, to change a lot of Members of the House of Represent- some of the laws on exports and deal with atives on the budget bill, because the people 706 Apr. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 hadn’t felt the benefit of the improving econ- This party—I want to thank Congressman omy by ’94, and on the gun issue. I’ll never Gephardt. I know you probably all saw the forget, when I went back to New Hampshire, big press he got when he came out for a five- which is a State like my home State of Arkan- or six-point plan directed specifically at our sas, where more than half the people have high-tech future, or a permanent extension a hunting license, and I said, ‘‘I want to go of the research and experimentation tax cred- into the middle of a bunch of hunters’’—and it—a number of other issues that the Demo- I went back in ’96, because they beat a Con- cratic caucus has embraced to move us for- gressman up there because he voted for the ward. But there is a big difference. assault weapons ban and the Brady bill. And Now, we’re in Washington today fighting I told those guys—I remember, there were for some things that I think are important. just all these guys in their plaid shirts just We believe that we ought to stop giving out looking at me kind of souled up, and I said, education money to projects that don’t work, ‘‘You know, if any of you missed a day, even and only fund those things which do. We be- an hour in the deer woods on account of the lieve that there ought to be high standards. Brady bill and the assault weapons ban, I We think there ought to be an end to social want you to vote against me, too, because promotion. But we think that every child that Congressman lost his job because of me. ought to have a chance to learn. Children But if you didn’t, they lied to you, and you shouldn’t be blamed when the system fails. need to get even.’’ And they did. I thank Governor Davis for his cham- I say that because one of the things that pioning the charter school movement, and I wanted to do when I ran in ’92 was to all of you who have helped that. But we also change the whole way people thought about need to have after-school programs and sum- politics in Washington. Everything was ei- mer school programs in these schools. We ther/or. You know, there was a liberal posi- need to close the digital divide and finish the tion and a conservative position. There was a Democratic position and there was a Re- work of hooking up all the classrooms to the publican position. Everybody was supposed Internet. And a lot of you have helped us to hunker down and fight and get their 15 with that, and I thank you for that. seconds on the evening news. And as a result, We need to reform the health care system not very much got done, and we kept getting and add prescription drugs to Medicare cov- deeper and deeper and deeper in the ditch. erage. We need to save Social Security and And I believed that you could be, for exam- take it out way beyond the life of the baby ple, pro-business and pro-labor. I thought boom generation—and we can do that if we you could be pro-growth and pro-environ- don’t have a tax cut that’s too big. And that’s ment. I thought you could be pro-work and going to be a big deal when all of us baby pro-family. I thought we could balance the boomers retire. budget, still invest more in education and We need to have a tax cut we can afford, technology and scientific research. And lo and it ought to be targeted toward helping and behold, it worked. And I want you to people send their kids to college, care for understand this. These people here, who their parents and disabled family members have served with me, under the most relent- and long-term care, and to help working peo- less pressure imagined, have stood up for a ple on modest incomes afford their child care politics that will both unify this country and and other expenses. move us forward. We need to carry, I think to a much great- You know, I’m not running for anything er degree than we have, a commitment to this year. And most days, I’m okay about it. the notion that we can improve the environ- [Laughter] I do have a mild interest in the ment while we grow the economy. That’s Senate race in New York that I’m—but I what this whole global warming issue is come here tonight as much as President as about. All over the world, there are people an American citizen who has had a unique who just don’t believe that you can get rich vantage point on this last 71⁄2 years. And I unless you put more stuff in the air that heats will say again, there is a huge difference. up the Earth. They think you’ve got to burn Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 2 707 more coal and more oil, and in the digital to take all of the metal detectors out of the economy that is not true. It is not true. airports, and the next time somebody blows Pretty soon, we’ll all be driving cars that up a plane, I’m going to throw the book at get 80 miles a gallon, and if we can crack them.’’ You think about it. That is the logic the last little chemical barrier, we’ll be able that the other party has in blocking this com- to have biofuels where you can make 8 gal- monsense gun legislation. This is a big deal. lons of ethanol, for example, with only 1 gal- And it will carry over into other issues. It lon of gasoline. And then we’ll all be effec- does carry over into the tobacco issue and tively getting 550 miles a gallon. many others. So there is a huge difference. Pretty soon everybody will be building But maybe most important of all, there is their houses with glass that keeps out more a difference about how we define our com- heat and cold and lets in more light. We munity. We’re for the hate crimes legislation. saved $100,000 a year on the White House We’re for the ‘‘Employment Non-Discrimi- power bills just by changing the lights in one nation Act.’’ We believe that everybody ought place. I’ve ordered the whole Federal Gov- to be a part of America if they’re willing to ernment to do what we did when we greened obey the law and work hard, then everybody the White House. It will be the equivalent ought to have a chance. We think everyone of taking 1.7 million cars off the road. And matters; we think we all do better when we it’s just the beginning. help each other. That’s what we believe. These are some of the things where we I think that’s even more important than actually differ with the other party. And Dick our commitment to high technology and sci- was talking about the gun issue. Somebody entific research. One of the unbelievable iro- asked me what I thought about Charlton nies of this world in which we live is that Heston the other day saying all those mean we think about now, in the next few years, things about me, and I said, I still like his not only these energy advances I mentioned, movies. [Laughter] And I do. And I actually but just in a couple of months, I will be able liked him—he came to the White House, to to announce the sequencing of the human the Kennedy Center Honors a couple of genome, that it will be finished. And then years ago. And I know that that’s the way before you know it, we’ll figure out how to they think. But you have to understand the block the genes that cause Alzheimer’s or difference between the two parties. Parkinson’s. The Republicans who follow the NRA be- Before you know it, we’ll be able to find lieve that guns are the only area of our na- cancers when there are just a few cells. There tional life where we should deal with prob- will be unbelievable advances in bio- lems only with punishment and no preven- chemistry, and a lot of you have been a part tion. They say, just throw the book at some- of that. We’ll find out what’s in the black body if they violate one of these existing laws, holes in the universe in the next two or three but for goodness sakes, don’t inconvenience decades. It’s an amazing time. anybody else by closing the gun show loop- Now, isn’t it interesting, since all of you hole, by requiring child trigger locks, by ban- are in the .com world, that for all the wonders ning the importation of large capacity ammu- of the modern world, the biggest problem nition clips, which make a mockery of our people face is the oldest problem of human assault weapons ban. This is a big deal be- society, the fear of the other, people who are cause it shows you how they define commu- different. And therefore, the most dangerous nity. thing in a society are people who seek to ex- How would you feel if I said, ‘‘You know, ploit that fear of the other and that dif- nearly everybody who goes in an airport is ference. a good, honest citizen, 99.9 percent of them I just got back from India and Pakistan are, and those metal detectors when it’s and Bangladesh. Now, I was in a little Indian crowded and you’re late for your plane are village—you may have seen it, I was dancing a real pain, you know, especially if you’ve got with the village women, and they were a big money clip or something that keeps throwing flowers and everything—a very going off. It just drives you crazy. So I want poor village, but they have a computer with 708 Apr. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 software sufficient to give the poorest vil- this economy moving again and we had to lagers, in Hindi or English, or good visuals, take a stand for sensible gun safety laws, but if they don’t read very well, all of the infor- because I know they can represent that kind mation available from every national and of future. I can look at every Member here state agency in India in a little village, and and imagine some—remember some con- they have a printer. versation I’ve had with them over the years So I watched a woman with a newborn that just made me proud that they were baby come in and get the web page for the members of my party. health department on the line, and she had I just want to leave you with this thought. it on her screen and exactly what she was Most of you who have done real well here supposed to do in the first few months of are younger than I am. And I never her baby’s life. And then she printed it out, thought—you know, the older you get, young and she took it home, and she had informa- is always defined as somebody who’s a year tion in this remote rural village in India, just younger than you are. But I want to tell you as good as anybody could get here in north- a story about this moment, because I want ern California. you to understand, this is a terribly important I went to Hyderabad, where I met with election. I have worked as hard as I could the chief government minister. They have 18 to turn our country around and get us moving government services on the Internet now. If in the right direction. We have the lowest you’re there, you can get a car licensed on unemployment rate in 30 years, the lowest the Internet. Nobody goes to the revenue of- African-American and Hispanic unemploy- fice anymore. Governor, if you do that, you’ll ment rate ever recorded, the lowest female Laugh- be elected until the end of your life. [ unemployment rate in 40 years. That’s the ter] This is an amazing thing. good news. But there’s still people in places If you look at America, there are 750 com- left behind. panies in Silicon Valley, alone, headed by In- dian-Americans. There are 200 ethnic groups We’ve got the lowest crime rate in 25 in America; Indians and Pakistanis both rank years, but the country’s still too dangerous. in the top five in per capita income and per We still haven’t stepped up to our environ- capita education. And yet, they are sitting mental responsibilities. And there are still a there staring at each other across the divide lot of dangers out there in the world. One of Kashmir with nuclear weapons. And they of the reasons that I hope so much that this can’t let it go, and they can’t get beyond it. China MFN bill will pass, then getting China Can you imagine what would happen to into the WTO, is that I think it will reduce the Middle East, in no time, if we could actu- the tensions across the Taiwan Strait, and I ally resolve the remaining differences? It’s don’t want a conflict there that will totally no accident that Ireland has the fastest grow- set back all of east Asia for a generation. I ing economy in Europe, because they finally want them to keep moving forward, and I started to make peace with one another. And think it’s important. yet, everywhere we see these demons. So let me say this. I want you all to listen It’s very important that the governing part to this—especially those of you who are in Washington believe that we can be one younger than me. In February we celebrated America and be committed to the future and the longest economic expansion in American a unifying vision of the future. I want Al Gore history. So I got all my little team together to be President, not just because I’m grateful and we were laughing, probably being a little to him for being what everybody knows is too self-congratulatory, because you had as the most influential Vice President in history, much to do with it as we did. All I did was but because he understands the future, and try to create the conditions and give people he has the ideas, the experience, and the will, the tools to make the most of their own lives. the strength, to lead us there. But I asked them, I said, when was the I want these people to get in the majority, last longest economic expansion in history? not just because I feel terrible that they fell And it was between 1961 and 1969, when on the sword for me when we had to get we grew up. So let me tell you a story about Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 3 709 that. And I’m not telling you this to get any- be about divisive things. This is a time for body down. There’s no more optimistic per- building tomorrows. It comes along once in son in this tent tonight than me. But I want a great, long while. You have helped to make you to listen to this—1964, at the high water- it so. And you can make sure that we make mark of the last longest economic expansion the most of this election. in history, I graduated from high school. Lyn- These people should be elected because don Johnson was President, uniting the coun- they represent the future, and they represent try after President Kennedy’s tragic assas- unity, and they believe we can go forward sination. We had low unemployment, low in- together. It is a precious gift. We have fought flation, high growth, and everybody thought for it and worked for it and stood for it in it was just going to go on and on and on. strong winds. But now, it must be ratified We had a civil rights challenge, but every- in this election. one thought it was going to be handled in If somebody asked you tomorrow why you the Congress and the courts, not in the came here tonight, tell them that. Tell them streets, because we had a President and a we’ve got the chance of a lifetime to build Congress who believed in them. No one be- a future of our dreams for our children, and lieved that what was then a sort of simmering you believe that these Democrats can give conflict in Vietnam would rip the heart out it to you. of America. And so we just rolled along. We Thank you, and God bless you. thought it would go on. NOTE: The President spoke at 10:10 p.m. at a pri- Then, what happened? Four years later, vate residence. In his remarks, he referred to re- in 1968, I graduated from college—2 days ception hosts Jim and Bridget Jorgensen; State As- after Robert Kennedy was killed; 2 months semblyman Mike Honda, candidate for Califor- after Martin Luther King was killed; 9 weeks nia’s 15th Congressional District; State Senator after Lyndon Johnson said he couldn’t run Adam Schiff, candidate for California’s 27th Con- for President; a few weeks before Richard gressional District; attorney John Doerr; Eric Nixon was elected President, claiming that Schmidt, chairman of the board and chief execu- he represented the Silent Majority, which tive officer, Novell, Inc.; Gov. Gray Davis of Cali- means that those of us who were on the other fornia; and Charlton Heston, president, National Rifle Association. side were outcasts. We were in the loud mi- nority. And it was the first of many elections where we attempted to divide America be- Remarks at a Democratic tween ‘‘us’’ and ‘‘them.’’ And those that Leadership Council Conference weren’t ‘‘us’’ were by definition ‘‘them.’’ They in San Jose, California weren’t our crowd, and they didn’t have a April 3, 2000 place at our table. And just a few weeks after that, in early 1969, the last longest economic Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank expansion in American history came to an you. You saw me do this with my eyes. The end. lights are so bright in here that we only know Now, what I want to say to you as a citizen when you applaud at the right times that was that I have waited for 35 years, since we’re talking to a DLC audience. [Laughter] I was a little boy, starting out in life, to see Let me say, first of all, how delighted I am my country have a chance to build a future to be at the Tech Museum of Innovation. of our dreams for our children. We are free And I want to thank all the people from the of internal crisis. The threats we have in the museum who have made us feel welcome world, while serious, are not paralyzing. You here, a lot of them are sitting over here. But have created a whole new economy that this is a very appropriate place for us to be hasn’t repealed the laws of supply and de- meeting, and I think we ought to give them mand but has made them infinitely more a big hand for welcoming us here. elastic with infinitely more possibilities. I want to thank Mayor Ron Gonzales for This is the kind of chance that comes along welcoming us here and for reminding me of once in a lifetime. Don’t let this election be that historic meeting 10 years ago when Al about little things, and don’t let this election From and I came out here. Some of you here 710 Apr. 3 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 were there then, in addition to Ron. I see But one of the things that I really appre- Larry Stone and Toni Casey out here. And ciate is that when you say and when Zoe Steve Wesley wasn’t there then. He was Lofgren says, we can govern from the center. there shortly after. There were many others I think it’s very important that everyone un- there I’m delighted to see, because we start- derstand that we define that as a dynamic, ed something profoundly important then. not a static, term; that we get people together I want to thank the Members of Congress and find a common approach that is oriented who are here. In addition to Zoe Lofgren, toward change, not the status quo. It would Cal Dooley, and Anna Eshoo, and I think be difficult to look at a period of American Representative Martin Frost may be here— history that has had more consistent, con- someone said he was—from Texas. He was structive change in the private, as well as in one of our early Members. I want to thank the public sector than we have seen in the State Controller Kathleen Connell, who is last few years. So I think that that’s some- here, and California Board of Education thing I want to emphasize. member Reed Hastings. I want to thank all And while I’m here, because I don’t know the CEO’s who have come today. I see my when I’ll have a chance to come back and friend Dr. Irwin Jacobs, and Meg Whitman say this, I want to thank Governor Davis for and Eric Benhamou. There are many others the work he’s done in education to prove that here. And I want to thank one of the people if you have high standards and genuine ac- who was the architect of the economic policy countability and you put your money where that got so many kudos here, Laura Tyson. your mouth is, all our children can learn. I I think she’s sitting in the second row there, believe that. although it’s very bright. I want to thank him and all of you, particu- I also want to thank the young people from larly in Silicon Valley, for your support of City Year who are sitting in the back. When the charter school movement. When I be- the San Jose contingent came in, I just hap- came President, there was one charter school pened to be coming into San Jose that night, in America. There are now over 2,000, and and I welcomed them here. But they are the I think we’ll make our goal of 3,000 by the manifestation of our commitment to citizen end of the year. And I hope we will continue service that grew out of one of our DLC to see it grow and flourish. projects. We really believed we could build I want to thank you for being on the cut- an American community that was stronger ting edge of change on the issue of gun safe- and relished its diversity and still extolled its ty, as well, Governor. Last year California common values, if we could get more people passed laws to ban junk guns, limit handgun involved in citizen service. And that’s what sales to one a month, and to stiffen the as- AmeriCorps and City Year are all about, and sault weapons ban. Since then, we’ve seen I’m delighted that San Jose has such a strong similar State action all across America. representation. They’re actually having their Today, just today, Massachusetts is beginning national conference out here in a few weeks, to enforce tougher consumer product safety and I hope all of you will support them in rules for guns, banning junk guns, requiring every way you can. trigger locks, and the Maryland Legislature Let me say, most of what needs to be said is considering legislation, as we speak, on has been said. I do want to say a special word child safety locks. of appreciation, too, to Governor Davis. He Next week I’m going to California to sup- has done so well on education; he has done port a citizen ballot initiative—to Colorado, so well on the economy; he has done so well excuse me, in a State that, by registration, on crime. But actually, Gray, I was even com- has become more and more Republican in ing to California before you got elected and the last 7 years. But they’ve got a citizens’ Chelsea came to Stanford. [Laughter] Actu- ballot initiative out there in the aftermath of ally, I think I’ve been here more than any Columbine that would close the gun show President in history. I think, you know, some- loophole and require background checks on thing like 35 or 40 times. all gun sales. So I’m pleased about that. Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 3 711

We also announced a landmark agreement He, however, was willing to devote his life with Smith & Wesson, the large gun manu- to creating an organization that got people facturer, to change for the better the way together who believed ideas mattered. He guns are manufactured, marketed, and sold. believed that the center should be vital, not And already 10 California cities and counties, stale. He thought the polarizing politics of including San Mateo County, your neighbor, Washington was nuts and destructive to have pledged, when they buy weapons for America’s future. And he gave people like their police forces, to support manufacturers Cal Dooley and Anna Eshoo, Zoe Lofgren, who have high standards for gun safety and and Gray Davis and me a place from which dealer responsibility. we could work and proudly embrace our This is a huge deal, and it is appalling, the party and its heritage. And I just want to abuse that Smith & Wesson has taken from thank you, Al, for now over 16 years of serv- people who don’t want to have sensible safety ice to your country, by preserving its oldest measures, for recognizing the fact, which is, political party’s heritage and ideas and ideals. an enormous percentage of crimes are com- Thank you very much. mitted with guns, are committed with guns Ten years ago, when Al From and I came that come from a very small percentage of out here, we figured that, if the Democratic dealers. And all they’ve said is, ‘‘We’re going Party had a future, it had to be hooked into to try to manufacture safer guns, and we’re the future and that you were making the fu- going to try to use more responsible dealers.’’ ture. It wasn’t very complicated. We did not And for their trouble, they have been subject believe that America could be what it ought to enormous abuse. Smith & Wesson’s almost to be unless we had sustained economic up there with me in the abuse we’re getting growth. We didn’t think that we could tol- from that crowd. [Laughter] erate a situation where we had these huge But I just want to say—you know, some- deficits. But we also knew we had to be for body asked me the other day what I thought things, not just against things, and we wanted about all those mean things Charlton Heston to see the future being made. So we showed said about me. And I said, I still like to watch up out here, and we just started listening and his movies. [Laughter] And I still think he’s talking to people and trying to figure out a nice fellow. But I think the American peo- what implications for the way Government ple have decided that we can have our hunt- works we could find in the way the most suc- ing and our sports shooting and still have sen- cessful companies here were working. sible prevention. And this should not be the We also were trying to figure out whether only area of our life where we don’t prevent there was some way we could actually get bad things from happening in the first place. by the ideological debates that were para- Once again, I hope the United States will lyzing Washington, and what was then—it’s be following the lead of California, and I amazing, but then, the Democrats were still hope that we can pass our sensible gun safety identifying with the position that the Govern- legislation before the anniversary of the Col- ment was a solution to every problem, and umbine tragedy on April the 20th. But I the Republicans were identified with the po- wanted to thank Governor Davis for that, as sition that the Government was the cause of well. every problem. I thought both were, frankly, And finally, let me say by way of introduc- somewhat arrogant, since we have a big, tion, I don’t know if Al From will ever get complicated country in which Government’s the credit he deserves for the political revolu- interrelations with the other sectors and ac- tion which has been wrought in America over tors of our society are important. the last decade. But whatever contribution So anyway, we worked on this. And then, I have made through the DLC—and I love in 1992, Al Gore and I went to the American being in the DLC. You know, I love ideas, people and asked them to give us a chance and I’m sort of a—they used to make fun to create opportunity for all and responsi- of me for being a policy wonk when I ran bility from all and community of all Ameri- for President. But we believed ideas cans. We asked them to give us a chance to mattered. create a Government which was neither the 712 Apr. 3 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

Satan nor the savior of America but a catalyst we were preparing more people to partici- for new ideas to create the conditions and pate in it. And in that connection, there have give people the tools to make the most of been some allusions—Zoe made some allu- their own lives. And the American people sion to this, but we also worked very hard gave us a chance. I think the results speak to kind of fix the Government’s relationship for themselves. to the emerging high-tech economy. We The core of it all in the beginning was try- worked so hard in the administration on the ing to get our relationship to the new econ- Telecommunications Act of 1996 to make omy right and then try to bring more people sure it was a pro-competition bill that would into it. We, first of all, recognized that in give people a chance to get into business, a global economy, whether you were doing not squeeze them out; that would give new something new or traditional, there had to ideas and new approaches a chance to flour- be an availability of capital at affordable in- ish, not be shriveled by people who were terest rates. We had to do something about stepping on that. And I think the fight—it the deficits. And so we did it, with our crowd was a huge fight; it was very much a fight alone. worth making. And I think if you look at all I told a group last night, I never will forget the new firms and all the new successes that all those guys saying—in the Republican have flown out of the ’96 telecom act, and Party—when they were saying my economic the developments in the global economy, I plan would be a disaster for America, and think it was worth doing. they were not to be held responsible for any We have worked hard to make the other of the consequences. adjustments, some of which I’ll mention in To be fair to them, they did come back a minute, including being more flexible about in ’97, and we had a Balanced Budget Act exports and other things. But we have tried that passed overwhelmingly, with both par- very hard, because 30 percent of the growth ties and both Houses. It was one of the high of America in the last few years has come watermarks of the last 7 years because it out of the high-tech sector, to get this right. proved that when we get off our high horse, And a lot of you have played a major role we can work together to move forward to in that, and I thank you for that. make America a better place. But we had So, after 7 years, I think we can say that to first get the deficit in order. And now this approach works. And we’ve had the high- we’ve got the first back-to-back surpluses in est percentage of jobs created in the private 42 years, and the consequences are obvious. sector of any modern economic recovery. We The second thing we had to do was to ex- have the smallest Government in 40 years— pand trade. All this has been said before, but since 1960. We have about 21 million new America has got 22 percent of the world’s jobs, and as all of you know, the longest eco- income and 4 percent of the world’s popu- nomic expansion in the history of the coun- lation. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist try. And the social fabric is getting better: to figure out somehow, some way, you have The crime rate is down to a 25-year low; the to sell something to somebody else. [Laugh- welfare roll has been cut in half to a 30-year ter] And I think it’s, in a larger sense, the low; teen pregnancy is down; adoptions are world is becoming a different place, and if up; test scores are up; college-going is up. you want America to have a positive impact The country is moving in the right direction. for peace and freedom and security and pros- And as I said in my State of the Union perity, we have to be involved in the kind Address, I just want to say again today, I of networking of the world that you have think the main issue in this year’s election made a living off of both in America and be- ought to be, now what? What are you going yond our borders. It’s very important. to do with this prosperity? The third thing we had to do was to make And I want to come back to the point we’re sure we were investing in the education and here about today, but why are we doing all training of our people and our scientific and this? And it seems to me that the most impor- technological capacity, so that we could stay tant thing the American people have to de- on the cutting edge of change and make sure cide is, do they want to use this moment to Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 3 713 have a good time, or would they like to have to make about all of this for today is that a good time by meeting the big, long-term we will not be able to have an election about challenges that are still manifestly out there? that or a future that’s about that unless we You know, you know what I think. I think can keep the economy growing. And you it’s a time for dreaming big dreams and for would be amazed how much time we have bridging big divides and for dealing with big spent over the last several years figuring out, challenges. And I think that we have now how do you keep this going? Because even the resources to do things as a nation we’ve though I think you have changed the nature never had before. of the economy, I don’t believe that the sil- I think we ought to make America debt- icon chip has repealed all the economic laws free for the first time since 1835. I think we that govern nations. I’m not sure that you’ve ought to prove that we can bring free enter- repealed the laws of supply and demand or prise and the information economy to the even totally abolished the business cycle, but poorest nooks and crannies of America that I am quite sure you have made them more have been left behind. I think we ought to elastic, less predictable, and that there is make America the safest big nation on Earth. more potential for sustained growth. I think we ought to prove we can provide So we spend a lot of time thinking about, affordable, quality health care to all Ameri- what is it that we have to do now to keep cans. I think we ought to prove we can pro- this thing going? And if I could, I’d say— vide world-class education to our children, the first thing I think we need to do is go that every child can start school ready to back over the elements of the strategy. We learn, graduate ready to succeed, and go on cannot abandon our fiscal discipline. Now, to college, because the means are there. this is an idea that will be tested in this elec- I think we ought to prove that we can meet tion debate, because the Republicans now the challenge of the aging of America and favor a tax cut bigger than the one I vetoed. take Social Security out beyond the life of And I believe that if it passes, they won’t the baby boomers, reform Medicare, add a be able to keep their own promises on edu- prescription drug coverage, which we never cation, and furthermore, they will have to would have left out if Medicare were created today instead of in 1965. have massive cuts in all these things, and I think we ought to prove we can reverse we’ll go back to running deficits. But it will the course of climate change while we grow be very popular in the short run, and we’re the economy, that you, the information econ- doing so well, a lot of people will want to omy, broke the iron chain between economic believe we can do this. So it’s a big issue growth and putting more greenhouse gases the Americans will have to face. And I hate into the atmosphere. It is no longer necessary to sound like the sort of crotchety old school- to do that. It is scientifically provable it is marm, but we ought to stick with what no longer necessary to do that. And we’re brought us to the dance here. crazy if we don’t get about the business of And the increasing value of the Nasdaq preserving the global environment, as well is more important than the decreasing bur- as dealing with our local environmental den of taxes if the impact of the decreasing challenges. burden of taxes is to go back to deficits, high I think we ought to prove that we can lead interest rates, an uneducated citizenry, and the world toward greater shared peace and lower wealth creation. And we need to—this security and that we can build one America is an issue that the American people will just at home and be an example abroad for people have to deal with. to let go of their ethnic, their religious, their The second thing we have to do, it seems racial, their tribal, and other hatreds. That’s to me, is to redouble our commitment to what I think this election ought to be about, education, and training our own work force. because that’s what I think the future ought And I will just say—Gray Davis has already to be about. said a great deal about this—but it seems You know, in my lifetime we’ve never had to me the key is, we have to have a relentless this kind of opportunity. But the point I want focus on results. 714 Apr. 3 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

We have learned—back in the early portantly, today. I have spent an enormous eighties, when I started this and Hillary and amount of time in our schools over the last I redid the education laws in Arkansas, we 21 years. These schools can be turned had some pretty good ideas about what around, and all of our kids can learn. But would work. But we weren’t sure. And now you have to have high standards and genuine there’s really no excuse. There’s lots and lots accountability and the right kind of support. of research which shows what works in edu- That’s what California represents. That’s cation. And we need a relentless focus on what I believe our national policy represents. results, on standards, on accountability. I’m And I hope you will continue to support trying to get the Congress to completely them. change the way we give out Federal money, I also think that we’re kidding ourselves and only support things that we know work if we think we can continue to move this and stop supporting things we know don’t economy forward unless we educate our peo- work. ple to a far higher degree, with much more I think social promotion should be ended flexibility. But also, as all of you know and but not in a way that blames the kids for as you have been banging on me for years, the failure of the system. Therefore, I think what do we do with the shortages that exist our proposal would have universal access for right now? Our high-tech industries do face every kid in every troubled school in America temporary labor shortages, and they have re- to after-school and summer school programs, peatedly, at least during my experience. So to mentoring programs, because I think it’s we’ve tried to balance the short-term need important that we believe and prove that to increase visas for high-skilled workers with every child can learn. I think these things the long-term goal of actually educating our really matter. people so that more of them from I think that schools that are failing ought untraditional backgrounds can fill these high- to be turned around or shut down. But I wage positions. think we ought to help them be turned around, because we know, as a practical mat- Again, I want to thank Congresswoman ter, they can be. You heard Gray Davis talk Zoe Lofgren’s leadership. It’s been quite about this incentive program he’s giving. imaginative here. She helped our Nation to When you give a lot—once he’s given out strike that balance in the past with legislation a number of these bonuses, then people will that dealt with the short-term crisis and set go out and start studying the circumstances aside funds for education and training. And that these children were in when they start- now, we’ve got a similar dilemma, and she ed. And it’s going to take your breath away and Anna Eshoo and Ellen Tauscher, rep- when you see the adversity that a lot of these resenting this area, have all taken a real lead- classrooms and schools have overcome. And ership role in trying to help us get a bipar- it will reaffirm the notion that I think is tisan solution to have more workers here, to broadly shared in this room, that intelligence improve the INS, to ensure that our children is pretty well universally distributed and that benefit from the technological innovation of there’s a role to be played here in this. the new economy. I also want to say, we shouldn’t forget the I know you’re all interested in this, and importance of technology. We have gone, I wanted to talk about this, because we will now, from about, oh, 11 percent of our class- get a solution here. We will work together. rooms connected to the Internet—schools— We will come up with sound legislation. We to over 90 percent of our schools connected will find the high-tech workers you need so to the Internet today, well over half of our that we can keep growing this economy, and classrooms, thanks to a lot of you in this room we will continue to prepare our children and and the program that we’ve been working our workers for the information age. So thank on with the Vice President since ’94. We you, Zoe, and thank you, Anna, and thank shouldn’t forget that. you, ladies and gentlemen. Meanwhile, you But I just want to say to you—I believed need to keep helping Governor Davis on this this before I got here. I believe it, more im- education project. Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 3 715

Now, let me talk briefly about the China not really a trade agreement; it’s a member- issue and trade. We’ve had over 270 trade ship agreement. It’s very important that you agreements in the last 7 years. They have understand. This is a membership agree- clearly boosted economic growth. Until the ment. This is China saying, ‘‘We don’t have Asian financial crisis, 30 percent of our a modern, open economy. We’d like to be growth was attributed to the expansion of ex- in this modern, open trading system. If you ports. But they have, as Zoe Lofgren said so will let us in, here are the changes we are eloquently in her remarks, the trade issue has prepared to make.’’ That’s what this is about. become symbolic of people’s general unease Therefore, this vote by Congress is on an about globalization and their sense that the agreement that lowers no American trade world is not about economics alone. It’s barriers, lowers no American tariffs, grants about the fair distribution of gain. It’s also no greater access to China to any part of the about the preservation of other values, like American economy—nothing, zip, zilch, our values opposing child labor or abusive nada, zero. [Laughter] On the other hand, labor conditions or our desire to see the Chinese tariffs will fall by more than half over standing of the entire global economy im- 5 years in every sector, from telecommuni- prove. And somehow, these trade agree- cations to automobiles, to agriculture. ments have become a lightening rod for For the first time, American companies everybody’s dissatisfaction with everything, will be able to sell and distribute products although the evidence is, the more we trade in China without having to transfer techno- with countries and the more wealth they get, logical know-how to Chinese firms or put the more likely they are to elevate labor manufacturing facilities overseas. For the standards and improve the environment. first time, China will agree to play by the And I have really tried to be out there on same trading rules that we follow. the forefront of arguing for global efforts to Accordingly, the narrow, or broad, eco- integrate an approach to a global society that nomic consequences are 100-0 in our favor. included labor and the environment along But I believe the moral and national security with economic agreements. Now, having said arguments also favor this decision. There is that, none of that is an argument for opposing no denying, as some of the opponents of this China’s entry into the WTO and, even more agreement assert, that China is a one-party specifically, for opposing the Congress in state, that it does not tolerate opposition, that granting permanent normal trade relations to it still denies its citizens fundamental rights China. of free speech and religious expression that And I think that it’s very important that we hold very dear. That is not the question. everyone understand exactly what this is. I The question is, what is the most intel- still talk to Members who are a little bit, I ligent thing we can do to increase the think, uncertain about exactly what this legis- chances that China will become more open, lation does. We reached an agreement with more democratic, and a constructive member China for the terms of their entry into the of the global community in the 21st century? WTO. When China concludes similar agree- I think the answer is to allow them in and ments with other countries, it will join the to let liberty spread from within. WTO. But for us to benefit from the agree- Under this agreement, China will slash the ment that we negotiated, China must first tariffs that protect its inefficient state-run in- be granted permanent normal trading status dustries, industries which the Communist by Congress. It’s the same arrangement we Party has long used to exercise day to day have with other countries in the WTO. control over people’s lives. China’s leaders Now, there is a lot of controversy in Con- feel this step is essential to maintaining their gress about this vote. And I’ve heard all the competitiveness. And they’re not foolish peo- arguments. But I think that, I have to tell ple. They know it may unleash forces that you first of all just on the trade terms, in the leaders, themselves, cannot control. the entire history of trade agreements, I don’t The late Chief Justice, Earl Warren, from believe there’s ever been one this weighted California, a former Governor of California, in our favor, for one simple reason. This is said that liberty is the most contagious force 716 Apr. 3 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 in the world. In the new century, liberty will Most evangelical Christians who have mis- spread, in part, by cell phone and cable sions in China want China in the WTO. Most modem. In the past year, the number of human rights organizations want China in the Internet addresses in China in one year has WTO. I think the more the American people gone from 2 million to 9 million. This year learn about our agreement with China, the the number is expected to grow to over 20 more they will support it. I think the more million. There are 1.2 billion people in elected Representatives learn about it, the China. When China joins the WTO, by 2005, more they’ll get behind it. Support is building it will eliminate tariffs on information tech- based on the evidence. nology products, making the tools of commu- And we have signs of that today. You heard nication even cheaper, better, more widely the Governor mention the letter he’s signing. available. American telecommunications Now we have over 40 of our Nation’s Gov- firms and service providers are perfectly ernors, Republicans and Democrats, in favor poised to fill this enormous market. of granting China permanent normal trading We know how much the Internet has status. And they say it will create tremendous changed America, and we’re already an open opportunities for their companies and farm- society. Imagine how much it will change ers and more high-wage American workers. China. Of course, there’s no question China In addition to Governor Davis, I want to has been trying to crack down on the Inter- thank Governor Locke of Washington and net. Good luck. [Laughter] That’s like that Governor Schafer of North Dakota for their EDS ad. You remember that ad where these efforts. cowboys are trying to herd cats? [Laughter] We’ve got more Members of Congress That’s the best ad I saw on television last coming on board, and I thank Zoe Lofgren year. [Laughter] for the brave announcement she made today. The very fact that the Chinese Govern- And today I’m pleased to announce that the ment is trying to herd these cats shows you CEO’s of over 200 high-tech firms from how real the changes are and how much they across our country have also signed a letter threaten the old order. They are proof that urging Members of Congress to support this we should keep going in this direction, not legislation. that we should hold back. In their letter, the CEO’s say, ‘‘This vote Now, of course, I recognize that bringing is an absolute priority for high-tech compa- China into the WTO is not a human rights nies, and the most critical vote Congress will policy in and of itself, and we have to con- take on high technology this year.’’ Now, tinue to push China in every way we can to here’s the clincher I want to explain that I improve and observe human rights. We’re think a lot of people don’t understand. If we pressing for a resolution at the U.N. to con- don’t vote for permanent normal trading sta- demn human rights abuses in China that we tus and China makes its agreement with Eu- object to. We urge other nations to join us. rope, they still get in the WTO. The only But I think it is quite significant that the difference is Europe and Japan get the ben- people with the greatest interest in seeing efit of the deal that we negotiated. China change agree with our efforts to bring Opposition to this—it reminds me of that China into the world trading system. There’s old Cajun joke I learned when I was a boy. something almost patronizing in the opposi- I shouldn’t be telling this story, but I’m going tion of some elements in the United States to. [Laughter] But, I mean, really, this guy, to China coming into the WTO, when the Pierre, comes up to his friend Jean, and he people they say they’re trying to help believe says, ‘‘Jean, why do you have dynamite in they’ll be helped if China does come into your suit pocket? Usually you got those big the WTO. The citizens of Taiwan, despite expensive cigars.’’ He said, ‘‘Yeah, but every all their tensions with Beijing, by and large time I do that, Raymond, he comes up to want to see China in the WTO. And so does me, and he says, ‘Hey, Jean,’ and he hits me Taiwan’s newly elected leader. It’s a very im- in the pocket. He destroys my cigars.’’ He portant point. So does Taiwan’s newly elect- said, ‘‘Now you got dynamite? When you do ed leader. it now you will kill yourself.’’ He said, ‘‘I Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 4 717 know, but I blow his hand off.’’ [Laughter] That’s what I really believe. And there is no You think about it. point in my being delicate about this; I think We made this deal, and now we say, ‘‘We this is a big deal. And our country and my take it back. We don’t want it. We’re going successors in office, and their ability to do to give it to you.’’ We made this incredible the right thing by you and by our values, will agreement. We’ve been working on all these turn in no small measure on how we vote problems with China for years. We can’t get on this. So I realize that in this crowd I’m in the markets. We can’t distribute our auto- preaching to the saved—[laughter]—but if mobiles. We can’t distribute our auto parts. you want America’s economy to continue to We’ve got to have manufacturing and tech- grow and if you want your country to con- nology transfer. It’s all gone, and now we say, tinue to be a force for peace and freedom ‘‘We don’t want any of that. We’re going to and prosperity and to have an influence on give it to the Europeans and the Japanese. people, to get them to give up their irrational Let’s see if they can do a good job with the attachment to the animosities of yesterday, deal we negotiated.’’ we have to be willing to shoulder our burden It’s very important that you understand for the future. This is part of it and, ironically, this. The main consequence of this will be we will be one of the greatest beneficiaries to hurt America economically and to dramati- by doing what is right for China and for the cally strain our relations with China at a time rest of the world. when we need to maintain a positive ability Thank you very much. to impact their conduct, to reduce strains along the Taiwan Straits, and to get the lead- NOTE: The President spoke at 11:25 a.m. at the ers in that country to imagine the greatness Tech Museum of Innovation, to the conference of their country in future terms, not yester- entitled ‘‘New Democrats: Meeting the Chal- day’s terms. This is a big deal. lenges of the New Economy.’’ In his remarks, he It isn’t like we can stop the modernization, referred to Mayor Ron Gonzales of San Jose; Al but we can turn it into a very dark direction. From, president, Democratic Leadership Council; Or we can run a much bigger risk. You all Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone; former think about that story I told you. How many Mayor Toni Casey of Los Altos, CA; Steve Wesley, vice president of marketing and business, and times have you done that in your life? Meg Whitman, chief executive officer, eBay; Irwin Now that I am in the last year of my Presi- M. Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer, dency and I’m not running for anything, I Qualcomm, Inc.; Eric Benhamou, chairman of the can tell you, perhaps with some greater board and chief executive officer, 3Com Corp.; credibility, that I think we in America gen- former National Economic Adviser Laura erally tend to overestimate the influence we D’Andrea Tyson; Gov. Gray Davis of California; have by stiffing people, and we generally Charlton Heston, president, National Rifle Asso- tend to underestimate the influence we have ciation; Gov. Gary Locke of Washington State; and by reaching out a hand of cooperation, not Gov. Edward T. Schafer of North Dakota. in a naive way, not in a blind way, never aban- doning our values. But just—what was this DLC all about in the beginning? We were Remarks to the AFL–CIO Building sick of these partisan, rhetorical bombshells and Construction Trades that dominated Washington politics. We Department Conference thought there had to be a way to get under- April 4, 2000 neath and beyond that, to join people to- gether in constructive endeavors. And lo and Thank you. Well, the first thing I would behold, it worked. And it’s not different in like to say is John Podesta told me that he the rest of the world. emceed this retirement dinner for Bob Sun- Now, all I can tell you is, I believe that day night. And then Hillary came over here if we do this, 20 years from now we will won- for breakfast, and I just kind of got lonesome. der why we ever had a serious debate about Nobody had me come over, so I just thought it. If we don’t do it, 20 years from now we’ll I would intrude myself on your meeting. And still be kicking ourselves for being so dumb. I’m glad to be here. 718 Apr. 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

I want to say I came for two reasons. First when we help each other. That’s why we of all, I came to thank you for all the support think everyone should have opportunity, and you’ve given me and for all the work you’ve we should have a community of all Ameri- done for America and for all the people you cans. represent. I have tried, too, to be a builder, Now, if you think about where we are and the builders of this country, to me, em- today, it seems to me that even though I love body the best of America. So I want to thank to hear you cheer for me and for where we you, because without your help and your sup- are and what we’ve done, the real issue is, port, none of the good things that have hap- what are we going to do with this moment pened that our administration, that the Vice of prosperity? You know, people can be test- President and I have been part of, would ed in adversity, but they are also tested when have been possible. times are good. When you build up a great And the second thing I wanted to do was legacy, what do you do with it? And I’ve to say a special word of thanks to Bob worked as hard as I could for the last 7 years Georgine as he retires after 29 years. Thank to try to first turn this country around. Just you for your leadership on raising the min- remember what it was like when we all— imum wage, on school construction, on when Al Gore and I showed up here. We bringing investment to the new markets of had high deficits. We had high interest rates. America that have been left out of our pros- We had no job growth. We had social divi- perity, on the Patients’ Bill of Rights, and sions. We had political gridlock. I’ve worked on all the issues that specifically affect your hard to try to turn it around. The country members and working people. is moving in the right direction. What are And I wanted to also thank you for last we going to do with it? And that is the real Labor Day, where you taught me to use an issue. electric screwdriver. [Laughter] Now that And I would argue that you have a solemn I’m moving into my own home and it’s 111 responsibility in this election season not only years old, I might need that skill again, before to mobilize your members and their families you know it. [Laughter] but to reach out to the larger American com- Bob and I are both retiring. And at least munity to say, ‘‘This is not a time for self- he’s doing it voluntarily. I’m term-limited. indulgence. This is a time to concentrate on But I tell you, as we look back on the last our unique ability to meet the big, long-term 7 years, it has been a wonderful experience. challenges of America, for the most vulner- And again I say, we could not have done it able among us, for the children like those without you. What I’d like for you to do now children that are in this audience today.’’ And is just take a few minutes with me and think I’d just like to begin with one—Bob alluded about why we are where we are and where to it. we need to go. In the next 30 years, all the baby boomers I have my politics, I suppose, partly from are going to retire, and we’ll only have about the way I was raised by my grandparents and two people working for every one person my family, partly from what I’ve learned as drawing Social Security. Not two people a Governor in my home State of Arkansas total, but—[laughter]—two people. Even I and as President, partly from what I’ve ob- couldn’t get that done. [Laughter] Two peo- served about human affairs and human na- ple working for every one person drawing So- ture. But I have come to believe that there cial Security. And so there will be a great are basically two big approaches here to question here. How are we going to change American politics: One is, obviously, from the that? How are we going to accommodate the bottom up; the other is from the top down. aging of America? We’re on the bottom-up side. The other is Well, I’m about to sign a bill which re- unite and lift against divide and conquer. I moves the Social Security earnings limit, so think that most of us believe the way we do people who want to work in their later years because we think everyone counts, everyone can do so and still draw their Social Security. ought to have a chance, everyone has a role I think that’s a good thing to do. But we also to play in our society, and we all do better have to recognize that we’re going to have Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 4 719 to make some changes in order for Social any American lives to be 65 has got a life Security to mean, in the 21st century, what expectancy of 83. it has meant to the 20th century. And more and more, we need preventive We’re also going to have to make some care and chronic care. And more and more, changes in the Medicare program, which was that is prescription medication. No one—if established when President Johnson was we were starting all over again today, we we’d here, to make it work in the 21st century. never even think about having a Medicare And I’ve asked the Congress, for example, program that didn’t provide a prescription to dedicate the interest savings from paying drug component. down the debt to the Social Security Trust Now, I’ve just come from a meeting with Fund. Why? Because right now, we’re paying the Senate Democrats, and the Senate is tak- more in Social Security taxes than we’re pay- ing up the budget today, and the Democrats ing out in Social Security. So as we pay the are going to try to, first of all, say we should debt down, I want to take the interest savings not spend the surplus on risky tax cuts; we from paying the debt down, put it in the should first take care of our basic business. Trust Fund. It would now allow us to add Senator Robb is going to offer an amend- about 54 years to the life of the Social Secu- ment today, supported by Senator Daschle, rity Trust Fund and take it out beyond the that makes this simple statement: After we life of the baby boom generation. modernize Medicare with an affordable, broadbased, voluntary prescription drug ben- And I hope you’ll talk to the Members of efit, then we can move forward with sensible Congress. I know a lot of Republicans have tax cuts that aren’t so big they undermine supported many of your issues, and you have our ability to save Social Security, pay down relationships with both Republicans and the debt, and invest in the education of our Democrats. This is not a complicated deal. children. But first things first. The only reason for the Republicans not to So the Senate is going to get a resolution support this is if they want to privatize Social by Senator Robb today that says, say yes to Security, if they can get the Congress and Medicare and prescription drugs and no to the White House. Now, you need to put the having a big tax cut first. So I hope you will heat on folks to say, ‘‘We’ve got the money support that. now. Let’s dedicate it now to saving Social Now, interestingly enough, a number of Security and taking it out beyond the life of people in the Republican majority are saying, the baby boom generation.’’ ‘‘Okay, well, I’ll go along with the drug pro- The other thing we have to do is to mod- gram as long as everybody doesn’t get it. We ernize Medicare and add a prescription drug ought to stop at the poverty level or 150 per- benefit for our seniors on Medicare. Now, cent of the poverty level or maybe at the we just learned last week that Medicare, outer reaches, some of them 200 percent of which was scheduled to go broke in 1999, the poverty level.’’ Let me tell you some- last year. When I took office, they said the thing. They want to say that nobody with an Trust Fund would run out of money in 1999. annual income of over $16,700 should get We have now taken it out to 2023, and I’m help with this prescription drug benefit. I just very proud of that. But, you know, if we were think that’s wrong. designing a Medicare program today, no one If you think about it, a lot of you have would even think about designing Medicare parents, uncles, aunts—maybe your older without prescription drug coverage. brothers and sisters, that are on Medicare. First of all, because there’s been so many If they have a $300 or $400 a month drug dramatic advances in medication. And sec- bill, which is not all that rare, then $16,000 ondly, because, again I will say, the nature is not all that much money. And since this of people over 65 has changed. When Medi- benefit is voluntary—again I will say, I don’t care was originally designed, people didn’t think a widow earning $16,000 or even live much longer than 65 years, typically, and $20,000 a year is less deserving of drug cov- this was designed for emergency care or for erage than someone who is below the poverty critical care, for hospitals and doctors. Now, line. 720 Apr. 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

So I hope you will stick up for the propo- the—we’re not trying to micromanage this sition that all of our seniors should have the program. But the school districts of this option of buying into this insurance program. country do not have the money or the means That’s what made Medicare work in the first right now to do what our children need. We place. That’s what made Social Security work have finally more people in the schools than in the first place. It was a universal program we had during the baby boom generation that helped middle class people as well as after World War II. And we cannot expect low income people. And this is an oppor- them to learn in facilities that are unbearable tunity to improve the process of aging in and, in many cases, unwireable. America in a way that is humane and decent So I asked you to work with me. With your and completely affordable. So we need your help, we actually have now a strong bipar- help to get prescription drug coverage in the tisan school construction bill in the House. Medicare program this year, in the right way, And thanks to you, largely, we have both Re- for all Americans. publicans as well as Democrats supporting I also want to thank you for your devotion this legislation in the Senate and the House. to the welfare of people on the other end The House bill would allocate $24.8 billion of life’s age line, for your support for edu- to help communities build or renovate these cation and, in particular, for the work you 6,000 schools. have done to build bipartisan support for So now that you’ve gotten us some good school construction and renovation. Republican support, we have to get this to This year I have sent a budget to the Con- a vote. Once it became obvious on the House gress which will enable us to build or mod- floor that we actually had Republicans sup- ernize 6,000 schools and to repair 5,000 porting this bill and that we could pass it, schools a year over the next 5 years. This then efforts were made to keep it from com- is terrifically important. We’ve got the largest ing to a vote. So I say to you, there are a school population we’ve ever had. We want lot of people who believe that this year, be- to have high standards and high account- cause it’s election year, should be a year ability. We want to hook all these schools up where nothing gets done. And I have chal- to the Internet. lenged every Member of Congress who be- But there are schools in New York City lieves that to relinquish his or her salary for that are still being heated with coal—with a year, because we didn’t get to where we coal. The average age of a school building are today by taking a year off. You don’t get in Philadelphia is 65 years. I was in a small to take a year off. Nobody else gets to take town in Florida, visiting an elementary school a year off, and everybody’s drawing a pay- where there were 12—12—housetrailers be- check every 2 weeks. There is no reason not hind the school to take the overflow of the to continue to move forward. students. One-third of our schools are in seri- Believe me, no matter how much progress ous disrepair; a lot of them literally too old we make this year, there will still be signifi- to be wired for the Internet. Other kids in cant areas of disagreement between our trailers that need to be in modern class- Presidential candidates and between the two rooms. parties in all the congressional races. So let’s This is a big issue. We’ve been working show up for the American people and do on it for 3 years now. This week the Depart- what we can. There is no reason—no rea- ment of Education released a State-by-State son—not to pass the prescription drug ben- report, telling us that the need has grown efit on Medicare and not to pass the school and grown. Enrollment is growing; facilities construction bill this year. And you can help are crumbling. Every year we fail to act the us do it. I hope you will. problem gets worse. I am very frustrated by Now, I would like to close with the point those who say in the majority in Congress with which I began, first, with a simple thank that this is not a national responsibility. That you and, second, with a reminder that this is not true. year, this election year, imposes on all of us I’m not trying to tell people how to build an historic responsibility. We did not get to the buildings. I’m not trying to prescribe where we are today, with 21 million new jobs Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 4 721 and the lowest unemployment rate in 30 and nobody dreamed it would divide the years, the lowest female unemployment rate country. And people thought that we would in 40 years, the lowest minority unemploy- win the cold war because our values and our ment rate ever measured, highest home- system were superior, and things would just ownership in history, the lowest welfare rolls rock right along. That’s what we thought in in 30 years, lowest poverty rates in 20 years, 1964. lowest crime rates in 25 years—this didn’t Four years later, in this city, I graduated happen by accident. It happened because we from college on June the 8th. It was 2 days worked together, and we had the right ideas, after Robert Kennedy had been killed, 2 and we were moving in the right direction. months and 4 days after Martin Luther King It happened because we believed in uniting was killed. Today is the 32d anniversary of our people and lifting them up and not in his death. It was 9 weeks after Lyndon John- divide and conquer. It happened because we son said he couldn’t run for President any- believed you could be pro-business and pro- more, because the country was divided right labor, pro-work and pro-family, you could down the middle over Vietnam and there grow the economy and improve the environ- were demonstrations everywhere. ment, you could balance the budget and run It was a few weeks before Richard Nixon a surplus and still invest more in education was elected President on one of those divide and give tax relief to middle income families. and conquer platforms. And I know a lot of A study last week said that the percentage you probably voted for him if you were of of Federal income tax coming out of average voting age—that age. But let me just remind families’ incomes was the lowest in 40 years. you of what the message was. The message That’s why we had a unite and lift, not a di- was, I represent the Silent Majority, which vide and conquer theory, and because we meant that those of us that weren’t for him, kept working. And the only concern I have we were in the loud minority. So there was about this election year is that people will ‘‘us’’ and there was ‘‘them.’’ And then we had say, ‘‘Well, we’ve got the first surpluses we’ve all those ‘‘us’’ and ‘‘them’’ elections. had in 40 years, back to back. Things are Al Gore and I came along and said, ‘‘We going well. Why don’t we vote for something want to put people first. We want to unite, that makes us feel good in the moment?’’ not divide.’’ But just a few weeks after that And I just want you all to listen to this, election, in 1968, boom, the longest eco- particularly those of you that are about my nomic expansion in American history was age. In February we celebrated the fact that over. we had the longest economic expansion in What’s the point of all that? I’m not trying American history. And so I had all my eco- to get you down. I want you to be up. There’s nomic advisers in, and we were sitting around nobody more optimistic than me in this room talking about it. And I said, ‘‘Well, when was today. But we need to have a little humility the last longest economic expansion in his- and gratitude for this moment we’re in. And tory, before this one?’’ You know when it we need to understand that these things can was? Nineteen sixty-one to 1969. get away from us. And we need to be re- Now, let me tell you what happened then. solved to make the most of this. This is a In 1964 I graduated from high school, at the moment for making tomorrows, not a mo- peak of this economic expansion. We had low ment for being distracted or indulging our- unemployment, low inflation, high growth. selves but for making tomorrows. Everybody thought the growth would go on We have a chance to build a future of our forever. We had a civil rights challenge at dreams for our children. And the reason I home, but Lyndon Johnson was President. told you that story about the 1960’s was not He’d united the country after President Ken- only to remind you that nothing lasts forever, nedy’s assassination, and people believed that and you have to make the most of these the civil rights challenge would be met in things, but to tell you that, not as your Presi- the Congress and the courts, not in the dent but as a citizen, I have been waiting streets. We were sort of involved in Vietnam, for 35 years for my country to have this but people thought that was a long way away, chance. And you can make the most of it. 722 Apr. 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

So in everything you do this year, you re- Roybal-Allard, Representative Silvestre member this little story I told you. And you Reyes, Representative John Larson, Rep- remember that we have the chance of a life- resentative Eddie Bernice Johnson, Rep- time that we should be grateful for. And ev- resentative Zoe Lofgren, Representative ´ eryone you talk to and everyone you touch Ruben Hinojosa. Thank you all for being and everything you say, remind people: This here. Did I get everybody? Thank you. And is our moment for making tomorrows. Elijah Cummings from Maryland—he’s on Thank you, and God bless you. the front row. I’d also like to thank Governor Angus King NOTE: The President spoke at 12:25 p.m. in the from Maine for being here. He is working International Ballroom at the Washington Hilton to create an endowment fund in Maine to and Towers. In his remarks, he referred to Robert A. Georgine, president, Building and Construc- provide portable computers and Internet ac- tion Trades Department, AFL–CIO. cess to all seventh graders, so they can actu- ally be taken home. There are many other distinguished Amer- Remarks on Efforts To Bridge the icans here who have worked on this. Bob Digital Divide Johnson, the head of BET, thank you for April 4, 2000 being here. And I want to acknowledge the presence of former Governor of West Vir- Thank you very much. First of all, Julian, ginia Gaston Caperton, now the head of the I thank you for your introduction, for your College Board. West Virginia, under his lead- remarks, and, mostly, for the power of your ership, was the first State to provide com- example. I find very often when we do these puter access to all elementary school stu- events in the White House, by the time I dents. So we’re glad to have you here, sir. get up to talk, everything that needs to be And I thank you all for being here. said has already been said. And I certainly I want to talk about what we’re doing now thank you. as we set the stage for the administration’s I want to thank you, Senator Barbara third new markets tour, which will begin in Mikulski, for being the first Member of Con- the week of April the 16th. But before I gress to talk to me about the digital divide. begin, I would like to acknowledge two very And once I realized you were interested in important developments yesterday in Amer- it, I stopped worrying about whether we ica’s ongoing fight to protect our children would address it—[laughter]—because no from the dangers of guns falling into the one will ever say no to the Senate’s sparkplug hands of criminals and children, one of them of energy. I want to thank Secretary Herman in Senator Mikulski’s home State of Mary- for her support. And Secretary Glickman, land. thank you for being here. Harris Wofford, Last night I called Governor Glendening the leader of our national service movement; and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy and Gene Sperling, my National Economic Townsend to congratulate them and the Adviser, who has pushed this whole digital Maryland Legislature for passing legislation divide issue so passionately. requiring built-in child safety locks on new I want to thank the Members of Congress handguns, ballistics testing for new guns, and who are here. Over to my left, Senator John safety training for gun purchasers. And yes- Breaux, my neighbor from the Mississippi terday Massachusetts began enforcing tough- Delta, where we are very interested in the er consumer product safety rules, banning potential of the computer and the Internet. junk guns and requiring trigger locks. Next And we just had a large delegation of House week I’m going out to Colorado to support Members that have come in. They’ve been a citizen ballot initiative there that would voting, and I’m glad they’re here. I hope I close the gun show loophole. have all their names, but I’d like to introduce These are all great efforts, and I think it’s them: Representative Maxine Waters, Rep- worth pointing out that they are bipartisan resentative Bart Stupak, Representative efforts in these States. Colorado, for example, Ellen Tauscher, Representative Lucille Republican registration has gone up in the Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 4 723 last 6 or 7 years, and this ballot initiative the computer and the Internet give us a today is overwhelmingly in the lead on the chance to move more people out of poverty ballot. So this should not be a partisan issue more quickly than at any time in all of human in Washington, DC, if it is not a partisan issue history. That’s what I believe. But it won’t in the rest of the country. happen by accident. We’ll have to work to And again I say, I challenge the Congress make it happen. to send me the commonsense gun safety leg- On this upcoming new markets tour, we islation by April the 20th, the anniversary of will focus specifically on how to pool re- the Columbine tragedy. We have to close the sources to help communities get access to gun show loophole and require child safety and take best advantage of the tools of the locks and ban the importation of large scale information age. We will visit your hometown ammunition clips that make our assault of east Palo Alto, a community where 20 per- weapons ban a mockery. It requires national cent of the residents still live below the pov- legislation, as well. So congratulations to erty line, to show that even in the heart of Maryland and Massachusetts, and I thank the Silicon Valley there is still a substantial digital people in Colorado, but we still have to do divide but that things are being done about our job here. it. Now, I cannot imagine a better place for We will visit Ship Rock, New Mexico, a us to kick off our next chapter in the new small town in the Navajo Nation, to dem- markets effort than here in the East Room, onstrate the unique challenges faced by geo- for it was in this very room nearly two cen- graphically remote Indian reservations. I will turies ago that Thomas Jefferson and his per- speak at the influential COMDEX Con- sonal aide, Meriwether Lewis, laid maps on ference in Chicago, where I’ll talk to rep- this floor to chart the Lewis and Clark resentatives of every major computer and expedition. Internet company in America and ask them Today we are here again to chart a new to join our cause. expedition, to open new frontiers of possibili- And then the following week I will go to ties for America, the digital frontiers. Our North Carolina, where we will discuss the mission is to open that frontier to all Ameri- importance of connecting rural America to cans, regardless of income, education, geog- the same high-speed, broad-band networks raphy, disability, or race. This is a fortunate now proliferating in metropolitan areas. time for the United States. We have the On all these stops, I will make the case strongest economy in our history, the lowest that new technologies can be an incredible African-American and Hispanic unemploy- tool of empowerment in schools, homes, ment rates on record, the lowest female un- businesses, community centers, and every employment rate in 40 years. other part of our civic life, arguing that if But we all know there are people and we work together to close the digital divide, places that have been left behind. Over the technology can be the greatest equalizing last year I have traveled to many of these force our society or any other has ever places. I have been to Appalachia and the known. Mississippi Delta, to the inner cities of New- Imagine if computers and Internet con- ark and Watts, to the Pine Ridge Indian Res- nections were as common in every commu- ervation in South Dakota. Every place I have nity as telephones are today, if all teachers gone I have seen how we could do more to had the skills to open students’ eyes and bring the benefits of free enterprise and em- minds to the possibilities of new tech- powerment, with private sector and commu- nologies, if every small business in every rural nity organization cooperation, for new busi- town could join worldwide markets once re- nesses, new jobs, new training and education served for the most powerful corporations— that will make a real difference in people’s just imagine what America could be. lives. Let me say, first of all, I see Congressman I want you to understand that while most Jefferson and Congressman Rush and Con- people talk about the digital divide—and it gresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. There may is real, and it could get worse—I believe that be other Representatives, but as they come 724 Apr. 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 in, I’ll try to acknowledge them. There’s a My point is that you can see the potential ton of interest in this. of this for even the poorest people in the Let me give you an example. You know, world is truly explosive. That’s why we want I just got back from India, a country of 900 these 1,000 computer centers out there, be- million people with a per capita income of cause we don’t want to wait even for all the $450. We think we have challenges. But I schools to do this right. We want adults in saw what you could do there to close the rural areas, in isolated areas, in poor areas, digital divide, to use technology in an affirm- to be able to come in and access the same ative way. sort of services, and use them and get the I went to a little village in Rajasthan called same sort of information and access. Nayla—typical low income Indian village. The potential of this is truly staggering. We And in the public building, the village’s pub- need not see the digital divide as a threat. lic building, there is a computer with soft- It is the greatest opportunity the United ware where the programs are in both English States of America has ever had to lift people and Hindi and can be adapted to other local out of poverty and ignorance. languages as the case may be. And the first But I will say again, if you look at the whole thing I saw was a mother who had just given history of economic development, whenever birth to a child come in. And they have all there’s a change in the paradigm, there’s a the public information from the Federal and divide that opens, because some people are well positioned to take advantage of the new State government on this computer. economy. It happened when we moved from So she goes—she brings up the Health being an agricultural nation to an industrial Department’s page on newborn babies. And nation. Some people are well-positioned to there’s so much visual—there’s such a good take advantage of it, and others aren’t. So visual component to this software that you new divides always open when the dominant could be almost illiterate and still work it. way of making a living in any society changes. And she identifies the instructions that any But this empowerment tool gives us a chance new mother might want to have, and then not only to close the divide quickly but to she pushes a few buttons, and there’s a print- actually lift poor people in a way that has er. She prints it out, and she now has infor- never before been possible. mation just as good as she could get if her I just got back from northern California, baby were born at the Georgetown Medical and I learned that now—I met with some Center here, and she were going home. people from a lot of different computer com- Then I met with this women’s dairy coop- panies, but the people from eBay told me erative—keep in mind, in this little village that there are now 30,000 people-plus, mak- in India, where every transaction, every time ing a living just trading on eBay, not working they brought milk in, it was all entered on for the company, and that many of them used the computer, what the fat content was, what to be on welfare. So it’s important that we the volume was, what the price was. And see this not only for the problem it presents, every time the milk was sold, it was entered, but for the phenomenal opportunity that it so that they got a regular computerized presents, important that we see it not only record of not only what they had put in but as a way to close a gap so people don’t fall what they got out. further behind but a way to give people a Then I went to Hyderabad, which is sort tool that will enable them to leap further of a high-tech center of India. But in that ahead. But again I say, it won’t happen by whole State, you can now get 18 public serv- accident. It requires government, business, ices on the computer, on the Internet. No- educators, librarians, civil rights, religious body goes to a revenue office to buy their leaders, labor union leaders—thank you, Mr. license anymore. You can get a driver’s li- Bahr, for being here today—community- cense on the Internet. Now, Governor, if you based organizations, foundations, volunteers. do that, you can be Governor for life. They’ll Everybody has got to work together. repeal the term limits, repeal everything. Today I want to issue a national call for [Laughter] action on digital opportunity, to help us Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 4 725 achieve two vitally important goals. First, to exclusively to projects like providing tech- bring 21st century learning tools to every nical support to school systems and teaching school. That means we have to finish the job computer literacy to adults and children. of connecting every classroom to the Inter- The Corporation for National Service will net, ensuring that all students have access also unleash the power of students helping to multimedia computers, creating more high students by providing funds to allow 90,000 quality educational software, helping all high school students to get involved in digital teachers learn how to make the best use of divide projects as part of their educational these tools. And this is very important. curriculum. Again, I want to thank the Members of Most young people I know can run circles Congress here who have supported our ef- around me and most people my age when forts in the aftermath of the Telecommuni- it comes to computers and the Internet. cations Act of 1996, to create the E-rate, AmeriCorps is going to tap their capacity so which has made it possible for the schools, that they can help others in their commu- no matter how poor they are, to have access nities to close the digital divide. to the Internet. Second, to help get AmeriCorps’ E-Corps The second goal is to expand efforts far off to a running start, Yahoo will donate a beyond our schools, to give every citizen million dollars in Internet advertising to at- Internet access at home, by bringing tech- tract potential E-Corps members with high- nology centers and high-speed networks to tech skills. every single community, by helping adults to Third, in partnership with the YWCA, gain the skills to compete for IT jobs, and 3Com is launching an innovative initiative inspiring more people to appreciate the great called NetPrep GYRLS—g-y-r-l-s. Currently value of getting on line. Today is the opening of this national call less than 30 percent—listen to this—less to action. More than 400 organizations al- than 30 percent of our computer scientists ready have signed the pledge, and this is just and programmers are women. NetPrep the beginning. For the rest of the year we GYRLS will help to right this imbalance of- will try to inspire hundreds, indeed, thou- fering free computer network training and sands, more to sign up. We will work with certification to hundreds of high school girls Congress across party lines to build support across our country. for budget and legislative initiatives to meet Fourth, the American Library Association these goals. And you heard Senator Mikulski has pledged to greatly expand the informa- outline some of them. We have to be willing tion literacy programs of its members in at at the national level to do our part. This is least 250 communities. So this is just the be- a worthy Federal investment. ginning, but I want to thank the people who During the new markets tour, we’ll have were involved for these four initiatives. There an opportunity to announce many commit- will be many more, but I thank you very ments tied to this call to action. Today I’d much. just like to review four of them, all of them I’ve heard Harris Wofford, who worked vivid illustrations of the kind of visionary with Martin Luther King and who was in partnership and barn-raising spirit that we Selma with me the other day and was in are working to foster. Selma 35 years ago, when the first march First, to reprieve something Senator took place, say that making sure all young Mikulski mentioned, AmeriCorps will make Americans share in the opportunity and an enormous contribution to closing the dig- promise of America is the unfinished busi- ital divide by marshaling the power of active ness of the civil rights movement. citizen volunteers. Thanks to the leadership It is appropriate that we are meeting here of Senator Mikulski and Harris Wofford, on this subject 32 years to the day after AmeriCorps is committing $10 million to re- Martin Luther King was assassinated in cruit 750 new members to serve in a brand- Memphis. He was there working to lift the new E-Corps. The E-Corps will be a large economic fortunes of disadvantaged people. battalion of volunteers, trained and devoted I think if he were with us today, he would 726 Apr. 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 therefore say closing the digital divide is a wrong hands. The Congress should follow righteous cause. their lead and make passage of commonsense In his last Sunday sermon, he ended with gun legislation its top priority. I challenge the a prayer that said, ‘‘God grant us all a chance Congress to enact gun safety legislation be- to be participants in the newness and mag- fore the one-year anniversary of the Col- nificent development of America.’’ That’s umbine tragedy on April 20th. what this is all about. We need more people Julian. We need more people like you, not only clapping for people like Julian but help- Statement on the Democratic ing them to live their dreams. Amendment to the Budget We do that when we help young people, Resolution when we help seniors in rural America get April 4, 2000 medical advice over the Internet, when we create tools that allow people with disabilities Today the Senate begins its work on its to open new doors of possibility. We give our budget and, in so doing, will lay out its invest- neighbors a chance to participate in this as- ment and reform priorities for the FY 2001 tonishing American renaissance. We have budget. The Senate Democrats, under the done something that would have made Dr. leadership of Senator Robb and Senator King proud. And the new technology of the Daschle, will be offering an amendment to digital age gives us a chance to do it for more this budget resolution designed to put Amer- people, more quickly, more profoundly, than ica’s priorities in order. This amendment in- at any time in human history. It’s up to us sists that we do first things first and mod- to seize that opportunity. ernize Medicare with an affordable, acces- Thank you very much. sible, and voluntary Medicare prescription drug benefit for all seniors. Once we’ve done NOTE: The President spoke at 3:04 p.m. in the East Room at the White House. In his remarks, that, we can move forward with a sensible he referred to computer skills teacher and website tax cut. developer Julian Lacey, who introduced the Presi- I commend the supporters of this amend- dent; Harris Wofford, Chief Executive Officer, ment because I believe it reflects good pol- Corporation for National and Community Service; icy, the will of the American people, and ad- Robert L. Johnson, chairman and chief executive dresses a long-standing unmet need. We officer, BET Holdings, Inc.; Gov. Parris N. should not be recklessly spending money on Glendening of Maryland; and Morton Bahr, presi- an excessive tax cut before we take action dent, Communication Workers of America. to ensure that all seniors have the potentially life-saving choice of a prescription drug ben- Statement on Maryland State Action efit. It is my hope that every Member of the on Gun Safety Legislation Senate will support this critically important April 4, 2000 amendment. Last night the Maryland Legislature took an important step forward to address the Statement on Senate Inaction on the problem of gun violence by passing common- Supplemental Budget Request sense gun legislation. I commend the Gov- April 4, 2000 ernor and the legislature for their efforts to enact key gun safety measures that will, I am very disappointed that Senator Lott among other things, require built-in child plans to deny prompt consideration of the safety locks on handguns, ballistics testing for urgent and essential needs in my 2000 sup- newly manufactured handguns to help solve plemental request, including helping victims more gun crimes, and safety training for of Hurricane Floyd, providing energy assist- handgun purchasers. ance for families struggling with rising oil Maryland joins a growing number of States prices, helping keep illegal drugs out of our across the country that are taking actions to country by supporting the Colombian Gov- make guns safer and to keep guns out of the ernment’s fight against drug traffickers, and Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 4 727 building peace and stability in Kosovo to sup- things—when I was a Governor, I served port the efforts of our troops there without with over 150 Governors. I have known hun- jeopardizing our current state of military dreds of Members of Congress. And I think readiness worldwide. It is also essential to that Pat Leahy is one of the ablest and most provide debt relief for the world’s poorest visionary legislators and one of the finest peo- nations undertaking economic reforms so ple I have ever served with in 25 years of that they can join the global economy. public life. I firmly believe that any action to delay And Mr. Axworthy, I appreciate your being consideration of these pressing needs would here, but you can’t have him. [Laughter] And impose unnecessary costs to Americans at he, also, by the way, tells a pretty good joke home, to our interests abroad, and to our now and then. [Laughter] military readiness around the world. There- I’ll be very brief. I think the American peo- fore, I urge the Senate to consider the inter- ple are going to be tested this year in this ests of the Nation and to move ahead quickly election season and in the years ahead, be- with work on these urgent and essential cause of our prosperity and because all the needs. social indicators appear to be going in the right direction. Normally, democracies can be summoned to any sacrifice or difficult de- Message to the Congress cision when people are evidently under the Transmitting the Report of the gun. And sometimes, therefore, they are Corporation for Public Broadcasting most at risk of making foolish choices or April 4, 2000 going in the wrong direction when things seem to be going very well. In that way, To the Congress of the United States: groups of free people are like individuals. As required by section 19(3) of the Public Most of us who are over 30, anyway, can re- Telecommunications Act of 1992 (Public call at least one time in our lives when we Law 102–356), I transmit herewith the report made a serious mistake, not because things of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. were going so poorly but because things William J. Clinton seemed to be going so well. The White House, And I say that because I think there really April 4, 2000. are very clear choices now between the direc- tion that someone like Pat Leahy would take in his work for peace, for the health of our Remarks at a Reception for Senator children, for the health of our environment, Patrick J. Leahy for research or a whole range of issues, and April 4, 2000 the choice that the majority in Congress would take or their nominee for President Thank you. Well, first, let me say to Bobby would take. and Solange, thank you for having us in your Yet, it may seem to many voters that, oh home. I actually came to hear you sing, well, there may not be much difference; Emmylou, so you’ve got sing for me when things are rocking along here; the economy I finish. is on automatic. And I think it’s very impor- I want to thank Pat and Marcelle for being tant that people like you get together to help wonderful friends to me and to Hillary dur- people like Pat Leahy. I also think it’s very ing our sojourn here in Washington. I may important that you be able to tell your friends have been younger than you when I got here, and neighbors, who never come to political but I’ll be older when I leave. [Laughter] events like this, why you came and what the I want to thank Senator Reid for being here; stakes are. my great friend and former Senator And I’m old enough now where I remem- DeConcini, thank you, sir, for being here. ber things sometimes I wish I didn’t remem- I want to thank all of you for being here ber. I was in this city 32 years ago today, for Pat Leahy. I have been in public life now when Martin Luther King was killed in for more than 25 years. I have, among other Memphis. And I remember it. I was in this 728 Apr. 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 city 32 years ago driving down Massachusetts ‘‘them.’’ And just a few months after that, Avenue, 32 years ago 5 days ago, when Lyn- the longest economic expansion in American don Johnson told us he couldn’t run for re- history was history. election because the country was split right Now, I am very optimistic; I’m the most down the middle over the Vietnam war. optimistic person in this room. But what I What does all that have to do with this? want to tell you is, I have a memory, and In February we celebrated the longest eco- I have waited for 35 years for my country nomic expansion in American history. So I to be in a position once again to be free to had all my economic team in, and we were build the future of our dreams for our chil- celebrating, and we were happy. And we dren, to be responsible citizens of the world, were happy because we also had a 20-year to lead the world toward peace and freedom low in poverty, a 30-year low in unemploy- and security. That’s what this is all about. ment, the lowest African-American and His- And we can’t afford to let a single American panic unemployment rates ever recorded, treat this election in a casual fashion because the lowest female unemployment rate in 40 of the evident responsibilities we have and years. It was a wonderful time. because of the opportunities we have. And we were talking about the State of I know Pat Leahy is not on the ballot this the Union Address, where I kept saying year, but I’m glad you’re out here helping we’ve got to do these big things now, these him, because I told you the truth. In 25 years, big things. And I said, ‘‘Hey, just for my in- he’s one of the finest people and one of the formation, when was the last longest eco- ablest, most visionary public servants I’ve nomic expansion in American history?’’ And ever known. That’s what you need to think it turns out it was between 1961 and 1969. about all year long. And tomorrow if people And I will go back to what I said in the begin- ask you why you came here, you need to be ning, how you’re in danger, when things able to give them this answer. And if you’re seem to be going well, of breaking your con- around my age, you need to remind them centration and not making good decisions, of what happened to the last longest eco- not just individuals but nations. nomic expansion in American history, when I graduated from high school in 1964, we were casual and careless enough to think when there was low inflation, low unemploy- it was on automatic. There’s nothing we can’t ment, high growth, and we thought it would do. But we have to work at it, and we have go on forever. Lyndon Johnson had united to work together. the country after President Kennedy’s tragic Thank you very much. assassination, and we thought then the civil rights challenges of America would be han- NOTE: The President spoke at 8:20 p.m. at a pri- dled in the courts, in the Congress, not in vate residence. In his remarks, he referred to re- the streets. We knew that we had a few peo- ception hosts Robert Muller and Solange ple in Vietnam, but nobody thought we’d MacArthur; singer Emmylou Harris; Marcelle Leahy, wife of Senator Leahy; former Senator have over 500,000 or that 58,000 would die Dennis DeConcini; Foreign Minister Lloyd or that it would tear the country apart. Axworthy of Canada; and Gov. George W. Bush And then 4 years later, all this stuff I just of Texas. told you started to happen, so that by the time I graduated from college at Georgetown on June 8th, it was 2 days after Robert Ken- Remarks at a Democratic National nedy was killed, 2 months after Martin Lu- Committee Dinner ther King was killed, and the city burned, April 4, 2000 9 weeks after Lyndon Johnson said he couldn’t run for reelection. And a few weeks Thank you. First of all, let me say, Carol, after that, President Nixon was elected on I am very grateful for those words and for the first, sort of, divide-and-conquer cam- your friendship, and I thank you and David paign of the modern era. He represented the for opening your beautiful home. Nancy, Silent Majority, which means people like me thank you for being my true friend, and I were in the loud minority. It was ‘‘us’’ and thank you and Harold for being here. Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 4 729

People are always asking me what I am to a gun show on the weekend, you ought going to do when I leave office. I think to- to do the same thing. night would be an appropriate time for me And it reflects—and we believe in child to make the announcement: David and safety locks, and we believe in building safe Harold and I are going to open a consulting guns that can only be fired by the adults who firm for political spouses. [Laughter] We’re buy them. We believe in banning the impor- reasonable but not free. [Laughter] tation of large capacity ammunition clips, I want to thank Joe Andrew, who came which make a mockery of the assault weap- out here from Indiana and gave us a real ons ban. And there are differences there. boost of energy. He took over the leadership We’re different on the Patients’ Bill of of the Democratic Party when most people Rights. I don’t oppose managed care myself; thought it was not much of a prize. And then I think it’s saved America a lot of money. we got Ed Rendell to come help us, and a But I think that, ultimately, health care deci- number of other people. But Joe was there, sions ought to be made by medical profes- working day-in and day-out, and he was inde- sionals and the patients themselves. And I fatigable, and he was enthusiastic when even think that this system ought to be priced and someone as optimistic as me wasn’t sure he structured to support that. So we’re for that, should be enthusiastic. So we owe you, and and we still can’t get it out of this Republican we’re grateful, and we thank you. Congress. We’re for a minimum wage in- crease, and they’re not. These are just the I want to thank all the people here in our things that are being debated today. administration family: Carrie, thank you for Look at their budget. We’re for continued being here; Minyon; and I thank Molly big investments in education, hiring more Raiser for being here, my former Protocol teachers in the early grades, repairing 5,000 Chief; and Ann Lewis, who has defended me schools a year, building or doing major recon- better than anyone else—I think—just struction on another 6,000 so that we can about—on television consistently, which is a have excellent facilities. And they don’t sup- job from time to time. [Laughter] port that. I would like to make two or three points We’re for a tax cut that is affordable and about why I think what you’ve done is impor- is targeted to what real working families tant and why I want to urge you to continue need. We want to increase the earned-in- to support the Democratic Party, to broaden come tax credit because we think low income our base, to reach out to new people, and working people with kids ought to not have to be especially vigilant in this election year. their children in poverty. We want to in- First of all, there is a real difference be- crease the child care tax credit. We want a tween these two parties. There is a difference $3,000-a-year long-term care tax credit, be- on specific issues. Look at what we’re debat- cause so many people are having to take care ing today: gun safety. Last night I called Gov- of their parents or their disabled relatives. ernor Glendening and Lieutenant Governor We think the cost of college tuition ought Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in Maryland to to be tax deductible, because we think 4 years congratulate them on passing their legislation of college ought to be universal. That’s our regarding child safety locks and other protec- tax program. Theirs is a lot bigger and a lot tions. It didn’t have anything to do with peo- different, and most of you in this room would ple hunting in Maryland. They’ll still have be better off under theirs than ours in the a duck hunting season this fall in Maryland— short run. You are here because you disagree I’ll bet you anything. And all the dire pre- with that, because you want us to go forward dictions of the NRA will be wrong, but kids together. So the first thing I want to say is, will be safer. Massachusetts did the same there’s a difference. thing. The second point I want to make is, it’s We’re different: We think we ought to not like we don’t know which one works. close the gun show loophole. We think if you That’s the amazing thing. This ought to be buy a handgun at a gun store and you have an easy election for the American people, be- to get your background checked, if you go cause their nominee for President, even 730 Apr. 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 though he says he is for education, is for a year low in gun crime. So the question is, tax cut even bigger than the one I vetoed. are we going to build on our successes, or And all of them have endorsed him, so you change course? would have to conclude that they are serious. We have proved that you can improve the I vetoed a tax cut last year because it would environment and grow the economy. We’ve force us to run deficits again, and we could got cleaner air, cleaner water, safer food. And never save Social Security and Medicare, and now we want to take on the big challenges we couldn’t increase investment in education like global warming and getting us a more and science and technology and all of these secure energy future, which the American things. So now, they are going to the Amer- people should want after this last scare with ican people saying that ‘‘President Clinton the oil prices. made a mistake. He doesn’t know what he But if you look at what I’ve had to deal is doing in his economic program, and the with since 1995—and they are trying to Vice President is wrong, their nominee. Elect weaken our environmental protections and us, and we’ll give you an even bigger tax cut impose further burdens on our ability to pro- than the one he vetoed.’’ tect the environment— they think that’s what Now, they also are going to appoint be- is necessary to grow the economy. Now, it’s tween two and four members to the Supreme not like—we don’t have any excuses here. Court. And they are clearly on record as We know, we’ve tried it their way; we’ve tried being against Roe v. Wade and wanting to it our way. reverse it. And there are big differences on We’ve got a stronger economy and a clean- the environment; there are big differences er environment. So point number one: There on all these other issues. are big differences. Point number two: We’ve Now, what I want to say to you is, it is had a test run, a long test run, 12 years for not like you don’t know which one is right. them, 8 years for us. The results are better It’s not like the American people don’t know. under our way. We’ve got now—we have 8 years of doing Now, the third point I want to make, to it our way after 12 years of doing it their me, is more important than that. And it goes way. And you can look at the difference in beyond just whether the country is better off, the consequences. You have got to be able to the larger question of, how do you want to tell people this in real blunt terms. There to live, and how do you want to relate to is an economic difference, and you have evi- each other and to the rest of the world? dence. There is a social difference. Basically, I think the reason we have suc- They were against—my goodness, most of ceeded is that we’ve had a good philosophy them were against the family medical leave that works, that everybody counts; everyone law. They said it would really hurt the small should have a chance; everyone has a respon- business economy. We’ve got 21 million new sible role to play; we all do better when we jobs, and 21 million people are taking advan- help each other. Simple ideas: They work. tage of family and medical leave. And I think We had a big press conference today—a you could argue it’s made our economy couple of you there—on closing the digital stronger, because having people secure at divide. It’s an empowerment device that I work, knowing they can also be responsible think is very important. I think the computer in their family life, is a good thing, not a bad and the Internet—yes, they could make thing. American society more divided, but they give So there is a different economic policy. us the chance—the chance—to lift more There is a different social policy. By and people out of poverty more quickly than ever large, they were against our 100,000 police. before in all of human history. Not only in They were against the Brady bill, against the the United States, but all around the world— assault weapons ban, except for a handful of if we do it right. them. Now we’ve had evidence: We now But we have to be governed by the right have half a million felons, fugitives, and stalk- philosophy, the right values. And that is ers couldn’t get handguns under the Brady weighing on my mind a lot. A lot of you have bill. We’ve got a 25-year low in crime, a 30- been hearing me talk about this—you know Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 4 731 it is. But I believe that our attitude, our basic country was split right down the middle over approach to life and public life and citizen- the Vietnam war. ship, determines in large measure how we Now, I’m not trying to be a downer for make the most of this world we are living any of you; there is not a more optimistic in. person than me in this house tonight. But I’m very grateful—I went this morning— I’m telling you this to make you sober, be- I started off the day at the building trades, cause we’re celebrating the longest economic and there were 2,500 people there. And Bob expansion in history. And in February, when Georgine, the head of the union, is retiring it happened, and we were all patting our- after 29 years. And it was wonderful, and they selves on the back—probably a little too were all saying ‘‘Thank you very much.’’ And much—I asked my economic team when the it was great for me. You know, you always last longest economic expansion in history want to think one or two people will miss was, and they said, 1961 to 1969. you when you are gone. And I remember it very well, because I But the truth is, I feel much more strongly was coming of age. And when I finished high about what we are going to do with this elec- school in 1964, we had low unemployment, tion and with our future than I do about the low inflation, high growth. We thought, oh, achievements of this administration for the this thing is going to go on forever. We had last 7 years, and what I am going to get done President Johnson uniting the country; ex- President Kennedy had been killed; we in this last year, because I’ve worked very thought he was going to get rid of poverty, hard to try to help the American people turn we thought all the civil rights problems the country around. would be handled in the Congress and the But this is what counts, because now we courts and not in the streets. We thought ev- are in a position to really take all this success erything would be fine. and do big things with it. We can get the And a couple of years later—so I come country out of debt for the first time since to Georgetown, to college, this big-eyed kid, 1835. We can make sure no kids grow up believed in America and promise of America, in poverty. We can give every child a world- and living the American dream, and every- class education. We can deal with the chal- thing was going to be great. And all of a sud- lenge of climate change, deal with our energy den, we’ve got riots in the streets, and people security, and actually create jobs doing it. We are fighting over the Vietnam war. can bring economic opportunity to the places And by the time I graduated from college, and people that have been left behind. We it’s 2 days after Senator Kennedy was killed can be a stronger force for peace and free- and 2 months after Martin Luther King was dom throughout the world because of all this killed, and 9 weeks after Lyndon Johnson success we’ve had. We can make America the couldn’t run for reelection. And a few weeks safest big country in the world. There are before President Nixon was elected on a very big, big things we can do. different idea from the idea I just gave you. We can save Social Security and Medicare My idea is unite and lift; theirs was divide for all the baby boom generation. Big things. and conquer. That’s what the Silent Majority But we have to have the right attitude. We was all about. Do you remember the Silent have to really believe that everybody matters; Majority? If you weren’t part of it, you were everybody ought to have a chance; everybody part of the loud minority. That was me. has a responsible role to play; we all do better [Laughter] I remember that. But it was ‘‘us’’ when we help each other. We’ve got to really and ‘‘them,’’ not ‘‘us’’ together. And just a believe that. And we’ve got to act on it. That’s few weeks after that election, poof, the long- what this whole election is about. est economic expansion in American history It’s weighing on my mind now, because was history, over. today is the 32d anniversary of Martin Luther Now, what’s that got to do with today? King’s death. Five days ago was the 32d anni- Well, today, we’re blessed. We have less in- versary of Lyndon Johnson telling us he ternal crisis and external threat, but we’re not couldn’t run for President again because the free of those things. And all of life, every 732 Apr. 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 day is a gift. We should be humble, humble all benefit. That’s why I’m a member of this in the face of this great prosperity of ours party. That’s why I’m here tonight, and why and absolutely determined to make the most I implore you to be messengers every day of it. between now and November. So what I want you to do—thank you for Thank you very much. your money. Thank you for helping us to be able to compete. And don’t be discouraged NOTE: The President spoke at 9:29 p.m. at a pri- when you see they have more than we do. vate residence. In his remarks, he referred to din- ner hosts Carol and David Pensky; Nancy Zirkin, It doesn’t matter; they out-spent us $100 mil- director of government affairs, American Associa- lion in ’98, and we won anyway—in historic tion of University Women, and her husband, terms. All that matters is that we have Harold; Joseph J. Andrew, national chair, and enough to get our message out. But you need Edward G. Rendell, general chair, Democratic to be messengers. You need to say, ‘‘I’m for National Committee; Director of Presidential them, because there are differences between Scheduling Correspondence Carrie Street; Assist- these two parties.’’ You don’t have to bad- ant to the President and Director of Political Af- mouth them, you don’t have to demonize fairs Minyon Moore; Counselor to the President them. You don’t have to do what they so Ann F. Lewis; Gov. Parris N. Glendening of Mary- often do. land; Gov. George W. Bush of Texas; and Robert A. Georgine, president, Building and Construc- You just have to say, ‘‘Look, there are dif- tion Trades Department, AFL–CIO. ferences between these two parties, and I agree with our position on the economy, on crime, on social justice, on individual rights, Remarks at the First Session of the on the concept of community. I’m for hate White House Conference on the New crimes legislation. I’m for the ‘‘Employment Economy Non-Discrimination Act.’’ I don’t believe we April 5, 2000 ought to single out racial minorities or women or gays or anybody else and run them The President. Thank you, and good out of our community; as long as they’re law- morning. I want to welcome all of you here abiding citizens, they ought to be protected for this conference. Let’s get right to work. and be a part of our future.’’ There are dif- We meet in the midst of the longest eco- ferences, number one. nomic expansion in our history and an eco- Number two, we tried it their way; we nomic transformation as profound as that tried it our way. Our way is better. We’ve that led us into the industrial revolution. got the evidence. We’ve got a stronger econ- From small businesses to factory floors to vil- omy, a cleaner environment, a lower crime lages half a world away, the information revo- rate, a more cohesive society, and a strong lution is changing the way people work, role in the world for peace and freedom. learn, live, relate to each other in the rest Number three, this can get away from us, of the world. It has also clearly changed the and we have to make the most of it. And role of Government and how it operates. the most important thing of all is how we This conference is designed to focus on feel about ourselves and one another. And the big issues of the new economy: How do we really do believe we all do better when we keep this expansion going? How do we we help each other. So we don’t want to go extend its benefits to those still left behind back to divide and conquer; we’re for unite in its shadows? What could go wrong, and and lift. how do we avoid it? That’s what I hope this I’ve waited for 35 years for a day like this. conference will be about. I’m sorry I won’t be around to keep on doing The roots of this meeting stretch back to it. [Laughter] But I’m quite confident that our first economic conference in December if we make the right decisions in this election, of 1992 in Little Rock, shortly after I was the best days of this country are ahead. elected President. Then, some of the leading The thing that matters is not all that we minds from around the country and across have done. The thing that really matters is the economic spectrum addressed a chal- what will we do with it and whether we’ll lenge that, to all Americans, was immediate Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 5 733 and clear: Unemployment was high; interest sponsible for about 30 percent of our eco- rates were high; the deficit was exploding; nomic growth. It accounts now for about half the debt had quadrupled; even an apparent of business investment. And just as Henry recovery was generating no jobs; and inequal- Ford’s mass-produced cars and the assembly ity had been increasing for well over a line itself had broad spillover effects on the decade. productivity of the American economy, these Thanks to a strategy designed to bring new technologies are doing the same thing, down the deficit and convert it into sur- rifling through every sector of our economy, pluses, to expand trade, to invest in edu- increasing the power of American firms and cation, training, and technology, and to estab- individuals to share broadly in its prosperity. lish conditions in which the new economies Today, information technologies allow in- could flourish, especially in the Tele- dustries to recognize, instantaneously, communications Act, which was passed about changes in demand and to manage their in- 4 years ago now, the American people, Amer- ventories more efficiently and quickly. They ican entrepreneurs, have given us a remark- are speeding the development of new prod- able recovery. ucts to market. Supercomputers, for exam- The performance of the new economy has ple, have helped Detroit automakers cut the been powered by technology, driven by development times of new cars by half or ideas, rooted in innovation and enterprise. more. They’ve helped pharmaceutical com- It has opened doors of opportunity and chal- panies cut down the development time for lenged our very understanding of economics. new anticancer drugs by several years. I remember sitting around a table in Little Clearly, they will have a profound effect, Rock in 1992, asking my economic advisers information technologies, in biomedical how low unemployment could get without sciences in the 21st century, as we see by triggering inflation. The consensus was some- the simple fact that in the next few weeks, where between 51⁄2 percent and 6 percent. we will announce for the first time the com- Now, bear in mind, these were people who plete sequencing of the human genome, were philosophically committed to low un- something that will have been literally impos- employment and were willing to resolve sible without information technology. And of doubts in favor of it. No one believed then course, just contemplating the potential im- we could have 4 percent unemployment on pact of nanotechnology on the biological a sustained basis without inflation. No one sciences alone staggers the imagination. believed that this economy could generate Information technology clearly is also cre- productivity rates of more than 2 percent a ating a lot of more mundane opportunities year on a consistent basis. Now, we’re nearly in E-commerce for traditional businesses, as at 3. well as the .com companies. And business- There is no single answer about how this to-business E-commerce is growing even happened. I think, clearly, the nature of the faster than business-to-customer commerce. new economy and the strength of the Amer- In 3 years, it may reach a staggering $1.3 ican entrepreneurial system led the way. The trillion in the United States alone. fact that many of our traditional industries We know all of this is just the beginning. and workers increased their productivity So now we want to share the best ideas and played a role. I also believe the Govern- ask the right questions. Economists, for ex- ment’s commitment to fiscal discipline, to ex- ample, like to talk about speed limits for the panded trade, to investment in people and economy: Do we have higher speed limits technology, and to cutting edge research— today? Do they exist anymore? How do we and again I say, to establish the conditions measure the impact of technology in this in which the new economy could flourish— economy? What will be the sources of tomor- played a large role as well. row’s growth? Now, one of the things that I think is im- We know when it comes to education that portant to focus on is just some basic facts. the right teacher and the right computer can Information technology today represents give a student in the poorest neighborhood only 10 percent of American jobs, but is re- the same access to every library and every 734 Apr. 5 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 source of information as a student in the [At this point the first panel discussion began, most privileged private school. But those who and the President called on several of the are left out will be left further behind. How participants.] do we close the digital divide? Can poor areas The President. Thank you. I promised in the United States and entire developing myself I wasn’t going to inject myself into nations leapfrog an entire stage of develop- this until we—[laughter]—until we heard ment, jumping ahead to cutting-edge tech- from everybody. But I just want to throw out nologies, avoiding not only the time it takes two or three questions, because I want to to go through the industrial economy but also get—after we hear from the panelists, I want the unpleasant side effects, particularly of Secretary Summers and our CEA Chair, pollution and global warming. How can we Martin Baily, to say a few words. And then best make that happen? How important is I want to have some questions. information technology relative to other But just—all of you have raised a couple pressing needs of developing nations, such of issues. Let me just ask you to think about as health or education or improving agricul- this, everybody. On this question of the busi- tural productivity? Or do they go hand-in- ness cycle, we’ve had, since the Second hand? World War and before the information tech- Technology can allow nations to grow their nology revolution, generally a trend of longer economy without harming the environment. expansions and shorter recessions. So that’s, presumably, the product of generally better How do we convince people around the economic management. Is there something world, and even in the United States, that inherent in the technology revolution, as Pro- this is true? fessor Romer at Stanford and others have ar- I believe the computer and the Internet gued, that basically, if it doesn’t repeal the give us a chance to move more people out business cycles, it makes them far more elas- of poverty more quickly than at any time in tic even than better economic management all of human history. I believe we can harness would warrant? the power of the new economy to help peo- The second thing I think worth ques- ple everywhere fulfill their dreams. On my tioning is, have we avoided inflation due to recent trip to South Asia, I saw the begin- wage demands because workers are smarter nings—just the beginnings—of that than they used to be and they understand potential. that they’re in a global economy and they But it is clear that none of our hopes for can’t ask for more than their company’s prof- the new economy—which are really hopes its will warrant? for a better society, one in which we are And the third thing I wanted to just ask brought together, not driven apart; one in you to think about, since I was hoping Pro- which we sustain our Earth, not exploit it; fessor Galbraith would raise this question of one in which we lift up the poor, as well as whether I was making a mistake to try to those of us who are better off—that these get us out of debt, because some of my good developments will not just happen. They, too, friends have accused me of practicing Calvin Coolidge economics—let me tell you what will take new ideas, new initiatives, new inno- my reasoning is, and I just want you all to vation, the kind of thing that so many of you think about this, because I’m prepared to have done for so many years now. I thank have somebody say I’m wrong about this. you for being here. I thank you for being The reason that I wanted to continue to part of this dialog. And I’d like to get started. pay down the public debt is that private debt Our first panel discussion is entitled, ‘‘Is in this country is so high, both individual and the New Economy Rewriting the Rules on business debt, and I worry in the same way Productivity and the Business Cycle?’’ And you do about that coming down not only on I’d like to ask Abby Joseph Cohen, chair of individual firms and families but also on the the investment policy committee at Goldman economy as a whole. So I figured what really Sachs, to begin. matters is the aggregate savings rate or the Thank you very much. aggregate debt-to-wealth ratio, and if I can Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 5 735 keep bringing down the public debt, we ever recorded, although we’ve only been could keep interest rates down and at least disaggregating it for, I think, just a little less lengthen the time between now and some than 30 years. But still, it’s much lower. But darker reckoning on that. the per capita income is still quite—there’s So the reason that I always thought it was a lot of difference. important to pay down the public debt, once The poverty rate has gone down dramati- we got into surplus, is that private borrowing cally among African-Americans and His- is so high in this country. And the debt-to- panics but not as much for Hispanics as Afri- wealth ratio is not bad at all, because of the can-Americans—I suspect because we have value of the markets. But still, the individual more first generation immigrants coming in and firm debts are quite high. So I was trying still, who are classified as Hispanics in all this to get the aggregate balance right, and that’s data collection that we do. been my logic all along and why I think it’s I would just like to posit—first of all, my different from previous times when, I admit, sense is—and I’ve fought this battle hard for the Government’s been in surplus when it all these years—that the opposition to affirm- should not have been. ative action is easing again, as the middle Professor Nordhaus. class members of the majority feel a little more secure. But what I am interested in [William D. Nordhaus, a professor of eco- is, how do we take these hopeful numbers nomics at Yale University, made brief re- and sort of translate them into genuine eco- marks, and the panel discussion continued.] nomic parity? The President. Thank you. They did a For example, we’re debating in the Con- great job, didn’t they? Let’s give them all a gress now how much we ought to raise the hand. Thank you. cap for the H–1B visas, basically to get the I would like now to ask Secretary Sum- high-tech workers in the Silicon Valley into mers, and our CEA Chairman, Martin Baily, the Washington, DC, area and other places. to make a few brief remarks, and then I will And I basically—I’m a pro-immigration per- open to the audience and the panel for dis- son, generally. I think it’s made our country cussion. stronger, and I’m not against this. But we Larry? don’t still have, in my judgment, a com- prehensive enough strategy to move a lot of [Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers and African-Americans and Hispanics who are in Council of Economic Advisers Chairman the work force now—so they have X level Martin Baily made brief remarks.] of education, but they’re not yet in the new The President. Thank you very much. economy, so that they’re fully participating. Anybody in the audience like to make a com- And I think this is still a continuing chal- ment or ask a question to any of our panel- lenge for us. Two years ago African-American ists? Yes, ma’am. If you could stand and iden- high school graduation rates equaled white tify yourselves, and then I’ll just move around graduation rates for the first time in history. the room as best I can. That’s the good news, and all these things you’ve said are absolutely right. But we’re [At this point, the question-and-answer por- still not there on college-going, college grad- tion of the session began.] uation, and participation in the new econ- The President. I would just like to make omy. And we need a lot of focus on it. a couple of observations just very briefly The second question you asked is, what about this. Even though the participation of happens the next time there’s a recession? women in the labor force is the highest it I’d like to point out, if I might defend the has ever been, the unemployment rate position I took, briefly, in welfare reform, we among women is the lowest in 40 years. basically—welfare reform, in terms of the That’s the good news. The bad news is there money that welfare recipients got, was al- is still about a 25 percent pay gap. ready a State-determined entitlement before The unemployment rate among African- welfare reform, because the States got to set Americans and Hispanics is the lowest we’ve how much they were given. So the rate for 736 Apr. 5 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 a family of three varied everywhere from what happened is—when the market’s recov- $187 a month, roughly, in Mississippi, and ered, I think what happened is people actu- about that much in Texas, to $655 a month ally read the statement instead of the head- in Vermont, before welfare reform. lines, or whatever. We kept the national requirement for food I think in the biotech area, our position stamps and for medicine. And what we’re try- ought to be clear. General information ought ing to do is find more efficient ways to move to be in the public domain as much as pos- people into the work force. We have done sible about the sequencing of the human ge- that. The great unanswered question is, if nome. And where public money contributed there is high unemployment again, what do to massive research on the basic information, we do with the work requirements and how we ought to get it out there. If someone dis- do we make sure people get a good income covers something that has a specific commer- stream when they literally can’t go into the cial application, they ought to be able to get work force? And that’s a challenge that will a patent on it. And the question is always have to be addressed. But the tools are there going to be, are you drawing the line in the to do it. right place? But I believe we’ve got the peo- Yes? ple together with the skills and the experi- ence to draw the line in the right place. And [The question-and-answer session contin- I think that’s the right policy. I’m quite con- ued.] fident it is. And what we really need now The President. Since we want to hear is to make sure it is implemented in the right from everybody, I can’t possibly answer the way. education question, but I will give you one Fred? And then we’ll just keep going. sentence on it. Every problem in American C. Fred Bergsten, director, Institute for education has been solved by somebody [ International Economics, made brief re- somewhere. There are public schools per- marks, and the question-and-answer session forming at an astonishing level with children continued. from very diverse backgrounds, in terms of ] income, race, ethnicity, and first language. The President. If I could just make one The big challenge in American education comment about this. I’m worried about it, is nobody has figured out a mechanism to the size of the trade deficit. But I would like make what works in a lot of places work ev- to just make two counter arguments that you erywhere, which is why we’re trying to should all consider. change the law to stop giving out Federal There is no question in my mind that the money to people who don’t produce results openness of our markets in the last 7 years and spend it based on things that we know has kept inflation down and enabled us to will work. grow more. And I could give you lots of very This is not a cause for despair. There are specific examples when we began to see success stories everywhere, under breath- tightening of supplies and various products takingly difficult circumstances. The problem and services where there would be a little is, we haven’t figured out how to replicate spike, and it would come down. it, or we don’t have enough incentives to rep- The second thing is, we had a very strong licate it. And that ought to be something that economy, stronger—more growth than our we focus on, plus bringing opportunity out friends in Europe and Japan did, both at the there. In New York City, you’ve got kids time of the Mexican crisis, which imperiled going to school in buildings that are heated all of Latin America, and at the time of the by coal. We have schools that are too old Asian financial crisis. Now, I think those to be wired for the Internet. We’ve got a things happened for reasons that all of us lot of physical problems, and we have to con- could debate till the cows come home, and tinue to invest in. But we are moving on that. I think there have been some improvements On the patent thing, you know, Tony Blair in the international financial architecture and I crashed the market there for a day, which will minimize the likelihood of the re- and I didn’t mean to. [Laughter] But I think currence of that. Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 5 737

But I believe that America keeping its is going to deal with the impact of the new markets open, even absorbing a bigger def- economy on governance. And that’s a very, icit, helped Asia to recover more quickly, very important issue, so I hope you will all helped Mexico to recover more quickly, and hang around for it. But I’ll defer what I have over the long run, therefore, was good for to say till then. But would any of you like the American economy as well as being the to talk about this? responsible thing to do. So I’m worried about Go ahead. it, but given the historical facts surrounding [The question-and-answer session contin- each of the last 4 or 5 years, I don’t know ued.] that we could have avoided it. The President. Let me say before we [The question-and-answer session contin- leave, since a couple of you mentioned the ued.] global aspect of this, I just got a note that The President. If I could just make one I think is very good news. The Speaker of observation. I think another thing we’re the House, Dennis Hastert, announced this going to have to make up our minds to do, morning that he scheduled a vote on perma- if we want the schools to function well, is nent normal trading relations with China, to pay the teachers enough to get good teach- which would open their markets to our goods ers. California has just passed a very impres- and services, for the week of May the 22d, sive reform proposal that will allow very large and this is very good news. bonuses to go to teachers that actually This agreement slashes tariffs by about produce results. And I’m going to be very half on everything from automobiles to agri- interested to see whether it meets with the culture to telecommunications, and it also support of the people and actually produces slashes those tariffs which protect the state- improved learning and outcomes. run industries in China which, in large meas- But teachers in California actually are ure, have been the instrument of single-party going to make a decent living as a result of control there. So I think it will lead to an the reforms just adopted by the legislature opening of the society and a rise in freedom that the Governor supported. So I think you and personal choice. all have to come to terms with this. We’ve We’re talking about the new economy. got the biggest student body in American his- Two years ago there were 2 million Internet tory, the most diverse one, and 2 million users in China; last year there were 9. I think teachers are about to retire. So for all of our this year there will be somewhere between reform prescriptions, if you want good peo- 20 million and 25 million. ple to go into these classrooms, they’re going So I think that this is very, very important. to have to be paid. And I want to thank the Speaker and the leadership of the House for doing this. And [The question-and-answer session contin- I assure you, I will do what I can to pass ued.] it. I think it’s not only in our economic inter- The President. I want to call on the gen- est, this is a profoundly important national tleman over on the left, and then I’m going security interest for the United States. So we to have to call this session to a close, because end the panel on a piece of good news. we’ve got to go to breakout sessions and we Thank you very much. Let’s go into our have two more panels and we’ll all be able breakout session. to continue this conversation. Go ahead, this is the last question. NOTE: The President spoke at 9:25 a.m. in the East Room at the White House. In his remarks, [The question-and-answer session contin- he referred to Paul Romer, professor of econom- ued.] ics, Stanford University; James K. Galbraith, pro- fessor of public affairs and government, University The President. What I’d like to do is give of Texas-Austin; and Prime Minister Tony Blair our panelists here a chance to comment. I of the United Kingdom. The transcript released have some thoughts on it, but we’re going by the Office of the Press Secretary also included to have a panel, the last panel of the day the remarks of the participants. 738 Apr. 5 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

Remarks at the Second Session of the that despite the seismic shifts in the global White House Conference on the New economy, he’s kept his feet firmly planted Economy on the ground. April 5, 2000 For 7 years now, I’ve had elaborate in- structions from the Secretary of the Treasury The President. Thank you very much. and from all my staff about what I was sup- Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed the conference posed to say and not say—[laughter]—about to date. I heard the breakout sessions were the Fed’s decisions and about the Chairman wonderful. One of the things that I have not of the Fed. One of our major newspapers yet been able to do, although I still have hope ran a story a couple of months ago referring that quantum physics will enable one of my to us as the ‘‘Odd Couple.’’ I took it as a successors to be in five places at once, but compliment—[laughter]—and I hope he I haven’t figured out how to do it yet. I’m wasn’t too chagrined. delighted that you’re all here again. Ladies and gentlemen, the Chairman of After Mr. Greenspan speaks, we will have the Federal Reserve. our two final panels, one on closing the global [Chairman Alan Greenspan made remarks.] divide in education, health, and technology, and the second on strengthening civil society The President. Thank you very much, and empowering our citizens with new eco- Chairman Greenspan. nomic tools. I’d like to now begin the panel. The topic The afternoon discussions will take up of this discussion is ‘‘The Global Divide in where the last one left off. This morning we Health, Education, and Technology.’’ This is had a panel which acknowledged that this something that, also, as I have said before, new economy presents phenomenal opportu- exists within each country. We have at- nities and new challenges. The next panel tempted to address it here and are attempt- will explain that the stakes are even higher ing to do more with our new markets initia- for developing countries and, by extension, tive and our efforts to close the digital divide. for poor areas within our own country. But I think it’s clear to all of us that we Today, there are more phone lines in Man- have a special responsibility and, indeed, a hattan than there are in all of Africa. So we real opportunity to make a better world, in- can imagine what the information infrastruc- cluding for those of us who live in wealthy ture could mean to that entire continent. countries, by addressing this issue globally. I want to discuss in the panel what we can The United States has supported substantial actually do to help deal with a lot of these debt relief for the poorest nations. We have challenges, and I also hope in the second attempted to craft a response to climate panel we will discuss not only how we, as change, which would enable sustainable citizens, relate to each other, our commu- economies to be developed in poorer coun- nities, and our Government but how Govern- tries with our help, and we have tried some ment itself should change in the information microeconomic approaches with our aid pro- age. grams. Now, I want to introduce Chairman Last year, for example, the Agency for Greenspan by saying first that, as far as I International Development funded some 2 know, he was one of the first people to speak million microenterprise loans in Africa, Asia, of the new economy, the impact of informa- and Latin America. But there is a great deal tion technology, and the extent to which it yet to be done. And we have a truly amazing has rewritten the rules. Of course, he’s done panel, and I want to thank them all for being more than talk about it. His analysis has here. helped to shape the public’s understanding I want to begin by calling on Bill Gates, of this powerful transformation, and his deci- the founder and chairman of Microsoft. And sions have helped it to continue in our coun- I want to say, I have noticed in my many try apace. trips to Silicon Valley and other repositories We’re grateful for his 12 years of steward- of the new economy, that while there are a ship at the Federal Reserve. We’re grateful lot of people who have amassed amazing Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 5 739 amounts of wealth, I see more and more So there is the issue of getting them in; younger Americans more concerned about then there is the issue of what their opportu- what they can do with their wealth to benefit nities are when they get there. And I hope the society and to solve the larger problems there will be more discussion about this. But of the world than how they can spend it. And it occurs to me that one of the things we the Gates Foundation has made some phe- always see—I was in a little school in Uganda nomenal commitments to the education of where they’re very proud of the fact that all minorities in America and to dealing with a their children are going to elementary school. lot of our most profound global problems. These beautiful children in their beautiful And I want to thank you for that, Bill, and starched pink uniforms were in this old offer you the floor. school looking at a map that had the Soviet Union on it. [Mr. Gates made brief remarks.] But if you could put a computer with a The President. Let me just say, briefly, printer in every small village in every devel- we had a meeting here, as you know, I think, oping country, they wouldn’t need textbooks with the major pharmaceutical companies in anymore because, among other things, the our country not very long ago to discuss what Encyclopedia Britannica is entirely on the we could do with them to give them tax in- Internet. So we need to really be thinking centives and other support to help to develop about things like this in different ways. vaccines in areas where most of the users I’d like to now call on Henry Cisneros, who will be in countries that are too poor to pay did yeoman’s duty in this administration’s market prices for the vaccines. So I do think first term as the Secretary of Housing and that we—and I hope our European col- Urban Development and is now the CEO leagues will follow us—should take the lead of Univision, where he has more influence in providing financial incentives so that these than he did in the President’s Cabinet, I’m vaccines can, a, be developed and then, b, sure. [Laughter] delivered. I think this is profoundly impor- Henry. tant. If you just think about malaria, TB, and [Mr. Cisneros made brief remarks.] AIDS, just take those three, the difference The President. I’d like to now call on Dr. it could make if we developed the vaccines Amartya Sen, who won the Nobel Prize in and then got them out would be quite pro- 1998 for his magnificent work on poverty, found. And the fact that we have so much ethics, and economics, and who has come of a commitment from you I think will make from Cambridge University to be with us. a real difference, and I thank you. Thank you, sir. We’re honored to have you I want to call now on the President of the here. World Bank, Jim Wolfensohn, who from the first day he took office, has really had as a [Dr. Sen made brief remarks.] critical part of his mission bridging these di- The President. Now I’d like to call on vides in traditional and in new and innovative Mirai Chatterjee, who is the secretary of the ways. Self Employed Women’s Association of Mr. Wolfensohn. India. I met her recently in Mumbai, when [Mr. Wolfensohn made brief remarks.] I took a couple of hours just to have a little roundtable with some of the younger people The President. To give you some idea of that I believe are shaping the future of her the dimension of the education issue, there country. And I’m very interested in her com- are about 125 million primary-school-aged ments not only about what she is doing, but children in the world who are not in primary about how her efforts might be amplified by school—elementary school, 40 million of the availability of new technologies. them in sub-Saharan Africa. That 125 million Thank you for coming this long way to be figure is about the same number of kids, the with us. total number of kids, in grade school in the United States and Europe. [Ms. Chatterjee made brief remarks.] 740 Apr. 5 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

The President. Well, I have a couple of would be represented in every local govern- things I want to say about that, but I want ment. to wait until our last panelist has a chance And when I was there in this very poor to speak. And again, I thank both of you for little village, among other things I saw that coming such long distances to be with us. they had a computer that operated in both I’d like to now call on Bob Chase, who Hindi and English—and they assured me is the president of the National Education they had the software to put it into other Association and has been a leading advocate languages—that even a person with basic lit- for closing the educational divides in our eracy skills could operate. And I saw a young country. mother come in and call up a website from Bob. the Health Department in India on what you [Mr. Chase made brief remarks.] should do in your children’s first 6 months, with very great software visuals. And they had The President. I want to call on anyone a printer, so she got to print out information who has a question or a comment from the that looked to me to be about as good as floor. But first, I’d like to make four points she could get at a doctor’s office here in very briefly about what our panelists have Chevy Chase. said, because I find this not only fascinating And I will say again, their goal is, in the but profoundly important to our future. State, to have one of these in a public place First of all, with regard to the health issue, in every village in the State of Rajasthan with- while I think the vaccine matter is terribly in 3 years, that has all the information from important, we haven’t mentioned something the national and State government on it. The that may be even more important: clean same principle would apply if you could have water. We should all be investing more in one in every village for the school children, clean water. with a printer. Somebody has to pay for it; I visited a West African village on the edge of the desert in Senegal where Dorothy somebody has to pay for the paper. But it’s Height, a great American citizen, and her still—the economies to scale are much dif- United Council of Negro Women had joined ferent than they would be otherwise. with our Government in building a new well In Hyderabad, which is a wealthier place and securing a fresh source of water so that obviously, the chief ministers, their goal is the children could be healthy, and there was within a year and a half to have in every vil- a sustainable agricultural environment. And lage every State service on the Internet. For all of a sudden, all the young people started example, as poor as India is, a lot of people coming home from Dakar back to their vil- own cars, and you can now get your driver’s lage to work and live, sort of like what Mirai license over the Internet, which as I said al- told you about the Indian village. ready a couple of times since I got back, any I think that if you look at the number of American Governor who did that would find children who die from diarrhea every year, all the term limits laws repealed. He’d be it is inconceivable that we can meet this elected for life. [Laughter] This is very im- health challenge without both a commitment portant. to the vaccine issue and to clean water. So I think we should—I just say this to The second point, Dr. Sen talked about point out that the local governments work. the importance of democracy in India and I also saw in this small village a women’s dairy throughout the world. And then you thanked cooperative. They had a simple little machine me for going to Rajasthan, and you talked that tested the fat content of their milk. It about how backward it used to be. They are doubled their income. They also entered all convinced, the people in the little village of their transactions on a computer. They got Naila I visited, that the reason that things computerized records every week. And they are happening is because of the local govern- were making lots more money than had ever ment law which was passed a few years ago, been made in this modest industry before which guaranteed that various tribes, various because of technology and the women’s self- castes, and a certain percentage of women help organization. So I do think democracy Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 5 741 and local government have a lot to do with nizes that we’ll get a lot more security out it. of financing more of these things than we The third point I’d like to make is that will an extra fighter plane or an extra missile the reason I wanted Mirai to come here is or an extra something else. that in the 7 years I have been President, And I believe I’ve earned the right to say I’ve been privileged to represent this coun- that, because I’ve supported increases in the try, as my critics never fail—tire of saying, defense budget every year I’ve been here. in more nations than any other President in [Laughter] I supported improvements in the history. And in every continent I visited, the quality of life for the men and women in uni- self-help organizations of poor people are the form. But you know, this is pocket change most impressive groups with whom I have in the United States, to make a sea change met. And they are overwhelmingly village in the rest of the world. And we have got women. to develop a global consensus for it. I’ll never forget the people I visited with And I think that the wealthy countries also in Africa, this women’s group that ended the need to consider whether we should increase genital mutilation practice in their village and the financing of the World Bank, because how they brought the handful of men who they’re in the position—the people who work supported them to meet with me, because for the World Bank understand these things. Hillary had previously met with them. This They have the expertise. They should be is very important. doing it. We don’t have to all do it through I visited with Mohammad Yunus and peo- our national efforts. ple from the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, But anyway, those are my observations. and you talked about the telephone. The This can be done—I’ll say again—the bio- Grameen Bank is actually trying to finance a cell phone in every village in Bangladesh, technology of the 21st century and the infor- because they see it’s a moneymaker, and it mation technology, if we can take it to scale, connects poor people to the rest of the world. can close the divide. And if we don’t, it will You just think about it, if you had a cell get worse. And no matter how you cut it, phone and, where there is electricity, if you the wealthy countries are going to have to had just one computer with a good screen, pony up most of the money. easily accessible, with good software and a And then the people that run these gov- printer, what a difference it could make. ernments in the developing countries are The final thing I’d like to say, to echo what going to have to understand that the oppor- Henry Cisneros and what Bob Chase said is, tunity returns of efforts like yours are greater, the United States and other wealthy coun- sometimes, than the opportunity returns of tries have got to start looking at this as a form big projects that look bigger. The President of our future security. We don’t spend nearly of one African country I think is one of the enough money on this stuff. I said I’m proud best-governed countries in Africa told me of the fact that AID, since I’ve been in, we’ve that until I took him to a little village to show shifted our emphasis, and we financed 2 mil- him the microenterprise projects, he didn’t lion microenterprise loans last year. We even know about it. He was too focused on should have financed 20 million microenter- how he was going to get financing for the prise loans or 30 million or 50 million. next powerplant. Now, in his defense, ever People come to Mr. Wolfensohn all the since then he’s been a great promoter of this. time, other leaders of developing countries. But we’ve got to start thinking about taking They want him to finance big powerplants things that work to scale, if we really believe and big projects. What we really need to do that technology can help developing coun- is to take these things that work to scale. tries leapfrog a whole generation in what was That’s what Henry’s talking about and what otherwise a predictable and unavoidable pat- Bob’s talking about. How can we take these tern of economic development. things that work to scale? Who would like to say something? Yes? And we’ve got to build, in our country par- Please stand up and identify yourself and ask ticularly, a bipartisan consensus that recog- your question. 742 Apr. 5 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

[At this point, the question-and-answer por- The President. I have to bring this to a tion of the session began.] close, but let me tell you what I’m going to do here. We’re going to have about a 15- The President. If I could just say, I think minute break between now and the start of that if someone from another country were the final session. And what I would like to to ask me how they should structure their encourage you to do, if you have more ques- information dissemination based on our ex- tions, is to come up and talk to our panelists perience after the telecom act, I would go during the 15 minutes. back to the first conversation I ever had with I want to close by giving our guests who Vice President Gore about this, when he said, have come the furthest away a chance to an- ‘‘You know, the two things we have to do swer this question. Dr. Sen and Ms. is make sure that there are discounted rates Chatterjee, if you had $2 or $3 billion to so that every school, every library, and every spend on this topic, closing the global divide, hospital can access the information. And the how would you spend it? In India. second thing we have to do is to make sure that it’s a pro-competition setup, so that peo- [Dr. Sen and Ms. Chatterjee made brief re- ple—no matter where they are, no matter marks.] how meager their resources are—have a The President. Last comment, for Mr. chance to succeed as entrepreneurs, because Gates. The information technology revolu- they’ll have an explosive impact.’’ Those are tion has created more billionaires in America basically the only two things we fought for in less time than ever before. And we have in that telecom bill, and I think the results, just scads of people worth a couple hundred in our country, at least, speak for themselves. million dollars which, to people like me, is Yes sir, you had a question back there? real money. [Laughter] And what could I do as President, or what could we do, to encour- [The question-and-answer session contin- age more philanthropy like the kind the ued.] Gates Foundation has manifested? And what The President. I can only tell you what can we do to make sure that we leverage all for me—I have supported every initiative of this so that there is some synergy in the which I have been aware that would increase movement of the philanthropic world toward the access of disabled Americans to the work- this? You know, 100 years ago, when J.P. place, and I believe that technology in this Morgan and all these people made all their area will become more and more user-friend- fortunes, they built great monuments to our ly, including user-friendly to the disabled. I culture, the great museums, the great pub- think there are just—there will be, by defini- lic—the great libraries. But now, we have all tion, a market for it. And I think it’s terribly these younger people who made lots of important. money who really want to transform society I noticed—it’s interesting you said this— itself—really without precedent. We’ve al- when I was in Mumbai, I stopped at two dif- ways had some foundations that were inter- ferent schools for blind students and said ested in doing this. But the potential we have hello to them, and I was thinking about that to leverage private wealth here through phi- at the time. But I think, on balance, we lanthropy to transform society, I think, is should see this as a positive thing to the dis- without precedent in history. What can we abled community, because it’s far more likely do to see that there are more efforts like the to bring more disabled citizens of the world one you’re making? into the new economy than it is to keep them out, as long as we make sure that as user- [Mr. Gates made brief remarks.] friendly technology is developed, it’s made The President. Let’s give them all a hand. available on the most equitable possible [Applause] We’ll take a 15-minute break. basis. Thank you.

[The question-and-answer session contin- NOTE: The President spoke at 1:56 p.m. in the ued.] East Room at the White House. In his remarks, Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 5 743 he referred to Dorothy I. Height, chair and presi- cluding one that would help working families dent emerita, United Council of Negro Women; with more than two children. The last time Mohammad Yunus, founder and managing direc- we—we nearly doubled the earned-income tor, Grameen Bank, Bangladesh; and Chief Min- tax credit in ’93, and it took—that helped ister N. Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh, us to move over 2 million people out of pov- India. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks of the erty. participants. Most of the people in poverty today, by American definitions, are working people, which would surprise a lot of Americans. It Remarks at the Third Session of the wouldn’t surprise anybody from any devel- White House Conference on the New oping country, where all the people in pov- Economy erty are working people unless they’re dis- abled. But it’s also true in America, and I April 5, 2000 think it’s very important. The President. All right. Please be seated, And clearly, we ought to raise the min- everyone; let’s go. The final panel today is imum wage again. It still hasn’t recovered its one of particular importance—to me at former levels. And indeed, all we will do if least—and that is, how can the new econo- we raise it to my proposal is to basically re- my’s tools empower civil society and govern- cover where it was about 20 years ago in real ment? And I’m going to call on Esther Dyson dollar-purchasing-power terms. I hope we first, the founder and chairman of can do that. EDventure Holdings, because she has to I’d like to call on Professor Robert Putnam catch a plane. now, who is also at Harvard, and who gave Ms. Dyson. I can stay. us the concept of social capital, defined as The President. But you can go first, any- ‘‘rules, networks, and trust,’’ and has really, way—so there. [Laughter] I think, broadened the understanding that we have of civil society and its role in how our [Ms. Dyson made brief remarks.] economy works and how we all live together. The President. Thank you. I think it And I also have the galley copy of your latest would be good now—I’ll just go over to book, so you can hawk it, too, if you like. Kaleil Tuzman, the cofounder and CEO of [Laughter] I think you should. ‘‘Bowling govWorks.com, to talk. The floor is yours. Alone,’’ it’s called. Worth it for the title alone. [Laughter] Go ahead. [Mr. Tuzman made brief remarks.] [Professor Putnam made brief remarks.] The President. Thank you. I’d like to now call on William Julius Wilson, who is now The President. Well, first of all, I thank a professor of social policy at Harvard, the you all, and I want to give you a chance to JFK School. He’s been very generous with comment on what each other said. But let his time to me and to this administration over me just observe, every time I hear Bob the last 7 years, and who I think, better than Putnam speak, I think that Washington, DC, anyone else I know, chronicled the dis- needs more social capital. And I’m not kid- appearance of work for minority males in ding. And I think, also, that there is a deep inner cities as the economy changed and as yearning for this sort of thing among young jobs moved to the suburbs, and the implica- people. tions that had for economic and social dis- We have a big increase in enrollment in location and racial tensions in our country. the Peace Corps. We have a huge increase So I would—I think the title of his last in AmeriCorps. We’ve had more people in book was ‘‘When Work Disappears.’’ AmeriCorps in 5 years than the Peace Corps had in 20 years. That shows you there’s some- [Professor Wilson made brief remarks.] thing to what you’re saying, and I think it’s The President. Let me say, as you know, very real. And I saw it in very stark ways. we’re trying to get another substantial in- I’m thinking of this because we’re coming crease in the earned-income tax credit, in- up on the fifth anniversary of the Oklahoma 744 Apr. 5 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

City tragedy, where person after person to making a living on eBay. So they have, down there told me they sort of uncritically in effect, recreated a small village. bought into the anti-government rhetoric, On the other hand, they’re working alone and all of a sudden, there were these people, on a computer at home. Does this phe- and their children were in school with their nomena add to or subtract from the stock children, and on and on and on, all the obvi- of our social capital? ous things. But there was this instantaneous Professor Robert Putnam. Yes. [Laugh- sense of cohesion. It had nothing to do with ter] Government or the fact that they were Gov- The President. You ought to run for office ernment employees. if that’s your answer. And I do—the whole question of whether The question-and-answer session contin- the Internet will be an atomizing or a uni- [ ued. fying, cohesive force in our society is, I think, ] an open question. The President. Let me just give you one Esther, do you want to talk about it? Bill? other example. I’ve seen this in several con- texts in all of the controversies in which I’ve [The discussion continued.] been involved here over the last 7 years. You The President. Anybody out here want to can create a virtual national movement over say anything, ask any questions? the Internet in 48 hours. Professor Putnam. Yes. [At this point, the question-and-answer por- The President. Somebody supports my tion of the session began.] position on the assault weapons ban; some- The President. Well, when you talked body opposes my position to close the gun about that—I want to give you an example. show loophole—I can give you 30 examples. When you talked about all these organiza- And all of a sudden, you will have 200,000 tions that were created in the aftermath of people that are in touch with each other all the industrial revolution in America, argu- for the same thing. And I think in a lot of ably, they were filling need for social capital, ways that’s empowering and a very, very good for networks that didn’t exist when people thing. And a lot—but the thing that bothers worked in smaller work units and had more me about it is, even though it has infinite kind of comprehensive relationships with a possibilities and it’s really reinforcing, in smaller number of people. some sense you want communities to be When you did your book and you talked places of different views have to meet and about Italy, for example, and how northern mediate those views—— Italy had massive amounts of social capital, Professor Putnam. Yes. partly around the economic units that were The President. ——where you have to patterned on the medieval guilds, I got to confront not only those that agree with you thinking about this. I’ll just give you an exam- and you want to swell your numbers so you ple of something that’s going on in the Inter- will have a defined political impact, but you net economy. have to sit down at the table with people who You know, eBay, the website where you totally disagree with you and try to figure out can buy or sell on eBay and you can trade, what in the Sam Hill you’re going to do to they keep up with their customer base. I just live together and work together and move was out there last weekend, and I always ask, forward. That concerns me as well, because every time I see somebody that has anything it’s like the specialty magazines or the 69 to do with them—they’re now up to approxi- channels on your cable or other stuff. I think mately 30,000 people who are making a living all this, on balance, is a big plus. It’s more on eBay. That’s what they do for a living. fun for me. I like it, you know, and everybody They buy and sell, swap and trade on eBay. else does. And they know that a significant percentage But the question is, where do we find the of these people who are now making a living commons? And how can we use the tech- were actually very poor, were actually moved nology to find the commons and to honestly from being on public assistance, on welfare, discuss in a respectful way with people with Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 5 745 whom you disagree those matters that have Well, we stayed an hour late, but it was to be dealt with? Because no matter what certainly interesting. I think you did a great our opinion is, you know, our action or inac- job, and I thank you all for your patience. tion will define who we are as a people. Thank you for being here today. It was You know, for example, I think about a great. developing country that—what I hope from NOTE: The President spoke at 4:30 p.m. in the what Ms. Chatterjee was saying is that, in East Room at the White House. In his remarks, the beginning of her opening remarks, is that he referred to Robert Putnam, Stanfield Professor somehow technology can be used to bring of International Peace in the Faculty of Arts and decisionmakers face to face with the poor, Sciences, Harvard University. The transcript re- en masse, and force them to interact with leased by the Office of the Press Secretary also them in a way that in effect creates a commu- included the remarks of the participants. nity that wouldn’t be there, because we all know in every society the people who are Statement on Signing the Wendell H. really poor and downtrodden tend to be in- Ford Aviation Investment and visible to people until they’re intruded upon. Reform Act for the 21st Century I don’t have an answer to this. I just know it’s a serious problem. It’s a problem—you April 5, 2000 know, when I leave the White—I don’t have Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. an option, as President, not to deal with peo- 1000, the ‘‘Wendell H. Ford Aviation Invest- ple who disagree with me. And I think it’s ment and Reform Act for the 21st Century.’’ a good thing, because I’m constantly having Several of the broad, fundamental improve- to reexamine my opinions on the issues or ments in aviation safety supported by Senator wondering whether on the edges I might Ford are contained in this legislation. It is have been wrong or whether we can do bet- particularly satisfying to see the Congress be- ter, you know? stow this recognition on such an outstanding But when I leave here, you know, I can advocate of U.S. aviation. do just fine and be happy and sassy going Since the last major aviation law was en- through the rest of my life just being around acted in 1996, both my Administration and people that agree with me all the time. And the Congress have committed significant I don’t know that that’s the best thing for time and resources to bring about a new era a community. There needs to be a common for aviation. I remember well my trip to the space where we come together across the Boeing plant in Washington State in 1993 to lines that divide us. signal our concern for the renewal of an in- dustry then facing very difficult economic [The question-and-answer session con- times. The subsequent focus by this Adminis- cluded.] tration on flexible solutions—from the Open Skies agreements we have negotiated world- The President. I agree with that. Let me wide to the ‘‘free flight’’ rules in the safety say to all of you, one of the things in our and air traffic area—has combined with the budget this year, in addition to our efforts Nation’s truly impressive economic perform- to connect all the schools and libraries, is ance to make this industry a winner. funds to set up 1,000 community centers in This bill contains many new provisions to poor rural communities, Native American advance aviation safety. Of particular note is reservations, and relatively isolated urban the inclusion of the ‘‘Aircraft Safety Act of neighborhoods, so that it will, by definition, 1999,’’ which my Administration proposed to build social capital, if you have community help stop the indefensible practice of manu- centers where people can come and access facturing, distributing, and installing fraudu- the net with people there who are trained lently represented, nonconforming aircraft to help people use it who otherwise would parts. Several significant provisions to pro- never use it. I think it can make a big vide ‘‘whistleblower’’ protections to the Fed- difference. eral Aviation Administration (FAA) and air 746 Apr. 5 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 industry employees, to close a potential loop- bers may be construed to grant it discretion hole in the prosecution of hazardous mate- to block significant executive branch policies rials cases, and to combat ‘‘air rage’’ incidents and directions, particularly to the extent in flight, will also address real safety concerns those policies bear on the interrelationship we face today. between civilian and military aviation and on In addition, the bill builds on the reforms the conduct of foreign affairs. Similarly, be- proposed by my Administration and enacted cause the bill provides for the appointment in 1995, and represents an additional step of the Chief Operating Officer in a manner toward our long-term objectives of mod- inconsistent with the requirements of the Ap- ernization and stability of the FAA’s critical pointments Clause of the Constitution, the air traffic services. However, we have yet to Administrator will be unable to delegate to achieve fundamental structural reform of the the Chief Operating Officer those respon- FAA. Toward that end, I recently directed sibilities that properly may be exercised only the FAA to report back to me at the end by an ‘‘Officer’’ of the United States within of April with options for achieving broader the meaning of the Constitution. Finally, in reforms. While I applaud the Congress for light of my authority to make recommenda- the management reforms already provided, tions to the Congress and to control negotia- I call upon the Congress to join me in moving tions and diplomacy in the field of foreign forward to further system-wide reform of air affairs, I must reserve the authority to revise traffic services. executive branch budget requests before Although this legislation seeks to provide they are submitted to the Congress and to substantial funding guarantees for airport enter into only those negotiations with for- construction and other capital investment, it eign states and international organizations jeopardizes funding for safety. I remain con- that I believe appropriate. cerned about the possible effect of H.R. This new law also includes an important 1000’s procedural requirements on appro- legislative advance for air travelers with dis- priations for air traffic control and other cru- abilities. My Administration proposed the ex- cial safety functions funded by the FAA’s Op- tension of protections in domestic travel to erations account. The bill mandates unneces- travel on foreign carriers, along with higher sarily large increases for FAA capital spend- penalties for violations, and I commend the ing under the budget caps, thereby making Congress for providing such protections— it more difficult to fund other discretionary and for making protections of other civil programs, especially transportation programs rights explicit in domestic air travel. Aviation such as FAA Operations, Amtrak, and the consumers will benefit in other areas as well. Coast Guard. Because the bill also limits the For example, the bill increases funding for ability of the appropriators to reallocate avia- enforcement of air traveler safeguards, such tion-related capital spending to meet more as those prohibiting deceptive advertising pressing operational needs within the FAA, and those providing denied boarding protec- the bill creates an extra hurdle to fully fund- tion. The bill also improves the ‘‘family assist- ing the amounts authorized and required for ance’’ provisions enacted in 1996 and 1997 FAA operations. My Administration will to comfort those with friends or family in- work with the Congress to achieve more bal- volved in an aviation disaster. anced funding of aviation programs in Fiscal I am also pleased that Title VIII of this Year 2001. legislation codifies the recommendations of Moreover, certain provisions of this legisla- the National Parks Overflights Working tion must be interpreted and applied in a Group on regulating air tours over national manner that avoids violating the constitu- parks. These provisions represent a con- tional separation of powers. While I applaud sensus approach to minimizing the impact of the new focus that the oversight sub- commercial air tours on the natural and cul- committee established by H.R. 1000 will tural resources in national parks. bring to bear on FAA air traffic services, nei- As proposed by my Administration, sub- ther the subcommittee’s authorities nor the stantial changes are included in H.R. 1000 ‘‘for cause’’ removal protection for its mem- to increase airline competition. Certainly one Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 5 747 of the most significant is an end to the ‘‘slots’’ FAA’s provision of critical air traffic control rules that restrict access to O’Hare, services. LaGuardia, and John F. Kennedy Inter- I call on Congress to join me in moving national airports. The restrictions will be forward to further system-wide reform of air eased almost immediately, and then ended traffic control. While this legislation seeks to completely in 2002 in Chicago and in 2007 provide substantial funding guarantees for in New York City. This Act also substantially airport construction and other capital invest- achieves a second Administration proposal to ment, I remain concerned about the possible enhance competition. We proposed allowing effect of the bill’s procedural requirements a $2 increase in the current $3-per-segment on future appropriations for air traffic control Passenger Facility Charge, with a condition and other crucial safety functions funded by that a ‘‘dominated hub’’ airport provide a the FAA’s Operations account. My adminis- competition plan that lays out how new en- tration will work with the Congress to trants and other competing carriers can be achieve more balanced funding of aviation included in the airport facility plans. This bill programs in fiscal year 2001. includes the requirement for a competition plan and a $1.50 increase. Because effective NOTE: H.R. 1000, approved April 5, was assigned competition has not worked as well on lightly Public Law No. 106–181. traveled routes (with resulting high fares), we endorsed the Senate’s rural air service pilot program that is substantially adopted in this Statement on the Conclusion of the Act. Independent Counsel’s Investigation This legislation provides benefits to pas- sengers and the aviation community, and of Alexis Herman represents a first step toward our long-term April 5, 2000 objectives for modernization and stability of FAA’s critical air traffic control services. I I am very pleased to learn that Inde- thank the Members of Congress who led the pendent Counsel Ralph Lancaster has con- 3-year effort to enact this bill, and I am cluded his investigation. Secretary of Labor pleased to sign it into law. Alexis Herman has for many years served our Nation with selfless dedication and extraor- William J. Clinton dinary talent. She did not deserve what she The White House, has had to endure over the past many April 5, 2000. months. As I said at the start of this inquiry, nearly 2 years ago, Secretary Herman did NOTE: H.R. 1000, approved April 5, was assigned nothing wrong. But throughout it all, she was Public Law No. 106–181. never deterred from her mission: making life better for America’s working families. I am Statement on Signing the Wendell H. proud to call her my friend, and I am hon- Ford Aviation Investment and ored that she has been willing to work in Reform Act for the 21st Century this administration on behalf of working peo- ple everywhere. April 5, 2000 Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 1000, the ‘‘Wendell H. Ford Aviation Invest- Message to the Congress ment and Reform Act for the 21st Century.’’ Transmitting the Report on This legislation contains important measures Hazardous Materials Transportation to improve aviation safety, increase airline April 5, 2000 competition, protect air travelers with dis- abilities, and boost assistance for the families To the Congress of the United States: of victims of aviation disasters. The bill also I herewith transmit the Department of takes an additional step toward our long-term Transportation’s Biennial Report on Haz- objectives for modernizing and reforming the ardous Materials Transportation for Calendar 748 Apr. 5 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

Years 1996-1997. The report has been pre- boy’s father is here. How soon can he expect pared in accordance with the Federal haz- to see the child? ardous materials transportation law, 49 The President. Well, first, I think we U.S.C. 5121(e). should say it’s a good thing that he’s here. William J. Clinton I’m glad he’s here. And the Justice Depart- ment is working on that, and I think in a way we’re fortunate to have an Attorney Gen- Letter to Congressional Leaders eral who understands this issue, because Transmitting a Report on the Korean Janet Reno was the prosecutor in Dade Peninsula Energy Development County for many years. And they’re working Organization on it. I don’t know, I can’t answer with any April 5, 2000 specifics. But I have confidence that they’ll do the best they can to handle it in an expedi- Dear lllll : tious and sensitive way. I transmit herewith the 6-month report re- Mr. Rather. ‘‘In an expeditious and sen- quired under the heading ‘‘International Or- sitive way.’’ Mr. President, from almost all ganizations and Programs’’ in title IV of the other citizens, if the Immigration Service Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and rules, and a Federal judge backs the ruling, Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1996 then people will obey the law. What’s hap- (Public Law 104–107), relating to the Korean pened here? Peninsula Energy Development Organiza- The President. Well, I think the people— tion (KEDO). you can ask them; they can speak for them- Sincerely, selves better than I do. But they, I think they William J. Clinton feel that they’re not sure that the process was adequate since it occurred in Cuba. I think NOTE: Identical letters were sent to Jesse Helms, that’s basically what’s going on. chairman, and Joseph R. Biden, Jr., ranking mem- And you know, some of the people there ber, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; Ted are just against anybody going back to Cuba. Stevens, chairman, and Robert C. Byrd, ranking But I think there are a lot of people who member, Senate Committee on Appropriations; Mitch McConnell, chairman, and Patrick Leahy, have genuine questions about it. And I think ranking member, Senate Committee on Rules and the fact that the father has come here and Administration; Benjamin A. Gilman, chairman, will be in a position to show his concern for and Sam Gejdensen, ranking member, House and desire to be reunited with his son should Committee on International Relations; and C.W. be a big help. And as I said, I think the Jus- Bill Young, chairman, and David R. Obey, ranking tice Department will do a good job here, and member, House Committee on Appropriations; I think Attorney General Reno really under- and Sonny Callahan, chairman, and Nancy Pelosi, stands what’s going on. And I think we’ll House Committee on Foreign Operations, Export work through it. Financing and Related Programs. Mr. Rather. You have consistently said that the father speaks for the son. You stand Interview With Dan Rather of the by that? ‘‘CBS Evening News’’ The President. Well, that’s the decision April 6, 2000 that was made by the INS. They went down and interviewed the father extensively. And Mr. Rather. First of all, thanks for doing they concluded that based on his previous this. contacts, which were regular, with his son, The President. Glad to. that he was a fit representative to speak for his son. And under our law, since Elian Gon- Elian Gonzalez zalez is a very young child, someone must Mr. Rather. I want to talk to you about be the designated person to speak for him. guns, gun legislation. But the day’s news is And under our law, the parent, as long as on Elian Gonzalez. His father is here; the he is a fit parent, is that person. Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 6 749

So the INS made the decision that they Vice President Al Gore felt was appropriate, and the judge ruled that Mr. Rather. Mr. President, you’ve consist- they had the authority to make it. And now ently said that we should not politicize the the family members in Miami are appealing case of this 6-year-old boy. But your Vice to the Court of Appeals and arguing that President has broken with your administra- there ought to be a more extensive inquiry tion’s position, a clearly political move. One, into his best interests. That’s the legal posi- were you surprised by that? And two, are you tion. irritated or angry about it? But I think that the main thing is that the The President. Well, first of all, I don’t Justice Department is handling it and that know that it was clearly political, in the sense in the end the law ought to prevail. And I that there was a bill introduced in the Con- don’t think that the young man’s best inter- gress to deal with what the people in Miami ests are served by the rest of us talking about say is the main defect in the INS proceeding. it too much. I think the Justice Department They say—you know, it’s interesting. If you is going to try to work through this, and I notice, they haven’t attacked the father. They have confidence that Janet Reno will handle haven’t claimed that he was an unfit father. it in a good way. Their claim is entirely different. Their claim is that even if he is a fit father, that Mayor Alexander Penelas of Metro-Dade it’s not in Elian Gonzalez’s best interests to County, Florida be returned, at least at this moment. That’s their position. So they say, if the INS fol- Mr. Rather. I respect what you say about lowed the law, then the law ought to be perhaps we shouldn’t discuss it too much. changed so that a determination of his best But the mayor of Miami—I have in mind interests can be made. you saying, well, the law takes care of this. Now, once the bill was introduced—there But the mayor of Miami has said that if any- are a lot of reasons I don’t agree with the thing bad happens, he will hold you and Janet bill. I don’t support the bill. But once the Reno directly responsible, and—I think I bill was introduced, I think every public fig- quote him at least indirectly, correctly—don’t ure in America, national figure, was going expect any help from him or the city of to have to take a position on it. Miami in enforcing the law. Did that surprise And as a matter of fact, I don’t believe you? it was a purely political position. I know the The President. It did. But I think there’s conventional wisdom is that the Vice Presi- been some indication since then that he and dent’s position was purely political, but he others want to get this back in a lawful proc- talked to me—I don’t know, a day or two ess. And I think the mayor of Miami is a after Elian Gonzalez’s case became public, fine young leader with an enormous amount weeks and weeks and weeks ago, and said, of potential. But he represents the Cuban- ‘‘You know, I’m very worried about this proc- American community. He’s part of it. They ess. I’m afraid we’re going to have a lot of have—I think that it’s fair to say they have problems with this process. I’m just not sure a big presumption against anything that hap- it’s adequate.’’ pens in Cuba, including an INS proceeding. So you know, he personally and privately But I think that in the end, the rule of said that to me long before this bill was intro- law will prevail in this country. The over- duced and long before it became a matter whelming majority of Cuban-Americans are of big public debate. So that’s the way he law-abiding good citizens. They’ve made a personally feels. And because of that and, I great contribution to our country. And I think think, because he is himself a candidate now, in the end, the rule of law will prevail. And I think he had to take a position and say what I think we ought to have—just take a deep he thought. breath here and realize this is a highly un- Mr. Rather. Respectfully, Mr. President, usual case, and let the Attorney General work a member of the Vice President’s staff has through it. I believe that they will. I believe been quoted as saying that it ‘‘was a political she’ll do a good job on this. decision.’’ And too, he went on to say, the 750 Apr. 6 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

Vice President isn’t going to ‘‘fall on his er than press forward with Federal legisla- sword’’ for you. That would lead a reasonable tion? person to believe that it was a political deci- The President. Because it’ll take forever sion. and a day. And because if you have Federal The President. Well, I don’t know. You laws, they can be more efficiently adminis- know, if I knew who said that, and they were tered. I mean, if you look at—and let me quoted by name, I would have more regard back up and say, I consider these measures for the quote. gun safety measures. I think gun control is I don’t think he should fall on his sword still sort of an explosive term to the American for me. He’s out there now making his own people, because they think we’re going to case to the American people. All I can tell take somebody’s guns away from them. you is, I’ll bet you that staff member didn’t And the truth is, all we’ve tried to do is know that I talked to Al Gore shortly after to take preventive measures to keep guns out this case became public, and he said to me of the hands of criminals and children. And privately that he was disturbed about the I think that on the specific measures, I think process and whether it could adequately ac- the overwhelming majority of the American count for this young man’s best interests. people support us. And Colorado, which is That’s what he told me a long time ago, pure- a predominately Republican State, I believe ly privately, and long before he ever said any- this initiative will pass because they’ve had thing publicly about it. experience with it. Mr. Rather. I want to move on to the sub- And I think that it’s unconscionable for ject of guns, but before we—just as we leave Congress to hide behind the fact that there this—— are States taking action. Maryland required The President. He might have meant, you child trigger locks this week, for example, know, that falling on your sword sometimes and required safety training courses and means that you have to agree with the Presi- things of that kind for handgun purchases. dent, whether you really agree with the Presi- The State of Massachusetts applied its con- dent or not. That’s what Vice Presidents do sumer protection laws to handguns, and Col- when they’re not independent candidates. orado has got this initiative to close the gun And since I don’t think he agrees with me, show loophole, which I think is very impor- and since he is a candidate. I don’t think he tant. But it will take forever and a day for should mask an honest disagreement. And it’s all the States to do that, and the Federal Gov- one that I believe that he actually believes, ernment ought to do it. It’s a Federal respon- based on a private conversation I had long sibility and a national problem. before he ever made a public statement. You know, it’s simply an extension of what Mr. Rather. So you don’t have any prob- we did with the Brady bill. We had all this lem with it? hoopla when I signed the Brady bill and the The President. No. assault weapons ban about how damaging it was to the rights of gun owners, the legiti- Gun Safety Legislation mate hunters and sports people. Not a single Mr. Rather. Let’s talk about guns. Next hunter has missed a day in the deer woods; week, is it fair to say you’re dedicating the not a single sports person has missed a sport week to doing what you can to get increased, shooting contest. Nobody has been burdened at least, handgun control? by this, and a half-million felons, fugitives, The President. Yes. and stalkers have not gotten handguns as a Mr. Rather. You’re going to Maryland to result. Gun crime is at a 30-year low in Amer- be seen with the Governor as he signs a new ica, not just because we’ve increased gun handgun control law into law. Then you’re prosecutions, which we have, but because we going to Colorado, where there is a State bal- have done more prevention. That’s what this lot initiative that you’re backing, and this ini- is about. tiative contains many of the provisions that Mr. Rather. You’re in a fierce fight on you seek in Federal law. Question, why no Capitol Hill to get Federal additional gun focus on getting new State laws passed, rath- safety legislation passed. Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 6 751

The President. Yes. stalkers. And the last place, besides person- Mr. Rather. And you set April 20th, the to-person transactions, that such people can anniversary of the Columbine, Colorado, get handguns with impunity is at these gun high school shootings as the goal. Is there shows. So we ought to close the gun show any chance that it would get passed by that loophole and do a background check. It’s a time? no-brainer. The President. Probably not. We have a There are some minor details of adjust- majority for it in both Houses, I think. But ment that would have to be undertaken to the Republican leadership in the Senate may do these background checks, to make it work be able to keep it from coming to a vote. when you do these one-day shows out in rural They can’t really keep things from coming areas. But they can easily be taken care of, to a vote in the House, so I think there is and we ought to do it. a majority for closing the gun show loophole, Mr. Rather. You mentioned the Repub- a majority for banning the importation of lican leadership in the House and the Senate. large scale ammunition clips. What I and other reporters talk to them, they Who could be against that? We’ve got an say, basically, ‘‘Look, the President could get assault weapons ban in the country, and then a lot of what he wants. He could get the trig- we turn around and make a mockery of it ger locks for children on handguns. He could by letting people import these big ammuni- get the ban on importing the extra long tion clips which they can put on the guns clips—if the President would simply com- and convert them into assault weapons. promise on the criminal background checks There ought to be child trigger locks on guns. for gun shows.’’ Why not make that com- Most manufacturers do it anyway. It ought promise? to be a national requirement. But I think we’re making progress. I think The President. Well, first of all, we al- the action in these States indicates it; the ini- ready offered a compromise. John Conyers tiative in Colorado, with the support of many has offered a compromise to Representative Republican officials in Colorado; the incred- Henry Hyde that we were hoping could pre- ibly brave action that Smith & Wesson has vail in the conference. You know, the bill is taken to try to improve the way it markets in conference now. We got a good bill out and distributes guns and the way those hand- of the Senate on this gun show loophole be- guns are sold. I hope they’ll find some reso- cause the Vice President broke the tie. The nance among other gun manufacturers. So bill is in conference, and Mr. Conyers offered we’re making progress. but this is a brutal a compromise. fight. The interest behind it, the status quo, Let me say, if you look at the gun shows, are very strong. they want insta-check. And here’s the prob- Mr. Rather. Do you suppose, if I may— lem. When you do these background I don’t mean to interrupt—you say the inter- checks—let’s just look at the facts—when est behind this is very strong. As Butch you do the background checks, you can get Cassidy said to the Sundance Kid, ‘‘Who are over 70 percent of the background checks these guys?’’ done in the first hour. You can get 95 percent The President. Well, the NRA and other of them done—or over 90 percent in the first groups even to the right of them, and a lot day. So they say, ‘‘Well, just agree to a 24- of people in the Congress, in the Republican hour background check or an insta-check sys- Party, really agree with them. A handful of tem.’’ The real difficulty is, of the roughly Democrats do. But it’s basically a party fight. 10 percent you can’t finish in one day, the And again I say, if they had any evidence rejection rate in that 10 percent is 20 times that we had undermined hunting or under- higher than the rejection rate in the 90 per- mined sports shooting or even undermined cent. So what we tried to do was to work legitimate self-defense, it would be one out an agreement where we let everybody thing. They don’t. The only evidence they who would be cleared, be cleared, but we have is we have kept handguns out of the didn’t have an automatic release for the oth- hands of half million felons, fugitives, and ers because they’re 20 times more likely to 752 Apr. 6 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 have background problems, which would not people, because if you can’t wait 3 days, there enable them to purchase these guns. are some records that haven’t been logged So I think it is an almost bizarre develop- in, for example, that won’t be picked up on ment, since we’re more than willing to meet the insta-check. But when we passed the them halfway. We’ve offered them a good Brady bill, that’s the best we could do. We compromise—that they would hold this had to take a bill that would say a 3-day wait- whole bill up to protect that 10 percent when ing period, but insta-check whenever pos- they know that’s where a huge percentage sible when it became possible. And so we’re of the problem gun-buyers are, people that stuck with that for the time being. are likely to use those guns for criminal con- I have a totally different view of this than duct. the people on the other side of the issue. So we have offered a compromise. John I think I’ve demonstrated in 7 years here I’ve Conyers offered a good compromise to Rep- never tried to take a gun away from a law- resentative Henry Hyde, and I hope and pray abiding citizen. I’ve never tried to interfere that they will take it or something like it. I’m with hunting or sport shooting. But I believe willing to compromise, but I don’t think that that guns are like every other area of national we ought to gut the main purposes of the life where there is a lot of loss of life and background check. And again, you know, injury. Prevention is always the first line of they say, ‘‘Well, we have these shows out in defense. the country. They occur on the weekend. Their position, basically, is: Punish people They’re not all basically at big-city conven- that violate the law; throw the book at them; tion centers.’’ but in this area alone, let’s don’t have much But the gun could be deposited with the prevention, because we’re worried about the local sheriff’s office for the weekend while second amendment or a slippery slope or the background check is completed, for ex- whatever. And I just think they’re wrong. I ample. You could deposit the gun and the think that we can save so many more lives check and return one or the other, or both. by sensible prevention and not interfere with It would be easy to work through this if they legitimate gun owners. really wanted to. I just think it’s important—I think the President’s History With Guns child trigger locks are important because the Mr. Rather. Mr. President, did you ever accidental death rate in America of the chil- own a gun? dren are so high, 9 times higher than the The President. Oh, yes. I’ve owned a next 25 biggest countries combined. But we shotgun; I had a .22 when I was little kid. ought to close the loophole in the Brady law. I had a couple of handguns when I was a I am willing to compromise, but I don’t want Governor. to destroy the purposes of the background Mr. Rather. Did you hunt? check. The President. Oh, yes. I suppose I was Mr. Rather. Our correspondent Maureen 12 the first time I had target practice, you Maher has been doing some investigation of know, shooting cans off fenceposts. And I some of the loopholes in the Brady law, normally went hunting, duck hunting, once which turn out to be pretty extensive. If you a year when I was Governor. On occasion, could close one loophole in the Brady law, I went bird hunting. I’ve been duck hunting what would it be? a couple of times since I’ve been President. The President. Oh, the gun show loop- hole. That’s the most important one. There are some other loopholes in the Brady law, Smith & Wesson but if you look at the numbers, it’s been quite Mr. Rather. Let me follow up on this successful; for all of its problems, it’s been Smith & Wesson deal. A number of people, quite successful. And when you do the insta- none of whom want their name attached to check, you know, we have to do instant it, say, ‘‘Dan, you have to look into this deal,’’ checks whenever we can—when you do the because, one, Smith & Wesson was about to insta-check, you actually—you lose some go bankrupt, and so this was a form of what Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 6 753 they call financial blackmail. Anything to that way about this, because you can’t get out of argument? the fact—we now have evidence—a very The President. Not that I know of. I don’t small percentage of gun dealers sell a very know that—if it’s true, I don’t know it. high percentage of the guns used in serious Mr. Rather. I understand. Any agree- crimes. That’s what we’re trying to get at. ment, that you know of, the Federal Govern- ment has agreed to supply Federal law en- Hillary Clinton’s Senate Campaign forcement officers with Smith & Wesson Mr. Rather. Mr. President, I have all weapons? kinds of things I’d like to ask you about, in- The President. No, that was not a part cluding China and the World Trade Organi- of the agreement. Since then, we have looked zation, but the clock is running on us. Let into the question of whether we—as have me ask you two questions, and I’ll let you many local jurisdictions looked into the ques- get on to your next meeting. tion—whether they can give any kind of pref- You recently said at a meeting that the erence or consideration to Smith & Wesson First Lady, in her bid for a Senate seat in in their purchases because they’ve taken this New York, faces—I think this is your direct action. But obviously, whatever they do will quote—‘‘a right-wing venom machine that’s have to take account of the need to get the collecting double tons of money to defeat best possible weapons for their law enforce- her.’’ Was that too strong, on reflection? ment officials. The President. Well, it depends on how But that was not a quid pro quo; that was you interpret the facts. Richard Viguerie is something that came up later. And we’re doing Mayor Giuliani’s mail. Mayor Giuliani, looking into—I wanted to look into to see when he was mayor of New York, basically what, if anything, we can do as well. But I said, ‘‘I’m not a Reagan Republican anymore. know that a lot of cities were so appreciative I’m a moderate Republican. I’m pro-choice. of what Smith & Wesson did. I’m for the Brady bill. I’m for the assault See, here is the deal. This is another thing. weapons ban. I’m for the President’s crime This is like the Brady bill gun show loophole. program.’’ We worked together. We had a The main thing Smith & Wesson did in good relationship. changing its marketing and distribution poli- Now he’s got Richard Viguerie doing this cies was to focus on a fact that I would think venomous mailing, talking about what a left- that the NRA would want us to focus on, wing crazy my wife is, when—while he was and that is that an inordinately high percent- mayor of New York, he was in agreement age of guns used in crimes are sold through with her and me on most issues. a very small percentage of the gun sellers. Mr. Rather. While he was helping the So the main thing, when you strip away ev- mayor. erything else Smith & Wesson did, what The President. No, while Rudy Giuliani they’re really trying to do is to stop providing was mayor. But the Viguerie mailings, which weapons to people who obviously are careless are being sent to people who have fought in enforcing the Brady bill or have a criminal me the whole time I’m here—which is fine— clientele or otherwise just aren’t taking care are basically using the same old standard of their business. hard-core right-wing stuff, the kind of stuff I would have thought when Smith & we saw Governor Bush do to Senator Wesson came forward, since this had nothing McCain in South Carolina, that kind of—sort to do with the Brady bill or anything else, of that kind of thing. this was about having gun dealers clean up And I think if he’s going to do it and get their act and gun manufacturers putting the the benefit of it, he can raise a lot of money, hammer on them to do it, rewarding those because a lot of us folks see beating Hillary that are good, punishing those that aren’t. or beating the Vice President as another way I would have thought that’s the kind of thing of going after us for what we’ve tried to do the NRA would like. here on issues like gun safety and vetoing I was actually kind of surprised that they the big tax cuts to keep a balanced budget and the gun dealers went so totally the other and the surplus and other things we’ve fought 754 Apr. 6 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 for. They see that as a way of continuing the able for verification of the content of these re- battle. marks. He can raise a lot of money that way, but I don’t think he should be able to raise it Remarks to Corporate Leaders on for free. That is, I think he ought to have the One America Initiative to be accountable for the rhetoric being used in his behalf and the money that’s coming April 6, 2000 in as a result of that kind of inflammatory Thank you. Let me begin by welcoming right-wing rhetoric. all of you here and thanking our previous Mr. Rather. Would you be surprised if speakers. I thank Ben Johnson for making I told you that tonight’s CBS poll indicates sure I won’t be alone to turn the lights out the First Lady is up by 8 points now in the at the end of my tenure here—[laughter]— race with Giuliani? and for what you can see is his evident pas- The President. A little bit. But I think sion for his work. I don’t know if I’ve ever it’s going to be a close race and a hard race. heard anybody tell a centipede joke before. But she knows why she’s running. She knows [Laughter] what she wants to do for New York. I’m really I grew up in a place when I was a kid proud of her, and I just—I think these polls where I could collect centipedes, scorpions, will change a lot between now and Novem- brown recluse spiders, all kinds of snakes. ber. He’s a very formidable opponent. I never thought they were very funny before. Mr. Rather. You don’t think that what one [Laughter] But he made it funny. newspaper has called the ‘‘wealthy hate Hil- I want to thank George Fisher for his lead- lary campaign’’ will, in the end, sink her? ership on this and so many other issues. I The President. No, I don’t. I think the have really loved working with him over the main thing that she’s got to think about is course of my Presidency. And I want to thank not what they’re saying about her but what Duane Ackerman for what he said. We didn’t she’s going to say to the people of New York. know each other very well until I started on I think a lot of that is—when you have oppo- this whole new markets tour, which is an im- sition in politics, a lot of times what they’re portant part of building one America, giving trying to do is distract you from doing your everybody a chance to participate in our main job, which is to communicate with the prosperity. And I realize that he had come, people and to serve the people. And I think like me, from pretty modest circumstances if she’ll just focus on that, talk about her life, to a very high position, and he never forgot her work, and what she wants to do, I think where he came from. And he’s interested in she’ll do fine. giving all people a chance to be a part of Mr. Rather. Mr. President, I’m getting it, and I am grateful. the cut signal. I so much appreciate you tak- I was looking at these two leaders of our ing the time to do this. Thank you very, very business community and looking at many of much. you out here with whom I had the privilege The President. Thanks, Dan. to work, and it made me feel very proud of Mr. Rather. Tell the First Lady hello for my country and very confident of our future us. success. The President. I will. I’d like to thank the members of the ad- ministration who are here: Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman; our FCC Chair, Bill NOTE: The interview was taped at 2:25 p.m. in Kennard; and the front row here has a whole the Roosevelt Room at the White House for later lineup of our White House stars. I thank broadcast but was embargoed by the Office of the them for all being here and for their commit- Press Secretary until 6:30 p.m. In his remarks, the President referred to Juan Miguel Gonzalez, ment to this work. father of Elian Gonzalez; Richard A. Viguerie, As Ben said, this is the third time we have chairman, chief executive officer, and president, brought key leaders to the White House to Conservative HQ.com; and Mayor Rudolph W. talk about the role of specific elements in Giuliani of New York City. A tape was not avail- American society for building one America. Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 6 755

Last year we had a distinguished group of and increase economic opportunity for our lawyers here who answered our call to use people. the power of the legal profession not only But it is also important to put the power to fight discrimination and empower citizens of diversity to work for our economy in daily who want to do the same but to have their ways. And that means encouraging diversity law firms reflect the legal causes that lawyers throughout every single corporate organiza- have been fighting for, for decades in this tion in America, from the boardroom to the country, and I appreciated that. stockroom, forging partnerships between Last month we had a coalition of religious corporations and others who need them, leaders here who pledged the power of faith schools and communities to promote edu- in our ongoing efforts. Today, we recognize cational opportunities. It means working with that corporate America is an equally, perhaps efforts like the Welfare to Work Partnership, even more powerful force in the movement the School to Work Partnership, to get more for building one America. Dr. King once said, young people on the path to good careers. ‘‘We refuse to believe there are insufficient It means doing more business with small, mi- funds in the great vaults of opportunity of nority-owned suppliers of all kinds. It means this Nation.’’ Today, there is a new under- using the corporate bully pulpit to convince standing that actually building one America others that an investment in diversity is the replenishes the funds in the vaults of oppor- right and the smart thing to do. tunity, that this is not an act of charity or Yesterday we had a fascinating economic kindness or even constitutional obligation but summit here at the White House. It high- enlightened self-interest. lighted how the rapid development of infor- For the past 7 years, I have tried to unlock mation technology in the last years—10 those vaults and let the river of opportunity years—has dramatically transformed our flow to every community and every person. economy, giving us unprecedented growth, And I am grateful for the chance that we wealth, and job creation. have had to be part of building the longest We also faced the fact that a lot of people economic expansion in our history and the have been left behind in this development. lowest African-American and Hispanic un- We know that minorities and poor whites employment rates ever recorded. I’m proud have participated at a lower rate in the new of the fact that we have an administration economy because they don’t have the skills that looks like America, with the most diverse necessary to fill a large number of the high- Cabinet and staff in history. tech jobs being created every day. But we all know there are still people and Even though we have a very low unem- places left behind, and there are still places ployment rate, the lowest in 30 years, it’s very where problems exist even when people try interesting—to highlight this—where the to root them out. And I appreciated George shortage of high-tech jobs is. The Congress, Fisher citing his own company. I am quite once again, is debating the need to raise the sure that any of us, including me, who had ceiling on what we call the H-1B visas. Those any organization of any size have similar ex- are visas that people get because they have periences somewhere in the operations special skills to come to contribute here. And which we lead. we will raise it, and we should raise it, be- Now, a part of what we’re trying to do is cause first of all immigration is good for our just to get economic opportunity out there. country, and secondly, these companies need That’s what the whole new markets effort is to continue to grow. about. We’ve been to the Mississippi Delta, But it is very interesting that in the largest to Appalachia, to the Pine Ridge Reservation, center of pure information technology em- to inner cities. On April the 16th, I’m going ployment, Silicon Valley, right next to it you to go out to east Palo Alto, to the Ship Rock have east Palo Alto, where I’m going, which Native American Reservation in New Mex- has a 20 percent poverty rate and a high un- ico, and to one or two other places to try employment rate. Now, if you believe as I to focus specifically on what technology can do, that intelligence is evenly distributed do, not to open but to close the digital divide throughout the human race, that means some 756 Apr. 6 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 of those people could fill some of those H- here today, have pledged to commit at least 1B slots if only they had had the education $1 million a year for the next 10 years to and training to do it. expand diversity in the high-tech work force. The second-largest concentration of high- That’s a $250 million long-term commitment tech information technology jobs, interest- by American corporations to close the tech- ingly enough, is not in New York or on Cor- nology skills gap. ridor 128 in Massachusetts, it’s here in the A classic example of doing well by doing Washington, DC, area. The city of Wash- good will help us to create one America. The ington, even though the unemployment rate funds being pledged today include contribu- is now—I think we’ve got it down below 6 tions to strengthen math and science edu- percent—is still the second- or third-highest cation, to provide scholarships for minorities in the country compared to all the other and women, to train more math and science States. And there’s a huge job shortage here. teachers in our inner cities—a very important And if you believe that intelligence is even- thing—to help young people pursue careers ly distributed and a lot of these people could in science, engineering, and information be filling those jobs, if more people had had technology. This is a very important propo- attitudes like those we’ve had here expressed sition. and more systems in place like those that Many other things can be done. And I many of the corporate leaders here have put hope that this meeting today will just be the in place, and they could fill some of those beginning of a whole new burst of effort by H-1B jobs. Now, the trick is to do both at corporate America. And I want to thank the same time, and that is what we’re com- George Fisher for saying that you don’t want mitted to doing. But I think it’s worth point- to judge your performance by just whether ing out. the numbers look good or whether you’ve According to our Office of Science and met the minimum or whether you can’t be Technology Policy, African-Americans and sued in a court of law. That’s not what all Hispanics are less than half as likely, still this is about. This is not about keeping some- today, to earn degrees in science and engi- thing bad from happening. This is about neering as whites. According to a February making good things happen. And the more issue of Black Enterprise magazine, only 4 I represent you around the world, the more of the top 50 blacks in corporate America I realize that this effort to build one America working the high-tech industry. is, in a way, the most advanced example of The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate a struggle going on all over the world, which that information technology will need 3 mil- has gone on throughout human history. lion more workers by the year 2008. So, this I was in this little village in India a couple is just one example of something we need weeks ago, and I met with this women’s dairy to be doing. And I might say this: This is co-op, and they showed me how they had not just these .com companies; information some, for them, very high technology to test technology is dominating, driving, and mak- the fat content of their milk and how proud ing more efficient all kinds of traditional cor- they were that even in this poor village they porations. In that sense, they’re just as im- had—everything that they did, all their trans- portant as they are to Duane Ackerman’s actions were conducted by computer. connecting people; they also will create more And then I saw, in this little poor village, Kodak moments for George in the years that the State government there had put a ahead. [Laughter] computer up in whatever language the peo- I’m glad you mentioned that Kodak mo- ple who would come to it spoke, so that even ment, by the way. I’ve often thought I should the poorest village people could get the infor- be getting some sort of stock benefit— mation they needed that the Government [laughter]—for all the film I use here. had. And one woman who had just had a Let me just say, I want to make a couple baby came in, pulled up the Health Depart- of announcements today, to put some teeth ment’s page, and found out what she was into this enormously important event. First supposed to do the first 2 months of her of all, 25 companies, all of them represented baby’s life and then printed it right out. And Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 6 757 she went home with information as good as come convinced that it may be one of the you could get if you had walked out of a doc- two or three most important journeys in life tor’s office in Chevy Chase here today. That for all of us. Not just as an organization, just is the kind of thing we ought to be doing. individual journeys. Figuring out how to un- But the point I want to make is, what they derstand and respect the differences be- told me was, all these changes started in 1993 tween people and not feel that, in order for when the Government adopted a new law you to matter more, someone else has to mat- that said the local governments had to reflect ter less. In order for you to be secure, some- all the tribes and all the castes of India and one else has to be insecure. In order for you that women had to be given 30 percent of to win, someone else has to lose. the positions in local government. And they It is a constant theme throughout all told me, these people in this poor village— human history, and it is something that, in you’d think, well, they’d think, ‘‘Gosh, you positive and profoundly negative ways, is know, we’re so poor we’ve got to work to- being played out all over the world today. gether.’’ They told me that until this law And I am grateful that in our country, we passed and they all got elected, that people are largely dealing with—in spite of the trag- had never had dinner together in this tiny edy of the hate crimes against people because village across the caste lines and the tribal of their race or their religion or because they lines. are gay, which we have to try to stamp out— And now that they’ve been doing it, you largely, we’re playing this out in positive ways know, they know what they were missing, and today. they can’t imagine why they didn’t do it all But I would ask you to remember as we along. You see these things happen. You all close—just one last thing—what George said. know all the terrible stories from Bosnia to This is not a matter of getting everybody Rwanda to the continuing strife we have in right with the law. It’s not a matter of having the Middle East, and the struggles we’re hav- the right statistics. It’s a matter of making ing Kosovo. But what I want you to under- the businesses of America a joy to work in, stand is, there’s something endemic in the because they will be more productive, they human condition that both makes us afraid will be more profitable. People are happy to of people who are different from us and be- go to work because they are proud of who neath that makes us long to reach out and they are; they respect those who are different connect with them. from them; and they are making progress on And I think it’s important to point out that this very difficult journey of life. Now I think this whole effort of building one America is it is a great, great endeavor in which to be not about homogenizing us. Four or 5 years involved, and I thank you so much for your from now, they will be having events like this support. at the White House, and—certainly within Thank you. 10 years—it will be impossible to have four speakers, and they will all be middle-aged, gray-haired guys, and three of them will be NOTE: The President spoke at 3:43 p.m. in the white. It won’t happen. It will change. In my Presidential Hall in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he re- lifetime, I think we will have a woman Presi- ferred to George M. C. Fisher, chairman, East- dent and certainly an African-American or man Kodak Co.; and F. Duane Ackerman, chief Hispanic or an Asian-American President— executive officer, BellSouth. maybe all three. But the point is, it won’t diminish white guys. It will make life more interesting. [Laughter] But the struggle is to understand Statement on the Death of Former it that way. This is not a matter of homog- Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba enizing this country; it’s a matter of cele- April 6, 2000 brating, relishing our differences and some- how finding a way to affirm our common hu- Hillary and I are saddened by the death manity. And the older I get, the more I be- of former Tunisian President Habib 758 Apr. 6 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

Bourguiba. On behalf of the American peo- drive-by. [Laughter] But I don’t know if all ple, I want to extend our heartfelt condo- their damage control is worth the effort. I lences to President Bourguiba’s family and mean, it’s a little bit like rearranging the deck to the Tunisian people. chairs on the set of ‘‘This Week With Sam President Bourguiba was a historic leader, and Cokie.’’ [Laughter] Don’t you a pioneer in Tunisia’s struggle for independ- newspeople ever learn? It isn’t the mistake ence and for social and economic progress. that kills you. It’s the coverup. [Laughter] He also played a courageous role in efforts Now, look, I want to say right now, I have to advance peace in the Middle East. He nothing against ABC. I like ABC just as much leaves behind a nation that can be proud of as I like all the other networks. [Laughter] its social achievements, particularly the steps Just the other day, for example, Diane Saw- it has taken to advance the status of women, yer came to the White House for an inter- and a nation poised to take on the critical view. Actually, she called it a visit. [Laughter] challenges of deepening democracy and re- And everything was fine until she asked me spect for human rights—and building a bet- to do some crayon pictures in the Oval Of- ter future for all Tunisians. fice. [Laughter] That was weird. But I just want to say this to David Westin. Message to the Congress You know, I’ve been in a lot of tough spots. Don’t let this get you down. [Laughter] You Transmitting the Report of the may not be America’s news leader, but you’re National Endowment for the Arts ‘‘King of the World.’’ [Laughter] April 6, 2000 Wait a minute, before I go any further, I want to welcome the really funny person To the Congress of the United States: In accordance with the provisions of the who is here tonight, the man who imper- National Foundation on the Arts and Hu- sonates me every week on ‘‘Saturday Night manities Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. Live,’’ Mr. Darrell Hammond. And Darrell, 959(d)), I transmit herewith the annual re- I want you to know I used to think you were port of the National Endowment for the Arts really funny but not so much anymore. I Laughter for 1998. think it’s Clinton fatigue. [ ] Poor Darrell, what’s he going to do when William J. Clinton I leave office? [Laughter] Come to think of The White House, it, what am I going to do? [Laughter] I know April 6, 2000. that you’ve heard me say I hope to join the Senate spouses club. But I’ve been thinking, I don’t really want to be a member of the Remarks at the Radio and Television Senate spouses club. I want to be president Correspondents Association Dinner of the Senate spouses club. [Laughter] April 6, 2000 You know what the big, hot issue on Cap- itol Hill is today? The majority party, other- [Prior to the President’s remarks, music from wise known as the Republicans, are raising the movie ‘‘Titanic’’ was played.] a ruckus about this census long form. They The President. Haunting, isn’t it? [Laugh- say these questions are too intrusive. Maybe ter] You know, usually, I go for ‘‘Hail To The it’s just a matter of perspective. [Laughter] Chief’’—[laughter]—but this week I can’t Depends on whether you’re the asker or the seem to get that song out of my head. answerer. [Laughter] But I’d be pretty hard- [Laughter] pressed to call these questions intrusive. You Good evening, President Nolen, Senator should look at the questionnaire those guys McCain, Members of Congress, members of sent me. [Laughter] Maybe again, I don’t the Radio and Television Correspondents As- think you should. [Laughter] sociation, distinguished journalists, Mr. You know what question really upsets the DiCaprio. [Laughter] Republicans on the census form? Question Now, ABC doesn’t know whether Leo and 19: ‘‘Are you better off today than you were I had an interview, a walk-through, or a at the last census?’’ [Laughter] I mean, even Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 6 759 a Presidential candidate has made this an back then about the iced tea defense, I’d issue. Just the other day he said he might drunk tea, too. [Laughter] leave his own census form blank. Hmmm— In the days before the Democratic Con- a blank census form? An adult literacy pro- vention, Al will publicly announce another gram? It’s starting to add up. [Laughter] longstanding disagreement we’ve had. We’ve Sounds like a cry for help to me. [Laughter] kept it under wraps for over 7 years now. Governor Bush even refused to state his date It involves our weekly White House lunches. of birth, on the grounds that it happened He strongly believes it is rude for one person more than 25 years ago. [Laughter] to eat off another person’s plate. [Laughter] But he’s not the only person who’s uptight Me, I think it’s a sign of friendship and famil- about this long form. Let me just read you iarity. [Laughter] some of the questions that other prominent On technology issues, God bless him, Al public officials refused to answer. For exam- invented E-mail. Me, I just can’t find them. ple, except for Senator McCain, the entire [Laughter] Everybody now knows the Vice Republican caucus refused to answer this President prefers earth-tone; all you see me one: ‘‘Have you recently changed your policy in is primary colors. [Laughter] We both on interracial dating?’’ [Laughter] ‘‘If so, do share an abiding interest in Buddhism. you know for sure your date is not a Catho- [Laughter] But when I visited the Buddhists lic?’’ [Laughter] ‘‘Regardless, please attach in India, it cost the taxpayers millions. When parental approval slip.’’ Al meets with Buddhists, he turns a tidy prof- Here’s the second one. ‘‘What is the deal it. [Laughter] with your hair?’’ [Laughter] Trent Lott re- Now, our differences notwithstanding, I fused to answer that. [Laughter] Then again, am a strong supporter of the Vice President. so did Hillary. [Laughter] Wait a minute. But beyond that, I’m not going to comment. How about this one. I thought this was im- After all, I’m not running for anything. For portant—how about this one: ‘‘Do you work the first time in more than 20 years, my name and play well with others?’’ [Laughter] is not on the ballot. This election is not about Mayor Giuliani had no comment. [Laughter] me. And hey, I’m okay with that. [Laughter] There’s a first time for everything. [Laugh- Suits me just fine. It’s all of you in the media ter] But look, I know the question that’s on who keep trying to drag me into this thing. everyone’s mind today, this custody battle in- I mean, I don’t see how it involves me at volving the Gonzalez family and the United all. I’m the Commander in Chief. I’ve got States and Cuba. And I know the new hot a lot of responsibilities. Even if I were in- issue is about my difference of opinion with clined to impose myself, which I’m not, I Vice President Gore. But with all respect, wouldn’t have time. Except for last weekend, you newspeople have missed the real story when I did find just a few hours to produce here, and there is a real story. We have finally a few campaign ads for Al. I’d like you to found the one immigrant Pat Buchanan take a look at them and tell me what you wants to keep in America. [Laughter] think. Look, it’s no secret, Presidents and Vice [At this point, a videotape was shown with Presidents have always disagreed. So it’s time the President speaking, as follows.] to set the record straight on the whole range of issues where the Vice President and I dif- ‘‘This November, Americans face the fu- fer. For example, in June he will reveal his ture. The stakes are high, and the choice is plan to relocate the United Nations Head- clear. One candidate has worked for 8 years quarters in Nashville—[laughter]—a bold, with Bill Clinton. He’s considered by Bill new idea. But I don’t agree with it. Indeed, Clinton to be a close, personal friend, helping I’m growing more partial to New York every make his toughest decisions, a partner in day. progress as Bill Clinton moves America for- When it comes to campaign finance, we ward. The other candidate has never worked differ. In our beverage of choice, I drink cof- a day with Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton hardly fee; he drinks iced tea. However, if I’d known even knows the guy, and when Bill Clinton 760 Apr. 6 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 first ran for President, he voted against Bill to bring Washington’s world to the world be- Clinton. Al Gore—he’s Bill Clinton’s choice. yond Washington. I know it’s important; I Shouldn’t he be yours?’’ know it’s difficult. ‘‘When Bill Clinton chose Al Gore as his I’ve tried to keep you entertained, and I’ve running mate, the conventional wisdom tried to keep you involved. [Laughter] And called it a mistake. They said Gore was too I hope you’ve at least had some pretty good, much like Clinton. Too much like Clinton? substantive things to write about for the last Too visionary? Too strong? With a plan that 7-plus years. But for all you have done, and would bring America too much prosperity, especially once a year for giving me, and in- and the world too much peace? Bill Clinton deed all of us, the chance to have a good stood up to the pundits and stared down the laugh, I thank you very, very much. pollsters. Choosing Al Gore was one of his very best decisions. And doesn’t that tell you NOTE: The President spoke at 9:34 p.m. in the Ballroom at the Washington Hilton. In his re- a lot about Bill Clinton? Al Gore—too much marks, he referred to John Nolen, president, like Clinton? Good for him; good for us.’’ Radio and Television Correspondents Association, ‘‘As America’s greatest Vice President, Al actor Leonardo DiCaprio; David Westin, presi- Gore has been a voice for our values, a fight- dent, ABC News; Gov. George W. Bush of Texas; er for our families, more than that, a strong Mayor Rudolph Giuliani of New York City; and partner to Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton, a small- author Patrick Buchanan. town boy from Arkansas who dared to dream big dreams. Young Bill worked hard and Memorandum on Leadership of the played by the rules. He went on to lead his country and build a bridge to the 21st cen- Emergency Response Assistance tury. Most important, Bill Clinton created Program AmeriCorps. Bill Clinton still believes in the April 6, 2000 promise of America, and he still believes in Memorandum for the Vice President, the a place called Hope. Al Gore—because Secretary of State, the Secretary of the there’s a 22d amendment.’’ Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the The President. Unfortunately, all these Attorney General, the Secretary of ads would be illegal under the Vice Presi- Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and dent’s campaign finance proposal—[laugh- Human Services, the Secretary of ter]—not because they’re unethical, certainly Transportation, the Secretary of Energy, the not because they’re untrue, because they’re Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Administrator, just dumb. [Laughter] Environmental Protection Agency, Director, Of course, in America, each of us has the Office of Management and Budget, Director constitutional right to silly or dumb speech. of Central Intelligence, Director, Federal I have certainly asserted my right here to- Emergency Management Agency, Assistant to night. But I think we should take another the President for National Security Affairs, moment to honor that essential freedom, to Assistant to the President for Science and recognize that vital principle, by asking the Technology, Under Secretary of State for members of the McLaughlin Group to stand. Public Diplomacy, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of [Laughter] Staff, Director, Federal Bureau of Let me say to all of you, I really am okay Investigation, Director, United States Secret most days about not being President next Service year. And it will be nice for all of you to have someone else to chew on. But I have Subject: Designation of the Attorney General loved coming to this dinner, and I have been as the Lead Official for the Emergency privileged to come every year but one that Response Assistance Program Under I have been here. I have enjoyed all my inter- Sections 1412 and 1415 of the National actions with you, the battles, the agreements, Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year the disagreements, the probing, the jabbing, 1997 (Public Law 104–201) (the ‘‘Act’’) even the occasional bloodshed. And believe Under sections 1412(a) and 1415(a) of the it or not, I appreciate the efforts you make Act, the Secretary of Defense is responsible Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 7 761 for implementing the Emergency Response Connecticut, who is the current Associate Assistance Program, commonly known as the Commissioner for Retirement Policy. ‘‘Domestic Preparedness Program,’’ to pro- There are many leaders of the aging com- vide civilian personnel of Federal, State, and munity here today; I welcome them. But local agencies with training and expert advice most of all, I want to welcome this very large regarding emergency responses to a use or delegation from the United States Congress, threatened use of a weapon of mass destruc- and at risk of—if I forget anybody, do not tion or related materials, and for testing and be shy. But my notes say that present here improving the responses of such agencies to today are: Chairman Bill Archer; our minor- emergencies involving chemical or biological ity whip, David Bonior; Representative Ben weapons and related materials. Cardin from Maryland; Representative Mac Under the authority vested in me by the Collins from Georgia, who is here with his Constitution and the laws of the United granddaughter who is happy that her grand- States, including sections 1412(a)(2) and father can continue to work into his 1415(d)(1) of the Act, I designate the Attor- later years—[laughter]—Representative Joe ney General to replace the Secretary of De- Crowley from New York; Representative fense as the lead Federal official with respon- Sam Johnson from Texas; Representative sibility for carrying out these programs. Sandy Levin from Michigan; Representative These designations are effective October John Lewis from Georgia; Representative 1, 2000, and constitute designations pursuant Ron Lewis from Kentucky; Representative to sections 1412(a)(2) and 1415(d)(1) of the Bob Matsui from California; Representative Act. Jim Ramstad from Minnesota; our sub- The Attorney General is authorized and committee chair, Representative Clay Shaw directed to publish this memorandum in the from Florida; Representative John Spratt Federal Register. from South Carolina; Representative Jerry Weller from Illinois. I don’t think I’ve missed William J. Clinton anybody. And you should give them all a big hand; they did a fabulous job. [Applause] NOTE: The memorandum was released by the Of- Over 7 years ago now, when I took office, fice of the Press Secreatry on April 7. the Vice President and I made a commitment to a 21st century vision of America, with op- portunity and responsibility for all American Remarks on Signing the Senior citizens and a community of all American Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act of citizens. To do it we thought we would have 2000 to reward both work and family and create April 7, 2000 a Government that would borrow less and invest more. For 7 years, we’ve worked hard Thank you. Let me say, first of all, to Flo on that. Mallonee, I thought she did a great job. Her Today, the size of the Government is about family must be very proud of her. And if you what it was in 1960, 40 years ago, thanks, get tired of the job you’re in, you might con- in large measure, to higher productivity from sider elected office. [Laughter] the Federal work force and the advent of new I’d like to welcome all the former Social technologies. Thanks to strong cooperative Security Commissioners here and say a spe- efforts in the Congress, we have turned cial word of appreciation to our current record deficits into surpluses, and we’ve en- Commissioner, Ken Apfel, and Deputy Com- joyed the longest economic expansion in his- missioner Bill Halter. I’d also like to acknowl- tory. edge the contributions of Jim Roosevelt, until We’ve tried to find ways to reward work recently, the Associate Commissioner for Re- and family, doubling the earned-income tax tirement Policy at the Social Security Admin- credit for working families with modest istration, something that would have made means, passing the Family and Medical his grandfather very proud of him; and Leave Act, improving the college loan pro- former Representative Barbara Kennelly of gram, and providing tax credits for college 762 Apr. 7 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 costs that were never there before, and many That’s true. Increasingly, older Americans other initiatives. But we know, increasingly, want to work. Many of them for various rea- how we deal with Social Security will be a sons need to work. And we know, as a prac- test of our commitment to family and, in- tical matter, that unless they’re in terrifically creasingly, to work. physically draining jobs, that continuing to In the 65 years since President Roosevelt work may well add not only to the length signed it into law, Social Security has dra- but to the quality of their lives. matically transformed the lives of older and Today, one in four Americans between 65 disabled Americans. Seniors were once the and 69 has at least a part-time job. Eighty poorest people in America. Today, thanks to percent of the baby boomers say they intend Social Security, they are the least likely to to keep working past age 65. And I’m the live in poverty. In spite of the fact that many oldest of the baby boomers, so I can speak seniors enjoy other sources of income, if for our generation. One of the reasons I went there were no Social Security in America, al- to law school is so nobody could ever force most half the seniors in the country would me to retire. [Laughter] Although, I spent be below the poverty line. the better part of my life trying to escape Thanks to Social Security, many of our law practice—[laughter]—I still remember seniors have a level of independence that few vividly how I felt about it, even as a young older Americans could even have dreamed man, and I still have some solace in that. of 65 years ago. And thanks to Social Secu- Yet, because of the Social Security retire- rity, we Americans continue to uphold the ment earnings test, the system withholds sacred compact between the generations. benefits from over 800,000 older working But FDR himself said, and I quote, that Americans and discourages countless more— ‘‘Social Security represents a cornerstone in no one knows how many—from actually a structure which is by no means complete,’’ seeking work. It has long seemed senseless and that ‘‘new conditions impose new re- to me. quirements upon Government and those who In the 1992 campaign, Vice President conduct Government.’’ He would have been Gore and I campaigned on scrapping the re- the first to agree, I believe, that Social Secu- tirement earnings test. When it became obvi- rity must change to keep pace with changing ous that the work that we had all done to- times in America. gether to balance the budget and run a sur- The system originally was designed to en- plus and to stabilize the fund would make courage older Americans to retire by with- it possible to do so with no adverse impact, holding benefits from those 65 and older who in my 1999 State of the Union Address, I worked. Keep in mind, 65 years ago, when proposed it. Social Security was initiated, the life expect- But what has happened here is truly aston- ancy in this country was not 65. The so-called ishing. I hope this will go out all across Amer- retirement earnings test made some sense in ica today. All you ever hear is how much we the Great Depression, when the Nation was fight up here. This bill passed unanimously. desperate to find jobs for young workers with Nobody was against this. And it is a tribute families and the unemployment rate in our to the people who work on these issues in Nation was 25 percent. the Congress and those who have listened Conditions today could hardly be more dif- to them, but also it shows that there is a keen ferent. The economy is booming, the unem- awareness here of how the aging of America ployment rate at its lowest point in 30 years. and the improved financial condition of our Companies desperately need more workers. country and our Government has totally Older Americans have the skills and the ex- changed the landscape. perience that businesses need. Indeed, one But I think it also reflects the under- of the most interesting things that was said standing that this is a genuine human rights to me today before we started is—Flo said issue. We want people to have this right to it’s a good thing we did this, because she’d choose the life they want or they need. The be hard to replace at her present position. Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act means [Laughter] that hundreds of thousands of older working Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 7 763

Americans will get checks next month reim- do is to log on to the Social Security Adminis- bursing them for all the Social Security bene- tration’s website, www.ssa.gov, and click on fits withheld this year. the new Social Security retirement planner. Yesterday morning, in Chappaqua, New It provides estimates of future benefits based York, I went to get my morning cup of coffee on your past, present, and estimated future in my new little village—[laughter]—and a income, and a new tool for the growing le- lady came up to me and said, ‘‘You know, gion of Americans who are learning to use I’m a public school teacher, and my district new technologies to make their own invest- needs me. But I’m 65 years old. Are you guys ment decisions and retirement plans. ever going to get around to lifting that earn- Two days ago, at the White House Con- ings test?’’ And you know—it’s terrible—I’m ference on the New Economy, I discussed embarrassed to tell you this, but I can hardly with leading experts on technology how Gov- keep up with my schedule from one day to ernment could use the Internet to empower the next, and I didn’t remember that I was individuals and strengthen civil society. This doing it the day after tomorrow. I said, ‘‘In new retirement planner is just a small but just a few days I think you’ll be very happy.’’ powerful example of the kind of innovations [Laughter] So if you’re looking at me today— that I believe have the potential to transform [laughter]—we did it. the relationship between the United States This bill not only means that our seniors Government and the American people. will be able to enjoy extra income and per- Let me, finally, just add one cautionary sonal fulfillment that comes with work with- and hopeful note. These steps today are pro- out being penalized. It means companies foundly important, but I believe we should with labor shortages will have a fresh supply do more to strengthen Social Security. I think of experienced workers, increasing our ability we should extend the life of the Trust Fund to grow without inflation. In the future, it well into the middle of this century, while will mean more baby boomers working strengthening benefits for older women liv- longer, contributing more to the tax base and ing alone, who are still much more likely to to the Social Security Trust Fund at precisely be in poverty than other seniors. the time when the percentage of younger Last fall, I proposed legislation to pay workers paying into the system will be drop- down our debt for the first time since 1835 ping. and use the benefits of debt reduction, which This is a big deal. If present work rates would now—if we took the benefits of debt continue and present birth rates and present reduction that we’re getting because of the immigration rates continue, when all the surplus in Social Security tax collections now, baby boomers get in here, there will only be the benefits are manifested in lower interest two people working for every one person payments for the United States on this debt drawing Social Security. This may also as we pay the debt down. If we took those change that and help to further stabilize the lower interest payments, that benefit, and we Social Security Trust Fund itself. put it into the Social Security Trust Fund, The retirement earnings test means higher we could extend the life of the Trust Fund benefits for—ending it means higher benefits to 2054, which will be well beyond the life for working seniors with no negative ef- expectancy of all but the most fortunate baby fects—I say this again—no negative effects boomers. on the long-term fiscal health of the Social I hope we can work with Congress to pass Security Trust Fund. So it’s the right thing that plan this year. It is a simple measure. to do for seniors, but it’s also a smart thing Some of us would like to do more. We may for our Nation. not be able to do more in an election year, I’m also pleased today to announce an- where there are genuine and honest dif- other important innovation to upgrade Social ferences between the two parties and even Security for the information age. Beginning within the parties about how to proceed on today, Americans of any age can find out in this issue. But at least, if we could simply seconds what their Social Security benefit take the interest savings the American people levels will be in the future. All they have to have given us with their Social Security taxes, 764 Apr. 7 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 which are now in surplus over distribution, Now I’d like to invite the Members of and pay the interest savings from paying Congress to come up here for the bill signing. down the debt into the Trust Fund, think And I’d like to invite the seniors to go over of it: We’d have 54 years on the life of the this way and kind of stand behind me, too. Social Security Trust Fund. So I hope we can do that. NOTE: The President spoke at 11 a.m. in the Pres- idential Hall in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Execu- I also hope we can strengthen incentives tive Office Building. In his remarks, he referred for working families to save by passing the to Florence Mallonee, Social Security recipient, retirement savings plan that I recommended. who introduced the President. H.R. 5, approved And I hope we can expand high-quality pen- April 7, was assigned Public Law No. 106–182. sion coverage for millions of workers. I have proposed tax credits for small businesses to establish good pensions for their employees. Remarks on the Legislative Agenda It’s harder for them, and I think we ought for International Family Planning to give them more help to do it. Assistance Again I say, conventional wisdom says that April 7, 2000 nothing important happens in Washington in an election year. Today we have proved the Thank you very much. Please be seated. conventional wisdom wrong. This is an elec- Good afternoon, and welcome to the White tion year. This is important, and it happened House on this beautiful day. I want to thank all of you who have joined us, particularly by unanimous vote of the United States the Members of Congress who are here. House of Representatives and Senate. So, so Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Jim much for the conventional wisdom, and good Greenwood will speak in a moment, but I for the seniors in America and those of us also want to acknowledge the presence of who hope to be part of the doubling of the Representatives Nita Lowey, Nancy Pelosi, senior population in the next 30 years. Ellen Tauscher, Lois Capps, Connie Morella, Let me also say, I think it’s important to Joe Crowley, and Barbara Lee. Thank you point out that it’s not just seniors who should for being here. be happy about this, and I’m glad Flo has I thank Secretary Shalala for being here got her whole family here. One of the most and for her strong advocacy. And Secretary profound worries of the baby boom genera- Albright and Dr. Ifenne of Nigeria will talk tion is that, because we are so large, when in a moment. We are joined today by the we retire, if we haven’t made adequate provi- Ambassadors from Albania, Colombia, and sion for it, our retirement will impose a big Nigeria. We welcome them. burden on our children and their ability to I want to thank the foundations and the raise our grandchildren. So this should be nonprofits who are here, who have stepped a happy day for Americans of all ages today, up their own support for women’s health and because a very good thing has been done for family planning, and all the individual citi- the future. zens who have also come here to take part So I thank you all for being here. I look in this endeavor. forward to working with you to further This week Congress begins debate on a strengthen Social Security, to strengthen new budget. And we have a new chance to Medicare. I hope we can agree to add a pre- return America’s support for family planning scription drug benefit there. I hope we can around the world to the level it ought to be, reauthorize the Older Americans Act. I hope a new chance to lift the international family we can do a lot of other things this year. But planning debate out of partisan politics and the spirit—again, I want to thank the Mem- back to what it’s really about, human poten- bers of Congress, the Republicans and the tial and human lives. I have proposed an in- Democrats, for the spirit behind this action. crease of $169 million in USAID’s inter- This is how America is supposed to work. national family planning assistance this year You have done a good thing today. and $25 million to support the U.N. popu- Thank you very much. lation fund. Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 7 765

Members of the administration and I have know family planning could help women bear made clear at every opportunity that we are healthier children and save the lives of ready to fight, and I know you are ready to 150,000 women a year. If you’re in favor of help us win. healthy mothers raising healthy babies, you One person who is not here today, who ought to be in favor of family planning. wanted very much to be here, is Hillary, but Around the world, 34 million people are she’s out struggling to make sure I gain a now living with AIDS, and in the developing place in the Senate spouses’ club. [Laughter] world, almost half of them are women. Last But I would like to quote something she said year, AIDS killed 1.1 million women, leaving last year at the Hague forum: ‘‘We know that broken communities, crippled economies, no nation can hope to succeed in the global and millions of orphaned children. If you economy of the 21st century when its women care about stopping the spread of AIDS, you and children are trapped in endless cycles ought to care about empowering women to of poverty, when they have inadequate health make safe choices for themselves and for care, poor access to family planning, limited their children. education, or when they are constrained in- Around the world, more than a billion side social or cultural customs that impov- young people are entering their reproductive erish their spirits and limit their dreams.’’ years, the largest generation in history, and Two weeks ago I was in a little village in the one behind it is 2 billion strong. More India, a country with nearly a billion people than 150 million women worldwide would and a per capita income of about $450 a year. like to limit or space their children, but they I met the women who, with the smallest have no access to contraception. The option amount of encouragement, have started the these young people have and the choices they women’s dairy cooperative and taken over make will have vital consequences for every the local milk business. I saw their commu- one of us and will, in large measure, shape nity center’s computer that any village the world of the 21st century. So if you’re woman, poor or nearly illiterate, can use to concerned about the health of our planet and get the latest information on caring for a about the health of everyone on it, you ought newborn child. to support our family planning assistance Think about how life in that one village around the world. is changing for the better because women America has a profound interest in safe, have access to education and health care. voluntary family planning, a moral interest Hillary and I have seen again and again in saving human lives, a practical interest in around the world, in the smallest, poorest building a world of healthy children and rural villages on every continent, how em- strong societies. And because we are a nation powering women lifts the lives of individuals that believes in individual freedom and re- and transforms the future of communities. sponsibility, we have every interest in sup- Family planning is a vital part of that em- porting others around the world who seek powerment. It allows women and families to the same rights and responsibilities we our- make their own choices and plan their own selves enjoy. futures. If you believe God created women That is why we have consistently sup- equal, if you believe every society needs ported family planning since 1993. We do women’s contributions to succeed, then you not fund abortion. We fund family planning must be in favor of returning decisions on we know reduces the demand for abortion. family life to the hands of women and their And I have asked Congress to return our sup- families. port for international family planning to the Around the world, the complications of level it reached in 1995, a level that serves pregnancy kill about 600,000 women every our interests, keeps our promises, and year. We all agree on fighting child and ma- leverages support from other donors around ternal mortality, just as we’re working to the world. eradicate polio and TB. But maternal mor- I urge Congress to give us that money tality has been stuck at the same level for without restrictions that hamper the work of more than a decade now, even though we family planning organizations and bar them 766 Apr. 7 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 from discussing or debating reproductive when you were speaking and then when Con- health choices. Those congressionally spon- gressman Greenwood got up to speak and sored restrictions impose a destructive dou- he talked about visiting a village in Bolivia, ble standard. When would we ever accept you know, the fundamental problem here, I rules telling Americans at home not even to believe, is that too many people are voting discuss women’s health and women’s on this issue based on either pressures they choices? And how in the name of democracy receive or personal values they hold dear, and freedom can we impose those rules on genuinely. But they’ve never actually seen others, which would be illegal here in the this. United States? That is not the American way. If I hadn’t been President, I don’t suppose We know Americans favor family planning I ever would have gone to those small villages at home and voluntary family planning assist- in Latin America and Africa and India and ance abroad. We should not cloud what is East Asia and met with all those village at stake here. Does the United States want women who are, I think, the most impressive to save lives, promote mother’s and child’s citizens in the entire world today, changing health, and strengthen families and commu- the whole future. nities around the world? Together, we must When Dr. Ifenne was talking, I remem- make sure the answer is a resounding, un- bered, when I was in Senegal, I visited with equivocal yes. a group of village women who came to see Now I would like to turn to someone who me from their little village. They wanted to has been a leader for us in the administration come to the capital to see me, because Hil- and around the world in making this case lary had gone out to see them, and it was for women’s health and women’s empower- a village where genital mutilation was prac- ment, herself a trailblazer and a role model, ticed. And these women organized the village who has distinguished herself, I believe ex- and got rid of it. And so they got up, dressed traordinarily, as our Secretary of State, Mad- in their beautiful native dress, and they came eleine Albright. to see me, and they even brought along a handful of men who supported them. [At this point, Secretary Albright, Dr. Ifenne, [Laughter] and Representatives Maloney and Green- When you see these things, when you see wood made brief remarks.] people in the most basic ways taking control The President. Well, I want to thank all of their lives, and you realize it is pro-child, of the speakers. Secretary Albright, thank pro-family, pro-every value that any of us you. And I thank Representative Carolyn ever proposed to espouse, I believe that the Maloney, purist though she is. [Laughter] United States is—in my budget, I think it’s We need a few. [Laughter] the least we should be doing. And frankly, And I thank Representative Greenwood; I only proposed that much because I thought so many other Members who are here: Rep- it was the most I could get passed. resentative Pelosi, who had to leave, Rep- But if you were to ask me what I have resentative Lowey have been leaders in this learned as President about our dealings with fight. And I thank, particularly, the Repub- other countries, I would say two things. One licans who have joined in this fight. Rep- is, large countries too often forget the little resentative Connie Morella here. I was just people in other countries. You can’t afford looking at Connie thinking, she’s probably it here, because they can vote you out. But got more kids and grandkids than anybody we know that the citizens are the strength else in this audience—[laughter]—and of this country; the same is true everywhere. therefore, probably has more standing on this The other thing I have learned is that we issue than anyone else. And we thank her get far more—that foreign policy is a lot and all the Members of the House who are more like real life than most people imagine. here. I thank them. You get a lot more, on the whole, out of co- But mostly, I want to thank you, Dr. operation than coercion. Ifenne, for being here. I think you could see So, Doctor, we thank you for coming. It’s what a responsive chord you struck. But a long way from Nigeria. I hope your trip Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Apr. 7 767 will prove to be worthwhile. If every Member Proclamation 7287—National of the United States Congress could hear Volunteer Week, 2000 you, I’m quite confident we would prevail. April 7, 2000 For the rest of us, we have to do our best to add to your voices. By the President of the United States But I hope as you argue this you will re- of America member to talk to those who have never been A Proclamation to those villages about what we know is true. The empowerment of individuals in difficult Each year our Nation is blessed by the circumstances is the ultimate answer to all service of more than 100 million Americans of our challenges, and this is a very important who take time out of their busy lives to reach part of that. out to those in need. Volunteers come from Thank you very much. every age group and walk of life, yet they share a common conviction: that by giving of themselves, they can bridge the divide be- NOTE: The President spoke at 2:02 p.m. in the tween strangers, create stronger families, and East Room at the White House. In his remarks, build better communities. he referred to Dr. Enyantu Ifenne, Director, Cen- National Volunteer Week offers us a ter for Development and Population Activities of chance to thank the many volunteers whose Nigeria; Albanian Ambassador to the U.S. Petrit work and compassion add so much to the Bushati; Colombian Ambassador to the U.S. Luiz quality of our lives. It also gives those who Alberto Moreno; and Nigerian Ambassador to the have never volunteered the opportunity to U.S. Jibril Muhammed Aminu. learn more about the many organizations that would benefit from their time and talents. People who enjoy sports can volunteer at a Radio Remarks on the Social Special Olympics event; those who love the Security Internet Retirement arts can work as docents in a gallery or his- Planner toric home; those who love to read can share that love through a literacy program. April 7, 2000 Our success with the AmeriCorps program For more than 60 years now, Social Secu- demonstrates the power and promise of com- rity has provided a measure of financial secu- munity service in America. Since we passed rity for seniors after a lifetime of work. Be- the National and Community Service Trust Act in 1993, more than 150,000 young people ginning today, Americans of all ages can log have served in AmeriCorps. They have on to the Internet and find out in seconds taught or mentored more than 4 million chil- the amount of Social Security benefits they dren; helped to immunize more than a mil- can expect in retirement. The new on-line lion people; worked to build some 11,000 retirement planner estimates future benefits homes; and sparked a new spirit of commu- based on past, present, and projected future nity service across our Nation. In my pro- income. Just log on to the Social Security web posed budget for fiscal 2001, I have included site at www.ssa.gov, and click on the new So- funding to reach our goal of 100,000 cial Security retirement planner. It’s never AmeriCorps members in service each year. too early to plan you financial future. I have also outlined a new AmeriCorps Re- serves program that will allow us to call upon NOTE: The President’s remarks were recorded at AmeriCorps alumni during times of special approximately 3:10 p.m. in the Oval Office at the need, such as following natural disasters. The White House for later broadcast. These remarks Corporation for National Service will commit were also made available on the White House $10 million to create a new ‘‘E-corps’’—750 Press Office Actuality Line. qualified AmeriCorps volunteers who will 768 Apr. 7 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 help to bring digital opportunity to commu- Digest of Other nities by providing technical support to White House Announcements school computer systems, tutoring at Com- munity Technology Centers, and offering technical training for careers in the informa- The following list includes the President’s public tion technology sector. Through a new Com- schedule and other items of general interest an- nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and munity Coaches program, we will place not included elsewhere in this issue. adults in 1,000 schools to help engage stu- dents in service programs that will connect them to the wider community. And through April 2 new Youth Empowerment Grants, we will re- In the morning, the President traveled to ward social entrepreneurship among young Las Vegas, NV. people who are seeking solutions to problems In the evening, the President traveled to San Jose, CA. Later he traveled to Palo Alto, such as youth violence and alienation. CA and returned to San Jose, CA. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., reminded us that ‘‘everyone can be great because anyone April 3 can serve.’’ During National Volunteer In the afternoon, the President returned Week, let us pause to thank all who have to Washington, DC. responded to that call to greatness, and let The President announced his intention to each of us make our own commitments to nominate Barbara Snelling to be a member volunteer in our neighborhoods and commu- of the U.S. Institute of Peace. nities. The President announced his intention to appoint Susan Brophy McGowan as a mem- Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, ber of the Advisory Committee on Trade Pol- President of the United States of America, icy Negotiations. by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United April 4 States, do hereby proclaim April 9 through In the afternoon, the President met with April 15, 2000, as National Volunteer Week. President Ali Abdallah Salih of Yemen in the I call upon all Americans to observe this week Oval Office. with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and April 5 activities to express appreciation to the vol- In the evening, the President traveled to unteers among us for their commitment to Chappaqua, NY. service and to encourage the spirit of vol- The President announced his intention to unteerism in our families and communities. nominate Carol W. Kinsley and Robert Rog- In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set ers to be members of the Board of Directors my hand this seventh day of April, in the year of the Corporation for National and Commu- of our Lord two thousand, and of the Inde- nity Service. pendence of the United States of America April 6 the two hundred and twenty-fourth. In the morning, the President returned to Washington, DC. The President announced his intention to William J. Clinton nominate Michael G. Kozak to be U.S. Am- bassador to the Republic of Belarus. The President announced his intention to [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, nominate Michael V. Dunn to be a member 11:16 a.m., April 10, 2000] of the Farm Credit Administration Board. April 7 NOTE: This proclamation will be published in the The White House announced that the Federal Register on April 16. President will travel to Oklahoma City, OK, on April 19. Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 769

The President declared a major disaster in Submitted April 6 Texas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area Kent J. Dawson, struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and of Nevada, to be U.S. District Judge for the flooding on March 28–29. District of Nevada, vice a new position cre- ated by Public Law 106–113, approved No- vember 29, 1999. Michael V. Dunn, Nominations of Iowa, to be a member of the Farm Credit Submitted to the Senate Administration Board, Farm Credit Adminis- tration for the remainder of the term expiring October 13, 2000, vice Marsha P. Martin. The following list does not include promotions of members of the Uniformed Services, nominations Michael V. Dunn, to the Service Academies, or nominations of For- of Iowa, to be a member of the Farm Credit eign Service officers. Administration Board, Farm Credit Adminis- tration for a term expiring October 13, 2006 Submitted April 4 (reappointment). Carol W. Kinsley, of Massachusetts, to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term Checklist of one year (new position). of White House Press Releases Jane Lubchenco, of Oregon, to be a member of the National The following list contains releases of the Office Science Board, National Science Foundation of the Press Secretary that are neither printed as for a term expiring May 10, 2006 (reappoint- items nor covered by entries in the Digest of ment). Other White House Announcements. Robert B. Rogers, of Missouri, to be a member of the Board Released April 3 of Directors of the Corporation for National Statement by the Press Secretary announcing and Community Service for a term expiring the President’s upcoming visit to Colorado October 6, 2001, vice Marlee Matlin, term expired. Released April 4 Transcript of a press briefing by Deputy Barbara W. Snelling, of Vermont, to be a member of the Board Press Secretary Jake Siewert, National Eco- of Directors of the U.S. Institute of Peace nomic Council Director Gene Sperling, and for a term expiring January 19, 2001, vice Assistant Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dennis L. Bark, term expired. P.J. Crowley Statement by Press Secretary on the upcom- Warren M. Washington, ing visit of President Ali Abdallah Salih of of Colorado, to be a member of the National Yemen Science Board, National Science Founda- tion, for a term expiring May 10, 2006 (re- Announcement: Participants: The White appointment). House Conference on the New Economy Submitted April 5 Released April 5 Jay A. Garcia-Gregory, Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- of Puerto Rico, to be U.S. District Judge for retary Joe Lockhart the District of Puerto Rico, vice Raymond Announcement of nomination for U.S. Dis- L. Acosta, retired. trict Judge for the District of Puerto Rico 770 Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

Released April 6 Acts Approved Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- by the President retary Joe Lockhart Approved April 5 Released April 7 Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- H.R. 1000 / Public Law 106–181 retary Joe Lockhart Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century Announcement of nomination for U.S. Dis- trict Judge for the District of Nevada Approved April 7

Statement by the Press Secretary announcing H.R. 5 / Public Law 106–182 the President’s upcoming visit to Oklahoma Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act of City for a memorial dedication ceremony 2000