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RESTRICTION
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COLLECTION:
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Speechwriting
Terry Edmonds
OA/Box Number:
17509
FOLDER TITLE:
Religious Leaders 9/28/99
2006-0462-F
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Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
AND TYPE
001. memo
SUBJECTffiTLE
DATE
For the President and First Lady from Mary Beth Cahill re: Selection
of those to offer prayers at religious leaders breakfast (partial) (I page)
09/17/99
RESTRICTION
P5
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
Speechwriting
Terry Edmonds
OA/Box NulJiber:
17509
FOLDER TITLE:
Religious Leaders 9/28/99
2006-0462-F
1070
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act- )44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
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Relating to the appointment to Federal office )(a)(2) of the PRA)
Release would violate a Federal statute )(a)(3) of the PRA)
Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
financial infonhation )(a)(4) of the PRA)
PS Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
and his advisors, or between such advisors )a)(5) of the PRA)
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy )(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(l) National security classified information )(b)(l) of the FOIA)
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
an agency )(b)(2) of the FOIA)
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute )(b)(3) of the FOIA)
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
information )(b)(4) of the FOIA)
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy )(b)(6) of the FOIA)
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concerning wells )(b)(9) of the FOlA)
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��.
~ 1,.•
'
..·-
-·
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST
STATE DINING ROOM
SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
- -
-
' '
....:...
.
,. -~
-:. .. ·.:
�Ackno\vledgen1ents: Mrs. Clinton; Members of my
Cabinet: Sec. Shalala, Sec. Riley, Jack Lew; Rev. Hahn;
Sister Sylvester.
Thank you and welcome to the White House. _ks:m:a.n.y
1
�For quite son1e tin1e no\v we have been talking about
how to make the computer systems that virtually run our
lives Y2K ready.
Btil1~, I want to say a few words
about '\¥hat\¥@ mustrltr=t=ama~ sure our nation's priorities
and our=resol~ are Y2K ready.,-- eS}Jgciltlly as::Wfhlook-for
ways to end the epidemic of gun violence that still plague-s
~
~~~'
ouf nation. It is notAenough tl:tat we enter the new
century~
the n1ost technologically advanced and economically
~~~~'-~'t!~~~'2.tr-l\~~~~
prosperous nation on eartlb As ~criph1rs asks, "~¥Vltat does ~~~
~ ~l>t~O\ ~luu._~~Sa~~~)
it-profit a mttn t6 ga;in the world and }Qse his-:soul.'L I wafit
~~~~~~j~)-N~ ~
to make s1 1re 1ve enter the ne¥.r cenn n·y widba-rene woo
~~~~~~~~l~~.
respect fur th6- life of every human being aHd e;!;pecially for
~u~>~,~~~~~ ~.~~l'.
i~~~~~~~~~
the live& of oar prcs;ious and-innocent chiklren.
~~~~~.~~~~~~->.
~~~~ ~f,O·~~t~
~~;:::;=;:;:::==7
.
M ~
, \:"'~·~ ~"\~J
']\Aul._\1'
~
~W-~~~~~
.~~.t~~\---~:~ ~l ~.~~
~
'
b+-~-~ ~~ ~·~-~.~Cc,_
~'~~~ ~~~~Uu.lhl~~:
-~~·~'
'-----
�vAA:e:uce.
It is true: we have the lowest overall crime rate in 26
years, with violent crime down by 27 percent in the last six
years alone. We have the lowest murder rate in 30 years.
~'\\ut~J.t~~
But we have also seenAa.rz;nernt rash of high-profile mass
~~~C-1.~~~{~~
shootingsAthat:b:av-e ~.ihc natioo '::s- atteniton. 1A1iilre:ut
~
a dGuh(ihe~killing of innocent people d~:.: ~~~:·:~
America has been the most painful thing
-I
and the \'ice
~idetit and our families have had to ~~e in
discharging our responsibilities to the American people:
3
�THE PRESiDEN.T L.~ tiS
I
9-d-~-4)
I • •"\
('r:r:fl.•
t t · ·i
•.)
--··
The bombing in Oklahoma City; the terrible school
~~~~
violence at Littleto~; the dragging death of James Byrd in
Jasper, Texas; the torture death of Matthew Shepard in
Wyoming; the murder of Won Joon Yoon outside his .
.
church in Bloomington, Indiana on the
ew-&tw-:~~~
the
..
Fo&fulofJu~
.
~~
~Q~~
office killings in Atlanta, the shootings at the Jewish
Community Center in Los Angeles, the killing of the
Filipino postal worker, the recent murderous rampage
~
place
~f~:Ot:Ship
-- Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort
Worth.
4
~
�~,~me of these crimes \Vere n1otivated by hatM
~~~~~~ts\_~m~~,llJk>
.
And there is a consensus emerging across America anci--1n
~~~~~~~~~~~
-the Congres~ that\ve have to do moretto ~ent and ..
~~~~~tw-_~~
~~~-
~~!\-
-prosecute hate crimes. More and more of our citizens are
~tanding
v,rith us to proclaim: No American should- he
subjected to v.iolence on account of his or her race, color,
national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender or
-ei~ability. We have a Hate Crimes
billrnovinglhrough
Congress that v1ould expand protections and rernove
ban:iers to speedy prosecution. The Congress needs
t~
-finish its work on this bill and send it for my signature
tl;vithout further dslay.
5
�THE PHESIDENT H.L\S SEEN
~U\
l-d-~ ..,C)l
13ut tnan¥-:Of these crimes do not fit into the category of
.
~~\)j&_fu~~~~~~~.
hate cnmes.xS-ome have descrwa em-mra.vttr-@f @\4.-l. ·
~~+c~~~~,m~
Others have questioned whether mental illness protivated
~~~~~~~~~~~~
the killers. -None of us should seek to q1ake any capital=e-f
~u;~~&n~~\\-~~.
-this, but all of us ~hould seek to: rnake sour~ sense of it.
~ lillt~ ~·~ ~ ~ \.n{._"" ()._~
eonsider this: It is a fact that America has the highest
~·~~~.~~~~G.~
=~~:~~tl~~~~\~.
accidental s~<?<?!iJ.?-g. ~e~ths for children under 15 in the,
~~\}jll)~~~~&.~~~\u~~~~.
United States is nine times higher than the rate for the other
~~~~QLlA~~-~u.u~~
25 industrialized nations combined?
~~~~w__~~.\~~ ~
If you believe this is about the human heart, you must
beltCV@ b\i'O things.
6
�r . . . L'',- ,·,_. .....
?: ; ,
'fl.,~r:- oor·,~;l"·'"' '.''
~
1 n 0 , •••, t • 1-.>1I ' ...
· •c.
.·
r..
-...)
.:.-.; :.:.
'
1~
0
'- ~<1-· err
If the murder rate is higher here, and the accidental death
~~~
rate is exponentially higher,wou-=rrtu~t bdieYe that we are
both tnore evil and more stupid than any other country on
earth~ I- knovl that sounds funny, but I am trying to makg-a
~~~·~.~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~
~ v..
~ ~ ~ ~ '\t._.,'+- ~
1\u_
\Wl
w..
\.W-
&o:,
'fhe N~6,.. and others have gQt to stop usipg arguments
~~~~t\_%~ts\~ ~~~(Uill\JX_
\'
~~:~a~~s~d~~=~~~~
God calls us to be " ... doers of the word, and not just hearers
~·
~~~·~~~\kl~~.
~
Gnly." (James 1:22) That means v1e should do everything
vle can, through public policy and private action. to rnake ,
America a safer place ... to make it clear that our children are--
going to grovl up safe and healthy.-
7
�...
·r l-: E f.::r, ,r.;:·•-·.J.L-<.::.!«'
r(: i ,.. ,.) ;-- ·r .
H!IS ;:_: .... .- ...•
!,
!
. .t~\
C\
vt. h..~',.;
l- .). s - 11
'.
Whether it's hate cnmes leg1slation or religious expres-si-on
ii1=011I connnunities, we have a duty to n1ake it harde-r- to
CGnnnit evil, and a responsibility to protect what is-good.
This carries a special urgency when these act
violence are irected squarely at the heart
than one teenager
hard to imagine a
er faith in God ... or a man
shooting another for affirm·
ooting eight people in
walking into a Baptist
the midst of pra
It is
r. We cannot write thes off as flashes of
depravi , forget about them and move on. We
rything we can to keep them from happening aga1n.
8
�·:·!··iE
'I
opr'-':n..-'·-~·r
~ -'··-'• '•' ~-! ·~
!
...~f\s
f
~,"-\
C
\ r> c-D
j- cJ..-0 - 1 )
'rE'--._
~
s~="E''
' - :.c~~
•
~
'~
I
~o those who say this is about evil, Fsa-y you're
right. It is about evil, the unfathomable darkness within us
all that n1utates and explodes within the angry, tortured
'PouJ:~ ~ 'u ~ ~~J \},_~NJJJ-cl-~lll_~~ ~\'
souls of the few. But it is not just about evil, whether · ~
reasoned or
irrationa~ ~ 'calls all of us to rise up as one
arrd let it be known: We're not going to let our children die
like this anyrnore and we are simply not going to liv€ like
ihis anymore.
From the pulpits of yoar congregations to the bully
ptilpit in Washington-- all of us have a responsibility to
join this effort. Scripture also tells us, "Be not overcome
-with evil. Overcorne evil with good." (Ronrans 12:bl).
The killings in Columbine \Ver~il.
9
�"·
rampage in Fort Worth \vas evil. But praying and \Vorking
for peace is good. Starting a grassroots campaign against
yo,uth violence, as we have done, is good. Putting more
uniforme=officers in troubled neighborhoods is
good. These gun buy back programs that are springing up
across the,country are good. And passing common sense
gun legislation to keep guns out of ththlnds oi s¥il
good.
~"'
~
~~~~nu_~
l».~
So,
'
'-
. ,
~@ers is
~
~IN-.~~~~...1
~~~~,,~
....
~ ~~)·0:l~ ~I
as we~ente:t: the new millennium, let us make 'Sure
~~~~U-A~~'\~~~·~~~.
mtr hearts and minds are Y2K. ready.
et as make sure ..QlJ
~~~~~~~Uu$-~~~~CU~O\ ~~
-sense of respons1b1hty to our children and to our. nationzis
r~~=~=~~~
'
�9,-· J- '0 -- 1)
The book of Ecclesiastes also tells us that for
everything there is a season. "A iirnc tcHveep and a timeJo
~~~(l...~~:n~~
laugh ... a time to n1ourn and a ti
~\\N--~~~~.
ce .. :-a-tim€ io
.
keep s-ilence and a time, to speak." (Ecclesiastes, 3:4 ':/)
w.u.
~~~ (l~~~~
~,I bclieve
time to end
'~'e
It IS
OIIr
oHr
~ ~tJJ- ~~~,~~~IMIUJll
~~~,:~~~e::~~, ,speak ~ut and take
respon~~c;r ~~~~;~s·
pY-Uhat p{ayer into. action today and everyday. Thank you
~~<\~~~~~k~~-~
and God bless you all.
11
�·'-
-
Terry E
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST
STATE DINING ROOM
SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
- - - ' .
-......._
'
- -'
�Acknowledgen1ents: Mrs. Clinton; Members of my
Cabinet: Sec. Shalala, Sec. Riley, Jack Lew; Rev. Hahn;
Sister Sylvester.
Thank you and welcome to the White House. ~
of-ryou--knt:wl, I look forward to this day each year-per-haps
~~c\~\ru_~~~~.'
mm~t'f'}~Ie~~t¥hmaftn~~a:t=tn¥J~=*lo~th~fr.I~~~~~ ef
faith a chance to talk ab9ut how tC? apply
~pit itual vtisdG
~~tK:tu§:WJ ~~;"J&l§t A::hlCWl€ltp~w om~ fo
t-e-the day -to day \Vork of healing souls and building a
\Jd;'r d~~. ~Q_
1\U._u.
~ ~~'cu..~~~~
. 411ore ju~t and prosperous and peaceful nation.
UJ~3~~~~~~~~
~~-\:o
-\-o~)m~~)
~
~~~~~LI
~~~~ ~\h
~~~
�- - - - - - - - - - - -
- -
..
For quite son1e tin1e novv \Ve have been talking about
how to make the cornputer systems that virtually run our
lives Y2K ready.
about \Vhat '\¥8
Btili~, I want to say a few words
must~ rna~
and oui resolvs are Y2K ready
sure our nation's priorities
t>--
eSj3gG=i:&J:ly
a&-W~or
ways to end the epidemic of gun violence that still plaguss
~
~~~
our natron. It is notAenough that we enter the new
century~
�..
ffe:leuce.
It is true: we have the lowest overall crime rate in 26
years, with violent crime down by 27 percent in the last six
years alone. We have the lowest murder rate in 30 years.
~t.u.~~~&~
.
But we have also seenAa ..fijGrnt rash of high-profile mass
~~~QJ.~\:u.~{ ~)
shootingsAthat ha¥8 ~the n:atie:Rjpatfeniion. 1Jlithent
~
a doubt;TheAkilling of innocent people d~l;o;a:6: en tsa!fiie in
~-rt'-~~~~~\ tV'0<t~
America has been the most painful thing tkat=I a00 the Vice
&f&ide&t and our families have had to :;d,;'e in
discharging our responsibilities to the American people:
3
�..
The bombing in Oklahoma City; the terrible school
~~~~
violence at Littleto~; the dragging death of James Byrd in
Jasper, Texas; the torture death of Matthew Shepard in
Wyoming; the murder of Won Joon Yoon outside his .
~~:~~~
church in Bloomington, Indiana on the
Fm'1hh\f July; the~~
office killings in Atlanta, the shootings at the Jewish
Community Center in Los Angeles, the killing of the
Filipino postal worker, the recent murderous rampage
~
place eJf \Vorship -- W edgwood Baptist Church in Fort
Worth.
4
~
�- - - - -
--
-
-------
~,~me of these crimes \vere n1otivated by ha~
~~~~~~ts\~<J\~~,(ljk>
And there is a consensus emerging across America anti=in
~~~-\-\J~~~~~~~
-the Congres~ that'Ne have to do more, to ~'cnt and ~
~~~~~~~~
~~~-
~~t:t
-prosecute hate crime-B. More and more of our citizens arc
standing vlith us to proclaim: No American should- be
subjected to v_iolencc on account of his or her race, coler,
national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender or
-ffisability. We have a Hate Crimes billtnovingJhrough
Congress that vlould expand protections and I ernove
baffiers to speedy prosecution. The Congress needs te---
-finish its work on this bill and send it for my signature
without further delay.
5
�'fHE
...... - ....
" , " r..:Dl-...1-t~·
r~ ... ~"1 t I ) f- 1·'\ ~ 1
--t . . .
~q
..-.~I
l-J-~ ..,CJ1
~~J' l\ ~
; ;'"'\v
C:
,r- f"' r, f
~ ~ ~~ 1
J
,. .... "
13:Bt tnau¥=ftf these crimes do not fit into the category of
hate
crimes~e~~~l~=~·
~~~~~~~~~~
ethers have questioned whether mental illness vrotivated
~'\\l~~~~~~~~~~
·"'·..
the killers. -None of us should seek to q_1ake any capital=e-f
~~~~<%~~~~~.
-this, but all of us should seek tq rnake sotne sense of it.
~ "\l.ut~-.·~~~~~~
eonsider this: It is a fact that America has the highest
~·F~~.~~~~o~~
~~~~~~tf~~=~ect~.
accidental s~9.~~:£?.g. ~.e~ths for children under 15 in the
~~~~~~~~~~~\u~~~~
United States is nine times higher than the rate for the other
~~~~Q.Lu~~~U-u.~\W.:,
25 industrialized nations combined?
\t--~~~~~~~~~tu_
<2:
-If you believe this is about the human heart, you must
belie\\~
twa things.
6
�- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
·-p
..,l ':"
-· s •t.:.
DP r .. ( " ,., ···· r •
rO::vl if·· 1'1i r Pl.' c;
~-
q
I-
'·~~ -· ~ (
J_<~
-·en
' <.·
<-..-.,-,,
\v .) ~:.. ?:. ()·£
If the murder rate is higher here, and the accidental death
~~~
rate is exponentially higher,~'ou ;:nn~t bcl>ieve that we are
both tnore evil and more stupid than any other country on
earth~ I- knovl that sounds funny, but I am trying to make-a
.~~~.~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~
~ v...
~ ~ ~""''+-- ~
1\u._
\).;.<{ (\.}.'"'-'. t\lli.
\W-
&.:,
'fhe N~6i: and others have gqt to stop usipg argumen-ts
~~~~tr\_ThJ-~~~ ~~~~\JJ{__
\
't;~!l!~a~~s~d~k~~\~~e
God calls us to be " ... doers of the word, and not just hearers ~·
~~~·~~~\h~~.
~
Gnly." (James 1:22) That means \ve should do everything
we can, through public policy and private action to rnake ~
America a safer place ... to make it clear that our children are-._
going to grov1 up safe and healthy.-
7
�----------------
TH~ PF:ESiDENT I·[AS sr-r:,,,,
l- .J-S -11
'""'""'~
Whether it's hate cnmes legislation or religious express-ion
iR=O:Ur connnunities, we have a duty to n1akc it harder- to
C()Jllllnit evil, and a responsibility to protect what -is-good.
This carries a special urgency when these act
violence are irected squarely at the heart
e heinous cri
hard to imagine a
the midst of pra
than one teenager
er faith in God ... or a man
shooting another for affirm·
walking into a Baptist
good. It is
urch an
ooting eight people in
r. We cannot write thes off as flashes of
depravi , forget about them and move on. We
I
rything we can to keep them from happening aga1n.
8
-
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____.
�right. It is about evil, the unfathomable darkness within us
all that n1utates and explodes within the angry, tortured
~~~'u~·~~:J\k~~~lll_~+o~t
souls of the few. But it is not just about evil, whether
~
reasoned or
irrationa~~ 'calls all of us to rise tlfl as ene
arrd let it be known: We're not going to let our children die
like this anyrnore and we are simply not going to liv€ like
this anymore.
From the pulpits of your congregations to the bully
ptilpit in Washington-- all of us have a responsibility to
join this effort. Scripture also tells us, "Be not overwme
-with evil. Overcome evil with good." (Ronrans 12:~1).
The killings in Columbine
\ver~il.
9
�rarnpage in Fort Worth \vas evil. But praying and \Vorking
for peace is good. Starting a grassroots campaign against
youth violence, as we have done, is good. Putting more
uniforme=officers in troubled neighborhoods is
good. These gun buy back programs that are springing up
across the country are good. And passing common sense
gun legislation to keep guns out of th~nds
oi evil ci©ers is
'-·
�9~ J_~--9)
The book of Ecclesiastes also tells us that for-
11
�DRAFT
9-26-99 8pm
Terry Edmonds
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST
THE EAST ROOM
SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
Acknowledgements: Mrs. Clinton; Members of my Cabinet: Sec. Shalala, Sec.
Herman, Sec. Riley, Jack Lew; Rev. Hahn; Sister Sylvester.
Thank you and welcome to the White House. As many of you know, I look
forward to this day each year perhaps more than any other. Because it gives me and all of us
servants of faith a chance to talk about how to apply spiritual wisdom to the day to day work of
healing souls and building a more just and prosperous and peaceful nation.
For quite some time now we have been talking about how to make the
computer systems that virtually run our li'ves Y2K ready. But today, I want to say a few words
about what we must do to make sure our nation's priorities and our resolve are Y2K ready-especially as we look for ways to end the epidemic of gun violence that still infects
our nation. It is not enough that we enter the new century the most technologically advanced and
economically prosperous nation on earth. As scripture tells us, "What does it profit a man to
gain the world and lose his soul." I want to make sure we enter the new century with a
renewed respect for the life of every human being and especially for the lives of our precious and
innocent children. Too many of them are being taken away from us by gun violence.
It is true: we have the lowest overall crime rate in 26 years, with violent crime down by
27 percent in the last six years alone. We have the lowest murder rate in 30 years. But we have
also seen a recent rash of high-profile mass shootings that have focused the nation's .
attention. Without a doubt, the killing of innocent people daily and en masse in America has
been the most painful thing that I and the Vice President and our families have had to endure in
discharging our responsibilities to the American people: the bombing in Oklahoma City;
the terrible school violence at Littleton; the dragging death of James Byrd in Jasper, Texas; the
torture death of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming; the murder of Won Joon Yoon outside his
church in Bloomington, Indiana on the Fourth of July; the office killings in Atlanta, the
shootings at the Jewish Day Care Center in Los Angeles, the killing of the Filipino postal
worker, the recent murderous rampage at place of worship-- Wedgwood Baptist
Church in Fort Worth.
a
Now, some of these crimes were motivated by hate. And there is a consensus emerging
across America and in the Congress that we have to do more to prevent and prosecute hate
crimes. More and more of our citizens are standing with us to proclaim: No American should be
subjected to violence on account of his or her race, color, national. origin, religion, sexual
orientation, gender or disability. We have a Hate Crimes bill moving through Congress that
would expand protections
�and remove barriers to speedy prosecution. The Congress needs to finish its work on this bill
and send it for my signature without further delay.
But many of these crimes do not fit into the category ofhate crimes. Some have
described them as acts of evil. Others have questioned whether mental illness motivated the
killers. None of us should seek to make any capital of this, but all of us should seek to make
some sense of it. Consider this: It is a fact that America has the highest murder
rate in the world. But did you know that the rate of accidental shooting deaths for children under
15 in the United States is nine times higher than the rate for the other 25 industrialized nations
combined?
Now that begs the question: If you believe this is about the human heart, you must
believe two things. If the murder rate is higher here, and the accidental death rate is
exponentially higher, you must believe that we are both more evil and more stupid than any other
country on earth. I know that sounds funny, but I am trying to make a very serious point. The
NRA and others have got to stop using arguments like this as an excuse to avoid our shared
responsibilities. God calls us to be" ... doers of the word, and not just hearers only." (James 1:22).
That means taking action collectively to make America a safer place ... to make it clear that our
children are going to grow up safe and healthy.
So, to those who say this is about evil, I say you're right. It is about evil, the
unfathomable darkness within us all that mutates and explodes within the angry, tortured lives of
the few. But it is not just about evil, whether reasoned or irrational. It is about all of us,
rising up as a people, and saying we're not going to let our children die like this anymore and we
are simply not going to live like this anymore.
From the Sunday pulpit in the church to the bully pulpit in Washington -- all of us have a
responsibility to join this effort. Scripture also tells us, "Be not overcome with evil. Overcome
evil with good." The killings in Columbine were evil. The shootings in Los Angeles and
Atlanta were evil. The rampage in Fort Worth was evil. But .praying and working for peace is
good. Starting a grassroots campaign against youth violence, as we have done, is good. Putting
more uniformed peace officers in troubled neighborhoods is good. These gun buy back
programs that are springing up across the country are good. And passing common sense gun
legislation to keep guns out of the hands of evil doers is good.
So, as we enter a new century, let us make sure our hearts and minds are Y2K ready. Let
us make sure our sense of responsibility to our children and to our nation is Y2K ready. Let us
make sure the soul of America is Y2K ready.
The book of Ecclesiates also tells us that for everything there is a season. "A time to
weep and a time to laugh .... a time to mourn and a time to dance.. a time to keep silence and a
time to speak." (Ecclesiastes, 3) Now, I believe it is time to end our weeping and our silence.
Now is the time to stand up, speak out and take responsible action to end gun violence in
America. Let us put that prayer into action today and everyday. Thank you and God bless you
all.
�DRAFT
9-26-99 Spm
Terry Edmonds
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST
THE EAST ROOM
SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
Acknowledgements: Mrs. Clinton; Members of my Cabinet: Sec. Shalala, Sec.
Herman, Sec. Riley, Jack Lew; Rev. Hahn; Sister Sylvester.
Thank you and welcome to the White House. As many of you know, I look
forward to this day each year perhaps more than any other. Because it gives me and all of us
servants of faith a chance to talk about how to apply spiritual wisdom to the day to day work of
healing souls and building a more just and prosperous and peaceful nation.
For quite some time now we have been talking about how to make the
computer systems that virtually run our lives Y2K ready. But today, I want to say a few words
about what we must do to make sure our nation's priorities and our resolve are Y2K ready-especially as we look for ways to end the epidemic of gun violence that still infects
our nation. It is not enough that we enter the new century the most technologically advanced and
economically prosperous nation on earth. As scripture tells us, "What does it profit a man to
gain the world and lose his soul." I want to make sure we enter the new century with a
renewed respect for the life of every human being and especially for the lives of our precious and
innocent children. Too many of them are being taken away from us by gun violence.
It is true: we have the lowest overall crime rate in 26 years, with violent crime down by
27 percent in the last six years alone. We have the lowest murder rate in 30 years. But we have
also seen a recent rash of high-profile mass shootings that have focused the nation's
attention. Without a doubt, the killing of innocent people daily and-en masse in America has
been the most painful thing that I and the Vice President and our families have had to endure in
discharging our responsibilities to the American people: the bombing in Oklahoma City;
the terrible school violence at Littleton; the dragging death of James Byrd in Jasper, Texas; the
torture death of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming; the murder of Won Joon Yoon outside his
church in Bloomington, Indiana on the Fourth of July; the office killings in Atlanta, the
shootings at the Jewish Day Care Center in Los Angeles, the killing of the Filipino postal
worker, the recent murderous rampage at a place of worship-- Wedgwood Baptist
Church in Fort Worth.
Now, some of these crimes were motivated by hate. And there is a consensus emerging
across America and in the Congress that we have to do more to prevent and prosecute hate
crimes. More and more of our citizens are standing with us to proclaim: No American should be
subjected to violence on account of his or her race, color, national. origin, religion, sexual
orientation, gender or disability. We have a Hate Crimes bill moving through Congress that
would expand protections
�and remove barriers to speedy prosecution. The Congress needs to finish its work on this bill
and send it for my signature without further delay.
But many ofthese crimes do not fit into the category of hate crimes. Some have
described them as acts of evil. Others have questioned whether mental illness motivated the
killers. None of us should seek to make any capital of this, but all of us should seek to make
some sense of it. Consider this: It is a fact that America has the highest murder
rate in the world. But did you know that· the rate of accidental shooting deaths for children under
15 in the United States is nine times higher than the rate for the other 25 industrialized nations
combined?
Now that begs the question: If you believe this is about the human heart, you must
believe two things. If the murder rate is higher here, and the accidental death rate is
exponentially higher, you must believe that we are both more evil and more stupid than any other
country on earth. I know that sounds funny, but I am trying to make a very serious point. The
NRA and others have got to stop using arguments like this as an excuse to avoid our shared
responsibilities. God calls us to be" ... doers ofthe word, and not just hearers only." (James 1:22).
That means taking action collectivety to make America a safer place ... to make it clear that our
children are going to grow up safe and healthy.
So, to those who say this is about evil, I say you're right. It is about evil, the
unfathomable darkness within us all that mutates and explodes within the angry, tortured lives of
the few. But it is not just about evil, whether reasoned or irrational. It is about all of us,
rising up as a people, and saying we're not going to let our children die like this anymore and we
are simply not going to live like this anymore.
From the Sunday pulpit in the church to the bully pulpit in Washington-- all of us have a
responsibility to join this effort. Scripture also tells us, "Be not overcome with evil. Overcome
evil with good." The killings in Columbine were evil. The shootings in Los Angeles and
Atlanta were evil. The rampage in Fort Worth was evil. But praying and working for peace is
good. Starting a grassroots campaign against youth violence, as we have done, is good. Putting
more uniformed peace officers in troubled neighborhoods is good. These gun buy back
programs that are springing up across the country are good. And passing common sense gun
legislation to keep guns out of the hands of evil doers is good.
So, as we enter a new century, let us make sure our hearts and minds are Y2K ready. Let
us make sure our sense of responsibility to our children and to our nation is Y2K ready. Let us
make sure the soul of America is Y2K ready.
The book of Ecclesiates also tells us that for everything there is a season. "A time to
weep and a time to laugh .... a time to mourn and a time to dance.. a time to keep silence and a
time to speak." (Ecclesiastes, 3) Now, I believe it is time to end our weeping and our silence.
Now is the time to stand up, speak out and take responsible action to end gun violence in
America. Let us put that prayer into action today and everyday. Thank you and God bless you
all.
�·.
DRAFT
9-26-99 Bpm
Terry Edmonds
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST
THE EAST ROOM
SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
Thank you and welcome to the White House. As many of you know, I look
forward to this day each year perhaps more than any other. Because it
gives me and all of us servants of faith a chance to talk about how to
apply spiritual wisdom to the day to day work of healing souls and
building a more just and prosperous and peaceful nation.
For quite some time now we have been talking about how to make the
computer systems that virtually run our lives Y2K ready. This
technology has become such a part of daily life that we almost take it
for granted. When we turn on the switch in our homes, the light comes
on. When we punch in the code at the ATM, the money flows out. And
when we go to the supermarket, the shelves are filled with goods that
have been transported by rail or air or truck from all over the
country. All of these things that we take for granted are, in some way,
now dependent on the smooth functioning of sophisticated computer
systems . That is why we have taken extraordinary steps to make sure
that when the calendar rolls over to the year 2000, those systems will
continue to function properly-- that they will be Y2K ready. And I am
happy to report that because of the foresight and hard work of the
Federal government and the American people, we should not experience any
major disruptions when the new millennium begins.
But today, I want to say a few words about what we must do to make sure
our nation's priorities and our resolve are Y2K ready-- especially as
we look for ways to end the epidemic of gun violence that still infects
our nation. It is not enough that we enter the new century the most
technologically advanced and economically prosperous nation on earth.
As scripture tells us, "What does it profit a man to gain the world and
lose his soul." I want to make sure we enter the new century with a
renewed respect for the life of every human being and especially for the
lives of our precious and innocent children. Too many of them are being
·
taken away from us by gun violence.
It is true: we have the lowest overall crime rate in 26 years, with
violent crime down by 27 percent in the last six years alone. We have
the lowest murder rate in 30 years. But we have also seen a recent rash
of high-profile mass shootings that have focused the nation's
�- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
----
attention. Without a doubt, the killing of innocent people daily and en
masse in America has been the most painful thing that I and the Vice
President and our families have had to endure in discharging our
responsibilities to the American people: the bombing in Oklahoma City;
the terrible school violence at Littleton; the dragging death of James
Byrd in Jasper, Texas; the torture death of Mathew Shepard in Wyoming,
the office killings in Atlanta, the shootings at the Jewish Day Care
Center in Los Angeles, the killing of the Filipino postal worker, the
recent murderous rampage at a place of worship-- Wedgewood Baptist
Church in Fort Worth.
Now, some of these crimes were motivated by hate. And there is a
consensus emerging across America and in the Congress that we have to do
more to prevent and prosecute hate crimes. More and more of our
citizens are standing with us to proclaim: No American should be
subjected to violence on account of his or her race, color, national
origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability. We have a
Hate Crimes bill moving through Congress that would expand protections
and remove barriers to speedy prosecution. The Congress needs to finish
its work on this bill and send it for my signature without further
delay.
But many of these crimes do not fit into the category of hate crimes.
Some have described them as acts of evil. Others have questioned
whether mental illness motivated the killers. None of us should seek to
make any capital of this, but all of us should seek to make some sense
of it. Consider this: It is a fact that America has the highest murder
rate in the world. But did you know that the rate of accidental
shooting deaths for children under 15 in the United States is nine times
higher than the rate for the other 25 industrialized nations combined?
Now that begs the question: If you believe this is about the human
heart, you must believe two things. If the murder rate is higher here,
and the accidental death rate is exponentially higher, you must believe
that we are both more evil and more stupid than any other country on
earth. I know that sounds funny, but I am trying to make a very serious
point. The NRA and others have got to stop using arguments like this as
an excuse to avoid our shared responsibilities. God calls us to be
_" ... doers of the word, and not just hearers only." (James 1:22). That
means taking action collectively to make America a safer place ... to make
it clear that our children are going to grow up safe and healthy.
So, to those who say this is about evil, I say you're right. It is
about evil, the unfathomable darkness within us all that mutates and
explodes within the angry, tortured lives of the few. But it is not
just about evil, whether reasoned or irrational. It is about all of us,
�rising up as a people, and saying we_re not going to let our children
die like this anymore and we are simply not going to live like this
anymore.
From the Sunday pulpit in the church to the bully pulpit in Washington
-- all of us have a responsibility to join this effort. Scripture also
tells us, "Be not overcome with evil. Overcome evil with good." The
killings in Columbine were evil. The shootings in Los Angeles and
Atlanta were evil. The rampage in Fort Worth was evil. But praying and
working for peace is good. Starting a grassroots campaign against youth
violence, as we have done, is good. Putting more uniformed peacemakers
in troubled neighborhoods is good. These gun buy back programs that are
springing up across the country are good. And passing common sense gun
legislation to keep guns out of the hands of evil doers is good.
So, as we enter a new century, let us make sure our hearts and minds
are Y2K ready. Let us make sure our sense of responsibility to our
children and to our nation is Y2K ready. Let us make sure the soul of
America is Y2K ready.
The book of Ecclesiates also tells us that for everything there is a
season. "A time to weep and a time to laugh .... a time to mourn and a
time to dance .. a time to keep silence and a time to speak."
(Ecclesiastes, 3) Now, I believe it is time to end our weeping and our
silence. Now is the time to stand up, speak out and take responsible
action to end gun violence in America. Let us put that prayer into
action today and everyday. Thank you and God bless you all.
�A gunman fires on a
church group in Texas.
Are Evangelicals the
new hate-crime target?
By DAVID VAN BIEMA
ERE IS THE WAY ONE SURVIVOR
H
tells it. When Larry Gene Ashbrook walked into the church
sanctuary with his guns~a 9-mm .
semiautomatic and a .380-cal.
one-he paused. He had already
started a shooting spree outside that left
two dead. But once inside he was approached by one of the teens who had
been singing along with a Christian rock
· _. 'n' roll praise band. What the youngster
, offered the black-jacketed killer was
. heaven, saying, "You need Jesus." Asho'..brook, 47, answered, "It's all bulls_,
~,'what you believe!" It was only then that he
· opened up on the over 100 defenseless
worshippers, killing five more, wounding
seven, creating martyrs.
.
Last week's massacre .at Wedgwood ·
Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, may
not have happened quite that way. That's
. a version being offered by someone who
·was there, but it's unconfirmed. Yet even
if it is pious invention, it gives a glimpse of
the way some evangelical Christians, children and adults alike; are thinking these
days about the string of killings around
the U.S. in which they have been victims.
Last week's toll was added to the count of
Christian teens killed at Columbine and
three students killed at a 1997 prayer cir~
cle in West Paducah, Ky. Many evangelical leaders have begun to see "committed
Christians" as the latest victims of hate
crimes of the sort perpetrated upon
blacks, women and gays. They have also'·
begun to view those attacks in terms of the
history of their faith-as acts ofSatan, and
as part of a persecution that stretches back
to the earliest days of Christianity, during
which countless believers suffered and
.died for professing their faith.
It's an explanation that allows the bereaved a certainty and solace in the face of
a horrible riddle. And faced with the same
endless series of senseless bloodlettings,
even more secular precincts of America
42
:., ~:;,'.,_TIME, ~EPrEMBER 27, 1999 .
..
�:
•
•
I
:?
~::
'
have be(m 'giving such claims a respectful
hearing. After the shootings amoist-eyed
George W. Bush silid, '~There seems to be a
wave of evil passing through America." Today show's · Katie. Couric, interviewing
Wedgwood's pastor, AI Meredith, listened
as he offered the standard explanation for
the crime: the killer was "deranged and deluded." Then, almost hesitantly, the pastor
noted, "There's some possible theological,
religious reasons you may not be interested.in." Said Couric: "Well, go ahead." And
Meredith explained that because of all the
seminary students attending Wedgwood,
"if I were Satan, and if I were· real, and I
·
wanted to deliver a death
knell to the kingdom of God,
I would target this church."
small'pipe bq~b from his pocket, lit it and
rolled it down ~e· aisle-: it exploded harmlessly..:....did tho'se who could make a break·
for the doors. Then Ashbrook strolled to a
back pew, sat down and shot himself fatally in thetemple.
The police and other authorities who
searched his home and his life in the next
72 hours found plenty of clues to a deranged mind. The walls had holes punched
in them; the toilets had been filled with
concrete; a set of journals dating back a
decade itemized plots against him. Neighbors would later report about his ranting
and exposing himself. Some speculated
)R
h-
THE MAN WORE JEANS. AND
~h
was smoking a cigarette. The
first person he shot was Jeff
Laster, a seminarian working
as a custodian who asked him
toputitout. Next was Sydney
Browning, the children's
choir director, resting on ·a
sofa in the foyer, followed by
a young man who had been
selling Christian CDs .. In the ~
sancJ:uary, the shooter found· ~
a roomful of . adolescents;
happily celebrating . that
morning's observance of See
You at the Pole, an annual na-·
tional event in which Christian teens gather around their
school flagpoles before class- ·
es to pray. A band called
Forty Days was playing a
song titled A.lle, alleluia,
when Ashbrook was allegedly invited to accept the Lord. He moved to the back of the
sanctuary, banged a door to get his audience's attention, and started firing agairi.
At first, some of the teens thought it
was a joke, a skit "to remind everyone how
precious life was," says one of their parents. A youngster saw the boy next to him
grab his waist. "It's just a paint gun,"
claimed the one who got hit. Both of them
watched red ooze from a real-looking
wound. "It stings," said the injured bciy,
still not understanding what had happened
to him. People dove behind pews. Mary
Beth Talley, 17, noticed that her friend
Heather McDonald wa.S not. hiding. McDonald has Down syndrome. Talley threw
herself on McDonald. Ashbrook fired.
Even after Talley was shot, she continued
to comfort McDonald, trying to keep her
quiet. Talley survived with minor wounds.
The murderer paced and yelled at his
victims to "be still." He shot and reloaded,
shot and reloaded. Only after he pulled a
·ffi
u.
ly
~ft
old
~k
~r
as
!11e
ss
ty
's
0
·n
Jf
le
d
j
)
i
'.(
that what finally unhinged him wa.S the
death in July of his 85-year-old father, who
had been the unemployed Ashbrook's sole
means of support. What no one found was
any connection to the W edgwood church
or its congregation.
Some, however, believe they have an
inkling. They suspect that in a secularized
America in which they are a minority,
evangelical Christians are being martyred
for their beliefs. "I think that people are
gonna have to count the cost of pursuing
their faith in God," says Toby McKeehan, a
member of de Tall<, one of the most popular Christian bands. "Something we
thought was [just] history-people being
killed because they had faith, people being
martyred-is suddenly happening before
our very eyes." Evangelicals have always
admired martyrs, from those murdered by
Diocletian to slain missionaries .. But interest over the past .year has exploded as
Christians have made up an increasing
proportion of the victims of mass murders.
TIME, SEPTEMBER 27, 1999
.
·:
Last month McKeehan and his bandmates
published jesus Freaks, a catalog of martyrs past and present, written for teens. But
the most tall<ed-about new account of martyrdom is She Said Yes, the moving, nuanced story of Littleton victim Cassie
Bernall by her mother Misty. Stores have
bought 200,000 copies of the book, which
came out last Monday, three days before
the Fort Worth shooting. In the evangelical
world, Cassie is almost universally considered a martyr. The Fort Worth dead, although their stories are not quite as pointed, will probably be seen similarly.
Such deaths resonate all the more
since many conservative
Christians increasingly see
themselves as persecuted, if
not so bloodily. Bob Reccord,
president of the Southern
Baptist North American Mis. sion Board, explains that
"when Christians stand for
·the absolute truth as found in
Scripture, and society in general wants to jettison any absolutes, you immediately set
up a tension." Until recently,
Evangelicals understood that
· tension to be mostly a matter
of legal barriers to school
prayer and snide comments
in the larger culture. But
Reccord now suggests that
·"you ·can see where somebody [like Ashbrook] with·
emotional problems could
express it as anger."
Jerry Falwell, as usual,
goes astep further. "Most hate
..
crimes in America today are
not directed toward African-American or
·Jewish people or gays or lesbians," he claims.
"They are directed· at evangelical Christians." He blames "Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and Janet Reno" for not responding as
forcefully to crimes against Evangelicals as
they have to other kinds of hate crime.
Evangelicals' perception of themselves
as targets has not yet altered their traditional opposition to gun control. Franklin
Graham, Billy's son and heir apparent to his
organization, says the true problem lies in
our sinful nature: "Cain didn't use a gun."
Reccord muses, ''I think Evangelicals may
say th~re are some things that perhaps need
to bE! addressed through gun control, that
guns, or perhaps kinds of guns, can contribute to violence. But they are not the ultimate problem, nor are TV shows or video
games. The ultimate problem is inside the
heart." And so, Evangelicals believe, is the
-With reporting by
ultimate answer.
Hilary Hylfon/Fort Worth and Emily Mitchell and
Flora Tartakovsky/New York
43
�...
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate ReleaseSeptember 11, 1998
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST
The East Room
9:40 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the White House
and to this day to which Hillary and the Vice President and I look forward.so much every year.
This is always an important day for our country, for the reasons that the Vice President said. It is
an unusual and, I think, unusually important day today. I may not be quite as easy with my
words today as I have been in years past, and I was up rather late last night thinking about and
praying about what I ought to say today. And rather unusual for me, I actually tried to write it
down. So if you will forgive me, I will do my best to say what it is I want to say to you -- and I
may have to take my glasses out to read my own writing.
First, I want to say to all of you
that, as you might imagine, I have been on quite a journey these last few weeks to get to the end
of this, to the rock bottom truth of where I am and where we all are. I agree with those who have
said that in my first statement after I testified I was not contrite enough. I don't think there is a
It is important to me that everybody who has been hurt
fancy way to say that I have sinned.
know that the sorrow I feel is genuine: first and most important, my family; also my friends, my
staff, my Cabinet, Monica Lewinsky and her family, and the American people. I have asked all
for their forgiveness.
But I believe that to be forgiven, more than sorrow is required -- at
least two more things. First, genuine repentance -- a determination to change and to repair
breaches of my own making. I have repented. Second, what my bible calls a "broken spirit"; an
understanding that I must have God's help to be the person that I want to be; a willingness to give
the very forgiveness I seek; a renunciation of the pride and the anger which cloud judgment, lead
people to excuse and compare and to blame and complain.
· Now, what does all this mean for me and for us? First, I will instruct my lawyers to mount a
·vigorous defense, using all available appropriate arguments. But legal language must not
obscure the fact that I have done wrong. Second, I will continue on the path of repentance,
seeking pastoral support and that of other caring people so that they can hold me accountable for
my owri commitment.
Third, I will intensify my efforts to lead our country and the world
toward peace and freedom, prosperity and harmony, in the hope that with a broken spirit and a
still strong heart I can be used for greater good, for we have many blessings and many challenges
In this, I ask for your prayers and for your help in healing our
and so m!lch work to do.
nation. And though I cannot move beyond or forget this -- indeed, I must always keep it as a
caution light in my life -- it is very important that our nation move forward.
I am very
grateful for the many, many people -- clergy and ordinary citizens alike -- who have written me
with wise counsel. I am profoundly grateful for the support of so many Americans who
�somehow through it all seem to still know that I care about them a great deal, that I care about
their problems and their dreams. I am grateful for those who have stood by me and who say that
in this case and many others, the bounds of presidency have been excessively and unwisely
invaded. That may be. Nevertheless, in this case, it may be a blessing, because I still sinned.
And if my repentance is genuine and sustained, and ifl can maintain both a broken spirit and a
strong heart, then good can come of this for our country as well as for me and my family.
The children of this country can learn in a profound way that integrity is important and
selfishness is wrong, but God can change us and make us strong at the broken places. I want to
embody those lessons for the children of this country -- for that little boy in Florida who came up
to me and said that he wanted to grow up and be President and to be just like me. I want the
A couple of
parents of all the children in America to be able to say that to their children.
days ago when I was in Florida a Jewish friend of mine gave me this liturgy book called, "Gates
ofRepentance." And there was this incredible passage from the Yom Kippur liturgy. I would
like to read it to you: "Now is the time for turning. The leaves are beginning to tum from green
to red to orange. The birds are beginning to tum and are heading once more toward the south.
The animals are beginning to tum to storing their food for the winter. For leaves, birds and
animals, turning comes instinctively. But for us, turning does not come so easily. It takes an act
of will for us to make a tum. It means breaking old habits. It means admitting that we have been
wrong, and this is never easy. It means losing face. It means starting all over again. And this is
always painful. It means saying I am sorry. It means recognizing that we have the ability to
change. These things are terribly hard to do.
But unless we tum, we will be trapped forever in yesterday's ways. Lord help us to tum, from
callousness to sensitivity, from hostility to love, from pettiness to purpose, from envy to
contentment, from carelessness to discipline, from fear to faith. Tum us around, 0 Lord, and
bring us back toward you. Revive our lives as at the beginning, and tum us toward each other,
Lord, for in isolation there is no life."
I thank my friend for that. I thank you for being here. I ask you to share my prayer that God
will search me and know my heart, try me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there is any
hurtfulness in me, and lead me toward the life everlasting. I ask that God give me a clean heart,
let me walk by faith and not sight.
I ask once again to be able to love my neighbor -- all my neighbors -- as my self, to be an
instrument of God's peace; to let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart and, in
the end, the work of my hands, be pleasing. This is what I wanted to say to you today.
Thank you. God bless you.
END
9:52 A.M. EDT
�Withdrawal/Redaction Marker
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NQ.
AND TYPE
001. memo
SUBJECT!fiTLE
DATE
For the President and First Lady from Mary Beth Cahill re: Selection
of those to offer prayers at religious leaders breakfast (partial) (1 page)
09/17/99
RESTRICTION
P5, b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
Speechwriting
Terry Edmonds
OA/Box Number: 17509
FOLDER TITLE:
Religious Leaders 9/28/99
2006-0462-F
1070
RESTRICTION CODES
President,ial Records Act- [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)[
Freedom of Information Act- [5 U.S.C. 552(b))
PI
P2
P3
P4
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b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA[
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
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PS Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(S) of the PRA)
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C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
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PRM. Persona~ record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
2201(3).
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
�THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SEPTEMBER 17, 1999
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST LADY
FROM:
·SUBJECT:
HILl/~.1[/~--l-__,/
MARY BETH CA.
MAUREENSHEA
() \\\
SELEC!ION OFTHOSE TO OFFER
BREAKFAST
.. . ·~
~
.
PRAYE~6.:f'TRERELLIIGGIIOOUUSS LLEA DE
..·
~
SEPTEMBER 28 RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST: In preparation for the breakfast, we are
seeking your advi.ce regarding those to be asked to make the opening and closing prayers. We would
anticipate following past tradition, with open press for your first remarks and the opening prayer, and closed
press thereafter.
In the last two years, we have had three Protestant miriisters and one rabbi offer the prayers. Of the three
ministers, one (James Forbes) is African-American and another (Thorn \Vhite Wolf Fassett) Native
American. The rabbi is a gay woman.
In addition to the old friends and leaders invited this year, we have included a number of people fro.m
communities touched by the hate crimes and violence of the past year. This would be an excellent
opportunity to push once again for passage of hate crimes and gun control legislation. (The list of
acceptances to date is attached.)
.
�Rabbi Brad Bloom: his synagogue and library in Sacramento were destroyed in the recent firebombing.
Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook: served on your Race Initiative Board and is African-American
Rev. Dr. James Dunn: this would be a nice gesture as we are still trying to schedule your attendance at his
tribute dinner October 4.
DECISION:
_ _Approve
_ _Approve as amended
�ACCEPTANCES TO DATE
Dr. Laila Al-Marayati- Muslim Women's League- CA
Bishop Vinton Anderson- Second Episcopal District, AME - DC
Rev. Wendell Anthony- Fellowship Chapel Baptist Church- MI
Rev. Joseph Barlow- MOSES - MI
Rev. David Beckmann, President- Bread for the World- MD
Rev. Paul Beeman, President of the Board- Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays - WA
Bishop Charles Blake- West Angles COGIC- CA
Rabbi Brad Bloom- Congregation B'nai Israel- CA
Sr. Mary Louise Brink, Mother General- Sisters of Charity of Halifax
Rev. Dr. Amos Brown- National Baptist Convention- CA
Rev. Jamal Bryant- NAACP Youth & College Division- MD
Commander John Busby- The Salvation Army- VA
Rev. Calvin Butts, Abysennian Baptist Church- NY
Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, General Secretary- NCCC- NY
Revs. John and Diana Cherry - Heart Church Ministries - MD
Sanford Cloud, Jr., President- National Conference for Community and Justice- NY
Doug Coe- National Prayer Breakfast- VA
Rabbi Zev Cohen - Congregation Adath Yeshurun - IL
Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook-,- Bronx Christian Fellowship- NY
Chaplain Jeni Cooke- Director- National Chaplain Services- Department of Veterans
Affairs- VA
Sr. Carol Coston, OP, Director- Partners for the Common Good· 2000-TX
Rev. Tyrone Crider- New Hope Baptist Church- IL
Dr. Stewart Cureton- National Baptist Convention, USA- SC
Dr. C. Mackey Daniels- Progressive National Baptist Convention- KY
Chaplain Jewelnel Davis- Columbia University- NY
Father Robert Drinan- Georgetown University Law Center- DC
Dr. James Dunn- Baptist Joint Committee- DC
Rabbi Jerome Epstein- United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism- NY
Dr. Randel Everett- Columbia Baptist Church - VA
Dr. Thomas White Wolf Fassett- United Methodist Board of Church and Society- DC
Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake- Allen AME Church- NY
Rev. James Forbes, Senior Pastor- Riverside Church- NY
Rev. Dr. Robert Franklin- Interdenominational The<?logical Center- GA
Rabbi Menachem Genack- Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America- NY
Charles Gould, President- Volunteers of America - VA
Sr. Jeannine Gramick, SSND- National Coalition of American Nuns-. MD
�Rev. Claudie Grant- President's Commission on Employment of People with DisabilitiesDC
Rev. Lucia Guzman, Executive Director- Colorado Council of Churches - CO
Rev. Byung Chill Hahn- Korean United Methodist Church -IN
Rabbi Kenneth Hain, President- Rabbinical Council of America - NY
Janet Hall- VA
Dr. Brian Harbour- First Baptist Church- TX
Rev. Dr. Louis-Charles Harvey- Metropolitan AME Church- DC
Ralph Hardy- Church of Latter-day Saints - DC
Imam Johnny Hasan- The Islamic Center- AR
Rev. Otto Hentz, SJ- Georgetown University- DC
Rev. Dr. H. Beecher Hicks- Metropolitan Baptist Church- DC
Rev. Rickey Hicks - Connor Chapel AME - AR
Rev. Julius Hope- Midwest NAACP Regional Director- MI
Dr. Alvin Jackson- National City Christian Church- DC
Rev. Reginald Jackson- Black Ministers Council ofNJ- NJ
Bishop Frederick James- AME Church- SC
Father Mychal Judge, Chaplain- NYC Fire Department - NY
Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, Secretary for External Affairs- Baha'is of the US- CA
Dr. Nazir Khaja, President of Board- American Muslim Council- CA
Rev. Dr. Barbara King- Hillside Chapel- GA
Rev. Bernice King- Greater Rising Star Baptist Church- GA
Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk- Presbyterian Church USA- KY
Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles- Monumental Baptist Church- TN
Rev. Arthur Liolin- Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America- MA
Bishop Eddie Long- New Birth Missionary Baptist Church- GA
Rabbi Harold Loss - Temple Israel - MI
Dr. Gordon MacDonald, Fellow- Trinity Forum- MA
Father John Madden, Pastor -Our Lady of Jasna Gora- MA
Rev. Anthony Mangun- Pentecostals.of Alexandria- LA
Dr. Kevin Mannoia, President- National Association of Evangelicals
Rev. Jack Marcom, Senior Pastor- Ft. Washington Baptist Church- MD
Dr. K. Bruce Miller- Mt. Vernon Baptist Church-VA (VP)
Imam W. Deen Mohammed- Muslim American Society- IL
.
Nancy Parris Moskowitz- Jewish Community Centers of Great Los Angeles- CA
Rev. Otis Moss - Olivet Institutional Baptist Church- OH
Rev. Michael Murray, President- Black Ministerial Alliance- IA
Dr. Vasudha Narayanan- Department of Religion, Univ. ofFL- FL
Ms. Joanne Negstad, President- Lutheran Services in America- MN
Bishop Chandler Owens, Presiding Bishop - Church of God in Christ- GA
�Rev. Ronald Patterson- United Methodist Reporter- TX
Dr. Jan Paulsen- President of the General Conference -Seventh-day Adventist Church- MD
Rev. Michael Piazza, Senior Pastor- Cathedral of Hope- TX
Imam Hasan Qazwini - Islamic Center of America - MI
Capt. (Rabbi) Arnold Resnicoff, USN, Chaplain of US European Command
Russell Robinson- Willow Creek Community Church- IL
Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry- United Church of Christ- OH
Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, President- Islamic Society of North America- CA
Rev. Barbara Skinner- Skinner Farm Leadership Institute- MD
Chief Jacob Swamp, President- Tree of Peace Society- NY
Sr. Nancy Sylvester, President- Conference of Leadership of Women Religious- IL
Rev. Walter Thomas- New Psalmist Baptist Church- MD
Dr. Robert Thurman- Columbia University (Buddhist)- NY
Rev. Carlton Veazey- Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice- DC
Rabbi Robert Wexler, President- University of Judaism- CA
Dr. Philip Wogaman- Foundry Methodist Church- DC
Rabbi Marjorie Yudkin- Beth Chaim Reform Congregation & Chairs Social Action
Committee for Reform Rabbis- PA
David Zwiebel - Agudath Israel of American - NY
�DRAFT
9-26-99 8pm
Terry Edmonds
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST
THE EAST ROOM
SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
Thank you and welcome to the White House. As many of you know, I look
forward to this day each year perhaps more than any other. Because it
gives me and all of us servants of faith a chance to talk about how to
apply spiritual wisdom to the day to day work of healing souls and
building a more just and prosperous and peaceful nation.
r
For quite some time now we have been talking ab~t how to make the
computer systems that virtually :run our lives Y2K ready. This
technology has become such a part of daily life that we a most take it
)( ) . \ f for granted. When we turn on the switch in our homes, the light comes
&V1\r-' 1 on. When we punch in the code at the ATM, the money flows out. And
\....
'when we go to the supermarket, the shelves are filled with goods that
have been transported by rail or air or truck from all over the
country. All of these things that we take for granted are, in some way,
now dependent on the smooth functioning of sophisticated computer
systems . That is why we have taken extraordinary steps to make sure
that when the calendar rolls over to the year 2000, those systems will
continue to function properly-- that they will be Y2K ready. And I am
happy to report that because of the foresight and hard work of the
Federal government and the American people, we should not experience any
D'-1
major disruptions when the new millennium begins.
/. }V
I
XI~;
·\·\
\ '\.,./v Y
~
But today, I want to say a few words about what we must do to make sure
our nation's priorities and our resolve are Y2K ready-- especially as
we look for ways to end the epidt~mic of gun violence that still infects
r) our nation. It is not enough that we enter the new century the most
~ ~
technologically adv.anced and economically prosperous nation on earth.
v' ·~J<o 1 As scripture tells us, "What does it profit a man to gain the world and
,; \\
lose his soul." I want to make sure we enter the new century with a
)
~ jv\ renewed respect for the life of every human being and especially for the
~"
lives of our precious and innocent children. Too many of them are being
/
taken away from us by gun violence.
Jy'
\Q/1·
It is true: we have the lowest overall c·rime rate in 26 years, with
violent crime down by 27 percent in the last six years alone. We have
the lowest murder rate in 30 years. But we have also seen a recent rash
of high-profile mass shootings that have focused the nation's
�-,/
attention. Without a doubt, the killing of innocent people daily and en
masse in America has been the most painful thing that I and the Vice
President and our families have had to endure in discharging our
responsibilities to the American people: the bombing in Oklahoma City;
the terrible school violence at Littleton; the dragging death of James
Byrd in Jasper, Texas; the torture death of Mathew Shepard in Wyoming,
the office killings in Atlanta, the shootings at the Jewish Day Care
Center in Los Angeles, the killing of the Filipino postal worker, the
recent murderous rampage at a place of worship-- Wedg
~
Church in Fort Worth.
Now, some ofthese crimes were motivated by hate. And there is a
consensus emerging across America and in the Congress that we have to do
more to prevent and prosecute hate crimes. More and more of our
citizens are standing with us to proclaim: No American should be
subjected to violence on account ofhis or her race, color, national
origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability. We have a
Hate Crimes bill moving through Congress that would expand protections
and remove barriers to speedy prosecution. The Congress needs to finish
its worl_on this b~l_!3n~_end it for my signature without further
...
delay.
----
-
But many of these crimes do not fit into the category of hate crimes.
Some have described them as acts of evil. Others have questioned
whether mental illness motivated the killers. None of us should seek to
make any capital of this, but all of us should seek to make some sense
of it. Consider this: It is a fact that America has the highest murder
rate in the world. But did you know that the rate of accidental
shooting deaths for children under 15 in the United States is nine times
higher than the rate for the other 25 industrialized nations combined?
Now that begs the question: If you believe this is about the human
heart, you must believe two things. If the murder rate is higher here,
and the accidental death rate is exponentially higher, you must believe
that we are both more evil and more stupid than any other country on
earth. I know that sounds funny, but I am trying to make a very serious
· ar uments like this as
point. The NRA and others have got to sto
xcuse to av01 our s are responsibilities. God calls us to be
.doers ofthe word, and notjust hearers only." (James 1:22). That
ans taking action collectively to make America a safer place ... to make
it clear that our children are going to grow up safe and healthy.
Q
So, to those who say this is about evil, I say you're right. It is
about evil, the unfathomable darkness within us all that mutates and
explodes within the angry, tortured lives of the few. But it is not
just about evil, whether reasoned or irrational. It is about all of us,
J
�-,./·
wf_~
rising up as a people, and saying
not going to let our children
die like this anymore and we are si~ly not going to live like this
anymore.
From the Sunday pulpit in the church to the bully pulpit in Washington
-- all of us have a responsibility to join this effort. Scripture also
tells us, "Be not overcome with evil. Overcome evil with good." The
killings in Columbine were evil. The shootings in Los Angeles and
Atlanta were evil. The rampage in Fort Worth was evil.- But praying and
working for e
is good. Starting a grassroots campaign against youth
violenc as we have don , is good. Putting more uniformed peacemakers
s is good. These gun buy back programs that are
in trouble ne1g
springing up across the country are good. And passing common sense gun
legislation to keep guns out of the hands of evil doers is good.
So, as we enter a new century, let us make sure our hearts and minds
are Y2K ready. Let us make sure our sense of responsibility to our
children and to our nation is Y2K ready. Let us make sure the soul of
America is Y2K ready.
The book of Ecclesiates also tells us that for everything there is a
"A time to weep and a time to laugh .... a time to mourn and a
time to dance .. a time to keep silence and a time to speak."
(Ecclesiastes, 3) Now, I believe it is time to end our weeping and our
silence. Now is the time to stand up, speak out and take responsible
action to end gun violence in America. Let us put that prayer into
action today and everyday. Thank you and God bless you all.
sea~on.
v.r·
�DRAFT
9-26-99 8pm
Terry Edmonds
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST
THE EAST ROOM
SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
Thank you and welcome to the White House. As many of you know, I look
forward to this day each year perhaps more than any other. Because it
gives me and all of us servants of faith a chance to talk about how to
apply spiritual wisdom to the day to day work of healing souls and
building a more just and prosperous and peaceful nation.
For quite some time now we hav;;: been talking about how to make the
computer systems that virtually run our lives Y2K ready. This
technology has become such a part of daily life that we almost take it
for granted. When we tum on the switch in our ho"mes, the light comes
on. When we punch in the code at the ATM, the money flows out. And
when we go to the supermarket, the shelves are filled with goods that
have been transported by rail or air or truck from all over the
country. All of these things that we take for granted are, in some way,
now dependent on the smooth functioning of sophisticated computer
systems . That is why we have taken extraordinary steps to make sure
that when the calendar rolls over to the year 2000, those systems will
continue to function properly -- that they will be Y2K ready. And I am
happy to report that because of the foresight and hard work of the
Federal government and the American people, we should not experience any
major disruptions when the new millennium begins.
But today, I want to say a few words about what we must do to make sure
our nation_s priorities and our resolve are Y2K ready -- especially as
we look for ways to end the epidemic of gun violence that still infects
our nation. It is not enough that we enter the new century the most
technologically advanced and economically prosperous nation on earth.
As scripture tells us, _What does it profit a man to gain the world and
lose his soul._ I want to make sure we enter the new century with a
renewed respect for the life of every human being and especially for the
lives of our precious and innocent children. Too many of them are being
taken away from us by gun violence.
It is true: we have the lowest overall crime rate in 26 years, with
violent crime down by 27 percent in the last six years alone. We have
the lowest murder rate in 30 years. But we have also seen a recent rash
ofhigh-profile mass shootings that have focused the nation_s
attention. Without a doubt, the killing of innocent people daily and en
1
�~
.
(i
masse in America has been the most painful thing that I and the Vice
President and our families have had to endure in discharging our
responsibilities to the American people: the bombing in Oklahoma City;
the terrible school violence at Littleton; the dragging death of James
Byrd in Jasper, Texas; the torture death of Mathew Shepard in Wyoming,
the office killings in Atlanta, the shootings at the Jewish Day Care
Center in Los Angeles, the killing of the Filipino postal worker, the
recent murderous rampage at a place of worship -- W edgewood Baptist
Church in Fort Worth.
Now, some of these crimes were motivated by hate. And there is a
consensus emerging across America and in the Congress that we have to do
more to prevent and prosecute hate crimes. More and more of our
citizens are standing with us to proclaim: No American should be
subjected to violence on account of his or her race, color, national
origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability. We have a
Hate Crimes bill moving through Congress that would expand protections
and remove barriers to speedy prosecution. The Congress needs to finish
its work on this bill and send it for my signature without further
delay.
But many of these crimes do not fit into the category ofhate crimes.
Some have described them as acts of evil. Others have questioned
whether mental illness motivated the killers. None of us should seek to
make any capital of this, but all of us should seek to make some sense
of it. Consider this: It is a fact that America has the highest murder
rate in the world. But did you know that the rate of accidental
shooting deaths for children under 15 in the United States is nine times
higher than the rate for the other 25 industrialized nations combined.
Now that begs the question: If you believe this is about the human
heart, you must believe two things. If the murder rate is higher here,
and the accidental death rate is exponentially higher, you must believe
that we are both more evil and more stupid than any other country on
earth. I know that sounds funny, but I am trying to make a very serious
point. The NRA and others have got to stop using arguments like this as
an excuse to avoid our shared responsibilities. God calls us to be
_ ... doers of the word, and not just hearers only._ (James 1 :22). That
means taking action collectively to make America a safer place ... to make
it clear that our children are going to grow up safe and healthy.
So, to those who say this is about evil, I say you_re right. It is
about evil, the unfathomable darkness within us all that mutates and
explodes within the angry, tortured lives of the few. But it is not
just about evil, whether reasoned or irrational. It is about all of us,
rising up as a people, and saying we_re not going to let our children
2
�die like this anymore and we are simply not going to live like this
anymore.
From the Sunday pulpit in the church to the bully pulpit in Washington
--all of us have a responsibility to join this effort. Scripture also
tells us, _Be not overcome with evil. Overcome evil with good._ The
killings in Columbine were evil. The shootings in Los Angeles and
Atlanta were evil. The rampage in Fort Worth was evil. But praying and
working for peace is good. Starting a grassroots campaign against youth
violence, as we have done, is good. Putting more uniformed peacemakers
in troubled neighborhoods is good. These gun buy back programs that are
springing up across the country are good. And passing common sense gun
legislation to keep guns out of the hands of evil doers is good.
So, as we enter a new century, let us make sure our hearts and minds
are Y2K ready. Let us make sure our sense of responsibility to our
children and to our nation is Y2K ready. Let us make sure the soul of
.America is Y2K ready.
The book of Ecclesiates also tells us that for everything there is a
season. _A time to weep and a time to laugh .... a time to mourn and a
time to dance.. a time to keep silence and a time to speak._
(Ecclesiastes, 3) Now, I believe it is time to end our weeping and our
silence. Now is the time to stand up, speak out and take responsible
action to end gun violence in America. Let us put that prayer into
action today and everyday. Thank you and God bless you all.
3
�-------------------------------------------------------------~
FROM GOTTHEIMER
Subject:
Date:
From:
To:
FROM GOTTHEIMER
Sun, 26 Sep 1999 13:43:24 -0400
Laura_J._Lewis@who.eop.gov
aedmondsl@home.com
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate ReleaseSeptember 20, 1999
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS DINNER
September 18, 1999
Washington Convention Center
Washington, D.C.
THE PRESIDENT: Ladies and gentlemen, the main thing I want to say
tonight is thank you.
Thank you to the Congressional Black Caucus for your
leadership and your partnership, for your genuine friendship.
Thank you to
Jim Clyburn; to my friend of 27 years, Eddie Bernice Johnson; to Eva
Clayton; to the dean of the delegation, John Conyers; to your retiring
member, and a great champion of education and human welfare, Bill Clay.
To
Corrine Brown and Elijah Cummings, and Sheila Jackson Lee and all th'e other
members of the CBC: I thank you for your kindness, your friendship, your
support to me, to Hillary, to Al and Tipper Gore, to what we have done
together.
I thank Senator Carol Moseley-Brown for her continuing willingness to
serve.
I welcome and congratulate the award winners, my friends Julius
Chambers and Alvin Brown and Tom Joyner.
Can you imagine Tom Joyner and
his son thanking Al and me for being on his radio program? You know, even
the people that don't like us don't think we're stupid.
And I want to thank and congratulate Rear Admiral Evelyn Fields, who
has done such a great job.
She started as a cartographer and went on to
chart a new course of opportunity not only for African American women, but
for all women. And thank you for honoring them.
I also would like to welcome the President of Haiti here, President Rene
Preval. We're delighted to have him here and we thank him for his
friendship.
There are so many people here who have been associated with our
administration, and they were all asked to stand.
You know them well.
I
want to just mention two, if I might.
One is my chief speech writer, Terry
Edmonds -- because he's the first African American to ever hold that job -and the reason I'm introducing him is since Al and Eddie Bernice and Jim
talked, I can't give half the speech that he wrote for me, so the least I
can do is acknowledge that he did it.
Thank you, my friend, you're doing
great.
The other person I want to thank for his extraordinary leadership as our
special representative to the continent of Africa is Reverend Jesse
Jackson, and I want to thank him very much for that. And particularly his
role in ending the disastrous conflict in Sierra Leone.
I want to congratulate some of the current judicial nominees, more than
half of whom are women and minorities, including Judge James Wynn, who will
be the first African American to serve on the 4th Circuit; Judge Ann
Williams, the first African American on the 7th Circuit. And this week I
I of5
9/26/99 I :50 PM
�FROM GOTTHEIMER
nominated Kathleen McCree Lewis to serve on the 6th Circuit.
congratulate them.
I
There are just two more people I want to thank.
I want to thank my wife
for her love, her friendship and for her leadership for our children and
our future; for the way she has represented us around the world and for
having the courage to stay in public service. After all we've been through
she would be the best United States Senator you could ever elect to
anything.
I also want to thank all the members of the administration here, the
Cabinet members -- some are African American, some are not.
But one of the
most interesting things that anyone ever said to me is the Presidential
Scholar, that the Vice President and I knew, came from Harvard one night to
a dinner at the White House.
And we were pretty low, it was after we had
been waxed in the 94th Congressional elections. And this man said, I have
been studying administrations for a long time and you should know that I
believe that yours will be re-elected; and one reason is, you have the most
loyal Cabinet since Thomas Jefferson's second administration.
So to all who are here -- Secretary Slater, Madame Attorney General,
Secretary Herman, any other members of the Cabinet who are here, our
Veterans Affairs Secretary, all the others, I want to thank them.
And, finally, and most of all, I'd like to thank the Vice President,
without whom none of the good things we have accomplished together would
have been possible.
He has been, by far, the most influential, active,
passionate, intense, effective Vice President of the United States in the
history of our republic and I am very grateful to him.
Now, you know, this has been an exciting year for African Americans, a
lot of things have happened.
I mean, Serena Williams became the first
black woman since Althea Gibson to win the U.S. Open.
Ken Chenault was
named the first black CEO of American Express. And this is very important,
I want you all to listen to this: the magnificent African American writer,
Toni Morrison, agreed with an extreme right-wing journalist that I am the
first black President of the United States.
Chris Tucker came to see me today -- (laughter) -- he's here somewhere
tonight. Where are you? Stand up there.
So Chris Tucker is in there, he
looks at me with a straight face and says he's come in to case the Oval
Office because he's about to make a movie in which he will star as the
first black President.
I didn't have the heart to tell him I had already
taken the position.
I want to make a couple of points. Most of what needs to be said has
been said.
One of the most interesting books of the Bible is the Book of
James.
It challenges us to be "doers of the word and not hearers only."
This, truly, is a caucus of doers. And I'm grateful for all the things that
have happened that everyone else has mentioned.
But none of it would have
been possible without you.
Now we come again to what has become a fairly usual moment in the last
two years -- the end of another budget year in which we must all make an
accounting of ourselves to the American people for what we have done and
what we are about to do and what we are going to do with the money they
give us from the sweat of their brow.
Now, our Republican friends have sent me a tax bill, and it is quite
large.
The middle class and working class and lower income relief in it
is, oh, about the size of our bill, but their bill is more than three times
the size of ours. And people in upper income groups who are doing pretty
well in the stock market get all the rest of the relief.
But the main thing is that the bill makes choices.
2 of5
We all make choices
9126!99 1:50PM
�FROM GOTTHEIMER
in life, often when we pretend not to and often when we deny that we are,
but we do. And so even when things don't seem to be happening, sometimes
decisions of the most momentous consequences are being made.
The Vice
President courageously presented himself for public office, for the highest
office in the land. Many of the rest of you will be running this year -perhaps the First Lady will be among you.
But while we are doing these things which we know are big, decisions
will be made in this Congress which will affect what they can do if the
American people are good enough to send them into office.
Why do I want to veto this bill? Not because I enJOY these interminable
partisan fights; I, frankly, find them revolting most of the time.
It's
not really what the framers had in mind. They wanted us to debate our
differences in advance and then figure out what we could agree on and go on
and do it.
But there are choices here.
Do you know the number of people over 65 is going to double in the next
30 years? I hope to be one of them. When that happens there will be two
people working for every one person drawing Social Security and Medicare.
We ought to use this surplus to deal with the challenge of the aging of
America, and take care of Social Security and Medicare and give a
prescription drug benefit.
Do you know we've got more kids in our schools than ever before? You
heard the Vice President talk about what our agenda is and what he wants to
do. Well, you can't do it if you give away the store first.
We ought to
invest in our kids. We have the most diverse, largest group of children
ever in our schools and they are carrying our future in their little minds
every day when they show up. And we need to give them all a world class
education.
And if we do this right, believe it or not, we'll be paying down the
debt. We could actually make America debt-free for the first time since
Andrew Jackson was President in 1835. Now, here's why progressives ought
to be for this, because if we do that we'll drive down interest rates and
we'll be able to get more people to go invest money in places that haven't
yet felt our prosperity. We'll keep interest rates down for homes, for
college loans, for car loans, for credit cards. We'll guarantee that we'll
have a generation of prosperity. We will pass something on to our
children.
This is a choice.
What I want to say to you is, I want us to get as much of this done as
we can, so that we leave for our successors in office the chance to do
something meaningful.
Nothing, in some ways, is more important than trying
to make sure every American has a chance to participate in our prosperity.
I was so proud of Alvin Brown tonight when I was listening to his speech on
the film -- getting ready to give him his award; so grateful that the Vice
President gave him a chance to lead our empowerment zone and enterprise
community programs; so glad that we are continuing to try to involve
businesses -- the Vice President is determined to bridge the so-called
digital divide and put computers in every classroom in America, not just
those who can afford it on their own, and make sure they can afford to use
them.
Thank you, Chairman Kenard, for what you've done on that.
It's very important that we fund the next round of empowerment zones,
that we fund the new markets initiative, that we give Americans the same
incentives to invest in poor neighborhoods here we give them to invest in
poor places overseas.
I want to continue with all these incentives.
I
wish we did more for the Caribbean, for Central America, for South America
and for Africa.
I just want to do the same thing for the poor
neighborhoods of Appalachia, of the Mississippi Delta, of the Indian
reservations, of the cities that have been left behind.
All the things that have been mentioned,
3 of 5
I JUSt want to say: me,
too.
9!26!99 I :50 PM
�PAGE
20
45TH STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
Copyright 1995 Newsweek
Newsweek
November, 1995 (Winter, 1995)
, UNITED STATES EDITION
SECTION: NEWSMAKERS OF THE YEAR; Heroes; Pg. 36
LENGTH: 501 words
HEADLINE: Mississippi Angel
BYLINE: Vern E. Smith in Hattiesburg, Miss.
HIGHLIGHT:
OSEOLA MCCARTY DID MORE THAN PINCH PENNIES IN HER 75 HARDWORKING YEARS AS A
WASHERWOMAN. SHE MANAGED TO SAVE UP$ 150,000. AND NOW SHE'S GIVING IT ALL AWAY.
BODY:
OSEOLA MCCARTY LOVED SCHOOL --AS much as she got of it, which wasn't a whole
lot, even for a black girl growing up in Hattiesburg, Miss., early in the
century. In 1920, when she was in sixth grade, her widowed aunt took sick, and
it fell to Oseola, "the smallest ·thing in the house," she says, to take care of
her. She was already used to working after school to help her mother and
grandmother make en~s meet, standing on a wooden box to reach the iro~ing board.
She never went back to school, but for the next 75 years lived and worked in the
small wooden house she grew up in-washing and ironing clothes for a dollar or
two a bundle, never marrying or driving a car or learning much more about the
world than she could read in her tattered family Bible. Down the street, the
University of Southern Mississippi opened its doors to black people in the
1960s, but Oseola McCarty -- who never grew more than five feet tall, or weighed
more than about 100 pounds -- kept on washing clothes. She never even set foot
on the university's campus.
Until last year, when Oseola McCarty decided it was time to retire and take
stock of her life. She thought it would be nice, she says, if she could "help
someone else's child to get an education." She dug out her bankbooks, set aside
a donation to her church and a sum sufficient for her own modest needs,
including the first air-conditioner she has ever owned. And she bequeathed the
rest to the university to help "deserving African-American students . . . who
clearly demonstrate a financial need." The amount staggered officials when they
heard of it: Oseola McCarty, washerwoman, was donating$ 150,000. "This is the
first time I've ever experienced anything like this, from an individual who
simply was not affluent," said Bill Pace, the executive director of the
University of Southern Mississippi Foundation. "[She] did not have the resources
and yet gave substantially. In fact, she gave almost everything she has."
Over the years McCarty has thought about what her life might have been like
if she could have continued her education. "I would have been a nurse," she
says, smiling at the thought. "I would have tried to be the head nurse, put on
one of those big white aprons and a white cap with the starch just as stiff as
it could be." We all want to leave something behind to mark our time on this
earth: our children, our work, the impressions we made on those who knew us.
Oseola McCarty had no children. She worked hard, but a washer-woman·•s work is
never done, because clean clothes don't ever stay that way. So she is leaving
behind something even more valuable -- an education for Stephanie Bullock, an
�PAGE
21
Newsweek, November, 1995
18-year-old fr~shman who is the first student to benefit from an Oseola McCarty
scholarship. And a reminder -- certified at the White House this fall, where
President Clinton presented her with a Presidential Citizens Medal -- that even
the humblest among us can leave the world a better place for our having walked
on it.
GRAPHIC: Picture, Giving till it helps: 'The smallest thing in the house' turned
a humble life into a huge legacy, MICHAEL TIGHE
rLANGUAGE: ENGLISH
LOAD-DATE: November 16, 1995
�Let me close by talking about one particular American
citizen that I think would be a pretty good role model for the
President, the Speaker, the Senate Majority leader, the Congressional
Black Caucus, and everybody else that's going to be making decisions
about America's future in the next 60 days. I got permission from my
wonderful wife tonight to have a date with another woman to the
Congressional Black Caucus. Her name is Oseola McCarty. (Applause.)
At the young age of 8 7, she is a stellar example of what it
means to live a life of dignity, service, values and personal
responsibility. Before today she had never been to Washington. She had
never flown on an airplane -- and when I invited her to do it, she said
she'd like to come see me, but not if she had to get on an airplane.
(Laughter.) So Oseola has come all the way from Hattiesburg,
Mississippi, by train. (Applause.)
You may have read about her in the last few weeks. A lot
of people talk about the dignity of work, but from the time before she
was a teenager, she worked all her life washing clothes for people. She
started out charging $1.50 to $2.00 a bundle. She lived modestly and
was able to accumulate savings over the years. In fact, while she
earned what by any stretch of the imagination was a very meager income,
she saved such an enormous percentage of what she earned, and she and
her local banker invested it so well that she amassed a sizable sum.
Last month, after a lifetime of work, this woman who did that job for
decades and decades and decades quietly and with dignity and with
excellence donated $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi
for scholarships for African American students. (Applause.)
When people ask her why in the world she did this, she
said, I just want the scholarship to go to some child who needs it, to
whoever's not able to help their children. I'm too old to get an
education, but they can. Well, the University has already given $1,000
scholarship in her name to an 18-year-old graduate of Hattiesburg High
School named Stephanie Bullock (ph.). Someday Stephanie Bullock (ph.)
may be a lawyer, a doctor, perhaps a member of the Congressional Black
Caucus because of Oseola McCarty.
Our country needs more people like her, people who don't
just talk about responsibility and community but who live those values.
I'm proud that she's my guest tonight. Before we came over, I brought
her into the Oval Office and awarded her the Presidential Citizens Medal
for her extraordinary act of generosity. (Applause.)
I'd like to ask her to come up here so you can all get a
good look at her. (Applause.)
I want to make you a promise, and I want to issue a
- - - -
---------
�challenge. My promise to you is that in the next few weeks when we make
decisions that will shape the future of our great country into the 21 st
century, I'll try to keep her example in mind. And my challenge is that
everyone else do the same. If we do, this great country is going to do
just fine. (Applause.)
FULL TRANSCRIPT FOLLOWS
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
September 2 3, 199 5
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER
OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
Grand Ballroom
Washington Convention Center
9:24 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Congressman
Jefferson, for chairing this dinner and for being my longtime friend.
He has such a nice name --William Jefferson. (Laughter.) One day we
were on a platform together in Louisiana, and we both kind of got to
ventilating, and he said after I spoke, it's a good thing you've got a
last name or no one could tell us apart. (Laughter.)
Congressman Payne, the CBC Chair; Cardiss Collins, the
Foundation Chair; to all the distinguished awardees -- General Powell,
Congressman Lewis, Muhammed Ali, Congressman Ford, Renea Gaters. All
very deserving -- Ms. Gaters for your charity and your generosity over
so many years; my longtime friend John .Lewis for being a living reminder
of what it means to live by what you say you believe; my friend
Congressman Ford, who was working on welfare reform before the other
crowd knew what it was. I thank you, sir. (Applause.)
Of course, one of your recipients has been on the front
page of every magazine in this country, deluged with TV and radio
requests, written a book, and has a name and face instantly recognized
all around the world. I'm honored to share the spotlight tonight with
Muhammed Ali. (Applause.) And with General Colin Powell. (Applause.)
Thank you. (Applause.)
There are many things to be said about Colin Powell's
lifetime of service to our country and service to three presidents on
�matters of national security, but I know he is being honored tonight in
large measure because just a year ago this week, he played an important
part in our successful effort to end Haiti's long night of terror.
(Applause.) Because of America's leadership, backing sanctions and
diplomacy with force, because of the courage of President Aristide and
the Haitian people, and the support they received from so many of you in
this room, today Haiti has its best chance in generations to build a
strong democracy and to tackle the poverty that has been a scourge to
those good people for too long.
In this great drama, General Powell answered my call to
service. And along with President Carter and Senator Sam Nunn, he made
sure the Haitian dictators understood the message of the United States
that they had just one last chance to leave peacefully, or suffer the
consequences of being removed by military force. In no small measure
because Colin Powell delivered that message so graphically, democracy
was restored miraculously without the loss of a single American life or
a single Haitian life. (Applause.)
Tonight is special for all of us because it's the 25th
anniversary of the Congressional Black Caucus, now 40-strong. I think
that we should pay special tribute to the founding members here tonight,
and especially to the five who are still serving: Louis Stokes, Ron
Dellums, Bill Clay, John Conyers, and Charlie Rangel. (Applause.) And
let me say that after watching that film, and after watching Charlie
Rangel stand up for the rights of poor children and elderly Americans
just the other day-- (applause) -- I feel confident that they've still
got a lot juice, a lot of energy, a lot of good ideas, and a lot to give
this country. (Applause.)
I don't know where our country would be today without the
Congressional Black Caucus. I want to thank you, all of you, for
standing up for the values we all hold dear -- for freedom and for
responsibility; for work and for family; for the idea that we are, as my
friend, the Governor of Florida, said the other day, a community, not a
crowd. A crowd is a collection of people occupying the same space,
elbowing one another until the strongest and most powerful win without
. regard to what happens to the others. A community is a group of people
who occupy the same space and believe they're going up or down together,
and they have responsibilities to one another. A community is a group
of people led by people who do what's right for the long run, even if it
defies the conventional wisdom and is unpopular in the short run. The
Congressional Black Caucus has helped to keep American a community.
(Applause.) Thank you, and God bless you all. (Applause.)
I have special reasons to be grateful to the Black Caucus-.
When I became President, we had a stagnant and suffering economy. The
Congressional Black Caucus supported an economic policy that in
two-and:a-halfyears has produced 7.5 million new jobs, 2.5 million new
homeowners, 2 million new small businesses, the largest number of new
self-made millionaires in any time period in the history of the country,
and an African American unemployment rate back down in single digits for
l.
�the first time since the Vietnam war. (Applause.) Thank you for doing
that. (Applause.)
Three years ago, most Americans despaired that anything
could ever be done about crime: Acting on old values and embracing new
ideas, the Congressional Black Caucus played an active role in shaping a
crime bill that had police and punishment and prevention. It put more
police officers on our street, punished people who should be, but gave
our young people something to say yes to, some opportunities to live
positive, good, constructive lives, and to know they were important to
someone else.
And because of that, in every state in this country and in
almost every major urban area, the crime rate is down, the murder rate
is down, and people believe we can make a difference. (Applause.) And
I thank you for that. (Applause.)
Because you supported the policies of this administration
to advance peace and freedom and democracy, from the Middle East to
Northern Ireland, to Russia and the other places of the former Soviet
Union, there are no missiles pointed at the people of the United States
tonight for the first time since the dawn of the nuclear age. Peace is
making progress in the Middle East and in Northern Ireland. Democracy
was restored to Haiti. We have supported South Africa -- all because of
people like you who made it possible. You have been a steadfast partner
in standing up for America's best interests and America's best values.
I want to say a special word of thanks to you for the
crucial role you have played in expanding freedom and opportunity in
Africa. Today, two-thirds of the nations of Africa are moving toward .
democracy and market opportunities, with the help of American leadership
and American assistance. Whether we supported historic elections in
South Africa and Mozambique, provided dramatic humanitarian relief in
Rwanda, assisted in the opening of stock markets in Botswana and
Namibia, the United States has been committed to making a difference in
Africa. Much remains to be done -- fostering peace in Liberia and
Angola, standing up for democracy in Nigeria. But with your help,
America can remain a force for progress.
And in this debate on the budget, I implore you to remind
the other members of the Congress that we must remain a force for
democracy and progress, not only in Africa, but throughout the world.
We cannot walk away from people who look to us for support and
encouragement. (Applause.)
But this is still a difficult and unsettling time. In each
area I mentioned, you could have said, I heard what you said, Mr.
President, but... For example, if I had told you 30 months ago that
this country could produce 7.5 million jobs, 2.5 million homeowners, 2
million entrepreneurs, a 4,700 stock market, the largest number of
self-made millionaires in history, but the average wage of the person in
the middle would go down, not up, it would have been hard to believe,
�but it happened.
We can say all we want that the crime rate is down, the
murder rate is down, the number of people on welfare and food stamps are
down. The teen pregnancy rate is down. The drug use rate among people
between 18 and 34 is down. But the rate of violent crime, death and
casual drug use among our teenagers is still going up.
We can say all we want about all the peace and prosperity
that is coming to the world and how democracy is sweeping the world, but
in every country, forces of extremism have a stronger voice than they
have had in years. And organized groups, committed to destruction,
based on racial or ethnic or religious or political extremism, have
enormous capacity to do that destruction. You see it in a school bus
· blowing up in the Middle East. You see it when a fanatic breaks open a
little vial of sarin gas in a subway in Japan. You see it in a bomb
blowing up the federal building in Oklahoma City.
And you see it in more subtle ways -- yes, even in America.
Like when five children in an upper class suburb in this country write
the hated word "nigger" in code word in their school album. What is
going on here? How do we account for all the good things and all the
bad things that are happening at the same time?
I've spent a lot of time thinking about this -- and since
last November, I've had a little more time to think about it. I believe
with all my heart when the history of this era is written and people
look back on it, they will say that this was the most profound period of
change in the way the American people live and work and relate to the
rest of the world in a hundred years.
One hundred years ago, most of our forbearers lived out in
the country or in little towns. Most of us farmed the land or made a
living because other people w~re farming the land. Then we began to
move to cities and we became an industrial country. A hundred years
ago, we were keeping to ourselves, but within 20 years we had to get
into World War I so that the forces of freedom could win. And we began
to assert national leadership.
Now, we're moving away from this industrial age to an age
characterized by information and technology, where people will soon be
able to do most of the work they do wherever they want to live -- in a
city or in an isolated place in the mountains somewhere. We are moving
from a Cold War in which nation states look at each either across a great
divide, but still are able to provide most of people's needs, to a
global economy where there's a lot of integration economically, but a
lot of pressures of disintegration on ordinary working people
everywhere.
And what we have to do is to try to understand this time in
which we live, embrace the new ideas that we need to embrace to preserve
our vision of the future, which has to be rooted in the values for which
�~------------
- -
you have always stood.
Don't you want a 21st century in which America is the
leading opportunity society -- growing entrepreneurs, growing the middle
class, shrinking the under class; where everybody has a chance to live
up to their God-given ability; where families and communities have a
chance to solve their own problems; where the streets are safe and the
schools are good; and we have a clean environment and a strong health
care system; and where we're still a force for peace and freedom in the
world? I think that's what most of us want.
To get it, we need new ideas. We need a devotion to our
old-fashioned values. We need to stop looking for ways to be divided
and instead seeking common ground and higher ground. And we've got to
be prepared to stand up for the future, even if it's not popular in the
present. That's what this budget debate is all about. It's really not
about money and programs, it's about what kind of people we're going to
be. What are we going to look like in the 21st century? What are we
going to look like? What are our obligations to each other? If we;re a
community and not a crowd, what kind of obligations do we have to our
parents and to our children; to those who aren't as well off as we are;
to those who through no fault of their own are not doing so well; to
people all around the world who look to us for leadership? What are our
obligations?
I agree with the leadership of the Republican majority in
Congress that we ought to balance the budget. We never had a permanent
structural deficit until about 12 years before I showed up. (Applause.)
And to be fair to the Caucus -- again, this defies conventional wisdom
-- but the plain truth is that in the previous 12 years, in every year
but one, the Congress appropriated less money than the Executive Branch
asked for. But we wound up quadrupling the debt.
Next year, if we don't do something about it, interest
rates -- interest payments on the debt will be bigger than the defense
budget. But we have begun, you and I, to do something about it because
this year the budget would be in balance but for the interest we're
paying on those 12 years. The deficit was $290 billion when we started;
it's down to $160 billion now. And that's not bad -- a 40 percent cut
in three years, for the first time since Harry Truman was President.
(Applause.)
But why are we going to do this? Why should we balance the
budget anyway? Because we believe it will take debt off our kids.
Because we believe it will lower interest rates and free up money for
the entrepreneurs who are here to borrow more money and put more people
to work and make American stronger. Because we think it will fulfill
our vision of the future. Therefore, when we do it, we have to do it in
a way that supports that vision, otherwise there's no point in doing it
in the first place. It is where we want to go that matters.
So I say to you, we ought to do this. But we ought to do
�it in a way that is consistent with our values -- maintaining our
investments in the things that make us strong; keeping our commitments
as a community. That's what we have to do.
The proposal I put forward balances the budget, but
increases our investment in education. We will never stop the decline
in learning until we give lifetime educational opportunities to every
person in this country no matter what their race, no matter what their
income, no matter what their background. (Applause.) We will never do
it. (Applause.)
We ought to secure the Medicare Trust Fund, be we can do
that without breaking our contract with the elderly of this country.
Three-quarters of them live on less than $24,000 a year. It's pretty
hard to charge them several hundred dollars more a year for what they
thought was already going to be paid for.
Now, let me just say that a lot of the things that I
believed when I showed up here, I thought were matters of bipartisan
consensus, are almost nonpartisan. When a country goes through a great
period of change, it is important that people try to join hands on those
things that are critical to its security and its character. That's what
we did in the Cold War. I think education is an important part of our
security. I think growing the middle class and shrinking the underclass
is an important part of our security. I think reminding us, ourselves,
that in the global economy of the 21st century our racial diversity is
our great meal ticket to the future if we can all figure out how to get
along and how to lift.each other up. That's a part of our security.
(Applause.) And we ought to treat it that way. (Applause.)
So I say, balance the budget, but don't deprive hundreds of
thousands of young kids of a chance to get off to a good start in
school. Don't deprive schools that happen to be poor of the chance to
have smaller classes or computers in the classroom or high standards and
high expectations, or just the chance to be safe and drug-free. Don't
raise the cost of going to college at a time when it's more important to
go to college than ever before just because the people -- (applause) -just because the people that used to make a lot of money out of the
student loan program aren't making it anymore. Don't do that.
(Applause.)
I want to emphasize this: My goal is to see every young
person in this country get out of high school and get at least, at least
two years of further education. That's my goal. (Applause.) That
ought to be your goal. (Applause.) That's what the economy tells us
has to be everybody's goal. (Applause.)
And yet today, because of the rising cost of college,
enrollment is already dropping for poor people, and therefore
disproportionately for minorities. And if you don't believe it's a
problem, just look at California. They've been through such wrenching
problems that the cost of education has gone up almost 20 percent and
�enrollment has dropped 10 percent. And when a state's in trouble, you
need more people going, not fewer. This is a big deal, and we don't
have to do it to balance the budget.
I believe, as all of you know, in reforming the welfare
system, but not as a way of dividing the American people, but as a way
of liberating people who are trapped in the system. Most people in this
country work. Most parents work. So it's not unreasonable to say most
people who have children who happen to be on welfare should move toward
work.
But what we want in America is for every parent to be able
to succeed at home, and if they must work, at work as well. We don't
need to tear people down; we need to lift people up. Most people who
are poor and on welfare would give anything in the world to be somewhere
else doing something else. We ought to help them do it. (Applause.)
And we ought to help them succeed as parents and workers. (Applause.)
We say-- everybody says -- if you took a poll in the
Congress on Monday morning, everybody that does not believe in work,
please stand up. Nobody would stand. Everybody that believes we ought
to encourage welfare over work, please stand up. Nobody would stand.
But their budget proposal proposes to cut taxes for nearly everybody in
America, including upper income people like me that don't ask for it and
don't want it and sure don't need it. General Powell is about to move
into that category -- (laughter) -- with his book.
They propose that, but you know what? They want to raise
taxes on some Americans. The 14 million working families that we
lowered taxes on in 1993, who are working full-time, have children in
the homes, barely have enough to get by, the Congressional Black Caucus
voted to lower their taxes. Now this congressional proposal is to raise
their taxes by $40 billion. This is wrong. Ronald Reagan said that the
Earned Income Credit for working families was the best anti-poverty
program in history because it rewarded work. We increased it so
dramatically that it was the biggest effort to lift the incomes of
low-income working people and to equalize the middle class in America in
20 years. And now, while everybody else's taxes are being cut, those
people's taxes are going to be raised by people who say they want to get
people off welfare and into work. That is wrong. It violates our
values. (Applause.) It's not about money; it's about families and
rewarding work and standing up for what's right. (Applause.)
Medicare, Medicaid -- for three years we said that health
care costs were growing too fast; they had to be slowed down. The
Congressional Black Caucus, with no help from members of the other
party, added three years to the life of the Medicare Trust Fund when
nobody was looking and some were denying it was there. Now, the
Medicare trustees say we need to add more life to it-- and it costs $90
billion to $ 100 billion to do it. I offered a balanced budget plan to
do it, to save the trust fund, and add a decade of life.
�Under the guise of saving the trust fund and balancing the
budget, they propose to take three times that much out of Medicare and
so much out of Medicaid that it will endanger the life of urban
hospitals and rural hospitals, elderly people in nursing homes and
getting care in their home, and the health care of all the poor children
in the country, who through no fault of their own, are poor.
And so I say to you, let's save the Medicare Trust Fund.
Let's slow the rate of growth in inflation in Medicare and Medicaid.
But let's don't pretend that we can just jerk $450 billion out of the
health care system of America without hurting anybody, and that we can
do it without absolutely ignoring our obligations to our parents and our
grandparents and to the children of this country. It is wrong.
(Applause.) We should not do it. We can balance the budget without
doing it. (Applause.) And we should listen to those who tell us that.
(Applause.)
Let me just say one last thing about crime. Earlier this
week I had the privilege of going to Jacksonville, Florida.
Jacksonville, as a united city and county government -- got some people
clapping back there. It's a county that normally votes Republican, and
increasingly so. But they elected an African American Democrat Sheriff.
Why? Because he promised to make his office the streets. Because he
promised to put law enforcement officers on the streets in the
neighborhood. Because he promised to make the safety of all the people
in the county his first priority. And within six months the crime rate
had gone down nine percent -- in only six months. And he was there with
me expressing his thanks to you through me for the crime bill and the
100,000 police officers it put on the street.
The Attorney General was there with me. We had all the
children from the community there. We were in a poor neighborhood. We
walked the streets talking to these people who said nobody ever paid any
attention to their safety before, and they were so glad to see that they
could have law enforcement officers on the street.
So this Sheriff stood up and said, this is working. The
crime rate's going down. The Congress should not abolish the national
commitment to 100,000 police and say that they're going to meet it in
some other way by cutting the money they're giving and writing a blank
check to local governments or to the state. It'll never happen.
Now, out there in the country, fighting crime is a
bipartisan issue. There is no constituency anywhere in America for
raising the crime rate with the possible exception of Washington, DC,
and this debate that's going on over the crime bill here. That also is
not necessary to balance the budget, and it is wrong. (Applause.)
Let me just say one last thing to you about all this.
Nobody knows how this is going to come out. So I've got a suggestion.
We're in a 100-year period of change. You and I can no more calculate
what will be popular next week or next month than a man on the moon. In
�1992, I wasn't smart enough to figure this out back then; I thought it
had something to do with my ability. But in 1992, when I was nominated,
on June the 2nd, I was in third place in the polls. Six weeks later, I
was in first place in the polls. Who could have predicted that?
Nobody.
It is idle speculation. We have to now go back in these
next two months and tell people with whom we disagree, look, we want to
find common ground. But we have to balance the budget in a way that is
consistent with our vision. And we may have to do some things that are
unpopular just because you think they're going to be right over the long
. run.
You know, two-thirds of the American people thought I was
wrong in Haiti, but I'm glad I did it. And I think history will be
prove us right. (Applause.)
And a lot of you Caucus members will have to say you lost
some good colleagues out of the Congress because we voted for the Brady
Bill and we voted for the assault weapons ban. But, you know, last year
alone over 40,000 people with criminal records were unable to get
handguns. And if we just take a few uzis off the streets and out of the
schools and we have a few fewer kids being shot dead standing by bus
stops, having their lives robbed from them, it is worth the political
price. They said, don't you do it-- but it was worth it. (Applause.)
We did the right thing. We did the right thing. (Applause.)
A few weeks ago we were trying to decide how to handle the
studies of the FDA on teenage smoking. And every political adviser I
had in and out of the White House said, you can do this if you want to,
but it's terrible politics, because the tobacco companies will get you.
And they'll terrify all those good country tobacco farmers that are
good, decent people. They work hard, but they can be scared to death.
And then they'll wipe out-- they'll vote for any-- against anybody in
your party.
And all the Americans that agree with you will find some
other reason to vote against you, but they will stay against you. So
don't you be the first person in office to take them on. You were
already the first person in office to take the NRA on -- don't do that.
But the research showed that for 30 years some of those
folks were aware of the danger of tobacco. And the evidence showed that
there is still targeted efforts to advertise to teenagers, even though
it's illegal for children to smoke in every state in the country. And
most important of all, the evidence showed that 3,000 young people a day
start to smoke. And 1,000 of them will end their lives early.
And if it saves a thousand lives a day for longer, fuller,
better lives, then who cares what the consequences are? Twenty years
from now in the 21st century, people will say they did what was right.
And that is exactly what we ought to do on every single issue.
�~----------
--
-- - - - - - - -
(Applause.)
Finally, I thank Bill Jefferson for what he said about
affirmative action. We reviewed every one of those programs. We looked
at them all. I argued it nine ways from Sunday. It was obvious that
the politics was one place and the merits were somewhere else. It's
obvious that a lot of people in our country feel anxiety-ridden about
the economy. And the easy answer is, there's nothing wrong with you;
you don't have to change in this time of change; we just need to get rid
of the government; and they're spending all their money on affirmative
action, welfare, you know, whatever that list is.
That was the easy answer, but it's the wrong answer, not
because all those programs are perfect, not because they don't need to
be changed, but because in-the heart of America we still -- we still are
not able to make all of our decisions without regard to race or gender.
We ought to be able to. I pray to God someday we will. But you know it
and I know it -- we still need to make a conscious effort to make sure
that we get the most of every American's ability, and we give every
American a fair shot. (Applause.) That's what this is all about.
(Applause.)
And I will say again, if it were not for our racial
diversity, we wouldn't be as well positioned as we are for the 21st
century. I know that it makes a difference in the administration that
we have people like Ron Brown and Lee Brown and )esse Brown and Hazel
O'Leary. (Applause.) And I'll tell you something else, Mike Espy was
the best Agriculture Secretary in 25 years. (Applause.)
It makes a difference that we have people like Deval
Patrick and Rodney Slater and Jim Joseph, who's going to be the
Ambassador to South Africa. (Applause.) That makes a difference to how
America works. (Applause.) Alexis Herman and Bob Nash and Maggie
Williams and others make a difference in the White House. It makes as
difference.
I was so attacked by the conventional wisdom for being
committed to diversity. But after nearly three years, we're appointing
federal judges at a more rapid rate than the previous administration.
We have appointed more African Americans than the last three
administrations combined. (Applause.) And according to the American
Bar Association, they have the highest qualified ratings in the last 20
years. (Applause.) So I don't want to hear that you can't have
excellence and equal opportunity at the same time. (Applause.) You
can, we must, and we will. (Applause.)
Let me say that there is a lot of talk about personal
responsibility. What we have to do is practice it. There's a lot of
talk about valuing family and work and community. What we have to do is
value them.
Let me close by talking about one particular American
�citizen that I think would be a pretty good role model for the
President, the Speaker, the Senate Majority Leader, the Congressional
Black Caucus, and everybody else that's going to be making decisions
about America's future in the next 60 days. I got permission from my
wonderful wife tonight to have a date with another woman to the
Congressional Black Caucus. Her name is Oseola McCarty. {Applause.)
At the young age of 87, she is a stellar example of what it
means to live a life of dignity, service, values and personal
responsibility. Before today she had never been to Washington. She had
never flown on an airplane -- and when I invited her to do it, she said
she'd like to come see me, but not if she had to get on an airplane.
{Laughter.) So Oseola has come all the way from Hattiesburg,
Mississippi, by train. {Applause.)
You may have read about her in the last few weeks. A lot
of people talk about the dignity of work, but from the time before she
was a teenager, she worked all her life washing clothes for people. She
started out charging $1.50 to $2.00 a bundle. She lived modestly and
was able to accumulate savings over the years. In fact, while she
earned what by any stretch of the imagination was a very meager income,
she saved such an enormous percentage of what she earned, and she and
her local banker invested it so well that she amassed a sizable sum.
Last month, after a lifetime of work, this woman who did that job for
decades and decades and decades quietly and with dignity and with
excellence donated $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi
for scholarships for African American students. {Applause.)
When people ask her why in the world she did this, she
said, I just want the scholarship to go to some child who needs it, to
whoever's not able to help their children. I'm too old to get an
education, but they can. Well, the University has already given $1,000
scholarship in her name to an 18-year-old graduate of Hattiesburg High
School named Stephanie Bullock {ph.). Someday Stephanie Bullock {ph.)
may be lawyer, a doctor, perhaps a member of the Congressional Black
Caucus because of Oseola McCarty.
a
Our country needs more people like her, people who don't
just talk about responsibility and community but who live those values.
I'm proud that she's my guest tonight. Before we came over, I brought
her into the Oval Office and awarded her the Presidential Citizens Medal
for her extraordinary act of generosity. {Applause.)
I'd like to ask her to come up here so you can all· get a
good look at her. {Applause.)
I want to make you a promise, and I want to issue a
challenge. My promise to you is that in the next few weeks when we make
decisions that will shape the future of our great country into the 21 st
century, I'll try to keep her example in mind. And my challenge is that
everyone else do the same. If we do, this great country is going to do
�just fine. (Applause.)
Thank you, and God bless you all. (Applause.)
END
10:00 P.M. EDT
Message Copied To:
Jason H. Schechter/WHO/EOP@EOP
Lisel Loy/WHO/EOP@EOP
Elizabeth R. Newman/WHO/EOP@EOP
Sean P. Maloney/WHO/EOP@EOP
Jeffrey A. Shesoi/WHO/EOP@EOP
Terry Edmonds/WHO/EOP@EOP
�Record Type:
To:
Record
Michele Ballantyne/WHO/EOP@EOP
cc:
Subject: Re: CLOSE HOLD: DRAFT--RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST. COMMENTS TO EDMONDS 6-2777.
---------------------- Forwarded by Joshua S. Gottheimer/WHO/EOP on 09/27/99 03:03PM---------------------------
Bruce N. Reed
09/27/99 02:13:47 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
Joshua S. Gottheimer/WHO/EOP@EOP
cc:
bee:
Subject: Re: CLOSE HOLD: DRAFT--RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST. COMMENTS TO EDMONDS 6-2777.
!]
This is a tough one, and you've done a good job. I have one concern, which may relate to things the
President has already said, but is still worth raising. I don't think we should go quite so far, esp. to this
group, in racing past the this-is-evil argument. The point is, we think this is evil, and we have a moral
obligation to do everything in our power to stand up to that evil, to change men's hearts, to speak out
against hate, to sound a loud and unified chorus against acts of hatred and evil, to make clear that
intolerance will not be tolerated. And we should do everything we can, through public policy where
appropriate, and public and private voices, to make that stand --whether it's hate crimes legislation or
religious expression in the schools or just speaking out. But we also have a duty to make it harder to
commit evil, and a responsibility to protect what is good. That's why we have to do all those things you list
that are good, from a campaign against teen violence to common sense gun laws. And there is special
urgency for us to do this when evil is directed so squarely at the heart of good. One teenager shoots
another for affirming her faith in God. A man walks into a Baptist Church and shoots eight in the midst of
prayer. We cannot write these off as flashes of depravity, forget about them and move on. We must do
everything we can to keep them from happening again.
Sorry for the long speech. I just don't like the implication that "This vioiBR'ie...i:l.a&: ear-tl'lly-s.<JlJSes". Guns
are not the cause of evil, they are a tool of evil-- and we mTisfstand strongly-against both.
Joshua S. Gottheimer
Joshua S. Gottheimer
09/27/99 01:16:00 PM
�~~),
(J
$
••
Maureen T. Shea
Record Type:
09/27/99 10:48:37 AM,
Record
To:
Terry Edmonds/WHO/EOP@EOP, Mary E. Cahiii/WHO/EOP@EOP
cc:
Subject:
Draft
My apologies - this may be more than you wanted! I thought the last part was great but here are some
comments that I hope will be helpful (I've also consulted with Debi, our liaison to the Jewish community}:
•
Y2K: I have found almost no interest in Y2K in the religious community - except for those who view it
as a sign of doomsday- so I'm afraid that paragraph takes away from the main point without being an
issue which engages them.
•
I would mention the rampage over the 4th of July - that is when the Korean student was killed, the same
murderer killed a black basketball player in Chicago and shot at Jews leaving Friday services that same
weekend. (Those shot at later attended the service for the basketball player, but as Orthodox Jews they
sat outside in the "overflow" space.)
•
It was a Jewish Community Center, not a Jewish Day Care Center.
•
Our proposed hate crimes legislation is much stronger than the Republican's and there is real fear that
they will support a weak bill which will pass, so you may want to emphasize a strong hate crimes bill.
•
Conservative Christians were upset that the Ft. Worth shooting- and even Littleton -was not classified as
a hate crime, so you want to be careful on the lanugage about "category of hate crimes." (FYI:
Wedgwood Baptist doe not have an "e" .)
•
As this will be leaders of many faiths, "Sunday pulpit" is unfortunately not sufficiently inclusive -you can
use congregations but without a specific day of the week.
�DRAFT
9-26-99 8pm
Terry Edmonds
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST
THE EAST ROOM ·
SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
Thank you and welcome to the White House. As many of you know, I look
forward to this day each year perhaps more than any other. ~it
gives me and all ofus servants of faith a chance to talk about how to~
apply spiritual wisdom to the day:to:day work of healing souls and
building a more just and prosperous and peaceful nation.
For quite some time now we have been talking about how to~~~
computer systems that virtually mt~. our lives Y2K 1<.ady~ fOr ~ ~€.ft-r 267!1'{) .
technology has become such a part of daily life that we almost take it
for granted. When we tum on the switch in our homes, the light comes
on. When we punch in the code at the ATM, the money flows out. And
when we go to the supermarket, the shelves are filled with goods that
have been transported by rail or air or truck from all over the
country. All of these things that we take for granted are, in some way,
now dependent on the smooth functioning of sophisticated computer
systems . That is why we have taken extraordinary steps to make sure
that when the calendar rolls over to the year 2000, those systems will
continue to function properly-- that they will be Y2K ready. And I am
happy to report that because of the foresight and hard work of the
Federal government and the American people, we should not experience any
major disruptions when the new millennium begins.
But today, I want to say a few words about what we must do to make sure
our nation_s priorities and our resolve are Y2K ready-- especially as
we look for ways to end the epidemic of gun violence that still iHfeet§' pla1M..U,
our nation. It is not enough that we enter the new century the most
I
.
te~ly advanced and economically prosperous nation on earth.
l:=-i(S scripture tells us, _What does it profit a man to gain the world and
lS~ ~ lose his soul._ I want to make sure we enter the new century with a
renewed respect for the life of every human being and especially for the
lives of our precious and iooesgt~.tchildren. Too.many of them are being
taken away from us by gun violence.
It is true: we have the lowest overall crime rate in 26 years, with
violent crime down by 27 percent in the last six years alone. We have
the lowest murder rate in 30 years. But we have also seen a recent rash
ofhigh-profile mass shootings that have focused the nation_s
attention. Without a doubt, the killing of innocent people daily and oi?'
1
�t
m~~ p.. ~t ~~ {i?"trn.e··~
~n America has been the most painful thing that I and the Vice
President and our families have had to endure in discharging our
responsibilities to the American people: the bombing in Oklahoma City;
the terrible school violence at Littleton; the dragging death of James
Byrd in Jasper, Texas; the torture death ofMathew Shepard in Wyoming,
the office killings in Atlanta, the shootings at the Jewish Day Care
Center in Los Angeles, the killing of the Filipino postal worker, the
recent murderous rampage at a place of worship-- Wedgewood Baptist
Church in Fort Worth.
Now, some of these crimes were motivated by hate. And there is a
consensus emerging across America and in the Congress that we have to do
more to prevent and prosecute hate crimes. More and more of our
citizens are standing with us to proclaim: No American should be
subjected to violence on account of his or her race, color, national
origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability. We have a
Hate Cripes bill moving through Congress that would expand protections
and~~'Ve barriers to speedy prosecution. The Congress needs to finish
its ~ork on this bill and send it for my signature without further
delay.
But many of these crimes do not fit into the category of hate crimes.
Some have described them as acts of evil. Others have questioned
ft. H.~~ Me k~ or j tt. ~~
whether mental illness motivated the killers. Nene oftts should seek t~ ""fJ @5 s 2):::6 C.M.e~ 'i~\?lt 1
ma,l.;e..~::..capltlLJLtl:t+S;-WHtlJf-tlt:..ns--shc~~~o make some se
it> fl~ j ~ W~ ~1
of it. Consider this: It is a fact that America has the highest murder
M- 1-eAA W n"\l-tltrate in the world. But did you know that the rate of accidental
~~tlfh(.~. ~
shooting deaths for children under 15 in the United States is nine times
~19k\~ 'be
higher than the rate for the other 25 industrialized nations]bmbined.
S:~1 Ll~
+
or: y.JhJ/
0
No·,y that begs the tJUestiQil~ .lf you believe this is about the human
~' you must believe two things. If the murder rate is higher here,
~he accidental death rate is exponentially higher, you must believe
that we are both more evil and more stupid than any other country on
)
earth. I know that sounds funny, but I am trying to make a very serious
point. The NRA and others have got to stop using arguments like this as
ah excuse to avoid our shared responsibilities. God calls us to be
_ ... doers ofthe word, and not just hearers only._ (James 1:22). That
means taking action collectively to make America a safer place ... to make
it clear that our children are going to grow up safe and healthy.
So, to those who say this is about evil, I say you_re right. It is
about evil, the unfathomable darkness within us all that mutates and
. h.m th e angry, torture d l~OII.IS
1'
B ut 1t
. 1s
. not
expo
IVes o.:>f th e 1ew.
1 d es w1t
just about evil, whether reasoned or irrational. (jt is about all of us,
rising up as a people, and saying we_re not going to let our children
2
~
/
�.t.
I
•
•
die like this anymore and we are simply not going to live like this
anymore.
From the Sunday pulpit in the church to the bully pulpit in Washington ) NIifU
--all of us have a responsibility to join this effort. Scripture also
tells us, _Be not overcome with evil. Overcome evil with good._ The
killings in Columbine were evil. The shootings in Los Angeles and
Atlanta were evil. The rampage in Fort Worth was evil. But praying and
working for peace is good. Starting a grassroots campaign against youth
violence, as we have done, is good. Putting more uniformed peacemakers
in troubled neighborhoods is good. These gun buy back programs that are
springing up across the country are good. And pqssing common sense gun
legislation to keep guns out of the hands of evil doers is good.
So, as we enter a new century, let us make sure our hearts and mindsA9;t
_ 3.e Y2K ready. Let us make sure our sense of responsibility to our
~children and to our nation is Y2K ready. Let us make sure the soul of
~ America is Y2K ready.
1-tMf{~u..u<.
( tt- ~ ~f
~~~~
re.et~~
~~ )
~~~
The book of Ecclesiates also tells us that for everything there is a
season. _A time to weep and a time to laugh .... a time to mourn and a
time to dance .. a time to keep silence and a time to speak._
(Ecclesiastes, 3) Now, I believe it is time to end our weeping and our
silence. Now is the time to stand up, speak out and take responsible
action to end gun violence in America. Let us put that prayer into
action today and everyday. Thank you and God bless you all.
3
�·.
,;
DRAFT
9-27-99 11 :OOam
Terry Edmonds ·
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST
THE EAST ROOM
SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
Acknowledgements: Mrs. Clinton; Members of my Cabinet: Sec. Shalala, Sec.
Herman, Sec. Riley, Jack Lew; Rev. Hahn; Sister Sylvester.
Thank you and welcome to the White House. As many of you know, I look
forward to this day each year perhaps more than any other. Because it gives me and all of us
servants of faith a chance to talk about how to apply spiritual wisdom to the day to day work of
healing souls and building a more just and prosperous and peaceful nation.
For quite some time now we have been talking about how to make the
computer systems that virtually run our lives Y2K ready. But today, I want to say a few words
about what we.must do to make sure our nation's priorities and our resolve are Y2K ready-especially as we look for ways to end the epidemic of gun violence that still infects
our nation. It is not enough that we enter the new centu_ry t~Amost technologically advanced and
economically prosperous nation on earth. As scripture ~us, "What does it profit a man to
gain the world and lose his soul." I want to make sure we enter the new century with a
renewed respect for the life of every human being and especially for the lives of our precious and
innocent children. Too many of them are being taken away from us by gun violence.
It is true: we have the lowest overall crime rate in 26 years, with violent crime down by
27 percent in the last six years alone. We have the lowest murder rate in 30 years. But we have
also seen a recent rash of high-profile mass shootings that have focused the nation's
attention. Without a doubt, the killing of innocent people daily and en masse in America has
been the most painful thing that I and the Vice President and our families have had to endure in
discharging our responsibilities.to the American people: the bombing in Oklahoma City;
the terrible school violence at Littleton; the dragging death of James Byrd in Jasper, Texas; the
torture death of Matthew Shepard i11 Wyoming; the murder of Won Joon Yoon outside his
church in Bloomington, Indiana on the Fourth of July; the office killings in Atlanta, the
shootings at the Jewish Day Care Center in Los Angeles, the killing of the Filipino postal
worker, the recent murderous rampage at a place of worship-- Wedgwood Baptist
Church in Fort Worth.
Now, some of these crimes were motivated by hate. And there is a consensus emerging
across America and in the Congress that we have to do more to prevent and prosecute hate
crimes. More and more of our citizens are standing with us to proclaim: No American should be
subjected to violence on account of his or her race, color, national. origin, religion, sexual
orientation, gender or disability. We have a Hate Crimes bill moving through Congress that
would expand protections
�..
and, remove barriers to speedy prosecution. The Congress needs to finish its work on this bill
and send it for my signature without further delay.
But many ofthese crimes do not fit into the category of hate crimes. Some have
described them as acts of evil. Others have questioned whether mental illness motivated the
killers. None of us should seek to make any capital of this, but all of us should seek to make
some sense of it. Consider this: It is a fact that America has the highest murder
rate in the world. But did you know that the rate of accidental shooting deaths for children under
15 in the United States is nine times higher than the rate for the other 25 industrialized nations
combined?
Now tbat l3egs the questiokyou believe this is about the human heart, you must
believe two things. If the murder rate is higher here, and the accidental death rate is
exponentially higher, you must believe that we are both more evil and more stupid than any other
country on earth. I know that sounds funny, but I am trying to make a very serious point. The
NRA and others have got to stop using arguments like this as an excuse to avoid our shared
/.
responsibilities. God calls us to be" ... doers of the word, and not just hearers only." (James 1:22).
That means taking action collectively to make America a safer place ... to make i! clear t)1at our . 1
children are going to grow up safe and healthy.
/~ ~ ~
~.JtX..vrrl
~ ,~~·a~·
So, to those who say this is about evil; I say you're right. It is ab t evil, the
~~ .
unfathomable darkness within us all that mutates and explodes within e angry, tortured ~s of
the few. But it is not just ab<?ut evil, whether reasoned or irrational. tis about all of us,
rising up as a people, and saying we're not going to let our children die like this anymore and we
are simply not going to live like this anymore.
.
From the Sunday pulpit in the church to the bully pulpit in Washington-- all of us have a
responsibility to join this effort. Scripture also tells us, "Be not overcome with evil. Overcome
evil with good." The killings in Columbine were evil. The shootings in Los Angeles and
Atlanta were evil. The rampage in Fort Worth was evil. But praying and working for peace is
good. Starting a grassroots campaign against youth violence, as we have done, is good. Putting
more uniformed peace officers in troubled neighborhoods is good. These gun buy back
programs that are springing up across the country are good. And passing common sense gun
legislation to keep guns out of the hands of evil doers is good.
-te~~
So, as we enter a-new CJ6llW&ry, let us make sure our hearts and minds are _m. ready. Let
us make sure our sense of responsibility to our children and to our nation is~ ready. Let lis
make sure the soul of America i~ ready.
The book of Ecclesiates also tells us that for everything there is a season. "A time to
weep and a time to laugh .... a time to mourn and a time to dance.. a time to keep silence and a
time to speak." (Ecclesiastes, 3) Now, I believe it is time to end our weeping and our silence.
Now is the time to stand up, speak out and take responsible action to end gun violence in
America. Let us put that prayer into action today and everyday. Thank you and God bless you
all.
�)
Final 9-27-99 8pm
Terry Edmonds
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST
STATE DINING ROOM
SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
Acknowledgements: Mrs. Clinton; Members of my Cabinet: Sec. Shalala, Sec. Riley, Jack
Lew; Rev. Hahn; Sister Sylvester.
Thank you and welcome to the White House. As many of you know, I look forward to this
day each year perhaps more than any other. It gives me and all of us servants of faith a chance to
talk about how to apply spiritual wisdom to the day -to-day work of healing souls and building a
more just and prosperous and peaceful nation.
_ . For quite some time now we have been talking about how to make the computer systems
that virtually run our lives Y2K ready. But today, I want to say a few words about what we must do
to make sure our nation's priorities and our resolve are Y2K ready-- especially as we look for ways
to end the epidemic of gun violence that still plagues our nation. It is not enough that we enter the
new century the most technologically advanced and economically prosperous nation on earth. As
scripture asks, "What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul." I want to make sure
we enter the new century with a renewed respect for the life of every human being and especially
for the lives of our precious and innocent children. Too many of them are being taken away from
· us by gun violence.
It is true: we have the lowest overall crime rate in 26 years, with violent crime down by 27
percent in the last six years alone. We have the lowest murder rate in 30 years. But we have also
seen a recent rash of high-profile mass shootings that have focused the nation's attention. Without a
doubt, the killing of innocent people daily and en masse in America has been the most painful thing
that I and the Vice President and our families have had to endure in discharging our responsibilities
to the American people: the bombing in Oklahoma City; the terrible school violence at Littleton; the
dragging death of James Byrd in Jasper, Texas; the torture death of Matthew Shepard·in Wyoming;
the murder of Won Joon Yoon outside his church in Bloomington, Indiana on the Fourth of July;
the office killings in Atlanta, the shootings at the Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles, the
killing of the Filipino postal worker, the recent murderous rampage at a place of worship-Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth.
Now, some of these crimes were motivated by hate. And there is a consensus emerging
across America and in the Congress that we have to do more to prevent and prosecute hate crimes.
More and more of our citizens are standing with us to proclaim: No American should be subjected
to violence on account of his or her race, color, national. origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender
or disability. We have a Hate Crimes bill moving through Congress that would expand protections
and remove barriers to speedy prosecution. The Congress needs to finish its work on this bill and
send it for my signature without further delay.
But many of these crimes do not fit into the category ofhate crimes. Some have described
them as acts of evil. Others have questioned whether mental illness motivated the killers. None of
us should seek to make any capital of this, but all of us should seek to make some sense of it.
�...J
.
.
Consider this: It is a fact that America has the highest murder rate in the world. But did you know
that the rate of accidental shooting deaths for children under 15 in the United States is nine times
higher than the rate for the other 25 industrialized nations combined?
If you believe this is about the human heart, you must believe two things. If the murder rate
is higher here, and the accidental death rate is exponentially higher, you must believe that we are
both more evil and more stupid than any other country on earth. I know that sounds funny, but I am
trying to make a very serious point. The NRA and others have got to stop using arguments like this
as an excuse to avoid our shared responsibilities. God calls us to be" ... doers of the word, and not
just hearers only." (James 1:22). That means we should do everything we can, through public
policy and private action to make America a safer place ... to make it clear that our children are going
to grow up safe and healthy. Whether it's hate crimes legislation or religious expression in our
communities, we have a duty to make it harder to commit evil, and a responsibility to protect what
is good.
This carries a special urgency when these acts of violence are directed squarely at the heart
of good. It is hard to imagine a more heinous crime than one teenager shooting another for
affirming her faith in God ... or a man walking into a Baptist Church and shooting eight people in the
midst of prayer. We cannot write these off as flashes of depravity, forget about them and move on.
We must do everything we can to keep them from happening again.
So, to those who say this is about evil, I say you're right. It is about evil, the unfathomable
darkness within us all that mutates and explodes within the angry, tortured souls of the few. But it
is pot just about evil, whether reasoned or irrational. That calls all ofus to rise up as one and let it
be known: We're not going to let our children die like this anymore and we are simply not going to
live like this anymore.
From the pulpits of your congregations to the bully pulpit in Washington -- all of us have a
responsibility to join this effort. Scripture also tells us, "Be not overcome with evil. Overcome evil
with good." (Romans 12:21). The killings in Columbine were evil. The shootings in Los Angeles
and Atlanta were evil. The rampage in Fort Worth was evil. But praying and working for peace is
good. Starting a grassroots campaign against youth violence, as we have done, is good. Putting
more uniformed peace officers in troubled neighborhoods is good. These gun buy back programs ·
that are springing up across the country are good. And passing common sense gun
legislation to keep guns out of the hands of evil doers is good.
So, as we enter the new millennium, let us make sure our hearts and minds are Y2K ready.
Let us make sure our sense of responsibility to our children and to our nation is ready. Let us make
sure the soul of America is ready.
The book of Ecclesiastes also tells us that for everything there is a season. "A time to weep
and a time to laugh ... a time to mourn and a time to dance ... a tjme to keep silence and a time to
speak." (Ecclesiastes, 3:4-7) Now, I believe it is time to end our weeping and our silence. Now is
the time to stand up, speak out and take responsible action to end gun violence in America. Let us
put that prayer into action today and everyday. Thank you and God bless you all.
�.-
-~
Final 9/27/99 8pm
Terry Edmonds
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RELIGIOUS LEADERS BREAKFAST
STATE DINING ROOM
SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
�-
---------------,--------------.
Acknowledgements: Mrs. Clinton; Members of my
Cabinet: Sec. Shalala, Sec. Riley, Jack Lew; Rev. Hahn;
Sister Sylvester.
Thank you and welcome to the White House. As many
of you know, I look forward to this day each year perhaps
more than any other. It gives me and all of us servants of
faith a chance to talk about how to apply spiritual wisdom
to the day -to-day work of healing souls and building a
more just and prosperous and peaceful nation.
1
�For quite some time now we have been talking about
how to make the computer systems that virtually run our
lives Y2K ready. But today, I want to say a few words
about what we must do to make sure our nation's priorities
and our resolve are Y2K ready -- especially as we look for
ways to end the epidemic of gun violence that still plagues
our nation. It is not enough that we enter the new century
the most technologically advanced and economically
prosperous nation on earth. As scripture asks, "What does
it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul." I want
to make sure we enter the new century with a renewed
respect for the life of every human being and especially for
the lives of our precious and innocent children.
2
�Too many of them are being taken away from us by gun
violence.
It is true: we have the lowest overall crime rate in 26
years, with violent crime down by 27 percent in the last six
years alone. We have the lowest murder rate in 30 years.
But we have also seen a recent rash of high-profile mass
shootings that have focused the nation's attention. Without
a doubt, the killing of innocent people daily and en masse in
America has been the most painful thing that I and the Vice
President and our families have had to endure in
discharging our responsibilities to the American people:
3
�The bombing in Oklahoma City; the terrible school
violence at Littleton; the dragging death of James Byrd in
Jasper, Texas; the torture death of Matthew Shepard in
Wyoming; the murder of Won Joon Yoon outside his
church in Bloomington, Indiana on the Fourth of July; the
office killings in Atlanta, the shootings at the Jewish
Community Center in Los Angeles, the killing of the
Filipino postal worker, the recent murderous rampage at a
place of worship-- Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort
Worth.
4
�Now, some of these crimes were motivated by hate.
And there is a consensus emerging- across America and in
the Congress that we have to do more to prevent and
prosecute hate crimes. More and more of our citizens are
standing with us to proclaim: No American should be
subjected to violence on account of his or her race, color,
national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender or
disability. We have a Hate Crimes bill moving through
Congress that would expand protections and remove
barriers to speedy prosecution. The Congress needs to
finish its work on this bill and send it for my signature
without further delay.
5
�But many of these crimes do not fit into the category of
hate crimes. Some have described them as acts of evil.
Others have questioned whether mental illness motivated
the killers. None of us should seek to make any capital of
this, but all of us should seek to make some sense of it.
Consider this: It is a fact that America has the highest
murder rate in the world. But did you know that the rate of
accidental shooting deaths for children under 15 in the
United States is nine times higher than the rate for the other
25 industrialized nations combined?
If you believe this is about the human heart, you must
believe two things.
6
�-
--------
- - - - - - - -
If the murder rate is higher here, and the accidental death
rate is exponentially higher, you must believe that we are
both more evil and more stupid than any other country on
earth. I know that sounds funny, but I am trying to make a
very serious point.
The NRA and others have got to stop using arguments
like this as an excuse to avoid our shared responsibilities.
God calls us to be " ... doers of the word, and not just hearers
only." (James 1:22). That means we should do everything
we can, through public policy and private action to make
America a safer place ... to make it clear that our children are
going to grow up safe and healthy.
7
�Whether it's hate crimes legislation or religious expression
in our communitie~, we have a duty to make it harder to
commit evil, and a responsibility to protect what is good.
This carries a special urgency when these acts of
violence are directed squarely at the heart of good. It is
)
hard to imagine a more heinous crime than one teenager
shooting another for affirming her faith in God ... or a man
walking into a Baptist Church and shooting eight people in
the midst of prayer. We cannot write these off as flashes of
depravity, forget about them and move on. We must do
everything we can to keep them from happening again.
8
�So, to those who say this is about evil, I say you're
right. It is about evil, the unfathomable darkness within us
all that mutates and explodes within the angry, tortured
souls of the few. But it is not just about evil, whether
reasoned or irrational. That calls all of us to rise up as one
and let it be known: We're not going to let our children die
like this anymore and we are simply not going to live like
this anymore.
From the pulpits of your congregations to the bully
pulpit in Washington -- all of us have a responsibility to
join this effort. Scripture also tells us, "Be not overcome
with evil. Overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21 ).
The killings in Columbine were evil.
9
�The shootings in Los Angeles and Atlanta were evil. The
rampage in Fort Worth was evil. But praying and working
for peace is good. Starting a grassroots campaign against
youth violence, as we have done, is good. Putting more
uniformed peace officers in troubled neighborhoods is
good. These gun buy back programs that are springing up
across the country are good. And passing common sense
gun legislation to keep guns out of the hands of evil doers is
good.
- So, as we enter the new millennium, let us make sure
our hearts and minds are Y2K ready. Let us make sure our
sense of responsibility to our children and to our nation is
ready. Let us make sure the soul of America is ready.
10
�The book of Ecclesiastes also tells us that for
everything there is a season. "A time to weep and a time to
laugh ... a time to mourn and a time to dance . . . a time to
keep silence and a time to speak." (Ecclesiastes, 3:4-7)
Now, I believe it is time to end our weeping and our ·
silence. Now is the time to stand up, speak out and take
responsible action to end gun violence in America. Let us
put that prayer into action today and everyday. Thank you
and God bless you all.
11
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Terry Edmonds
Creator
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Office of Speechwriting
James (Terry) Edmonds
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1995-2001
Is Part Of
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<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36090" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7763294" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Identifier
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2006-0462-F
Description
An account of the resource
Terry Edmonds worked as a speechwriter from 1995-2001. He became the Assistant to the President and Director of Speechwriting in 1999. His speechwriting focused on domestic topics such as race relations, veterans issues, education, paralympics, gun control, youth, and senior citizens. He also contributed to the President’s State of the Union speeches, radio addresses, commencement speeches, and special dinners and events. The records include speeches, letters, memorandum, schedules, reports, articles, and clippings.
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
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William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Extent
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635 folders in 52 boxes
Text
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Original Format
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Paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Religious Leaders 9/28/99
Creator
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Office of Speechwriting
James (Terry) Edmonds
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2006-0462-F
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Box 1
<a href="http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/assets/Documents/Finding-Aids/2006/2006-0462-F.pdf" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7763294" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
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William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Format
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Adobe Acrobat Document
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Reproduction-Reference
Date Created
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12/9/2014
Source
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42-t-7763294-20060462F-001-014-2014
7763294