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�'·· . . ...... __ -- RUG-22- "36 18: 1218
I D: RXELROD & RSSOC I RTES
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~-AND--
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COMMENTS:
�AUG-22-'96 18:08
ID:AXELROD & ASSOCIATES
Iii
:312-664-0174
1:1463 P02
To: Mike Robbins
Krista Robinson
From: David Axelrod
Date: August 22, 1996
Re: Draft #5
My name is Mike Robbins. I'm a lifelong Chicagoan, the father of two children,
and a veteran of the Vietnam War.
But I'm not here tonight to speak about the violence of war. I'm here to speak
about the violence on our streets.
Because I also have been a police officer. And two years ago, my partner and I
. were ambushed in an alley while answering a call. He was shot and so was I. Eleven
times.
A few months later, as I lay there, recovering from my wounds, I heard
President Clinton speak on TV about the bombing at Oklahoma City. At about the
same time, the NRA called law enforcement officers who uphold gun laws ~jack-booted
thugs" ..something that particularly stuck in my craw, as a policeman who had just
been gunned down.
So when the President said this was no time for decent people to stand on the
sidelines, I knew he was right.
I reached out to the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence and volunteered
my time, along with many others, to spread the word.
You see, 1survived. But a lot of people don't. And too many of them are just
·
kids who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Joining me tonight are some of the mothers of young children who didn...'.!
survive--children who were shot to death on the streets.
�-
---~
AUG-22-'96 18:09
ID:AXELROD & ASSOCIATES
a :312-664-0174
1:1463 P03
I work with these parents and others every day as executive director of Help For
Survivors--part of the Help Network--concerned medical professionals working to heal
the wounds caused by gun violence.
I'm no politician. And I don't consider myself a hero.
I'm just a police officer who tumed down the wrong alley.
But because of that, I appreciate what President Clinton has done·- banning
assault weapons that have no place on our streets .. Fighting to keep guns out of the
hands of felons, and cop-killer bullets off the market. And putting more police on the
beat in our communities.
There are still three bullets lodged in me. And I may never be able to work as a
police officer again.
But I'll never stop working to end the camage on our streets. And I'll always
remember the President who has stood tall in that fight.
�PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RECEPTION FOR THE DNC
SLAM JAM SPORTS GRILL
CLEVELAND OHIO
JUNE 22, 1996
Acknowledgments: Mayor Mike White, Don Fowler, Rep. Louis Stokes
Critical election: In 1992, the question was whether we would continue to drift along aimlessly
or whether we would change the course of America. In this year's election, as everyone has seen
over the last year, the choice is between two very different paths of change. And the choice is
very clear.
My vision: In 1992, my vision for America: nation would offer opportunity, America would take
responsibility; a world where America remained the strongest force for peace, freedom; and a
renewed American community where all Americans come together around our basic values again
We've come a long way, but we have much more to do. You know what we've done; you
helped us to do it. But I want you to know that this is not a record to rest on, It's a record to
build on. We have real challenges meet as we move into the future, and we have to meet them
together ..
America & OH. Created 9.7 million new jobs in America. In OH, 413,800 jobs added in 39
months-- over 3 1h times as many as previous administration. Signed a real crime bill w/100,000
community police [including 1405 in OH], assault weapons ban and Brady Bill and crime is
coming down across the country.
Don't stop. I won't be satisfied until we have created the opportunity for every American who
will work for it to make the most of his or her own life, and we have given every child in this
country a better futur€). And you shouldn't be either.
Goals for the future. And we have real challenges to bring our country into the 21st Century.
We should make the 13th and 14th year of education as standard as the first 12 are now -- so
$1500 tax credit to make typical community college free. Computers in schools -- 1 Million new
citizens patrols. Ifwe give opportunity and demand responsibility, then the 21st Century can be
our greatest century for all our people.
So we've got our work cut out for us, my friends. This is going to be a tough fight, and I'm
counting on you. But if we set our sights on the future, and keep our minds on what's best for
America, I'm confident we will prevail. Thank you and God bless you.
�From the Press Office of:
.~
t:~,J·
Senator Jay Rockefeller
U.S. Senator, West Virginia
).Cnitc~ £fafes- £.e.n.c:tt~
WASHINGTON, 0. C.
109 Senate Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC, 20510
Ph: 202/224·6101
Fx: 202/224-1515
- TO:
FROM:
DATE:
I
I
MESSAGE:
#OF PAGES:
_!j_
(INCLUDING COVER\
�MEDICARE
Democratic National Convention
Chieago
My name is Jay Rockefeller. I'm from West Virginia.
a Democrat. Let me tell you why.
And I'm
We Democrats understand what makes America different.
In
America, a lifet:ime.of hard work adds up to something. A lifetime
of hard work adds up to -- owning your own home; putting your kids
through college; having peace of mind when you retire.
In America, you don't have to be well-born or well-connected
to succeed. Here, the measure is effort, and work is rewarded.
That's the bargain that Democrats have fought to strengthen and
preserve.
And no return on a lifetime of hard work makes more difference
to more Americans than the peace of mind provided by Medicare and
Medicaid.
Medicare -- the rock solid guarantee that after a lifetime of
effort -- poor health won't put you in the poor house.
Medicare -- part of the sacred trust that binds us together.
A pact among neighbors, and across generations.
Medicare -- conceived by Democrats.
Defended by Democrats.
Passed by Democrats.
In 1965, I went to West Virginia as a VISTA worker -- to the
small coal camp of Emmons.
I worked in Emmons for two years to
make a difference, to change some lives. But in the end, I was the
one who was transformed. I learned that even the smallest changes
can take a lifetime of effort.
And I learned that even the
smallest efforts count.
In 1965, the same year I went to West Virginia, Lyndon
signed the Medicare and M.edicaid Bills into law. Johnson
on the work of Harry Truman and Jack Kennedy, fighting
health security guaranteed for every senior citizen and
family.
Johnson
carried
to see
working
.
Today Democrats are fighting to extend that peace of mind to
every American. Today we are fighting to protect our legacy from
Republican rollbacks.
·
At the Republican Convention, Bob Dole talk~d at length about
going back to the America of his youth. Yes, there is a lot to be
said for a time when life was simpler.
But nostalgia can play
tricks on you ... not all aspects of the good ole' days were so good.
�There was a time in America when grandparents lived out their
last years in poverty and despair.
There was a time when widows were left with nothing -- when
husbands would lose their home after caring for a spouse stricken
by cancer or stroke.
There was a time in America when college savings were stripped
and family farms were sold to pay parents' hospital· bills.
But in 1965 we turned a corner. Today, because of Medicare,
we live in a different America. A better America.
Remember, no family is immune to tragedy, old-age or illness.
Every family is tested by sudden accidents, or the painful
suffering of a loved one. The heartbreak is the same for every one
of us. We must remember Medicare and Medicaid is the only safety
net protecting working families against impoverishment caused by
catastrophic illness.
Today, Americans --.whether they punch a clock or a keyboard can 2.ll look toward their retirement years with hope and
confidence, not fear and anxiety.
Today, older Americans and people with disabilities can be
assured that they will be treated with dignity.
Democrats are committed to a balanced budget, but we won't
do it on the backs of the people who built this country and made it
great. Last year, Republicans tried to give ou~ tax breaks for the
rich, costing two-hundred-and-forty-five billion dollars, with cuts
in Medicare of two-hundred-and-seventy billion dollars! And watch
out, Bob Dole now has a plan for even bigger tax cuts, with
Medicare and Medicaid back on the chopping block.
Thirty years ago, Republicans fought against the creation of
Medicare. They were wrong. Bob Dole voted against Medicare back
in 1965. Let me remind you what he said just a year ago, quote, 11 I
was there, fighting the fight, one of 12, voting against Medicare
in 196S ... because we didn't work." Remember, our friend Speaker
Newt Gingrich now talks of allowing Medicare to "whither on the
vine."
We are not going to allow that to happen.
defend Medicare and Medicaid.
As always', we will
And why will defend Medicare for the Middle Class family
that's trying to take care of a parent?
'Cus that's what families do.
And why will we defend Medicare for the senior American who's
lost their spouse?
�'Cue that's what families do.
Why will we be there to defend Medicaid for the family of a
child with a disability?
'Cus that's what families do.
Why will defend Medicare for the eighty-five year old women
that needs a mammogram?
'CUs that's what families do.
And why will we be there to defend medicare for. the couple
approaching retirement who need.peace of mind?
'Cue that' what families do.
Why will we safeguard medicaid for children?
'Cus that what families do.
Why do we continue to push for health care for all Americans?
'Cus that's what families do.
And why are we going to vote Clinton - Gore?
Cus that's what families do.
�!
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?lATFORlv\
The 1996 Democratic National PlatfRm120
:p
I 21
TODAY'S DEMOCMTIC PARTY:
MEETING AMERICA'S CHALLENGES,
PROTECTING AMERICA'S VALUES
INTRODUCTION
In 1996, America will choose the President who will lead us from the millennium
which saw the birth of our nation, and into a future that has all the potential to be
even greater than our magnificent past. Today's Democratic Party is ready for that
future. Our vision is simple. We want an America that gives all Americans the chance
to live out their dreams and achieve their God-given potential. We wont on America
that is still the world's strongest force for peace and freedom. And we want on
America that is coming together around our enduring values, instead of drifting
apart.
Today's Democratic Party is determined to renew America's m·ost basic bargain:
Opportunity to every American, end responsibility from every American. And Ieday's
Democratic Party is determined to reawaken the great sense of American community.
Opportunity. Responsibility. Community. These ore the values that mode America
strong. These ore the values of the Democratic Party. These are the values that must
guide us into the future.
Today, America is moving forward with the strong Presidential leadership it deserves.
The economy is stronger, the deficit is lower, end government is smeller. Education is
beHer, our F;:-.\i_ironment is cleaner, families are healthier, and our streets are safer.
There is more opportunity in America, more responsibility in our homes, and more
peace in the world.
Todcy's Democratic Party stands proudly on the record of the lost four years. We ore
living in an age of enormous possibility, end we ore working lei make sure that all
Americans can make the most of it. America is moving in the right direction.
Now we must move forward, end we know the course we must follow. We need a
smaller, more effective, more efficient, less bureaucratic government that reflects our
time-honored values. The American people do not want big government solutions and
they do not want empty promises. They want a government that is for them, not
against them; that doesn't interfere with their lives but enhances their quality of life.
They want a course that is reasonable, help that is realistic, and solutions that con be
delivered - a moderate, achievable, common-sense agenda that will improve
people's daily lives and not increase the size of government.
That is what today's Democratic Party offers: the end of the era of big government
and a final rejection of the misguided call to leave our citizens to fend for themselves
- ~nd bold leadership into the future: To meet America's challenges, protect
America's values, and fulfill American dreams.
39
UJoday's
Democratic Party
oHers the end of
the era of big
,
government ana o
fino/ reiection of the
misguided coli to
leave our citizens to
fend for themselves
-and bold
leadership into the
future: To meet
America's
choflenges, protect
America's values,
and fulfill American
dreams."
�PlATFORfv\
-
, = OPPORTUNITY
....
"
.....
For 220 years, America has been defined by a single ideal: Opportunity for ell who
toke the responsibility to seize it. President Andrew Jackson put it best: We believe in
equal opportunity for all, end special privileges for none. The mission of the Deme>
erotic Party in 1996 is to ensure that the great American Dream of opportunity for all
is within reach for all, end that it travels with us, whole and intact, as we walk
together into tomorrow.
0
The only deficit
left today is interest
payments on the
debt run up over ihe
12 Republican
years before fiscal
responsibility
returned to the
White House
.... f\jow the
Democratic Party is
determined to Finish
the iob and balance
the budget." ·
Economic growth. Since Bill Clinton became President, America has seen on
explosion of job growth, economic renewal, and opportunity. The American people
hove created more than 10 million new jobs. After trailing Japan for 14 years,
America once again became the world's leading manufacturer of automobiles in
1994, and remained number one lost year. The combined rote of inAction, unemployment, and mortgage interest rates is the lowest in three decades. Now, 4.4 million
more Americans own their own home, and Americans have started a record number
of new small businesses in each of the las~ three years.
In the 12 years before President Clinton took office, Republicans in the White House
allowed the deficit to spiral out of control, and ignored the economic interests of
ordinary Americans. Bill Clinton was determined to turn things around and move
America in a new direction. With his leadership, we put in place a comprehensive
strategy for economic growth. Today's Democratic Party knows that the private sector
is the engine of economic growth, and we fought to put America's economic house in
order so private business could prosper. We worked to tap the full potential of a new
global economy through open and fair trade. We fought to invest in the American
people so they would have the capacity to meet the demands of the new economy.
And we have invested in the roads, bridges, and highways that are the lifelines of ·
American commerce.
Democrats in Congress supported this course and America is better off because they
did. Republicans opposed our economic plan; America's economic growth over the
last four years makes it clear that they were wrong. Our strategy is in place, and it is
working. We ore proud of our economic record over the lost four years- and we
know that our record is a record to build on, not to .rest on. We hove to move
forward, to make sure that every American willing to work hard has the opportunity
to build a good life and shore in the benefits of economic success.
In the lost four years we worked to get the American economy going: cutting the
deficit, expanding trade, and investing in our people. In the next four years we have
to make the new economy work for all Americans: balancing the budget, erecting
more jobs, making sure all families con count on good health core and a secure
retirement, and, most of ell, expanding educational opportunities so all Americans
con learn the skills they need to build the best possible future.
Balancing the budget. For 12 years, Republicans hid behind rosy scenarios while
quadrupling the national debt. We knew this hod to stop. In 1992, we promised to
cut the deficit in half over four years. We did. Our 1993 economic plan cut spending
by over a quarter trillion donors in five years. The only deficit left today is interest ·
payments on the debt run up over the 12 Republican years before fiscal responsibility
returned to the White House. President Clinton is the first President to cut the deficit
four years in a row since before the Civil War.
Now the Democratic Party is determined to finish the job and balance the budget.
President Clinton has put forward a plan to balance the budget by 2002 while living
up to our commitments to our elderly and our children and maintaining strong
40
�-@'
PLATFOR!v\
mic growth. The Republican Congress' own economists admit the President's
plan will b'alcnce the budget by 2002. It cuts hundreds of wasteful end outdated
programs, but it preserves Medicare end Medicaid, it protects education end the
environment, end it defends working families. The President's plan reflects America's
values. The Republican plan does not.
Todcy's Democratic Party believes we have a duty to cere for our parents, so they
can live their lives in dignity. That duty includes securing Medicare and Medicaid,
finding savings without reducing quality or benefits, and protecting Social Security for
future generations. The Republican agenda rests on massive Medicare cuts, three
times bigger than the largest Medicare cuts in history, including new premium
increases on seniors, and drastic changes to Medicaid that will jeopardize the health
care of children and seniors.
Today's Democratic Party believes that all children should have the opportunity and
the education to make the most of their own lives. We believe that schools should be
run by teachers and principals, not by Washington. The Republican agenda slashes
college scholarships and college loans, cuts Head Start, and cuts funds to reduce
class size and improve teacher standards.
Today's Democratic Party believes we have a duty to preserve God's earth and
American quality of life for future generations. We ore committed to reform, so we
protect our environment but we do not trap business in a tangle of red tape. The
Republican budget guts environmental protection.
Todcy's Democratic Party believes that working people should not be taxed into
poverty. The Republican budget raises taxes on millions of working families.
Todcy's Democratic Party believes that America must put our families first. The
Republican budget tried to toke Big Bird away from 5-year-olds, school lunches away
from 10-year-olds, summer jobs away from 15-yeor-olds, and college loons away
from 20-year-olds.
Today's 'Qemocratic Party believes in o government that works better and costs less.
We know. that government workers ore good people trapped in bad systems, and we
ore committed to reinventing government to reform those systems. We believe that
public servants have suffered too long from unf.air politically based criticism destroying their morale and hampering their ability to perform duties which the private
sector will not undertake. The Republican budget cuts government where it is needed
to protect our values, and they were even willing to shut down the government
altogether to force their budget on the American people.
Tax relief for working families and small businesses. President Clinton and Democrats
in Congress expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit, cutting taxes to help 40 million
Americans in 15 million working families- without a single Republican vote. The
Dole-Gingrich budget was designed to give a massive tax break to the wealthiest
Americans, and pay for it by raising taxes on ordinary Americans end slashing
health core for the elderly. America cannot afford to return to the era of something-fornothing lox cuts and smoke-and-mirrors accounting that produced a decade of
exploding deficits. Today's Democratic Party is committed to targeted tax cuts that
help working Americans invest in their future, and we insist that any lox cuts are
completely paid for, because we are determined to balance the budget.
We want to strengthen middle-class families by providing a $500 tax cut for children.
We went to cut taxes to help families pay for education after high school and to
guarantee the first two years of college. We want people to be able to use their IRA's
to buy a first home, deal with a medical emergency, or provide for education. We
41
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11
Today's
Democratic Party is
committed to
targeted tax cuts
that help working
Americans invest in
their future, and we
insist that any tax
cuts are completely
paid For, because
we are determined
to balance the
budget."
�PlATFOR!v\
want to cut taxes for small businesses that invest in the future and set up pensions for
their workers. And we wont to cut taxes for people who are self~mployed and self.
insured so their health care is more affordable.
Technology. We know investments in technology drive economic growth, generate
new knowledge, create new high-wage jobs, build new industries, and improve our
quality of life. In the face of Republican efforts to undermine America's dedication to
innovation, President Clinton and the Democratic Party have fought to maintain vital
investments in science and technology. We remember that government investment in
technology is responsible for the computer, for jet aircraft, and For the Internet- no
investments hove ever paid off better, in jobs, in opportunity, or in growth.
We support government policies that encourage private sector investment and
innovation to create a pro-growth economic climate, like a permanent research and
development tax credit. We wont technology to create jobs and improve the quality
of life for American workers. President Clinton and Vice President Gore fought for
and, the President signed, a sweeping telecommunications reform bill that will
unleash the creative power of the information industry to create millions of high-wage
American jobs. We recognize that our system of research colleges and universities is
the bedrock of American leadership in science and technology. When we invest in
our research institutions we ore literally investing in our future by helping to train the
next brilliant generation of American scientists and engineers. As we enter the 21st
century, we will .continue to invest in world-class research and development, advanced technologies in transportation, information, and other industries, and
agricultural and environmental research in partnership with American business. We
are working to reinvent the notional laboratories and revitalize America's space
program, including support for the space station.
Creating jobs through trade. We believe that if we wont the American economy to
continue strong growth, we must continue to expend trade, and not retreat from the
world. America's markets ere open to the world, so America has a right to demand
that the world's markets ore open to our products. American products ore the best in
the world. When American workers end American companies hove the chance to
compete around the world, we do not toke second place.
In the last four years, the Clinton-Gore Administration has signed over 200 trade
agreements, including NAFTA and GATT, to open markets around the world to
American products, and create more jobs for the people who make them here at
home. We hove put in place the most sweeping agreements to lower foreign trade
barriers of any administration in modern American history, including over 20 such
agreements with Japan alone - and American exports to Japan in the sectors
covered by those agreements hove increased by 85 percent. All over the world,
barriers to American products hove come down, exports ore at an all time high and we hove created over one million high-paying export-related jobs.
In the next four years, we must continue to work to lower foreign trade barriers; insist
that foreign companies ploy by fair rules at home and abroad; strengthen rules that
protect the global economy from fraud and dangerous instability; advance American
commercial interests abroad; and ensure that the new global economy is directly
beneficial to American working families. As we work to open new markets, we must
negotiate to guarantee that all trade agreements include standards to protect
children, workers, public safety, and .the environment. We must ensure adequate
trade adjustment assistance and education and training programs to help working
families compete and win in the global economy.
42
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PLATFOR!v\
Education. Todcy's Democratic Party knows that education is the key to opportunity.
In the new global economy, it is more important then ever before. Today, education is
the fcult'line that separates those who will prosper from those who cannot. President
Clinton end Democrats in Congress hove spared no effort over the lest four years to
improve the quality of American education end expend the opportunity for ell
Americans to get the education they need to succeed.
Every step of the way, we hove been opposed by Republicans intent on cutting
education. Now, they went to cut education from Heed Start through college
scholarships. They went to undermine our public schools end make borrowing for
college more difficult for millions of students.
Todcy's Democratic Party will stand firmly against the Republican assault on educe·
lion. Cutting education as we move into the 21st century would be like cutting
defense spending at the height of the Cold War. We must do more to expend
educational opportunity- not less.
Strengthening public schools. We increased Heed Start funding to expend early
education for more children who need it. We passed Goals 2000 to help schools set
high standards, and find the resources they need to succeed: the best books, the
brightest teachers, the most up-to-dote technology. We restructured federal education
programs and eliminated federal regulations to give local schools, teachers, and
principals the flexibility and help they need to meet those standards. We've worked
to make sure our children hove the best teachers by expanding teacher education.
We applaud the work of state and local Democrats to develop innovative solutions to
make sure our children get the best possible education.
In the next four years, we must do even more to make sure America has the best
public schools on earth. If we wont to be the best, we should expect the best: We
must hold students, teachers, end schools to the highest standards. Every child should
be able to read by the end of the third grade. Students should be required to
demonstrate competency and achievement for promotion or graduation. Teachers in
this country.ore among the most talented professionals we hove. They should be
required to ril_eet high standards For professional performance and be reworded for
the good jobs they do. For the few who don't measure up to those high standards,
there should be o fair process to get them out of the classroom and the profession.
And we should get rid of the barriers that discourage talented young people from
becoming teachers in the first place. We should not bosh teachers. We should
applaud them, and find ways to keep the best teachers in the classroom. Schools
should be held accountable for results. We should redesign or overhaul schools that
foil. We should expand public school choice, but we should not toke American tax
dollars from public schools and give them to private schools. We should promote
public charter schools that ore held to the highest standards of accountability and
access. And we should continue to ensure that America provides quality education to
children with disabilities, because high-quality public education is the key to opportunity for all children.
Teaching values in schools. Today's Democratic Party knows our children's education
is not complete unless they learn good values. We applaud the efforts of the ClintonGore Administration to promote character education in our schools. Teaching good
values, strong character, and the responsibilities of citizenship must be an essential
pert of American education.
Safe schools and healthy students. If young people do not hove the freedom to learn
in safety, they do not hove the freedom to learn at all. Over the last four years, we
hove worked herd to keep schools safe and drug-free, end students healthy. When
43
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PlATFORM
0
We must make
sure that every
American has the
opportunity to go to
college . ...
Our goal must be
nothing less than to
make the 13th and
14th years of
education as
universal as the
first 12."
Senator Dole and Speaker Gingrich led Republican efforts to cut school safety
funding, President Clinton and Democrats in Congress wouldn't let them get away
with it. When Senator Dole and Speaker Gingrich led Republican efforts to destroy
the notion's school lunch program, President Clinton and Democrats in Congress
stopped them cold. Now, we must work together at every level of government to
launch a major rebuilding effort to make sure our children go to school in high-quality
facilities where they con learn. We must help schools set the highest standards for
good behavior and discipline in our schools. Children cannot learn - and teachers
cannot teach - without order in the classroom.
Technology in the classroom. We must bring the 21st century into every classroom in
America. There is a vast realm of knowledge waiting for our children to top into.
Computers ore powerful tools to teach students to read better, write better, and
understand moth. President Clinton and Vice President Gore understand that technological literacy is essential to success in the new economy. The only way to achieve
that for every student is to give them all access to a computer, good software, trained
teachers, and the Internet- and President Clinton and Vice President Gore hove
launched o partnership with high-tech companies, schools, state, and local governments to wire every classroom and library to the Information Superhighway by the
year 2000.
Preparing students for jobs. We passed Schoo~to-Work so young people con learn
the skills they need to get and keep high wage jobs. The Republican Congress is
trying to destroy it, and we pledge to stop them. We wont to keep working with the
private sector, to encourage community partnerships that build the bridge between a
good education and a good job.
Higher education for all Americans. Finally, we must make sure that every American
has the opportunity to go to college. Higher education is the key to a successful future
in the 21st century. The typical worker with a college education earns 73 percent
more than one without. America has the best higher education in the world. We do
not need to change i t - we need to make it available for all Americans. Our goal
must be nothing less than to make the 13th and 14th years of education as universal
as the first 12.
Over the lost four years, the Democratic Party under President Clinton has put on
unprecedented college opportunity strategy in place: We reformed the student loon
program, to make college more affordable for 5.5 million students- and we saved
money for the taxpayers by eliminating the middleman, cutting red tope, and cutting
the cost of student loon defaults in half. We have expanded Pel! Grant college
scholarships for deserving students. And the President's notional service program has
already helped 45,000 Americans earn money for college by helping their communities ..
Tax cuts for college. Over the next four years, we wont to go even further: We should
expand work-study so one million students a year can work their way through college
by the year 2000.We should allow people to use money from their IRA to help pay
for college. We should give a $1000 honor scholarship for the top 5 percent of
graduates in every high school. And we must make 14 years of education the
standard for every American. The Democratic Party wonts to create a $10,000 tax
deduction for families to help pay for education after high school. And we wont to
create a $1 ,500 tax cut for Americans, modeled after Georgia's successful HOPE
scholarships, to guarantee the first year of tuition at a typical community college, and
the second year if individuals earn it by maintaining a B average. No tax cut will do
more to raise American incomes than a tax cut to pay for college.
44
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Economic security for American families in the 21st century. In the old
economy, most workers could count on one job for life. They knew that hard work
was rewarded with raises and steady jobs; they were confident the company would
take care of them, their families, their health, and their retirement. Success was tied to
the success of their employer: sacrifice when times were tough and a share in the
wealth when times were good. In the new economy, the rules have changed. We
need to find new ways to help working families find economic security: better training
to help workers learn skills to get new and better jobs; the security of good health
care and safe pensions so they can take care of themselves and their families. This is
a challenge that American workers and managers are ready to face, and the
Democratic Party will continue to tackle.
Rewarding work. We honor work in America. Americans work hard, and they have a
right to expect that work will pay. We want to continue reversing the trend of the
eighties, so all Americans benefit from continued economic growth and rising wages.
The President and Democrats in Congress raised the minimum wage to $5.15 an
hour, after defeating fierce Republican opposition led by Senator Dole and Speaker
Gingrich. We believe the minimum wage should be a wage you can live on.
President Clinton and Congressional Democrats fought for and won the largest
expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit in history, a tax cut for 15 million
working families, because no parent who takes the responsibility to work full time
should have to raise children in poverty. We want to strengthen families, and we
challenge the private sector to help their workers earn enough to support a family.
Health care. The Democratic Party is committed to ensuring that Americans have
access to affordable, hig~Hjuality health care. Because of President Clinton's determined leadership and the tireless efforts of Democrats in Congress, we passed the
Kennedy-Kassebaum health reform bill to stop insurance companies from denying
coverage to families where one member has a preexisting condition, and to make
sure that people can take their health insurance with them when they change jobs.
No more Americans should have to turn down a better job because they would lose
their health care if they took it. We have expanded the Women, Infants, and Children
program that provides prenatal and early childhood nutrition, so that all eligible
women, infants, and children will have access to the health and nutrition services they
need. We established a comprehensive effort to immunize children, after defeating
Republican opposition led by Senator Dole. Last year, the percentage of two-year-olds
in America who were fully immunized reached an historic high.
The Clinton-Gore Administration has dramatically shortened the approval process for
new lifesaving drugs at the Food and Drug Administration and will continue to work
to streamline the process further; and we have made AIDS research, prevention, and
treatment a top priority, increasing funding by almost 40 percent, including more
than doubling the Ryan White Care Act to help care for people with AIDS. We are
committed to finding a cure for AIDS, combating HIV-related discrimination, supporting HOPWA funding to help with housing for people living with AIDS, and working
to ensure that all Americans living with AIDS have access to new and potentially
lifesaving drugs; serious biomedical research which promises breakthroughs for so
many diseases; and doing more to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. We
recognize the enormous contribution of our teaching hospitals and medical schools
- they lay the foundation for the best medical care in the world, and we will
continue to promote policies that strengthen them.
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We hove paid special attention to women's health issues, including o 65 percent
increase for breast cancer research. We ore committed to finding o cure for breast
cancer and we pledge to continue supporting funds for innovative research, and
access for oil women to high quality treatment and core.
The Democratic Party is proud that we held the line against the Republicans' meanspirited Medicare and Medicaid cuts that would risk the health core of millions of
Americans, from infants to seniors. Senator Dole voted against Medicare when it was
first created, boosts about it today, and now Republican leaders wont Medicare to
"wither on the vine." The Dole-Gingrich Medicare plan would put millions of our
parents into o second class health core system for the first time in their lives, and we
will not stand for it. The Dole-Gingrich Medicaid plan would end the guarantee to
meaningful health benefits for millions of children, older Americans, and people with
disabilities. President Clinton forced Republicans to put aside their attempt to block
grant Medicaid, and insisted that welfare reform protects women and children by
maintaining the Medicaid guarantee. The Democratic Party wonts America to
preserve and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, so we honor our values and
protect the health of our children, parents, and grandparents, ensuring they con get
the health core they need, from doctors' visits to long-term core.
In 1993 - without o single Republican vote- President Clinton and Democrats in
Congress extended the Medicare Trust Fund into the 21st century. We hove given 12
stoles more Aexibility to run their Medicaid programs more efficiently and expand
coverage, while maintaining the guarantee of meaningful benefits. When these plans
· ore implemented, two million more Americans will hove health insurance because of
them. We hove given Medicare' beneficiaries more health pion choices and increased
benefits. We hove crocked down on health core waste, fraud, and abuse, saving
more than $15 billion in three years. Now we must finish the job - we con balance
the budget while we preserve and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, protecting
millions of middle class families from being overwhelmed by health core costs for
their parents, children, or family members with disabilities.
In the next four years, we must toke further steps to ensure that Americans hove
access to quality, affordable health core. We should start by making sure that people
get help paying premiums so they do not lose health core while they're looking for a
new job. We support expanded coverage of home core, hospice, adult doy-<:ore,
and community-based services, so the elderly and people with disabilities of oil ages
con live in their own communities and os independently os possible. We ore disappointed Congress walked away from bipartisan efforts to provide mental health
parity; we believe health insurance coverage for mental health core is vitally important and we support parity for mental health core.
Retirement. Over the lost four years, President Clinton took strong steps to protect the
pensions of more than 40 million workers and retirees by fixing the federal pension
insurance system and demanding that companies fund their retirement pions fully. We
established a notionwid_e retirement protection program to protect workers' 401 K
retirement savings from fraud and abuse. We recognize the unique concerns of
women when it comes to preparing for retirement and hove worked to protect
women's pension rights.
Over the next four years, we wont to toke further steps to make sure that Americans
who hove worked hard for their whole lives con enjoy retirement in the dignitY and
security they hove earned. We want to make sure people con corry their pensions
with them when they change jobs, protect pensions even further, and expand the
number of worke.rs with pension coverage. We will continue to support the Railroad
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Retirement System. Democrats created Social Security, we oppose efforts to dismantle
it, and we will fight to save it. We must ensure that it is on firm financial footing well
into the next century. We call on Republicans to put politics aside and join us in o
serious bipartisan effort to make sure that Social Security will continue to provide true
security for future generations, as it has done for millions of old~r Americans for
decodes.
Training. We must do more to make sure all Americans have the skills they need to
compete. We want a G.l. Bill for Workers to transform the confusing tangle of federal
training programs into a simple job-training skill grant that will go directly to unem·
ployed workers so they will be able to get the training that is right for them. We wont
to strengthen training opportunities for people with disabilities, so they can learn the
skills they need to live independent, productive lives.
Standing up for working Americans. We nearly doubled fvnding for the dislocated
worker program and launched special projects to help workers displaced by bose
closures, natural disasters, and moss layoffs. We are reforming OSHA so it can do o
better job to protect worker safety with less red tope, and we continue to oppose:
Republican efforts to gut it. We beat bock efforts to undermine workers' rights to form
and join unions and .to dismantle the enforcement powers of the Notional Labor
Relations Boord. The Democratic Party is committed to prompt, fair, impartial,
protection of workers and the traveling and shipping public by improving the speed,
efficiency, authority, and efficacy of the FAA and the FRA. We vigorously oppose
Republican efforts to poss Right-to-Work legislation, and we are proud the President
vetoed efforts to undermine collective bargaining through the TEAM Act. We ore
working to eradicate sweatshops in the U.S. apparel industryby stepping up
enforcement and public education. We oppose the hiring of permanent workers to
replace lawfvl economic strikers; we support the President's action to slop the
government from procuring goods and services from companies that do so; and we
support legislation to prohibit the permanent replacement of lawfully striking workers.
We believe in equal pay for equal work and pay equity.
Promoting eco(lomic growth and opportunity for all Americans. We know that it is
good for America when small, minority, and women-owned businesses hove the
opportunity to grow and prosper. These business-owners create new jobs, expand
opportunities, and serve as powerful role models for young people. Over the last four
years, the President has transformed the Small Business Administration to eliminate
burdensome paperwork and deliver real assistance to entrepreneurs as they work to
start or expand their businesses. At the some time, since Bill Clinton become President, we hove more than doubled the number of loons to small businesses, nearly
tripled loans to minority businesses, and quadrupled loons to women-owned businesses. The President ordered all federal agencies to comply with lows designed to
ensure that small, minority, and women-owned businesses con compete for their fair
shore of procurement dollars. We ore committed to continued efforts to expand
opportunity for small, minority, and women business owners.
Corporate citizenship. Employers hove o responsibility to do their port as well.
President Clinton and the Democratic Party stand on the side of working families. We
believe that values like loyalty, fairness, and responsibility ore not inconsistent with
the bottom line. The Democratic Party insists that corporate leaders invest in the long·
term, by providing workers with living wages and benefits, education and training, a
safe, healthy place to work, and opportunities for greater involvement in company
decision making and ownership. Employers must make sure workers share in the
benefits of the good years, as well as the burdens of the bad ones. Employers must
offer employees the opportunity to shore in the profits they help create. Employers
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must respect the commitment of workers to their families, end must work to provide
good pensions end health cere. When CEOs put their workers end long-term success
ahead of short-term gain, their workers will do better end so will they.
RESPONSIBILITY
0
Todoy's
Democratic Party
believes the first
responsibility of
government is low
and order . ...
We ore putting
more police on the
streets and tougher
penalties on the
books; we ore
taking guns off the
streets and working
to steer young
people away from
crime and gongs
and drugs in the first
place."
Todcy's Democratic Party knows that the ere of big government is over. Big bureaucracies end Washington solutions ere not the reel answers to todcy's challenges. We
need c smeller government ... end we must hove c larger notional spirit.
.
Government's job should be to give people the tools they need to make the most of
their own lives. Americans must toke the responsibility to use them, to build good lives
for themselves end their families. Personal responsibility is the most powerful force we
hove to meet our challenges end shape the future we went for ourselves, for our
children, end for America.
Fighting crime. Todcy's Democratic Party believes the first responsibility of
government is lew end order. Four years ego, crime in America seemed intractable.
The violent crime rete end the murder rete hod climbed for seven straight years.
Drugs seemed to Row freely across our borders end into cur neighborhoods. Convicted felons could walk into any gun shop end buy c handgun. Military-style assault
weapons were sold freely. Our people didn't feel scfe in their homes, walking their
streets, or even sending their children to school. Under the thumb of special interests
like the gun lobby, Republicans talked tough about crime but did nothing to fight it.
Bill Clinton promised to turn things around, end that is exactly whet he did. After c
long herd fight, President Clinton beet beck fierce Republican opposition, led by
Senator Dole and Specker Gingrich, to answer the cell of America's police officers .
and pass the toughest Crime Bill in history. The Democratic Party under President
Clinton is putting more police on the streets end tougher penalties on the books; we
are taking guns off the streets end working to steer young people cwcy from crime
end gongs end drugs in the first place. And it is making c difference. In city after city
end town after town, crime rates ere finally coming down.
Community policing. Nothing is more effective in the fight against crime then police
officers on the beet, engaged in community policing. The Crime Bill is putting
100,000 new police officers on the street. We deplore cynical Republican attempts
to undermine our promise to America to put 100,000 new police officers on the
street. We pledge to stand up for our communities end stand with our police officers
by opposing any attempt to repeal or weaken this effort. But we know that community
policing only works when the community works with the police. We echo the
President's challenge to Americans: If 50 citizens joined each of America's 20,000
neighborhood watch groups, we would hove a citizen force of one million strong to
give our police forces the backup they need.
Protecting our children, our neighborhoods, and our police from criminals with guns.
Bob Dole, Newt Gingrich, end George Bush were able to hold the Brody Bill hostage
for the gun lobby until Bill Clinton became President. With his leadership, we mode
the Brody Bill the lew of the lend. And because we did, more then 60,000 felons,
fugitives, end stalkers hove been stopped from buying guns. President Clinton led the
fight to ben 19 deadly assault weapons, designed for one purpose only- to kill
human beings. We oppose efforts to restrid weapons used for legitimate sporting
purposes, and we are proud that not one hunter or sportsmen was forced to change
guns because of the assault weapons ben. But we know that the military-style guns
we banned hove no place on America's streets, and we are proud of the courageous
Democrats who defied the gun lobby and sacrificed their seats in Congress to make
America safer.
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Today's Democratic Party stands with America's police officers. We are proud to tell
them that as long as Bill Clinton and AI Gore are in the White House, any oHempt to
repeal the Brody Bill or assault weapons ban will be met with a veto. We must do
everything we can to stand behind our police officers, and the first thing we should
do is pass a ban on cop-killer bullets. Any bullet that con rip through a bulletproof
vest should be against the law; that is the least we can do to protect the brave police
officers who risk their lives to protect us.
Tough punishment. We believe that people who break the law should be punished,
and people who commit violent crimes should be punished severely. President Clinton
mode three-strikes-you're-out the low of the land, to ensure that the most dangerous
criminals go to jail for life, with no chance of parole. We established the death
penalty for nearly 60 vi9lent crimes, including murder of o law enforcement officer,
and we signed a law to limit appeals. The Democratic Party is a party of inclusion,
and we respect the conscience of all Americans on this issue.
We provided almost $8 billion in new funding to help stoles build new prison cells so
violent offenders serve their full sentences. We call on the states to meet the
President's challenge and guarantee that serious violent criminals serve at least 85
percent of their sentence. The American people deserve o criminal justice system in
which criminals ore caught, the guilty are convicted, and the convicted serve their
time.
Fighting youth violence and preventing youth crime. Nothing we do to fight crime is
more important than fighting the crime and violence that threatens our children. We
hove to protect them from criminals who prey on them - and we have to teach them
good values and give them something to say yes to, so they stay away from crime
and trouble in the first place.
The Democratic Party understands what the police hove been saying for years: The
best way to fight crime is to prevent it. That is why we fought for drug-education and
gong-prevention programs in our schools. We support well thought out, well organized, hi~ly supervised youth programs to provide young people with o safe and
healthy alternative to hanging out on the streets. We mode ito federal crime for any
person under the age of 18 to possess o handgun except when supervised by on
adult. Democrats fought to pass, and PresidentCiinton ordered stoles to impose, zero
tolerance for guns in school, requiring schools to expel For one year any student who
brings a gun to school.
At the some time, when young people cross the line, they must be punished. When
young people commit serious violent crimes, they should be prosecuted like adults.
We established boot camps for young non-violent offenders. If Senator Dole and the
Republicans ore serious about fighting juvenile crime, they should listen to America's
police officers and support the steps Democrats hove token, because they are making
o difference, and then they should join us as we work to do more.
We wont parents to bring order to their children'' lives and teach them right from
wrong, and we wont to make it easier for them to toke that responsibility. We support
schools that adopt school uniform policies, to promote discipline and respect. We
support community-based curfews to keep kids off the street after o certain time, so
they're safe from harm and away from trouble. We urge schools and communities to
enforce truancy lows: Young people belong in school, not on the street.
We also know that we must do everYthing we con to help families protect their
children, especially from dangerous criminals who hove mode a dark habit of
preying on young people. Study after study shows that sex offenders ore likely to
repeat their crimes again and again. Under President Clinton, we have taken strong
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steps to help keep children safe. We required every state in the country to compile a
registry of sex offenders. The President signed Megan's law to require that states tell
a community whenever a dangerous sexual predator enters its midst. We support the
President's directive to the Attorney General, calling on her to work with the states
and Congress to develop a national sex offender registry. This will ensure that police
officers in every state con get the information they need from any state to track sex
offenders down and bring them to justice when they commit new crimes.
11
The President
launched a
24 hour, seven-day,
toll-free hotline for
women in trouble
. . . . The number is
I 800 799-SAFE."
Battling illegal drugs. We must keep drugs off our streets and out of our schools.
President Clinton and the Democratic Party have waged on aggressive war on drugs.
The Crime Bill established the death penalty for drug kingpins. The President signed a
directive requiring drug testing of anyone arrested for a federal crime, and he
challenged states to do the some for state offenders. We established innovative drug
courts which force drug users to get treatment or go to jail. We stood firm against
Republican efforts to gut the Safe and Drug Free Schools effort that supports successful drug-education programs like D.A.R.E. The Clinton Administration went to the
Supreme Court to support the right of schools to test athletes for drugs. The President
launched Operation Safe Home to protect the low-abiding residents of public housing
from violent criminals and drug dealers who use their homes as a base for illegal
activities. We support the President's decision to tell those who commit crimes and
peddle drugs in public housing: You will get no second chance to threaten your
neighbors; it is one strike and you're out. We ore making progress. Overall drug use
in America is dropping; the number of Americans who use cocaine has dropped 30
percent since 1992. Unfortunately casual drug use by young people continues to
climb. We must redouble our efforts against drug abuse everywhere, especially
among our children.
Earlier this year, the President appointed General Barry McCaffrey to lead the
nation's war on drugs. General McCaffrey is implementing an aggressive four port
strategy to reach young children and prevent drug use in the first place; to catch and
punish drug users and dealers; to provide treatment to those who need help; and to
cut drugs off at the source before they cross the border and pollute our neighborhoods. But every adult in America must take responsibility to set a good example,
and to teach children that drugs ore wrong, they ore illegal, and they ore deadly.
Ending domestic violence. When it strikes, nothing is a more dangerous threat to the
safety of our families than domestic violence, because it is a threat from within.
Unfortunately, violence against women is no stronger to America, but o dangerous
intruder we must work together to drive from our homes. We know that domestic
violence is not a "family problem" or a "women's problem." It is America's problem,
and we must all fight it. The Violence Against Women Act in the 1994 Crime Bill
helps police officers, prosecutors, and judges to understand domestic violence,
recognize it when they see it, and know how to deal with it. In February, the President launched a 24 hour, seven-day, tol~free hotline so women in trouble con find out
how to get emergency help, find shelter, and report abuse to the authorities. The
number is 1 800 799·SAFE. Everyone who knows it should pass it on to anyone who
might need it. Every American must take the responsibility to stop this terrible
scourge. As we fight it, we must remember that the victims ore not to blame. This is o
crime to be punished, not a secret to be concealed.
We must do everything we con to make sure that the victims of violent crime are
treated with the respect and the dignity they deserve. We support the President's call
for a constitutional amendment to protect the rights of victims. We believe that when
a plea bargain is entered in public, a criminal is sentenced, or a defendant is let out
50
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on boil, the victims ought to know about it, and hove a soy. A constitutional amend·
men! is the only way to protect those rights in every courtroom in America.
Immigration. Democrats remember that we ore a notion of immigrants. We
recognize the extraordinary contribution of immigrants to America throughout our
history. We welcome legal immigrants to America. We support a legal immigration
policy that is pro-family, pro-work, pro-responsibility, and pro-citizenship, and we
deplore those who blame immigrants for economic and social problems.
We know that citizenship is the cornerstone of full participation in American life. We
are proud that the President launched Citizenship USA to help eligible immigrants
become United States citizens. The Immigration and Naturalization Service is
streamlining procedures, cutting red tape, and using new technology to make it
easier for legal immigrants to accept the responsibilities of citizenship and truly call
America their home.
Todoy's Democratic Party also believes we must remain a notion of lows. We cannot
tolerate illegal immigration and we must stop it. For years before Bill Clinton become
President, Washington talked tough but foiled to oct. In 1992, our borders might as
well not hove existed. The border was under-patrolled, and what patrols there were,
were under-equipped. Drugs flowed freely. Illegal immigration was rampant. Criminal
immigrants, deported after committing crimes in America, returned the very next day
to commit crimes again.
President Clinton is making our border a place where the low is respected and drugs
and illegal immigrants ore turned away. We have increased the Border Patrol by
over 40 percent; in El Paso, our Border Patrol agents ore so close together they can
see each other. Last year alone, the Clinton Administration removed thousands of
illegal workers from jobs across the country. Just since January of 1995, we have
arrested more than 1,700 criminal aliens and prosecuted them on federal felony
charges because they returned to America after having been deported.
However, as we work to stop illegal immigration, we call on all Americans to ovoid
the temptatici'n. .to use this issue to divide people from each other. We deplore those
who use the need to stop illegal immigration as a pretext for discrimination. And we
applaud the wisdom of Republicans like Mayor Giuliani and Senator Domenici who
oppose the mean-spirited and short-sighted effort of Republicans in Congress to bar
the children of illegal immigrants from schools- it is wrong, and forcing children
onto the streets is an invitation for them to join gongs and turn to crime. Democrats
want to protect American jobs by increasing criminal and civil sanctions against
employers who hire illegal workers, but Republicans continue to favor inflammatory
rhetoric over real action. We will continue to enforce labor standards to protect
workers in vulnerable industries. We continue to firmly oppose welfare benefits for
illegal immigrants. We believe family members who sponsor immigrants into this
country should take financial responsibility for them, and be held legally responsible
for supporting them.
Welfare reform. Today's Democratic Party knows there is no greater gop between
mainstream American values and modern American government than our failed
welfare system. When Bill Clinton became President, the welfare system undermined
the very values - work, family, and personal responsibility- that it should promote.
The welfare system should reflect those values: we want to help people who want to
·
help themselves and their children.
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Over the post four years, President Clinton has dramatically transformed the welfare
system. He has freed 41 states from federal rules and regulations so they can reform
their welfare systems. The Clinton Administration has granted 69 waivers - more
than twice as many waivers as granted in the Reagan-Bush years. For 75 percent of
all Americans on welfare, the rules have changed for good already, and welfare is
becoming what it should be: a second chance, not a way of life. Welfare rolls are
finally coming down - there are 1.3 million fewer people on welfare today than
there were when President Clinton took office in January 1993.
Now, because of the President's leadership and with the support of a majority of the
Democrats in Congress, national welfare reform is going to make work and responsi·
bility the law of the land. Thanks to President Clinton and the Democrats, the new
welfare bill includes the health care and child core people need so they can go to
work confident their children will be cared for. Thanks to President Clinton and the
Democrats, the new welfare bill imposes time limits and real work requirements - so
anyone who can work, does work, and so that no one who con work can stay on
welfare forever. Thanks to President Clinton and the Democrats, the new welfare bill
cracks down on deadbeat parents and requires minor mothers to live at home with
their parents or with another responsible adult.
-·•,.
We are proud the President forced Congressional Republicans to abandon their
wrong·headed and mean·spirited efforts to punish the poor. Republicans wanted to
eliminate the guarantee of health core for the poor, the elderly, and the disabled.
They were wrong, and we stopped them. Republicans wanted to destroy the food
stamp and school lunch programs that provide basic nutrition to millions of working
families and poor children. They were wrong, and we stopped them. Republicans
wanted to gut child abuse prevention and foster care. They were wrong, and we
stopped them. Republicans wanted to cut off young, unwed mothers- because they
actually thought their children would be better off living in an orphanage. They were
dead wrong, and we stopped them. The bill Republicans in Congress passed lost
year was values-backward - it was soft on work and tough on children, and we
applaud the President for stopping it.
We know the new bill passed by Congress is for from perfect- ports of it should be
fixed because they go too far and have nothing to do with welfare reform. First,
Republicans cut too for into nutritional assistance for working families with children;
we ore committed to correcting that. Second, Republicans insisted on using welfare
reform as a vehicle to cut off help to legal immigrants. That was wrong. Legal·
immigrants work hard, pay their taxes, and serve America. It is wrong to single them
out for punishment just because they are immigrants. We pledge to make sure that
legal immigrant families with children who fall on hard times through no fault of their
own can get help when they need it. And we ore committed to continuing the
President's efforts to make it easier for legal immigrants who ore prepared to accept
the responsibilities of citizenship to do so.
But the new welfare plan gives America an historic chance: to break the cycle of
dependency for millions of Americans, and give them a real chance for an independent future. It reAects the principles the President has insisted upon since he started
the process that led to welfare reform. Our job now is to make sure this welfare
reform plan succeeds, transforming a broken system that holds people down into a
working system that lifts people up end gives them o reel chance to build o better life.
Stoles asked for this responsibility- now we have to make sure they shoulder it. We
must make sure as many people as possible move from welfare to work. We must
make sure that children are protected. In addition to health care and nutritional
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assistance, states should provide in-kind vouchers to children whose parents have
reached the time limit. We challenge states to exempt battered women from time
limits and other restrictions. We challenge states to ensure that hard-earned, federal
taxpayer dollars are spent effectively and Fraud and abuse are prevented. We
challenge the business community to provide more of the private sector jobs people
on welfare need to build good lives and strong families. We know that passing
legislation is not enough; we must make sure people get the skills they need to get
jobs, and that there are jobs for them to go to so they leave welfare and stay off. We
want to make sure welfare reform will put more people to work and move them into
the economic mainstream, not take jobs away from working families.
We call on all Americans to make the most of this opportunity- never to use welfare
reform as on excuse to demonize or demean people, but rather as a chance to bring
all our people fully into the economic mainstream, to have a chance to shore in the
prosperity and the promise of American life.
Child support. Nobody has the right to walk away from the responsibility to care for
his or her children. If you owe child support, paying it fully and promptly is just the
first step in living up to your responsibility as a parent. The Clinton Administration has
mode a determined effort to crack down on deadbeat parents, collecting a record
$11 billion in 1995 through tough enforcement- almost a 40 percent increase over
1992. President Clinton issued an Executive Order to track down Federal workers
who Foil to pay child support, and force them to pay. The Clinton Administration is
working to put wanted lists of parents who owe child support in the post office and
on the Internet. President Clinton and Democrats in Congress insisted that the
toughest possible child support enforcement be part of the new welfare reform plan
-including the President's plan to deny drivers licenses and professional licenses to
people who do not pay their child support. We ore telling deadbeats: If you neglect
your responsibility to your children, we will suspend your license, garnish your
wages, track you down, and make you pay.
Teen pregnancy. For the first time in years, the teen pregnancy rate has leveled off
and begun to drop. But we all know it is still Far too high. Government alone cannot
solve this problem. That is why President Clinton challenged community, business,
and religious leaders together to form a national campaign to keep the teen pregnancy rote going down. And he expanded support for community-based prevention
programs that teach abstinence and demand responsibility. We must send the
strongest possible signal to young people that it is wrong to get pregnant or father o
child until they ore married and ready to support that child and raise that child.
We also know that half of all underage mothers were made pregnant by a man in his
twenties, or even older. Statutory rope is a crime, but unfortunately the laws that
protect young women from it ore almost never enforced. We echo the President's call
to America's prosecutors: Enforce the statutory rape laws vigorously against men who
prey on underage women.
Choice. The Democratic Party stands behind the· right of every woman to choose,
consistent with Roe v. Wade, and regardless of ability to pay. President Clinton took
executive action to make sure that the right to make such decisions is protected for all
Americans. Over the lost four years, we have taken action to end the gog rule and
ensure safety at family planning and women's health clinics. We believe it is a
fundamental constitutional liberty that individual Americans - not government- can
best take responsibility for making the most difficult and intensely personal decisions
regarding reproduction.
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Nobody has the
right to walk away
from the respon·
sibility to care for
his or her children .
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deadbeat parents:
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The Democratic Party is o party of inclusion. We respect the individual conscience of
each American on this difficult issue, and we welcome all our members to participate
at every level of our party.
°For years,
Republicans talked
about making
government smaller
while letting it grow
- Democrats are
doing it. For years,
Republicans talked
about cuttina rhe
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are doing it."
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Our goal is to make abortion less necessary and more rare, not more difficult and
more dangerous. We support contraceptive research, family planning, comprehensive family life education, and policies that support healthy childbearing. For four
years in o row, we hove increased support for family planning. The abortion rote is
dropping. Now we must continue to support efforts to reduce unintended pregnan·
cies, and we call on all Americans to toke personal responsibility to meet this
important goal.
Reinventing government. The American people hove o right to demand that
responsibility is the order of the day in Washington. The mission of todoy's Demoerotic Party is to expand opportunity, not bureaucracy. We hove worked hard over
the lost four years to rein in big government, slosh burdensome regulations, eliminate
wasteful programs, and shift problem-solving out of Washington and bock to people
and communities who understand their situations best.
In the lost four years, President Clinton, working with the Notional Performance
Review chaired by Vice President Gore, has cut the federal government by almost
240,000 positions, making the smallest federal government in 30 years. We did it
the right way, treating workers with respect. The federal government is eliminating
16,000 pages of outdated and unnecessary regulations, has abolished 179 programs and projects, and saved taxpayers billions of dollars. The President fought for
and signed unfunded mandates legislation. This stops Congress from requiring slate
and local governments to implement expensive policies without providing any means
to pay for them, and encourages better partnerships and more balance of resources
and responsibilities. Beginning with Ulysses S. Grant, Presidents hove tried to get the
line-item veto and failed; President Clinton signed landmark legislation that will give
him and his successors this powerful tool to cut pork-barrel spending from bills passed
by Congress.
For years, Republicans talked about making government smaller while letting it grow
- Democrats ore doing it. For years, Republicans talked about cutting the deficit
while letting it climb- Democrats ore doing it. For years, Republicans talked about
shifting power back to states and communities- Democrats are doing it. For years,
Republicans talked about making government more businesslike and efficientDemocrats are doing it. Democrats ore bringing responsibility back to Washington. In
the last two years, Republicans under Senator Dole and Speaker Gingrich shut the
federal government down in an irresponsible attempt at partisan blackmail. Democrats under President Clinton said, and America agreed: Partisan threats ore no way
to run o government. Nobody should ever shut down the government again. The
Republican shutdown cost the taxpayers $1 .4 billion. Democrats believe government
should work better and cost less- not work less and cost more.
The Republican shutdown was on affront to the hardworking public servants in our
cities, towns, states, and notion who devote their lives to improving life in our country.
Thanks to them our streets ore safer, our water is cleaner, and our notion is secure.
We condemn Republican tactics to sow cynicism and mistrust by scopegoating those
government workers. Front~ine federal workers committed to providing quality
services have joined the President's efforts to make government work better for the
American people. With their help, we are saving money For the taxpayers and
improving services for our people. Those workers who ore doing more with less
deserve our respect and admiration.
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In the last four years, we have transformed the Federal Emergency Management
Agency from on outdated bureaucracy into a swift and effective agent of relief for
victims of earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, or other disasters. Americans with lifethreatening diseases like cancer and AIDS gain access to new drugs foster, because
the Food end Drug Administration has streamlined its approval process, become
more flexible in certiRcctions, and eliminated unnecessary paperwork. The Smell
Business Administration has eliminated half of its regulations, cut loon applications as
long as 100 pages down to one, and doubled its loon volume - all helping Ameri·
cans to produce record numbers of small businesses in each of the lost three years.
American homebuyers ere saving an overage of $1,000 in closing costs because the
Deportment of Housing and Urban Development has eliminated paperwork and other
unnecessary burdens.
Over the next four years, the Democratic Party will continue to make responsibility the
rule in Washington: cutting bureaucracy further, improving customer service, demand·
ing better performance, holding people and agencies accountable for producing the
best results, ensuring all Americans hove access to high quality public services,
whether they reside in inner cities, suburbs, or rural communities, and forging new
partnerships with the private sector including small, minority, and women-awned
businesses, and with state and local governments to enhance opportunities for all
Americans from technology to transportation to travel and tourism. We concur with
the unanimous findings and recommendations of the Department of Labor Task Force
on Excellence in State and Local Government outlining further ways to improve the
functions of government through labor-management partnerships.
Political reform. Todcy's Democratic Party kno~s we have a responsibility to make
our democracy work better for Americ;:c, by limiting the influence of special interests
end expanding the influence of the American people. Special interests have too much
power in the halls of government. They often operate in secret and have special
privileges ordinary Americans do not even know exist. Elections have become so
expensive that big money can sometimes drown out the voices of ordinary voters who should-9~lwcys speak the loudest.
Shortly after Bill Clinton took office, he implemented the toughest ethics code on
executive officials in history: Senior appointees are barred from lobbying their own
agencies for five years after they leave, and they can never lobby for foreign
governments. After years of Republican delay, Democrats passed and the President
signed the Motor Voter Bill to make it easier for people to participate in our democ·
racy and.exercise their civic responsibility in the voting booth. The President led the
fight to repeal the lox loophole that let lobbyists deduct the cost of their activities, and
prevailed. In 1995, after a Republican filibuster, Congress finally answered the
President's call to stop taking gifts, meals, and trips from lobbyists; to bring lobbyists
out from dark rooms and into the bright light of public scrutiny by requiring full
disclosure; and to apply to itself the laws that apply to the rest of the country.
But we must take further strong action. The President and the Democratic Party
support the bipartisan McCoin-Feingold campaign finance reform bill. It will limit
campaign spending, curb the influence of PACs and lobbyists, and end the soft
money system. Perhaps most important of all, this bill provides free TV time for
candidates, so they can talk directly to citizens about real issues and real ideas.
Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress will not even let this bill come up for a vote.
We call on them to stop stonewalling. It is time to take the reins of democracy away
from big money and put them back in the hands of the American people, where they
belong. We applaud efforts by broadcasters and private citizens alike, to increase
candidates' direct access to voters through free TV.
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Finally, we believe ell Americans have a right to fair political representationincluding the citizens of the District of Columbia who deserve full self-governance,
political representation, end statehood. We recognize the existing status of the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico end the strong economic relationship between the
people of Puerto Rico end the United States. We pledge to support the right of the
people of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to choose freely, end in concert with the
U.S. Congress, their relationship with the United States, either as an enhanced
commonwealth, a stele, or an independent nation. We support fair participation for
Puerto Rico in federal programs end are commiHed to providing effective incentives
For investment based on preserving end creating jobs in the islands. We pledge just
and fair treatment under federal policies to the peoples of American Samoa, Guam,
the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands; we respect their right to be
consulted on policies that affect them directly, and to choose freely their future
political status; and we will continue to work with Guam to reach agreement on
establishing a Commonwealth of Guam.
SECURITY, FREEDOM, AND PEACE
The firm, sustained use of American might and diplomacy helped win the greatest
victory for freedom in this half of the century - the end of the Cold War. But to meet
the challenges of this new era of promise and peril, America needed leadership that
was able to see the contours of the new world -and willing to act with steadiness,
strength, and flexibility in the face of change to make the most of it.
President Clinton and Vice President Gore have seized the opportunities of the post
Cold War era. Over the past four years, their leadership has made America safer,
more prosperous, and more engaged in solving the challenges of a new era.
Four years ago, thousands of Russian nuclear weapons were aimed at American
cities. Today, nat a single Russian missile points at our children, and through the
START treaties, we will cut American and Russian nuclear arsenals by two-thirds From
their Cold War height.
Four years ago, the forces of reform in the former Soviet Union were embaHied.
Today, U.S. initiatives are helping democracy and free markets take root throughout
the region, Russian troops are out of the Baltics, and democracy has triumphed in
Russia's elections.
Four years ago, the Middle East process had not moved beyond a set of principles,
and there were no signs of peace in Northern Ireland. Today, in the Middle East we
have seen real agreements toward peace, and handshakes of history, and the people
of Northern Ireland have seen a 17 month cease-fire and historic negotiations among
the parties.
Four years ago, the North Koreans were operating a dangerous nuclear program.
Today, that program is frozen, under international inspection, and slated to be
dismantled.
Four years ago, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - the bulwark of Western
security during the Cold War- was losing direction and support. Today, NATO is
keeping the peace in Bosnia with its Partnership for Peace allies and, as a result of
American leadership, preparing to welcome new members from Central Europe.
Four years ago, America stood aloof as war end genocide spread through the former
Yugoslavia. Today, thanks to NATO cirstrikes, American diplomacy end the deploy·
men! of troops from the U.S. and other nations, the war has stopped and Bosnia has
its first real chance for a lasting peace.
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Four years ago, dictators ruled in Haiti, abusing human rights and leaving thousands
of its citizens desperate to Aee to our shores. Today, the dictators ore gone, democracy has been restored, and Haiti's moss-exodus has stopped.
Four years ago, South Africa was struggling under political violence associated with
apartheid. Now, following the 1994 elections- which the United Stoles strongly
supported - there is o notional unity government and South Africa is free and
democratic.
Four years ago, there was good reason to worry that the world was dividing into
separate, isolated, regional trading blocks. Today, thanks to Clinton Administration
efforts to find new markets for American products and strengthen our existing ties,
America's relations with our trading parties around the world ore stronger than ever.
We applaud efforts like the Summit of the Americas, the Asian Pacific Economic
Cooperation meetings, and, especially, the extraordinary leadership of Commerce
Secretory Ron Brown on behalf of American industry and workers everywhere. Ron
Brown will always be remembered with great pride and the deepest gratitude by the
Democratic Party and by all Americans.
The Clinton-Gore Administration's record of leadership has deterred America's
adversaries and earned respect from our allies and partners. The Dole-Gingrich
Congress and the Republican Party hove o different approach to America's security.
Too often they would force America to go it alone- or not at all. Their shortsighted
approach has cut resources for diplomacy that could strengthen our security, and
reAects on inadequate understanding of the threats and opportunities of this new era.
Todoy's Democratic Party is unwilling to surrender to the voices of retreat and
indifference. We believe the only way to ensure America's security and prosperity
over the long run is to continue exerting American leadership across o range of
military, diplomatic, and humonitorion, challenges around the world. led by President Clinton and Vice President Gore, todoy's Democratic Party has set o for
reaching agenda to strengthen our security, and promote peace and freedom.
Strengtllening our security. The highest imperative for our security is the
protection of our people, our territory, and our key interests abroad. While both
parties shore o commitment to strong security, there is o real difference. The Republican desire to spend more money on defense than the Pentagon requests cannot
obscure their inability to recognize the challenges of o new era and build the
balanced defenses we need to meet them.
Todoy's Democratic Party is committed to strengthening our military and adopting it to
new challenges; reducing the threat of weapons of moss destruction; and meeting
new challenges to our security such as terrorism, international crime, and drug
trafficking.
Strengthening our military. Over the post four years, the Administration has undertoken the most successful restructuring of our military forces in history. Even as the
size of our forces has decreased, their capabilities, readiness and qualitative edge
hove increased. The Administration has ensured that America is prepared to fight
alongside others when we can, and alone when we must. We hove defeated
attempts to cut our defense budget irresponsibly. Three times in three years, President
Clinton has increased our defense spending plans - a total of .almost $50 billion for readiness, force modernization, and quality of life improvements. We will
continue our work to ensure that the men and women who wear American uniforms
receive adequate pay and support, including: childcore, education, housing, access
to quality health core for themselves and their families, and protection against sexual
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Led by President
Clinton and Vice
President Gore,
today's Democratic
Party has set a far
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security, and
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harassment. The Administration defense plan reverses the downward trend in
procurement with a 40% real increase for weapons modernization by 2001 . At the
same time, as part of its reinventing government program, the Administration has
fUndamentally reformed government procurement rules in order to get the most for our
money. We should also work to increase our efforts to convert unnecessary or
obsolete military facilities to serve important economic needs of local communities
and, while maintaining military readiness, to continue our initiatives to make our
defense industrial base and products applicable to domestic commercial markets.
Repeatedly during the past four years - from the Persian Gulf to Bosnia - our men
and women in uniform have proven they are the best trained, best equipped, best
prepared fighting force in the world. The Democratic Party is committed to build on
this record by fully funding the Pentagon's 5-year defense plan; undertaking a second
fundamental review of our defense structure; finding new ways for our service
branches to work jointly to increase our war fighting capabilities; and ensuring that
our troops can dominate the battlefield of the future.
We honor America's veterans; they put their lives on the line to protect our way of life
and promote our values around the world. Today's Democratic Party will stand by
America's duty to our veterans. President Clinton and Vice President Gore have
fought hard to protect veterans' benefits; to expand disability benefits for Vietnam
veterans exposed to Agent Orange; aggressively responding to veterans of the
Persian Gulf War suffering from undiagnosed illnesses; promoting veterans employment; and improving and strengthening the medical system of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Reducing the threat of weapons of mass destruction. Strengthening our security also
requires an aggressive effort against weapons of mass destruction - nuclear,
chemical, and biological- and their means of delivery. From the nuclear weapons
programs in Iraq and North Korea to the Sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway, our
nation has seen that this threat is clear and present. To meet it, we must seize the
opportunities presented by the end of the Cold War to cut weapons of mass destruction stockpiles while working to prevent lethal weapons and materials from falling
into the wrong hands.
President Clinton and Vice President Gore have pursued the most far reaching arms
control and non-proliferation agenda in history. They negotiated an agreement to end
the targeting of Russian nuclear missiles on American cities and citizens. They
secured ratification of START II which, along with START I, will reduce Russian and
American arsenals by two-thirds. They prevented the breakup of the Soviet Union
from yielding three new nuclear weapons states, by convincing Ukraine, Belarus, and
Kazakhstan to give up the nuclear weapons left on their territories when the Soviet
Union collapsed. They secured the indefinite and unconditional extension of the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. They acted to freeze North Korea's nuclear
program.
The Democratic Party su·pports efforts to sign a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty this
year and to bring it into force as soon as possible. We support immediate ratification
of the Chemical Weapons Convention - delayed too long by the Dole Senate. We
support full funding of the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program to
eliminate former Soviet nuclear and chemical weapons and support funds to ensure
that nuclear materials in the former Soviet Union are secure and do not fall into the
wrong hands. We support vigilant efforts, in cooperation with the Republic of Korea,
Japan, and others, to ensure North Korea fully abides by its agreements to dismantle
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its nuclear program, end we support the Administration's vigorous efforts to prevent
Iraq, Iron, end other dangerous stoles from acquiring or developing weapons of
moss destruction.
The Democratic Party is committed to o strong end balanced Notional Missile
Defense (NMD) program. The Administration is spending $3 billion o year on six
different systems to protect our troops in the field end our allies from short end
medium range missiles. To prepare for the possibility of o long range missile attock
on American soil by a rogue state, the Clinton Administration is committed to
developing by the year 2000 a defensive system that could be deployed by 2003,
well before the threat becomes real. The Democratic Party opposes the Republican
NMD plan - spending up to $60 billion on a revival of the Star Wars program that
would force us to choose a costly system today that could be obsolete tomorrow. The
Republican plan would waste money, weaken America's defenses and violate
existing arms control agreements that make us more secure. It is the wrong way to
defend America.
Meeting new challenges. Today's Democratic Party knows that stronger security
requires vigorous efforts to address the new dangers of this era. Chief among these
ore the interwoven threats of terrorism, drug trafficking, end internotionol crime. We
hove seen the terrible toll they hove exacted - the murder of American soldiers in
their barracks in Saudi Arabia and of innocent civilians on buses in Israel; corruption
end crime from the former Soviet Union to Latin America. We know these vicious
criminals may come from within or without and pay no heed to borders; we hove
seen firsthand the awful, evil work of the forces of terror at the World Trade Center
end in Oklahoma City. And we know ell too well the havoc drugs wreck when they
cross our borders and Row through our neighborhoods.
The Clinton-Gore Administration has mounted the most aggressive effort in American
history to combat terrorism, drug trafficking, and international crime. We captured
and convicted the perpetrators of the World Trade Center bombing. We enacted a
strong new ~nti-terrorism low, in spite of foot dragging by the Republican Congress;
now, Presideht·Ciinton and Democrats are fighting to toke further steps to protect
American citizens. We convened an historic summit of Mideast leaders at Sharm e~
Sheik to coordinate anti-terrorism efforts, end mode anti-terrorism a centerpiece of the
1996 G-7 summit. We imposed or maintained strong sanctions against states that
sponsor terrorism, including Iron, Iraq, Libya, and Sudan, end mode clear to Syria
that normal relations depend on concrete steps to end its support for groups involved
with terrorism. We opposed irresponsible cuts to U.S. intelligence programs and
supported efforts to reorganize and strengthen the full range of intelligence agencies
end programs. We opened FBI centers to provide onti-<:rime and anti-terrorism
training. We made Colombia ineligible for most American assistance after that
country's leadership foiled to cooperate with American anti-narcotics efforts.
Our three front war on terrorism- abroad, through greater cooperation with our
allies; at home, by giving law enforcement the most powerful tools available to fight
terrorism; end in our airports and on airplanes, through tough air travel security
measures - is producing results. President Clinton asked the Vice President to choir o
commission on the future of air traffic security and safety. We will work to increase
the security of our air travel system, the safety of our airplanes, and the safety end
security of our air traffic control system.
Today's Democratic Party is determined to keep the war on global terrorism, narcotics, and crime at the center of our security agenda. We will seek increased cooperation from our allies and friends abroad in fighting these threats. We will continue to
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work aggressively to shut off foreign drug flows, eradicate foreign drug crops, and
assist countries that demonstrate active cooperation.
Promoting peace and democracy. Today's Democratic Party knows that peace
and democracy are products of decisive strength and active diplomacy. That diplomacy must protect our interests while also projecting our values. The Republican Party
too often has neglected diplomatic opportunities, slashed the budgets necessary for
diplomatic successes, and overlooked the importance to our own security of democ·
racy and human rights abroad. At its core, the Republican Party is locked in a Cold
War mentality, and lacks a coherent strategy to nurture and strengthen the global
progress toward peace and democracy.
The Democratic Party believes a key to strengthening peace is stable and peaceful
relations among the world's major powers. That has been the driving force behind
much of the Clinton-Gore Administration's work, from its peace initiative in Bosnia to
new security agreements with Japan. We are committed to promoting democracy in
regions and countries important to America's security, and to standing with all those
willing to take risks for peace, from the Middle East to Northern Ireland, where
President Clinton was the first U.S. president to engage directly in the search for
peace, including making an historic visit to Northern Ireland. And we are committed
to doing it with all the tools we have: with diplomacy where possible, with force
where necessary, and working with others where appropriate- our allies, willing
partners, the U.N. and other security organizations- to share the risks and costs of
·
our leadership.
Europe and the former Soviet Union. Today's Democratic Party knows that the security
of Europe remains a vital American interest, and that we must remain engaged in
Europe, a region in which we have fought the two world wars and the Cold War this
century. It is our vision to see, one day, a community of free, democratic, and
peaceful nations, bound by political, security, cultural, and economic ties, spanning
across North America and Europe. We applaud the Clinton-Gore Administration's
efforts to foster a peaceful, democratic and undivided Europe- including expanded
support for reform in former communist states; dramatically increased assistance to
Ukraine; the Partnership for Peace program of military cooperation with Europe's
new democracies; its steady, determined work to add new Central European
members to NATO in the near future; and its efforts to resolve regional disputes such
as between Greece and Turkey. We support continued efforts to secure a just and
lasting peace in Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Cyprus. We are committed to the
success of independence in Ukraine and the Baltics. And we support the continuing
evolution of a prosperous and peaceful Russia. And as part of our effort to support
we will pursue a relationship in which we seek cooperation when we can, and
frankly express disagreements where they exist, such as on Chechnya.
Asia. We know that many of America's most pressing security challenges and most
promising commercial opportunities lie in the Asia Pacific region. The Democratic
Party applauds the important new security charter with Japan, the Administration's
close cooperation with the Republic of Korea toward the goal of a unified and nonnuclear peninsula, and the deployment of an American naval task force to the Taiwan
Straits to ensure that China's military exercises did not imperil the security of the
region. The Party supports the Administration's policy of steady engagement to
encourage a stable, secure, open and prosperous China - a China that respects
human rights throughout its land and in Tibet, that joins international efforts against
weapons proliferation, and that plays by the rules of free and fair trade. Today's
Democratic Party strongly supports continued American troop presence in East Asia
and efforts to promote increased regional security. And we are committed to building
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long-term relationships with India, Pakistan, and others in South Asia in order to
advance America's diverse interests in that region, from democracy and commerce to
nuclear non-proliferation.
The Middle East. President Clinton has overseen a remarkable record of achievement
toward peace and security in the Middle East- the Israeli-Palestinian accords; the
peace agreement between Israel and Jordan; new regional security and investment
summits; Israel's increased acceptance throughout the Middle East and the world; the
dual containment of Iraq and Iran. The Democratic Party is committed to help build
on this record, knowing that peace and security are indivisible, and supports the
efforts by the Clinton-Gore Administration to achieve a comprehensive and lasting
peace among Israel and all its neighbors, including lebanon and Syria. The Democratic Party remains committed to America's long-standing special relationship with
Israel, based on shared values, a mutual commitment to democracy and a strategic
alliance that benefits both nations. The United States should continue to help Israel
maintain its qualitative edge. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and should remain an
undivided city accessible to people of all faiths. We are also committed to working
with our Arab partners for peace to build a brighter, more secure and prosperous
future for all the people of the Middle East. To that end, we seek to further and
enhance our close ties with states and peoples in the Arab and Islamic world
committed to non-<:~ggression and willing to take risks for peace.
Latin America and the Carribean. The Clinton-Gore Administration forged an historic
partnership with the democracies of the Western Hemisphere, as reflected in the
1994 Summit of the Americas. Today, every country in the Hemisphere is a democracy except Cuba. Because democratic stability and prosperity in the countries to our
south are in our interest and theirs, President Clinton took bold steps to bolster
Mexico's economy when it was threatened by crisis; worked to resolve internal and
border conflicts in the Hemisphere; joined with regional partners to combat narcotics
trafficking; and tightened the tough sanctions against the repressive Castro regime
and those who support that regime, while reaching out to the people of Cuba in their
quest for democracy, human rights, and freedom. The Democratic Party is committed
to further consolidating democracy, stability, and open markets throughout the
hemisphere.
Africa. The Clinton Administration championed South Africa's democratic transition;
supported Africa's many emerging democracies end led international efforts to speed
the return of democracy in Nigeria; helped save countless lives in Somalia, Rwanda,
end elsewhere through conflict resolution, removal of lcndmines, end humanitarian
relief; and took steps to help sub-Saharan Africa's 700 million people develop into
strong economies and markets. The Democratic Party believes that continuing to help
the people of Africa nurture their continent's extraordinary potential and address its
serious problems is both the right thing to do and profoundly in America's interest.
Promoting democracy. America remains a beacon of hope to all who cherish
democracy and human rights, and America's security benefits from the enlargement
of the community of market democracies. The Clinton-Gore Administration has
actively promoted the consolidation end spread of democracy and human rights: in
Russia and throughout the former Soviet Union, Central Europe, latin America, Asia
and Africa. President Clinton directed Vice President Gore to lead bi-national efforts
to establish trading relationships to help promote democracy in three strategic areas:
Russia, South Africa, and Egypt. The Democratic Party supports the aspirations of all
those who seek to strengthen civil society and accountable governance. To this end,
we support the MacBride Principles of equal access to regional employment in
Northern Ireland. We are committed to the human rights and well-being of Jewish
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people and other minorities in the countries of the former Soviet Union. We support
continued funding for the Notional Endowment for Democracy, Radio Free Europe/
Radio Liberty, the Asia Pacific Network, Radio Marti and other efforts to promote
democracy and the free flow of ideas. We recognize the Information Age offers new
opportunities and responsibilities for our democracy and diplomacy that we must
seize and meet.
11
The first and most
sacred responsibility
of every parent is to
cherish our children
and strengthen our
families ....
After l 2 years of
all family-values-talk
and no familyvalues-action
by the Republicans,
President Clinton
took office
determined to put
families first."
Resources for diplomacy. There is o price to be paid for America's security and its
leadership in world affairs -and the Republican Party now refuses to pay that price.
Even though less then one percent of the federal budget goes to foreign policy
spending, the Republican Party has savaged our diplomatic readiness, defaulted on
treaty obligations to pay dues to the United Notions, sloshed assistance to the poorest
and most vulnerable populations on earth, and pushed the United Stoles to dead lost
among developed notions in the global fight against starvation, infant mortality,
natural disasters and environmental degradation and other worldwide problems. The
Democratic Party is commiHed to resist these irresponsible cuts that undermine our
security and America's ability to lead. We ore commiHed to strengthen our security
and express our values, by strongly supporting the Clinton-Gore Administration's
work to ensure adequate resources for American foreign policy.
COMMUNITY
Acros.s America, in for too many places, the bonds of community that tie us together
and remind us that we rise or fall together, have too often frayed. Today's Democratic
Party believes we must reawoken the strong sense of community that has helped
America to prosper for 220 years. America is uniquely suited to lead the world into
the 21st century because of our greet diversity end our shared values. We must never
let our differences divide us from each other; instead we must come together on a
new common ground, based on the enduring values we shore. When Americans
work together- in our homes, our schools, our houses of worship, our civic groups,
our businesses, labor unions and professional associations- we can meet any
challenge, and realize every dream.
Putting families first. The first end most sacred responsibility of every parent is to
cherish our children end strengthen our families. The family is the foundation of
American life. After 12 years of ell family-values-talk and no family-values-action by
the Republicans, President Clinton took office determined to put families first. We
support the fundamental themes of the Families First Agenda - promoting paycheck,
health core, retirement, and personal security; creating greeter educational and
economic opportunity; and requiring greater responsibility from individuals, businesses, and government.
Standing up for parents. In the first month of Bill Clinton's Presidency, the Democratic
Party ended eight years of Republican gridlock and enacted the Family and Medical
Leave Act. Americans blessed with o new child or troubled by o family health crisis
con no longer be forced to choose between their families and their jobs. A bipartisan
panel reported that 12 million workers hove already been able to live up to their
family obligations without risking their jobs. And almost 90 percent of businesses
found that complying with this low cost them liHie or nothing. Despite how important
this is to American families, Senator Dole led Republican opposition to it and still
insists it was wrong. This low is good for families, it is good for America, and it
would not be the low today without the Democratic Party. President Clinton fought for
and secured tax credits to encourage adoption, and stood firm against Republican
oHempts to undermine adoption assistance.
62
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Now we wont to toke the next step. We believe parents should be able to toke
unpaid leave from work and choose flex time so they con do their job as parents: to
do things like go to porent·teocher conferences or toke a child to the doctor. We
challenge employers to plan and schedule work to allow parents to hove time with
their children and to afford employees the opportunity to see their Families.
Responsible entertainment. President Clinton and Vice President Gore hove led the
fight to help parents control what their children see on television. Because of their
leadership, Congress passed a law requiring all new televisions to include a device
called a V-chip that will block violent programs when it is activated by on adult.
Senator Dole likes to talk about Tl/ violence, but when it came time to act, he stood
with a small minority to oppose the bipartisan V-chip bill. The President achieved a
breakthrough agreement with the media and entertainment industries to develop a
rating system for Tl/ shows similar to the motion picture rating system, so parents can
make informed decisions about what they want their children to watch. When parents
control the remote, it is not censorship, it is personal responsibility for their children's
upbringing.
We believe in public support for the arts, especially for high-quality, fomily·friendly
programming. America is the leading exporter of intellectual property built on a
strong foundation of artistic freedom. We are proud to hove stopped the Republican
attack on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting - we wont our children to watch
Sesame Street, not Power Rangers. And we echo the President's call to the entertainment industry: Work harder to develop and promote movies, music, and Tl/ shows
that ore suitable- and educational -for children. President Clinton has revived
and restored the Consumer Product Safety Commission as an effective guardian of
children and families in and around their homes. We will continue to work with
industry and consumers to protect children and Americans from dangerous toys and
hazardous products.
Tobacco. Cigarette smoking is rapidly becoming the single greatest threat to the
health of our children. We know that 3,000 young people start smoking every day,
and 1,OOOOF.them will lead shorter lives because of it. Despite that, Senator Dole
and other Republicans continue to ignore volumes of medical research to make
baffling claims that cigarettes are not addictive. They even argue with distinguished
Republican experts like President Reagan's Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.
President Clinton and Vice President Gore understand that we hove a responsibility to
protect our children's future by crocking down on illegal sales of tobacco to minors
and by curbing sophisticated advertising campaigns designed to entice kids to start
smoking before they ore old enough to make on informed decision. The President has
proposed measures to cut off children's access to cigarettes, crock down on those
who sell tobacco !o minors illegally, and curtail advertising designed to appeal to
children. Tobacco companies may market to adults if !hey wish, but they must take the
responsibility to draw the line on children.
Parents' responsibility. Todoy's Democratic Party knows that governments do not raise
children, parents do. That is why President Clinton and Vice President Gore took
action to order all federal agencies to make sure everything government does For
children promotes responsibility from all parents, fathers as well as mothers. Now we
challenge every parent to put their children Rrst: to help them with their homework, to
read to them, to know their teachers, and above all, to teach their children right from
wrong, set the best example, and teach children how to make responsible decisions.
63
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11
Today's
Democratic Party
knows that the best
way to bring jobs
and growth back
to our poorest
neighborhoods is
to harness the jobcreating power of
the private sector. n
Community empowennent and cities. Todoy's Democratic Party understands
that we cannot rebuild our poorest communities by imposing cookie-cutter solutions
from Washington. We hove to give communities the tools they need to create
opportunity. Citizens, local government, the private sector, and civic groups must
come together and toke the responsibility to rebuild their communities from the bottom
up.
Encouraging private sector investment, and community-based solutions. After over a
decode of sustained Republican neglect and empty Republican promises, President
Clinton and Democrats in Congress launched a comprehensive strategy to unleash
economic growth and restore opportunity to our distressed neighborhoods. Without a
single Republican vote, we created 105 Empowerment Zones and Enterprise
Communities. This effort, chaired by Vice President Gore, is bringing jobs and
businesses to our poorest urban and rural areas. Thousands of new businesses hove
already moved into these areas, or expanded existing operations, bringing new hope
and new jobs to these neighborhoods. We reformed the Community Reinvestment Act
to shift the focus from process toward results; we implemented low income mortgage
purchase requirements on Fannie Mae and Freddie Moe; and we created a Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Together, these efforts ore unleashing
billions of dollars in new private sector lending and investment for housing and
economic development in our inner cities and poorest rural areas. The President and
Vice President have created a brownfields initiative to bring life bock to abandoned
and contaminated property by reforming outdated regulations and providing
incentives for cleanup.
Over the next four years, we wont a second round of Empowerment Zones to bring
economic growth to more American communities; a significant expansion of the
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund to spur more private sector
investment in local economies; and a new tax incentive to encourage Further cleanup
and redevelopment of l::irownfields. We are committed to American cities. We believe
that vast opportunities for private investment exist in America's cities. We want to
leverage federal investment to maximize private sector investments in our urban
centers and support a comprehensive approach to urban problems. Today's Democratic Party knows that the best way to bring jobs and growth back to our poorest
neighborhoods is to harness the job-creating power of the private sector.
Helping people afford safe, secure housing. Safe, secure housing is an essential part
of strong communities and strong families. We are proud that after four years of a
Democrat in the White House, the percentage of people who own their own house
climbed faster than it has in 30 years. Bill Clinton took executive action to make it
easier and cheaper for working and middle-class homebuyers to get a home loan.
We pledge to stand against Republican efforts to repeal the deductibility of home
mortgage interest payments. Fulfilling his 1992 pledge, President Clinton made the
low-income housing tax credit permanent, encouraging private developers to build
more affordable housing. This tax credit is making it easier for families to get
housing, and we will stand against Republican attacks on it.
The Clinton Administration has made sweeping changes to transform the notion's
public housing system after decodes of neglect. In the lost four years, Democrats
demolished more units of unlivable public housing than Republicans did in the
previous twelve years, replacing them with lower-density developments that con serve
as anchors for neighborhood renewal. In the next four years, we want to transform
the worst public housing from a system that traps people in rundown, crime-ridden
projects into one which gives families the freedom to choose where they live by
64
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providing vouchers to help them with housing costs. We have dramatically increased
help for the homeless, end shifted focus from temporary shelters toward permanent
solutions designed to move people beck into the mainstream, into jobs end c home
of their own.
Agriculture and the rural community. America has the most abundant
agricultural economy on earth, end it must be preserved end strengthened as we
enter c new century. President Clinton end the Democrats have worked herd to
promote economic growth in rural areas, protect the family farm, end ensure that
farmers get c fair return for their labor end investment end consumers can continue to
count on safe end nutritious foods. We support changes to the Farm Bill that would
improve the safety net for family farmers. In the face of Republican efforts to gut food
safety, the Clinton Administration has revolutionized meet inspection end set a new
standard of consumer protection. President Clinton has reinvented the Agriculture
Department, reducing regulations end bureaucracy end improving service. The
Clinton Administration has cracked down on food stamp freud, end approved
experiments in state after state to reform the food stamp program. President Clinton
end Democrats in Congress supported new voluntary conservation programs end
saved economic development programs for rural areas through the 1996 Farm Bill.
We ere commiHed to expending agricultural exports by reducing unfair subsidies end
trade barriers around the world end protecting our farmers from predatory trade
practices.
Protecting our environment. Todcy's Democratic Party wants ell Americans to
be able to enjoy America's magnificent natural heritage -end we went our people
to know that the air they breathe is pure, the water they drink is clean, end the lend
they live on is safe from hazard. We understand we have c sacred obligation to
protect God's earth end preserve our quality of life for our children end our children's
children. For the 12 Republican years before Bill Clinton end AI Gore took office,
protecting the environment was fer from a priority. And in the lest two years, 25
years of bipartisan environmental progress - started by a Democratic Congress
under·fJ~ Republican President- has come under cHeck from the fer right. Time end
again, President Clinton end the Democratic Party have stood firm against this
onslaught.
The Republican Congress, under Senator Dole end Specker Gingrich, voted to cut
environmental enforcement resources by 25 percent. President Clinton and Democrats
in Congress said no. We believe government has c responsibility to enforce the laws
that help keep toxic chemicals from our water, pesticides from our food, end smog
from our air.
The Republican Congress, under Senator Dole end Specker Gingrich, let lobbyists for
the polluters write their own loopholes into bills to weaken laws that protect the health
end safety of our children. President Clinton end Democrats in Congress said no. We
believe America's elected officials have a responsibility to protect America's families
from threats to their health, end that trust must naver be abdicated - especially not
by placing control of environ.mentcl safeguards in the hands of the very polluters
those safeguards ere meant to keep in line.
The Republican Congress, under Senator Dole end Specker Gingrich, tried to make
taxpayers pick up the tab for toxic wastes, end let polluters who caused the problem
end can afford to fix it off the hook. President Clinton and Democrats in Congress
said no. We believe America should insist that toxic waste cleanup is paid for by
those responsible for it in the first place- and not foisted off on the taxpayers.
65
urodoy's
Democratic Party
wonts all Americans
. . . to know that the
air they breathe is
pure, the water they
drink is clean, and
the land they live on
is safe from
hazard."
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P!ATFOR/v\
In the last four years, President Clinton and Vice President Gore have taken strong
action to make our air and water cleaner. They reformed the Superfund program in each of the last two years nearly as many toxic dumps were cleaned as in the
previous decade. They dramatically strengthened Community Right-to-Know efforts,
because Americans should be informed about toxic chemicals being released into the
air and water so they can take steps to protect themselves and their families. They
took measures to cut toxic air pollution from chemical plants by 90 percent, and after
years of Republican neglect they cleaned up hundreds of nuclear weapons sites and
are committed to finishing the job.
Today's Democratic Party knows that we can protect the environment and expand the
economy. We believe we can create more jobs over the long run by cleaning the
environment. We want to challenge businesses and communities to take more
initiative in protecting the environment, and we want to make it easier for them to do
it. President Clinton end Vice President Gore launched Project XL which tells busi·
nesses: If you can find a cheaper, more efficient way than government regulations
require to meet even tougher pollution goals, do i t - as long as you do it right. This
new approach offers business flexibility, incentives, and accountability.
Environmental protection should include more education on compliance for smell and
medium sized business, more strategies to increase compliance for all businesses,
and tough enforcement- including criminal prosecution - for those who put human
health and the environment at risk.
We are committed to protecting the majestic legacy of our National Parks and
enhancing recreational opportunities. We are determined to continue working to
restore the Florida Everglades, to preserve our wildlife refuges, and to fight any effort
to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil end gas drilling. We will be good
stewards of our old-9rowth forests, oppose new offshore oil drilling and mineral
exploration end production in our nation's many environmentally critical areas, and
protect our oceans from oil spills end the dumping of toxic and radioactive waste.
The President and Vice President announced an historic partnership with the Big
Three American automckers to develop the technology to produce cars up to three
times more fuel efficient than those made today- cleaner cars for a cleaner
environment. We will continue to support responsible recycling, and encourage
energy efficiency that makes our economy more efficient and less reliant on foreign
oil. We believe that adequate investments in better mass transit, cleaner cars, and
renewable energy sources are good for the environment and good for the economy.
After years in which Republicans neglected the global environment, the Clinton
Administration has made America a leader in the fight to meet environmental
challenges that transcend national borders and require global cooperation. The
Clinton-Gore Administration led the world in calling for a global ban on oceandumping of low-level radioactive waste and for a legally binding treaty to phase out
persistent organic pollutants such as DDT and PCBs. We will seek a strong international agreement to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and protect
our global climate. We are committed to preserving the planet's biodiversity, repair·
ing the depleted ozone layer, and working with other nations to stabilize population
growth.
Democrats recognize that sustainable development is the key to protecting the
environment and promoting economic growth. That is why the Clinton-Gore Administration has reformed our foreign aid programs to focus on sustainable development.
At home, Democrats know that sound economic development means sound environ·
mental protection.
66
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The American community. Todoy's Democratic Party knows that when America is
divided we will likely fail, but when America is united we will always prevail.
Americans will always have differences, and when we reach across those differences, we are stronger for it. And we shore on abiding set of values that define us as
Americans. Our task is to drew strength from both - from our great diversity end our
constant values - to fashion the future we want for our children.
Fighting discrimination and protecting civil rights. Todoy's Democratic Party knows
we must renew our efforts to stomp out discrimination and hatred of every kind,
wherever end whenever we see it. We deplore the recent wove of burnings that has
targeted African-American churches in the South, cs well as other houses of worship
across the country, end we hove established c special task force to help local
communities catch and prosecute those responsible, prevent further arsons, end
rebuild their churches. We believe everyone in America should learn English so they
can fully share in our doily life, but we strongly oppose divisive efforts like Englishonly legislation, designed to erect barriers between us and force people away from
the culture end heritage of which they ore rightly proud. We must remember we do
not hove an American to waste. The Clinton Administration is committed to strengthening the government-to-government relationship between the federal government
and the American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments. The President will
continue implementation of the Self-Governance/Self-Determination Act amendments,
which he signed in 1994, that will eventually open up the self~overnance program
to ell tribal governments that wish to participate, giving these governments full control
of where end how certain federal resources ore spent on their reservations. We
continue to lead the fight to end discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion,
age, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation. The Democratic Party has always
supported the Equal Rights Amendment, and we ore committed to ensuring full
equality for women and to vigorously enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act. We
support continued efforts, like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, to end
discrimination against gay men end lesbians and further their full inclusion in the life
of the notion.
Over the la,st four years, President Clinton end the Democrats hove worked aggressively to enforce the letter end spirit of civil rights low. The President and Vice
President remain committed to on Administration that looks like America, and we are
proud of the Administration's extraordinary judicial appointments- they ore both
more diverse end more qualified than any previous Administration. We know there is
still more we can do to ensure equal opportunity for all Americans, so all people
willing to work herd con build c strong future. President Clinton is leading the way to
reform affirmative action so that it works, it is improved, and promotes opportunity,,
but does not accidentally hold others bock in the process. Senator Dole has promised
to end affirmative action. He's wrong, and the President is right. When it comes to
affirmative action, we should mend it, not end it.
Religious freedom. Todoy's Democratic Party understands that ell Americans hove a
right to express their faith. The Constitution prohibits the state establishment of
religion, end it protects the free exercise of religion. The President fought for end·
signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, to reaffirm the great protection the
Constitution gives to religious expression, and to recognize the historic role people of
Feith hove played in America. Americans hove a right to express their love of God in
public, end we applaud the President's work to ensure that children are not denied
private religious expression in school. Whenever the religious rights of our children
- or any American - are threatened, we will stand against it.
67
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do our iob,
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next American
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each one that has
come before it ....
Americas best days
lie ahead."
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Responsibility to our community and our country. Today's Democratic Party believes
every American has a duty and a responsibility to give something back to their
community and their country. In the post three years, 45,000 Americans have
performed notional service as part of the AmeriCorps program President Clinton and
the Democrats fought so hard to create - and we applaud those Republicans who
joined a bipartisan effort to preserve AmeriCorps when Speaker Gingrich's House
tried to kill it.
We applaud the American spirit of voluntarism and charity. As we balance the
budget, we must work even harder in our own lives to live up to the duties we owe
one another. We must shrink the government, but we cannot shrink from our cha~
lenges. We believe every school and college in America should make service o part
of its basic ethic, and we want to expand national service by helping communities
give scholarships to high school students for community service. We challenge
Americans in all walks of life to make a new commitment to taking responsibility for
themselves, their families, their communities, and their country.
If we do our job, we will make the next American century as great as each one that
has come before it. We will enter the 21st century with the American Dream olive for
all, with America still the world's strongest force for peace end freedom, and with the
American community coming together, enriched by our diversity end stronger then
ever.
America's best days lie ahead, as we renew our historic pledge to uphold and
advance the promise of America - One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all.
68
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1 996 Democratic Platform Committee
CO-CHAIRS
Hen. Dennis W. Archer
Rep. Barbara B. Kennelly
VICE·CHAIR
Linda Chavez Thompson
DRAFTING COMMITTEE CHAIR
Gov. Zell Miller
Platform
Hearing
July 10, 1996
Kansas City, MO
Platform
Drafting
Committee
Meeting
July 11 , 1996
Kansas City, MO
Platform
Committee
Meeting
August 5, 1996
Pittsburgh, PA
33
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34
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PlATFOR.V.
Letter from the Chair of the
Platform Drafting Committee
Last month, we held a public hearing on the Democratic Platform where everyone who
had something to say hod an opportunity to be heard. The following day, the Platform
Drafting Committee members put together a solid framework used by the full Platform Committee end its Co-Chairs Mayor Dennis Archer end Congresswomen Barbera Kennelly, to
build the document presented to you here.
This year, as in 1992, our platform planks fit together to make a solid structure - a
structure that holds firm end provides secure Footing to the Democratic Party. This 1996
platform points o compelling portrait of the achievements of President Clinton end brings our
party together to support his leadership for four more years. In doing so, this platform celebrates the President's many accomplishments on behalf of hardworking American families.
Families are better off today then they were four years ego because the economy is
stronger under President Clinton. In the post four years more then 10 million jobs have been
erected; there are over four million new homeowners; American exports ere at on all-time
high; new business starts ere at on ell-time high for three years running; the federal deficit
has been reduced by 60 percent; end the' combined rete of unemployment end inAction is
the lowest in 27 years.
Families ere safer today then they were four years ego. We have 100,000 more police
on the streets end have prevented 60,000 felons, fugitives end stalkers from buying guns.
Families ere stronger today then they were four years ego because parents hove the
opportunity to succeed. The Family end Medical Leave Act lets parents toke a little time off
when they have a new baby or sick family member without losing their jobs.
This plotf~rm clearly delineates whet distinguishes us as Democrats. It repudiates the
Republican attempt to cut Medicare out from under our senior citizens. It repudiates the
Republican desire to cut education drastically from Heed Start all the way through college
loans. It repudiates the Republican effort to turn ordinary American women into criminals.
And it repudiates the Republican plan to sell our children and grandchildren short by undoing a qucrter<entury of progress in environmental protection.
Most of all, this platform presents a clear visio~ of where President Clinton will lead
America. It defines the goals we seek under the President's leadership, as we meet the
challenges of the future and strengthen America's values.
It strives for economic security- seeking to balance the budget and provide opportunity
for ell hardworking Americans: making health care more accessible end affordable; protecting Social Security; encouraging greeter availability of pensions. It proposes a dramatic
strengthening of public schools end promises that ws will work with parents to provide more
structure for their children. It honors our commitment to Medicare end Medicaid.
It is a platform that supports President Clinton's quest to move America forward end live
up to our greet promise. It is a platform whose aim is to keep the American dream clive end
to bring the people of this greet notion together to build a sense of community as we enter the
21st century. It is a platform that I am proud to offer on behalf of the Platform Drafting
Committee.
35
Gov. lei/ Miller
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PlATFORM
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36
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PlATFOR!v\
Letter from the
Co-Chairs of the Platform Committee
As the Co-Chairs of the 1996 Platform Committee, we are pleased to present this Report
on behalf of the committee. It represents the collective efforts of many, including Governor
Zell Miller of Georgia and the members of his Platform Drafting Committee. Democrats will
stand on this platform in Chicago and its planks will help corry us to victory in November.
We have read many platforms over the years, but we have never seen one that so
clearly sets out the principles and values at the heart of todcry's Democratic Party:
Opportunity for all Americans willing to work for it. When Democrats talk about oppor·
!unity, we mean creating the conditions for economic growth, business vitality, and individual
prosperity. This Platform calls for balancing the budget while protecting our commitment to
Medicare, Medicaid, affordable health care, education, new technology, job training, and
tax relief for hard·working Americans.
Responsibility for ourselves, both individually and collectively. When Democrats talk
about responsibility, we mean insisting that people conduct themselves in ways that help our
society. Our Platform calls for real action to reduce crime, illegal drugs, and domestic violence. We want to encourage people to take responsibility for their own and for their children's
lives. And we want that same sense of responsibility applied to our government and our .
political processes.
Security, Freedom and Peace through real leadership to protect American interests and
promote democracy and cooperation around the world. When we talk about these issues,
we call for a stronger military and on aggressive effort against weapons of mass destruction.
This platform says that Democrats will continue America's search for peace in a way that
protects our interests and projects our values.
Community by strengthening our families and bringing the American people together.
When we talk about community, we call for building it from the ground up - putting our
families first. We also wont to empower our neighborhoods, communities, and cities to help
them deal with the problems they face everyday. We must also preserve our rural communities and protect our environment. And, as Democrats, we insist on a renewed commitment to
fighting discrimination and protecting our civil rights in these United Stoles.
These are the bedrock values at the core of today's Democratic Party, at the center of
President Bill Clinton's administration, and in the hearts of the American people. This plotform is designed to foster what we all desire most: on America that lives up to its promise as
we enter the 21 sl century. It is a document that clearly describes America's challenges and that offers the vision to meet them. It is a platform all Democrats can run on with pride.
On behalf of the Platform Committee, we recommend this Democratic National Platform
for approval by the 1996 Democratic National Convention.
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Rep. Barbara B. Kennelly
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THE 1996 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION:
MEETING AMERICA'S CHALLENGES. PROTECTING AMERICA'S VALUES
"We offer the American people a new choice based on old values. We offer opportunity. We demand responsibility. We will build
an Amen·can community again. The choice we offer is not conservative or liberal... It's different. It's new. And it will work. It will work
because it is rooted in the vision and values ofthe American people."
-Candidate Bill Clinton, Democratic National Convention, July 16, 1992
.
THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF TillS PRESIDENCY. CONVENTION. AND PARTY
President Clintdii'"and\ Vice President Gore are MEETING AMERICA'S CHALLENGES as we move
into the 21st Century and PROTECTING AMERICA'S VALUES in ways that matter in people's daily lives through OPPORTUNITY, RESPONSIBIJdTY,
and COMMUNITY.
. ··\·
OPPORTUNITY: Giving people the tools to make the most of their own lives, through economic growth,
job creation, targeted tax cuts, and education to help people take advantage of positive economic change.
·.
RESPONSIBILITY: Demanding all Americans live up to their obligations to themselves, their children,
and our communities.
. .
.
.
COMMUNITY: Helping families, school districts,· and neighborhoods to build stronger communities;
helping to strengthen families by giving parents the tools to raise strong children on their own.
WHAT WE MUST SHARE ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
1. It is about LEADERSHIP __:of all Americans, regardless of background or party.
2. It is about OPTIMISM AND ACCOMPLISHMENT-- because America is on the right track,
especially after the past week, in which the President won tough fights to make work pay by raising the minimum
wage; to make a real down-payment on health security by. making health care portable; and to move millions from
welfare to work, as the beginning of an effort to find jobs for every American willing to work.
·
3. It is about REAL PEOPLE'S LIVES --because this presidency and party have improved the lives of
families and children in the ways that really matter -- jobs, health care, cracking down on crime, making it easier
to raise strong families.
4. It is about the FUTURE -- because this President has a positive, forward-looking agenda to help
··
America seize all the opportunities of the 21st century.
HOW OUR CONVENTION WILL BE A CONTRAST TO REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
1. Ours will be about ISSUES, NOT INSULTS -- we will highlight serious policy differences, and not
make personal attacks.
.
2. Ours will be about THE FUTURE, not the past.
3. Ours will be built around REAL NEWS -- announcements of new policies to help our families and
our nation by offering more opportunity, demanding more responsibility, and building more community.
THE CASE FOR RE-ELECTION
A plan that worked. This President came into office with a plan, he got it done, and it worked -- we
have more jobs and more opportunity; less crime and welfare,,and more r~sponsibility; and stronger communities
across America.
No guesswork in '96. There is no guesswork about this election·-- we know what the President and Vice
President have done to move America forward, and we know what Dole-Gingrich would do with unchecked
power in Washington.
A forward-looking agenda for the year 2000 •. This President has an progressive agenda to build on his
accomplishments, and help America move into the 21st' century with confidence and strength.
�~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-~------
~~-
~~--~-------~-
THE PRESIDENT'S ACCOMPLISIDvffiNTS: OPPORTUNITY. RESPONSIBILITY. COMMUNITY
Here's how we have offered more OPPORTUNITY:
- President Clinton got the e~on~my maving again: we nbw make more autos than Japan; the economy
has created more than 10 million new jobs; there is a record number of businesses owned by women; we have cut
the deficit by more than half; and red/ hourly wages, which fell for a decade, are starting to rise again;
!
. '.
--President Clinton cut taxesfdr 15 million working families, and is fighting for new, targeted tax cuts
for education, child-rearing, and buying a first home;
- President Clinton raised the nzinimum wage, and ensured you can take your health care from job to
job, and not be barred from coverage if you get sick.
Here's ho~ we have demanded more RESPONSIBILITY:
i
i
-- President Clinton took steps that reduced crime four years in a row, putting 100,000 new police on the
streets, making "three-strikes-you 're~o~t" the law of the land, passing the assault weapons ban, and passing the
Brady Bill that has prevented 60,000jel?ns, fugitives, and stalkers from buying guns;
-- President Clinton is moving ;,_illions from welfare to work by allowing states to refonn welfare, and by
signing national welfare refonn -- there are already 1.3 million fewer people on welfare;
I'
·:
. :
I',
--President Clinton is cracking .down on deadbeat dads and preventing teenage pregnancy.
Here's how we have built greater COMMUNITY:
--President Clintonfoughtfo.r.the
Family and
Medical Leave Act, which has already allowed 12 million
.
.
Americans who have a new baby or a sick family member to take time offwithout losing their jobs;
-- President Clinton required the, V-chip in new. TV sets, to give parents greater control over what their
children watch on television, and propos~d the toughest-ever measures to cut off children's access to tobacco
products and to reduce their appeal to, children;
. :j
-- President Clinton is leaving our environment safe a'nd clean for the next generation -- ensuring public
health, protecting natural resources, and making common-sense refonns to environmental programs;
·.
·,
-- President Clinton has brought America together at· times of national triumph and tragedy, and reached
out to all Americans, across the lines of race, religion, age, income, and party.
DURING THE TOUGH BUDdET FIGHTS OF 1995 AND 1996, THE PRESIDENT PROTECTED
ALL OF THESE VALUES BY STAJI{DING UP TO DOLE-GINGRICH EFFORTS TO CUT MEDICARE,
MEDICAID, EDUCATION, AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
,,
,,··
••
!
�HOW THE CLINTON EdONOMIC PLAN IS· A coNTRAsT TO THE DOLE PLAN
The President's plan is worki~g. Under President Clinton, the economy has created 10 million jobs, we
have cut taxes for 15 million working families, cut the deficit ~by 60%, raised the minimum wage, made pensions
and health care portable, and the combined rate of inflation, unemployment, and mortgages has fallen to a 28-year
low.
The President will do more to)~eep America on track. President Clinton will give new, targeted tax
cuts for education, child-rearing, and buying a first home, while still balancing the budget and expanding exports.
This strategy will preserve our obligations to children, familie~, ~d seniors, and protect our values. Millions of
middle-class families with children in coilege
would get a bigger
tax cut under the President's plan.
.
.
Both sides agree on cutting ia~es, but th~ Dole plan' is vague, risky, and unaffordable. Unlike the
President's $110 billion in carefully-targeted, fully paid-for tax cuts, the Dole plan offers a deficit-busting $550
billion in indiscriminate tax cuts, paid for by wishful thinking. The Dole plan would balloon the deficit, raise
interest rates, and slow the economy; or:it would require deep cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, education, and the
environment to pay for it.
·'
''
WHAT THE PRESIDENT WILL DO DURING THE CONVENTION
ON HIS THREE-DAY, WHISTLE-STOP TRAIN TRIP to Chicago, the President will focus on the
core mission of his presidency -- bringing together all Americans to find new approaches to our problems based
on our most enduring values. He will make major policy announcements to show that America is on the right
track to the 21st century:
MONDAY he will focus on RESPONSIBILITY and announce a new crime initiative;
TUESDAY he will focus on OPPORTUNITY and announce a new education and economic growth
initiative;
.
.
WEDNESDAY he will focus on. COMMUNITY and aimounce a new environmental initiative.
IN HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH-- The President will lay out a comprehensive vision and agenda for
the 21st century.
#
#
#
: j.:
••
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T-328 P.05/08 Jcb-527
III. Trackers
A. Trackers ·
The Speaker Tracking System will assign a Tracker to you, whose
job will be to ensure that you move smoothly through the process from
beginning to end. It is essential that you and your staff afford this person
full cooperation. Your assigned Tracker will contact you to confirm your
scheduled rehearsal time, and to inform you of a location (which has yet to
be detennined), where he or she will meet you prior to your rehearsal to
provide you with the appropriate back-stage credential and to guide you to
the rehearsal room. During the Convention your Tracker can be reached
by calling the Speaker Tracking System at 336-7643 and having them
·
page your Tracker.
B. Personnel and Credential Considerations
Please try to keep the number of people accompanying you to your
rehearsal at a minimum. In no case will your Tracker be §ble to provllk
backstage credentials for more than yourself and Qcwa .al:/!@1 h;dlptrltiq/s), [
including any security personnel that you may require. Security requires
that you return these credentials to your Tracker after you have completed.
your rehearsal, at which time the Tracker will escort you back to the
backstage security check-point.
IV. Speech Editing
A. Time
Please bear in mind the following important considerations about
your speech. The time that has been allocated to you for your speech
includes all time that you may consume at the podium, including time for
applause upon your entrance, applause lines, and exit. Therefore, Michael
and Dan will exercise their power to edit speeches for time considerations.
B. Content
Since Michael and Dan will be reviewing all speeches that will be
delivered at the Convention, they may also ask to edit speeches to avoid
having spealcers use the same jokes~ opening and closing lines, or other
duplicative devices. Michael's and Dan's authorization to edit speeches
comes from the Chairmen tmd must be considered final. Please
understand that this system is not intended to take away control over your
speech. It is intended to ensure that each speaker makes the best possible
4of6
�AUG-22-96 11:11
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speech and avoids embarrassing repetitions or faux pas which have been
embarrassing to some speakers in the past. Your understanding and
cooperation are appreciated.
V. Further Information
A. Participntion
As you can see, it is important to your success that you participate
in the rehearsal process. Running through the rather complex process in
rehearsal will help make the actual evening of your speech proceed
smoothly, allowing you to look, sound, and be your best when you address
the Convention and the American people.
B. Night of Your Speech
A second bulletin will follow this one to inform you of the process
that will be used by the Speaker Tracking System to coordinate with you
on the night of your speech. Again, telephone numbers will be essential.
C. Theme
Following thi3 bulletin will be an important document outlining the
message and theme of the Convention. We would appreciate it if you
and/or your speech writers would read this document before writing your
speeches.
D. Thanks
Finally, thank you for your assistance and cooperation. We have
set up these systems to help you~ Please do not hesitate to contact the
Speaker Tracking System with questions related to the rehearsal and
speech delivery process.
5 of6
�, AUG-22-96 11:12
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Speakers' Contacts
Seea!cer
Telephone
Doris Ward
415-5.54-~:iOO
Assessor, City & County of San Francisco
Chair, Democratic County Officials
Myron Lowary
Staff Contact
LRrry Eppinetto
415~554-715\
901-576-6796
901-395-3472
City Councilman, Memphis, Tennessee
Chair. Democratic Municipal Officials
'Bill Purcell
615·329-200 I
Jennifer Brundige
Majority Leader, Tennessee House of Representatives
Chair, Democratic State Legislative Leaders
414-344-6678
MRrthA Love
414-344-8.423
Vice Chair. Democratic National Committee
Geneva Jones
202-4 79-5123
Lottie Shackelford
202-863-8000
Vice Chair, Democratic National Committee
Jennifer Ferguson
:202-8.63-8140
Rep. Steny Hoyer
202r225·413 t
U.S. House of Representatives
Sib District, Maryland
Convention Part iamentarian
Mclissn Sc;hulman
202-225-4300
Rep. Martin Frost
Tricia Primrose
202-485-3528
Paul Johnson
202-485-3120
Jim Brady
504-336-4155
President, Association of State Democratic Chairs
202·225-3605
U,S. House of Representatives
24m District, Texas
Chair. DCCC
Sen. Bob Kerrey
U.S. Senat$
Nebraska
Chair, DSCC
202-224-6551
�AUG-22-96 11:12
13123365678
From:CONV.MGMT
Scott Pastrick
202-863~8000
Treasurer, Democratic National Committee
Gretchen Lerach
Marvin Rosen
202-863-8090
Rachael Flynn
National Finance Chair, Democratic National Committee
John Stroeger
312-443-6400
T-328 P.08/08 Job-527
202·863-71 13
202-863-8082
Calvin Jordan
President, Cook County Board
Governor Evan Bayh
317-232w4577
Governor of Indiana, Keynote Speaker
Tom Sugar
317-232-3443
Mayor Martin Chavez
John Daniels
505-768-3019
Hon. Anne Mackenzie
954-524-1000
State Representative, Florida
Co-Chair, Rules
Katharinn Grossert
Mayor Edward Rendell 2 t 5-686-2181
Mayor of Philadelphia
Co-Chair, Rules
Annie Karl
215-686-2180
Senator Tom Daschle
Nancy Brandel ·
202-224-6603
Sharon xxxxx
202-225-7414
505-768-3000
Mayor of Alburquerque, NM
Co-Chair, Credentials
202-224-5556
Senate Minority Leader
Convention Co-Chair
Representative Richard Gephardt 202·225-0100
House Minority Leader
convention Co-Chair
Governor Gaston Caperton
Governor of West Virginia
304-S58w2000
Judy Margolin
304-342-7025
Mayor Daley
Mayor of Chicago
312-744-3300
Roseanne Bonoma
312-744-2324
�RUG 24 '96
11=56RM OFFICE OF SECRETARY
P.l/4
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
~
FAX,:IR~~SMrrrAL
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THIS 'I'RANSMISSION IS INTENDED FOR AND RFSI'IUCIED TO THE
NAMED ADDRESSEE ONLY. IT MAY CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND/OR
PRIVILEGED INFORMATION. IF YOU RECEIVE THIS TRANSMISSION IN
ERROR. YOU ARE NOID'IED THAT YOU ARE PROHIBITED FROM
READING. COPYING, OR DISSEMINATING THE TRANSMISSION.
PLEASE CALL 2Q2..401-~3000 ARRANGE FOR REnJRN OF ANY
TRANSMISSION SET IN
R. THANK YOU.
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PAGE(S) TO FOLLOW
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F'ROM.· :: MIKE ROBBINS
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PHONE NO.
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:iii: : 312-664-017 4
3123731243
Aug. 23 1996 08:18RM P2
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::To·
.
David Axelrod, Crista Robinson
l From: Mike Robbins
. ; i}
· · ~; Draft: 1116, 23 Aug. 1996
':
My name is Mike Robbins. I'm a life long Chic:agoan, The father of two
children. I've spent 16 years in the military, adlve duty and reserve,and
rm a veteran of both Vietnam and DesertStorm.
d
. i; But I'm not bere tonight to speak about the violence of war, it's the
· : violence on our streets that I'm deeply concerned about.
i
· .; l'in a former Chicago Police Officer, and For several years I was
·;l assigned to the GANG CRIMES unit. Less than two years ago, my
·; partner and I were ambushed in an alley. My partner officer Jackson
:was shot six times, I was shot more than elevem times. Never in my
wildest dreams did I ever expect anything like this to happen to me, at
: least not here on. home ground.
.,
I
i Severslmonths later, I happened to see President Clinton address an
; audience, this was just after the horror of the bombing on Oklahoma.
: He was commenting on vidous attack from the NRA for refering to
: tbose in law enforcement as "JACK BOOTED THUGS". I took that
:; very penonal, especially after what I had just gone through. I beard
· ; the President saY: that "Their exercise in freedom of speech made our
l silence all the more unforgivable. That really strutk my heart. I knew
:; then what It was I had to do.
'',
'
'
. ; I was put in touch with a grassroots organization~ the Illinois council
·;Against handgun Violence, and began to volunteer going around to
:schools and community groups talking about gang and gun violence
:prevention. It was by divine intervention that l survived, I have been
: truly blessed. But there have been others far less fortunate. I'm talking
· :about our children, and thousands of others who just happen to be in
;the wrong place at the wrong time. You know the stories all too weU. I
l don't have to tell ;them
to you.
'
.
!
Joining me here tonight are sollle of the mothers and fathers of those
. ;children, let the~ tell their stories of pain a~d sufferina, rage and
.:loneliness. Here in Chicago these parents ba\·e formed a group caUed
·[HELP for Surviv:ors.•
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3123731243
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ROBBINS
ID:i=IXELROD & i=!SSOCI!=!TES
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HELP Is an acr~nym for Handgun Epidemic Lowering Plan. We are
·. ;\ a mekmi·· betr· ohfth et:HhELP nedtwork,edconbcerned ?' edical professionals
i wor ng o. ea1 e woun s caus
y gun v1o1ence.
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\I'm not a politician. And l don't consider myself to be a hero. I'm just
: · '! a victim of gun violence that just happens to be a police offieer, that
~: :l somehow survived.
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. · :Let me tell you s~mething, and this is from not only my heart but the
1
hearts of those thousands of parents, husbands and wives, grand •
! mothers and grandfathers who have lost their loved ones, that we truly
· · ·:appreciate what President Clinton bas done, all of his efforts in banning
: assault weapons,: that have absolutly no plaee on our streets. Fighting-, ll~gislation-ba·cked-by-th-e-NRA-to keep_guns o~ut_of_the_hands_o[felo.ns,
\ ; and cop-killer bullets off the market. And supporting the citys and
~towns-across tllis nation wifnthe resources to put more police on the
_ l .f
i beats in our communities.
. 1. _
. .:
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·,I still have three bullets in , one near my lower sp e that doctors
:say 1'11 have to Irve with r the rest of my life. But or the rest ot' my life
!I tan eomfort myself i the fact that I did all I
to help re-elect to
.l c.i'l:la.:;a President
listened to our cries and responded to the
. ·challenges in opp.osition to the Brady Bill that offers hope and some
.. !satisfaction that another parent never has to suffer what otben have,
·:or in the case of domestic violent a mother is never threatened again
~because a weapons no longer made available.
0
·DB
�
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
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
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
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
<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
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
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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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
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8/96 Democratic National Convention [2]
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 15
<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
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William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
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Adobe Acrobat Document
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Reproduction-Reference
Date Created
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12/9/2014
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42-t-7763294-20060462F-015-004-2014
7763294