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Morgan State Drafts & Info. [I]
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�5/15/97 2:30pm
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
COMM.ENCEMENT ADDRESS ON SCIENCE IN THE 21st CENTURY
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
MAY 18, 1997
Acknowledgments: Dr. Earl Richardson, President; Judge Harry Cole, board chair;
Governor Glendening; Mayor Schmoke; elected officials- including city council, which voted to
ban cigarette billboards near schools; Reps. Elijah Cummings, Ben Cardin; Sens. Sarbanes,
Mikulski; Board of Regents; Faculty and staff; distinguished alumni: Judge Cole; Judge Robert
Bell, Chief Judge ofMaryland's highest court; Kweisi Mfume; Earl Graves; Richard Dixon, State
Treasurer; Terry Edmonds, White House staff.
I am pleased to deliver my first commencement at an Historically Black University. In our
past, when the doors of college were closed to all but white students, Morgan State and the
nation's other HBCUs gave young Afi·ican Americans the education they deserved and the pride
they needed to rise above cruelty and bigotry. In our present, HBCUs produce the lion's share of
our black doctors, judges, and businesspeople- and Morgan State graduates most of the black
scientists and engineers in Maryland. And in our future, I am cet1ain that HBCUs will play an
even greater role in moving our country forward.
But, Morgan State is not just a great Historically Black University-- Morgan State is a
great American university. You have produced some ot~ this country's finest leaders. Not just the
African American community, but our entire American community would be diminished without
great Morgan grads like PatTen Mitchell, Kweisi Mfume and Earl Graves. The halls of justice
would be diminished without great judicial leaders like Judge Bell and Judge Cole. And without
Morgan, 1 would never have had the good fortune to work with Terry Edmonds who, remarkably,
is the first African American ever to serve as a presidential speechwriter.
All ofyou graduate today into a world brimming with promise and rich with opportunity.
As l said in my State of the Union Address, the enemy of our time is inaction. We must use this
moment of great hope and prosperity to prepare our people for the challenges of the 21st
Century. This spring, here and in commencement addresses across the country, I will seek to
focus our attention on those great and powerful forces that can pull us apart, or that can become
our greatest strength in the years ahead. I will discuss our diversity, and how we can make sure
that it brings us together rather than pulls us apart. I will discuss America's continuing obligation
to lead the world, especially our obligation to help build a strong and united Europe in the wake
ofthe Cold War.
And we know that above all else· the 21 ' 1 century, in its texture, in its promise arid in its
reality, will be molded by science, shaped by technology, powered by knowledge. These are
potent, transforming forces; they can be used for good or for ill; and we must master them ifwe
1
�are to make the most of this new century.
We enter that century propelled by new and stunning developments. In the past year .
alone, we saw the cloning of Dolly, the sheep. The Hubble Telescope is bringing into focus dark
corners ofthe cosmos never seen before. Innovations in computer technology and
communications are creating what Bill Gates calls the world's new "digital nervous system."
Cures for our most dread diseases- diabetes, cystic fibrosis -- seem within reach. And last week,
we saw a computer named Deep Blue, defeat the world's reigning chess champion. I hope they
don't make a computer that can play golf
The past half century has seen some ofmankind's greatest breakthroughs, as we split the
atom, created the microchip, explored the heavens. For half a century, we struggled to harness
forces as powerful as the sun, in an effort to keep them fi·om destroying the planet. Today, at
long last, nuclear and computer technology are realizing their greater value as servants of a better
life, not masters of a bitter destruction.
Ifthe last 50 years were the age of physics, the next 50 years will be the age ofbiology.
We are now embarking on our most daring exploration ever-- unraveling the mysteries of our
inner world and charting new routes to the conquest of disease. And our great challenge will be
to harness the power of biology, our increasing knowledge about the cell, the brain and life itself
so that we can reap the amazing benefits without sowing the seeds of our own destri.tction.
We have not, and we must not ever shrink from exploring the frontiers of science and
basic knowledge, no matter where it leads us. But as we consider how to use the fruits of that
knowledge, we must also never retreat from our commitment to human values, the good of
society, and our basic sense of right and wrong. Today let us commit: in the 21st Century,
science must serve humanity- never the other way around.
ln that new century, America's future, indeed the world's future, will be determined by
sctence.
Where once nations measured their strength by the size of their armies, their arsenals and
their GDPs, in the world of the future, it is science and knowledge that will matter most. Fully
half the growth in economic productivity over the past half century can be traced to innovation
and technology. That is why it is so important that the balanced budget agreement I reached with
the leaders of Congress funds the increase I requested for science and technology in my 1998
budget and reaffirms our long-term commitment in this important area.
Science is about more than material
wealth~
it is about our dreams.
Ours is a nation defined by the great goals we set. Often these goals can seem beyond our
reach. But it is the very act of reaching l~1r that l~1r horizon -- of imagining our future and striving
to realize it-- that will define us. We are a restless, questing people We have always believed,
with Thomas Jefferson, that freedom is "the first born daughter of science." And with our
2
�willpower, our resources and a great national etToti, we have always reached those horizons, and
set out for new ones.
Thirty-six years ago, President Kennedy looked to the skies and proclaimed that the flag
of peace and democracy, not war and tyranny must be the tirst to be planted on the moon.
Today, let us look within and step up to the challenge of our tin1es --a challenge with
consequences far more immediate for the life and death of millions around the world. AIDS will
soon overtake tuberculosis and malaria as the leading infectious killer in the world. Even here in
this country, where new and effective anti-HIV strategies are available, complacency is not an
option. HIV is capable of mutating and becoming resistant to therapies and could well become
even more dangerous. Only a tmly effective HIV vaccine will totally eliminate the threat of
AIDS.
Today, let us set a new national goal of developing an AIDS vaccine within the next ten
years. There are no guarantees; it will take energy, it will take focus; it will demand great effort
from our greatest minds. But we have made strides in recetit years. It is no longer a question of
whether we can develop an AIDS vaccine -- it is a question of when. And if America commits to
find an AIDS vaccine, we will do it.
I am prepared to do all I can to make this happen. Our scientists at NTH have been at the
forefront ofthis battle. Today, I am pleased to announce that NIH will establish a new AIDS
vaccine laboratory dedicated to this crusade. At the summit of industrialized nations in Denver
next month, I will enlist other nations to join us in a worldwide effort to find a vaccine to stop one
ofthe world's greatest killers. And we will challenge America's pharmaceutical industry, which
leads the world in innovative research and development, to work with us and make the successful
development of an AIDS vaccine part of its basic mission.
The 21st Century will be the century of biology. Together, we can make an AIDS vaccine
its tlrst great triumph.
'
This is just one example of the great advances that will be made possible by our focus on
science and technology. In this and so many other ways, science will enrich our existence. It is
how we will work with other nations to address global climate change. It is how we will break
our reliance on limited sources of energy. It is how we will once again make giant strides to free
ourselves and future generations from the tyranny of disease and ignorance that today enslaves
too many around the world.
So today, at the edge ofthis new century, let us pledge to learn more and do more in the
realm of science. But let us also pledge to redouble our vigilance, to make sure that the science
of the 21st Century serves our most enduring human values. Just as science can be a tremendous
force for good, it can also be used to do harm.
Science often moves faster than our ability to understand its implications. Each new
3
�- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-----------------
discovery, each new breakthrough, creates a new maze of moral and ethical questions. We are
only just beginning to figure out how to answer those questions.
The Internet can be a new town square- or it can be a new Tower of Babel. The same
computer that can put the Library of Congress at our fingertips, can also be used by purveyors of
hate to spread blueprints for bombs. The same knowledge that is developing new life-saving
drugs can be used to create poisons of mass destruction. Science can enable us to feed billions
more people in comfor1 and safety -- or it can spark a nuclear or biological war, that in a matter of
minutes can reduce our planet to a wasteland. And it can do so by accident just as easily as on
purpose.
Science has no soul of its own. It is up to us to determine if it will be used as a force for
good or evil.
Let me be clear: We must do nothing to stifle our basic quest for knowledge. Human
curiosity is the driving force behind all human discovery It is a fundamental principle of our
democracy. ln the last century, the spirit and benefits of scientific inquiry have propelled us from
field to factory to cyberspace.
But, how we use the fhrits of science and how we apply it to human endeavors is not
properly the domain of science alone -- or scientists alone. I believe we must apply the same
ethical and moral principles that have guided every great religion, our great democracy, our very
sense of right and wrong. We need a great national conversation about these principles. We must
decide together how to apply them to the dazzling new discoveries of science. Here is what l
think those principles should be.
First, science and its benefits must be directed towards making life better for all
Americans, not just the privileged few. Lack of money or social status must never be a barrier
to the benefits of science and technology. Science that does not move us all forward is science
that will hold us all back. Science must not create a new line of separation between the haves and
have nots -- those with and without the tools and understanding to learn technology. In the 21st
century, the school that does not have the link to the Internet or the child who does not have
access to a computer will be like the 18th century child without schoolbooks. That is why we are
ensuring that every child in every school, no matter how rich or poor, will have the same access to
technology.
We also know that in years past, too often science mirrored the sickness of society at
large. Here at one of America's great black universities, let me underscore what I said a few days
ago at the White House. We must never allow our citizens to be unwitting guinea pigs in
scientific experiments without their consent, that put them at risk -- whether it is the withholding
of syphilis treatment from the black men of Tuskegee or the Cold War experiments that subjected
some of our citizens to dangerous doses of radiation. We must never go back to those awful days
when eugenics and racial stereotyping here and in Europe resulted in discrimination and worse
against those judged to be inferior. Our greatness is measured not only in how we do right, but
4
�also in how we act when we know we've done the wrong thing; how we confront our mistakes,
make our apologies and take action. Together, we must say, never again.
The second Jll"inciple I believe we should apply is this: none of our discoveries,
especially in the areas of genetics, should be used to label or discriminate against any group
or individual. Increasing knowledge about the great diversity within the human species must not
change the basic belief upon which our ethics, our government and our society are based: All men
are created equal. Period. End of story.
With stunning speed, scientists are now moving to unlock the secrets of our genetic code.
Genetic testing has the potential to identify hidden genetic disorders and spur early treatment.
But, it can also be used by insurance companies and others to discriminate and stigmatize groups
of people. We know that in the 1970s some Atl-ican Americans were denied health care coverage
by insurers and jobs by employers because they were identified as sickle cell anemia carriers. We
also know that one of the main reasons women refi.tse genetic testing fl.)r susceptibility to breast
cancer is their fear that insurance companies may either deny them coverage or raise their rates.
No insurer should be able to use genetic data to underwrite or discriminate against any American
seeking health insurance. This should not just be a matter of principle, it should be a matter of
law. In the coming weeks, I will send legislation to the Congress to prohibit insurance companies
from using genetic screening information to determine premiLim rates or eligibility for health
msurance.
Our third principle must be this: science should not be used to break down the wall
of pl'ivacy free citizens are guaranteed in a free society.
The right to privacy is one of our most cherished fl·eedoms. As society has grown more
complex, and as people have become more interconnected in every way, we have had to try even
harder to respect the dignity and autonomy of each individual. Today, when marketers can follow
every aspect of our lives -- from the first phone call we make to the time our security system says
we have left the house, to the video camera at the toll booth and the charge slip we leave for
lunchn -- we cannot afford to forget this most basic lesson. As the Internet reaches to touch
every business and every household, and we face the ti·ightening prospect of private information
or even medical records instantly being made available to the world, we must develop new
protections for privacy .to meet this new reality.
And fourth, we must always remember that science is not God. Our deepest truths
remain outside the realm of science. We must temper our euphoria over the recent breakthrough
in animal cloning with sobering attention to our most cherished concepts of f~1ith and humanity.
My own view is that each human life is unique, born of a miracle that reaches beyond laboratory
science. 1 believe we must respect this profound gitl and resist the temptation to replicate
ourselves. But this is a decision no President should make alone. That is why I have asked our
distinguished National Bioethics Advisory Commission, headed by President Harold Shapiro of
Princeton, to conduct a thorough review of the legal and ethical issues raised by this new cloning
discovery. They will give me their recommendations within the next few weeks.
5
�These are the principles that should guide us if we are to master the powerful forces of
change in the century to come. Science that produces a better life for all and not the few.
Science that honors our tradition of equality. Science that respects the privacy of the individual.
Science that never confuses faith in technology with faith in God. If we hold fast to these
principles, we can make this time of change a moment of dazzling opportunity for all.
In conclusion, let me say this: Science will only serve the values of all Americans, if all
Americans are given a chance to participate in science. We cannot move forward without the
voices and talents of everyone in this stadium and, especially those graduates who are going on to
pursue careers in science and technology. African Americans have always been at the forefront of
American science. Nothing-- not slavery, not discrimination, not pove11y --has ever been able to
hold back the scientific urge or the creative genius of Afi·ican Americans.
Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught mathematician/surveyor/astronomer, who published
an annual almanac and helped design the city of Washington. George Washington Carver was
born a slave, but went on to become one of this nation's greatest agricultural scientists. And
Charles Drew lived through the darkest days of segregation to become a pioneer in blood
preservation. They showed us all how America's diversity is its greatest strength. Now it is your
time. Lt is up to you, to honor their legacy, to live their dreams, to be the investigators, the
doctors, and the scholars who will help keep our science rooted in our values.
Thank you and God bless you all.
6
�5/15/97 2:30pm
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS ON SCIENCE IN THE 21st CENTURY
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
MAY 18, 1997
Acknowledgments: Dr. Earl Richardson. President: Judge Harry Cole, board chair:
Governor Glendening: Mayor Schf11oke: elected otficials- including city council. which voted to
ban cigarette billboards near s~hools; Reps. Elijah Cummings, Ben Cardin; Sens. Sarbanes,
Mikulski: Board of Regents; Faculty and staff; distinguished alumni: Judge Cole: Judge Roben
BelL Chief Judge of Maryland's highest court; Kweisi Mfume: Earl Graves; Richard Dixon. State
Treasurer: Terry Edmonds, White House staff.
/..
I am pleased to deliverf.rY tirst commencemen~ at an Historically Black Univ_ersity. In our
past, when the doors of colle~ere closed to all but white studems. Morgan State and the
nation's other HBCUs gave young African Americans the education they deserved and the pride
they needed to rise above cruelty and bigotry. In our presem. HBCUs produce the lion's share of
our black doctors, judges. and businesspeople- and Morgan State graduates most of the black
scientists and engineers i.n Maryland. And in our ti.Jture. I am certain that HBClJs will play an
everl greater role in moving our country forward.
But, Morgan State is not just a great Historically Black University-- Morgan State is a
great American university. You have produced some of this country's tinest leaders. :\ot just the
African American coll}J11unity, but our entire American community would be diminished without
great Morgan grads like Parren Mitchell. Kweisi Mtume and Earl Graves. The halls ofjustice
would be diminished without great judicial leaders like Judge Bell and Judge Cole. And without
Morgan. l would never have had the good tonune to work with Terry Edmonds who. remarkably.
is the first African American ever to serve as a presidential speechwriter.
All ofyou graduate today into a world brimming with promise and rich with opporruniry.
As I said in my State of the Union Address. the enemy of our time is inaction. \Ve must use this
moment of great hope and prosperity to prepare our people tor the challenges of the 21st
Century. This spring, here and in commencement addresses across the country. I will seek to
focus our attention on those great and powerti.tl torces that ca1~ or that can become
our greatest strength in the years aheajicri~~~~ttrcliV"ersity, and how we can make sure
that it brings us together rather than ~1.+11-s- us a[0ll. I will discuss America· s continuing obligation
to lead the world, especially our obligation to help build a strong and united Europe in the wake
ofthe Cold War.
And we know that above all else the 21" century, in its texture. in its promise and in its
reality, will be molded by science. shaped by technology, powered by knowledge. These are
potent. transforming forces: they can be used for good or tor il_l: and we must master them if we
�·~~~~
are to make the most of this new century.·
~
We enter that century propelled by new and stunning developments/In the past year
alone. we saw the cloning of Dolly. the sheep. The Hubble Telescope is bringing into focus dark
comers of the cosmos never seen before. Innovations in coniputer technology and
communications are creating what Bill Gates calls the world's new ·'digital nervous system."
Cures for our most dread diseases - diabetes. cystic fibrosis -- seem within reach. And last week.
we saw a computer named Deep Blue. defeat the world's reigning chess champion. 1 hope they
don't make-a computer that can play golf
">p,,·~~
.
/rhe past half century has seen some of mankind's greatest breakthroughs. as we split the
atom( created the microchip, explored the heavens. For half a century, we struggled to harness
forces as powerful as the sun. in an effort to keep them from destroying the planet. Today. at
long last. nuclear and computer technology are realizing their greater.value as servants of a better
life, not masters of a bitter destruction.
lJ-tr ~ w~~~a-~ ~~
~c.cc;.._..._.. ~.dt ~~
· If the last 50 years were the age of physi . the next 50 years will be the age of biology.·
We are now embarking on our most daring e oration ever-- unraveling the mysteries of our
inner world and charting new routes to the nquest of disease. And our great challenge will be
to harness the power of biology, our incr sing knowledge about the cell. the brain and life itself
so that we can reap the 4mazing benefits v:;;thout sowin!:} the seeds of our own destrucJion")
· ...._ , . ;..:_
t
w ~ C\)0 ~ '\1--a.:- vb- f~ ~ ~ v-e"-''" I ........ ·I!'
~~~~-t--~C..Y'J"
We have not. and we must not ever shrink ti·om exploring the frontiers of science and
basic knowledge. no matter where it leads us. But as we consider how 10 use the fruits of that
knowledge, we must also never retreat from our commitment to hun1an values. the good of
society, and our basic sense of right and wrong. Today let us commit: in the 21st Century,
science must serve humanity- never the other way around.
pc.tz-ur~C, ~
ln that new century. America's future. indeed the world's future. will beJetennin€d by
. science~ ..f~l.e.~ .
Where once nations measured their strength by the size of their armies. their arsenals and
their GDPs. in the world of the ti.Jture. it is science ai1d knowledue that will matter most. Fullv . ~
half the growth in. economic productivity over the past half cent~ry can be traced to .i.m:!evatio~/\.0
and technology. That is why it is so important that the balanced budget agreement [ reached \\ith
the leaders ofCongress funds the increase I requested for science and technology in my 1998
budget and reaffirms our long-term commitment in this important area.
.
.
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Science is about more than mhterial wealth~ it is about our dreams.
Ours is a nation defined by the great goals we set. Otie1i these goals can seem beyond our
reach. But it is the very act of reaching for that far horizon -- of imagining our future and stri\·ing
to realize it-- that will define us., We are a restless. questing people \Ve have always believed.
with Thomas Jetferson. that freedom_ is ''the first born daughter or' science." And with our
�willpower, our resources and a great national etlort. we have always reached those horizons. and
set out for new ones. ·
Thirty-six years ago, President Kennedy looked to the-~roclaimed that the flag
of peace and democracy. not war and tyranny must be the tirst to be planted on the moon.
@ l e t us look within and step up to the challenge of our times-- a challenge with
consequences far more immediate for the life and death of mil.lions around the world. AIDS will
soon overtake tuberculosis and malaria as the leading infectious killer in the world. Even here in
this country, where new and effective anti-HIY strategies are available, complacency is not an
option. H~V is capable of mutating and becoming resistant to therapies and could well become
even more dangerous. Only a truly effective HlV vaccine will totally eliminate the threat of
AIDS.
~~et us set a new national goal tor this era of science. ~y)let us commit
ourselves to developing an AlOS vaccine within the next ten years. There are no guarantees: it
will take energy, it will take tocus: it will demand great etlort from our greatest mind-s. But we
have made strides in recent years. It is no longer a question of whether we can develop an AIDS
vaccine-- it is a question of when. And if America commits to tind an AIDS vaccine within the
next decade. we will do it.
•· I am prepared to do all I can to make this happen. Our scientists at NIH have been at the
forefront ofthiL~?_r:!e.~i)VLam pleased to announce that NIH will establish a new AIDS
vaccine latfbr;t~ryoedi'carecrtOihis crusade. At the summit of industrialized nations in Denver
next month. I will enlist other nations to join us in a worldwide etfon to tind a vaccine to stop one
of the world's greatest killers. And we will challenge America's pharmaceutical industry, which
leads the world in innovative research and developmeniD:o work with us and make the successful
development of an AIDS vaccine pan of its basic missf6;;.
The 21st Century will be the century of biology. Together. we can make an AlDS vaccine
its first great triumph.
This is just one example of the great advances that will be made possible by our focus on
science and technology. In this and so many other ways.. science will enrich our existence. lt is
how we will work with other nations to address global climate change. It is how we will break
our reliance on limited sources of energy. It is how we will once again make giant strides to free
ourselves and future generations from the tyranny of diseas~vmd ignorance that today enslaves
too many around the world.
•
~
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~o ~oday~: lhe edge of this new century. let us pl~~ge to learn more and do more ~n the
realm ot sc1ence: But let us also pledge to redouble our v•gliance. to make sure that the~~ ..
of the 21st Century serves our most enduring human values. Just as science can be a tremendous .
force for good. ~an also be a sed to clo han;n.
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Science often moves faster than our/bility to understand its implications. -Each n,ew /
discover)-;-~w breakthrough: cr~ a new ma~of ·~oral and ethical questions. We are
only just beginning to tigure out how to answe~e ~uestlons.
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The Internet can be a new town square- or it can be new Tower of Babel. The same
computer that can put the Library of Congress at our fingertips. can also be used by purveyors of
hate to spread blueprints for bombs. The same knowledge that is developing new life-saving
drugs can be used to create poisons of mass destruction: Science can enable us to feed billions
.
m?re people-in comfort and safety --~·t
can spar~ a nuclear or biolo~ical ~ar, that i~ a matter ;;r)<y..
mmutes can reduce our planet to a wastela d. And 1t can do so by acwjent JUSt as eas1ly as on ~ --(~
purpose.
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Science has no soul of its own. It is up to us to determine if it will be used as a force for
good or evil.
Let me be clear: We must do nothing to stit1e our basic quest tor knowledge. Human
curiosity is the driving force behind ail human discovery. It is a fundamental principle- of our
democracy. [n the last century, the spirit and benefits of scientific inquiry have propelled us from
field to factory to cyberspace.
!
But. how we use _the fruits of science and how we apply it to human endeavors is not
prop~rly the domain of science alone -- or scientists alone. I believe we must apply the same
ethical and moral principles that have guided every great religion. our great democracy, our very
sense of right and wrong. We need a great national conversation about these principles. We must
decide together how to apply them to the dazzling new discoveries of science. Here is what I
think those principles should be.
First, science and its benefits must be directed towards making life better for all
Americans, not just the p1·ivileged few. Lack of money or social status must never be a barrier
. to the benefits of science and technology. Science that does not move us all torv.'ard is science
that will !]old us all back. Science must not create a new line of separation between the haves and
have nots --those with and without the tools and understanding to learn technology. In the 21st
century. the school that does not have the link to the Internet or the child who does not have
access to a computer will be like the 18th century child without schoolbooks. That is why we are
ensuring that every child in every school. no matter how rich or poor. will have the same access to
technology.
We also know that in years past. too often science mirrored the sickness of society at
large. Here at one of America's great black universities. let me underscore what I said a few days
ago at the White House. We must never allow our citizens to be unwitting guinea pigs in
scientific experiments without their consent. that put them at risk -- whether it is the withholding
of syphilis treatment from the black men of Tuskegee or the Cold War experiments that subjected
some of our citizens to dangerous doses of radiation. We must never go back to those awful days
when eugenics and racial stereot .pino here and in Europe resulted in discrimination and worse
4
·
�against those judged to be inferior. Our greatness is measured not only in how we do right, but
also in how we act when we know we've done the wrong thing; how we confront our mistakes,
make our apologies and take action. Together. we must say, never again.
The second principle I believe we should apply is dtis: none of our discoveries,
especially in the areas of genetics~ should be used to label or discriminate against any group
or individual. Increasing knowledge about the great diversity within the human species must not
change the basic belief upon which our ethics; our government and our society are based: All men
are created equal. Period. End of story.
With stunning speed, scientists are now moving to unlock the secrets of our genetic code.
Genetic testi2B has the potential to identify hidden genetic disorders and spur early treatment.
But, it &CS"ru~o be used by insurance companies and others to discriminate and stigmatize groups
ofpeople. We know that in the 1970s some African Americans were denied health ~are coverage
by insurers and jobs by employers because they were identitied as sickle cell anemia carriers. We
also know that the number one reason women refuse genetic testing tor susceptibility to breast
cancer is their fe~!)_ur,ance companies may either deny them coverage or raise -their rates.
We must ~~il~o insurer should be able to use genetic data to underwrite or
discriminate against any American seeking health insurance. This should not just be a matter of
principle, it should be a matter of law. In the coming weeks. I will send legislation to the
Confress to prohibi_t ~n~~rance compa_nies from using genetic screening information to determine
7J?
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premiUm rates or ehgtbthty for health msurance.
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Our third principle must be this: sci 1
shauld nat be used to
9f privacy free citizens are guaranteed in a tree soc· ty.l~~
..
.
b1
e:1k down tbe wall,
yt.
The right to privacy is one of our most cherished ti·eedoms. As society has grown more
complex, and as people have become more interconnected in evety way. we have had to try even
,harder to respect the dignity and autonomy of each individual. Today, when marketers can follow
every aspect of our lives -- from the tirst phone call we make to the time our security system says
weeJeft the house, to the video camera at the toll booth and the charge slip we leave for
lun hn -we cannot afford to forget this most basic lesson. As the Internet reaches to touch
eve
usiness and every household, and we face the frightening prospect of private information
or even medical records instantly being made available to the world. we must develop new
protections for privacy to meet this new reality.
And fourth, we must always remember that scienrc is not God. Our deepest truths
remain outside the realm of science. We must temper our euphoria over the recent breakthrough
in animal cloning with sobering attention to our most cherished concepts of faith and humanity.
My own view is that each human life is unique, born of a miracle that reaches beyond laboratory
science. I believe we must respect this protound gitt and resist the temptation to replicate
ourselves. But this is a decision no President should make alone. That is why I have asked our
distinguished National Bioethics.Advisory Commission. headed by President Harold Shapiro of
Princeton, to conduct a thorough rev_iew of the legal and ethical issues raised by this new cloning
5
~
�discovery. They will give me their recommendations within the .next tew weeks.
These are the principles that should guide us if we are to master the powerful forces of
change in the_century to come. Science that produces a better life for all and not the few_
Science that honors our tradition of equality. Science-that respects the privacy of the individual.
Science that never confuses faith in technology with faith in God. If we hold fast to these
principles. we can make this time of change-af?ftem•eut ot-· dazzling opportunity for alL
In col)clusion, let me say this: Science will only serve the values of all Americans, if all
Americans are given a chance to participate in science. We cannot move forward without the
voices and talents of everyone in this stadium and, especially those graduates who are going on to
pursue careers in science and technology. African Americans have always been at the forefront of
American science. Nothing .... not slavery, not discrimination, not poverty-- has ever been able to
hold back the scientific urge or the creative genius of African Americans.
Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught mathematician/surveyor/astronomer. who published
an annual almanac and helped design the city of Washington. George Washington Carver was
born a slave, but went on to become one of this nation·s greatest agricultural scientists_ And
Charles Drew lived through the darkest days of segregation to become a pioneer in blood
preservation. They showed us all how America's diversity is its greatest strength. Now it is your
time. It is up to you, to honor their legacy, to live their dreams. to be the investigators. the
doctors, and the scholars who will help keep our scienCe!fOOted in OUr values.
Nf-~ ~vf-re fr-f ~ .
Thank you and God bless you all.
·
6
·
~~ ~
�There have been amazing recent advances in S&T
Science should be equated with opportunity-- not with negativity. It's human choice that
determines whether S&T benefits or injures people.
:l
An informed citizenry is the only effective defense against S&T harm.
Principles:
1) The opportunities and benefits of S&T should be available to all. We must use our human
power of choice to apply S&T only in ways beneficial to all.
2) Discoveries should-not be used to harm or discriminate aganinst individuals or groups.
3) Technology should not be used to abridge the rights of people's privacy, dignity or autonomy.
4) Science and religious faith are complimentary and compatible pursuits that should empower
and enrich each other in each individual's life.
�MSU- FACTS
http://www.morgan.edu/welcome/msufacts.htm
.~GAN STAT~_
r
m
mr
~-~···
··-
!:
UNIVERSITY
Facts about Morgan State University
By action of the Maryland Legislature, the University has been designated as
Maryland's Public Urban University, with special responsibilities for addressing the
needs of the residents, schools, and organizations of the Baltimore Metropolitan Area.
Morgan State University is located in a residential area of northeast Baltimore. It is
easily accessible from downtown, the Baltimore Beltway, and Interstate 95. It enrolls
6,000 students in programs from the baccalaureate level through the doctorate.
Morgan was named after (Rev) Lyttleton F. Morgan who served as Chairman of the
Board of Trustees from 1876-1886. Morgan was formerly known as the Centenary
Biblical Institute. It was named Morgan College in 1890.
Morgan attracts students from all fifty states and numerous foreign countries. About
35% of all students enrolled at Morgan are from outside the State ofMaryland. It is
one of the leading institutions nationally in the number of applications received from
African-American high school graduates. The largest sources of its enrollments
outside of Maryland are New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
The University has a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum with more specialized
offerings at the master's and doctoral levels. Morgan traditionally has placed strong
emphasis on the arts and sciences at the undergraduate level and on the preparation of
students for advanced study. In addition it offers a variety of programs in professional
fields, including engineering, business, teacher education, architecture, hospitality
management and social work.
As an historically black institution Morgan always has served students of all racial
and ethnic backgrounds. Its mission today is to enroll a student body that is diverse in
its socioeconomic and academic characteristics and to provide the full-range of
experiences and services that permits it to successfully serve students with a wide
variety of goals and needs.
The University awards more bachelor's degrees to African-American students than
any campus in Maryland. In many fields, but particularly in engineering and the
sciences, Morgan accounts for large percentages of the degrees received by
African-Americans from Maryland institutions. An above-average percentage of
Morgan graduates enter graduate and professional school. Historically, the University
has ranked among the top public campuses nationally in the number of black
graduates subsequently receiving doctorates from U.S. universities.
See more facts about Morgan State
or See Education-related facts for Maryland and the United States
~Return to Home
~ter@morgan.edu
I of I
05/05/97 I2:I8:42
�MSU - Biomedical Research
http :I/www. morgan. edu/academ ic/special/b iomed/biomed.htm
Welcome to Morgan State University's Biomedical Research Infrastructure Program. This program has been
established by means of a $4.1 million reward that the University has received from the National Institutes of Health's
National Center for Research Resource(NIH/NCRR). It will extend over a five-year period. The funds are expected to
create an interdisciplinary environment that contributes to cooperative research across the disciplines of biology,
chemistry and psychology.
The program will consist of a research administrative unit, an infrastructure component, a faculty development
moiety and a research component. The research component will place emphasis on Stress and Cardiovascular
Disease; AIDS research; and Neuro development and Neuro disorders.
Principal Investigator
Dr. Clara I Adams
Vice President ofAcademic Affairs
Morgan State University
1700 East Coldspring Lane
Baltimore, Maryland 21251
Phone: (410) 319-3350
FAX No: (410) 319-3299
E-mail: cadams@jewel. morgan. edu
RIM/Goals
o Recruitment, hiring and assembling of a critical mass offaculty necessary for the development of
the research capabilities in the identified ares offoci such that the institutional research
capabilities can be strengthened.
o Establishment of a faculty development program which will aid in increasing the academic
competitiveness offaculty members.
1. Start up funds for faculty research
2. Summer Faculty Research Internships
3. Faculty participation at scientific meetings
4. Mini-Courses/Advanced Research Training Program
5. Grant Writing Workshop
Research Emphases
o Stress and Cardiovascular Diseases
o Role ofpropiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides during stress induced by sleep
deprivation
o Role of specific proteins, (i.e., protein kinase C, tyrosine kinases, MAP Kinases) and
specific PKC iszymes and stress proteins in stress induced by sleep deprivation
o The response of specific genes (i.e., POMC genes and Intermediate Early Genes (lEGs)
such as cfos genes) during stress induced by sleep deprivation
o HIV/AIDS Research
1 of2
05/05/97 12:24:31
�---------------------------------
Biomedical Research
-MSU. ·-
http://www.morgan.edu/academic/special!biomed/biomed.htm
....
o The mechanism of action of nucleoside analogs and thalidomide on the primary cellular
targets for HIV, CD4 T lymphocytes
o The role ofNef Proteins of HIV-1 and HIV-2 and the transduction signals through
cytoplasmic protein kinase cascades
o The molecular characterization of recombinant Tat protein from HIV-1
o The role ofTat and anti-Tat on HIV transcription
o The development ofAIDS therapy which could specifically target the interactions between
the CD4 receptor, Nef and/or Tat
o Neurodisorders/Neurodevelopment
o Alterations in cortical cytoarchitecure resulting from selective block of specific
neuromodulator systems in development
o Sex differences in neuromodulator level during ontogeny of cerebral cortex
o Experimentally altered hormonal levels in development on the ontogeny of the
neuromodulators systems in male versus female mice
o The molecular mechanisms through which sex hormones and neuromodulators impact
morphogenesis and subsequent behavior
o The effect of adversive stress and environmental toxins on the interactions between sex
hormones and neuromodulatory chemistry, resulting in altered behavioral function
Resources
o
o
o
o
o
Two Shared Instrumentation Laboratories
Office ofSponsored Programs
Tissue Culture Facility
Small Animal Facility
Image Analysis Facility
RIM/ Program Director
Dr. T. Joan Robinson
Professor and Chairperson
Biology Department
Morgan State University
Baltimore, Maryland 21251
Phone: (410) 319-3070
FAX No: (410)426-4732
E-mail: jrobinso@jewel. morgan. edu
IOffice of the Vice President II Academic Programs II
~~;a~~~ic ·1
Academic Calendar
II General Information II
I
Colleges, Schools, and Institutes
Faculty Directory
Special Programs
I Deans and Directors I
Morgan State University
Baltimore, Maryland 21251 U.S.A.
(410) 319-3000
Last modified on March 17, 1997.
2 of2
05/05/97 12:24:35
�-----------~---~-
~-
5/14/97 4:00 pm
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS, MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
MAY 18,1997
Acknowledgments: Dr. Earl Richardson, President; Judge Harry Cole, board chair;
Governor Glendening; Mayor Schmoke; elected officials- including city council, which voted to
ban cigarette billboards near schools; Reps. Elijah Cummings, Ben Cardin; Sens. Sarbanes,
Mikulski; Board ofRegents; Faculty and staff; distinguished alumni: Judge Cole; Judge Robert
Bell, ChiefJudge ofMaryland's highest court; Kweisi Mfume; Earl Graves; Richard Dixon, State
Treasurer; Terry Edmonds, White House staff'.
I am pleased to deliver my first commencement at an Historically Black University. In our
past, when the doors of college were closed to all but white students, Morgan State and the
nation's other HBCUs gave young African Americans the education they deserved and the pride
they needed to rise above cruelty and bigotry. In our present, HBCUs produce the lion's share of
our black doctor~, judges, and businesspeople- and Morgan State graduates most of the black
scientists and engineers in Maryland. And in our future, I am ce11ain that HBCUs will play an
even greater role in moving our country forward.
But, Morgan State is not just a great Historically Black University-- Morgan State is a
great American university. You have produced some of this country's finest leaders. Not just the
African American community, but our entire American community would be diminished without
great Morgan grads like Par-ren Mitchell, Kweisi Mfume and Earl Graves. The halls of justice
would be diminished without great judicial leaders like Judge Bell and Judge Cole. And without
Morgan, 1 would never have had the good fortune to work with Terry Edmonds who, remarkably,
is the first African American ever to serve as a presidential speechwriter.
All ofyou graduate today into a world brimming with promise and rich with opportunity.
Today, and in speeches at several other graduations this spring, I want to talk about the challenge
of preparing the American people for the stunning new century ahead.
We know that this new world will be smaller than ours is, as currents of commerce and
communications link every nation in a truly global economy. We know that we will have to work
harder than ever to make our diversity not a weakness, but our greatest strength.
And we know that above all else the 21 '' century, in its texture, in its promise and in its
reality, will be molded by science, shaped by technology, powered by knowledge.
We enter that century propelled by new and exciting developments. In the past year
alone, we saw the cloning of Dolly, the sheep. The Hubble Telescope is bringing into focus dark
corners ofthe cosmos never seen before. Innovations in computer technology and
1
�communications are creating what Bill Gates calls the world's new "digital nervous system."
Cures for our most dread diseases- diabetes, cystic fibrosis and Alzheimer's --seem within reach.
And last week, we saw a computer named Deep Blue, defeat the world's reigning chess
champion. l hope they don't make a computer that can play golf
Over the past half century, we have seen mankind's greatest breakthroughs -- we have
split the atom; microchips and lasers have transformed the way we live. For half a century, we
struggled to harness these forces as powerful as the sun, in an etTort to keep them from destroying
the planet. Today, at long last, nuclear and computer technology are realizing their greater value
as servants of a better life, not masters of a bitter destruction.
lfthe last 50 years were the age of physics, the next 50 years will be the age ofbiology.
We are now embarking on our most daring exploration ever _t:. unraveling the mysteries of our
inner world and charting new routes to the conquest of disease. And our great challenge will be
to harness the power of biology, our increasing knowledge about the cell, the brain and life itself
so that we can reap the amazing benefits without sowing the seeds of our own destruction.
Where once nations measured their strength by the size of their armies, their arsenals and
their GDPs, in the world ofthe future, it is science and knowledge that will matter most. Fully
half the economic growth over the past half century can be traced to innovation and technology.
That is why we must fully embrace the promise of science to maintain our leadership in the hightech global economy of the 21st century. We must also master the forces of science and
technology to build a better world and free ourselves and future generations from the tyranny of
disease.
We have not, and we must not ever shrink from exploring the frontiers of science and
basic knowledge, no matter where it leads us. But as we consider how to use the fruits ofthat
knowledge, we must also never retreat tl·om our commitment to human values, the good of
society, and our basic sense of right and wrong. Today let us commit: in the 21st Century,
science must serve humanity- never the other way around.
Today, America leads the world in science. It has always lead the world in science. And
we must continue to lead the world in science. Ours is a nation defined by the great goals we set.
Often these goals can seem beyond our reach. But with our will power, our resources and a great
national effort, we have always met these goals.
Thirty-six years ago, President Kennedy looked to the skies and proclaimed that the flag
of peace and democracy, not war and tyranny must be the first to be planted on the moon.
Today, let us look within and step up to the challenge of our ti1~nes -- a challenge with
consequences far more immediate for the life and death of millions around the world. I believe
this nation must build upon the great strides we have made in the exploration of the inner space of
the human body and commit itselfto developing a vaccine against AIDS within the next ten years.
There are no guarantees; it will take energy, it will take focus, and, yes, it will take money. We
2
�are willing to commit the public resources necessary to see this to the end. lf America commits to
creating an AIDS vaccine within the next decade, we will do it.
A vaccine for AIDS may sound like a vague hope -- but scientists tell me it is based on
hard facts. ·We know we can do this because of all the progress we have made. Fifteen years ago,
an AIDS diagnosis was thought to be a certain death sentence. Today with breakthrough drugs
and powerful new treatments, we have already greatly extended the lives ofthose with HIV. New
treatments are so powerful that in theory they could completely eliminate the AIDS virus from the
bodies of infected patients.
Now we can take the next step. Without an eftective vaccine, AIDS will soon overtake
tuberculosis and malaria as the leading infectious killer in the world. Even here in this country,
where new and effective anti-HIV strategies are available, complacency is not an option. HIV is
capable of mutating and becoming resistant to therapies and could well become even more
dangerous. Only a truly effective anti-HI V vaccine can eventually totally eliminate the threat of
AIDS.
We will meet this goal by building on the prorgess we have already made-- by using our
understanding of how the AIDS virus attacks and grows and by tapping our new knowledge of
how the human body works to ward off disease. To this end, I am announcing today that the NIH
will open a new AIDS Vaccine Laboratory
lfwe master these powerful forces, we will enrich our existence. These breakthroughs
dazzle us not only because of their brilliance but because they offer a prospect for fuller, longer
lives -- lives that are freed from the shackles of disease and ignorance that today enslave too
many around the world.
Human curiosity is the driving force behind all human discovery. We must do nothing to
stifle our basic quest for knowledge. lt is an essential part of what makes us human. lt is a
fundamental principle of our democracy. ln the last century, the spirit and benefits of scientific
curiosity have propelled us from field to factory to cyberspace. But just as science can be a
tremendous force for good, it can also be used to do harm.
Science often moves f~1ster than our ability to understand its implications. Each new
discovery, each new breakthrough, creates a new maze of moral and ethical questions. We are
only just beginning to figure out how to answer those questions. But I believe we must sta11 by
applying the same principles that have guided America's progress since the dawn of this great
Republic.
First, America must maintain its leadership in science and medical research by setting new
goals of progress.
The first thing we must do is balance our budget in a way that balances the need to
maintain our investments in science, technology and medical research. In the budget that I vetoed
3
�in 1995, money for research and development was actually reduced. At a time of intense
international competition, when Japan and Europe each year increase their investments in
research, cutting our science budget made as little sense as cutting the defense budget would have
during the Cold War. The balanced budget agreement 1 reached with the leaders of Congress two
weeks ago funds the increase 1 requested for science and technology in my 1998 budget and
reaffirms our long-term commitment in this important area. Last year, five of the eight Nobel
Prize winners in science were Americans. We can all be proud. And we can be prouder still that
every single one of them received help from the national government for their research.
Second, science and its benefits must be directed towards maldng life better for all
Americans, not just the privileged few. Lack of money or social status must never be a barrier
to the benefits of technology. Science that does not move us all forward is science that will hold
us all back. Science must not create a new line of separation between the haves and have nots -those with and without the tools and understanding to learn technology. In the 21st century, the
school that does not have the link to the Internet or the child who does not have access to a
computer will be like the 18th century child without school books. That is why we are ensuring
that every child in every school, no matter how rich or poor, will have the same access to
technology.
We also know that in years past, too often science mirrored the sickness of society at
large. Here at one of America's great HBCUs, let me underscore what I said a few days ago at
the White House. We must never allow our citizens to be unwitting guinea pigs in scientific
experiments without their consent, that put them at risk -- whether it is the withholding of syphilis
treatment from the black men ofTuskegee or the Cold War experiments that subjected some of
our citizens to dangerous doses of radiation -- we must never allow those kinds of things to
happen again. We must never go back to those awful days when eugenics and racial stereotyping
here and in Europe resulted in discrimination and worse against those judged to be inferior. Our
greatness is measured not only in how we do right, but also in how we act when we know we've
done the wrong thing; how we confront our mistakes, make our apologies and take action.
Third, none of our discoveries, especially in the areas of genetics, should be used to
label or discriminate against any group or individual. Increasing knowledge about the great
diversity within the human species must not change the basic belief upon which our ethics, our
government and our society are based: All men are created equal. Period. End of story.
With stunning speed, scientists are now moving to unlock the secrets of our genetic code.
Genetic testing has the potetitial to identify hidden genetic disorders and spur early treatment.
But, it can also be used by insurance companies and others to discriminate and stigmatize groups
of people. We know that in the 1970s some African Americans· were denied health care coverage
by insurers and jobs by employers because they were identified as sickle cell anemia carriers. We
also know that the number one reason women refuse genetic testing for breast cancer is their fear
that insurance companies may either refuse health care coverage for themselves or members of
their families or charge excessively high premiums. We must put a stop to this. No insurer
4
�should be able to use genetic data to underwrite or discriminate against any American seeking
health insurance. This should not just be a matter of principle, it should be a matter oflaw. In the
coming weeks, I will send legislation to the Congress to prohibit insurance companies from using
genetic screening information to determine premium rates or eligibility for health insurance.
Fourth, Science should not be used to breakdown the wall of privacy free citizens are
guaranteed in a free society.
The Internet can be a new town square- or it can be a new Tower ofBabel. The same
computer that can put the Library of Congress at our tinge11ips, can also be used to invade our
privacy. Today, marketers can follow every aspect of our lives, from the first phone call we make
to the time our security system says we have lett the house, to the video camera at the toll booth
and the charge slip we leave for lunch. Nothing about our daily lives will be private unless we
strenthen by groups who are plotting division and violence. Will new breakthroughs in biology
and genetics be used to bring us closer together or split us f~111her apart'? The same knowledge
that is developing new life-saving drugs can be used to create poisons of mass destruction.
Science has no soul of its own. lt is up to us to determine if it will be used as a force for good or
evil.
Second, technology must be used to enhance, not diminish the dignity of the
individual. Researchers and doctors have a responsibility to respect our privacy. What they learn
about us is nobody's business unless we say so.
And finally, we must always remember that science is not God. Our deepest truths
remain outside the realm of science. We must temper our euphoria over the recent breakthrough
in animal cloning with sobering attention to our most cherished concepts of faith and humanity.
My own view is that each human life is unique, born of a miracle that reaches beyond laboratory
science: I believe we must respect this profound gift and resist the temptation to replicate
ourselves. But this is a decision no President should make alone. That is why I have asked our
National Bioethics Advisory Commission, headed by President Harold Shapiro of Princeton, to
conduct a thorough review of the legal and ethical issues raised by this new cloning discovery.
They will give me their recommendations within the next few weeks.
So today, at the edge ofthis new century, let us pledge to learn more and do more in the
realm of science. But let us also pledge to redouble our vigilance, to make sure that the science
of the 21st Century serves our most enduring human values.
We must do what we can to reap the benefits of the scientific explosion. And we must
also take steps, now, to prevent the worst abuses that can come from the new knowledge.
Finally, we will only make sure that science serves the values of all Americans, if all
5
�Americans are given a chance to participate in science. There is a place for all of us at the table of
science in the 21st century. We cannot move forward without the voices and talents of everyone
in this stadium and, especially those graduates who are going on to pursue careers in science and
technology. Ati·ican Americans have always been at the foreti·ont of American science. Nothing - not slavery, not discrimination, not poverty -- has ever been able to hold back the scientific urge
or the creative genius of African Americans.
Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught mathematician/surveyor/astronomer, who published
an annual almanac and helped design the city of Washington. George Washington Carver was
born a slave, but went on to become one of this nation's greatest agricultural scientists. And
Charles Drew lived through the darkest days of segregation to become a pioneer in blood
preservation. African Americans will play an even greater role in science in the coming years.
You will be the investigators, the doctors, and the scholars who will help keep our science rooted
in our values.
Benjamin Banneker, who was born not far ti·om here in Ellicott Mills, Maryland once said,
"The color of the skin is in no ways connected with the strength of the mind or intellectual
powers'' His talent and tenacity were his tickets to success. They will be yours too.
Thank you and God bless you all.
6
�the planet. Today, at long last, nuclear and computer technology are realizing their greater value
as servants of a better life, not masters of a bitter destruction. They are revolutionizing the way
we communicate, helping save lives, providing healthier and safer foods, protecting our
environment, improving transportation and making all our lives better.
lfthe last 50 years were the age of physics, the next 50 years will be the age ofbiology.
We are now embarking on our most daring exploration ever-- unraveling the mysteries of our
inner world and charting new routes to the conquest of disease. And our great challenge will be
to harness the power ofbiology, our increasing knowledge about the cell, the brain and life itself
so that we can reap the amazing benefits withou~ sowing the seeds of our own destruction.
We have not, and we must not ever shrink from exploring the frontiers of science and
basic knowledge, no matter where it leads us. But as we consider how to use the fruits of that
knowledge, we must also never retreat from our commitment to human values, the good of
society, and our basic sense of right and wrong. Today let us commit: in the 21st Century,
science must serve humanity- never the other way around.
We enter that century propelled by new and exciting developments. In the past year
alone, we saw the cloning of Dolly, the sheep. We learned that painless lasers can now do the
work of hand-held drills in dentistry. The Hubble Telescope is bringing into focus dark corners of
the cosmos never seen before. Scientists have found what they believe may be evidence of
microscopic life on Mars. And last week, we saw a computer named Deep Blue, defeat the
world's reigning chess champion. I hope they don't make a computer that can play golf
In years to come this pace of change will only accellerate. Today, farmers are planting
thousands of acres of plants genetically altered to produce plastic, which by 2003 will dramatically
reduce our need for imported oil. Innovations in computer technology and communications are
creating what AI Gore calls the world's new "digital nervous system." Cures for our most dread
diseases- diabetes, cystic fibrosis and Alzheimer's --seem within reach. What was once the stuff
of scienc fiction is now routine fact.
If we master these powerful forces, we will enrich our existence. These breakthroughs
dazzle us not only because of their brilliance but because they offer a prospect for fuller, longer
lives-- lives that are freed fi·om the shackles of disease and ignorance that today enslave too
many around the world.
lfwe master these forces, we will keep our economy the strongest in the world. Today,
unemployment is the lowest it's been in more than two decades. Core inflation is at its lowest in
three decades. And we have seen the highest decline in income inequality since the 1960s. But,
as strong as our economy is, it will not sustain our leadership in the 21st century if we do not
harness the forces of science and technology that have always led our progress. Where once
nations measured their strength by the size of their armies, their arsenals and their GDPs, in the
world of the future, it is knowledge that will matter most. Fully half the economic growth over
the past half century can be traced to innovation and technology- and that share will only grow in
2
�years ahead.
But more than our economy, more even than the benefits to our lives, this scientific
revolution will lift the American spirit and let our imaginations take wing. A constant thirst for
knowledge has been a defining part of our history. From the earliest pioneers to the men and
women who explore our heavens, ours has been a restless quest of discovery. We have always
believed, with Thomas Jefferson that freedom is "the firstborn daughter of science."
Human curiosity is the driving force behind all human discovery. We must do nothing to
stifle our basic quest for knowledge. It is an essential part of what makes us human. It is a
fundamental principle of our democracy. In the last century, the spirit and benefits of scientific
curiosity have propelled us from field to factory to cyberspace. But just as science can be a .
tremendous force for good, it can also be used to do harm.
The Internet can be a new town square- or it can be a new Tower ofBabel. The same
computer that can put the Library of Congress at our fingertips, can also be used by groups who
are plotting division and violence. Will new breakthroughs in biology and genetics be used to
bring us closer together or split us farther apart? The same knowledge that is developing new
life-saving drugs can be used to create poisons of mass destruction. Science has no soul of its
own. lt is up to us to determine if it will be used as a force for good or evil.
We know that in years past, too often science mirrored the sickness of society at large.
Here at one of America's great HBCUs, let me underscore what I said a few days ago at the
White House. We must never allow our citizens to be unwitting guinea pigs in scientific
experiments without their consent, that put them at risk -- whether it is the withholding of syphilis
treatment from the black men ofTuskeegee or the Cold War experiments that subjected some of
our citizens to dangerous doses of radiation -- we must never allow those kinds of things to
happen again. We must never go back to those awful days when eugenics and racial stereotyping
here and in Europe resulted in discrimination and worse against those judged to be inferior. Our
greatness is measured not only in how we do right, but also in how we act when we know we've
done the wrong thing; how we confront our mistakes, make our apologies and take action.
Science often moves faster than our ability to understand its implications. Each new
discovery, each new breakthrough, creates a new maze of moral and scientific questions. We are
only just beginning to figure out how to answer those questions. But I believe we must start by
applying the same principles that have guided all the great religions and philosphies since the
beginning oftime.
First, science and its benefits must be directed towards making life better for all
Americ;ms, not just the JWivileged few. Lack of money or social status must never be a barrier
to the benefits of technology. Science that does not move us all forward is science that will hold
us all back.
Second, technology must be used to enhance, not diminish the dignity of the
3
�individual. Researchers and doctors have a responsibility to respect our privacy. What they learn
about us is nobody's business unless we say so.
Third, none of our discoveries, especially in the areas of genetics, should be used to
label or discrimitutte against any g•·oup or individual. Increasing knowledge about the great
diversity within the human ~pecies rnust not change the basic belief upon which our ethics, our
government and our society are based: All men are created equal. Period. End of story.
And finally, we must always remember that science is not God. Our deepest truths
remain outside the realm of science. We must temper our euphoria over the recent breakthrough
in animal cloning with sobering attention to our most cherished concepts offaith and humanity.
My own view is that each human life is unique, born of a miracle that reaches beyond laboratory
science. I believe we must respect this profound gitt and resist the temptation to replicate
ourselves. But this is a decision no President should make alone. That is why I have asked our
National Bioethics Advisory Commission, headed by President Harold Shapiro ofPrinceton, to
conduct a thorough review ofthe legal and ethical issues raised by this new cloning discovery.
They will give me their recommendations within the next few weeks.
So today, at the edge of this new century, let us pledge to learn more and do more in the
realm of science. But let us also pledge to redouble our vigilance, to make sure that the science
of the 21st Century serves our most enduring human values.
We must continue our commitment to science- by balancing our budget in a way that
balances the need to increase our investments in science, technology and medical research. In the
budget that I vetoed in 1995, money for research and development was actually reduced. At a
time of intense international competititon, when Japan and Europe each year increase their
investments in research, cutting our science budget made as little sense as cutting the defense
budget would have during the Cold War. The balanced budget agreement l reached with the
leaders of Congress two weeks ago funds the increase 1 requested for science and technology in
my 1998 budget and reaffirms our long-term commitment in this important area. Last year, six of
the eight Nobel Prize winners in science were Americans. We can all be proud. And we can be
prouder still that every single one of them received help tl·om the national goverment for their
research.
We must commit to building on the advances we are making in medicine. Conquering
disease can and must be our next great national mission.
No disease has sown more fear than AIDS. But the strides we have made make it clear
that the only way to win this struggle is with a targeted investment of resources and technology.
Fitteen years ago. an AlDS diagnosis was thought to be a certain death sentence. But, we
never accepted that judgment. We have fought back with knowledge, with compassion and with
money to bring new hope and new life to people living with AIDS. And we are beginning to turn
the tide. Recent advances in biomedical research, supported by NIH, have dramatically increased
4
�the life expectancy of those with HIV.
Now we can take the next step. A safe and effective AIDS vaccine is a global health
imperative. More than 29 million men, women and children around the world have been infected
with HIV. More than 3 million of these infections occurred in just the past year, with nearly 95%
in the poorest parts of the world. Without an effective vaccine, AIDS will soon overtake
tuberculosis and malaria as the leading infectious killer in the world. Even here in this country,
where new and effective anti-HlV strategies are available, complacency is not an option. HIV is
capable of mutating and becoming resistant to therapies and could well become even more
dangerous. Only a truly effective anti-HIV vaccine can eventually totally eliminate the threat of
AIDS.
Thirty-six years ago, President Kennedy looked to the skies and determined that the flag
of peace and democracy, not war and tyranny must be the first to be planted on the moon.
Today, let us look within and step up to the challenge of our times -- a challenge with
consequences far more immediate for the life and death of millions around the world. I believe
this nation must build upon the great strides we have made in the exploration of the inner space of
the human body and commit itselfto developing a vaccine against AIDS within the next ten years.
There are no guarantees; it will take energy, it will take focus, and, yes, it will take money. We
are willing to commit the public resources necessary to see this to the end. If America commits to
creating an AIDS vaccine within the next decade, we will do it.
We must do what we can to reap the benefits of the scientific explosion. And we must
also take steps, now, to prevent the worst abuses that can come fl·om the new knowledge.
With stunning speed, scientists are now moving to unlock the secrets of our genetic code.
Genetic testing has the potential to identify hidden genetic disorders and spur early treatment.
But, it can also be used by insurance companies and others to discriminate and stigmatize groups
of people. We know that in the 1970s some African Americans were denied health care coverage
by insurers and jobs by employers because they were identified as sickle cell anemia carriers. We
also know that the number one reason women refuse genetic testing for breast cancer is their fear
that insurance companies may either refuse health care coverage for themselves or members of
their families or charge excessively high premiums. We must put a stop to this. No insurer
should be able to use genetic data to underwrite or discriminate against any American seeking
health insurance. This should not just be a matter of principle, it should be a matter oflaw. In the
coming days, l will send legislation to the Congress to prohibit insurance companies from using
genetic screening information to determine premium rates or eligibility for health insurance.
Finally, we will only make sure that science serves the values of all Americans, if all
Americans are given a chance to participate in science. There is a place for all of us at the table of
science in the 21st century. We cannot move forward without the voices and talents of everyone
in this stadium and, especially those graduates who are going on to pursue careers in science and
technology. African Americans have always been at the foretl·ont of American science. Nothing 5
�- not slavery, not discrimination, not poverty -- has ever been able to hold back the scientific urge
or the creative genius of African Americans.
Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught mathematician/surveyor/astronomer, who published
an annual almanac and helped design the city ofWashington. George Washington Carver was
born a slave, but went on to become one of this nation's greatest agricultural scientists. And
Charles Drew lived through the darkest days of segregation to become a pioneer in blood
preservation. African Americans will play an even greater role in science in the coming years.
You will be the investigators, the doctors, and the scholars who will help keep our science rooted
in our values.
Benjamin Banneker, who was born not t~u from here in Ellicott Mills, Maryland once said,
"The color of the skin is in no ways connected with the strength of the mind or intellectual
powers." His talent and tenacity were his tickets to success. They will be yours too.
Thank you and God bless you all.
6
�tJiay-05-00
09: OSP
Penn, S(boen i Berland Assodates~ lnl
805 15th Street tenth floor NW Washington, DC 20005
Telephone (202) 842-0500 Fax (202) 289-0916
To:
From:
----'-;h~A-4----rlt~{i-~_1\J_Iv'
________
s:_,_y/_/~r -21. . ,/ ;.v;. ,._
. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
oate: _ _ _
Number of Pages, including cover: _ _s
______
Comments:
If you have not received all the pages that are indicated, or are having problems
with the reception of the materials, please contact our office. (202) 842-0500
�May-05-00 09:09P
Scienc~·Speech ~:
. 1) intra to the topic is well written but long. Also it does not hit the theme
of what we must do in science in the next century to prepare America.
2) principles need more explanation, much more integration into the
speech.
3) Need to be more graphic and more specific about the dangers and
where we stand on them.
Here are some slightly revised principles to guide us into the 21st
century ...
A) maintain leadership in science and medical research by setting new
goals of progress. Every generation should seek to reach for the stars
- to set goals that seem beyond their grasp in science
B) Make sure that new technology goes to the many, not the privileged
few ...
C) Not let science breakdown the wall of privacy free citizens are
guaranteed in a free society
D) Be a leader in international agreements that keep scientific
developments as safe as they are beneficial
E) Impose our own limits when science threatens our fundamental
principles of maintaining our individuality or the sanctity of life as we
were meant to live and enjoy it. We must resist the temptation to play
God with science. (letting science become our new God?)
Why does he not want cloning?
\
What about9rowing human organs for medical purposes?)
The ideal of the need of principles to guide us through the moral
choices is essential early on.
And perhaps we should be more graphic about some of the choices we
face:
Science can enable us in the next century to feed billions more people in
comfort and safety or it can create a nuclear or biological war. that in a
P~02
�~ay-05-00
09:09P
P.03
matter of minutes, can set in motion forces that can reduce our planet to a
wasteland. And it can do by accident just as easily as on purpose.
Maybe unnecessary but:
Some of the bad things that could happen if science is not
controlled -new germs that we cannot stop; new weapons that can kill
people without touching our cities; new foods that could cause mass
allergic reactions; and the nuclear scenarios of machine launching against
machine could become the reality.
Examples of.how I would give meaning to principles:
1) Democratization
There is a new diemension to the haves and have nets - those with
and without the tools and understanding to learne technology. In
the 21st Century, the school that does not have the link to the
internet or the child who does not have acces to a computer will be
like the 18th century child without school books. That is why we are
ensuring that every child in every school, no matter how rich or
poor, will have the same access to technology. And the new fund
created last week by the FCC ensures.
Today, our main expenditures on science and technology are no
longer for the few, but the many- advances against dreaded
diseases, spread of the internet, research oin the largest scale in
history. A computer in every home remains our goal. Access to
health advances in every home is our goal.
2) Privacy. Respon for the individual. ..
Certainly no one should be a human guinea pig without consent.
And no one should be required to submit to DNA testing, or carry
genetic identification. Nor should the encoding of medical records
lead to greater beaches of privacy.
Today, marketers can follow every aspect of our lives, from the first
phone call, we make to the time our security system says we left to
the video camera at the toll booth, to the charge slip for our lunch.
Nothing about our daily lives will be private unless we strengthen
our laws to ensure that we are all not guinea pigs for marketers ....
��I
·1
u·
··'
DRAFT
5/14/97 4:00 pm
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS, MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
MAY 18, 1997
Acknowledgn\,ents: Dr. Earl Richardson, President; Judge Harry Cole, board chair;
Governor Glendening; Mayor Schmoke; elected officials - including city council, which voted .to
ban cigarette.billboards near schools; Reps. Elijah Cummings, Ben Cardin; Sens. Sarbanes,
Mikulski; Board of Regents; Faculty and staff; distinguished alumni: Judge Cole; Judge Robert
Bell, Chief Judge ofMaryland's highest court; Kweisi Mfume; Earl Graves; Richard Dixon, State
Treasurer; Terry Edmonds, White House staff.
am~o
~commencement
deliv.f.l'
at an Historically Black University. In our
I
past, when the doors orc~lfegemere closed to all but white students, Morgan State and the
nation's other HBCUs 'hve young African Americans the education they deserved and-the pride
they needed to rise above cruelty and bigotry. In our present, HBCUs produce the lion's share of
our black doctors, judges, and businesspeople- and Morgan State graduates most of the black
scientists and engineers in Maryland. And in our future, I am certain that HBCUs will play an
even greater role in moving our country forward.
But, Morgan State is not just a great Historically Black University -- Morgan State is a
great American university. You have produced some of this country's finest leaders. J::.J.et ju6t tbe
Africau A lllerican coll11+H.mitJ';-btlt Gur entire Am~ community would be diminished without
great Morgan grads like Parren Mitchell, Kweisi Mfume and Earl Graves. The halls of justice
would be diminished without great judicial leaders like Judge Bell and Judge Cole. And without
Morgan, I ·would never have had the good fortune to work with Terry Edmonds who, remarkably.
is the first African American ever to serve as a presidential speechwriter.
·All ofyou graduate today into a world brimming with promise and rich with opportunity.
Today, and in speeeh~t-s<:w.e~:aLothgr-g-r-aetJ-at-iens-t~~is-spft.nfj, I want to talk about the challenge
of preparing the American people for the stunning new century ahead.
We know that this new world will be smaller than ours is, as currents of commerce and
communications link every nation in a truly global economy. We know that we will have to work
harder than ever to make our diversity not a weakness, but our greatest strength.
7
And we know that above all else the 21" century, in its texture, in its promise and in its
reality, will be molded by science. shaped by technology, powered by knowledge
Over the past half century. we have seen mankind's greatest breakthroughs-- we have
split the atom; microchips and laser~have transformed the way we live. For half a century, we ~......v-< ~
strugg~ecl to ba~ss these forces as pow~·ful as the sun, in an effort to keep them from destroying
~-t.~~..i v4Q
}
.
C4"t-.-t~<.. ~t~ ~
-
1
•
)~ ~ "t<. ~-leA-\.. ~.:t ~lv.c.:E-)
�•..
I
~~
Partnership for a New Generationof Vehicles (I'NG~) might be a better example if we're talking about I) the p~ce of change, 2) forgi~g S&T .\
public-private partnerships to tackle comple~ tcch111cal ch:t~lcnges, or _3) how ~o reduce our n_ecd for tmpo~ed 01!.. In a~~-cvent, growmg ~last!<;
~:\housands of acres will not "dramatically back a lot o! !mportcd otl out of economy. Stnke the word. dramattcally tfthe sentence wtll \ .
\
remain as it is. Or consider: Today, many of our finest sci··ltfists and engineers from both the public and private sectors are working in
partnership to develop a new generation of vehicles (PNG1j by 21/u./ that will get81/ miles per gallon. Or, you want different construct on
"generically altered", then you might consider: Today, farmers are planting millions of acres of genetically- altered, pest resistant crops which
dramatically reduces our need for environmentally hazardous pesticide~.
.
·_o.
01
the planet. Today, at long last, nuclear and computer technology are realizing their greater value
as servants of a better life, not masters of a bitter destruction. They are revolutionizing the way
we communicate, helping save lives, providing healthier and safer foods, protecting our
environment, improving transportation and making all our lives better.
~l~~~lu~
~~~~lv~J.:~
lf~e~ st ~~~ w
the ·age ?fphysics, t.he next ~G-oy-eat'S ~ill be the age ~fbiology.
We are
o r most danng exploratton ever-- unravehng the mystenes of o·ur
inner world and charti~g new routes to the conquest of disease. And our great challenge will be
to harness the power ofbiology, our increasing knowledge about the cell, the brain and life itself
so that we can reap the amazing benefits without sowing the seeds of our own destruction.
now~~~
We have not, and we must not ever shrink from exploring the frontiers of science and
basic knowledge, rio matter where it leads us. But as we consider how to use the fruits ofthat
knowledge, we must also never retreat from our commitment to human values, the good of
society, and our basic sense of right and wrong. Today let us~t: in the 21st Century,
science must serve humanity - never the other way around. .._1'-L- c...r-.:+-
t- .
-
"1-k 1\1-.A.fWe enter-tftM century propelled by new and exciting developments. In the past year
alone, we saw the cloning of Dolly, the sheep. We learned that painless lasers can now do the
work of hand-held drills in dentistry. The Hubble Telescope is bringing into fo~~s d.ark wmers of
the cosmos never seen before. Scientists have found what they believe may be~,~~e~ce of
micrqscopic life on Mars. And last week, we saw a computer named Deep Bl~e. defeat the
world's reigning chess champion. I hope they don't make a computer that can play golf
~
In years to come this pace of change will only accelerate. Today, farmers are planting
thousands of acres of plants genetically altered to produce plastic, which by 2003 will dramatically c.. kk ~
~ce our need for imported oil. r~~G¥at~G~£-i-~-G€Htl~~ektgy and communieatiem-s-a.-Fe
~ug...what Bill Gates caHs-the-wcrid..!.s-n~1g1ta!-fterveus systeRt:-" Cures for our most dread
Gi-sea:ses - dia?ete_s, cystic fib:osis and b-J-cheim~. ~hat was once the stuif ~ ~~
of sc15ce
fict1on 1s now rout111e fact. ~ ~ T JL.a..~I.J-v\.'- ... ~.__..~ t.Lc:k w ~c.h ). ~ \
Lu"\((
Tl...c. ~~f T-C.<:..~<>C.:.~ to r:J"W\ ~l~~ ~~<:."t=.lf~ ~ 11Ja.Uc)Lu...*'-~\~-".. ~~
.
~~c...
~1)\c.J>,.A ~
cP.e...<:...;.::U-C.A-c.cR...,..
C\..4--'-
~~ ~
•
ILwe master these powerful forces, we will enrich our existence. These breakthroughs
dazzle ~s not only because of their brilliance but because they offer a prospect for fuller, -longeJ:
lives -- lives that are freed from the shackles of disease and ignorance that today enslave too
many around the world.
""'"'<>~ b~
!f_we...master_these forces, we will keep our economy the strongest in the world_ Today,
unemployment is the lowe~.i~'sj>een in more than two decades. Core inflation is at its lowest in
three decades. And~~~~n the highest decline in income inequality since the l 960s. But.
"
as strong as our economy
is, it will not sustain our leadership in the 21st century if we do not
har-ness-the-fer-CGs of science and technology that have always led our progress. Where once
nations measured their strength by the size of their armies, their arsen~ and their GDPs. in the
world ofthe future, it is knowledge that will matter most. f.ully halft~;b~omic grow1h over
the past half century can be traced to innovation and technology- and that share will only grow in
..J
_J
�years ahead.
But more than our economy, more even than the benefits to our lives, this scientific
C.o..,.......
revolution wtH lift the American spirit and let our imaginations take wing. A constant thirst for
knowledge has been a defining part of our history. From the earliest pioneers to the men and
women who explore our heavens, ours has been a restless quest of discovery. We have always
believed, with Thomas Jefferson that freedom is "the firstborn daughter of science."
Human curiosity is the driving force behind all human discovery. We must do nothing to
stifle our basic quest for knowledge. It is an essential part of what makes us human. It is a
fundamental principle of our democracy. In the last century, the spirit and benefits of scientific
curiosity have propelled us from field to factory to cyberspace. But just as science can be a
tremendous force for good, it can also be used to do harm.
The Internet can be a new town square- or it can .be a new Tower of Babel. The same
computer that can put the Library of Congress at our fingertips, can also be used by groups who
are plotting division and violence. Will new breakthroughs in biology and genetics be used to
bring us closer together or split us farther apart? The same knowledge that is developing new
life-saving drugs can be used to create poisons of mass destruction. Science has no soul of its
own. It is up to us to determine if..iiwill be u~ed as a force for good or evi.l.
~IP':. '\M-a..v..·~T...:hci'V\ ....,.... -\-<-c.-1.-.c)L .. ~_
n
\.._,..)~ 'YI-'·'t ~~ .•
We know that in years past, too often science mirn.~reQ the sickn0ss of !>OGiety at large
Here at one of America's great HBCUs, let me underscore what I said a few days ago at the
White House. We must never allow our citizens to be unwitting guinea pigs in scientific
experiments without their consent, that put them at risk -- whether it is the withholding of syphilis
treatment from the black men ofTuskegee or the Cold War experiments that subjected some of
our citizens to dangerous doses of radiation -- we must never allow those kinds of things to
happen again. We must never go back to those awful days when eugenics and racial stereotyping
here and i~ Europe resulted in ~iscrim,ination ;n.d worz~$~t.~se judged to be inferior. O~r
greatness IS measured not only tn how we do ~lbuf also tn -itl)w we act when we know we ve
done the wrong thing; how we confront our mistakes, make our apologies and take action.
t
Science often moves faster than our ability to understand its implications. Each new
discovery, each new breakthrough, creates a new maze of moral and scientific questions We are
only just be~nnin~ to figure out how~answer-4he5~u~. But I believe we must stan by
applying tA@.-5~~6 ~rinciples that-i:lav 6~:~iclecl-all-t~~8-W-eat-religiens-afH:I.-t3l=ltle5epl=l~~i.ne?-t.h€
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First, science and its benefits must be directed towards making life better for all
Americans, not just. the privile2:ed few. Lack of money or social status must never be a barrier
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to the benefits of technology. Setenee-t-hat-dG~S-n{:}t-H'Ieve-tt-s-a+l-f-eFW.a+d-i-s-sGJenee-t.Raw.IA~Hmtd
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Second, technology must be used to enhance, not diminish the dignity of the
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - · - - · -····-
�individual. Researchers and doctors have a responsibility to respect our privacy~ey-leam
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Third, none of our discoveries, especially in the areas of genetics, should be used to
label or discriminate against any group or individual. Increasing knowledge about the great
diversity within the human species must not change the basic belief upon which our ethics, our
government and our society are based: All men are created equal. Period. End of story.
And finally, we must always remember that science is not God. Our deepest truths
remain outside the realm of science. We must temper our euphoria over the recent breakthrough
in animal cloning with sobering attention to our most cherished concepts of faith and humanity.
My own ~iew is that each human life is unique, born of a miracle that reaches beyond laboratory
·
•
science. I believe we must respect this profound gift and resist the temptation to replicate
ourselves. But this is a decision no President should make alone. That is why I Ra-ve asked our~'~-+~~~.~., ..
National Bioethics Advisory Commission, headed by President Harold Shapiro of Princeton, to
conduct a thorough review ofthe legal and ethical issues raised by this new cloning discovery.
They will give me their recommendations within the next few weeks.
So today, at the edge ofthis new century, let us pledge to learn more and do more in the
realm of science. But let us also pledge to redouble our vigilance, to make sure that the science
ofthe 21st Century serves our most enduring human values.
We must continue our commitment to science- by balancing our budget in a way that
balances the need to increase our investments in science, technology and medical research. ln the
budget that I vetoed in 1995, money for research and development was actually reduced At a
time of intense international competition, when Japan and Europe each year increase their
investments in research, cutting our science budget made as little sense as cutting the defense
budget would have during the Cold War. Th~nced budg~ agreement I reached with the
leaders of Congress two weeks ag~~~G-+ReF@a~f'rtcT~sted for science and technology in
my 1998 budget and reaffirms our long-term commitment in this important area. Last year, five
of the eight Nobel Prize winners in science were Americans. We can all be proud. And we can be
prouder still that every single one of them received help from the national government for their ~
research.~ .().oO..U~ ·\Q.~IJ>..I.to:...Q ~ ~\..).A-\f~~ 'YVI-~ crv-c-- t1-c.. iJa.At- ~o
hL 'c..0'1 '\M.Ol...e. .• "\ t .v. '-"11 _t-., ~ ''Y\ ~ I -c', ~-~ ~ t1-..:.. "'+~ ~ f<---*UJ-.-4.. '& c..A-v- \,~c~\~ ~+~~ -to t>~ ,
We must commit to building on the advances we are making in medicine. Conquering
disease can and must be our next great national mission.
~~t-~
No disease has sown more-fear than AIDS.t~- ~hj strides we have made make it clear
that the only way
win this struggle is with a~
Investment of resources and technology
to
Fifteen years ago. an AIDS diagnosis was thought to be a certain death sentence But, we
never accepted that judgment. We have fought back with knowledge, with compassion and with
money to bring new hope and new life to people living with AIDS. And we are beginning to tum
the tide. Recent advances in biomedical research. supported by NIH. have dramatically increased
4
�the life expectancy of those with HIV.
~~c:1'~
Now we can take the next step. A safe anti effective AIDS vaccine is a global health
.
I
I
imperative. More than 29 million men, women and children around the woFld have been infected
with HIV. More than 3 million of these infections occurred in just the past year, with nearly 95%
in the poorest parts of the world. Without an effective vaccine, AIDS will soon overtake
tuberculosis and malaria as the leading infectious killer in the world. Even here in this country,
where new and effec~ve anti-HIV strategies are available, complacency is not an option. IllV is
capable of mutating and becoming resistant to therapies and could well become even more
·
dangerous.· Only a truly effective ~-HIV vaccine can eventually..teta-Hy eliminate the threat of
AIDS.
Thirty-six years ago, President Kennedy looked to the skies and determined that the flag
of peace and democracy, not war and tyranny must be the first to be planted on the moon.
Today, let us look within and step up to the challenge of our times-- a challenge with
consequences far more immediate for the life and death of millions around the world. I believe
this nation must build upon the great strides we have made in the exploration of the iriner space of
the human body and commit itself to developing a vaccine against AIDS within the next ten years.
There are no guarantees; it will take energy, it will take focus, and, yes, it will take money. We
are willing to commit the public resources necessary to see this to the end. If America commits to
cre~ting an AIDS vaccine within the next decade, we will do it.
We must do what we can to reap the benefits of the scientific explosion And we must
also take steps, now, to prevent the worst abuses that can come from the new knowledge.
With stunning speed, scientists are now moving to unlock the secrets of our genetic code.
Genetic testing has the potential to identify hidden genetic disorders and spur early treatment.
But, it can also be used by insurance companies and others to discriminate and stigmatize groups
of people. We know that in the 1970s some African Americans were denied health care coverage
by ihsurers and jobs by employers because they were identified
as. sicfceI.I.Se.c-~
cell anemia
.
t".,..lrt. \'·~~·ers.. We
also know that the number one reason women refuse genettc testtng o~breast cancer t etr fear
that insurance companies may either refuse health care coverage for themselves or members of
their families or charge excessively high premiums. We must put a stop to this No insurer
should be able to use genetic data to underwrite or discriminate against any American seeking
health insurance. This should not just be a matter of principle, it should be a matter of law. In the
coming days, I will send legislation to the Congress to prohibit insurance companies from using
genetic screening information to determine premium rates or eligibility for health insurance.
·
~~~
Finally, we will only make sure that science serves the values of all Americans,)\ all
·Americans arc given a chance to participate in science. There ~place for all of us at the table of
science in the 21st century. We-eann0t-meve-fer-w.ar.d-wi.t~let:t+ the voices and talents of everyone
in this stadium aHtl, especially those graduates who, are going on to pursue careers in science and
.t~hnelegy. ~~rican Americans have always been ¥-rthe forefront of American science. Nothing /
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�- not slavery, not discrimination, not poverty -- has ever been able to hold back the scientific urge
or the creative genius of African Americans.
Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught mathematician/surveyor/astronomer, who published
an annual almanac and helped design the city of Washington. George Washington Carver was
born a slave, but went on to become one of this nation's greatest agricultural scientists. Aild
Charles Drew lived through the darkest days of segregation to become a pioneer in blood
preservation. Mrican ~ericans will play an even greater role in science in the coming years.
You will be the investigators, the doctors, and the scholars who will help keep our science rooted
in our values.·
Benjamin Banneker, who was born not far from here in Ellicott Mills, Maryland once said,
"The color ofthe skin is in no ways connected with the strength of the mind or intellectual
powers." His talent and tenacity were his tickets to success. They will be yours too.
Thank you and God bless you aiL
I
The payoff of pub Iic investments in S&T argument could be strengthened somewhat.
I
Privat~ sector ~nventio~s and products now being realized in _areas o: scicnc_e and tcchn~l~~~ arc a result of public sector risks and investments \
made m the 60s and 70s. Now, government must stake out future d1scovenes and poss1blht1es for our grandchildren in the years 2040 to 2050.
I~ is o_ur collective responsibility to push the frontiers ~f s_cience and t~c,hno~ogy t_o ensure that future generations of Americans will lead better I\
lives m a ~et~er land. These-pub_I1Cinvestmcnt-m.S&.:J-wlll-sparklhcmltlanvc"l:rfpnvate-mdustry-to-produce-products-and services --making- .
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Thy._,~verage:o~ Federal·Kesearch. __
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·.An .exhriU.StivC ~tudy. for ihC~N3:iiOnat Science
Foundation has· discovered that the novel ideas
conceived by 'American ·patent holders ·ctcpcnd fa~
more on res_carch_ p~id for ~y government than on
rcs~arch pat? for·~y_pr~~ate ind':'stry. ll1c finding
belies the gltb asscr.tior_l, heard often in Congress
last year, that as private i!']dustry cxpa~ds its
research· bu~~e_t, Washington can scale back its
research ~cttv~ues. The implication is that proposed
cutbacks m Federal research would damage the
economy.
Ten years ago, private industry' and the Federal Government spent about the sanle amount on
re_search and development. Today the Government
still spends about $60 billion- much less if corrected for the cost of programs like weapons maintenance that do not add to scientific knowledge
Meanwhile, industry-funded research and develop:
mcnt has soared to about $120 million. Yet the
Government's ~~tivel¥ small research budget has
P~~~~~~. -~~g .!~~~J~ ~~~~.?:~~.~~ry~·g~_(tiY gOVCrn·~~-t:l.1. ~~~--·~-~~p~oftt agencies accounts fOr oVCr 70
pe_rcent .or the. t?~i~r_ilil@'Y_~ijiCiSCHCd 'fO ..ihC ·stUdy":.-;
sample of recent pa~!;'!!. ~ii!?~;;;--·-- · ... - ·
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'~l~tl1, .more often than business, lli!YS ·tor -b3Sic
r~~~~£1.!.- bcq~_fJ_!~J!Q~ch ~p.read througti001
~ll~S.£Q!10my, raising pr.oductivity:!fndustry spcOO~
Its mon~y pn more narrow ·pursuits, like develo .
menl of. a specific product. Also, government U:d
nonpr~!Jt researchers publish their findings early.
Some .mdustry research is suppressed to prcservt:
propnetary advantage.
sr:~~~~i~g on researc_~!.~~-<_1-~y~~o_p_ment contributes.perhaps half of the growth in Am.criean. livm
~tan_dards. Each dollar spent on baSiC'resc·ar ~
pe~manently adds so· ·cenTs· Oi"ITiOre--··-- --· · '=
n~.t_i§§_l~?~!:r~f:.:.. -~n_l~jl~t-·thatiSe~~J~tf~-!~
la~f?EE..Y.~.~f! .~.l~~. ~.r!~ancnt s_ains from incfeisesin
o r~~-~a-~y___i.:'!.~.~f!.e_ss . in.Y.~§iffiS!JlLThiStai:C-St "Study
suggests that g'2~ernn:ce.~t..;!J!!!..!'..niY.<:.rJlity:Qascd rc~ea.rt::~ pac~. t~1e btgg~~-t.Vt~l_l_<;>p_. Even so. the Adm~
IStrauon and Congress arc working on budget plans
that would cut Federal research by between 14 and
20 percent after accounting for inflation.
President Clinton ran for office in 1992 on an
ag<;.I)9a _9f public investment.ll..was_a_goocfi"dCa
then.- It 1.s an even bcttc~.~~-ca now.
··
��DRAFT: TUSKEGEE AND MORGAN STATE
Two events coming up this week offer opportunities to talk about the President's initiative on
racial reconciliation:
•
Tuskegee Ceremony: a ceremony recognizing the survivors of the study at Tuskegee, to
be held at the White House on Friday May 16~ and
•
Morgan State Commencement: a commencement address at Morgan State University in
Baltimore, Maryland on May 18.
General
When commenting on these events you may want to make these points:
•
Both events are examples of the President's comrriitment to the issues of racial
reconciliation, and to moving beyond past discrimination to current and future practices.
•
Note the President's personal leadership in these events. This is an opportunity to deal
with the questions about the Commission and who will be appointed by making the point
that the real story here is not about a Commission, but about the President and his
initiative.
•
These events are part of a Presidential Initiative in which Bill Clinton, with his
personal history and commitment, will be directly and regularly involved. It is a
process in which he has been engaged over the last four years (as in speeches he has given
at Memphis and Austin) and throughout his life.
Tuskegee Ceremony
•
At a ceremony recognizing the survivors of the U.S. Public Health Service Syphilis Study
at Tuskegee, President will issue an apology on behalf of the federal government to the
survivors and their families. He will then go on to make several policy announcements
which will address this issue, and help ensure that future scientific research will be more
inclusive of, and sensitive to, racial minorities.
•
The study at Tuskegee is a shameful episode in our nation's history, and it has left a legacy
of distrust between the African American community and the research community. The
right thing to do is to acknowledge and apologize for the past, and then to institute action
steps for the future. These actions are a model for the kinds of policies you may see
recommended in the President's Initiatjve when appropriate.
:,
.
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�---------------
---
---
--------------------------
Morgan State University ·
•
By making his first commencement address of the year at Morgan State University, a
historically black school, the President is also expressing his concern with the ongoing
problem of racial division. He has chosen this school to deliver a major address about the
role of science in preparing America for the 21st century.
•
Thus, instead of speaking about race to a minority audience, the President will speak at
Morgan State about a different issue of national interest; and he will address the topic of
race at the University of California at San. This is an example of how he hopes in the
coming year to inspire dialogue and conversation both about the issue of race itself, and
among Americans of different races about the issues and values that bring us together.
•
Of course, there is an obvious connection, which the President will address, between the
role of science, the importance of having ethics that inform and guide our approach to
science, and the study at Tuskegee .
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��PRES1DENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS, MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
MAY 18, 1997
Acknowledgments: Dr. Earl Richardson, President; Judge Harry Cole, board chair;
Governor Glendening; Mayor Schmoke; elected officials; Rep.Elijah Cummings; Rep. Ben Cardin;
Sen. Sarbanes; Sen. Mikulski; Members of Congress; Board ofRegents; Faculty and staff;
distinguished alumni: Judge Cole; Judge Robert Bell, Chief Judge of Maryland's highest court;
Kweisi Mfume; Earl Graves; Richard Dixon, State Treasurer; Terry Edmonds, White House staff.
I am pleased to deliver my first commencement at an Historically Black University.
Morgan State along with the nation's other HBCUs is a national treasure, vital to our goal of
making sure the workforce of the 21st century looks like America. We must never forget that
·when the doors of college were closed to all but white students, and black people's aspirations.
were scorned, Morgan and this nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities gave young
African Americans the high quality education they deserved and the pride they needed to rise
above cruelty and bigotry. Even today, for many African Americans, HBCUs provide an essential
gateway to higher learning. And you still produce the lions share of this country's black doctors,
judges and business leaders. Dr. Richardson likes to say that Morgan and other HBCUs "take ·
diamonds in the rough and turn them into shining gems." This graduating class adds to that
treasure.
But, Morgan State is not just a great Historically Black University -- Morgan State is a
great American university. You lead the state in the number ofbachelor's degrees awarded to
African American students, as well as leading in degrees awarded to African Americans in the
fields of science and engineering. And you have produced some of this country's finest leaders.
Without the blessing of Morgan, our world might never have known shining gems like the
great political pioneer Parren Mitchell, or the great human rights w('lrrior, Kweisi Mfume. We
would have never benefited from the mentoring genius of a business guru like Earl Graves. The
halls of justice would be diminished without great judicial leaders like Judge Bell and Judge Cole.
Without the blessing of Morgan, I would never have had the good fortune to meet Terry
Edmonds who, remarkably, is the first African American .to serve as a presidential speech writer in
the history of this nation.
As Maryland's Public Urban University, Morgan is also playing a critical role in improving
educational opportunities and quality of life in the City of Baltimore. 1 just want to mention two
of your outstanding contributions to this community. I am pleased that Morgan is responding to
our call for national standards in education by leading the effort to reform science and math
education in Baltimore's public schools. And I want to thank you for being one ofthe first
universities to join America Reads, our national etf011 to help make sure all our children can read.
�l am pleased that the State has supported your efforts both inside and outside the
classroom by investing in your growth -- and we want to help. That is why we are working to
increase federal funding to HBCUs. It is why we've made student loans less expensive and easier
to obtain. AmeriCorps, our national service program has given tens ofthousands ofyoung people
a chance to earn college tuition while serving their communities. We have increased the number
of work-study positions to help students work their way through college. And we are working to
build on the biggest increase in Pell Grants in 20 years.
Today, and in speeches at several other graduations this spring, l want to talk about the
challenge of preparing the American people for the stunning new century ahead. Above all else
that century, in its texture, in its promise and in its reality, will be molded by science. We enter
that century propelled by new and exciting developments vi11ually every week. ln the last year
alone, we saw the cloning of Dolly, the sheep. We have made giant strides in prolonging the lives
of people with AIDS .. We learned that lasers can now do the work ofhand-held drills in dentistry.
The Hubble Telescope is bringing into focus dark corners of the cosmos never seen before. Our
k11owledge of the human brain and how it works has taken a quantum leap forward. And last
week, we saw a computer named Deep Blue, defeat the w'?rld's reigning chess champion. I hope
they don't make a computer that can play golf
America's constant thirst for knowledge and discovery has been a defining part of our
history. From the earliest pioneers to the men and women who explore our heavens, our has
been a restless quest of discovery. Thomas Jefferson once said, "Freedom is the firstborn
daughter of science." The greatest breakthroughs of the past half century have been in physics.
We have split the atom. Microchip and laser technologies have transformed the way we live.
And through it all, we have met our greatest challenge by harnessing the power of nuclear fission
without destroying our world. I think we have done pretty well. The Cold War and nuclear arms
race are over. Nuclear and computer technology are realizing their greater value as servants of a
better life, not masters of a bitter destruction. They are revolutionizing the way we communicate,
helping save lives, providing healthier and safer foods, protecting our environment, improving
transportation and making all our lives better.
But, if the last 50 years were the age of physics, the next 50 will be the age of biology.
We are now embarking on our most daring exploration ever-- unraveling the mysteries of our
inner world and cha11ing new routes to the conquest of disease. And our great challenge will be
to harness the power of biology, our increasing knowledge about the cell, the brain and life itself
so that we can reap the amazing benefits without sowing the seeds of our own destruction.
The truth is, the students who are getting their diplomas today are entering a new age of
possibility-- brimming with change and opportunity. Much ofthis has been made possible by the
work we have done together to strengthen our economy. Unemployment is the lowest it's been in
more than two decades. Core inflation is at its lowest in three decades. And we have seen the
highest decline in income inequality since the 1960s.
2
�But, as strong as our economy is, it will not sustain our leadership in the 21st century if
we do not harness the forces of science and technology that have always led our progress. Where
once nations measured their strength by the size of their armies, their arsenals and their GDPs, in
the world of the future, it is knowledge that will matter most. The health of our people, our
economy, our quality of live and our national security are all linked to the innovations and
investments we make in science.
Human curiosity is the driving force behind all human discovery. We must do nothing to
stifle our basic quest for knowledge. 1t is an essential part of what makes us human. It is a
fundamental principle of our democracy. ln the last century, the spirit and benefits of scientific
curiosity have propelled us from field to factory to cyberspace. But just as science can be a
tremendous force for good, it can also be used to do harm. Science often moves faster than our
ability to understand its implications. That is why we have a responsibility to move with caution
and care to harness the powerful forces of science and technology so that we can reap the benefits
while minimizing the potential dangers.
So we have to ask ourselves some basic questions: Will the wonders of the Internet help
us build a new town square or a new Tower of Babel? The same computer that can put the
Library of Congress at our tlngertips, can also be used by groups who are plotting division and
violence. Will new breakthroughs in biology and genetics be used to bring us closer together or
split us farther apart? The same knowledge that is developing new life-saving drugs can be used
to create poisons of mass destruction. Science has no soul of its own. 1t is up to us to determine
if it will be used as a force for good or evil.
Here at one of America's great HBCUs, I want to reiterate what 1 said a few days ago at
the White House. We must riever allow our citizens to be the unwitting guinea pigs in scientific
experiments without their consent, that put them at risk -- whether it is the withholding of syphilis
treatment from the black men ofTuskeegee or the Cold War experiments that subjected some of
our citizens to dangerous doses of radiation -- we must never allow those kinds of things to
happen again. As l have said before, our greatness is measured not only in how we do right, but
also in how we act when we know we've done the wrong thing; how we confront our mistakes,
make our apologies and take action.
We must never go back to those awful days when eugenics and racial stereotyping here
and in Europe resulted in discrimination and worse against those judged to be inferior. This is
especially imp01iant with the increased use of genetic testing. And we must resist the temptation
to play God. We must temper our euphoria over the recent breakthrough in animal cloning with
sobering attention to our most cherished concepts of faith and humanity. My own view is that
each human life is unique, born of a miracle that reaches beyond laboratory science. T believe we
must respect this profound gift and resist the temptation to replicate ourselves.
We have not, and we must not ever shrink from exploring the frontiers of science and
basic knowledge, no matter where it leads us. But as we consider how to use the fruits of that
�knowledge, we must also never retreat from our commitment to human values, the good of
society, and our basic sense of right and wrong.
That is why we must set forth some basic principles to guide our science in this dynamic
new age. First, science and its benefits must be directed towards making life better for all
Americans, not just the privileged few. Second, technology must be used to enhance, not
diminish the value, freedom and choices of the individual. Third, none of our discoveries,
especially in the areas of genetics, should be used to label or discriminate against any group or
individual. And finally, we must alwaysremember that science is not God. Our deepest truths
can never be captured or quantified by science.
So today, at the edge ofthis new century, let us pledge to learn more and do more in the
realm of science. But let us also pledge to redouble our vigilance, to make sure that the science
ofthe 21st century serves our most enduring human values. We must begin by balancing our
budget in a way that balances the need to increase our investments in science, technology and
medical research.· We must invest enough to build on the advances we are making in medicine.
Conquering disease must be our great national mission.
Look at how far we have come in the fight against AIDS. Fifteen years ago, an AIDS
diagnosis was thought to be a certain death sentence. But, we never accepted that judgement.
We have fought back with knowledge, with compassion and with money to bring new hope and
new life to people living with AIDS. And we are beginning to turn the tide. Recent advances in
biomedical research, supported by NTH have created new opp011unities and optimism in our
search for an effective vaccine against HIV infection.
A safe and etTective AIDS vaccine is a global health imperative. More than 29 million
men,' women and children around the world have been infected with HIV. More than 3 million of
these infections occurred in just the past year, with nearly 95% in the poorest parts of the world.
Without an effective vaccine, AIDS will soon overtake tuberculosis and malaria as the leading
infectious killer in the world. Even here in this country, where new and effective anti-HIV
strategies are available, complacency is not an option. HIV is capable of mutating and becoming
resistant to therapies and could well become even more dangerous. Only a truly effective antiHIV vaccine can eventually totally eliminate the threat of AIDS.
Thirty-six years ago, President Kennedy looked to the skies and determined that the flag
of peace and democracy, not war and tyranny must be the first to be planted on the moon. The
risks of failure were great. The Soviet Union was ahead of us in space technology and the
commitment he was asking from Congress was significant. But, he stood before the world and
boldly proclaimed, "I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this
decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth." Seven years later,
that dream became reality and American leadership in space has never wavered.
4
�Today, 1 am in a position to make a similar announcement -- with far more life and death
consequences. I believe this nation should build upon the great strides we have made in the
exploration ofthe inner space of the human body and commit itselfto developing a vaccine
against AIDS within the next ten years. lfwe make that commitment, 1 am sure we will fulfill it.
We must also put our ethics into practice, by taking steps to rebuild trust and make sure
what happened to the black men of Tuskegee and the victims of radiation experiments never
happens again. Similar measures must be taken to ensure the privacy, informed consent and
confidentiality of people who undergo genetic testing. While genetic testing has the potential to
identify hidden genetic disorders and spur early treatment, it can also be used by insurance
companies and others to discriminate and stigmatize groups of people. We know that in the
1970s some African Americans were denied health care coverage by insurers and jobs by
employers because they were identified as sickle cell anemia carriers. That must never happen
again. No insurer~be able to use genetic data to underwrite or discriminate against any
American seeking msurance. This should not just be a matter of principle, it should be a matter of
law, and lurge tht Congress o send me a bill that ensures the proper conduct of genetic testing.
ln closing, let me say th t there is a place for all of us at the table of science in the 21st
century. We cannot move forwa ·d without the voices and talents of everyone in this stadium and,
especially those graduates who ar going on to pursue careers in science and technology. African
Americans have always been at the forefront of American science. Nothing-- not slavery, not
discrimination, not pover1y -- has e er been able to hold back the scientific urge or the creative
genius of African Americans. Benja 1in Banneker was a self-taught
mathematician/surveyor/astronomer, ho published an annual almanac and helped design the city
ofWashington. George Washington arver was born a slave, but went on to become one ofthis
nation's greatest agricultural scientists.
nd Charles Drew lived through the darkest days of
segregation to become a pioneer in bloo
reservation. Afl·ican Americans will play an even
greater role in science in the coming years. You will be the investigators, the doctors, and the
scholars who will help keep our science roo ed in our values.
y~
rJ'l/
~
Benjamin Banneker, who was born not ~1r from here in Ellicott Mills, Maryland once said,
"The color of the skin is in no ways connected 'th the strength ofthe mind or intellectual
powers." His talent and tenacity were his tickets o success. They will be yours too.
/
~
M
11~n41
yrr
Thank you and God bless you all.
�PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS, MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
BALTlMORE, MARYLAND
MAY 18,1997
Acknowledgments: Dr. Earl Richardson, President; Judge Harry Cole, board chair;
Governor Glendening; Mayor Schmoke; elected officials; Rep.Elijah Cummings; Rep. Ben Cardin;
Sen. Sarbanes; Sen. Mikulski; Members of Congress; Board of Regents; Faculty and staff;
distinguished alumni: Judge Cole; Judge Robert Bell, ChiefJudge ofMaryland's highest court;
Kweisi Mfume; Earl Graves; Richard Dixon, State Treasurer; Terry Edmonds, White House staff.
I am pleased to deliver my first commencement at an Historically Black University.
Morgan State along with the nation's other HBCUs is a national treasure, vital to our goal of
making sure the workforce of the 21st century looks like America. We must never forget that
when the doors of college were closed to all but white students, and black people's aspirations
were scorned, Morgan and this nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities gave young
African Americans the high quality education they deserved and the pride they needed to rise
above cruelty and bigotry. Even today, for many African Americans, HBCUs provide an essential
gateway to higher. learning. And you still produce the lions share of this country's black doctors,
judges and business leaders. Dr. Richardson likes to say that Morgan and other HBCUs "take
diamonds in the rough and turn them into shining gems." This graduating class adds to that
treasure.
But, Morgan State is not just a great Historically Black University -- Morgan State is a
great American university. You lead the state in the number of bachelor's degrees awarded to
African American students, as well as leading in degrees awarded to African Americans in the
fields of science and engineering. And you have produced some of this country's finest leaders.
Without the blessing of Morgan, our world might never have known shining gems like the
great political pioneer Pan·en Mitchell, or the great human rights warrior, Kweisi Mfume. We
would have never benefited from the mentoring genius of a business guru like Earl Graves. The
halls of justice would be diminished without great judicial leaders like Judge Bell and Judge Cole.
Without the blessing ofMorgan, I would never have had the good fortune to meet Terry
Edmonds who, remarkably, is the first African American to serve as a presidential speech writer in
the history of this nation.
As Maryland's Public Urban University, Morgan is also playing a critical role in improving
educational opportunities and quality of life in the City of Baltimore. I just want to mention two
ofyour outstanding contributions to this community. I am pleased that Morgan is responding to
our call for national standards in education by leading the etfor1 to reform science and math
education in Baltimore's public schools. And I want to thank you for being one of the first
universities to join America Reads, our national effor1 to help make sure all our children can read.
l am pleased that the State has supported your efforts both inside and outside the
classroom by investing in your growth -- and we want to help. That is why we are working to
�increase federal funding to HBCUs. It is why we've made student loans less expensive and easier
to obtain. AmeriCorps, our national service program has given tens of thousands of young people
a chance to earn college tuition while serving their communities. We have increased the number
of work-study positions to help students work their way through college. And we are working to
build on the biggest increase in Pell Grants in 20 years.
Today, and in speeches at several other graduations this spring, l want to talk about the
challenge of preparii1g the American people for the stunning new century ahead. Above all else
that century, in its texture, in its promise and in its reality, will be molded by science. We enter
that century propelled by new and exciting developments virtually every week. ln the last year
alone, we saw the cloning of Dolly, the sheep. We have made giant strides in prolonging the lives
of people with AIDS. We learned that lasers can now do the work of hand-held drills in dentistry.
The Hubble Telescope is bringing into focus dark corners of the cosmos never seen before. Our
knowledge of the human brain and how it works has taken a quantum leap forward. And last
week, we saw a computer named Deep Blue, defeat the world's reigning chess champion. l hope
they don't make a computer that can play golf
America's constant thirst for knowledge and discovery has been a defining part of our
history. Thomas Jefferson once said, "Freedom is the firstborn daughter of science." The greatest
breakthroughs of the past half century have been in physics. We have split the atom. Microchip
and laser technologies have transformed the way we live. And through it all, we have met our
greatest challenge by harnessing the power of nuclear fission without destroying our world. I
think we have done pretty well. The Cold War and nuclear arms race are over. Nuclear and
computer technology are realizing their greater value as servants of a better life, not masters of a
bitter destruction. They are revolutionizing the way we communicate, helping save lives,
providing healthier and safer foods, protecting our environment, improving transportation and
making all our lives better.
But, if the last 50 years were the age of physics, the next will be the age of biology. And
our great challenge will be to harness the power of biology, our increasing knowledge about the
cell, the brain and life itself so that we can reap the amazing benefits without sowing the seeds of
our own destruction.
The truth is, the students who are getting their diplomas today are entering a new age of
possibility -- brimming with change and opportunity. Much of this has been made possible by the
work we have done together to strengthen our economy. Unemployment is the lowest it's been in
more than two decades. Core inflation is at its lowest in three decades. And we have seen the
highest decline in income inequality since the 1960s.
But, as strong as our economy is, it will not sustain our leadership in the 21st century if
we do not harness the forces of science and technology that have always led our progress. Where
once nations measured their strength by the size of their armies, their arsenals and their GDPs, in
the world of the future, it is knowledge that will matter most. The health of our people, our
economy, our quality of live and our national security are all linked to the innovations and
investments we make in science.
�---------------------
Human curiosity is the driving force behind all human discovery. We must do nothing to
. stifle our basic quest for knowledge. It is an essential part of what makes us human. It is a
fundamental principle of our democracy. In the last century, the spirit and benefits of scientific
curiosity have propelled us from field to factory to cyberspace. But just as science can be a
tremendous force for good, it can also be used to do harm. Science often moves faster than our
ability to understand its implications. That is why we have a responsibility to move with caution
and care to harness the powerful forces of scien~e and technology so that we can reap the benefits
while minimizing the potential dangers.
So we have to ask ourselves some basic questions: Will the wonders ofthe Internet help
us build a new town hall or a new Tower of Babel. The same computer that can put the Library
of Congress at our fingertips, can also be used by groups who are plotting division and violence.
Will new breakthroughs in biology and genetics be used to bring us closer together or split us
farther apart? The same knowledge that is developing new life-saving drugs can be used to create
poisons of mass destruction. Science has no soul of its own. It is up to us to determine if it will
be used as a force for good or evil.
Here at one of America's great HBCUs, I want to reiterate what 1 said a few days ago at
the White House. We must never allow our citizens to be the unwitting guinea pigs in scientific
experiments without their consent, that put them at risk -- whether it is the withholding of syphilis
treatment from the black men of Tuskeegee or the Cold War experiments that subjected some of
our citizens to dangerous doses of radiation -- we must never allow those kinds of things to
happen again. As 1 have said before, our greatness is measured not only in how we do right, but
also in how we act when we know we've done the wrong thing; how we confront our mistakes,
make our apologies and take action.
We must never go back to those awful days when eugenics and racial stereotyping here
and in Europe resulted in discrimination and worse against those judged to be inferior. This is
especially important with the increased use of genetic testing. And we must resist the temptation
to play God. We must temper our euphoria over the recent breakthrough in animal cloning with
sobering attention to our most cherished concepts offaith and humanity. My own view is that
each human life is unique, born of a miracle that reaches beyond laboratory science. I believe we
must respect this profound gift and resist the temptation to replicate ourselves.
We have not, and we must not ever shrink from exploring the frontiers of science and
basic knowledge, no matter where it leads us. But as we consider how to use the fruits of that
knowledge, we must also never retreat from our commitment to human values, the good of
society, and our basic sense of right and wrong. Science without soul is a formula for disaster.
That is why we must set forth some basic principles to guide our science in this dynamic
new age. First, science and its benefits must be directed towards making life better for all
Americans, not just the privileged few. Second, technology must be used to enhance, not
diminish the value, freedom and choices of the individual. Third, none of our discoveries,
especially in the areas of genetics, should be used to label or discriminate against any group or
individual. And finally, we must always remember that science is not God. Our deepest truths
�1970s some African Americans were denied health care coverage by insurers and jobs by
employers because they were identified as sickle cell anemia carriers. That must never happen
again. No insurer should be able to use genetic data to underwrite or discriminate against any
American seeking insurance. This should not just be a matter of principle, it should be a matter of
law, and l urge the Congress to send me a bill that ensures the proper conduct of genetic testing.
1n closing, let me say that there is a place for all of us at the table of science in the 21st
century. We cannot move forward without the voices and talents of everyone in this stadium and,
especially those graduates who are going on to pursue careers in scieqce and technology. African
Americans have always been at the forefront of American science. Nothing -- not slavery, not
discrimination, not poverty -- has ever been to hold back the scientific urge or the creative genius
of African Americans. Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught mathematician/surveyor/astronomer,
who published an annual almanac and helped design the city ofWashington. George Washington
Carver was born a slave, but went on to become one of this nation's greatest agricultural
scientists. And Charles Drew lived through the darkest days of segregation to become a pioneer
in blood preservation. African Americans will play an even greater role in science in the coming
years. You will be the investigators, the doctors, and the scholars who will help keep our science
rooted in our values.
Benjamin Banneker, who was born not far from here in Ellicott Mills, Maryland once said,
"The color of the skin is in no ways connected with the stt'ength of the mind or intellectual
powers." His talent and tenacity were his tickets to success. They will be yours too.
Thank you and God bless you all.
�can never be captured or quantified by science.
So today, at the edge of this new century, let us pledge to learn more and do more in the
realm of science. But let us also pledge to redouble our vigilance, to make sure that the science
of the 21st century serves our most enduring human values. We must begin by balancing our
budget in a way that balances the need to increase our investments in science, technology and
medical research. We must invest enough to build on the advances we are making in medicine.
Conquering disease must be our great national mission.
Look at how far we have come in the tight against AIDS. Fifteen years ago, an AIDS
diagnosis was thought to be a certain death sentence. But, we never accepted that judgement.
We have fought back with knowledge, with compassion and with money to bring new hope and
new life to people living with AIDS. And we are beginning to turn the tide. Recent advances in
biomedical research, supported by NTH have created new opportunities and optimism in our
search for an effective vaccine against HlV infection.
A safe and etTective AIDS vaccine is a global health imperative. More than 29 million
men, women and children around the world have been infected with HIV. More than 3 million of
these infections occurred in just the past year, with nearly 95% in the poorest parts of the world.
Without an effective vaccine, AIDS will soon ove11ake tuberculosis and malaria as the leading
infectious killer in the world. Even here in this country, where new and effective anti-HIV
strategies are available, complacency is not an option. HI V is capable of mutating and becoming
resistant to therapies and could well become even more dangerous. Only a truly effective antiHlV vaccine can eventually totally eliminate the threat of AIDS.
Thirty-six years ago, President Kennedy looked to the skies and determined that the flag
of peace and democracy, not war and tyranny must be the first to be planted on the moon. The
risks offailure were great. The Soviet Union was ahead of us in space technology and the
commitment he was asking from Congress was significant. But, he stood before them and boldly
proclaimed, "L believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this.decade is
out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth." Seven years later, that
dream became 1:eality and American leadership in space has never wavered.
Today, l ani in a position to make a similar announcement-- with far more life and death
consequences. 1 believe this nation should build upon the great strides we have made in the
exploration ofthe inner space ofthe human body and commit itselfto developing a vaccine
against AIDS within the next ten years. If we make that commitment, l am sure we will fulfill it.
We must also put our ethics into practice, by taking steps to rebuild trust and make sure
what happened to the black men of Tuskegee and the victims of radiation experiments never
happens again. Similar measures must be taken to ensure the privacy, informed consent and
confidentiality ofpeople who undergo genetic testing. While genetic testing has the potential to
identiiY hidden genetic disorders and spur early treatment, it can also be used by insurance
companies and others to discriminate and stigmatize groups of people. We know that in the
�Bruce N. Reed
05!15/97 11:47:13AM
Record Type:
To:
Record
Michael Waldman/WHO/EOP, James T. Edmonds/WHO/EOP
cc:
Elena Kagan/OPD/EOP, Christopher C. Jennings/OPD/EOP
Subject: Comments on Morgan St. draft
Excellent work -- it reads very well, and has a lot of real thoughts in it.
My only suggestion is that the graph on the vaccine challenge is not quite right. I think you need to
be more specific here about what we're doing -- otherwise the challenge has no credibility and
won't get picked up. Also, the emphasis shouldn't be on "yes, it will take money" and "we're
willing to commit the public resources necessary" because that implies we're coming up with more
money, which we're not -- and our own scientists will go to great pains to say that it's not a
function of more money anyway. So I would say something like:
" ... the inner space of the human body. Today, let us commit ourselves to developing an
AIDS vaccine within the next ten years. There are no guarantees; it will take energy, it will take
focus; it will take great effort from our greatest minds. But we have made great strides in recent
years. [We can get you a DNA monkey example if you want it] It is no longer a question of
whether we can develop an AIDS vaccine -- it is a question of when. And if America commits to
find an AIDS vaccine within the next decade, we will do it.
"I am prepared to do all I can to make this happen. Our scientists at NIH have been at the
forefront of this battle. Today, I am pleased to announce that NIH will establish a new AIDS
vaccine laboratory dedicated to this crusade. At the summit in Denver next month, I will enlist
other nations to join us in a worldwide effort to find a vaccine to stop one of the world's greatest
killers. And we will challenge America's pharmaceutical industry, which leads the world in
innovative research and development, to work with us and make the successful development of an
AIDS vaccine part of its basic mission.
"The 21st century will be the century of biology.
its first great triumph."
Together, we can make an AIDS vaccine
I know you don't want to load the speech down with specifics, but I think our challenge is B.S.
without at least some evidence we're doing something to make it happen.
Great job all around. Let me know if you need anything else.
�5/14/97 4:00 pm
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS, MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
MAY 18, 1997
Acknowledgments: Dr. Earl Richardson, President; Judge Harry Cole, board chair;
Governor Glendening; Mayor Schmoke; elected officials- including city council, which voted to
ban cigarette billboards near schools; Reps .. Elijah Cummings, Ben Cardin; .Sens. Sarbanes,
Mikulski; Board of Regents; Faculty and staff; distinguished alumni: Judge Cole; Judge Robert
Bell, Chief Judge of Maryland's highest court; Kweisi Mfume; Earl Graves; Richard Dixon, State
Treasurer; Terry Edmonds, White House staff.
I am pleased to deliver my first commencement at an Historically Black University. ln our
past, when the doors of college were closed to all but white students, Morgan State and the
nation's other HBCUs gave young African Americans the education they deserved and the pride
they needed to rise above cruelty and bigotry. In our present, HBCUs produce the lion's share of
our black doctors, judges, and businesspeople- and Morgan State graduates most of the black
scientists and engineers in Maryland. And in our future, I am certain that HBCUs will play an
even greater role in moving our country forward.
But, Morgan State is not just a great Historically Black University -- Morgan State is a
great American university. You have produced some of this country's finest leaders. Not just the
African American community, but our entire American community would be diminished without
great Morgan grads like Parren Mitchell, K weisi Mfume and Earl Graves. The halls of justice
would be diminished without great judicial leaders like Judge Bell and Judge Cole. And without
Morgan, I would never have had the good fot1une to work with Terry Edmonds who, remarkably,
is the first African American ever to serve as a presidential speechwriter.
All ofyou graduate today into a world brimming with promise and rich with opportunity.
Today, and in speeches at several other graduations this spring, I want to talk about the challenge
of preparing the American people for the stunning new century ahead.
We know that this new world will be smaller than ours is, as currents of commerce and
communications link every nation in a truly global economy. We know that we will have to work
harder than ever to make our diversity not a weakness, but our greatest strength.
And we know that above all else the 2 I'' century, in its texture, in its promise and in its
reality, will be molded by science, shaped by technology, powered by knowledge.
We enter that century propelled by new and exciting developments. ln the past year
alone, we saw the cloning of Dolly, the sheep. The Hubble Telescope is bringing into focus dark
corners of the cosmos never seen before. Innovations in computer technology and
l
�knowledge, we must also never retreat from our commitment to human values, the good of
society, and our basic sense of right and wrong.
That is why we must set forth some basic principles to guide our science in this dynamic
new age. ·::First, science and its benefits must be directed towards making life better for all
Americans, not just the privileged few. Lack of money or social status must never be a barrier to
the benefits of technology. Science that does not move us all forward is science that will hold us
all back. Second, technology must be used to enhance, not diminish the dignity ofthe individual.
Researchers and doctors have a responsibility to respect our privacy. What they learn about us is
nobody's business unless we say so. Third, none of our discoveries, especially in the areas of
genetics, should be used to label or discriminate against any group or individual. Knowledge
about our genetic differences must not diminish our fundamental belief that all men are created
equal. And finally, we must always remember that science is not God. Science must honor faith
and the basic humilty of man. Our deepest truths remain outside the realm of science.
So today, at the edge of this new century, let us pledge to learn more and do more in the
realm of science. But let us also pledge to redouble our vigilance, to make sure that the science
of the 21st century serves our most enduring human values. We must begin by balancing our
budget in a way that balances the need to increase our investments in science, technology and
medical research. We must invest enough to build on the advances we are making in medicine.
Conquering disease must be our great national mission.
Look at how far we have come in the fight against AIDS. Fifteen years ago, an AIDS
diagnosis was thought to be a certain death sentence. But, we never accepted that judgement.
We have fought back with knowledge, with compassion and with money to bring new hope and
new life to people living with AIDS. And we are beginning to turn the tide. Recent advances in
biomedical research, suppot1ed by NIH have created new opportunities and optimism in our
search for an effective vaccine against HIV infection.
A safe and effective AIDS vaccine is a global health imperative. More than 29 million
men, women and children around the world have been infected with HTV. More than 3 million of
these infections occurred in just the past year, with nearly 95% in the poorest parts of the world.
Without an effective vaccine, AIDS will soon overtake tuberculosis and malaria as the leading
infectious killer in the world. Even here in this country, where new and effective anti-HIV
strategies are available, complacency is not an option, H IV is capable of mutating and becoming
resistant to therapies and could well become even more dangerous. Only a truly effective antiHIV vaccine can eventually totally eliminate the threat of AIDS.
Thit1y-six years ago, President Kennedy looked to the skies and determined that the flag
of peace and democracy, not war and tyrani1y must be the first to be planted on the moon. The
risks offailure were great. The Soviet Union was ahead ofus in space technology and the
commitment he was asking from Congress was significant. But, he stood before the world and
boldly proclaimed, "I believe this nation should commit itselfto achieving the goal, before this
4
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A facsimile lr.lnsm~ion conr.alns ccnfidentlal information belonging to the sender, which m~y be totally privileged information. The information
is intended only for the use of the individual or el'ltity lf.sred above. If you are not che intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible
for delivering ir ro the Intended recipienr. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTifiED THAT ANY DISCLOSURE COPYING DISTRIBUTION,
AND/OR. TAKING any action In reliJnce on the c:onrents- of the facsimile documentt is soictly prohibited. lfy;u have recei;ed this transmission
in error, oleasl! ImmediatelY notify us by telephone to arran~::e for rE!Wrn of the final f<~aimile documents ro us.
�5/15/97 2:30pm
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS ON SCIENCE IN THE 21st CENTURY
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
· BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
MAYI8,1997
Acknowledgments: Dr. Earl Richardson, Presidenc Judge Harry Cole, board chair;
Governor Glendening; Mayor Schmoke; elected onicials- including city council, which voted to
ban cigarette billboards near schools; Reps. Elijah Cummings, Ben Cardin; Sens. Sarbanes,
Mikulski; Board ofRegents; Faculty and staff; distinguished alumni: Judge Cole; Judge Robert
Bell, Chief Judge of Maryland's highest court; Kweisi Mfume.: Earl Graves; Richard Dixon, State
Treasurer: Terry Edmonds, White House staff.
I am pleased to deliver my tirst commencement at an Historically Black University. In our
past, when the doors of college were closed to all but white students, Morgan State and the
nation's other HBCUs gave young African Americans the education they deserved and the pride
they needed to rise above cruelty and bigotry. In our present, HBCUs produce the lion's share of
our black doctors, judges, and businesspeople- and Morgan State graduates most of the black
scientists and engineers in Maryland. And in our future, I am ce11ain that HBCUs will play an
even greater role in moving our country forward.
But, Morgan State is not just a great Historically Black University -- Morgan State is a
great American university. You have produced some ofthis country's finest leaders. Not just the
African American community, bLit our entire American community would be diminished without
great Morgan grads like Parren Mitchell, Kweisi Mfume and Earl Graves. The halls of justice.
would be diminished without great judicial leaders like Judge Bell and Judge Cole. And without
Morgan, I would never have had the good fortune to work with Terry Edmonds who, remarkably,
is the first African American ever to serve as a presidential speechwriter.
All ofyou graduate today into a world brimming with promise and rich with opportunity.
As l said in my State of the Union Address, the enemy of our time is inaction. We must use this
moment of great hope and prosperity to prepare our people for the challenges of the 21st
Century. This spring, here and in commencement addresses across the country, I will seek to
focus our attention on those great and powerful forces that can pull us apan, or that can become
our greatest strength in the years ahead. I will discuss our diversity, and how we can make sure
that it brings us together rather than pulls us apart. I will discuss America's continuing obligation
to lead the world, especially our obligation to help build a strong and united Europe in the wake
ofthe Cold War.
And we know that above all else the 21 ' 1 century, in its texture, in its promise and in its
reality, will be molded by science, shaped by technology, powered by knowledge. These are
potent, transforming forces; they can be used for good or for ill: and we must master them ifwe
l
�are to make the most of this new century.
We enter that century propelled by new and stunning developments. In the past year
alone, we saw the cloning of Dolly, the sheep. The Hubble Telescope is bringing into focus dark
corners ofthe cosmos never seen before. Innovations in computer technology and
communications are creating what Bill Gates calls the world's new ·'digital nervous system."
Cures for our most dread diseases - diabetes, cystic fibrosis -- seem within reach. Arid last week,
we saw a computer named Deep Blue, defeat the world's reigning chess champion. I hope they
don't make a computer that can play golf
The past half century has seen some of mankind's greatest breakthroughs, as we split the
atom, created the microchip, explored the heavens. For half a century, we struggled to harness
forces as powerful as the sun, in an effort to keep them from destroying the planet. Today, at
long last, nuclear and computer technology are realizing their greater value as servants of a better
life, not masters of a bitter destruction.
If the last 50 years were the age of physics, the next 50 years will be the age of biology.
We are now embarking on our most daring exploration ever-- unraveling the mysteries of our
inner world and charting new routes to the conquest of disease. And our great challenge will be
to harness the power ofbiology, our increasing knowledge about the cell, the brain and life itself
so that we can reap the amazing benefits without sowing the seeds of our own destruction.
We have not, and we must not ever shrink from exploring the frontiers of science and
basic knowledge, no matter where it leads us. But as we consider how to use the fruits of that
knowledge, we must also never retreat from our commitment to human values, the good of
society, and our basic sense of right and wrong. Today let us commit: in the 2 I st Century,
science must serve humanity- never the other way around.
fn that new century, America's future, indeed the world's future, will be determined by
sc1ence.
Where once nations measured their strength by the size of their armies, their arsenals and
their GDPs, in the world ofthe fl.1ture. it is science and knowledge that will matter most. Fully
half the growth in economic productivity over the past half century can be traced to innovation
and technology. That is why it is so important that the balanced budget agreement I reached with
the leaders of Congress funds the increase I requested for science and technology in my I 998
budget and reatl:irms our long-term commitment in this important area.
Science is about more than material wealth; it is about our dreams.
Ours is a nation defined by the great goals we set. Often these goals can seem beyond our
reach. But it is the very act of reaching for that far horizon -- of imagining our future and striving
to realize it-- that will define us. We are a restless, questing people. We have always believed,
with Thomas Jefferson, that freedom is "the first born daughter of science." And with our
2
�willpower, our resources and a great national etfort, we have always reached those horizons, and
set out for new ones.
Thirty-six years ago, President Kennedy looked to the skies and proclaimed that the flag
of peace and democracy, not war and tyranny must be· the tirst to be planted on the moon.
Today, let us look within and step up to the challenge of our times-- a challenge with
consequences far more immediate for the life and death of millions around the world. AIDS will
soon overtake tuberculosis and malaria as the leading infectious killer in the world. Even here in
this country, where new and effective anti-HIV strategies are available, complacency is not an
option. HIV is capable of mutating and becoming resistant to therapies and could well become
even more dangerous. Only a truly etTective HIV vaccine will totally eliminate the threat of
AIDS.
Today, let us set a new national goal for this era of science. Today, let us commit
ourselves to developing an AIDS vaccine within the next ten years. There are no guarantees; it
will take energy, it will take focus; it will demand great elTon from our greatest minds. But we
have made strides in recent years. It is no longer a question of whether we can develop an AIDS
vaccine-- it is a question of when. And if America commits to tind an AIDS vaccine within the
next decade, we will do it.
I am prepared to do all I can to make this happen. Our scientists at NIH have been at the
forefront ofthis battle. Today, I am pleased to announce that NIH will establish a new AIDS
vaccine laboratory dedicated to this crusade. At the summit of industrialized nations in Denver
next month, I will enlist other nations to join us in a .worldwide etfort to tind a vaccine to stop one
ofthe world's greatest killers. And we will challenge America's pharmaceutical industry, which
leads the world in innovative research and development, to work with us and make the successful
development of an AIDS vaccine pan of its basic mission.
The 21st Century will be the century of biology. Together, we can make an AIDS vaccine
its first great triumph.
This is just one example of the great advances that will be made possible by our focus on
science and technology. In this and so many other ways, science will enrich our existence. It is
how we will work with other nations to address global climate change. It is how we will break
our reliance on limited sources of energy. It is how we will once again make giant strides to free
ourselves and future generations from the tyranny of disease and ignorance that today enslaves
too many around the world.
So today, at the edge of this new century, let us pledge to learn more and do more in the
realm of science. But let us also pledge to redouble our vigilance, to niake sure that the science
of the 21st Century serves our most enduring human values. Just as science can be a tremendous
force for good, it can also be used to do harm.
3
�Science often moves faster than our ability to understand its implications. Each new
discovery, each new breakthrough, creates a new maze of moral and ethical questions. We are
only just beginning to figure out how to answer those questions.
The Internet can be a new town square- or it can be a new Tower of Babel. The same
computer that can put the Library of Congress at our fingertips, can also be used by purveyors of
hate to spread blueprints for bombs. The same knowledge that is developing new life-saving
drugs can be used to create poisons of mass destruction. Science can enable us to feed billions
more people in comfort and safety -- or it can spark a nuclear or biological war, that in a matter of
minutes can reduce our planet to a wasteland. And it can do so by accident just as easily as on
purpose.
Science has no soul of its own. It is up to us to determine if it will be used as a force for
good or evil.
Let me be clear: We must do nothing to stitle our basic quest for knowledge. Human
curiosity is the driving force behind all human discovery. It is a fundamental principle of our
democracy. In the last century, the spirit and benefits of scientific inquiry have propelled us from
field to factory to cyberspace.
But, how we use the fruits of science and how we apply it to human endeavors is not
properly the domain of science alone -- or scientists alone. I believe we must apply the same
ethical and moral principles that have guided every great religion, our great democracy, our very
sense of right and wrong. We need a great national conversation about these principles. We must
decide together how to apply them to the dazzling new discoveries of science. Here is what I
think those principles should be.
First, science and its benefits must be directed towards making life better for all
Americans, not just the privileged few. Lack of money or social status must never be a barrier
to the benefits of science and technology. Science that does not move us all forward is science
that will hold us all back. Science must not create a new line of separation between the haves and
have nots -- those with and without the tools and understanding to learn technology. In the 21st
century, the school that does not have the link to the Internet or the child who does not have
access to a computer will be like the 18th centUI)' child without schoolbooks. That is why we are
ensuring that evel)' child in evel)' schooL no matter how rich or poor, will have the same access to
technology.
We also know that in years past, too often science mirrored the sickness of society at
large. Here at one of America's great black universities, let me underscore what I said a few days
ago at the White House. We must never allow our citizens to be unwitting guinea pigs in
scientific experiments without their consent, that put them at risk -- whether it is the withholding
of syphilis treatment from the black men of Tuskegee or the Cold War experiments that subjected
some of our citizens to dangerous doses of radiation. We must never go back to those awful days
when eugenics and racial stereotyping here and in Europe resulted in discrimination and worse
4
�against those judged to be inferior. Our greatness is measured not only in how we do right, but
also in how we act when we know we've done the wrong thing; how we confront our mistakes,
make our apologies and take action. Together, we must say, never again.
The second principle I believe we should apjJiy is this: none of our discoveries,
especially in the areas of genetics, should be used to label or discriminate against any group
or individual. Increasing knowledge about the great diversity within the human species must not
change the basic belief upon which our ethics, our government and our society are based: All men
are created equal. Period. End of story.
With stunning speed, scientists are now moving to unlock the secrets of our genetic code.
Genetic testing has the potential to identifY hidden genetic disorders and spur early treatment.
But, it can also be used by insurance companies and others to discriminate and stigmatize groups
of people. We know that in the 1970s some African Americans were denied health care coverage.
by insurers and jobs by employers because they were identitied as sickle cell anemia carriers. We
also know that the number one reason won1en refuse genetic testing for susceptibility to breast
cancer is their fear that insurance companies may either deny them coverage or raise their rates.
We must put a stop to this. No insurer should be able to use genetic data to underwrite or
discriminate against any American seeking health insurance. This should not just be a matter of
principle, it should be a matter of law. In the coming weeks, I will send legislation to the
Congress to prohibit insurance companies from using genetic screening information to determine
premium rates or eligibility for health insurance.
Our third principle must be this: science should not be used to break down the wall
of privacy free citizens aa·e guaranteed in a free socit.~ty.
The right to privacy is one of our most cherished ti·eedoms. As society has grown more
complex, and as people have become more interconnected in every way, we have had to try even
harder to respect the dignity and autonomy of each individual. Today, when marketers can follow
every aspect of our lives -- from the tirst phone call we make to the time our security system says
we have left the house, to the video camera at the toll booth and the charge slip we leave for
lunchn --we cannot atTord to forget this most basic lesson. As the Internet reaches to touch
every business and every household, and we face the frightening prospect of private information
or even medical records instantly being made available to the world, we must develop new
protections forprivacy to meet this new reality.
And fourth, we must always remembe•· that scicnre is not God. Our deepest truths
remain outside the realm of science. We must temper our euphoria over the recent breakthrough
in animal cloning with sobering attention to our most cherished concepts of faith and humanity.
My own view is that each human life is unique, born of a miracle that reaches beyond laboratory
. science. l believe we must respect this profound gift and resist the temptation to replicate
ourselves. But this is a decision no President should make alone. That is why I have asked our
distinguished National Bioethics Advisory Commission, headed by President Harold Shapiro of
Princeton, to conduct a thorough review of the legal and ethical issues raised by this new cloning
5
�discovery. They will give me their recommendations within the next few weeks.
These are the principles that should guide us if we are to master the powerful forces of
change in the century to come. Science that produces a better life for all and not the few.
Science that honors our tradition of equality. Science that respects the privacy of the individual.
Science that never confuses faith in technology with faith in God. If we hold fast to these
principles, we can make this time of change a moment of dazzling oppo11unity for all.
In conclusion, let me say this: Science will only serve the values of all Americans, if all
Americans are given a chance to participate in science. We cannot move forward without the
voices and talents of everyone in this stadium and, especially those graduates who are going on to
pursue careers in science and technology. African Americans have always been at the forefront of
American science. Nothing-- not slavery, not discrimination, not poverty-- has ever been able to
hold back the scientific urge or the creative genius of African Americans.
.4 ;J
Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught mathematician/surveyor/astronomer, who published
an annual almanac and helped design the city of Washington. George Washington Carver was
~_;,
born a slave, but went on to become one ofthis nation's greatest agricultural scientists. And
~
Charles Drew lived through the darkest days of segregation to become a pioneer in blood
preservation. They showed us all how America's diversity is its greatest strength. Now it is your
time. It is up to you, to honor their legacy, to live their dreams, to be the investigators, the
doctors, and the scholars who will help keep our science rooted in our values.
?
Thank you and God bless you all.
lib!!
6
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Terry Edmonds
Creator
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Office of Speechwriting
James (Terry) Edmonds
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1995-2001
Is Part Of
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<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36090" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7763294" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Identifier
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2006-0462-F
Description
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Terry Edmonds worked as a speechwriter from 1995-2001. He became the Assistant to the President and Director of Speechwriting in 1999. His speechwriting focused on domestic topics such as race relations, veterans issues, education, paralympics, gun control, youth, and senior citizens. He also contributed to the President’s State of the Union speeches, radio addresses, commencement speeches, and special dinners and events. The records include speeches, letters, memorandum, schedules, reports, articles, and clippings.
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
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William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Extent
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635 folders in 52 boxes
Text
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Original Format
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Paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Morgan State Drafts and Info. [1]
Creator
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Office of Speechwriting
James (Terry) Edmonds
Identifier
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2006-0462-F
Is Part Of
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Box 34
<a href="http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/assets/Documents/Finding-Aids/2006/2006-0462-F.pdf" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7763294" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
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William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
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Adobe Acrobat Document
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Reproduction-Reference
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12/9/2014
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42-t-7763294-20060462F-034-008-2014
7763294