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Speeches: POTUS Press Conference Q&A's (11/9/94)
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92
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1
�DRAFT Q S AND A'S FOR NOVEMBER 9 PRESS CONFERENCE
'
Weren't the r e s u l t s of t h i s e l e c t i o n a repudiation of the
agenda you have pursued i n the Congress?
A.
No, I believe t h i s was p r i m a r i l y a referendum on Washington
as a whole. This was a r e j e c t i o n of p o l i t i c s as usual. I n
1992, the American people demanded change. They are s t i l l
demanding change. Clearly, they do not believe we have
d e l i v e r e d enough of i t , and they do not believe we have
brought change q u i c k l y enough.
America wins when Democrats and Republicans work together.
The record o f the l a s t two years proves t h a t . Outside of
the economic plan, most o f our accomplishments came when we
were able t o work together. I t ' s my hope t h a t , w i t h the
e l e c t i o n over, we can put aside our p a r t i s a n s h i p and begin
the hard work t o accomplish the changes and the progress
t h a t the p u b l i c i s demanding of a l l of us — Democrats and
Republicans a l i k e .
You were unable t o pass a number of s i g n i f i c a n t
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n i t i a t i v e s i n 1994 when you had 56 Democrats
i n the Senate and a 40-seat m a j o r i t y i n the House. I f your
agenda was too l i b e r a l f o r the l a s t Congress, i s n ' t i t going
to be impossible t o get through a Congress which i s
demonstrably more conservative?
A.
The agenda I have followed i s not a l i b e r a l agenda; i t i s
not a conservative agenda. I t does not f o l l o w any r i g i d
i d e o l o g i c a l l i n e s . I t ' s an agenda f o r moving America
forward. We have cut the d e f i c i t , Federal spending, and the
size o f government. We have passed anti-crime l e g i s l a t i o n
t h a t continued tough enforcement provisions and put 100,000
more p o l i c e on our s t r e e t s . Trade i s not l i b e r a l or
conservative. Education and t r a i n i n g are not l i b e r a l or
conservative. Fighting crime i s not l i b e r a l or
conservative. We need t o get away from these a r t i f i c i a l
categorizations o f what's l i b e r a l and what's conservative.
My A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s not going t o move l e f t or r i g h t . I t ' s
going t o keep moving forward.
Was your strategy too p a r t i s a n i n the l a s t Congress, and
what do you intend t o do t o reduce p a r t i s a n s h i p i n the new
Congress?
A.
I was disappointed i n the l a s t few months of the Congress
t h a t serious b i p a r t i s a n e f f o r t s t o solve problems were too
o f t e n overwhelmed by p a r t i s a n p o l i t i c a l considerations. I f
t h a t continues i n the new Congress, we w i l l a l l be hurt —
Democrats and Republicans a l i k e — but the biggest losers
w i l l be the American people. They are demanding that we
work together, and we must, N
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�We have done that successfully on many occasions, from
education to n a t i o n a l service, from family leave to NAFTA.
I t h i n k that proves that we can do so i n the f u t u r e .
The f i r s t o p p o r t u n i t y we a l l have to demonstrate that we can
work together i n the new Congress i s the enactment of the
GATT l e g i s l a t i o n . GATT represents progress f o r t h i s country
— i t means more jobs, more high-paying jobs, now and i n the
f u t u r e . Congress has already committed to r e t u r n l a t e r t h i s
month and vote on GATT. I c a l l on Democrats and Republicans
a l i k e t o j o i n together to pass t h i s i n i t i a t i v e that i s so
important to our economic f u t u r e .
4.
How do you intend to proceed w i t h h e a l t h care reform?
A.
I am s t i l l committed to the p r i n c i p l e s t h a t have always
motivated our e f f o r t s on h e a l t h care. We have t o get health
care costs under c o n t r o l , and I believe i t i s a moral and
economic imperative that every American enjoy the s e c u r i t y
of h e a l t h insurance.
We are now considering how best t o achieve these goals, and
I want to work w i t h Congressional leaders on both sides of
the a i s l e to develop proposals t o address these problems.
There are no easy answers here.
But l e t me make i t clear
t h a t while the s p e c i f i c s of these reforms are open t o
r e t h i n k i n g , the changes must be r e a l . The problems are
g e t t i n g worse, not b e t t e r . The number of Americans without
h e a l t h insurance i s going up, not going down. Health care
costs continue t o go up, not down. And they continue t o
threaten the economic progress we have worked so hard t o
achieve.
5.
Do you intend to change your welfare reform proposal, given
the e l e c t i o n o f a more conservative Congress?
A.
Our welfare reform proposal addresses the goals I t h i n k most
Americans share f o r welfare reform. I t requires people t o
work; i t cuts waste and fraud from the system; i t makes
parents take r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r the support of t h e i r
c h i l d r e n ; and i t makes a s t a r t a t combating the problem of
teen pregnancy. These are the tenets that guided my welfare
reform proposal, and they w i l l continue t o guide t h i s
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n as we work to enact welfare reform.
I don't t h i n k t h i s i s an issue that we should simply posture
on. I t ' s one t h a t requires r e a l , p r a c t i c a l s o l u t i o n s , and
t h a t means d i f f i c u l t choices. That's the t e s t of
leadership, and I intend to continue t o f i g h t f o r true
welfare reform.
6.
The Kerrey-Danforth Commission i s scheduled t o make i t s
recommendations f o r entitlement reforms next month. You
�have said you don't favor cuts i n Social Security or
Medicare to reduce the d e f i c i t . How do you intend to keep
the d e f i c i t from r i s i n g i n the f u t u r e i f you have taken the
biggest programs i n the budget o f f the table?
A.
As you know, when we entered o f f i c e , the d e f i c i t was headed
for $300 b i l l i o n and more. We took a d e f i c i t t h a t was
headed upward and, by c u t t i n g $700 b i l l i o n from the d e f i c i t ,
are achieving three consecutive years of d e f i c i t reduction
for the f i r s t time i n 45 years. To do t h a t , we cut more
than 300 programs, cut spending by $255 b i l l i o n , and we are
reducing Federal personnel by 272,000, so that i t w i l l be
smaller than i t has been any time since the Kennedy
Administration.
We have begun to put our f i s c a l house i n order, and we are
going to continue on that path. As I have always said, and
as everyone i s w e l l aware, we cannot hope to keep the
d e f i c i t on a downward path unless we confront r i s i n g health
care costs. That must be a p r i o r i t y of any health care
reform l e g i s l a t i o n that we enact. I also look forward to
seeing the recommendations of the Kerrey Commission.
I w i l l t e l l you what we are not going to do. We are not
going to jeopardize the d e f i c i t reduction we have already
achieved by going f o r short-term p o l i t i c a l f i x e s .
7.
Are you going to f u l f i l l your promise of a middle-class tax
cut?
A.
As you know, we have already cut income taxes f o r 15 m i l l i o n
moderate-income working f a m i l i e s . I have said c o n s i s t e n t l y
t h a t t h i s i s only a s t a r t . I continue to hope to be able to
provide tax r e l i e f f o r a l l hard-pressed middle-income
families.
8.
Congressional Democrats suffered huge losses i n the South
and the West, and i n the l a t t e r weeks of the campaign, your
p o l i t i c a l advisors kept you almost e n t i r e l y out of those two
areas of the country. Can you be reelected without support
i n the South and West?
A.
People i n the South and the West care about the same things
as people i n t he Midwest and the East. Sometimes we create
a r t i f i c i a l d i v i s i o n s among our people. But the f a c t i s that
a l l Americans, regardless of region, regardless of race,
regardless of economic p o s i t i o n , care about the same t h i n g s .
They care about the education and safety of t h e i r f a m i l i e s ;
they care about t h e i r own economic s e c u r i t y ; and they care
about securing a b e t t e r f u t u r e f o r t h e i r c h i l d r e n and t h e i r
country. I intend to continue to make these the top
p r i o r i t i e s f o r my A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , and I am comfortable
t a k i n g t h i s message to every area of the country.
�9.
Many o f the moderate southern Democrats who j o i n e d you i n
founding the Democratic Leadership Council were soundly
r e j e c t e d by the voters i n t h e i r states. You have been
c r i t i c i z e d by these candidates and others f o r deserting the
moderate wing of your party, and some a t t r i b u t e t h e i r
defeats t o the l i b e r a l agenda you followed during your f i r s t
two years i n o f f i c e . How do you react t o these c r i t i c i s m s ?
A.
The agenda I have followed i s not a l i b e r a l agenda; i t i s
not a conservative agenda. I t does not f o l l o w any r i g i d
i d e o l o g i c a l l i n e s . I t ' s an agenda f o r moving America
forward. We have cut the d e f i c i t , Federal spending, and the
size o f government. We have passed anti-crime l e g i s l a t i o n
t h a t continued tough enforcement provisions and put 100,000
more p o l i c e on our s t r e e t s . Trade i s not l i b e r a l or
conservative. Education and t r a i n i n g are not l i b e r a l or
conservative. Fighting crime i s not l i b e r a l or
conservative. We need t o get away from these a r t i f i c i a l
categorizations o f what's l i b e r a l and what's conservative.
My A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s not going t o move l e f t or r i g h t . I t ' s
going t o keep moving forward.
10.
Many leading Democrats have a t t r i b u t e d the h i s t o r i c losses
suffered by your party i n t h i s e l e c t i o n t o your personal
unpopularity. Do you agree? And what do you intend t o do
about i t ?
A.
This e l e c t i o n was a referendum on Washington and the way
government and p o l i t i c s has been p r a c t i c e d here f o r f a r too
long. We have made some progress i n b r i n g i n g change t o the
way Washington addresses America's problems. But c l e a r l y we
have not brought change q u i c k l y enough. Americans expect
more from a l l of us — from Democrats, Republicans, the
President, the Congress, and everybody else who works i n
Washington. And they deserve i t . We who hold the p u b l i c
t r u s t have got t o d e l i v e r the change they are asking f o r .
11.
You have had a rocky r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h Senator Dole over the
past two years. He has disagreed w i t h you on nearly every
major domestic i n i t i a t i v e you have sent t o Congress. How do
you expect t o accomplish any o f your domestic agenda w i t h
him as Senate M a j o r i t y Leader?
A.
While Senator Dole and I have disagreed on much, we have
also agreed on some things. I believe we can work together
for the good o f the American people. I hope the f i r s t t h i n g
we can do together i s t o pass GATT, which he and I both
support, when Congress returns l a t e r t h i s month.
12.
Senator D'Amato i s l i k e l y t o be the Chairman o f the Banking
Committee i n the Senate next year. He has said t h a t he i s
l i k e l y t o use h i s new p o s i t i o n t o i n v e s t i g a t e more f u l l y the
Whitewater a f f a i r . Would you be w i l l i n g t o cooperate f u l l y
w i t h the Congress, i n c l u d i n g appearing before the Committee?
�A.
As we have i n the past, we w i l l cooperate f u l l y w i t h the
Congress.
( I f there's a follow-up on appearing before Congress)
There has been no such request, and I'm not going to comment
on h y p o t h e t i c a l questions. Let me r e i t e r a t e t h a t I expect
everybody i n my A d m i n i s t r a t i o n to cooperate f u l l y .
13.
With Republicans c o n t r o l l i n g a working m a j o r i t y i n the
Congress, w i l l you be adding Republicans to your
Administration?
A.
Yes, I believe the A d m i n i s t r a t i o n should seek the best
people from both p a r t i e s . That's e n t i r e l y appropriate, and
I've included Republicans already, such as David Gergen. I
expect t h i s to occur i n the f u t u r e as w e l l .
14.
I n view of the e l e c t i o n r e s u l t s , are you going to shake up
your Cabinet and the White House s t a f f as other Presidents
have done i n s i m i l a r circumstances?
A.
I t h i n k the people i n t h i s A d m i n i s t r a t i o n have worked hard
and served w i t h d i s t i n c t i o n . But t h i s i s not the time or
the place t o discuss such matters.
15.
Who w i l l you be naming to head the Democratic National
Committee to replace David Wilhelm?
A.
I t h i n k David Wilhelm has done an excellent job under
d i f f i c u l t circumstances at the DNC.
I n the coming weeks, I
w i l l nominate h i s replacement. Now more than ever we need a
strong Democratic Party that represents the i n t e r e s t s of
average Americans.
I w i l l be looking f o r a strong voice to
make t h a t case.
16.
Yesterday, voters i n eight states endorsed term l i m i t s f o r
Members of Congress. That brings to 23 the number of states
t h a t have endorsed term l i m i t s f o r Congress. This idea has
been approved every time i t has been put before the voters.
Yet your A d m i n i s t r a t i o n plans to argue before the Supreme
Court t h a t term l i m i t s are u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l . Are you
prepared to endorse term l i m i t s f o r Members of Congress?
A.
As you know, while I sympathize w i t h the f r u s t r a t i o n s t h a t
cause people t o support term l i m i t s , I don't t h i n k term
l i m i t s are the answer t o the problems i n our p o l i t i c a l
system. I believe other reforms such as campaign finance
reform and reducing the influence of l o b b y i s t s would have
far greater impact on the way Washington works. The f a c t
i s , the voters have an opportunity every two years to l i m i t
the terms of t h e i r Members of Congress, and they have
exercised i t . (Use best s t a t i s t i c on the next Congress.)
�((But the people have spoken w i t h a clear voice on t h i s
issue, and I'm not going to stand i n t h e i r way.
But l e t ' s
make two things clear. F i r s t , i t should be done l e g a l l y —
by C o n s t i t u t i o n a l amendment that l e t s each state make i t s
own d e c i s i o n . Second, i f i t ' s going to be done, i t has to
be r e a l . The Republican proposal f o r term l i m i t s would
grandfather i n a l l current Members of Congress f o r 12 years.
I f they're serious about t h i s , i t w i l l take e f f e c t
immediately and apply immediately to current Members.))
17.
A f a c t o r i n the defeat of a number of candidates was t h e i r
support f o r the Brady b i l l and the ban on assault weapons.
Does t h i s s p e l l defeat f o r f u t u r e e f f o r t to c o n t r o l guns?
A.
Let me be clear. I w i l l f i g h t any attempt to water down
e i t h e r the Brady b i l l or the ban on assault weapons. I t
would represent a b e t r a y a l to our law enforcement o f f i c e r s ,
and i t would represent the worst kind of p o l i t i c s —
c a t e r i n g to a special i n t e r e s t t h a t puts i t s own i d e o l o g i c a l
agenda ahead of the nation's i n t e r e s t s .
18.
Some have said that your A d m i n i s t r a t i o n has had d i f f i c u l t y
i n p r i o r i t i z i n g your l e g i s l a t i v e program. Do you intend to
provide a b e t t e r focus i n the new Congress i n your
l e g i s l a t i v e program?
A.
When I was elected to t h i s o f f i c e two years ago, the
American people were demanding change. There were v i t a l
n a t i o n a l issues i n v o l v i n g the s e c u r i t y and the f u t u r e of
working f a m i l i e s throughout t h i s country t h a t had been
neglected f o r twelve years. We took on those problems.
We
d i d n ' t j u s t pay l i p service to them, we acted. And we took
important and c r e d i b l e steps i n addressing them, from
reducing the d e f i c i t and f i g h t i n g crime t o reforming
education, making student loans a v a i l a b l e to more middle
class f a m i l i e s , and opening world markets f o r American
products. And the r e s u l t s have been a s t e a d i l y growing
economy w i t h low i n f l a t i o n , more than 5 m i l l i o n new jobs,
and important investments i n the American people that w i l l
pay o f f i n the long run f o r working people and t h e i r
children.
In t h i s e l e c t i o n , I don't t h i n k the American people were
asking us not to continue to change. They don't want us to
slow down on the f i g h t against crime, they don't want us to
stop opening markets f o r American exports, they don't want
us to stop s t r i v i n g t o b r i n g p r o s p e r i t y to a l l Americans,
and they don't want us to stop reforming government and the
way Washington works.
So we w i l l focus i n t h i s next Congress on the problems that
most concern working f a m i l i e s : we w i l l continue to work f o r
responsible budgets i n government and economic p r o s p e r i t y
f o r the American people; we w i l l continue our e f f o r t s to
�reform the welfare system and the health care system i n t h i s
country; and we w i l l continue our e f f o r t s t o reform
government.
Above a l l , we need t o make government work f o r the American
people — t o make government address the problems t h a t
threaten t h e i r long-term s e c u r i t y .
19.
Some on your s t a f f have argued that you should emulate Harry
Truman's r e e l e c t i o n strategy and spend the next two years
p o i n t i n g the f i n g e r at the Congress f o r i n a c t i o n . Do you
intend t o f o l l o w t h e i r advice?
A.
F i r s t o f a l l , I am a great admirer of Harry S Truman. He
was a f i g h t e r on behalf o f the middle class. Nothing was
more important t o him than t o stand up f o r working people
and t h e i r f a m i l i e s . He made t h i s country stronger at home
and abroad.
I f you are asking me whether, l i k e him, I intend t o f i g h t
f o r the middle class and stand up f o r America's i n t e r e s t s
around the world, then the answer i s yes. But i f you are
asking me i f I intend t o concentrate on f i g h t i n g w i t h the
Congress rather than working w i t h the Congress t o take on
the problems o f the American people, then the answer i s no.
The American people are sick and t i r e d of the p o l i t i c s of
blame. They want us t o work together, and I intend t o do
that.
20.
Now t h a t the Republicans have increased t h e i r power i n the
Congress, do you regret any of the comments you made about
them i n the heat o f the campaign?
A.
My purpose i n the campaign was t o l a y out f o r the American
people the agenda we have pursued, the progress we have
made, and the differences we see i n how the two p a r t i e s see
the f u t u r e o f t h i s country. I t h i n k t h a t was important t o
do. Obviously, i n the heat of a campaign the r h e t o r i c
becomes heated. Now i t ' s time f o r a l l of us t o work
together t o t a c k l e these problems, and I'm confident we can
do t h a t .
21.
You have spoken o f having a mandate f o r change. However,
you were elected w i t h only 43 percent o f the vote, and now,
a f t e r two years, the American people have soundly r e j e c t e d
your p a r t y at the p o l l s . Does t h i s e l e c t i o n mean that the
Republicans, and not you, have a mandate f o r t h e i r agenda?
A.
This e l e c t i o n , l i k e the 1992 e l e c t i o n , was c l e a r l y about
changing Washington. And I intend t o work w i t h Republicans
and Democrats a l i k e f o r change.
�But i f what you are suggesting i s that the Republican agenda
i s t h e i r Contract, then my answer i s emphatically no. This
e l e c t i o n was about moving the country forward. I do not
intend t o jeopardize the steady progress we have made on the
d e f i c i t and the economy w i t h p o l i c i e s that o f f e r a t r i l l i o n
d o l l a r s i n unfunded promises.
But i f Republicans are prepared t o work w i t h me and w i t h
Democrats i n Congress t o maintain f i s c a l i n t e g r i t y and
reform the way government works, then there i s a l o t we can
accomplish together.
22.
Most o f your party's Senate and gubernatorial candidates
asked you not t o campaign w i t h them, and many of those f o r
whom you d i d campaign were defeated yesterday. Aren't you
l a r g e l y t o blame f o r your party's losses?
A.
Let's face i t ; we had a bad day yesterday. There were some
notable exceptions, but I am not pleased w i t h the r e s u l t s .
However, the message from the voters was a signal t o both
p a r t i e s that they are not s a t i s f i e d w i t h the amount of
change and the pace o f change. We must continue t o f i g h t
for the needs of middle class Americans and make t h e i r
government representative of t h e i r i n t e r e s t s .
23.
Congress i s reconvening at the end of the month t o vote on
what you have described as the most important trade
l e g i s l a t i o n i n a generation. Why i n the weeks leading up t o
t h i s vote are you spending your time overseas or out o f
Washington?
A.
Since the s t a r t of my A d m i n i s t r a t i o n I said t h a t I was going
to have a hands on approach t o advancing America's economic
i n t e r e s t s around the world. My t r i p t o the APEC i s p a r t of
t h a t s t r a t e g y , as i s the Conference o f the Americas i n Miami
i n December, as i s the GATT agreement. A l l three are aimed
at increasing markets abroad f o r American products and
c r e a t i n g jobs here at home. And t h i s w i l l continue t o be
one o f the top p r i o r i t i e s of my A d m i n i s t r a t i o n .
24.
A number o f current Democratic members o f the House and
Senate are going t o be unemployed come January 3rd. Do you
plan t o give any o f them jobs i n your Administration?
A.
I don't t h i n k t h i s i s the time or place t o discuss personnel
issues. A number of these i n d i v i d u a l s are very t a l e n t e d and
q u a l i f i e d t o hold important jobs, and I wish them w e l l . But
now i s not the time t o t a l k about personnel matters.
25.
A number of senior Democrats i n the House were defeated (the
Speaker, Rostenkowski, Brooks, Neal Smith, Gibbons). These
members were c l o s e l y i d e n t i f i e d w i t h you and w i t h your
agenda i n the Congress. U n t i l t h i s year, these members
�faced l i t t l e d i f f i c u l t y i n g e t t i n g reelected.
defeat more of a comment on you than on them?
Isn't their
A.
These men have had d i s t i n g u i s h e d careers i n p u b l i c service,
and no single e l e c t i o n can take away from t h a t . They have
years of accomplishments on behalf of t h e i r c o n s t i t u e n t s and
the country of which they can be extremely proud, and they
are a l l going t o be missed.
26.
How do you intend to respond to the approval of Proposition
187 i n C a l i f o r n i a . W i l l you cut o f f Federal a i d to
education i n C a l i f o r n i a ?
A.
F i r s t , I intend to continue our e f f o r t s t o combat i l l e g a l
immigration by improving enforcement at the borders and
a s s i s t i n g the States w i t h the costs of i l l e g a l immigration.
I w i l l be asking the Justice Department to examine the
issues raised by Proposition 187. U n t i l the Attorney
General provides me w i t h a recommendation as to f u r t h e r
a c t i o n , I w i l l not have any comment on t h a t question.
27.
Are going to run f o r r e e l e c t i o n i n 1996?
A.
I t ' s a l i t t l e e a r l y to be t a l k i n g about the 1996 e l e c t i o n .
I ' l l get t o the answer to that question i n due time. Right
now, I t h i n k the American people deserve a l i t t l e r e s t from
p o l i t i c s and a l i t t l e more work on s o l v i n g t h e i r problems.
That's what I'm focusing on now.
28.
Republicans turned out f o r yesterday's e l e c t i o n , and
Democrats d i d n ' t . Do you have any i n s i g h t i n t o why?
A.
I don't t h i n k t h i s e l e c t i o n was about p o l i t i c a l p a r t y . I t
was about change. I t h i n k the r i g h t t o vote i s one of the
most precious r i g h t s t h a t people have i n t h i s country, and
I'm always disappointed when any American — regardless of
p a r t y — does not exercise that r i g h t . One of the reasons
we need t o reform our p o l i t i c a l system i s to restore
people's f a i t h -- regardless of t h e i r p a r t y — that
government i s working f o r t h e i r i n t e r e s t s .
�DRAFT Q'S AND A'S FOR NOVEMBER 9 PRESS CONFERENCE
1.
Weren't the r e s u l t s o f t h i s e l e c t i o n a r e p u d i a t i o n o f the
agenda you have pursued i n the Congress?
A.
No, I believe t h i s was p r i m a r i l y a referendum on Washington
as a whole. This was a r e j e c t i o n of p o l i t i c s as usual. I n
1992, the American people demanded change. They are s t i l l
demanding change. C l e a r l y , they do not believe we have
d e l i v e r e d enough o f i t , and they do not believe we have
brought change q u i c k l y enough.
America wins when Democrats and Republicans work together.
The record of the l a s t two years proves t h a t . Outside of
the economic plan, most o f our accomplishments came when we
were able to work together. I t ' s my hope that, w i t h the
e l e c t i o n over, we can put aside our partisanship and begin
the hard work t o accomplish the changes and the progress
t h a t the public i s demanding o f a l l of us -- Democrats and
Republicans a l i k e .
2.
You were unable t o pass a number of s i g n i f i c a n t
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n i t i a t i v e s i n 1994 when you had 56 Democrats
i n t h e Senate and a 40-seat m a j o r i t y i n the House. I f your
agenda was too l i b e r a l f o r the l a s t Congress, i s n ' t i t going
to be impossible t o get through a Congress which i s
demonstrably more conservative?
A.
The agenda I have followed i s not a l i b e r a l agenda; i t i s
not a conservative agenda. I t does not f o l l o w any r i g i d
i d e o l o g i c a l l i n e s . I t ' s an agenda f o r moving America
forward. W have cut the d e f i c i t , Federal spending, and the
e
s i z e o f government. We have passed anti-crime l e g i s l a t i o n
t h a t continued tough enforcement provisions and put 100,000
more p o l i c e on our s t r e e t s . Trade i s not l i b e r a l or
conservative. Education and t r a i n i n g are not l i b e r a l or
conservative. F i g h t i n g crime i s not l i b e r a l or
conservative. We need t o get away from these a r t i f i c i a l
c a t e g o r i z a t i o n s o f what's l i b e r a l and what's conservative.
My A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s not going t o move l e f t or r i g h t . I t ' s
going t o keep moving forward.
3.
Was your strategy too p a r t i s a n i n the l a s t Congress, and
what do you intend t o do t o reduce partisanship i n the new
Congress?
A.
I was disappointed i n the l a s t few months of the Congress
t h a t serious b i p a r t i s a n e f f o r t s t o solve problems were too
o f t e n overwhelmed by p a r t i s a n p o l i t i c a l considerations. I f
t h a t continues i n the new Congress, we w i l l a l l be hurt -Democrats and Republicans a l i k e -- but the biggest losers
w i l l be the American people. They are demanding that we
work together, and we must.
�We have done that successfully on many occasions, from
education to national service, from family leave to NAFTA.
I think that proves that we can do so in the future.
The f i r s t o p p o r t u n i t y we a l l have t o demonstrate that we can
work together i n the new Congress i s the enactment of the
GATT l e g i s l a t i o n . GATT represents progress f o r t h i s country
— i t means more jobs, more high-paying jobs, now and i n the
f u t u r e . Congress has already committed to return l a t e r t h i s
month and vote on GATT. I c a l l on Democrats and Republicans
a l i k e t o j o i n together to pass t h i s i n i t i a t i v e that i s so
important to our economic f u t u r e .
4.
How
do you intend t o proceed w i t h health care reform?
A.
I am s t i l l committed to the p r i n c i p l e s that have always
motivated our e f f o r t s on health care. We have to get health
care costs under c o n t r o l , and I believe i t i s a - o r a l and
economic imperative that every American enjoy the s e c u r i t y
of h e a l t h insurance.
We are now considering how best to achieve these goals, and
I want to work with Congressional leaders on both sides of
the a i s l e to develop proposals to address these problems.
There are no easy answers here.
But l e t me make i t clear
that while the s p e c i f i c s of these reforms are open to
rethinking, the changes must be r e a l . The problems are
getting worse, not better. The number of Americans without
health insurance i s going up, not going down. Health care
costs continue to go up, not down. And they continue to
threaten the economic progress we have worked so hard to
achieve.
5.
Do you intend to change your welfare reform proposal, given
the election of a more conservative Congress?
A.
Our welfare reform proposal addresses the goals I t h i n k most
Americans share f o r welfare reform. I t requires people t o
work; i t cuts waste and fraud from the system; i t makes
parents take r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r the support of t h e i r
c h i l d r e n ; and i t makes a s t a r t at combating the problem of
teen pregnancy. These are the tenets that guided my welfare
reform proposal, and they w i l l continue to guide t h i s
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n as we work to enact welfare reform.
I don't t h i n k t h i s i s an issue that we should sinply posture
on. I t ' s one that requires r e a l , p r a c t i c a l solutions, and
t h a t means d i f f i c u l t choices. That's the t e s t cf
leadership, and I intend to continue to f i g h t f c r true
welfare reform.
6.
The Kerrey-Danfort'r. Commission i s scheduled to make i t s
recommendations f o r entitlement reforms next month. You
�have said you don't favor cuts i n Social Security or
Medicare to reduce the d e f i c i t . How do you intend to keep
the d e f i c i t from r i s i n g in the future i f you have taken the
biggest programs i n the budget off the table?
A.
As you know, when we entered o f f i c e , the d e f i c i t was headed
f o r $300 b i l l i o n and more. We took a d e f i c i t that was
headed upward and, by c u t t i n g $700 b i l l i o n from the d e f i c i t ,
are achieving three consecutive years of d e f i c i t reduction
f o r the f i r s t time i n 45 years. To do that, we cut more
than 300 programs, cut spending by $255 b i l l i o n , and we are
reducing Federal personnel by 272,000, so that i t w i l l be
smaller than i t has been any time since the Kennedy
Administration.
We have begun t o put our f i s c a l house i n order, and we are
going t o continue on that path. As I have always said, and
as everyone i s w e l l aware, we cannot hope to keep the
d e f i c i t on a downward path unless we confront r i s i n g health
care costs. That must be a p r i o r i t y of any health care
reform l e g i s l a t i o n that we enact. I also look forward t o
seeing the recommendations of the Kerrey Commission.
/
'
I w i l l t e l l you what we are not going to do. W are not
e
going to jeopardize the d e f i c i t reduction we have already
achieved by going for short-term p o l i t i c a l fixes.
7.
Are you going to f u l f i l l your promise of a middle-class tax
cut?
A.
As you know, we have already cut income taxes for 15 million
moderate-income working families. I have said consistently
that t h i s i s only a s t a r t . I continue to hope to be able to
provide tax r e l i e f for a l l hard-pressed middle-income
families.
8.
Congressional Democrats suffered huge losses in the South
and the West, and in the latter weeks of the campaign, your
p o l i t i c a l advisors kept you almost entirely out of those two
areas of the country. Can you be reelected without support
in the South and West?
A.
People i n the South and the West care about the same things
as people int he Midwest and the East. Sometimes we create
a r t i f i c i a l divisions among our people. But the fact i s that
a l l Americans, regardless of region, regardless of race,
regardless of economic position, care about the same things.
They care about the education and safety of their families;
they care about their own economic security; and they care
about securing a better future for their children and their
country.
I intend to continue to make these the top
p r i o r i t i e s for my Administration, and I am comfortable
taking this message to every area of the country.
�9.
Many of the moderate southern Democrats who joined you in
founding the Democratic Leadership Council were soundly
rejected by the voters in their states. You have been
c r i t i c i z e d by these candidates and others for deserting the
moderate wing of your party, and some attribute their
defeats to the l i b e r a l agenda you followed during your f i r s t
two years in o f f i c e . How do you react to these criticisms?
A.
The agenda I have followed i s not a l i b e r a l agenda; i t i s
not a conservative agenda. I t does not f o l l o w any r i g i d
i d e o l o g i c a l l i n e s . I t ' s an agenda f o r moving America
forward. We have cut the d e f i c i t , Federal spending, and the
size of government. We have passed anti-crime l e g i s l a t i o n
t h a t continued tough enforcement provisions and put 100,000
more p o l i c e on our s t r e e t s . Trade i s not l i b e r a l or
conservative. Education and t r a i n i n g are not l i b e r a l or
conservative. F i g h t i n g crime i s not l i b e r a l or
conservative. We need to get away from these a r t i f i c i a l
categorizations of what's l i b e r a l and what's conservative.
My Administration i s not going t o move l e f t or r i g h t . I t ' s
going to keep moving forward.
10.
Many leading Democrats have attributed the h i s t o r i c losses
suffered by your party in this election to your personal
unpopularity. Do you agree? And what do you intend to do
about i t ?
A.
This election was a referendum on Washington and the way
government and p o l i t i c s has been practiced here for far too
long. We have made some progress in bringing change to the
way Washington addresses America's problems. But clearly we
have not brought change quickly enough. Americans expect
more from a l l of us — from Democrats, Republicans, the
President, the Congress, and everybody else who works in
Washington. And they deserve i t . We who hold the public
trust have got to deliver the change they are asking for.
11.
You have had a rocky relationship with Senator Dole over the
past two years. He has disagreed with you on nearly every
major domestic i n i t i a t i v e you have sent to Congress. How do
you expect to accomplish any of your domestic agenda with
him as Senate Majority Leader?
A.
While Senator Dole and I have disagreed on much, we have
also agreed on some things. I believe we can work together
for the good of the American people. I hope the f i r s t thing
we can do together i s to pass GATT, which he and I both
support, when Congress returns l a t e r t h i s month.
12.
Senator D'Amato i s l i k e l y to be the Chairman of the Banking
Committee i n the Senate next year. He has said that he i s
l i k e l y to use h i s new p o s i t i o n to i n v e s t i g a t e more f u l l y the
Whitewater a f f a i r . Would you be w i l l i n g t o cooperate f u l l y
w i t h the Congress, i n c l u d i n g appearing before the Committee?
�A.
As we have in the past, we w i l l cooperate f u l l y with the
Congress.
(If there's a follow-up on appearing before Congress)
There has been no such request, and I'm not going to comment
on hypothetical questions. Let me reiterate that I expect
everybody in my Administration to cooperate f u l l y .
13.
With Republicans c o n t r o l l i n g a working m a j o r i t y i n the
Congress, w i l l you be adding Republicans to your
Administration?
A.
Yes, I believe the A d m i n i s t r a t i o n should seek the best
people from both p a r t i e s . That's e n t i r e l y appropriate, and
I've included Republicans already, such as David Gergen. I
expect t h i s to occur i n the f u t u r e as w e l l .
14.
In view of the e l e c t i o n r e s u l t s , are you going to shake up
your Cabinet and the White House s t a f f as other Presidents
have done i n s i m i l a r circumstances?
A.
I think the people in t h i s Administration have worked hard
and served with distinction. But this i s not the time or
the place to discuss such matters.
15.
Who w i l l you be naming to head the Democratic National
Committee to replace David Wilhelm?
A.
I think David Wilhelm has done an excellent job under
d i f f i c u l t circumstances at the DNC.
In the coming weeks, I
w i l l nominate his replacement. Now more than ever we need a
strong Democratic Party that represents the interests of
average Americans. I w i l l be looking for a strong voice to
make that case.
16.
Yesterday, voters i n e i g h t states endorsed term l i m i t s f o r
Members of Congress. That brings t o 23 the number of s t a t e s
t h a t have endorsed term l i m i t s f o r Congress. This idea has
been approved every time i t has been put before the v o t e r s .
Yet your Administration plans to argue before the Supreme
Court t h a t term l i m i t s are u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l . Are you
prepared to endorse term l i m i t s f o r Members of Congress?
A.
As you know, I have opposed term l i m i t s f o r Members of
Congress. I believe other reforms such as campaign finance
reform and reducing the influence of lobbyists would have
far greater impact on the way Washington works. The f a c t
i s , the voters have an opportunity every two years to l i m i t
the terits of t h e i r Members of Congress, and they have
exercised i t .
(Use best s t a t i s t i c on the next Congress.}
((But the people have spoken w i t h a clear voice on t h i s
issue, and I'm not going to stand i n t h e i r way. But l e t ' s
�make two things clear. F i r s t , i t should be done legally —
by Constitutional amendment that l e t s each state make i t s
own decision. Second, i f i t ' s going to be done, i t has to
be r e a l . The Republican proposal for term l i m i t s would
grandfather in a l l current Members of Congress for 12 years.
I f they're serious about this, i t w i l l take effect
immediately and apply immediately to current Members.))
17.
A factor in the defeat of a number of candidates was their
support for the Brady b i l l and the ban on assault weapons.
Does t h i s s p e l l defeat f o r future e f f o r t to c o n t r o l guns?
A.
Let me be clear. I w i l l f i g h t any attempt t o water down
e i t h e r the Brady b i l l or the ban on assault weapons. I t
would represent a b e t r a y a l to our law enforcement o f f i c e r s ,
and i t would represent the worst kind of p o l i t i c s -c a t e r i n g to a special i n t e r e s t t h a t puts i t s own i d e o l o g i c a l
agenda ahead of the nation's i n t e r e s t s .
�
Dublin Core
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Title
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Michael Waldman
Description
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<p>Michael Waldman was Assistant to the President and Director of Speechwriting from 1995-1999. His responsibilities were writing and editing nearly 2,000 speeches, which included four State of the Union speeches and two Inaugural Addresses. From 1993 -1995 he served as Special Assistant to the President for Policy Coordination.</p>
<p>The collection generally consists of copies of speeches and speech drafts, talking points, memoranda, background material, correspondence, reports, handwritten notes, articles, clippings, and presidential schedules. A large volume of this collection was for the State of the Union speeches. Many of the speech drafts are heavily annotated with additions or deletions. There are a lot of articles and clippings in this collection.</p>
<p>Due to the size of this collection it has been divided into two segments. Use links below for access to the individual segments:<br /><a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=43&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=2006-0469-F+Segment+1">Segment One</a><br /><a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=43&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=2006-0469-F+Segment+2">Segment Two</a></p>
Creator
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Michael Waldman
Office of Speechwriting
Date
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1993-1999
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2006-0469-F
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Segment One contains 1071 folders in 72 boxes.
Segment Two contains 868 folders in 66 boxes.
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Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
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William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
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Adobe Acrobat Document
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paper
Dublin Core
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Speeches: POTUS Press Conferences Q and A's (11/9/94)
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Office of Speechwriting
Michael Waldman
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Box 33
<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36403"> Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7763296">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
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2006-0469-F Segment 1
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White House Staff and Office Files
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William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
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6/3/2015
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7763296
42-t-7763296-20060469F-Seg1-033-014-2015