[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 67 (Wednesday, May 25, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 SENATE RESOLUTION 217--RELATING TO WHITEWATER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

  Mr. D'AMATO (for himself, Mr. Dole, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. 
Gramm, Mr. Mack, Mr. Bond, Mr. Faircloth, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Domenici, 
Mr. Roth, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Lott, Mr. McCain, Mr. Stevens, 
Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Kempthorne, Mr. Smith, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Craig, Mr. 
Helms, Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Pressler, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. McConnell, and 
Mr. Cochran) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Rules and Administration:

                              S. Res. 217

       Resolved,


               establishment of the special subcommittee

       Section 1. (a) There is established a special subcommittee 
     within the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 
     to be known as the Special Subcommittee on Certain 
     Allegations Concerning Whitewater Development Corporation, 
     Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan Association, and Capital 
     Management Services, Inc., and Related Issues (hereafter in 
     this resolution referred to as the ``special subcommittee'').
       (b) The purpose of the special subcommittee is--
       (1) to conduct an investigation into, and study of, all 
     matters which have any tendency to reveal the full facts 
     about--
       (A) the operations, solvency, and regulation of Madison 
     Guaranty Savings and Loan Association, including the alleged 
     use of federally insured funds as campaign contributions;
       (B) the relationship among Madison Guaranty Savings and 
     Loan Association, other federally insured institutions, and 
     Whitewater Development Corporation;
       (C) the management and business activities of Whitewater 
     Development Corporation and its shareholders, including 
     issues of personal, corporate, and partnership tax liability;
       (D) the policies of the Resolution Trust Corporation, 
     Federal banking agencies, and other Federal regulatory 
     agencies regarding legal representation of the agencies, 
     including conflicts of interest and cost controls;
       (E) the independence of the Resolution Trust Corporation, 
     Federal banking agencies, and other Federal regulatory 
     agencies, including any improper contacts among officials of 
     the White House, the Department of the Treasury, the 
     Resolution Trust Corporation, the Office of Thrift 
     Supervision, and any other Federal agency;
       (F) the Resolution Trust Corporation's internal handling of 
     the criminal referrals concerning Madison Guaranty Savings 
     and Loan Association;
       (G) the pursuit by the Resolution Trust Corporation of 
     civil causes of action against potentially liable parties 
     associated with Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan 
     Association;
       (H) the pursuit by the Office of Thrift Supervision, the 
     Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Federal 
     Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation of administrative and 
     civil causes of action against potentially liable parties 
     associated with Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan 
     Association;
       (I) the Department of Justice's handling of the Resolution 
     Trust Corporation's criminal referrals relating to Madison 
     Guaranty Savings and Loan Association;
       (J) the delayed recusal of the United States Attorney for 
     the Eastern District of Arkansas from the investigation or 
     prosecution of David Hale, Capital Management Services, Inc., 
     and Whitewater Development Corporation;
       (K) the sources of funding and the lending practices of 
     Capital Management Services, Inc., and its supervision and 
     regulation by the Small Business Administration, including 
     loans to Susan McDougal and the alleged diversion of funds to 
     Whitewater Development Corporation;
       (L) the Park Police investigation into the death of White 
     House Deputy counsel Vincent Foster;
       (M) the operations and underwriting activities of the 
     Arkansas Development Finance Authority;
       (N) the circumstances surrounding and the propriety of the 
     commodities-futures trading activities of Hillary Rodham 
     Clinton;
       (O) the investment activities of Value Partners I, 
     including the compliance of these activities with Federal 
     laws governing conflicts of interest;
       (P) any other issues related to the matters referred to in 
     subparagraphs (A) through (O); and
       (Q) any issues developed during, or arising out of, the 
     hearings conducted by the special subcommittee; and
       (2)(A) to make such findings of fact as are warranted and 
     appropriate;
       (B) to make such recommendations, including recommendations 
     for new legislation and amendments to existing laws and any 
     administrative or other actions, as the special subcommittee 
     may determine to be necessary or desirable; and
       (C) to fulfill the Constitutional oversight and informing 
     function of the Congress with respect to the matters 
     described in this section.
       (c) For purposes of this section, the term ``Madison 
     Guaranty Savings and Loan Association'' includes any 
     subsidiary company, affiliated company, or business owned or 
     controlled, in whole or in part, by Madison Guaranty Savings 
     and Loan Association, its officers, directors, or principal 
     shareholders.


        membership and organization of the special subcommittee

       Sec. 2. (a)(1) The special subcommittee shall consist of--
       (A) 5 members of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs appointed by the chairman;
       (B) 5 members of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs appointed by the ranking member;
       (C) 3 members of the Senate appointed by the President pro 
     tempore of the Senate from the majority party of the Senate 
     upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader of the Senate; 
     and
       (D) 3 members of the Senate appointed by the President pro 
     tempore of the Senate from the minority party of the Senate 
     upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate.
       (2) Vacancies in the membership of the special subcommittee 
     shall not affect the authority of the remaining members to 
     execute the functions of the special subcommittee and shall 
     be filled in the same manner as original appointments to it 
     are made.
       (3) For the purpose of paragraph 4 of rule XXV of the 
     Standing Rules of the Senate, service of a Senator as a 
     member of the special subcommittee shall not be taken into 
     account.
       (b)(1) The chairman and ranking member of the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs shall be cochairmen of 
     the special subcommittee.
       (2) A majority of the members of the special subcommittee 
     shall constitute a quorum for reporting a matter or 
     recommendation to the Senate, except that a quorum shall not 
     be necessary for the purpose of taking testimony before the 
     special subcommittee or for conducting the other business of 
     the special subcommittee.
       (c)(1) The special subcommittee shall promptly adopt 
     appropriate rules and procedures consistent with this 
     resolution.
       (2) The rules and procedures of the special subcommittee 
     shall--
       (A) govern the proceedings of the special subcommittee; and
       (B) consistent with section 6 of this resolution--
       (i) provide for the security of the records of the special 
     subcommittee; and
       (ii) prevent the unauthorized disclosure of information and 
     materials obtained by the special subcommittee in the course 
     of its investigation and study.


                   staff of the special subcommittee

       Sec. 3. (a)(1) Committee staff from committees having 
     jurisdiction over matters described in section 1(b) shall be 
     detailed to the special subcommittee, subject to 
     availability, as requested by the cochairmen.
       (2) In addition to staff detailed pursuant to paragraph (1) 
     and to assist the special subcommittee in its investigation 
     and study, the cochairmen, after approval of the special 
     subcommittee, may appoint special subcommittee staff.
       (3) All staff detailed pursuant to paragraph (1) or 
     appointed pursuant to paragraph (2) shall work for the 
     special subcommittee as a whole, shall report to the two 
     cochairmen and, except as otherwise provided by the special 
     subcommittee, shall be under the direction of the cochairmen.
       (b) To assist the special subcommittee in its investigation 
     and study, the Senate Legal Counsel and Deputy Senate Legal 
     Counsel shall work with and under the jurisdiction and 
     authority of the special subcommittee.
       (c) The Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate may 
     each designate one staff person to serve on the staff of the 
     special subcommittee to serve as their liaison to the special 
     subcommittee.
       (d) The Comptroller General of the United States is 
     requested to provide from the General Accounting Office 
     whatever personnel, investigatory, material, or other 
     appropriate assistance may be required by the special 
     subcommittee.


             public activities of the special subcommittee

       Sec. 4. (a) Consistent with the rights of persons subject 
     to investigation and inquiry, the special subcommittee shall 
     make every effort to fulfill the right of the public and the 
     Congress to know the essential facts and implications of the 
     activities of officials of the United States Government and 
     other persons and entities with respect to the matters under 
     investigation and study as described in section 1.
       (b) In furtherance of the public's and Congress' right to 
     know, the special subcommittee--
       (1) shall hold, as either cochairman considers appropriate, 
     open hearings on specific subjects, subject to consultation 
     and coordination within the independent counsel appointed 
     pursuant to chapter 28, part 600, of the Code of Federal 
     Regulations (referred to as the ``independent counsel'');
       (2) may make interim reports to the Senate as it considers 
     appropriate; and
       (3) shall make a final comprehensive public report to the 
     Senate which contains a description of all relevant factual 
     determinations consistent with subsection (a) of this section 
     and section 1(b)(2) and which contains recommendations for 
     new legislation, if necessary.


                   powers of the special subcommittee

       Sec. 5. (a) The special subcommittee shall do everything 
     necessary and appropriate under the laws and Constitution of 
     the United States to make the investigation and study 
     specified in section 1.
       (b) The special subcommittee is authorized to issue 
     subpoenas for obtaining testimony and for the production of 
     documentary or physical evidence. A subpoena may be 
     authorized and issued by the special subcommittee, acting 
     through either cochairman or any other member designated by 
     either cochairman, and may be served by any person designated 
     by either cochairman or other member anywhere within or 
     without the borders of the United States to the full extent 
     permitted by law. Either cochairman of the special 
     subcommittee, or any other member thereof, is authorized to 
     administer oaths to any witnesses appearing before the 
     subcommittee.
       (c) The special subcommittee is authorized to do the 
     following:
       (1) To employ and fix the compensation of such clerical, 
     investigatory, legal, technical, and other assistants as the 
     special subcommittee considers necessary or appropriate.
       (2) To sit and act at any time or place during sessions, 
     recesses, and adjournment periods of the Senate.
       (3) To hold hearings, take testimony under oath, and to 
     receive documentary or physical evidence relating to the 
     matters and questions it is authorized to investigate or 
     study.
       (4) To request a grant of immunity under section 6005 of 
     title 18, United States Code, after consultation with the 
     independent counsel.
       (5) To require by subpoena or order the attendance, as 
     witnesses before the special subcommittee or at depositions, 
     of any person either cochairman determines may have knowledge 
     or information concerning any of the matters the special 
     subcommittee is authorized to investigate and study.
       (6) To take depositions and other testimony under oath 
     anywhere within the United States, to issue orders by either 
     cochairman or any other member designated by either 
     cochairman which require witnesses to answer written 
     interrogatories under oath, and to make application for 
     issuance of letters rogatory.
       (7) To issue commissions and to notice depositions for 
     staff members to examine witnesses and to receive evidence 
     under oath administered by an individual authorized by local 
     law to administer oaths. The special subcommittee, acting 
     through either cochairman, may authorize and issue, and may 
     delegate to designated staff members the power to authorize 
     and issue, commissions and deposition notices.
       (8) To require by subpoena or order--
       (A) any department, agency, entity, officer, or employee of 
     the United States Government,
       (B) any person or entity purporting to act under color or 
     authority of State or local law, or
       (C) any private person, firm, corporation, partnership, or 
     other organization,
     to produce for its consideration or for use as evidence in 
     the investigation or study of the special subcommittee any 
     book, check, canceled check, correspondence, communication, 
     document, financial record, paper, physical evidence, 
     photograph, record, recording, tape, or any other material 
     relating to any of the matters or questions such subcommittee 
     is authorized to investigate and study which they or any of 
     them may have in their custody or under their control.
       (9) To make to the Senate any recommendations, including 
     recommendations for criminal or civil enforcement, which the 
     special subcommittee may consider appropriate with respect 
     to--
       (A) the willful failure or refusal of any person to appear 
     before it, or at a deposition, or to answer interrogatories, 
     in obedience to a subpoena or order;
       (B) the willful failure or refusal of any person to answer 
     questions or give testimony during his appearance as a 
     witness before such subcommittee, or at a deposition, or in 
     response to interrogatories; or
       (C) the willful failure or refusal of--
       (i) any officer or employee of the United States 
     Government,
       (ii) any person or entity purporting to act under color or 
     authority of State or local law, or
       (iii) any private person, partnership, firm, corporation, 
     or organization,
     to produce before the subcommittee, or at a deposition, or at 
     any time or place designated by the subcommittee, any book, 
     check, canceled check, correspondence, communication, 
     document, financial record, paper, physical evidence, 
     photograph, record, recording, tape, or any other material in 
     obedience to any subpoena or order.
       (10) To procure the temporary or intermittent services of 
     individual consultants, or organizations thereof.
       (11) To use on a reimbursable basis, with the prior consent 
     of the Government department or agency concerned, the 
     services of personnel of such department or agency.
       (12) To use, with the prior consent of the chairman or 
     ranking member of any other Senate committee or the chairman 
     or ranking member of any subcommittee of any committee of the 
     Senate, the facilities or services of the appropriate members 
     of the staff of such other Senate committee whenever the 
     special subcommittee or either cochairman consider that such 
     action is necessary or appropriate to enable the special 
     subcommittee to make the investigation and study provided for 
     in this resolution.
       (13) To have access through the agency of any members of 
     the special subcommittee, staff director, chief counsel, or 
     any of its investigatory assistants designated by either 
     cochairman, to any data, evidence, information, report, 
     analysis, document, or paper--
       (A) which relates to any of the matters or questions which 
     the special subcommittee is authorized to investigate or 
     study;
       (B) which is in the possession, custody, or under the 
     control of any department, agency, entity, officer, or 
     employee of the United States Government, including those 
     which have the power under the laws of the United States to 
     investigate any alleged criminal activities or to prosecute 
     persons charged with crimes against the United States without 
     regard to the jurisdiction or authority of any other Senate 
     committee; and
       (C) which will aid the special subcommittee to prepare for 
     or conduct the investigation and study authorized and 
     directed by this resolution.
       (14) To report violations of any law to the appropriate 
     Federal, State, or local authorities.
       (15) To expend, to the extent the special subcommittee 
     determines necessary and appropriate, any money made 
     available to such subcommittee by the Senate to make the 
     investigation, study, and reports authorized by this 
     resolution.
       (16) Under sections 6103(f)(3) and 6104(a)(2) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to inspect and receive for the 
     fiscal years 1977-1992 any tax return, return information, or 
     other tax-related material, held by the Secretary of the 
     Treasury, related to individuals and entities named by the 
     special subcommittee as possible participants, beneficiaries, 
     or intermediaries in the transactions under investigation.
       (d) The level of compensation payable to any employee of 
     the special subcommittee shall not be subject to any 
     limitation on compensation otherwise applicable to an 
     employee of the Senate. No employee of the special 
     subcommittee may receive pay at a rate of pay in excess of 
     the rate of pay payable for a position at level III of the 
     Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United 
     States Code.


                 protection of confidential information

       Sec. 6. (a) All staff members and consultants shall, as a 
     condition of employment, agree in writing to abide by the 
     conditions of an appropriate nondisclosure agreement 
     promulgated by the special subcommittee.
       (b) The case of any Senator who violates the security 
     procedures of the special subcommittee may be referred to the 
     Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate for the imposition 
     of sanctions in accordance with the rules of the Senate. Any 
     staff member or consultant who violates the security 
     procedures of the special subcommittee shall immediately be 
     subject to removal from office or employment with the special 
     subcommittee or shall be subject to such other sanction as 
     may be provided in the rules of the special subcommittee.
       (c) Upon the termination of the special subcommittee 
     pursuant to section 9 of this resolution, all records, files, 
     documents, and other materials in the possession, custody, or 
     control of the special subcommittee, under appropriate 
     conditions established by such subcommittee, shall be 
     transferred to the National Archives.


                    relation to other investigations

       Sec. 7. (a) In order to--
       (1) expedite the thorough conduct of the investigation and 
     study authorized by this resolution;
       (2) promote efficiency among all the various investigations 
     underway in all branches of the United States Government; and
       (3) engender a high degree of confidence on the part of the 
     public regarding the conduct of such investigation,
     the special subcommittee is encouraged--
       (A) to coordinate, to the extent practicable, its 
     activities with the investigation of the independent counsel;
       (B) to seek the full cooperation of all relevant 
     investigatory bodies; and
       (C) to seek access to all information which is acquired and 
     developed by such bodies.
       (b) The cochairmen shall meet with the independent counsel 
     to obtain relevant information concerning the status of the 
     independent counsel's investigation to assist in establishing 
     a hearing schedule for the special subcommittee.
       (c) The Senate requests that the independent counsel make 
     available to the special subcommittee, as expeditiously as 
     possible, all documents and information which may assist the 
     special subcommittee in its investigation and study.


                         salaries and expenses

       Sec. 8. Such sums as are necessary shall be available from 
     the contingent fund of the Senate out of the Account for 
     Expenses for Inquiries and Investigations for payment of 
     salaries and other expenses of the special subcommittee under 
     this resolution, which shall include sums which shall be 
     available for the procurement of the services of individual 
     consultants or organizations thereof, in accordance with 
     section 5(c)(9). Payment of expenses shall be disbursed upon 
     vouchers approved by either cochairman of the special 
     subcommittee, except that vouchers shall not be required for 
     the disbursement of salaries paid at an annual rate.


                          reports; termination

       Sec. 9. (a)(1) The special subcommittee shall make a final 
     public report to the Senate of the results of the 
     investigation and study conducted by such subcommittee 
     pursuant to this resolution, together with its findings and 
     any recommendations at the earliest practicable date.
       (2) The final report of the special subcommittee may be 
     accompanied by whatever confidential annexes are necessary to 
     protect confidential information.
       (b) After submission of its final report, the special 
     subcommittee shall conclude its business and close out its 
     affairs as expeditiously as practicable.


                 subcommittee jurisdiction and rule xxv

       Sec. 10. The jurisdiction of the special subcommittee is 
     granted pursuant to this resolution notwithstanding the 
     provisions of paragraph 1 of rule XXV of the Standing Rules 
     of the Senate relating to the jurisdiction of the standing 
     committees of the Senate.

  Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, in behalf of myself and Senators Dole, 
Wallop, Murkowski, Gramm of Texas, Mack, Bond, Faircloth, Bennett, 
Domenici, Roth, Nickles, Simpson, Lott, McCain, Stevens, Hutchison, 
Kempthorne, Smith, Hatch, Craig, Helms, Coverdell, Pressler, Thurmond, 
McConnell, and Cochran, I send a resolution to the desk, and I ask for 
its appropriate referral.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The resolution will be received and 
appropriately referred.
  Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, on March 17, more than 2 months ago, the 
Senate unanimously voted to hold congressional oversight hearings on 
the Whitewater affair. Every single Member of this body who was present 
on March 17--98 Senators--voted in favor of holding Whitewater 
hearings.
  Ninety-eight Senators voted to uphold the Senate's constitutional 
obligation to conduct oversight hearings concerning White House efforts 
to interfere with ongoing Government investigations into the failure of 
Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan Association in Little Rock, AK.
  Ninety-eight Senators voted to investigate whether there was a 
diversion of taxpayer funds from a federally backed small business 
investment company and a federally insured savings and loan to the 
Whitewater Development Company.
  Ninety-eight Senators voted to support the American people's right to 
find out the truth about the President and Mrs. Clinton's investments 
in the Whitewater Development Company.
  Ninety-eight Senators also authorized the majority leader and the 
Republican leader to meet in order to determine the timetable, the 
procedures and the forum for Congressional oversight hearings. Despite 
the efforts of the two leaders, there is still no agreement on when or 
where the hearings will be held and, in fact, if they ever will be 
held.
  Mr. President, in light of the unanimous vote by the Senate to hold 
hearings, I am confident that the Senate can also reach agreement on 
when and where Whitewater hearings should be held. That is why I have 
introduced a resolution that establishes a special subcommittee of the 
Senate Banking Committee to investigate and hold hearings on all 
Whitewater-related issues.
  Under the resolution, the special subcommittee would be authorized to 
investigate and hold hearings on matters involving:
  Improper contacts between the White House and government agencies 
investigating the failure of Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan;
  The financial collapse of Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan 
Association and the diversion of federally insured funds from Madison 
to the Whitewater Development Corporation;
  The diversion of federally backed funds from Capital Management 
Services, Inc. to the Whitewater Development Corporation;
  Conflicts of interest involving the Rose Law Firm's representation of 
the Federal Government in actions to recover money lost by insolvent 
savings and loans; the circumstances surrounding Mrs. Clinton's 
commodities-futures trading activities;
  The Park Police investigation into the death of White House Deputy 
Counsel Vincent Foster; and
  The Operations and underwriting practices of the Arkansas Development 
and Finance Authority.
  To ensure that the investigation is thorough, balanced and 
nonpartisan, the membership of the special subcommittee would be evenly 
divided between Democrats and Republicans. Ten members of the 
subcommittee would be chosen from among the current members of the full 
Banking Committee. In addition, the Majority Leader and the Republican 
Leader would each be permitted to select three additional members from 
other committees, to serve on this special subcommittee. The Chairman 
and Ranking Member of the Banking Committee will serve as co-chairmen 
of the special subcommittee. Both co-chairman can schedule hearings, 
issue subpoenas, or authorize sworn depositions of witnesses in 
accordance with rules adopted by the subcommittee governing the 
investigation and hearings.
  Banking Committee staff will be used by the special subcommittee, and 
staff from other committees may be detailed to the special committee, 
with the approval of the appropriate Chairmen and Ranking Members. 
Further, the special subcommittee may hire additional staff if 
necessary.
  The special subcommittee is encouraged to coordinate, to the extent 
practicable, its activities with the independent counsel and to seek 
the full cooperation of others conducting investigations. To ensure 
efficiency and to eliminate duplication of effort, the special 
subcommittee will have access to information gathered in connection 
with other investigations.
  The special subcommittee is to issue a final report of its findings 
and recommendations at the conclusion of the hearings.
  Mr. President, virtually every member of the Senate agreed more than 
2 months ago that Whitewater hearings should be conducted. It is now 
time to agree on the forum and timing of those hearings.
  Mr. President, there have been those who have been critical of the 
efforts to bring forth these hearings. They have suggested that somehow 
we would impede the operation of Government. They have suggested that 
by our request, somehow we would divert attention from the problems 
that this Nation faces. That is not this Senator's intent or the intent 
of the sponsors of this resolution. But it is our intent not to fall 
victim to that kind of cry that, for all time, would preclude the 
Congress from exercising our proper constitutional oversight 
responsibility. Any President, any Administration, now or in the 
future, could preclude any hearings, regardless of the merit and 
validity of those hearings, by simply using that specious argument--
that we have very important matters, both international and national, 
to deal with. It is a fallacious argument that should be set aside.
  We want a nonpartisan investigation to determine whether or not there 
has been abuse of power. That it is our constitutional responsibility.
  Mr. President, no one can say that we have not provided an ample 
opportunity to work out a format for these hearings. In the light of 
circumstances, we have been very, very restrained in not coming to this 
floor. We have not impeded the business of the people.
  Some people have asked, ``Well, Senator, have you abandoned your 
request or the request of the Congress to move forward with Whitewater 
hearings?'' No, we have not. We have attempted to be more than fair. We 
have attempted to see to it that there was sufficient time and 
opportunity to work out an agreement between the leadership on the 
proper structure and timing of hearings. At this point in time, this 
Senator says--and I believe a majority of my colleagues feel--that we 
have been more than patient. Accordingly, when we return, if we do not 
have an agreement that is fair, that is bipartisan, then this Senator 
and others will be prepared to offer the resolution which I have 
outlined on every single bill that comes forward, at every single 
opportunity. We will debate this and debate it, and seek votes on it 
and seek votes on it, until we have Whitewater hearings.
  Mr. President, this is our constitutional obligation and 
responsibility. As the majority leader wrote, along with Senator Cohen, 
from Maine: The Congress has a responsibility to drag the facts into 
the light of day as it relates to activities of the Administration that 
may have been improper. I am paraphrasing from their book called ``Men 
of Zeal.'' But the fact is that it is our responsibility. The fact is 
that it demonstrates the strength of a democracy that it can deal with 
some of the shortcomings that may exist or may have taken place in the 
Administration. We have learned from it. We go on and we are better for 
it.
  That is the strength of this great democracy of ours, and that is our 
responsibility, whether there be a Republican in the White House or a 
Democrat; whether this be a Democratic Congress or a Republican 
Congress. To those in the media who seek to characterize my efforts as 
they do, I say: That is your right. But I will continue, because I know 
that this is my obligation.

                          ____________________