[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E132-E133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE STATE OF THE UNION

                                 ______


                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 1996

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert my Washington 
Report for Wednesday, January 31, 1996 into the Congressional Record:

               The President's State of the Union Address

       Declaring that the era of big government is over, the 
     President embraced a centrist view of government in his State 
     of the Union address. The speech had no soaring rhetoric, and 
     it was rather blandly written and probably too long, but he 
     delivered it forcefully and appeared robust and strong. By 
     complimenting his chief political opponent he came across as 
     gracious and fair minded. As usual, he threw about everything 
     into the speech. Most observers felt that he had a very good 
     night.


                                overview

       He gave an upbeat view of the nation, saying that the state 
     of the union is strong and that America has made progress in 
     reducing the deficit, creating new jobs, and keeping 
     unemployment and inflation low. He emphasized that the crime 
     rate, teen pregnancies, high school drop out rates, poverty 
     and welfare rolls are all down, and that we have had great 
     success in lowering air pollution, cutting tons of pesticides 
     from water and food supplies. He emphasized progress made 
     abroad, with the United States leading toward peace in Haiti, 
     Northern Ireland, Bosnia, and the Middle East.
       But the President did not dwell upon the progress; he 
     emphasized the challenges that are before us--to balance the 
     budget, keep families together, provide educational 
     opportunities and economic security, continue the fight 
     against crime and drugs, protect the environment, continue 
     American world leadership, and make our government and its 
     democracy work better for less money.


                           size of government

       Throughout the speech the President highlighted the theme 
     of smaller government, saying that big government does not 
     have all the answers, that there's not a program for every 
     problem. He's right. He said that we need a smaller, less 
     bureaucratic government in Washington, one that lives within 
     its means, and he noted that the federal workforce is now at 
     its lowest level in 30 years. He laid out the challenges 
     for an age of possibility. He hit hard on the point that 
     the government shutdowns are a mistake, also now 
     acknowledged by Speaker Gingrich, and he challenged 
     Congress never to shut the federal government down again. 
     The President was equally sharp in his comments on the 
     efforts to threaten the full faith and credit of the U.S. 
     to try to force presidential budget or other policy 
     concessions.


                                economy

       The President was both optimist and critic of the American 
     economy. He mentioned the impressive list of economic 
     statistics that now characterize the American economy. The 
     economy overall is in good shape, with low inflation and 
     interest rates, steady growth, and relatively low 
     unemployment. Yet at the same time, many Americans are 
     fearful of layoffs, concerned about the growing gap between 
     the rich and the poor, worried that wages are not keeping up 
     with inflation, and doubtful about the future of the American 
     dream.


                              major points

       As usual in a State of the Union address there was 
     something in it for most everybody. The President hit very 
     popular themes emphasizing a balanced budget, a strengthened 
     American family, moving people from welfare to work, making 
     health care more available to every American, and supporting 
     the efforts of state and local police to catch criminals and 
     prevent crime. He also stressed improving educational 
     opportunities, reducing the drug problem, working with 
     business to cut pollution, curbing the influence of special 
     interests in politics, attacking the problem of illegal 
     immigration, and maintaining America's role as a peacemaker 
     in the world.
       Strongly applauded were his references to education and 
     cultural values, and his calls 

[[Page E133]]
     for responsible parents, decency on television and in the movies, and a 
     crackdown on gangs. Reiterating themes he has often expressed 
     in the past, he put heavy emphasis on working together as a 
     community and reaching across the lines that divide us in 
     order to find common ground and to make America work better. 
     Again and again he said that the future can only be achieved 
     by teamwork between Republicans and Democrats and between 
     government and the private sector.
       He spent remarkably little time talking about the 
     protracted struggle over the budget, sounding at times as if 
     the fight was already over. His eyes were clearly focused on 
     the future and not the contentious and hostile battles going 
     on with Congress. He did not lambast the Republicans, indeed 
     he complimented their commitment to a balanced budget and 
     took the high road throughout his speech.
       The speech was significant in that it proposed few if any 
     bold new initiatives and basically repeated calls the 
     President has made in the past. He is clearly constrained by 
     the fact that he has little money to play with and his 
     emphasis on the limitations of government. The prominence of 
     the traditional values of family and work were strong themes 
     in his speech. A significant omission in the speech was any 
     reference to his and the First Lady's problems with 
     Whitewater.


                      protecting against excesses

       I think the President sought to portray himself as a 
     reasonable man who shared many of the goals of his political 
     opponents but thought their means were too harsh. He conceded 
     that government programs had become too costly and 
     inefficient, but he did not abandon the fundamental 
     obligations to the people who rely on Medicare and Medicaid, 
     stating: ``America cannot become stronger if they become 
     weaker.'' I think the President is saying that he will cut 
     back big government but he will do it compassionately, that 
     he will keep many government programs but he will run them 
     more efficiently.


                               conclusion

       The themes the President hit in his speech--limited 
     government, an optimistic view of the future of America with 
     great challenges and possibilities--hit responsive chords 
     among Americans. In outlining the challenges to the country, 
     the President for the most part chose not to attack his 
     political opponents' positions but rather to emphasize common 
     ground, and that also was well received. The key test for the 
     President will be whether he is able to follow through on the 
     themes and vision he laid out.

                          ____________________