    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [March 4, 1993]
    [Page 236]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 236]]

    Remarks on Receiving the Rotary International Award of Honor and an
    Exchange With Reporters
    March 4, 1993

    Award of Honor

        Clifford Dochterman. Mr. President, as the former president of
    Rotary International, I have the occasion on several occasions to
    present an award called the Rotary International Award of Honor
    presented to selected heads of state. We've only presented this on about
    12 occasions. This award is given for humanitarian service. And the
    service that you're giving for Rotary International's programs of
    support for immunization of children in the world, as well as our
    programs of humanitarian aid in Bosnia and Croatia, gives me the
    opportunity--if you would accept this award on behalf of 1,100,000
    Rotarians of the world in 187 countries--it would be a great pleasure--
    to accept this award.
        The President. Thank you for your good work, and thank you for the
    award. I appreciate that.
        Mr. Dochterman. It has a ribbon there, but I'll not be so
    presumptuous to put it over your----
        The President. Isn't it beautiful? Thank you.
        Mr. Dochterman. This award has been presented on selected occasions
    on behalf of those who support humanitarian efforts throughout the
    world.
        The President. I'm deeply honored.

    World Trade Center Bombing

        Q. Excuse me, Mr. President, can you tell us anything about the
    arrest and whether the American people can now believe that they are
    secure in that someone has been arrested?
        The President. I can tell you that I was informed this morning about
    it. And the authorities are still working on a statement that I think
    will be issued to you later this afternoon. I think they'll be able to
    give you some more information later this afternoon.
        Q. Now the suspect though is linked to terrorism, should Americans
    feel less secure about their safety?
        The President. I think you should wait until the--I think, first of
    all, the American people should be very proud of the work done by the
    law enforcement authorities. They worked hard together. They worked
    aggressively. They worked without stopping until they made, I think, a
    very quick arrest. But I'd like for you to wait until the proper
    authorities have a chance to make their statement to you later this
    afternoon. And then tomorrow I will have a chance to make some more
    comments on it.
        Q. Can we assume that it's terrorism?
        The President. I don't think you should assume anything until you
    hear the statement today. I know that an arrest was made. I know who was
    arrested. I think that at the time I was informed this morning there
    were a lot of other questions we did not know the answers to. And
    they're trying to get as much information together as possible to give
    you later this afternoon.

    Note:  The presentation began at 3:07 p.m. in the Oval Office at the
    White House.