[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
[May 14, 1993]
[Pages 668-669]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President Mary 
Robinson of Ireland
May 14, 1993

Ireland

    Q. Madam President, do you support a peace envoy from the United 
States to Ireland?
    President Robinson. I think it has been very much appreciated, as 
indeed the Taoiseach said when he met with the President on March the 
17th, on St. Patrick's Day, that President Clinton has shown such an 
interest in and concern for Ireland. That is very well recognized in 
Ireland itself and that, as President, you have indicated a genuine, a 
real concern. And I know that when you were discussing with the 
Taoiseach the idea of a peace envoy that you left open this issue, 
because it expresses concern, and that you are aware that there are the 
prospects of resumed talks in Northern Ireland. And I think in those 
circumstances--and it is appropriate to let those talks take their 
course.
    But the sounding of the concern, the genuine interest, and the fact 
that you said you were a friend not just on St. Patrick's Day but 
throughout the year in an interested way, that has struck a very real 
chord throughout the island of Ireland and an important one. And I think 
that's very much appreciated, now. So I think that the reality of that 
concern has created its own very helpful and constructive vibrations.
    President Clinton. Thank you.

Perception of the Administration

    Q. Mr. President, you sounded a little bit frustrated at the end of 
your news conference there with the perception of your administration 
and your Presidency.
    President Clinton. I just did what I could to set the record 
straight. You know, in the end you're measured by whether you act or not 
and what you stand for and what you don't, and I think the record is 
pretty clear. This administration has come out for a lot of bold and 
comprehensive change and is fighting for it. And if I don't say that, 
who will?
    Q. That may be the question. [Laughter]
    President Clinton. We haven't lost a majority vote yet. We may 
before it's over, but we haven't yet.

Ireland

    Q. President Clinton, can I ask you a question? Are you going to 
visit Ireland? You're meeting the President today. Would you like----
    President Clinton. I hope so. I told the President I went to Ireland 
once when I was a young man.
    Q. 1969?
    President Clinton. It was a great trip.
    Q. Do you think you're going to be able to do it?
    President Clinton. Did you check my passport files? Is that how 
you--[laughter].
    Q. Would you like to visit Ireland?
    President Clinton. I would very much.

The First 100 Days

    Q. Can I ask you about your first 100 days in office? Have you 
enjoyed that?
    President Clinton. Very much. Even the difficult times have been 
good. You know, it's an exhilarating thing trying to sort of turn things 
around, not easy but exhilarating.

Gerry Adams

    Q. Mr. President, you've gotten some heat over your Irish problems 
recently. Do you think looking back on what you said during the campaign 
and knowing what you know now about, for example, the Gerry Adams 
status, that you might have rephrased what you were saying?

[[Page 669]]

    President Clinton. Well, what I said was--and I did do that--I asked 
the State Department to review the case and I gave the--and other 
agencies did so as well. He is no longer a Member of Parliament, which 
is what I take my statement on. And they unanimously recommended that 
the visa not be granted. I have no grounds to overrule them.

Lani Guinier

    Q. Mr. President, at your press conference today on the Lani Guinier 
question, you seem to suggest--please correct me if I'm wrong--but that 
it's simply a matter of Congress confirming her and her doing--or, 
excuse me, the Senate confirming her and her doing Congress' will as it 
relates to the Civil Rights Division. But her writings suggest a very 
interesting interpretation of things like the Voting Rights Act, which 
she would extend to the executive branch, numerical goals for judicial 
appointments, which I believe you opposed in your campaign. So what is 
the Senate, then, to make of the fact that you've sent somebody up there 
that favors things that you oppose?
    President Clinton. Well listen, I would never have appointed anybody 
to public office if they had to agree with everything I believe in. We 
wouldn't have a Cabinet. I mean, I take it, based on my personal 
experience, you will believe me when I say I am confident that she'll 
follow the Constitution and the laws of the United States. You have to 
swear an oath of office to that. She may wish the law were different in 
some areas. But I've had personal experience with her accomplishments as 
a civil rights lawyer, and I thought we ought to have a distinguished 
civil rights lawyer as head of the Civil Rights Division. And I say 
again, the Congress passes the laws and the executive branch enforces 
them, and when there is a question of policy, that will be resolved by 
the Attorney General.
    Q. Are you disassociating yourself from her writings, sir?
    President Clinton. I never have associated myself with all of her 
writings or all of anybody else's. I even found a word or two in the 
Vice President's book I didn't agree with. [Laughter]

Ireland

    Q. President Robinson, what is your message to President Clinton? 
What is your message to President Clinton today?
    President Robinson. Well, it is certainly a very special occasion to 
come here as President of Ireland and to be welcomed by President 
Clinton. And I want to reiterate the invitation that has already been 
extended to him by the Taoiseach to renew his acquaintanceship with 
Dublin and to come to Ireland on an appropriate occasion. And I want to 
express appreciation of the fact that President Clinton has clearly 
signaled an interest in and an active concern for Ireland, for the 
modern Ireland, the Ireland which I have the honor to represent and that 
you and your administration are keeping in very close contact, that 
there is a very open communication and a sense of that, and that has 
been very consciously realized in Ireland itself and throughout the 
island of Ireland. And I think it is a very significant and helpful 
factor in our relations.

Note: The exchange began at 4:25 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. During the exchange, the following persons were referred to: 
Albert Reynolds, Prime Minister of Ireland, and Gerry Adams, leader of 
Sinn Fein. A tape was not available for verification of the content of 
this exchange.