    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [December 28, 1994]
    [Pages 2204-2205]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 2204]]

    Remarks Announcing the Nomination of Dan Glickman To Be Secretary of
    Agriculture and an Exchange With Reporters
    December 28, 1994

        The President. Good morning. I am very pleased that Dan Glickman has
    accepted my offer to become the next Secretary of Agriculture. He comes
    to the Cabinet after a distinguished 18-year career representing Wichita
    and south central Kansas in the House of Representatives. During that
    period, he rose to prominence on the House Agriculture Committee and
    became a leading spokesman for American agriculture and a key architect
    of the last four farm bills. His knowledge, experience, his
    understanding of the needs of the American farmer make him exactly the
    right person to be Secretary of Agriculture in 1995 when we will be
    writing the next farm bill.
        I've told Dan that I expect him to continue being a vocal advocate
    of the interest of American agriculture and to carry on the
    groundbreaking work done by Secretary Mike Espy during the last 2 years.
    I am very proud of the work that our administration, under the
    leadership of Secretary Espy, has done for America's farmers and
    ranchers and for America's taxpayers.
        Mike Espy has been tireless in his efforts to expand trading
    opportunities. I can tell you as a citizen of the largest rice-growing
    State in America, I never thought I would live to see the day when
    American rice would be available in Japanese markets. But thanks to Mike
    Espy, it is.
        The reorganization that he has put into effect at the United States
    Department of Agriculture is the most sweeping in 50 years. And in many
    ways, it's the prototype of the plans we have to streamline the entire
    Federal Government to make it work better for the American people.
        Mike Espy has been a partner of ours in developing the empowerment
    zones for distressed rural areas where we try to solve our most
    fundamental economic problems by creating partnerships at the grassroots
    level to help people help themselves. When livelihoods and lives were
    threatened by the awful floods and natural disasters in the Midwest and
    elsewhere, Secretary Espy managed our agriculture relief efforts with
    speed, compassion, and confidence. He did a superb job. In the area of
    crop insurance, in the area of food safety, in so many other areas
    Secretary Espy and his administration were friends of the American
    farmers.
        I am confident that Congressman Glickman will not only carry on the
    innovations begun by Secretary Espy but break new ground in our efforts
    to increase farm exports and bridge the differences between rural and
    urban Members of Congress.
        I can say one thing that has pleased me greatly over the last year
    or so, and that is to travel around America and have farmers come up to
    me and say that they now consider the Department of Agriculture a friend
    and not a problem in their efforts to produce food for the United States
    and for the world. It will be our goal to continue that as we work so
    hard to balance the concerns of farmers and ranchers, consumers,
    environmentalists, and others.
        I know Dan Glickman will meet this challenge. He has always been
    more interested in solving problems for people than scoring political
    points. The many awards and the recognition he has received from farm
    groups, from environmental groups, from consumers testify to his
    fairness and to his ability. I picked him for this job because the
    Department of Agriculture and rural America more than ever need a leader
    who is experienced, aggressive, and innovative. I know he will be an
    advocate and a spokesman for making sure that American agriculture
    enters the 21st century on a prosperous and solid foundation. Our
    agricultural system is the envy of the world, and it must remain so.
        I also chose Dan Glickman for his common sense and his good humor.
    He says he always wears a sunflower on his lapel to remind him of where
    he's from, the values of the heartland that make him what he is. I hope
    and expect he will keep wearing that sunflower and keep us in a sunny
    disposition.
        Mr. Glickman.

    [At this point, Representative Glickman made brief remarks.]

    North Korea

        Q. Mr. President, what do you hear about the talks in North Korea?
    And would you hold

    [[Page 2205]]

    up that January 21st oil shipment if Airman Hall is not released?
        The President. Well, let me say first of all that we have made it
    clear to the North Koreans that we want the prompt release of Airman
    Hall and that there is no reason for his detention. He was on a routine
    training mission; that's all. They made an error, which we have
    acknowledged, and drifted into North Korean airspace.
        We now have an administration official in North Korea, as you know,
    and talks are ongoing. And I think it would be premature for me to say
    anything else at this time. Let's give our people there a chance to do
    their work and see what happens.
        Q. Are we asking for an apology, and isn't there a split in the
    North Korean Government between the military and the----
        The President. I think it would be better for us to say nothing
    until my representative there has a chance to do his work. And we are in
    constant contact with him; he's working hard. We want Airman Hall
    released. There is no reason to detain him. It was a routine training
    mission. Anything else would be premature at this time.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:14 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House.