    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [April 19, 1995]
    [Page 552]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in
    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
    April 19, 1995

        The bombing in Oklahoma City was an attack on innocent children and
    defenseless citizens. It was an act of cowardice, and it was evil. The
    United States will not tolerate it. And I will not allow the people of
    this country to be intimidated by evil cowards.
        I have met with our team, which we assembled to deal with this
    bombing. And I have determined to take the following steps to assure the
    strongest response to this situation:
        First, I have deployed a crisis management team under the leadership
    of the FBI, working with the Department of Justice, the Bureau of
    Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, military and local authorities. We are
    sending the world's finest investigators to solve these murders.
        Second, I have declared an emergency in Oklahoma City. And at my
    direction, James Lee Witt, the Director of the Federal Emergency
    Management Agency, is now on his way there to make sure we do everything
    we can to help the people of Oklahoma deal with the tragedy.
        Third, we are taking every precaution to reassure and to protect
    people who work in or live near other Federal facilities.
        Let there be no room for doubt: We will find the people who did
    this. When we do, justice will be swift, certain, and severe. These
    people are killers, and they must be treated like killers.
        Finally, let me say that I ask all Americans tonight to pray--to
    pray for the people who have lost their lives, to pray for the families
    and the friends of the dead and the wounded, to pray for the people of
    Oklahoma City. May God's grace be with them.
        Meanwhile, we will be about our work.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:30 p.m. in the Briefing Room at the White
    House. The related proclamations of April 20 and April 21 are listed in
    Appendix D at the end of this volume.