[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.