    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [February 14, 1996]
    [Page 256]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Departure from Boise, Idaho
    February 14, 1996

    [The President's remarks are joined in progress.]

        On the ground, we are doing what needs to be done not only now, in
    the next few days, but for as long as it takes, until the people there
    are back on their feet and back to normal.
        Let me also say that, as I'm sure all of you know, this has been a
    long day for me but it's been a very rewarding one, even though I've
    seen a lot of sad and heartbreaking things. And not only in my
    conversations here but in my trip to Oregon and to Washington, I've seen
    a lot of loss, but I've also seen what happens when the American people
    work together in a spirit of genuine community and when people exhibit
    individual acts of courage and kindness that seem to overwhelm the
    dimensions of even the worst tragedy. And I have seen that as well.
        I think the lesson that I have learned more than any other in 3
    years and a few days as President is that when this country works
    together, we never lose. And when we permit ourselves to be divided, we
    often wind up being less than we ought to be.
        I thank again everybody here in the northwestern part of our country
    for what I have seen today, for the work that they have done. And I want
    to say again specifically to the people of Idaho, I will follow up on
    the suggestions that we have gotten. I look forward to working with you.
    And I hope, as the members of your congressional delegation suggested to
    me in there, Senator Kempthorne in particular, that maybe the model of
    cooperation that we've seen in dealing with this flood can become a
    model for other kinds of cooperation in the future, so that Americans
    everywhere feel that their Government is a partner in a common endeavor
    to help individuals and families and communities make the most of their
    God-given capacities.
        Thank you. Good luck, and we'll be at work on this immediately.
    Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 7:50 p.m. at the Idaho
    National Guard Ramp at Boise International Airport. These remarks were
    released by the Office of the Press Secretary on February 15. The press
    release did not include the President's complete opening remarks.