[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.