    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [July 29, 1996]
    [Pages 1219-1220]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Terrorism and an Exchange With Reporters
    July 29, 1996

        The President. Good afternoon. Ladies and gentlemen, first let me
    thank the Members of the congressional leadership who are here to
    discuss this very important issue. I think when the bomb went off in the
    Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, that park literally became our
    national common ground, a symbol of our common determination to stand
    against terrorism, domestic or foreign, and to do everything we can to
    combat it.
        We have followed a three-part strategy consistently. First of all,
    we have worked with our friends around the world to try to increase
    international cooperation against terrorists and to isolate the states
    that support terrorism. Just today in Paris, the G-7 conference on
    terrorism is opening, and I believe after this meeting the Attorney
    General is going to Paris to represent the United States there.
        We have intensified our antiterrorism efforts here at home. And I
    want to again thank the congressional leadership and the Members of
    Congress from both parties that strongly supported the antiterrorism
    bill and other efforts that we have made to strengthen our hand here at
    home. And we've had some results, preventing terrorism actions, catching
    people who commit terrorist acts. We intend to do more.
        The third thing we have done is to increase airport security. And we
    will be looking at what else we can do through the commission that I've
    asked the Vice President to head to intensify airport security in the
    weeks and months ahead.
        Again, let me say, if you look around this room--the Speaker,
    Senator Lott, Senator Daschle, Mr. Gephardt, Senators Hatch and Biden,
    Congressman Hyde and Congressman Conyers, the Secretary of State, the
    Attorney General, the representatives of our law enforcement and
    intelligence agencies--you can see that when we are attacked, whether
    it's from within or without, we come together. And that's what we're
    doing here.
        I hope we'll be able to discuss some specific things that we might
    be able to do to strengthen our hand against terrorism, some things that
    we proposed before, maybe some other new ideas

    [[Page 1220]]

    people have, including some very specific and limited use of wiretaps,
    perhaps discussion of the taggants issue again and some other issues
    that will come before us. The main thing is we need to get the very best
    ideas we can, and we need to move as quickly as we can to do everything
    we can to try to strengthen this country's hand against terrorism.
        And the Speaker made a point the other day which I think is very
    important, which is that the people who do this thing are always trying
    to stay ahead of the curve. Whatever we do, they'll try to find some
    other way to get around it. That means that this has got to be a long,
    disciplined, concerted, united effort by the United States. And I think
    we ought to take every tool we can and take every possible advantage we
    can because this is not going to be easy. But we have shown that we can
    get results when we work together and do the right thing and the smart
    thing.
        So I'm glad that the leaders are here. I'm looking forward to the
    conversation. And I'd like to give the Speaker a chance to say a word
    and Senator Lott and perhaps the minority leaders.

    [At this point, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Senate majority
    leader Trent Lott, House minority leader Richard A. Gephardt, and Senate
    minority leader Thomas A. Daschle made brief remarks.]

        Q. Mr. President, what more do you need in the way of wiretaps? What
    about those constitutional bounds?
        The President. Well, first of all, we shouldn't do anything that
    violates the Constitution. I think the question is whether--if you have
    someone that you have a strong suspicion and strong evidence is involved
    in terrorism who is moving around all the time and the traditional laws
    governing wiretaps which tie to residence and place of business don't
    operate. We'll discuss that, and we'll be able to talk more about it
    later.
        I think we need to start our meeting now.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:22 p.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White
    House, prior to a meeting with congressional leaders.