    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [May 29, 1997]
    [Pages 671-672]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Greeting the British Cabinet and an Exchange With Reporters in
    London, United Kingdom
    May 29, 1997

        President Clinton. Thank you very much. Let me say that, first, I'm
    very appreciative of the honor of meeting with the entire Cabinet. And I
    have watched with enormous interest the energy and vigor with which you
    have all taken office and begun your work and the optimism with which
    you pursue it. I saw you on television last night being optimistic about
    peace in Ireland, which is an article of faith in my life and household,
    so I like that. And I agree that it is good for the United States to
    have a Britain that is strong in Europe and strong in its relations with
    the United States.
        These last couple of days, not only commemorating the Marshall plan
    but asking the people of Europe to think about how we should organize
    the next 50 years to try to fulfill the unfulfilled promise of the
    people who envisioned the Marshall plan and signing the agreement
    between NATO and Russia, are part of the unfolding effort to create
    within Europe a continent that is democratic, undivided, and at peace
    for the first time ever. Europe has been periodically at peace but never
    all democratic and certainly never undivided.
        And I see that as a way of organizing ourselves to meet the real
    challenges of the 21st century which will cross borders--terrorism, the
    dealing with racial and religious differences, and trying to minimize
    the extremist hatred that is gripping so much of the world and the
    proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and drug trafficking and
    the common environmental threats that will become a bigger part of every
    government's agenda for the next generation.
        So this is a very exciting time. And I'm glad to be here, and I
    thank you.
        Prime Minister Blair. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

    New Generation of Political Leaders

        Q. Mr. President, you took office after 12 years of Republican rule
    in Washington. What advice do you have for these Labour Party members
    who have just taken office after so many years of a different party in
    power? You had some missteps at the beginning and probably want to share
    some of that advice. [Laughter]
        President Clinton. I think they're doing very well. I'd like to have
    a 179-seat majority. [Laughter] And I'm not going to give any advice;
    I'm going to sit here and take it as long as they'll let me do it.
    [Laughter]
        Prime Minister Blair. And I would like to make sure that we have a
    second term in office--[laughter]--so I'll take his advice, too.
        Thanks very much, guys. You know there will be a press conference,
    of course, later where you'll be able to ask questions.
        Q. Mr. Prime Minister, would you care to share with us some of your
    thoughts about some of the lessons you learned in getting elected from
    President Clinton's playbook, political playbook?
        Prime Minister Blair. Well, I'm sure we'll share lots of lessons
    together. But as I say, you'll

    [[Page 672]]

    have an ample opportunity to ask us about them later this afternoon.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 11:30 a.m. in the Cabinet
    Room at 10 Downing Street, prior to a meeting with Prime Minister Tony
    Blair of the United Kingdom.