[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
[April 24, 1997]
[Pages 480-481]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on Senate Ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention and an 
Exchange With Reporters
April 24, 1997

    The President. Ladies and gentlemen, the United States Senate has 
served America well tonight. Because they have ratified the Chemical 
Weapons Convention, our troops will be less likely to face poison gas on 
the battlefield, our hand will be strengthened in the fight against 
terrorists and rogue states. We will end a century that began with the 
horror of chemical weapons in World War I much closer to the elimination 
of those kinds of weapons. And once again, America has displayed the 
leadership that we must demonstrate as we build a safer world for the 
21st century.
    Two and a half months ago, Majority Leader Lott and I put together a 
process to work through the concerns that some Senators had about the 
treaty. Our negotiating teams held 30 hours of meetings; so did groups 
led by Senator Biden and Senator Helms. At the end of the day, because 
we went the extra mile, we resolved the problems that had been raised by 
the vast majority of the Senators.
    I thank the Majority Leader for guiding these efforts so 
successfully. I applaud the efforts of Senators on both sides of the 
aisle, including Minority Leader Daschle, Senator Biden, Senator Lugar, 
and Senator McCain. And I've been so gratified that in these past few 
weeks, so many have put politics aside to join together behind this 
treaty, as we saw yesterday when Senator Dole and General Powell, Brent 
Scowcroft, and other Republicans joined me, as they had previously.
    I thank the Vice President, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff, and so many of our military leaders, past and present, who also 
came out strongly in support of this treaty.
    This vote is an example of America working as it should, Democrats 
and Republicans together, putting our country first, reaching across 
party lines, reaching for the common good. This vote is vivid proof that 
we are stronger as a nation when we work together. It's true when it 
comes to our leadership in the world; it's also true when it comes to 
dealing with our challenges here at home: strengthening our education 
system, finishing the job of reforming welfare, fighting crime, 
defending the environment, and finishing the job of balancing the 
budget.
    The Chemical Weapons Convention truly was made in America, under two 
of my predecessors. It is right for America. Now it has been ratified in 
America, and it will make our future more secure. For that, on behalf of 
the American people, I am profoundly grateful to the United States 
Senate.

Budget Agreement

    Q. Mr. President, Senator Lott said today that, in light of his 
support of this treaty, that you should show, quote, ``similar courage 
against your base and make budget concessions that might upset 
Democrats.'' Are you willing to anger Democrats to balance the budget, 
if that's what it takes?

[[Page 481]]

    The President. Well, first of all, a majority of Republicans 
supported this treaty and all the Democrats. And I think we can get a 
balanced budget supported by a majority of Republicans and a majority of 
Democrats in both Houses if we work together in good faith. This was not 
some unilateral move. This was an honest, good-faith negotiation. We put 
28 clarifying conditions on to the treaty that we worked very hard with 
Senator Lott and others with.
    I am--what I am willing to do, I'm willing to work through this 
process on the budget just the way we worked through this. I'm very 
encouraged by it, and I think that America should be encouraged by it. 
If we work together in a very practical way to do what's in the national 
interest, I think we can get there.
    Q. Mr. President, how far apart are you right now with the 
Republican leadership and the Democrats in Congress in achieving a 
balanced budget agreement?
    The President. I don't want to characterize it. They're working 
hard, and they're working in good faith. And I want to leave it like 
that.
    I'm going to--we're going to talk tomorrow. It's late. Let's go to 
bed.

Missing Military Trucks in Texas

    Q. Mr. President, we're told that two military trucks are missing 
tonight, one carrying four unarmed Air Force missiles, the other said to 
be carrying machine guns and mortar. Mr. President, we're told that they 
are overdue 3 to 4 days. What's being done to find these trucks, and is 
foul play suspected?
    The President. I've just been briefed on it. The FBI is working on 
it--working hard on it. It's my understanding that one of the trucks has 
been recovered, and that the other one has weapons that are inert and 
cannot cause any harm. But we're working on it. We'll have more reports 
tomorrow.

Note: The President spoke at 10:51 p.m. in the Briefing Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to former Senator Bob Dole; 
Gen. Colin Powell, USA (ret.), former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff; and Gen. Brent Scowcroft, USAF (ret.), former National Security 
Adviser.