    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [October 9, 1997]
    [Pages 1333-1334]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Oklahoma City National Memorial Act of 1997
    October 9, 1997

        I am pleased to sign today S. 871, the ``Oklahoma City National
    Memorial Act of 1997.'' This Act establishes the Oklahoma City National
    Memorial as a unit of the National Park System to recognize the profound
    changes brought to so many lives on the tragic morning of April 19,
    1995.
        The significance of the tragedy of the bombing of the Alfred P.
    Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, and the meaning and
    implications of this event for our Nation, compel the establishment of
    this memorial as a visible and prominent national shrine. After the
    bombing, I proclaimed a National Day of Mourning for those lost in the
    tragedy. The people of the United States prayed for them and their
    community as we gathered in our places of worship around the country.
    When I traveled to Oklahoma City to participate in a memorial service
    for the bombing victims, I pledged to do all I could to help heal the
    injured, to rebuild the city, and to stand by the people of Oklahoma
    City.
        The Oklahoma City Memorial Foundation has done a tremendous job of
    involving the public, defining its mission and goals, and holding a
    design competition for the memorial. Building upon these local efforts,
    this Act establishes the Oklahoma City Memorial Trust to manage the
    memorial. This Trust, a Federal Government corporation, will operate
    within the Department of the Interior in cooperation with the National
    Park Service to ensure the fulfillment of the obligations and
    requirements of the laws and policies that govern units of the National
    Park Systems (NPS).
        Through the partnership, the National Park Service will provide
    technical assistance to the

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    Trust for 2 years, after which time the Trust will reimburse the Park
    Service for any further services. As part of this partnership, it is my
    expectation that the National Park Service will establish a position of
    superintendent or site manager to work closely with the Trust in
    managing this NPS unit.
        Section 5(v)(1) of S. 871 vests the powers and management of the
    Trust in a Board of Directors consisting of the Secretary of the
    Interior and eight other members appointed by the President. These
    Presidential appointments would be made from names submitted by the
    Governor of Oklahoma, the Mayor of Oklahoma City, and the Oklahoma
    congressional delegation. Because the Constitution does not permit
    limiting the executive branch's appointment power by requiring
    nominations from lists of recommendations, I will regard any lists
    submitted pursuant to that section as advisory.
        I commend all those who worked so hard to memorialize the lives of
    the innocent victims of the Oklahoma City bombing.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    October 9, 1997.

    Note: S. 871, approved October 9, was assigned Public Law No. 105-58.