    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [November 29, 1997]
    [Pages 1669-1670]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    November 29, 1997

        Good morning. This week, millions of Americans have gathered with
    family and friends to share Thanksgiving. Much has changed for America
    since George Washington first proclaimed a day of thanksgiving for our
    new Nation in 1789. But the Thanksgiving spirit--sharing our good
    fortune with others, coming together to meet our common challenges--that
    is as important as ever. That's why we must keep that spirit alive
    throughout the year through citizen service.
        Citizen service must be at the heart of our efforts to prepare
    America for the 21st century, as we work to guarantee all Americans the
    opportunity and conditions to make the most of their own lives and to
    help those who need and deserve it with a hand up. My administration's
    most important contribution to citizen service is AmeriCorps, our
    national service program that already has given more than 100,000 young
    Americans the opportunity to serve our country and earn money for a
    college education. In community after community, AmeriCorps members have
    proved that service can help us meet our most pressing social needs.
        For example, in Simpson County, Kentucky, AmeriCorps members helped
    second graders jump three grade levels in reading. In boys and girls
    clubs all across the country, AmeriCorps members are mentors for at-risk
    young people. Habitat For Humanity relies upon AmeriCorps members to
    bring in more volunteers and build more houses. In communities beset by
    floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes, AmeriCorps members have helped to
    rebuild homes and restore hope.
        Now, AmeriCorps members are mobilizing thousands and thousands of
    college students from 800 campuses in our America Reads program, to make
    sure that all our young people can read independently by the third
    grade. AmeriCorps brings people of every background together to work
    toward common goals. And after years of partisan fighting over it, I'm
    pleased that Congress now seems ready to come together to support
    AmeriCorps.
        Today I'm proposing legislation to give more Americans the chance to
    serve by strengthening AmeriCorps and our student and senior citizen
    service programs and extending them for 5 years. This legislation
    reflects the spirit of the Presidents' Summit on Service, where last
    spring thousands of Americans pledged to give our children the support
    they need to make the most of their lives. As General Colin Powell
    reported this week, we've made a lot of progress since the summit with
    more AmeriCorps members, more reading tutors for our children through
    America Reads, more mentoring programs for young people, more
    partnerships with private businesses and community groups. At
    Thanksgiving, I want to thank especially the citizens and businesses who
    have worked with us to ensure that our Nation's surplus food helps to
    feed the hungry, not fill up dumpsters.
        Now we must create more opportunities for people to serve all year
    long and, through service, to reach out to one another across the lines
    that divide us. In honor of the spirit of citizen service embodied in
    the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., the Congress has designated the
    Martin Luther King holiday as a day of national service. And I'm pleased
    to announce that our Corporation for National Service has awarded 73
    grants to communities from Boston to Los

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    Angeles, to help make this day of service a resounding success. Dr. King
    once said that everybody can be great because anybody can serve; you
    only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.
        As we look forward to a joyous holiday season, let us pledge to live
    up to those words by making citizen service a part of our lives every
    day.
        Thanks for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 6:25 p.m. on November 28 in the
    Residence at Camp David, MD, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on November 29.
    In his remarks, the President referred to Gen. Colin Powell, USA (Ret.),
    chairman, America's Promise--The Alliance For Youth.