    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [September 11, 1997]
    [Pages 1155-1156]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Congressional Reception
    September 11, 1997

        Thank you very much. Thank you, Al. Thank you, Tipper. Thank you,
    Marianne, and to Trent and Tricia, and the Speaker was here earlier--to
    all of you, thank you for coming.
        We tried to put speakers up in the other rooms. We can't get
    everyone in here. Sometimes the best laid plans don't work. I love it
    when there's a picnic outside, but if we'd done this last night, all of
    our food would have been destroyed. And then if we'd done it tonight--
    it's not raining, but right before you came it rained, so all of our
    food would have been destroyed again. And we thought at least we ought
    to feed you well. [Laughter]
        But there is a long history of this. I actually thought the Vice
    President was going to tell you the story of the very first time a
    President had the Congress to the White House. John Adams was the first
    President to live here. He spent the last 4 or 5 months of his term in
    the White House. And the first time he invited Congress here, it was a
    bitter, bitter cold day in Washington. And as you can imagine, back in
    1800 we didn't have any central heat. So John and Abigail Adams
    literally, themselves, as the Congress Members and their families were
    coming in, were going from room to room, from fireplace to fireplace.
    They started with 20 cords of wood; they were trying to throw them into

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    the fireplace and get the fire started. You can imagine how it was. And
    when they finished it--they'd worked themselves to death--they looked
    around; it was so cold all the Members of Congress were filing out. So
    at least you haven't left yet. I feel I'm ahead. [Laughter]
        I'd like to say a special word about two groups of people here
    tonight. First of all, all of you who brought your families, I thank you
    for doing that. I love seeing the children here. There's one child here
    I especially like to see, Senator Boxer's grandson, because he's also my
    nephew, and there he is. I'm glad to see him. I'm glad all the children
    are here.
        The second thing I'd like to do is to say--I haven't got a list
    here, so I'll get myself in trouble--but I want to mention especially
    with appreciation Lee Hamilton, Elizabeth Furse, and every other Member
    of Congress of either party who is retiring at the end of this session.
    Thank you for your service to the United States of America, and thank
    you for being here tonight. We're very grateful to you.
        Finally let me say, as Tipper said, Hillary wanted to be here
    tonight, but she's going to Mother Teresa's funeral, and I think it very
    important that we send a delegation there. I know there's also a
    congressional delegation going, and I think that is a very appropriate
    thing to do.
        I hope we'll go on, have a little fun tonight. We'll hear more from
    the Floating Opera--what a great name. I feel like that's what we are,
    half the time. [Laughter] Then we're going to go in the room over here
    and shake hands with anybody that wants to come by. But I stood in the
    hall for awhile and tried to visit with as many of you as I could--do
    not feel that you have to. This is not an obligatory receiving line.
    There is no obligation here tonight except to try to have a good time.
        Let's give the band a big hand and listen to them. [Applause]
        Thank you, and God bless you.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:14 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Marianne Gingrich, wife of House
    Speaker Newt Gingrich, and Tricia Lott, wife of Senate Majority Leader
    Trent Lott. Originally planned as the congressional barbecue, the
    reception was moved to the East Room due to inclement weather.