    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [July 2, 1997]
    [Pages 902-903]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Behalf of the Public Service Campaign for Educational
    Excellence in Baltimore, Maryland
    July 2, 1997

        Thank you very much. Thank you, Bud Selig, Peter Angelos, Jim
    Hunter. To Norm Augustine, the chairman of Lockheed Martin and our
    Educational Excellence Partnership, and to Cal Ripken, who is the very
    embodiment of excellence.
        Ladies and gentlemen, excellence in baseball requires teamwork, hard
    work, and setting high standards of excellence. So does excellence in
    education. The Educational Excellence Partnership, including all-star
    athletes, businesses, Governors, and teachers, are pitching in to help
    our children aim high. The young people here behind me from the Boys and
    Girls Clubs of America embody the kind of future we're trying to build
    for them.
        I want to thank all of you out there who have worked hard to set
    high standards, not only for your own children but for the other
    children in your community. I want to thank Cal and Kelly Ripken for the
    outstanding contribution they are making to literacy here in Baltimore.
    And I want to urge all of you to rededicate yourselves to the idea that
    every one of our children can learn, and we will not get into the 21st
    century with the future we want for them until we expect every one of
    them to learn and we give them the ability, the tools, and the support
    they need to learn.

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        We are very fortunate that outstanding Major League Baseball
    players, along with business leaders like Norm Augustine, have supported
    this public service campaign for educational excellence. I want you to
    watch these ads now, and I hope you will heed them. I hope you will
    support my call for national standards of excellence in reading and math
    and go back home and think about what you can do to make sure that every
    one of our children is as devoted to excellence in education as the
    baseball players we'll enjoy watching today from the Phillies and the
    Orioles are to excellence in their sport.
        Thank you, and God bless you all.

    Note. The President spoke at 3:01 p.m. at home plate in Oriole Park at
    Camden Yards. In his remarks, he referred to Bud Selig, acting
    commissioner of baseball; Peter Angelos, owner, Baltimore Orioles; Jim
    Hunter, WBAL Radio sportscaster; and Orioles player Cal Ripken, Jr., and
    his wife, Kelly. Following the President's remarks, those in attendance
    viewed the public service announcements on educational excellence,
    featuring prominent baseball players.