[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
[August 17, 1997]
[Page 1111]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Upon Arrival in Block Island, Rhode Island
August 17, 1997

    Thank you. Well, first of all, let me say that Hillary and Chelsea 
and I are delighted to be here. We want to thank the Senator for coming 
over with us and thank the first warden for coming out to meet us. It 
took me a little--a moment to realize that the first warden was the 
highest elected official on the island. I thought maybe I was about to 
be arrested for something. [Laughter]
    And let me say I was stunned to see this crowd when we were coming 
down in the helicopter. But this is the first opportunity I have had to 
thank the people of Rhode Island for giving the Vice President and me 
the enormous vote of confidence we got here last November. And I'm very 
grateful to you. Thank you so much.
    Let me also say I'm just anxious to be here and have some fun. And I 
want to go through the crowd and shake hands. I want to have a picture 
taken with the students there from the Block Island School.
    And I hope that all of you will always be committed to preserving 
this beautiful island. I was so impressed when I came down, and Senator 
Reed was telling me a little about the conservation efforts. We have, 
all of us, a great responsibility to future generations to figure out 
how to keep growing this economy. I'm very grateful for the economic 
success that our Nation has had, for the millions of new jobs we have, 
for the lowest unemployment and inflation rates in decades. But we have 
to do it in a way that preserves the natural heritage that God has given 
us. I can see you're committed to that here, and I hope you will help to 
spread that to people all across New England and, indeed, all across the 
United States.
    Again, thanks for having us here. We're delighted. And I want to get 
out and say hello to a few people.
    Thank you, and God bless you.

Note: The President spoke at 3:32 p.m. at Block Island Airport. In his 
remarks, he referred to First Warden Kimberly H. Gaffett.