[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
[November 4, 1997]
[Pages 1493-1495]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on Senate Action on Fast-Track Trade Legislation and an Exchange 
With Reporters
November 4, 1997

    The President. Good afternoon. I just wanted to test our stamina in 
the cold this afternoon. [Laughter]
    I am very pleased that the Senate has voted with a very strong 
bipartisan majority to clear the key procedural hurdle to pass trade 
negotiating authority to expand American exports, create American jobs, 
and strengthen American leadership in the world.
    Let me begin by thanking Senator Lott and Senator Daschle for their 
strong leadership and for the powerful arguments they made on behalf of 
fast track and our national interests. Today's

[[Page 1494]]

vote shows that a bipartisan coalition for American leadership which has 
sustained us throughout this century can help us meet the challenges of 
the next century.
    The case for extending fast track is plain. Our economy is the 
strongest in a generation, growing over 4 percent the last year with 
$125 billion of that coming from exports. The only way to continue to 
increase incomes and create jobs is to tear down more foreign barriers 
to American products and services. Foreign nations already enjoy open 
access to our markets. This legislation will give us the authority to 
increase access to foreign markets, especially in the fastest growing 
regions of the world.
    The world economy is clearly on a fast track. If we don't seize 
these opportunities, our competitors surely will. An ``America last'' 
strategy is unacceptable. We have a unique obligation to lead. If we 
fail to lead on trade, our influence will suffer in other areas 
important to our security, undermining the trend toward free markets and 
democracy in other nations, weakening especially our relationships in 
Latin America, damaging cooperation on issues from drug trafficking to 
immigration.
    Now, in addition to this, of course, we should seek to raise labor 
and environmental standards in developing countries and to stop abuses 
like child labor. But this legislation will give us more leverage in 
pressing those goals. We should seek to do much more in helping American 
workers and their families when their jobs are lost because of trade or 
because of technological change, and I will have more to say about that 
tomorrow. But we cannot raise our own living standards or improve labor 
and environmental conditions in other parts of the world by withdrawing. 
What we have to do is to continue to reach out to open more 
opportunities for Americans and to work with other countries to improve 
standards there.
    In the coming days, I look forward to working with Speaker Gingrich 
and Representative Fazio. And I look forward to the same sort of 
determined congressional leadership that has borne fruit today. I call 
upon all the Members of the House, without regard to party, to make the 
choice they know is the right one for America when they vote on Friday.
    Thank you.

Iraq

    Q. What do you plan to do about Iraq?
    Q. Mr. President, the Iraqis once again--Saddam Hussein, in 
particular, seems to be raising questions about your willingness, your 
administration's willingness to break ranks with other U.N. Security 
Council members and possibly use military force in the face of this 
latest showdown with Iraq. What do you say to Saddam Hussein at this 
point?
    The President. Saddam Hussein should comply with the United Nations 
resolutions and he should allow us to resume the inspections. If he has 
nothing to hide, if he's not trying to develop weapons of mass 
destruction, then he shouldn't care whether Americans or anyone else are 
on the inspection team. This may be just another dodge. The resolution 
is clear, the inspection regime is unambiguous, and we have confidence 
in it, and that's why we participate in it. And that's what he ought to 
do.
    Q. Mr. President--[inaudible]----
    Q. [Inaudible]--his threat to target American flights over Iraq what 
your response would be?
    The President. That would be a big mistake. But the U-2 flights--let 
me say, the U-2 flights, which you reported on extensively in the last 
couple of days, are flights in which we are involved, but they are 
carried out under the authority of the United Nations for a United 
Nations purpose. And we will continue to consult with our allies on 
that.
    But let me say again, the world has an interest, stated in the 
United Nations Security resolution, in preventing Iraq from developing 
weapons of mass destruction. That's what this is all about. There is an 
inspection regime which has clearly been approved by the United Nations. 
And Saddam Hussein must restore respect and opportunity for that 
inspection regime. That's all this is about. And we have to be very firm 
about it.
    Q. Mr. President, what do you plan to do----
    Q. Mr. President, do you believe at this hour that the United States 
is headed toward a military confrontation with Iraq, or is this 
diplomatic mission likely to resolve things?
    The President.  I believe, at this moment, we should do everything 
we can to resolve this diplomatically, and we should reserve judgment. 
This ought to be resolved diplomatically. There is a procedure there, 
and the Iraqis should let it be carried out by the United Nations.
    There was one other question.
    Q. How long will you wait, Mr. President?

[[Page 1495]]

Assistant Attorney General Nominee

    Q. Mr. President, what do you plan to do to save Bill Lann Lee's 
nomination, and is there anything you can do to overcome Senator Hatch's 
opposition?
    The President.  Well, I'm disappointed in Senator Hatch's statement 
because I think everybody who knows Bill Lee believes he is superbly 
qualified to be head of the Civil Rights Division. The Civil Rights 
Division enforces the laws of the United States against discrimination, 
and we need a strong and nationally recognized leader in that position.
    You know, in his hearing, no one could say anything bad about this 
man. I mean, here he is, the son of Chinese immigrants that's worked his 
heart out all of his life. He's devoted his entire life to fighting for 
equal opportunity and against discrimination. He is superbly qualified. 
And that's what I want to say--how can anybody in good conscience vote 
against him if they believe that our civil rights laws ought to be 
enforced? That is a question that we will be pressing to every Senator 
without regard to party.
    I had thought there was a bipartisan consensus in the United States 
for enforcing the civil rights laws of America. I still believe there is 
in the country, and I think there ought to be in the Senate.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 3:13 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.