    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [March 5, 1998]
    [Pages 332-333]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to a Meeting With the National Bipartisan Commission on
    the Future of Medicare and an Exchange With Reporters
    March 5, 1998

        The President. Good day, everyone. I am glad to be joined here by
    members of the Medicare Commission. In a few moments we will talk for
    the very first time about what we have to do as Americans to preserve
    Medicare, a system that has served our country so well for 33 years now.
    It's more than a program; it is a way we honor our duty to our parents
    and build a future for our children. It has been one of the great
    achievements of American society in the 20th century.
        We've already done a lot in the last few years to strengthen
    Medicare: The balanced budget will extend the Medicare Trust Fund for at
    least a decade; $20 billion has been saved by reducing fraud, abuse, and
    mismanagement in the system; we're giving people on Medicare a wider
    range of health plan choices and preventive services, including
    mammograms and diabetes management.
        When Medicare was first passed into law, President Johnson said, and
    I quote, ``It proved that the vitality of our democracy can shape the
    oldest of our values to the needs and obligations of changing times.''
    I'm confident that the Medicare Commission will help us to build a new
    consensus to meet the challenges of a new era, strengthening Medicare
    for the 21st century

    [[Page 333]]

    and giving our people the security they need to thrive.
        I'd like to thank Senator Breaux for
    agreeing to chair the Commission. He has a longstanding record, both in
    his work on the Aging Commission and the Finance Committee--the Aging
    Committee and the Finance Committee--of working to develop consensus on
    important issues affecting our senior citizens.
        I'd also like to thank Congressman Thomas for his leadership on this issue and on the Commission. He
    is well known for his expertise on the Medicare program. He shepherded
    the Medicare provisions in the Balanced Budget Act through and helped to
    assure that we could achieve bipartisan agreement on these reforms. And
    for that I am very, very grateful.
        So I'd like now to give the Vice President and Senator Breaux and
    Congressman Thomas a chance to say a few
    words.

    [At this point, the Vice President, Senator John B. Breaux, and
    Representative William M. Thomas made brief remarks.]

    Deposition in Paula Jones Civil Lawsuit

        Q. Mr. President, are you upset by the leaking of your Jones
    deposition--or did your people actually do the leaking?
        The President. Well, let me say, the court has made it absolutely
    clear that it is illegal to leak or to discuss it. And I think, Mr.
    Donaldson [Sam Donaldson, ABC News], I should
    follow the law. And so I don't have anything else to say. I know you've
    got to ask the question; it's your job. But I'm going to just do my job.
    That's what I'm doing here. And I'm going to follow the law. That's what
    I wish everyone else would do.
        Q. Sir, you never answered the important questions that I think a
    lot of people out there would like to hear you on.
        The President. Well, I believe I have given all the answers that
    matter. And I don't have anything else to say at this time. I'm just
    going to go back and do my job.
        Q. Mr. President, do you stand by the facts in the deposition as
    reported by the newspaper?
        Senator John D. Rockefeller IV.
    Do you care what Medicare is, Sam? Do you care what Medicare is?
        Q. We all care, sir. Mr. President, it says in the deposition as
    reported that you asked Betty Currie to see if she could help Monica
    Lewinsky get a job.
        The President. For one thing, I haven't read the article. For
    another thing, I don't know whether the article is accurate or not.
    Finally, whether it is or not, it is against the law. The judge has
    ordered us neither to release such materials or to discuss them.
    Somebody in this case ought to follow the law. I intend to be that
    person, so that I can go back to work about these things. I have nothing
    else to say.
        Q. Things seem to have gotten very personal between you and Kenneth
    Starr, Mr. President. It seems to have gotten very personal between you
    and Kenneth Starr, Mr. President. I'm asking a question not about the
    deposition.
        The President. Sam never quits. He never
    quits.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:25 p.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to U.S. District Judge Susan Webber
    Wright. A reporter referred to Betty Currie, the President's personal
    secretary, and Monica S. Lewinsky, former White House intern and subject
    of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's expanded investigation.