    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [April 13, 1998]
    [Pages 553-554]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the White House Easter Egg Roll
    April 13, 1998

        The President. Thank you. Good morning. Isn't it a wonderful
    morning? Let me say, I want to thank all the volunteers and all the
    sponsors who've made this wonderful day possible for thousands and
    thousands of young people.
        I also want to say that the first official White House egg roll
    occurred here in 1878 when President Rutherford Hayes was living in the
    White House. Now, a lot of things have changed since then, but the most
    important thing today that you need to know is that for the very first
    time, hundreds of thousands of young people will be experiencing the
    White House egg roll through the Internet, thanks to EarthLinks, and I
    want to thank them for that.
        I'd also like to thank a number of others, and especially Sun
    Microsystems, for all the work that's been done to try to open the White
    House to people around the world and especially around our country. But
    this day is special because of what EarthLinks has done to let lots and
    lots of young people who never could come to the White House be part of
    the egg roll.

    [[Page 554]]

        So, are we ready to start the egg roll?
        Hillary Clinton. Bernie's right
    here.
        The President. Bernie, where's the
    whistle? This is the one thing every year I know, no matter what else
    happens, I will do right. [Laughter] Are you ready, kids? Are you ready?
        Audience members. Yes!
        The President. I'm going to count to three and blow the whistle.
    One, two, three!

    Note: The President spoke at 10:12 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to White House volunteer Bernie
    Fairbanks.