    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [March 24, 1998]
    [Pages 425-426]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President Yoweri
    Kaguta Museveni of Uganda in Kampala,
    Uganda
    March 24, 1998

        The President. Good morning.

    President's Invocation of Executive Privilege

        Q. Mr. President, we haven't yet had the opportunity to ask you
    about your decision to invoke executive privilege, sir. Why shouldn't
    the American people see that as an effort to hide something from them?
        The President. Look, that's a question that's being asked and
    answered back home by the people who are responsible to do that. I don't
    believe I should be discussing that here.
        Q. Could you at least tell us why you think the First Lady might be
    covered by that privilege, why her conversation might fall under that?
        The President. All I know is--I saw an article about it in the paper
    today. I haven't discussed it with the lawyers. I don't know. You should
    ask someone who does.

    President's Visit to Africa

        Q. There is speculation, sir, you're glad to be out of Washington
    for a couple weeks. Is that the case?
        The President. Well, I'm glad to be doing the business of the United
    States and the people. I've looked forward to this for years. And I
    think most Americans want me to do the job I was elected to do. And so
    I'm going to try to do what most people want me to do.
        Q. What was your reaction to the crowd yesterday? We saw--the
    pictures were pretty dramatic.
        The President. I thought it was wonderful. I've never seen so many
    people at an event. But what I was concerned about, there were two
    people there who were just wedged between the crowd and the barrier, and
    I was afraid they would be hurt or perhaps even killed

    [[Page 426]]

    if we didn't get room for them. And they got them out, and it was fine.
    It was a wonderful day. I loved it.

    President Boris Yeltsin of Russia

        Q. Have you talked to Boris Yeltsin, Mr. President?
        The President. No.

    Note: The exchange began at 11:12 a.m. at the State House Lodge. A tape
    was not available for verification of the content of this exchange.