    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [March 4, 1999]
    [Pages 312-313]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Screening of ``Dare To Compete: The Struggle of Women in
    Sports''
    March 4, 1999

        Thank you. I hate to risk spoiling the moment. I'd like to ask you
    all to join me in thanking Jeff and HBO
    for this magnificent gift to our country. [Applause] Thank you.
        As I watched this film I had many thoughts. Hillary and I have been
    privileged to know some of the athletes that were featured. I missed
    Flo-Jo again. I knew I would never have a golf swing like Babe Zaharias.
    [Laughter] I knew I would never dunk the ball like you. [Laughter] I
    remembered how desperately I wanted Billie Jean to win that tennis match--[laughter]--for the sake of my
    mother, my then-girlfriend.
        I remembered all the times as a private citizen--when I'm upstairs
    at the White House now, I can indulge my obsession with sports by
    watching women athletes as well as men, across a whole range of
    endeavors--all the joy, all the elation, all because the pioneers in
    this room and on this film dared to compete. And

    [[Page 313]]

    we owe all of you who are here and all of those who are featured, all
    those living and all those gone, a profound debt of gratitude.
        I also remembered again, looking at Senator Bayh, the importance of what we do here--to give the American
    people the right to live out their dreams without regard to whatever
    particular conditions define them. Where would we be without title IX?
    There were only 300,000 girls all over America in high school sports
    then; today, there are well over 2 million. The law makes a difference,
    too, and we will do our best here to be faithful to it.
        But finally, let me say--as the grandson and son of two women who
    worked and did their best to make their way in life; as the husband of a
    remarkable woman who has made her way; as the father of a daughter I
    hope will always be free to make hers--what Billie Jean said about the
    tennis match is true of this whole subject. This is about more than
    sports. This is about the fundamental right of every human being to
    dream and work and strive and the obligation never to quit, never to
    give in, never to be limited, never to be defined--and our obligation to
    see that all those who come behind us have that right to jump and soar
    in athletics, in music, in every endeavor. Even some day, someone of a
    different gender will be standing here giving a speech like this, and I
    hope it won't be too long.
        So we thank you for the gifts you have given us. We thank you for
    the gifts you have given our daughters. We hope our granddaughters will
    think this is a quaint remembrance, because all of them will have,
    without question, the right to live their dreams.
        Thank you, and God bless you.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 8 p.m. in the East Room at
    the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Jeffrey L. Bewkes,
    chairman and chief executive officer, Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO);
    former tennis star Billie Jean King; and former Senator Birch Bayh, who
    sponsored legislation which became Title IX--Prohibition of Sex
    Discrimination, part of Public Law 92-318, the Education Amendments of
    1972.