    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [February 15, 1999]
    [Pages 191-192]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President
    Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico in Merida
    February 15, 1999

    Senate Impeachment Trial Vote

        Q. Mr. President, do you feel vindicated by the Senate vote? And how
    do you think you will be able to overcome any damage that was caused in
    your relations with Republican leaders in Congress?
        The President. Well, I have, really, nothing to add to what I said
    on Friday about that. I think this is a time for reconciliation and
    renewal. I think what we have to do is to serve the American people. And
    if we keep that in mind, I think everything will be fine.
        We can't resolve the challenges of Social Security and Medicare,
    education, these other things, we can't keep the international economy
    going unless we have a level of cooperation. I'm encouraged that we have
    a number of Republican Members of Congress on this trip, and I intend to
    do exactly what I said I'd do last Friday. And I think if everybody just
    keeps our eye on the ball--which is that we are here to serve the
    public, and not the other way around--I think we'll be fine.

    Mexico-U.S. Antidrug Efforts

        Q. Mr. President, do you have any problems with the system the
    United States has for certifying drug cooperation?
        The President. Well, first of all, it is the law of the land, and
    the Secretary of State sometime in the
    next few weeks will have to make a recommendation. I think the question
    is, how can we do better to deal with the drug problem? President
    Zedillo said it's his number one national security problem. Neither
    country has won the drug war. And the fundamental question is, are we
    better off fighting it together or separately, and perhaps sometimes at
    odds with one another?
        Under General McCaffrey, who's here,
    we put in place a very aggressive antidrug strategy. Finally, we've got
    a lot of the indicators going in the right direction in the United
    States. And cooperation with Mexico has clearly improved under President
    Zedillo's leadership. The issue is what is most likely to free our
    children of this scourge in the new century, and that's what will guide
    my decisions.
        Thank you all.

    [[Page 192]]

    Hillary Clinton's Possible Senate
    Candidacy

        Q. Have you encouraged Mrs. Clinton to run for the Senate, sir? What
    have you said to her?
        The President.  People in New York started calling her. I don't
    think it had ever occurred to her before a lot of people started calling
    and asking her to do it. I think she would be terrific in the Senate.
    But that's a decision that she'll have to make. And for reasons I'm sure
    you'll understand, she hasn't had anything like adequate time to talk to
    the people who think she should do this, much less people who think
    perhaps she shouldn't. I mean, she just hasn't had time to deal with
    this.
        But it's her decision to make. I will support whatever decision she
    makes enthusiastically. She has a lot of other opportunities for public
    service that will be out there, and she and I both would like to
    continue to be useful in public affairs when we leave office. But it's a
    decision she'll have to make. She'd be great if she did it, but she
    hasn't had anything like the requisite amount of time to talk to people
    and to assess it, and I'm sure that everyone will understand and
    appreciate that.
        Thank you.

    Note: The exchange began at approximately 11:30 a.m. in Hacienda
    Temozon. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    this exchange.