    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [May 7, 1999]
    [Pages 722-723]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Arrival in Austin, Texas
    May 7, 1999

        Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. I want you
    to know, folks, I spent some of the best days of my life in Austin,
    Texas. And when Lloyd went up to make his
    remarks, I looked at the mayor and I said, being mayor of Austin may be
    the best elected job in the United States. And he didn't dispute me.
        I also want to thank Lloyd Doggett for his
    leadership on this and so many other projects. We've been friends for
    many, many years. I was elated when he was elected to the Congress,

    [[Page 723]]

    and I can tell you he does a terrific job for all the constituents of
    this district in Washington, DC.
        Ladies and gentlemen, I'm very, very sorry I had to miss the
    dedication. You know why. The events in Littleton, Colorado, compelled
    me to cancel. I do want to tell you that on Monday Hillary and Al and
    Tipper Gore and I are going to have a very distinguished array of people
    from all over the country to meet in Washington to organize a national
    campaign against violence involving our children. And I know it will
    have the support of every person here.
        But I want to ask you to think a little bit about the significance
    of this airport not only in terms of what it means to all of you but in
    terms of what it means to the future of America and how we ought to do
    all of our business. Six years ago, when your airbase was closed, you
    saw that it did not have to be an economic setback. In fact, it could be
    an enormous opportunity. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport today is
    a testament to your unwavering commitment and vision.
        For years, this airport had the following motto: Bergstrom Air Force
    Base: Global Power for America. Today this airport is still a symbol of
    global power for America. It's a different kind of power. Where military
    aircraft essential to our victory in the cold war once landed here, now
    boxes of software take off for markets around the world, fueling our
    success in the new global economy. Where once pilots flew reconnaissance
    missions to survey cold war enemies, now they fly planes that ferry
    high-tech visionaries between Silicon Valley and these ``Silicon
    Hills.''
        This airport will be your gateway to prosperity in the 21st century.
    And I especially appreciate something that's already been mentioned,
    that you pay tribute to some of Texas' finest citizens. I hope every
    visitor will be inspired by Captain Bergstrom's courage and sacrifice,
    by my good friend Jake Pickle's life of service
    and compassion, by President Johnson's bold vision and commitment to
    progress for all Americans together, and by Barbara Jordan's
    incomparable voice for justice on common ground.
        Since I'm here today, I cannot help noting that the work of Lyndon
    Johnson and Barbara Jordan is being carried on today here in Austin by
    the State legislators who are trying to pass hate crimes legislation in
    the name of James Byrd. As you probably saw on the tarmac, I was honored
    to meet with members of Mr. Byrd's family. I know that what happened to
    him was anathema to every good citizen in Texas, as well as the United
    States.
        And I ask you, as our men and women in uniform today struggle
    against the killing, the rape, the looting, the uprooting of people,
    based solely on their ethnic and religious background in Kosovo, as they
    did in Bosnia, as we fight to reconcile people around the world, from
    the Middle East to Northern Ireland, here in America, if we want to do
    good abroad, we have to be good at home. We have to stand up for what is
    right.
        We have to acknowledge that there are differences among us that we
    celebrate. There are differences among us that are real differences, and
    we are compelled to disagree. But underneath it all, as the Founders of
    our Republic recognized, there is our common humanity and our equal
    dignity. And we must always stand for it. If we want to be a force
    against ethnic cleansing and genocide around the world, we have to be a
    force for harmony and community, here at home in every place in the
    United States.
        And so I close with the point I tried to make at the beginning. I
    want you to think about what this represents and how you did it. What it
    represents is a commitment to a common future, where no one is left
    behind and everybody has a chance. How you did it is by working
    together, across all the elements of this richly textured community. If
    you think about it, we could solve all of our problems that way. Thanks
    for the model.
        Good luck, and God bless you.
        Wait a minute. I want to do one other thing. I want to thank the
    Barbara Jordan Elementary Choir and the Pflugerville High School Band.
    Thank you very much. How about a little more music? Let's go.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:38 p.m. at Austin-Bergstrom International
    Airport. In his remarks, he referred to Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, TX;
    and former Representative J.J. Pickle.