    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [March 12, 1999]
    [Page 356]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Arrival in Hope, Arkansas
    March 12, 1999

        I must say, I did not expect to see you here when I heard it was
    cold and rainy, and I am very grateful to you for coming. I want to
    thank all the Federal and State and local officials who came out to say
    hello to me there at the airport.
        I'm delighted to be here. I want to just get out and shake hands
    with all of you and say again how very much I appreciate you coming out.
    I hope none of the kids get sick standing in this rain, and I hope it's
    something that when you dry off will always be a good memory for you.
        I'd like to say just briefly to all the children that are here, you
    know, I'm coming home because we're going to dedicate the house that I
    lived in for the first 4 years of my life. And a lot of what I learned
    that was good, that I took with me for the rest of my life, I learned
    back then. And I want every one of you to believe that people from
    Rosston and Chidester and all the other small places around here--
    doesn't matter where you came from in life; it matters what you do with
    your life. So make the most of your schools and have a wonderful time.
        And again, you'll never know how much I appreciate you being here. I
    was stunned when I saw the crowd out here, and I knew what the weather
    was. I always say that the people here stuck with me through rain or
    shine, and now it is literally true.
        Thank you, and God bless you.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:15 p.m. on the tarmac at Hope Municipal
    Airport.