    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [January 13, 1999]
    [Pages 35-36]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Labor Leaders and an Exchange With
    Reporters
    January 13, 1999

        The President. First of all, I want to thank these distinguished
    leaders of the American labor movement for coming here today for this
    meeting. We are meeting to talk about the economy, the challenges we
    face in the 21st century--in part, what I intend to say about it at the
    State of the Union next week. We will be discussing ways we can work
    together to save Social Security, to renew our public schools, to
    improve health care, and deal with a whole range of other issues.
        In large measure, opportunity for America's labor families and their
    children will depend upon whether America can master the challenges of a
    global economy. We have worked hard over the last year, as all of you
    know, to deal with the global financial crisis and to restore growth. I
    talked about that at the Detroit Economic Club on Friday. This will
    require a very vigorous set of actions this year, and a part of it will
    involve the Congress, part of it will involve our work with other
    nations over the course of the year. But it will be very important.
        I have received a briefing this morning from Secretary Rubin and my economic team on the situation in Brazil,
    and on the developments in the world markets. We are monitoring these
    developments closely, especially what is going on in Brazil. We've been
    in contact with key Brazilian Government officials, the G-7, and other
    important countries. We've been in contact with the International
    Monetary Fund. We have a strong interest in seeing Brazil, with whom we
    have worked on so many important things around the world, carrying
    forward with its economic reform plan, and succeed. And we certainly
    hope that they will.
        At the present time, I think that's about all I have to say about
    developments there.

    Senate Impeachment Trial

        Q. Mr. President, what do you think will be the outcome of the
    impeachment trial? We know what your hopes are, but what do you think is
    really going to happen?
        The President. I think the Senate has to deal with that. We filed
    our brief today. It makes our case. The important thing for me is to
    spend as little time thinking about that as possible and as much time
    working on the issues we're here to discuss as possible. They have their
    job to do in the Senate, and I have mine. And I intend to do it. I
    intend----
        Q. Well, do you fear any removal from office, with the buildup of
    this case?
        The President. I think that the brief speaks for itself and the
    statements which have been made by hundreds of constitutional experts
    and others--I trust that the right thing will be done. And I think, in
    the meanwhile, I need to work on the business of the people.
        Q. Mr. President, your impeachment is before the Union, and you're
    giving your State of the Union Address. Don't you think you should
    directly address that matter during your speech?
        The President. I think the American people have heard about that
    quite extensively over the last year. My instinct is that I should do
    their business. I think they would like it if somebody up here were
    putting their interests first, their business first. And I think that's
    what they expect me to do. They know the Senate has a job to do; they
    expect them to do it. There is nothing else to be said to the House
    about it. The Senate has to deal with it.
        And my position is that, in addition to that, we have to deal with
    the problems of America, the challenges of America, the opportunities of
    America, and that's what I intend to do in the State of the Union
    speech.
        Q. Mr. President, your lawyers are arguing that the charges against
    you don't amount to

    [[Page 36]]

    high crimes and misdemeanors. Do you personally believe that perjury and
    obstruction of justice are not impeachable offenses?
        The President. I believe that it's not necessary for me to comment
    further than our brief. The important thing I think you should be asking
    yourself is, why did nearly 900 constitutional experts say that they
    strongly felt that this matter was not the subject of impeachment?
        My opinion is not important here. My opinion is that I should be
    doing my job for the country, and other people should be handling the
    defense and dealing with this issue. And that's what I intend to do.

    Brazilian Currency Devaluation

        Q. Mr. President, on Brazil. Do you--[inaudible]--harmful effect on
    the U.S. economy? We send a lot of exports to Latin America.
        The President. Well, as you know, we have worked hard to keep the
    financial crisis in Asia, which engulfed Asia last year, from spreading
    to Brazil. Latin America is our fastest growing market for American
    goods and services. And Brazil is the largest country in Latin America.
    So obviously, we hope that the situation will be resolved in a
    satisfactory way not only for the people of Brazil but for all of the
    people in the Americas that want to continue to enjoy the good progress
    that all of us have enjoyed in the last several years. And we're working
    hard to that end and will continue to do so.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 10:30 a.m. in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House.