[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.