    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [October 21, 1999]
    [Page 1889]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1889]]

    Telephone Remarks on the Oprah Winfrey Show
    October 21, 1999

        Ms. Winfrey. Someone is on the phone who wants to speak with you, so
    you look right there, and then you can hear them speak.
        The President. Mary Beth?
        Mary Beth Talley. Uh-huh?
        The President. It's President Clinton. How are you?
        Ms. Talley. Good.
        The President. Well, I heard about you
    when that terrible thing happened, and I had a good visit with your
    minister at the church. But I just wanted
    to call and thank you for what you've done and for being so humble about
    it. You did show great courage. You were selfless. And I think you
    represent something really good in the young people of our country
    today.
        Yesterday I had a lot of young people here who were serving in our
    national service program, AmeriCorps--150,000 have in the last 5 years.
    The day before, I met with young people who came from all over America
    to lobby Congress to do more things to help combat violence and pass
    sensible gun legislation.
        But you know, I think that everyone watching this program should
    look at you and see not only that you are a
    wonderful person who did a wonderful thing, but I think you represent
    something profoundly good in the young people of our country. And I hope
    more and more people will follow your lead, in daily life, in ways that
    may not require as much courage but do require as much commitment to the
    welfare of other people.
        And I hope you'll always be willing to
    share your story and those terrible moments, which prove that you are a
    truly wonderful person.
        Ms. Winfrey. Thank you, President Clinton. We have a number of young
    people here today who, in the face of difficult times, have shown that
    they were willing to make a difference. So I know you wanted to say
    something to all of them, as well as Mary Beth.
        The President. I do. I think, you know, for many years, there was
    this sort of typecasting of young people today as generation X-ers,
    people that were only interested in themselves and didn't care about the
    larger society or the problems of less fortunate people or people in
    trouble. And I think every day you all prove that it's not true.
        I believe today's generation of young Americans is the most
    idealistic, the most concerned and, in some ways, the most committed to
    good citizenship of any generation of young people we've ever had. And I
    just want you to get out there and spread the word and let people know
    what you're doing and who you are and where you're coming from and try
    to make sure other young people follow your lead.
        I am very proud of you and very grateful for what you do to make our
    country a better place.
        Ms. Winfrey. Thank you, President Clinton. Say hello to Hillary for
    us.
        The President. I'll do it. She's
    doing great. She said to say hello, Oprah.
        Ms. Winfrey. Thank you.
        The President. Goodbye, everybody.
        Ms. Winfrey. Isn't this great?
        The President. Goodbye, Mary Beth.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:52 p.m. from the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to program honoree Mary Beth Talley,
    who protected her friend Heather McDonald during the shooting at
    Wedgewood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX, on September 15; and Rev.
    Albert R. Meredith, senior pastor, Wedgewood Baptist Church. These
    remarks were released by the Office of the Press Secretary on October
    27, the day the program aired. A tape was not available for verification
    of the content of these remarks.