    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [September 2, 1999]
    [Pages 1484-1485]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1484]]

    Remarks at a Reception for Hillary Clinton in Cazenovia, New York
    September 2, 1999

        I would like to thank the Greens for making us all feel so welcome, and I would like to
    thank you for--I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and the
    hospitality of the people these last few days and by the sheer beauty of
    this place, everywhere we've been, and I want to thank you all for
    sharing that with us.
        I'd also like to thank the people of New York and the people of this
    area for your many kindnesses to me and to Al Gore and to our families
    and our administration, including the electoral votes of New York in two
    Presidential elections.
        I want to just make a couple of points. First of all, in terms of
    where our country is today, we are in a good place because we have tried
    to make decisions for 6\1/2\ years to think about what is best for
    America, for all Americans and for the future and not just for the
    moment, for those that may have the most influence. And it's worked
    pretty well.
        In this historic part of our Nation, I think it is fair to say that
    if you read the history of America closely, as I have tried to do, the
    continuing mission of this country is to always be working to widen the
    circle of opportunity, to deepen the meaning of freedom, and to
    strengthen the bonds of our community. This is more and more important
    as we grow more diverse and as we get more involved with the rest of the
    world.
        Now, if you look at what has happened in the last 6\1/2\ years, I
    don't think it's a subject of much debate anymore. And I am very
    grateful for the efforts that I have been able to make with so many
    others to improve the economy and lower the crime rate and lower the
    welfare rolls and strengthen the role of America in the world.
        But the mission of the country is never over. And Hillary just
    mentioned a few things. One of the things that I think about all the
    time is that not every community and not every section of our country
    has participated fully in this astonishing economic recovery, and that
    bothers me. It bothers me that not every child in this country is
    getting a world-class education. It bothers me that there are people in
    Washington who really don't want to use this truly historic opportunity
    to extend the life of the Social Security Trust Fund out beyond the life
    expectancy of those of us in the baby boom. Any of you here who are baby
    boomers, like me, I'm sure you share my concern. I am determined that,
    when we retire, our children will not have to support us at the expense
    of our grandchildren. That's what Social Security is.
        And in a global economy, believe me, if we were to pay off the debt
    of this country in 15 years, for the first time since Andy Jackson was
    President, then the children in this audience would be the economic
    beneficiaries. We would have a generation of lower interest rates and
    higher growth and stronger economies in every place in America.
        And that brings me back to why you all came here. [Laughter] When I
    met Hillary in law school, I was really afraid for her to go home to
    Arkansas with me, because I was afraid she would be wasting what I think
    is one of the greatest talents of public service I've every known in my
    life. It turned out it hasn't been a waste; she's done pretty well.
    [Laughter]
        But when you hear her talking about all these issues, I think it's
    important to note that she's not only had 30 years of experience as a
    child advocate, which puts her in a position to know more about
    education and family policy than virtually anybody who could run for
    this kind of job. We worked together when I was Governor for a dozen
    years, which is why she understands all these economic development
    issues and the things that you talked about, about the economy.
        And then for the last 6\1/2\ years in the White House, she has been
    not only an advocate for health care reform and for our children, but
    she's literally gone all across the world looking for ways that people
    can come together instead of be driven apart by all the things that seem
    to be doing so much to divide people, both in the United States and
    around the world.
        I know I'm heavily biased--[laughter]--but I also have more
    experience than most people do in this area. I have known thousands and
    thousands of people in public service. I've never known anybody with the
    same combination of ability, experience, compassion, and unrelenting

    [[Page 1485]]

    dedication as my wife, and I thank you for being here.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:05 p.m at a private residence. In his
    remarks, he referred to dinner hosts Edward and Joan Green.