[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book II)]
[September 16, 2000]
[Pages 1852-1853]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters at the Dedication of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial
September 16, 2000

India-U.S. Relations

    Q. Mr. President, how would you describe the visit, overall, of the 
Indian Prime Minister? What has this visit meant to Indo-U.S. relations?
    The President. Well, I think it's been a great success. It sort of 
rounds out our efforts to take a different turn in our relationships, to 
deepen and broaden them. As I have said many times, I am profoundly 
grateful for the reception that I received from the Prime 
Minister, the Government, and the 
people of India when I came with my daughter 
and my mother-in-law a few months ago.
    I hope that this change in partnership goes beyond my service, into 
a whole new era of partnership between India and the United States.
    You know, one thing I didn't mention a moment ago is that, in 
addition to the Government of India, Americans who are of Indian 
heritage also contributed to this magnificent memorial. There is 
probably no country outside India that has been more enriched by Indians 
than the United States. So that's another reason, and I think it's 
important we continue to go forward together.

Mahatma Gandhi

    Q. Mr. President, has Mahatma Gandhi made an influence on your life, 
sir, in any way?
    The President. Well, when I was a boy, actually, I was a profound 
admirer of Martin Luther King, and I began to read all his writings. And 
when I read that he was so influenced by Gandhi, then I began to read 
about Gandhi. I was, I don't know, 17, 18, or something like that.

H-1B Visas

    Q. Mr. President, since you talked about the Indian contribution--
about immigration, H-1B visas, does your administration want to do 
something?
    The President. Let me say this, the number of H-1B visas will be 
increased in this Congress, I believe. I'll be quite surprised if it 
isn't. The issue is, how much will it be increased by, and can we use 
the occasion of increasing the quotas to get some more funds from the 
companies that are hiring people for the training of our own people, who 
could also do these jobs--the people who are already here--if they had 
training? So there's no question that we're going to increase the visas.

India-U.S. Relations

    Q. Mr. President, the fact is, you said you're very excited; it was 
a very positive visit. In concrete terms, where do you see the alliance 
going now? Where in concrete terms do you see India and the United 
States as natural allies going ahead?
    The President. Well, I hope in the years ahead we'll be better 
economic partners, better political partners. I hope we'll work together 
through the United Nations and other international forums. I hope we'll 
both be able to help to turn back what could otherwise be a dangerous 
tide of proliferation of dangerous weapons, not just nuclear warheads on 
missiles, either, chemical weapons, biological weapons. I hope we'll be 
able to turn that back.
    And I hope some day that there will be some constructive role we 
could play as a partner in working with India and others to bring peace 
on the subcontinent.
    Q. Will you be a strategic ally? Will we be a strategic ally?
    The President. We've done enough talking today. [Laughter] If you 
want to ask the Prime Minister a 
question--[laughter]----

[[Page 1853]]

Travel to India

    Q. Mr. President, do you see yourself going back to India after 
post-Presidency?
    The President. Absolutely. Absolutely. I hope I'll be able to go 
back to India for the rest of my life. I don't mean permanently, but I 
mean to keep going back, always.

Note: The exchange began at 11:04 a.m. in a park at Massachusetts Ave. 
and 21st St. NW., near the Indian Embassy. In his remarks, the President 
referred to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of India; and the 
President's mother-in-law, Dorothy Rodham.