[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 30 (Monday, July 31, 1995)]
[Page 1311]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Telephone Remarks With Mayor Ronald Norick of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

July 27, 1995

    The President. Mayor?
    Mayor Norick. Yes.
    The President. How are you? Good morning.
    Mayor Norick. Good morning, Mr. President. How are you doing this 
morning?
    The President. I'm doing fine. How are you managing your heat wave 
down there?
    Mayor Norick. Well, it's typical for Oklahoma, so we don't mind it 
too bad. But I appreciate your call, and I especially appreciate the 
reason for your call.
    The President. Well, as you know, I signed the rescission bill 
today, and because of your efforts and the efforts of many other people, 
the bill includes $39 million in funding to restore and revitalize the 
area that was affected by the bombing. And we tried to give you 
significant flexibility so that you could use these funds in a way that 
would spur economic recovery and have the biggest impact.
    So I wanted to tell what we signed it today, and we thank you for 
your efforts. And I hope that they'll be very helpful to you.
    Mayor Norick. They will be extremely helpful. We have a--the group 
from NEA have been in here for the last week assisting us, and we've 
come up with our first plan for the area revitalization, have been 
meeting with a number of the business owners. They're obviously very 
excited about the interest that not only the White House but that HUD, 
that Cisneros has taken, and also the city, making sure their area is 
rebuilt.
    Also I want to let you know that Councilman Schwartz, who has been 
instrumental from our end also is here with me. On the short notice, we 
were the only two that happened to be within a 3- or 4-minute drive time 
of City Hall, and really do appreciate all the efforts that you've been 
able to make toward our city. And I know from your earlier conversations 
that should we need any additional help in any other areas, that that 
door is open. And we will not abuse that opportunity should it arise.
    The President. Well, I know that Secretary Cisneros will be in 
regular touch with you, and he'll also try to keep me in touch. But if 
you need us, let us know. And you tell Councilman Schwartz I said hello 
as well.
    Councilman Mark Schwartz. Thank you, Mr. President.
    Mayor Norick. Okay. Well, thank you, Mr. President. And I appreciate 
very much your call. And I especially appreciate your signature. If 
you've got an extra pen, send it down here. [Laughter]
    The President. As a matter of fact, I saved one for you. I'll send 
it to you.
    Mayor Norick. I would love to have it. It would be something that 
will be a real keepsake for our community, and I'm sure when we finally 
get the memorial done and all of that it would be a wonderful item to 
put in our memorial.
    The President. Thank you, sir.
    Mayor Norick. Thank you.
    The President. Have a good day. Good-bye.

Note: The President spoke at 10:15 a.m. from the Oval Office at the 
White House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of 
these remarks.