[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 36 (Monday, September 9, 1996)]
[Pages 1613-1614]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks in Troy, Tennessee

August 31, 1996

    The President. Thank you. Mr. Vice President, it's good to be here 
in your State of Tennessee with Governor McWherter, Congressman Tanner, 
Houston Gordon, all of our legislative and other leaders. Hillary and 
Tipper and Al and I love these bus trips, but the closer to home they 
get, the better we like them. [Laughter]
    And let me also say a special word of honor and appreciation to 
Congressman Ed Jones and his wife, Lou. After Ed Jones left the 
Congress, Ned McWherter appointed him to work with the then-Governor of 
Arkansas to try to find ways to redevelop the Mississippi River region. 
He was my partner and my friend, and I developed just as much respect 
and love for him as all of you have. And Mr. Ed, it's great to see you 
today, sir. Thank you.
    I also want to make one other introductory remark. I shook hands 
with Mrs. Jim Bob Robertson. She said, ``I'm 101 years old. I've never 
missed an election, and you're the first President I`ve ever met.'' 
[Laughter] And I said, ``Well, it's high time.'' [Laughter] And then she 
leaned over and kissed me. And I can tell you, she may be 101, but she 
still kisses real good. I appreciate that. I thank her.
    Ladies and gentlemen, before I make my remarks I want to report to 
you on a development in another country that you may not have heard 
about. Early this morning, the military forces of Iraq overran the city 
of Irbil, which is in the portion of northern Iraq controlled and 
populated by the Kurds. The situation there remains unclear. There are 
reports of heavy fighting and firing in populated areas. There are 
indications that some Kurdish elements may be involved in the operation 
with Iraq. These developments, however, cause me grave concern. I have 
placed our forces in the region on high alert, and they are now being 
reinforced.
    It is premature at this time, and I want to emphasize that, entirely 
premature to speculate on any response we might have. But we are 
prepared to deal with these developments. We will be working hard with 
others in the international community who share our concern.
    And let me just say in closing, I hope all of you are as proud as I 
am that we have the quality and strength of the men and women in uniform 
we have serving us all around the world. And I hope you'll say an extra 
prayer for them tonight. Thank you.
    We're glad to be here. We didn't expect that this many of you would 
be here, and we're awfully glad to see you.
    On Thursday night, I had the opportunity to speak from Chicago in 
our Democratic Convention to the American people about what Al Gore and 
I would like to do if you give us 4 more years. The fundamental question 
is whether we're going to build a bridge to the future or a bridge to 
the past. Will you help us build a bridge to the 21st century?
    Audience members. Yes!
    The President. A bridge with world-class jobs, world-class 
education, a clean environment, with a growing economy; a bridge where 
families can be strong in raising their children, succeeding at work and 
home; a bridge where communities know that the crime rate is going to 
come down every year because there are more police officers on the 
street and because we're all taking more responsibilities to keep our 
kids out of trouble in the first place--will you help us build that kind 
of bridge? [Applause] Will you help us for the next 68 days in this 
election? [Applause] And then for 4 more years after that? [Applause]
    Let me tell you, folks--I said this at the convention, I want to say 
it again--politicians are always known for overstating. It is not 
overstating when I tell you that Albert Gore from Tennessee is the 
finest, most effective Vice President in the history of the United 
States of America. And if you'll give us a chance to build that bridge 
and you'll build it with us, we'll all walk over it in the year 2000.
    Thank you, and God bless you.

Note: The President spoke at 1:05 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to 
Ned Ray McWherter, former Tennessee Governor. A tape was not avail- 

[[Page 1614]]

able for verification of the content of these remarks.