[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 44 (Monday, November 2, 1998)]
[Page 2174]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to the Staff of the Firing Room Prior to the Discovery Launch in 
Cape Canaveral

October 29, 1998

    Thank you very much. I have so many things to thank you for today. 
But among other things, I have to thank you for making the First Lady 
very happy, because about a year ago she said, ``You know, we need to 
make a list of all the things we want to do before we leave office.'' I 
said, ``Okay, what's on your list?'' She said, ``You have to take me to 
a space launch. I want to go.''
    We didn't have the courage to come here; we had confidence in you 
and pride in America and a conviction that our space program is good for 
the United States and good for the world. And I want to thank you today, 
because you made all of us terribly proud.
    Let me also say that because of the intense interest in this, in the 
media and among ordinary citizens, the American people have had a unique 
opportunity today to see what you do, not just at the moment of launch 
but in the weeks and months and years that precede it, all the hard work 
and all the preparation. And now they will learn over the next few days 
all the things that are being done in space that advance not only our 
mission in space but the quality of our life here on Earth. And all of 
that, too, has been made possible.
    The last thing I would like to say is, it has been immensely 
impressive and important to me to have the chance to work with NASA over 
the last 6 years and see the revolution which has been undertaken, so 
that now you can, on virtually the same budget you had 6 years ago, do 8 
launches a year instead of 2 and continue to explore the outer frontiers 
of space. I thank you for all of that. America is very, very proud of 
you today.
    Thank you, and God bless you.

Note: The President spoke at 2:42 p.m. in the Launch Control Center at 
the John F. Kennedy Space Center.