[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 35 (Monday, September 6, 1999)]
[Pages 1683-1684]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Reception Honoring the First Lady 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--[applause]. 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 open. 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--[applause].
    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 learned pretty well. 
[Laughter]

[[Page 1684]]

    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 the 
Senate, 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. [Laughter] 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 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. A tape was 
not available for verification of the content of these remarks.