[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 50 (Monday, December 20, 1999)]
[Pages 2615-2616]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Telephone Remarks to a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee 
Dinner in Houston, Texas

December 13, 1999

    Well, I'm glad I got to hear the last of B.A.'s speech, and let me 
say to all of you, I'm jealous of you. I wish I were there tonight. I 
had looked forward to being there very much, but I got quite sick with 
the winter flu, and I've got the Israelis and the Syrians coming in this 
week, and I have to be well for them. So the doctor said I couldn't get 
on the airplane.
    So I wanted to call and just, first of all, thank all of you for 
honoring Lloyd and B.A. and for raising so much money for the Democrats 
in Texas. I think we're going to win the House back in the next 
election. And I'm doing everything I can to do my part.
    But I also want to thank you because of the career and the public 
service of Lloyd Bentsen, that you honor tonight, because there is a 
reason we're trying to win the House back--because of the direction we 
want the country to take in the new century. And everything he has done 
in his entire career embodies that.
    So Lloyd, I miss you, and I love you. And I love you, B.A. I'm sorry 
I couldn't be there. I'm sick I missed Ann Richards' jokes. [Laughter] 
And you all owe me a raincheck, just like I owe you one.
    Thank you, and God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 9:17 p.m. in the Residence at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to former Senator Lloyd Bentsen and

[[Page 2616]]

his wife, B.A.; and former Gov. Ann Richards of Texas.