pd08fe99 The President's Radio Address...

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aggressive intervention and hard work, the vast majority of those are 
off the list, because they're getting different results, not because 
they're trying harder but because they changed their results.
    Dade County, Florida--that's Miami--one of the most diverse school 
districts in America, had 45 critical, low-performing schools. They 
raised their math and science scores so much--math and reading scores so 
much now that within 2 years, all 45 were off the list, just by focusing 
on it and by refusing to accept the proposition that, just because these 
kids were having a tough time financially or they live in tough 
neighborhoods, that their schools couldn't function, and they couldn't 
learn.
    Now, this is what Boston is committed to doing, but this is what 
every place in America should do. And in our budget, we have $200 
million to help them do it. We also call for ending social promotion, 
but we say--and I want to reiterate that--it's not the students who are 
failing; it's the system's failing them. So you don't want to punish the 
students; you want to change the system.
    Therefore, among other things in this budget, we call for tripling 
the funds available for after-school and summer school programs to help 
kids learn more. In 3 years--listen to this--3 years ago, Congress 
appropriated $1 million for the Federal contribution to after-school 
programs. Then, the year before last, it was 40; then last year it was 
200; and this year I hope it's going to be 600; and we'll have a million 
more children in every State in this country off the streets, in the 
classroom, learning more, and having a better future.
    We also have to give more support for teachers, more support for 
teacher development, more support for teacher education, more 
understanding of what's involved here. You have 53 million people, and 
you're going to have a couple of--according to Secretary Riley, a couple 
of million more teachers retire in the next few years.
    It should not--let me just say something. One of the big reasons 
that the test scores go down in math and science is that the teacher 
shortage has been so profound that there are a huge number of our 
teachers in America today in our junior and senior high schools, our 
middle schools and high schools, teaching courses in which they didn't 
have a college major or even a minor, because there was no one else 
available to teach them.
    And we have to do more to support the recruitment and the support 
and the continuing teacher development of those people. One of the 
things in this budget that I think is particularly important, even 
though it's not a big number, is that we have funds for 7,000 college 
scholarships for young people where we pay their way to college in 
return for their commitment to teach for 4 years in an inner-city school 
or some other place where there's a serious teacher shortage of trained 
teachers. This is a big deal. It can make a significant difference.
    I also believe that all parents should get report cards on all 
schools. That has worked. The Boston schools are doing it. It ought to 
be done everywhere. People are entitled to information. Most towns in 
this country, you can find out more about the local restaurants than you 
can about the local schools, if you're a parent, unless you just go 
there and hang around. I mean, it's important.
    And finally, interestingly enough, you know what the teachers' 
organizations and teachers at the grassroots asked us to do, to put into 
this bill? They said, ``We should say that every school district should 
have a reasonable, comprehensive discipline code that is actually 
implemented.'' Teachers asked for that, and I think that's important.

[[Page 175]]

    So again I say, look at those kids. Think about what you want 
America to be like in 20 years. Think about what we're going to do with 
this golden moment for our economy, with this first budget surplus we've 
had in 30 years. There's a lot of things we need to do, but nothing is 
more important than giving our children a world-class education--
nothing. And I hope you will support it.
    Thank you, and God bless you.

Note: The President spoke at 3:45 p.m. in the auditorium. In his 
remarks, he referred to Gov. Argeo Paul Cellucci of Massachusetts; Mayor 
Thomas M. Menino of Boston; Joanne Collins Russell, principal, and Gail 
Zimmerman, teacher, Jackson Mann Elementary School.


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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 175]
 
Monday, February 8, 1999
 
Volume 35--Number 5
Pages 157-210
 
Week Ending Friday, February 5, 1999
 
Statement on the Death of Paul Mellon

February 2, 1999

    Hillary and I are saddened by the death of Paul Mellon, one of 
America's most dedicated philanthropists. His generosity over a long 
lifetime invigorated and sustained our Nation's cultural and educational 
institutions. Carrying on his family's work, he donated a remarkable 
collection of priceless art to the National Gallery of Art, so that it 
could be enjoyed by future generations. He gave the Nation the Cape 
Hatteras National Seashore and led the restoration of Lafayette Park, 
across the street from the White House. He received the National Medal 
of the Arts and the National Medal for the Humanities, but his true 
recognition comes from the millions of people whose love of art his 
gifts inspired. His legacy of commitment to public service is, itself, 
priceless. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Bunny, his 
children, Catherine and Timothy, and his grandchildren.


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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 175]
 
Monday, February 8, 1999
 
Volume 35--Number 5
Pages 157-210
 
Week Ending Friday, February 5, 1999
 
Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report on the Korean 
Peninsula Energy Development Organization

February 2, 1999

Dear __________:

    I transmit herewith the report required under the heading 
``International Organizations and Programs'' in title IV of the Foreign 
Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 
1996 (Public Law 104-107), relating to the Korean Peninsula Energy 
Development Organization (KEDO). The attached report covers the period 
through December 1998.
    Sincerely,
                                            William J. Clinton

Note: Identical letters were sent to Ted Stevens, chairman, and Robert 
C. Byrd, ranking member, Senate Committee on Appropriations; and C.W. 
Bill Young, chairman, and David R. Obey, ranking member, House Committee 
on Appropriations.


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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 175]
 
Monday, February 8, 1999
 
Volume 35--Number 5
Pages 157-210
 
Week Ending Friday, February 5, 1999
 
Message to the Congress Transmitting a Report on the Emigration Policies 
and Trade Status of Albania

February 2, 1999

To the Congress of the United States:

    I am submitting an updated report to the Congress concerning the 
emigration laws and policies of Albania. The report indicates continued 
Albanian compliance with U.S. and international standards in the area of 
emigration. In fact, Albania has imposed no emigration restrictions, 
including exit visa requirements, on its population since 1991.
    On December 5, 1997, I determined and reported to the Congress that 
Albania is not in violation of paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of subsection 
402(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, or paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of 
subsection 409(a) of that act. That action allowed for the continuation 
of normal trade relations status for Albania and certain other 
activities without the requirement of an annual waiver. This semiannual 
report is submitted as required by law pursuant to the determination of 
December 5, 1997.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
February 2, 1999.

[[Page 176]]


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 176-179]
 
Monday, February 8, 1999
 
Volume 35--Number 5
Pages 157-210
 
Week Ending Friday, February 5, 1999
 
Remarks at a Democratic National Committee Dinner in New York City

February 2, 1999

    Thank you very much. If I may, with all respect to Caroline, borrow 
a line from President Kennedy, it looks to me like that it is highly 
likely that I will increasingly be known as the person who comes with 
Hillary to New York. [Laughter]
    I want to, first of all, say to all of you how grateful I am to 
Steve Grossman for the great work he has done as our chairman. Nobody 
wanted to be head of the Democratic Party when it was $18 million in 
debt--[laughter]--but Steve Grossman, he thought it was just a minor 
irritant that we could do away with. And I said today--you know, Hillary 
came to New York today, and I went to Boston, and I'll tell you more 
about that in a minute. I had a great day in Boston.
    She said, ``Now, tell me again what you're doing in Boston.'' I 
said, ``Well, I'm going to go up to Boston, and we're going to canonize 
Steve Grossman.'' And she said, ``Bill, don't say that. It's the wrong 
religion.'' [Laughter] So I did it anyway. I introduced him to his 
hometown crowd today as the first person of the Jewish faith ever to be 
called Saint Steven. [Laughter] And they liked it in Boston. [Laughter] 
At least the Irish and the Italians liked it, which is a big part of the 
crowd. [Laughter]
    We had a great day. I want to thank Len Barrack for the work he's 
done. And Governor Romer, all the staff folks. I want to thank Joe 
Andrew and Beth Dozoretz for being willing to serve. I want to thank 
Judith Hope for doing a great job here in New York. And I cannot tell 
you how grateful I am to Jerry Nadler, Carolyn Maloney and Nita Lowey. 
They are treasures. They do a magnificent job for New York, but they 
stand up for what's right for America, and you should be so proud that 
our party is represented by people like them in the United States 
Congress.
    I want to thank Congressman Klein and Speaker Silver and all my pals 
from Indiana who are here tonight. [Laughter] Joe Andrew, this is a good 
sign. You're going to spoil us, you know, when we go to Washington 
State, I'm going to be looking for the five people from Indiana. 
[Laughter] When we're in South Texas, I'll be looking for the five 
people from Indiana. [Laughter] We're going to open every meeting with 
``Back Home in Indiana.'' [Laughter] We'll all sing it.
    You know, I could tell when Hillary was talking to you about the 
women with whom she met today that it touched you. But you have to know 
that I think that politics only works if you have certain principles and 
values, you have ideas about how to implement them, and then you have 
some sense of what the human impact of what you do is. I mean, if this 
doesn't make any difference to anybody's life, why did you come out here 
tonight? You could have eaten downstairs for less money--[laughter]--
which, with all respect to the owner at this restaurant, is saying 
something. [Laughter] And you could have done that.
    So I'm getting ready for my next life. I'm going to be the comic 
that closes the show--[laughter]--my stand up life. I just want to tell 
you two stories, too, that really mean a lot to me. The other day--well, 
let me back up and say I believe there are two things which distinguish 
the two parties today on almost every issue of major significance. There 
may be 200, but I think there are two, for sure.
    First is, what is the role of Government in making the America of 
our dreams in the 21st century? The first thing is, we ended the old 
debate that nearly wrecked this country and quadrupled the national debt 
and got us in a terrible hole in the 1980's, where, you know, the 
argument was always: Is Government the solution, or is Government the 
problem? And my argument was always that Government is neither, that the 
role of Government is to create the conditions and get people the tools 
to make the most of their own lives.
    The second and, I think, fundamentally even more important 
difference is our idea of community. Our idea of community goes way 
beyond just saying you believe in the same things. I think most of us, 
in the very fiber of our being, believe that we are all interconnected, 
that we are an interdependent people in an increasingly interdependent 
world, that when you strip away all the layers, nobody is any better 
than anybody else, and

[[Page 177]]

that we cannot find personal or family or business--economic--
fulfillment without some decent concern for the ability of others to 
find the same. I believe that.
    And I was raised with those values and had a fresh reminder 
involving New York City the other day, from a strange source. I have a 
60-year-old cousin who runs the local HUD office, the housing project, 
in the little town in Arkansas where I was born. And the other day she 
called the White House, and we've been friends. She was the best rodeo 
performer in Arkansas when she was 16 years old. [Laughter] I used to 
watch her barrel race and rope cows and--I mean, the calves and all that 
stuff. She was fabulous. And she still looks like she could do it after 
all these years.
    But she called and said she was coming to Washington for a HUD 
conference and wanted to spend the night, and she spent the night. And I 
got up, and we had breakfast in the morning. She still gets up real 
early like I used to do when I lived there. And so we were talking and 
she said, ``I'm really worried about something.'' And I said, ``What is 
it?'' She said, ``Well, you know, I come from about the smallest place 
represented at this conference.'' She said, ``Most of these people are 
from New York or Los Angeles or someplace like that.'' And she said, 
``They tell me there are 20,000 to 30,000 children a year in foster care 
that turn 18 and are just turned out. Their parents don't get any more 
money, and some of them are foster parents who can't afford to take care 
of them. And a lot of these kids are just on the street when they ought 
to be going to college.'' So I said, ``Well, I think we're trying to do 
something about that, and I'll get back to you.''
    Four days later, Hillary did an event about part of our budget that 
she has been crusading for for years, to provide funds to places like 
New York City to support those children, to give them a decent place to 
live, to give them a chance at going to college, to give them a chance 
to go on with their lives. Twenty thousand to 30,000 people in a country 

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