Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago
Date: Saturday, 10 Oct 1992 01:27:03 CDT
From: <U56503@uicvm.uic.edu>
Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton
Subject: ==> Clinton Endorsed By Admiral Crowe (9/19/92)

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Information in the public interest which does not imply that it
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        SUBJECT: Text of Clinton\Crowe Press Conference 9/19/1992

        Remarks by Governor Bill Clinton & Former Joint Chiefs of
        Staff Chairman Adm. William Crowe
        Governor's Mansion Little Rock, AR September 19, 1992

        GOVERNOR CLINTON:

        Ladies and gentlemen, it is a real honor for me to welcome
 here to Arkansas and to the governor's mansion one of our nation's
 most respected military leaders, Admiral William Crowe, Jr.

        Bill Crowe grew up in our neighboring state of Oklahoma, the
 grandson of pioneers who made the 1889 run into Oklahoma territory.
 He's carried on that spirit in meeting the challenges of our nation.
 He served in our nation's military for almost half a century and has
 earned the respect of presidents, senators and every branch of the
 armed forces.  He made the Navy proud, the United States military
 proud and America proud.

        He served in Vietnam and the Middle East and the U.S. Pacific
 forces and as our distinguished chairman of the joint chiefs of
 staff, and he served a stint in the Eisenhower White House.  No other
 senior officer has the breadth of experience of his assignments or
 his accomplishments.

        He was the first to open military ties to the Soviet Union and
 concluded important military-to-military agreements between the two
 armed forces.  He pushed through critical reform of the military in
 supporting the Goldwater-Nichlos Act.  He strongly supported arms
 control and provided key support to the arms control process.  He
 stood up to terrorism, including the 1986 attack raid on Libya and
 the response to the Achille-Lauro attack.

        Admiral Crowe is widely respected and a rare combination of
 statesman and military leader.  But he's also known for his sense of
 humor.  My friend, Dave McCurdy from Oklahoma, the chair of the House
 Intelligence Committee, describes him as a combination of Will Rogers
 and George Marshall.

        So it's a great honor for me today and a great pleasure to
 welcome Admiral William Crowe.

        ADMIRAL WILLIAM CROWE:

        Thank you, Governor.  Good morning.  Well, it's a pleasure to
 be in Arkansas.  I grew up not too far from here.  Being an Oklahoman
 by growth at least, I know where Arkansas is.

        I am today endorsing Governor Bill Clinton for president of
 the United States.  I should stress at the outset that this is the
 first time in my life that I have publicly endorsed a candidate for
 any political office.  And I am doing it strictly--strictly--in my
 capacity as a private citizen and I would not pretend otherwise.

        I believe that the stakes in this election are considerable,
 both for the national security of this nation and for the prospects
 of security throughout the world.  My discussions and contacts with
 Governor Clinton have led me to believe that he is the most qualified
 man to set us on a successful course for the future.

        And make no mistake.  At least in my judgment, the future--the
 future--is what this campaign is about.

        I was honored to serve both Presidents Reagan and Bush as
 chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.  I was particularly indebted
 to George Bush for his kindness in asking me to extend my tenure as
 chairman.  My endorsement of Governor Clinton is in no way--in no
 way--meant to denigrate the substantial accomplishments of these two
 presidents in national security affairs, and those accomplishments
 were substantial.

        I simply believe that at this critical juncture--at this
 critical juncture--America needs new leadership, leadership that will
 address the pressing problems facing our citizens, problems that
 threaten our prosperity and our social fabric.

        There is no doubt in my mind that the national security of
 this nation depends first and foremost on its domestic strength,
 economic, industrial, social and educational. Governor Clinton's
 approach to addressing these issues makes eminently good sense to me.

        There has been an inordinate amount of attention in this
 campaign paid to Governor Clinton's lack of military service.  I
 personally served in uniform for 47 years, and I am extremely proud
 of the U.S. military and my connection with it.

        Moreover, I treasure my association with the young men and
 women who served their country in the armed services.  They inspired
 me every day of my career.

        But I know and have worked at the same time with many others
 who did not serve in uniform, including a number of key national
 security figures in the Bush administration.  That fact never
 affected my ability to work with them or my high regard for them.

         The important thing is that these divisive and peripheral
 issues--these divisive and peripheral issues--not be allowed to
 detract attention from the fundamental concerns that beset our
 citizens today and threaten the nation's unity.  We are all
 Americans, and I exclude [no one] from my respect and consideration.

         This election is primarily about the future of this country.
 It is about leadership that we need to meet the serious challenges
 ahead, be they concerns of economics, foreign affairs, domestic
 programs, or national security.

         After considerable--and I say this again--after considerable
 thought, I have concluded that Governor Clinton offers America the
 best choice for the future, and I strongly endorse him for president
 of the United States.

Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton,talk.politics.misc,alt.rush-limbaugh