DNC Speech Handwritten Notes 1

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Qraft 8/29/96 9amPRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON

ACCEPTANCE SPEECHDEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

CHICAGO, ILLINOISAugust 29, 1996

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice-President, fellow Democrats, ml fellow Americans: T t f , ~ ~ ~ . ' - \ ~ k - s ' d ' aW\t uti I t stu tp

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ h l ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ h . ~ ~ ~~ i ; atute my gtrBR pa&iRer aHei close fnen


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Cbnrldence Meome a RiV:' faitl;t iiA gm:ISilvss a:s e B s \ . t R t r ~ r , a ne fttitfi iR Ametil;a.~ ~ ~ ~ ( a e_., J-..ixlt \ ) . c ~ QlQ ~ ~ V J \ . ) ~ -{=c~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t u . ~ \ ~ . \ ~ ~ ~ t \ l (~ l \ : ~ t 7 ~ ~ , t ~ i { l : ~ : t \ J ~ w h t : _ c ~ ~ i t f m ~ ~ l w . M .. ncighbmliUMS Mid jobs ::ll:


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and inflation and mortgages in 28 years. 10 million new jobs, half managerial and professional.10 million workers getting the raise they deserve with an increase in the minimum wage. 25million working people will now have their health care protected even if they change jobs.

s ~ ~ ~ ~ o u u ~ i h C&I cs t RI 11 ng 1 t our country is still the strongest force for peace, freedom and

prosperity in the w o r ~ R a v:rl irivir ma 1ook f t g ~ RHssia, ts QssHi i, ts Haiti, ts tA:e ~ . f m t l eEast iRe eey and the ehileFeH iHe all tke J3i9J3le gfthe vvsdei look to us and to om valaw f5rthe leadCI ship they bto v they ea t F M ~

~ ~ . . -On crime, we t 7 ~ g 100,000 more p o l i c ~ on the streets; we made three-strikes-and-you're out the law of the land; we stopped 60,QJ)O felons and fugitive;; and stalkers from buying ..~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t u . A ~ \ lhandguns; we banned assault r i f l e s ~ For four years now, the crime rate has dropped . ..Wsw ~ft . _1 8 . @ :fr g h ~ Cfllii X . -t- re Ja /8RI i iilmunw e e 1

On welfare, we worked with the states to launch a quiet revolution; today 1.6 millionfewer people are on welfare than on the day I took office. And we have increased child supportcollections by 40%.

CLINTON LIBRARY PHOTOCOPY


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And the deficit that was strangling our progress well, tonight, it is 60% smaller thanfour years ago, heading towards zerO _ 1\U. ~ lJ I l . . ~ ,~ " t u . A t u . t . ~ \t \ 1JJ.. ~ . t L x \ ' 2 . . ~ ~~ \ U l ~ ~ - ~ -

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ b ; : ~ ~ ~ ~ ; ~ ~ 8 i ~ S M 8 ift ~ f i i ~ ~ ~ i l . t ~ : : ~kirrd ef country w11l we bmld t o ~ )'ear 2000? What w ~ a look like vvbeft eM oehildren

- ~ : : ; e : : - = ~ 1 \ . u ~ U I L ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1 1 \ u . .~ U M . ~ ~ u ~ .... . ~ . ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ h \ ~ ~ ~ k u u . t u e . . c . ~ ~ " t \ u . ~I love and revere the h i ~ t o r y of America. And I am determined to take our best traditions6 l . t . Q W . ~ ~ ~ 6 . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .into the f u t u r e ~ u t with all respect, we do not need to build a b r i ~ g e to the past-- we need to

- ~ . . . t i \ Jr\ ; t ~ 4 ~ ..,.build a bridge to t h e ~ ~ 1.4. u d ~ J J . J . . . \ , ~ ~ ~ lU IIUit \U A - -l l 1 t t t - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ u u o : o : t 1 D ' ' + o ~~ u : J . : t - + a ~ . \ ~ ~ ~ 1 : ~ - . : i M - t ' U . . : O ~ ~ ~ t ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ' * .Tonight,+ :: u J $ } ~ T a . , , u i l d that bridge to t h ~ L - - a l h n v i ~ o m e e t ~. o

.our chalienges, protect our basic values, and prepare our people for ~ ; ~ ~ n i l =build a bridge to help every parenfraise their c h i ~ o help e ~ youngS nd adurf get the ~- - m ~education and training they need t ~ e i l l te get o geuer jehi t l ~ ~ citizerfW> feel safer. ~ ' - ~. foD ftu IIMM+o . . -f : ~ : 1 .on our streets; ~ i t w i ~ h e l p f e s ~ l i 9i R succet Qat home and at work; bllt :f Ml break the cycle of ~ \ ) \

o ~ ~poverty and dependence that afflicts our cities; tMt will protect our environment for g e n ~ r a t i o n stJ:I A . .t o c o m e f ~ ~ ~ b o O u - ~ f i M ~ { t - ~ ~ t ~ ~ , ;~ ~


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American comml:lait' has the teals taey need to make t:Rg ~ ~ t of Ol:lr Gog given pot;rntial.

OPPORTUNITY

I want America to build a bridge to the Year 2000 in which we expand opportunitythrough education: where computers are as much a part of the classroom as blackboards, wherehighly trained teachers demand peak performance from our children, where every 8 yearold can point to a book and say: "I read it myself."

F6 half a t:t.: llldlj' HrCIIICJSttliipbnant lltng we have done te Emh Rel @Q9R8micoppettanity is L open trre oeus 8fseWege ta miHiaH:s ef i\:merisaAii. By the year 2000, thesingle most critical thing we can do is to give every single American who wants it the chance togo to college.

We must make at least two years ofcollege as universal as a high school education is. Itoday. And we should cut taxes to do it.

I propose a $1500-a-year tuition tax credit for Americans -- a "Hope Scholarship" for the5



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first two years of college, to make the typical community college free. Every family ought to beable to deduct $10,000 in college tuition costs per year. Every parent ought to be able to savemoney for college in a tax free IRA. We should not tax middle income Americans on the moneythey spend for college.

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.. We must insist that our students pass tough tests to move up in school; reward good~ :teachers and remove those who don t measure up; g i ~ r e parents the choice of which public schoolto send their children; keep schools open late so young people can stay off the street.

We need schools that will take our children into the new century -- rebuilt andmodernized, with an unprecedented commitment from the national government to .increaseschool construction and with every single library and classroom in America connected to theinformation superhighway by the year 2000.

If we do these things, every 8 year old will be able to read every 12 year old will beable to log on to the internet every 18 year old will be able to go to college ... And~Americans will have the knowledge they need to cross t bridge to the future.Economy budget

1 - t ~ C J J . J . X - . .I want to build a bridge to the e 26 (10 in which we preserve the legacy of p ~ o r t u n \ t y I

for the next generation, by balancing our budget in a way that protects our values, and ensuring that every family will be able to protect the value of their most important asset -- their home.

Tonight, let us proclaim to the American people: We will balance the budget. And let usalso proclaim: we will do it in a way that preserves Medicare, Medicaid, education arid theenvironment.

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CLINTON LIBR RY PHOTO OPY


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Last year, the Republican Congress sent me a plari that violated our values. I vetoed theirbudget last year; I was proud to do it; and if necessary, I will do it again.

As long as I am President, I will never allow ~ u t s that devastate education for ourchildren, pollute our n v i r o n m n t ~ ~ t h c ~ M 1 d i c a i d or violate our duty to ourparents under Medicare. Never.

~ \ l u t ~ ~And as long as I am P r e s i d e n ~ i l l never allowAGtingte' >s to use tlte_ blackmail threat ofa government shutdown to try a n d ~ ~ o fte hm8risaiA p opli isto H t ~ ~ o r t i R deep

. 1 1 \ ~And t h e r ~ r e way to j i ~ v e n \ these cuts: a new C o n g r e s ~ ( Democrati

~ ~ \u_Lt ~ t \ . u . ~ ~ ~ l \ l . . . l 1 ) ~ ~ t \ l . t t : . ~ ~ ~ ) ~~ ~ \ ~ ~ ~ l i M - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ - ~u . . u . ~ ~ ~ @ I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -~ ~ ~ ' ~L ~ ~ ~ .I 1. \ Mie proposet-s p n to balance the budget through real, certified cuts in government. ~ \ u ~ ~ N k , W , ~ ~ ~ ~\ and waste. My plan invests in e d u c : t i o n ~ A n d it gives m e r i c a n s ~ cuts that will help our

country grow. II t x s e : u a ~ ~ , ..... .

I ~ s s i d expandiwl IRAs so that young people can save tax free to buy a firsthome. Tonight, I propose a new home ownership tax cut that says to every middle-incomefamily: ifyou sell your home, you won t have to pay a capital gains tax-- ever. I want everyAmerican to be able to hear those beautiful words: Welcome home.

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Every tax cut I call for tonight is targeted, responsible, and paid for within my balancedbudget. My tax cuts won't undermine the economy ~ ~ ~ ~ d cut taxes forthe family sending their child to college . . . for the worker returning to college . . . for the familysaving to buy a home . . . for middle income families raising their children. That's the right wayto cut taxes.

Our opponents have put forward a very different plan-- a risky 550 billion tax scheme. . .t h a t ~ ~ ~ j L ~ ~ ~ c u t s . ~ ~ ( _ t 6 - l ~ l ~ \ \ u u - . ~ ~ ~\ ~ L t u . t ~ . . : .~ ~ l ~ ~ Q . . C O l U O ~ ~ , , D o \ iU

This tax scheme will explode the deficit . . . spike interest rates~ 6 e t ~ t * . I . W ~ .

-- by 2% and requirehuge cuts in the very investments that will help our eonomy grow.lfyil t h e t t ~ h t the cat3 tki

p n ~ p g s e d lgst ) i l if iR Mcdicmc, Me8i&aid, edwation and thfi' iRl/iromntilt w t bact cnese c o ~ b e

Do we really want to make the same mistake again?,To raise ; r e s t rates again? Tof a ~ ~ ~ \ ~ - h l : : ~ ~stop ecopomic growth again? To court recession again? fl e q m e piii 8 ~ i f e i S ~ ; : e: : ~ \ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ : t ~ : ; t ~ } s ~ . .

We have an obligation to leave our children a legacy of opportunity, not debt. So this isone area which I respectfully disagree with my opponent. We should not bet the farm . . . and wecertainly shouldn 't bet the country.

ht (J.U " ~ t ~ k .~ 1 : . \ t: \ tlJ IW O9

CLINTON LIBRARY PHOTO OPY


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RESPONSIBILITY

Welfare

Opportunity alone is not enough. I want America to build a bridge to the Year 2000 inwhich ~ America.r?take personal responsibility for themselves, their families and their

/, IUt.country. And I w a n t ~ nation to take responsibility to make sure 'that every single child canlook ouJ the window in the morning and see a whole community getting up and going to work.

~ e w mjles from tR.is :kall and m the MISSISSippi Delta and in 8oath Central b\ .. rysung people are g i ~ w i H : ~ up in neighl5orhoods where only a frachon of tne adults g e t ~ n ~ ~ J r ke et y S.y. We want these young people to know the thrill of that first paycheck, the challenge ofstarting a business, the pride of following in a parent s footsteps.

The welfare reform law I signed last week is a chance for America to have,a new ,~ ~ , t 1 , \ . A U \ ~ ~ ~b e g i n n i n g ~ - to strike a n(\w social bargain with the poor1fA'e fl:Etve to take ow +CSpeRsieiliey st~ l t G . . ~ : \ 1 ) ~ ~ ~ - - ~ ~ ~ t ~ ~ ~~ c m t \ l c e t : k ~ I r s We Me i i H : a l l ~ t l = e t t t t t r m ~ ecuyone who eaa work, to go to w o r l ~ w we** ~ ~ ~ ~ o . 1 . J ( W . . ~ ' . ~ ~ ~have a moral obligation to 38) ts t R ~ i S i gf wham we are dehTI:nJhiig rcspunsibil'hy that they will

h u . d h w . t . c . . ~ ~ ' ~ .he:v8 the o p p m h m ~ . We must make sure ~ f W ; j o b s to ge *o --one million new jobs for welfare recipients by the Year 2000.

. ....._ . .UMiir t:Re lave I sigttctl;itates c a ~ t a k e money ~ o w spent an welfare. an2._use it to help

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businesses hire people and train them for jobs. I challenge every state to do this now.

~ ~ ~ 'W give. businesses a tax credit for every person they hire offwelfare and keep

e m p l o y e d ~ We J ~ l i W offer job placement firms a ~ bonus for every welfare recipient they. A J . A u . u d ~ ~place in a jo ifthe worker stays in We sfie- tM ~ p c ~ e s to put welfare recipients to

work -- repairing schools, fixing streets, making their neighborhoods shine again.

We spend enormous time opening markets for America around the world, and we should. l . . i ~ ~ ~ t ~ * W W O I.N.J . Uo AdBut let's never forget: The greatest untapped market for America is Ariienc1l i neeil moref t r ~Empowerment o n e ~ o draw businesses into poor neighborhoods; m o r ~ o m m u n i t y~ ~ ~ ~development banks -- like South Shore here in Chicago -- to small b u s i ~ s s e s . ~ - ~

..::IbSI:l == : ] : l t h " o - t i t l ~ t i ~ s - P i s ~ & " b l l l l c & i s & i s A decade ago, a woman named Lillie Hardin movedfrom welfare to work with the help of a program in my state. I asked her, What is the best thing

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abourbeing off welfare? She told me: The best thing about being offwelfare is that when myboy goes to school, and they ask him, 'What does your momma do?' he has an answer. Today,Lillie Hardin works in a grocery store in Little Rock. One daughter is an honor student; another

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l s a physical therapist.. c o l l e g e ~ - Her oldest son has a job and a family. And her younger son is going to1\w....{W. t \ , . I f ~ DJ.l +t . .I W lltt v ty fmaily to h?Jrotbo o c : ; - ~ ~ t t ac r c s p O I ~ t t Y i l Lillie lta:td n

.... heFfmtJi fha+e. Anti ;; ' 'l' persgq jn Amerjro ~ o a i g l > : We o v ~ eU l ~ ~ u ~ - J J : \ . u ~permanent underclass - ~ i s o l a t e d forgotten, and exiled from the promise ofAmerica.

Crime

I want America to build a bridge to the Year 2000 where our children are not killingchildren where our children's lives are not shattered by violence at home or in the schoolyard

where a generation of young people is not left to raise i tself alone on the streets.

~ ~ c . , ~ w n . u ~We all owe a great debt to Sarah and Jim Brady 't{t t1ieli ts&&@le. We mast emnd the

~Brady Bill to say: anyone with a record of violence against ~ spouse or child should not owna gun.

We must ban cop-killer bullets-- designed for one reason: to kill police. We ask thepolice to keep us safe. We must do our part to keep them safe.

12CLINTON LIBRARY PHOTOCOPY


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We should pass a victims rights Constitutional Amendment because victims deserve to

be heard -- and need to know when an assailant is released.

We have made so much progress; even crime among young people is down. So it is very,very painful to me that drug use among young people is up. Drugs nearly killed my brotherwhen he was a young man -- and I hate them.

Parents have a responsibility to teach their children this truth: Drugs are deadly, drugs arewrong, drugs may cost you your life.

. General Barry McCaffrey, 1 four star general who led our fight against drugs in LatinAmerica, now leads our r u s ~ e at home -- s t o p p i n s at our borders, cracking down onhose who sell them, andk:alling on America to turn our children away from drugs and g a ~ g s

Congress needs to give him every cent of funding we have requested.

. O k t W J . ~ ~ ~ iWe will say to parolees:Vfyou go back ~ you will go back to jail . We will say togangs: We will breakyou with the same anti-racketeering lawwe use to put mob bosses in jail.

My fellow Americans, in the 21st Century, we must make all of our children free freeof the vise grip of guns, gangs and drugs, free to build lives of hope.

COMMUNITY

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