Clinton says he wants 'whole record out'

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | Thursday, December 6, 2001 | ELISA CROUCH

[HAL9000]

Though the mission of the Clinton Presidential Center will focus on building a better future, Bill Clinton said Wednesday that the library won't avoid the controversies that riddled his presidency when examining the past.

    "Impeachment? Absolutely," Clinton said during an hour-long discussion with reporters. "One day we'll have some presidential historians who know something about what went on, who don't have such a vested interest in appearing on television.

    "What I did was a matter of record, but what I want is the whole record out."

    After Clinton broke ground on his $104 million presidential complex east of the River Market District, he went to the Old State House, where he first spoke with the History Channel's Roger Mudd and then met with local reporters.

    He touched on several subjects, including the challenge of writing his memoirs, and expressed regret that U.S. soldiers died Wednesday in Afghanistan. Most questions focused on the future of the Clinton Presidential Center.

    In past months Clinton received high-dollar offers to build his library elsewhere. The former president's graduating class from Georgetown University offered $30 million to move the planned facility to Anacostia, a part of Washington notorious for crime and urban blight.

    "I was offered maybe even more to take it to New York," Clinton said.

    But in the end, the big money and the delays over acquiring the Little Rock site didn't matter.

    "I always wanted it to be here," Clinton said. "If it hadn't been for the people here, I never would have become president. I think that it's better to have these national assets dispersed throughout the country."

    Far removed from the Oval Office, Clinton said he is having a good time writing his memoirs, but structuring the outlines and recalling events is more difficult than he expected. And his memory isn't as sharp as it once was, he noted.

    "The project is under way," Clinton said of his writing, for which he is reported to be paid more than $10 million. "I've got all my records together. I've got an elaborate outline. I've got a system so that every time I remember something when I go somewhere, I write it down."

    When he's finishing writing about his eight years as president, will he ever run for public office again? Perhaps for governor of Arkansas?

    "I can't imagine that," Clinton replied.

    And what about President Bush's recent executive order to deny public access to thousands of presidential papers despite a law that mandates they be open 12 years after a president leaves office?

    "I'm comfortable with the current law and I intend to follow it," Clinton said. "I'm not criticizing. ... I'm just saying what I think the law ought to be, and people can do what they want."

    Clinton said he wouldn't comment much on Bush's plans to try Osama bin Laden and other suspected terrorists in military tribunals rather than in open court. Some fear that such a system, intended to protect national security, eventually will erode freedoms.

    "I just think that while this thing is going on, you should all comment about that and say whatever you believe about that. But I don't think I should," Clinton told reporters. "It's not the right thing for me to be doing right now. Maybe after some time passes, I'll have something to say about this."

    Through his presidential library, scheduled to open in 2004, Clinton said he wants to pursue several initiatives from his administration, such as racial and religious reconciliation, the fight against the AIDS epidemic in Africa, and economic empowerment.

    He's working on many of these goals now, he said, noting he's already focusing on New York City's economic recovery as well as India's.

    "I have done a lot of work in India through a foundation I set up with the Indian-American community ... to help rebuild western India after the earthquake," Clinton said. "I hope [it] will change the future for all of the parts of India."

    Meanwhile, from his work with former South African President Nelson Mandela to start an AmeriCorps program in that country to his efforts to promote racial tolerance, Clinton said he keeps busy.

    "In January the [Clinton library] foundation may have its first religious reconciliation conference," Clinton said. He didn't say where the conference would be held, but it would focus on Islam and the modern world in light of the Sept. 11 attacks.

    Former presidents are among an elite group that has unique opportunities and resources to reach out and help people, Clinton said.

    "So I'm not going to wait until this library opens."

Copyright © , Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved.

[RIGHT IN SEATTLE]

Dear X42, the whole record is out-------------

it's on a blue dress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[leadpenny]

Actually, the next to the last paragraph of Section 3, Article I states in part: "The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all impeachments...........And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present."

That being quoted, I still think he was an immoral and illegitimate president. I also believe, in a strange sort of way, that by staying in office for the full eight years, a clearer picture of his criminality will eventually shine through.

[DJ88]

"Impeachment? Absolutely," Clinton said during an hour-long discussion with reporters. "One day we'll have some presidential historians who know something about what went on, who don't have such a vested interest in appearing on television.

THANK GOODNESS!!!! Does this mean we don't have to see his ugly face on TV anymore? ;-)

[Centaur]

Hey, hey, hey! I demand credit for that word!! See post #13. Ha, ha, ha.

[Dick Bachert]

Uh huh -- sure -- right. ROFLMAO!

Clintoon's book will be published by Alfred Knopf Publishing.

“Knopf” is 13th Century German for “ incredibly stupid buyer of other peoples’ garbage.” Knopf is a very old publishing house best known for such early best-selling classics as

“How to Enjoy The Inquisition” by Father Torquemada
“You Get My Point?” by Vlad the Impaler
“Guillotine Maintenance and Repair” by Citizen Robespierre

Two of their more recent offerings are “PeeWee Herman’s Movie Guide” and “Gary Condit’s Guide to Picking Up Chicks.”

All available in a dumpster or landfill near you!

[Cagey]

I know. Texasgirl gave you full credit in post# 53. It's a great word.

[Slyfox]

I know that you ran out of time and space but you fogot to add ADULTURY!!

I thought about it, but court's of law don't convict for adultery anymore. And, even if we placed an "A" upon his chest,
he'd wear it as a badge of honor. And probably charge a speaker's fee just to display it.

[RooRoobird14]

He said: "I made a personal mistake and they spent $50 million trying to ferret it out because they had nothing else to do, because all the other charges were totally false, bogus, made up, and people were persecuted because they wouldn't commit perjury against me. I think that over the long run, the fact that we accomplished as much as we did in the face of the most severe, bitter partisan onslaught . . . will, in a way, make many of the things we achieve seem all the more impressive."

Howlin, you should have included a

DEFCON DELTA BARF ALERT

before you posted that absolutely nauseating display of narcissism and self-adulation!!!!!

If you never believed it before, that diatribe (above) by The Bent Shrivelled Rapist proves without question he is

LIVING IN A WORLD OF SH*T.

[Howlin]

It's really sickening, isn't it? I keep ALL those remarks by Mr.Clinton so I can bring them out to remind people who a complete A$$ he is. Never forget!

[Slyfox]

That being quoted, I still think he was an immoral and illegitimate president. I also believe, in a strange sort of way, that by staying in office for the full eight years, a clearer picture of his criminality will eventually shine through.

Actually, Bill Clinton was an immoral and technically legitimate president. Immoral for the many reasons we know and legitimate by the fact that he took the oath. However, when he took the oath he did so unlike any other president before or since. When he raised his hand to swear to God that he'd protect and defend the Constitution, HE LIED TO GOD. That is a huge no-no. You don't lie to God. Clinton had no intention of doing what he promised God he would do. Therefore, Bill Clinton cursed himself. For eight long years we lived under the Bill Clinton's curse. When George Bush took the Oath of Office the curse was lifted from the land.

It would be correct to say that Bill Clinton was an immoral man who was illegitimately elected to the office and was technically, that is legitimately, sworn in as president.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Centaur - with your new word "rememoirs"

and

weegee, your new word "scampaigning"

I am going to have to get busy and come up with one as well..... Cagey, you are pretty quick at this type of thing - got any "new words" for us?????

[Sharie]

I wonder if Clinton's library will contain "ORAL" histories from Juanita and Monica?? If he wants everything out, this only seems fair!

[Centaur]

What a kick....new words. How about anthrax-ray for the machines that are sterilizing the mail.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Or even "Thraxray"?

[Cagey]

- got any "new words" for us?????

"Kitchual". A festival practiced by some couples when their children are in the other room.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Kitchual".....

Ding Ding Ding..... Don Pardo, what do we have for our winner! lol

[Cagey]

Don Pardo, what do we have for our winner!

Don Pardo? Before my time.

[horsewhispersc]

I doubt this guy will focus on deadly scandals in this library!!! And I'm ticked off Bush signed the executive order as it looks like he's covering up something.