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Posted on 4/30/02 2:17 PM Pacific by ElkGroveDan
02/06/2002 - Updated 05:21 PM ETClinton greeted warmly at Oracle event
Bill Haber, AP
Former President Clinton addresses Oracle's convention Monday in New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Bill Clinton, shunning discussion of the Marc Rich pardon, told business software and Internet specialists Monday he was fortunate to be president while their industry blossomed.With about two dozen demonstrators gathered outside the hall protesting the Rich pardon and other of Clinton's recent political troubles, the audience of nearly 10,000 inside the convention hall gave Clinton a standing ovation before and after his speech.
Larry Ellison, Oracle CEO, introduced Clinton as a courageous leader whose aggressive moves to foster global trade while unpopular in the former president's Democratic Party gave America's technology leaders unprecedented opportunities to tap world markets.
Ellison invited Clinton four months ago to speak at this week's Oracle Appsworld Convention, a massive gathering of the company's software developers and trading partners. Clinton was paid for the speech, but the fee was not disclosed. He was paid $100,000 for his first speaking engagement after leaving the White House..."