CLINTON/CROWE: Press Conference - Little Rock, AR - 9/19/92

[Guest guest]

Admiral Crowe of Bioport, a lifelong Republican, did a sudden switch

back in 1992. Crowe was too-good-to-be-true HERO and TERRORIST

SPECIALIST even back then. Wonder what he and Clinton saw in each

other?

http://metalab.unc.edu/pub/docs/speeches/clinton.dir/c124.txtp

CLINTON/CROWE: Press Conference - Little Rock, AR - 9/19/92

SUBJECT: Text of Clinton\Crowe Press Conference 9/19/1992

Remarks by Governor Bill Clinton & Former Joint Chiefs of Staff

Chairman Adm. 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 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

and Marshall. So it's a great honor for me today and a great

pleasure to welcome Admiral 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 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.