Clinton Gives Advice in Farewell

With just 40 hours left in his tumultuous presidency, Bill Clinton bade the nation an official farewell Thursday night, urging the United States to maintain its fiscal discipline, remain engaged in the world and honor its diversity by continuing to strive toward “the more perfect union of our founders’ dreams.”

In a seven-minute, nationally televised speech from the Oval Office, his 19th such address, the president left many events unaddressed--foremost among them his 1998 impeachment, which bitterly divided the nation.

Farewell addresses have been used by previous presidents to set forth important ideas. George Washington, for example, warned of foreign influence and internal divisions, and Dwight D. Eisenhower suggested that the nation guard against the potential for “misplaced power” by the military industrial complex.

In his remarks Thursday, Clinton reviewed the broad economic progress during his two-term stewardship, which he characterized as “an era of great American renewal.” He effectively laid down a formidable marker against which his successor, George W. Bush, will be measured.

In that sense, the president’s remarks represented his final opportunity while in office to shape his own legacy.

Clinton ended his remarks by wishing Bush the best.

“Hillary, Chelsea and I join all Americans in wishing our very best to the next president, George W. Bush, to his family and his administration in meeting these challenges and in leading freedom’s march in this new century,” said America’s 42nd president, the first Democrat to be elected to more than one term since Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Clinton told Americans that he is “profoundly grateful to you for twice giving me the honor to serve, to work for you.”

And on a personal note, Clinton said that he will be leaving the office “more idealistic, more full of hope than the day I arrived and more confident than ever that America’s best days lie ahead.”

As Clinton began to speak, Bush was en route from Blair House to Union Station on Capitol Hill for a fund-raising dinner.

Earlier in the day, outgoing White House Press Secretary Jake Siewert said that Clinton’s speech was not intended to detract from Bush’s inaugural festivities, which officially began at the Lincoln Memorial in rain and bluster Thursday afternoon.

“It’s designed to be a farewell. That’s it, pure and simple,” Siewert said.

He said it was “relatively short, compared to a lot of the other farewell addresses,” noting that both Ronald Reagan and Dwight D. Eisenhower spoke for about 20 minutes each. Harry S. Truman’s farewell speech, by contrast, lasted about two minutes.

In describing the nation’s progress during his presidency, Clinton framed his words as a tribute to the American people rather than to his own actions.

“Working together, America has done well. Our economy is breaking records with more than 22 million new jobs, the lowest unemployment in 30 years, the highest homeownership ever, the longest expansion in history,” the president said.

Continuing his recitation of the achievements he hopes history will credit to his administration, Clinton added: “Our families and communities are stronger. Thirty-five million Americans have used the family leave law. Eight million have moved off welfare. Crime is at a 25-year low. Over 10 million Americans receive more college aid. And more people than ever are going to college. Our schools are better. Higher standards, greater accountability and larger investments have brought higher test scores and higher graduation rates. More than 3 million children have health insurance now, and more than 7 million Americans have been lifted out of poverty. Incomes are rising across the board. Our air and water are cleaner. Our food and drinking water are safer. And more of our precious land has been preserved in the continental United States than at any time in 100 years. America has been a force for peace and prosperity in every corner of the globe.”

At 12:01 p.m. EST Saturday, Clinton will become, at age 54, the youngest former president since Theodore Roosevelt. Although he will fly to New York City shortly after the official transfer of power, Clinton also will become the first former chief executive since Woodrow Wilson to remain in Washington.

He and his wife, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, now also a senator, have bought a house in northwest Washington, D.C. They also own a house in Chappaqua, N.Y., which she used as a base during her run for the Senate.

Moreover, given Clinton’s love of the limelight--and his wife’s new job--the soon-to-be former president clearly is likely to be heard from again--and again.

In the meantime, Siewert said Thursday, “he’s certainly looking forward to getting some rest.”

“I know he’s obviously planning on working on the library. He will have an office in New York. And I think he wants to spend some time thinking through some of his options. He has a lot of options.”

Today, the White House is expected to announce what will be among Clinton’s final executive actions: presidential pardons. Among such requests pending is that of Los Angeles financier Michael Milken.

Otherwise, Clinton has no scheduled public events today.

“He actually has the day off to finish up packing, saying goodbye,” Siewert said.

On Saturday, less than two hours before he is to cede the reins of power, Clinton is scheduled to deliver his final radio address to the nation.

After Bush’s oath-taking and inaugural address, Clinton is to fly by helicopter to Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Maryland, where he is to make departure remarks before flying to New York.

Once there, Clinton is scheduled to address supporters at John F. Kennedy International Airport before making his way to Chappaqua.

Might Clinton make news or raise substantive issues in his final-final speeches, Siewert was asked. “You never know,” he replied.