Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner

President Bill Clinton spoke to supporters following a tribute to him by Iowa Democrats. The president talked about his vision for America, and his desire to secure the future for nation’s young people. He stated the two main objectives of his presidency: first, to keep the American dream alive so individuals can be successful and the nation can go strongly into the 21st century; and second, make government smaller while increasing performance and efficiency. America is coming back together, President Clinton declared, and the nation is moving forward. The president admitted that along the way he had made mistakes. He also acknowledged that not all of his policies were agreeable, but he said popularity is an acceptable sacrifice when trying to prepare for the future. The president pointed out a few controversial policy decisions --the Brady Bill, stance on teen smoking, and sending the first lady to Beijing-- and commented on the reasons behind them. The last important focus of Preside close