JANET RENO. 1 O'CONNELL CENTER. 7:30 P.M. ATTORNEY GENERAL CLINTON ADMINISTRATION BELS REVOLUTIONIZED. LAW ENFORCEMENT. JANET RENO. O'CONNELL CENTER 7:30 P.M. >>> WELCOME, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS EMILY FRIEND. I'M PRESIDENT OF THE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. >> WE HAVE CO-SPONSORED WITH ACCENT TONIGHT TO BRING YOU THIS WONDERFUL UPCOMING SPEECH FROM JANET RENO. WE'RE SO THRILLED TO HAVE EACH OF YOU HERE TONIGHT. WE HOPE MISS RENO'S WORDS INSPIRE YOU TO SHOOT FOR THE STARS THE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL CONSISTS OF LEADERS AT UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. 2 WE STRIVE TO EMPOWER WOMEN WITH THE RESOURCES, NETWORK AND SKILLS IN THE DIVERSE 21ST CENTURY. TO SPREAD THIS MISSION, WE PUT ON A NUMBER OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S UPCOMING SPEECH, CO-SPONSORED WITH ACCENT, JANET RENO. ARTISTIC REFLECTIONS TODAY AND SHOWCASE FEATURING WOMEN'S ISSUES, A WOMEN'S MENTORING PROGRAM, SERVICE PROJECTS, WOMEN LEADER OF THE YEAR, WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE. >> I'D FIRST LIKE TO THANK ACCENT AGAIN FOR THEIR GRACIOUS PARTNERSHIP, SUPPORT AND HARD WORK IN BRINGING THIS AMAZING WOMAN HERE TONIGHT. IN RECOGNITION OF THE CONFERENCE'S DESIRE TO EMPOWER AND INSPIRE WOMEN, THE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP COUNSEL AND ACCENT BUREAU WISH TO WELCOME A WOMAN WHO HAD BROKEN 3 THROUGH THE BARRIERS OF SOCIETY TO REACH HER GOALS AS THE FIRST ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, JANET RENO IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF SUCH A WOMEN. THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IS A DAY LONG EVENT OF WORKSHOPS OF AWARENESS AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS ENTERTAINMENT, BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND GIVE AWAYS. OUR KEY NOTE SPEAKER WILL BE CARIDAD ESTEVEZ LEE. THE PURPOSE IS TO ACCOMPLISH THE SKILLS NECESSARY, ALLOW THEM TO EMBRACE THEIR GOALS AND ACCOMPLISH LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND HELP THEM DEVELOP A SENSE OF SELF. THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE, WOMEN BY CHANCE, LEADERS BY CHOICE WILL TAKE PLACE ON FEBRUARY 13TH AT THE REITZ UNION. REGISTRATION IS 30 DOLLARS. THE WOMEN'S COUNCIL WILL BE TAKING REGISTRATION AT THE ENTRANCE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REGISTER IF 4 YOU'RE ABLE TO PAY THE FEE AT THIS TIME. IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO DO SO WE INVITE YOU TO STOP BY TO GET INFORMATION ON HOW TO REGISTER. IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE PERSON WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACCENT SPEAKER'S BUREAU, DAVID BUCHALTER. >> GOOD EVENING, FELLOW GATORS. MY NAME IS DAVID BUCHALTER. I'M CHAIRMAN OF ACCENT SPEAKERS BUREAU. BEFORE I INTRODUCE MISS RENO TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EMILY ANNA TASHA AND THE ENTIRE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL TO HELP US PUT SOMETHING THIS GREAT EVENT. YOUR HARD WORK IS APPRECIATED ACCENT IS PROUD TO INTRODUCE DISTINGUISHED AND CONTROVERSIAL SPEAKERS IN FLORIDA FOR 30 YEARS. ACCENT HAS FEATURED OVER 15 SPEAKERS THUS FAR, MICHAEL MOORE, GOVERNOR 5 PATAKI AND JUST RECENTLY THE GREAT PORNOGRAPHY DEBATE. MICROPHONES ARE LOCATED IN THE UPPER AND LOWER GROUND LEVELS. WE ASK YOU PLEASE LIMIT FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY TO THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES OF MISS RENO'S SPEECH. ADDITIONALLY ACCENT WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS ON TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION OR ACCENT IN GENERAL. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO GIVE US FEEDBACK AT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW .SG.UFL.EDU. OR ON THE WAY STOP AT OUR TABLE AND FILL OUT INFORMATION. ANYONE WHO ENTERS FEEDBACK WILL BE ENTERED IN A RAFFLE TO GET A SIGNED POSTER. DON'T FORGET TO COME SEE AFENI SHAUR THE MOTHER OF TUPAC SHAKUR AND JASMINE GUY ON FEBRUARY 15TH. THEY WILL COVER THEIR EXPERIENCE IN THE HIP-HOP AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY AS WELL AS DISCUSS AFENI SHAUR'S 6 BIOGRAPHY "EVOLUTION OF A REVOLUTIONARY." IT WILL BEGIN AT 7 :00. TONIGHT, ACCENT IS HONORED TO BRING YOU A TRUE FLORIDIAN, JANET RENO. AS THE 78TH ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES. JANET RENO BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD THE NATION'S LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT. ONLY A HANDFUL OF WOMEN WERE ADMITTED, GRADUATING FROM HARVARD LAW IN 1978, SHE WAS APPOINTED STATE ATTORNEY FOR DADE COUNTY WHERE SHE WAS ALSO THE FIRST FEMALE PROSECUTOR. AN INSTRUMENTAL FIGURE IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, SHE OVERSAW SOME OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS IN RECENT HISTORY INCLUDING THE BRANCH DAVIDIAN STANDOFF. SHE'S A CHAMPION OF CHILDREN'S ISSUES AND CIVIL RIGHTS. KNOWN FOR HER INTEGRITY, 7 INDEPENDENCE ANDADHERENCE TO JUSTICE AND LAWS. SHE'S RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS INCLUDING WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL CENTER, LEGACY AWARD. AND IN 2000, SHE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME. A POPULAR ENERGETIC LEADER, SHE HAS BEEN FEATURED ON "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" HOSTING HER OWN DANCE PARTY. PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, JANET RENO. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO BE BACK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. IT IS SUCH A GREAT INSTITUTION THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THE FABRIC OF THIS STATE FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND SO MANY DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS AND CALLS. IT BECOMES, AS YEARS GO BY, KNOWN FOR ITS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, ITS STRENGTHS, AS AN INSTITUTION THAT CAN TEACH A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE 8 IN SO MANY DIFFERENT SUBJECT MATTERS THAT IT IS REALLY EXCITING TO BE HERE. YOU CAN FEEL THE EXCITEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY. DAVID MADE REFERENCE TO "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE." I LEFT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE LAST TIME AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, WALKED ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE AS THE NEW PRESIDENT WAS BEING SWORN IN, AND SUDDENLY, A GREAT WEIGHT LIFTED OFF MY SHOULDERS. I THOUGHT, I'M FREE. THEN A DARK CLOUD APPEARED. I SAID YOU HAVEN'T REALLY AGREED TO BE ON "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" TONIGHT, BUT I HAD. AND TWO HOURS LATER, WE WERE GOING IN TO NBC, THERE WAS WILL FERRELL IN A LIGHT BLUE SUIT, AND BIKINI BOPPERS HAD ALREADY MADE FRIENDS WITH THE FBI SECURITY DETAIL. I GOT TO MEET WILL FERRELL'S MOTHER AND IN-LAWS AND WIFE. 9 IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENING THAT REMINDED ME ONCE AGAIN THAT WE MUST LAUGH AT OURSELVES MORE OFTEN AND THAT AMERICA MUST LAUGH TOGETHER MORE OFTEN. THAT MORNING, AFTER WE LEFT THE HOTEL TO COME TO MIAMI, I RECEIVED A SALUTATION I WILL NEVER FORGET. HELLO, PRIVATE CITIZEN, THE GREATEST SALUTATION YOU CAN HAVE IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE. THAT TRIP HOME WAS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK BACK ON THE 7 1/2 YEARS I SERVED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND ASSESS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND WHAT THE EXPERIENCE MEANT. PEOPLE ASK ME, AFTER I GOT HOME, WHY DID YOU GET YOURSELF GET FUSSED AT AND FUSSED AND AND FIGURE RATIVELY BEATEN AROUND THE YEARS FOR 7 1/2 YEARS? I SAID, IT'S THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY ANY LAWYER COULD HAVE, 10 TO TRY TO USE THE LAW THE RIGHT WAY TO MAKE AMERICA SAFER AND FREER AND GIVE MORE PEOPLE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS NO GREATER CALLING THAN PUBLIC SERVICE. YOU MAY PURSUE INTERESTING THINGS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND BUSINESS AND DIFFERENT PRO-FEGS BUT IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN TERMS OF PEOPLE AND LEADERSHIP TO ME, IS BELIEVING IN PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR ME, THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE YOU, THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE, AND BELIEVE IN THEIR CAPACITY TO BE THEIR VERY BEST IF YOU GIVE THEM ONLY HALF A CHANCE. IT IS SOMETIMES VERY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH HUMAN PROBLEMS. I WOULD GET A CALL AT 7 :00 ON A SUNDAY NIGHT BECAUSE I LEFT MY HOME STOP NUMBER LISTED WHEN I WAS STATE ATTORNEY. THERE WOULD BE LADY WHO WOULD ASK ME TO COLLECT HER CHILD SUPPORT. 11 SHE'D START CUSSING ME OUT BECAUSE SHE HADN'T RECEIVED HER CHECK. SHE SAID, I'M GOING TO BE OUT ON THE STREETS TOMORROW MORNING BECAUSE I CAN'T PAY MY RENT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T GET ME MY CHECK. AND THEN SHE'D START CUSSING ME OUT AND THEN SHE'D BURST INTO TEARS AND HANG UP THE PHONE AND CALL ME BACK THE NEXT MORNING WHEN SHE GOT THE CHECK TO APOLOGIZE. WORKING WITH PEOPLE CAN BE VERY TEDIOUS, IT CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING BUT IT IS ONE OF THE GREAT EXPERIENCES WE CAN HAVE. WHEN YOU SEE THE RESULTS, I WAS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON, DEDICATED TO [ INAUDIBLE ] IN SOUTH CAROLINA. WE CAME DOWN OFF THE PLATFORM AND A LADY BURST THROUGH THE ROPE LINES, PRACTICALLY TACKLING ME SHE SAID, JANET, I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU SINCE YOU GOT ME CHILD SUPPORT IN MIAMI. AND THESE ARE THE TWO WHO GOT ME 12 CHILD SUPPORT FOR. TWO GROWN MEN, DOING WELL WITH A CHANCE FOR A STRONG AND POSITIVE FUTURE. I DIDN'T GET HER CHILD SUPPORT, PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH ME IN A PROGRAM WE DEVELOPED GOT HER CHILD SUPPORT. BUT IT WAS REACHING OUT AND TRYING TO ENFORCE A RIGHT THAT WAS HERS, THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE. THEN, THERE WAS THE MAN WHO STOPPED ME AND THANKED ME FOR ARRESTING HIM I SAID, I DIDN'T ARREST YOU. HE SAID, I KNOW THAT, BUT YOU GOT ME INTO THE DRUG COURT YOU HELPED ESTABLISH AFTER I LOST MY FAMILY AND MY JOB BECAUSE OF DRUG ADDICTION. I HAVE BEEN DRUG-FREE FOR TWO YEARS AND I'M NEVER GOING THAT WAY AGAIN AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE IT HAS MADE IN MY LIFE. EACH ONE OF US CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE CARE, IF WE PUT 13 OUR MINDS IT TO, IF WE BELIEVE IN PEOPLE AND BELIEVE IN PEOPLE'S ABOUT TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY. THERE WAS ONE YOUNG LADY THAT I RECENTLY MET AT HARVARD LAW SCHOOL THAT CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, YOU SPEAK TO THE GIRL SCOUTS IN MINNESOTA IN 19 93. I WAS IN THE AUDIENCE AND I WAS SIX YEARS OLD AND I'M AT HARVARD LAW SCHOOL BECAUSE OF YOU THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT SO REWARDING. REALIZING THAT EACH OF US CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF WE WOULD ONLY TRY AND REALLY CARE. IF YOU CHOOSE NOT PUBLIC SERVICE BUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU CAN MAKE A PROFOUND IMPRESSION AND HAVE A GREAT IMPACT ON HOW YOU SHAPE THE LIVES THAT YOU TOUCH. PEOPLE ASK ME HOW DID I GET THERE? ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS I LEARNED WAS WHEN I WAS ABOUT EIGHT 14 YEARS OLD. WE LIVED IN A LITTLE WOODEN HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE EVERGLADES IN SOUTH FLORIDA. WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO BUILD A BIGGER HOUSE. ONE AFTERNOON, MY MOTHER ANNOUNCED SHE WAS GOING TO BUILD A HOUSE. WE SAID, WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BUILDING A HOUSE? SHE SAID, I'M GOING TO LEARN. SHE WENT TO THE PLUMBER AND ELECTRICIAN AND LEARNED HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE. THE SAME HOME AND DUG THE FOUND ASIAN WITH HER OWN HANDS WITH A PICK AND SHOVEL, LAID THE BLOCK, PUT IN THE WIRING AND PLUMBING. MY FATHER HELPED HER WITH THE HEAVY WORK WHEN HE CAME HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT. THAT WAS THE MOST VALUABLE LESSON I EVER HAD, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU REALLY WANT TO IF IT'S THE 15 RIGHT THING TO DO AND YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT. THAT HOUSE TAUGHT ME ANOTHER LESSON IN AUGUST OF 19 92. WHEN HORN ANDREW HIT THE AIR -- HURRICANE ANDREW HIT THE AREA HARD ON. MY MOTHER WAS OLD AND FRAIL AND DIEING. WHEN THE WINDS REACHED AN UNGODLY HOUR, SHE GOT OUT, SAT DOWN ON THE CHAIR AND FOLDED HER HANDS AND SHE WAS TOTALLY UNAFRAID. SHE KNEW HOW SHE HAD BUILT THAT HOUSE. SHE HAD NOT CUT CORNERS AND SHE HAD PUT IN THE RIGHT MATERIAL AND BUILT IT THE RIGHT WAY. WE WENT OUT THE NEXT MORNING AND ANY WORLD LOOKED LIKE A WORLD WAR I BATTLEFIELD AND THAT HOUSE HAD ONLY LOST ONE SHINGLE AND SCREENS. IT WAS A LESSON TO ME, BUILD YOUR LIFE THE RIGHT WAY AND IT CAN MAKE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE 16 ONE OF THE ISSUES IN LEADERSHIP IS LEARNING HOW TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE WITHOUT TALKING DOWN TO THEM. BUT USING THE WORDS THAT ARE EASILY UNDERSTOOD. WINSTON CHURCHILL CALLED IT THE SMALL OLD WORDS. USE SMALL OLD WORDS. DESCRIBE THEM IN TERMS OF WHAT PEOPLE WILL EXPECT. YOU CAN BE SO EFFECTIVE. I'M TOUCHED EVERY TIME I COME TO GAINESVILLE BECAUSE I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT SPEAKING AND TRYING TO MAKE MYSELF UNDERSTOOD AND EXPLAIN COMPLICATED SUBJECTS, WHEN I TOOK DEBATE IN HIGH SCHOOL. THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HOSTED THE DEBATE TOURNAMENT FOR THE STATE THAT YEAR. AND IT WAS HERE THAT I WON MY FIRST DEBATE TOURNAMENT AND UNDERSTOOD WHAT COULD BE DONE IF YOU CAN USE YOUR POWER TO SPEAK, IN TERMS THAT ARE PERSUASIVE. 17 MY FATHER, WHO WAS A NEWSPAPER REPORTER ALSO TAUGHT ME ANOTHER BITTER LESSON. DON'T DO SPIN. CALL IT LIKE IT IS. TELL IT LIKE IT IS. DON'T VARNISH THE TRUTH. LET PEOPLE KNOW. NEWSPAPERS AND REPORTERS AND OTHERS WILL DEAL WITH YOU IN A MUCH MORE FAVORABLE FASHION. [ APPLAUSE ] >>> MY PARENTS SENT NO GERMANY WHEN I WAS 13 TO LIVE WITH MY AUNT AND UNCLE. IT WAS ON THAT TRIP I LEARNED ANOTHER LESSON THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT. MY UNCLE RODE CIRCUIT AS A JUDGE AND HE TOOK ME PAST A TOWN THERE AND TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED IN AUSCHWITZ. I WAS SO TAKEN ABACK I WENT BACK TO 18 WHERE WE LIVED THAT NIGHT AND I TALKED TO THE ADULT GERMAN FRIENDS I HAD MADE WHILE I WAS LIVING THERE. I ASKED THEM, HOW THEY COULD LET THAT HAPPEN. AND THEY SAID, WE JUST STOOD BY. WE JUST STOOD BY. I RE SOLVED FROM THAT . ON NEVER TO STAND BY WHEN I SAW SOMETHING THAT WAS WRONG. I HAD TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO TRY TO CHANGE IT, TO TRY TO CALL PEOPLE'S ATTENTION TO PROBLEMS. BUT I ALSO SENSED SOMETHING ELSE. GERMANY WAS COMING OUT OF THE WAR. SEVEN YEARS LATER, BOMBED BUILDS STOOD, WERE EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE COUNTRY OF GERMANY. PEOPLE STILL FELT THE IMPACT OF THE WAR. YOU CAN SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF NATO AND MARSHALL PLANS TO BUILD A NEW EFFORT TO BRING A STABLE PEACE TO 19 THIS WORLD. I BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND, UNLESS WE BELIEVE IN PEACE IN OUR CAPACITY TO ACHIEVE IT, UNLESS WE BUILD THE STRENGTH NECESSARY TO ENFORCE THE PEACE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS WORLD, AND THAT HAS INFLUENCED ME EVER SINCE. IN 19 72, I DECIDED TO RUN FOR THE LEGISLATURE. I CAMPAIGNED ON THE ISSUES THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO ME. AND ONE MAN WAS CAMPAIGNING AT THE SAME TIME, FOR MAYOR OF DADE DIDN'T. HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO VOTE FOR A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE CONTINUED SEGREGATION OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HE KNEW WHEN HE CAST THAT VOTE THAT HE WAS COMING HOME TO OVERWHELMING POLITICAL DEFEAT, BUT HE DID IT NONETHELESS. HE WAS OUT OF OFFICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, MADE A COMEBACK AS A 20 PROSECUTOR AND ELECTED AS MAYOR OF DADE DIDN'T IN '72. DURING THE CAMPAIGN, HE SAID, JANET, JUST KEEP ON DOING AND SAYING WHAT YOU BELIEVE TO BE RIGHT. DON'T EQUIVOCATE, DON'T TALK OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF YOUR MOUTH AND YOU WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF. IF YOU TRY TO BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY, AND SAY THE THINGS YOU THINK THEY WANT TO HEAR, YOU'RE GOING TO WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING FEELING MISERABLE. >> WELL, I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY BECAUSE I HAD LOST MY ELECTION. BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT HE TAUGHT ME. IT HAS HELD ME IN GOOD STEAD EVER SINCE. AND THE JUSTICE -- IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT I HAD TO MAKE A HARD DECISION. 21 I HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND NOT WHAT THE POLITICAL EXPEDIENT THING TO DO WAS AND I ALWAYS CAME OUT BETTER FOR HAVING DONE SO. IT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT TO LEARN HOW TO LOSE. ALL OF YOU ASPIRE TO -- ALL OF YOU WHO ASPIRE TO LEADERSHIP SHOULD LEARN HOW TO LOSE PRIMARILY SO YOU KNOW IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. SOMEBODY PUT A BIOGRAPHY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN ON MY BED SIDE TABLE. IT WAS OPEN TO THE PAGE IN WHICH IT WAS -- LINCOLN WAS DESCRIBED IN THE LOST OF HIS FIRST ELECTION. IT REMINDED ME AGAIN OF LEADERS, PICK YOURSELF UP. IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, DUST YOURSELF OFF, MOVE AHEAD, LEARN FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE. DON'T GIVE UP, AND YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BUT I SWORE, UP UNTIL 19 73, I WOULD NOT BE A PROSECUTOR BECAUSE I 22 THOUGHT PROSECUTORS WERE MORE INTERESTED IN SECURING CONVICTIONS THAN SEEKING JUSTICE. MY PREDECESSOR OFFERED ME A JOB AND SAID I COULD COME DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT IMPRESSION AND I QUICKLY LEARNED A PROSECUTOR CAN DO MORE THAN PROTECT AN INNOCENT PERSON BY NOT CHARGING THEM. THAN ANY OTHER PERSON IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN. IT WAS INTERESTING, THOUGH. I STARTED LEARNING SO MUCH. AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'VE GOT TO DO, IS LOOK AT WHAT YOUR FUNCTION IS. IF YOU'RE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND YOU'RE MAKING THE BEST DECISION IN THE WORLD, THINK OF WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROVIDE SOMETHING MORE SUBSTANTIVE THAT CAN PROPERLY SERVE THE PURPOSE THAT WAS MEANT TO SERVE. WHAT I FOUND IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WAS WE WERE 23 PROSECUTING CASE AFTER CASE, A PERSON ROTATE GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM, GOING TO PRISON, NOT GETTING GOOD JOB TRAINING, REPLACEMENT PROGRAMS, NOTHING WAS BEING DONE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF CRIME AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. MOST OF THESE OFFENSES INVOLVED DRUGS. SO, YOU DEVELOP A DRUG COURT, LOOKING AT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WHAT WE COULD DO TO DEAL WITH IT IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE HOW THE DRUG COURT WORKED WE GOT HARD NOSED ABOUT IT AND SAID WE WANT GOOD STATISTICS TO SHOW WHAT WE BELIEVE IS HAPPENING. WE HAD AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATOR COME AND ASSESS WHAT WE HAD DONE, AND HE, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS GAVE US HIGH MARKS. THERE ARE NOW OVER 400 DRUG COURTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WORKING WELL IN 24 MOST EVERY STATE. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS OF THE PROBLEM. DESIGN THE SOLUTION THAT IS NOT JUST A MERRY-GO-ROUND OF SOMEBODY ROTATE GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM THAT ISN'T WORKING, BUT LOOK AT WHAT MAKES SENSE, TO MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK. SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET CARRIED AWAY WITH THE STRENGTH OF YOUR OPINIONS. THE NRA USED TO SAY AWFUL THINGS ABOUT ME WHEN I TALKED ABOUT GUN CONTROL. I WAS INVITED TO COME TO MEETING OF THE NRA AT ONE . I WENT THEIR ARGUMENTS WERE EXTREME. BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE THEY STARTED TO LISTEN. AND WE HAD A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION. I SAID, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE LADY I MET THE OTHER DAY. SHE COMES IN AND SHE SAYS, JANET, 25 I'VE GOT A GUN NOW. THIS CRIME PROBLEM'S NOT GOING TO GET ME. I SAID, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT USING THAT GUN? SHE SAID, NO. I SAID, TAKE IT BACK TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT SOLD IT TO YOU AND TELL THEM YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE A GUN UNTIL YOU KNOW HOW TO SAFELY USE IT. AND WHAT I DISCOVERED IN MY CONVERSATION WITH THE NRA WAS IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE IN A REASONABLE WAY, YOU CAN OFTENTIMES TALK THROUGH ISSUES. YOU MAY NOT REACH AGREEMENT BUT YOU MAY REACH UNDERSTANDING THAT HELPS IN FORM WHAT CAN BE DEVELOPED THAT WORKS IN THE SYSTEM. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR A LEAD TORE REMEMBER IS THE LESSON I LEARNED AT THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. WHEN I CAME INTO THE OFFICE, THE CASELOADS WERE HUGE. 26 YOUNG PROSECUTORS JUST OUT OF LAW SCHOOL WERE CARRYING TOO MANY CASES AT ANY ONE TIME AND DOING A SUPER HUMAN JOB. I LEARNED ANY GOOD LEADER MUST PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO RECRUITING, TRAINING AND PREPARING PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH HIM OR HER FOR THE JOB THAT THEY ARE MEANT TO PERFORM. EXPECTATIONS SHOULD BE SET. SO THAT THAT YOUNG PERSON KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT. TRAINING TO SUPPORT THAT EXPECTATION. YOU SHOULD BACK UP YOUR EMPLOYEES IN EVERY WAY YOU POSSIBLY CAN, AND YOU MUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY DO WRONG. ONE OF THE WORST THINGS I HAVE SEEN ON THE PART OF ANY LEADER, BOTH IN THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, IS THE LEADER THAT DOESN'T BOTHER TO GO BEHIND THE EVALUATION AND GIVE A GOOD 27 CONSTRUCTIVE ASSESSMENT OF WHAT A PERSON IS DOING WELL AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING POORLY BUT INSTEAD, GIVES THEM ALL EXCELLENCE. AND THEN HAS IT THROWN BACK IN THEIR FACE WHEN THEY CRITICIZE SOMEBODY A YEAR LATER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T PROPERLY EVALUATE THE PERSON. THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A MONUMENTAL ISSUE OF LEADERSHIP. BUT IT IS ONE OF THE KEYS TO ANY ROLE YOU WILL PLAY AS LEADERS OF THE FUTURE, AND I URGE YOU TO GIVE IT EVERY CONSIDERATION. THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER FACTOR. TOO OFTEN THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS IN CONGRESS. ANY LEADER WHO HAS TO DEAL WITH GOVERNMENT ISSUES IS GOING TO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS AND BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH IT TO MAKE IT WORK. ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND LESSONS I 28 LEARNED AS A PROSECUTOR WAS WHEN I HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT [ INAUDIBLE ] FROM OTHERS. THE DOCTORS AT A PUBLIC HOSPITAL ASKED ME TO COME OVER AND MEET WITH THEM, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO WITH THE BABY WHOSE COULD NOT BE SENT HOME AS THE CRACK EPIDEMIC HIT BECAUSE THEIR PARENT WAS IN TREATMENT. THEY TOOK ME TO THE NURSERY, SHOWED ME THE BABIES WHO WERE STACKED UP, NOT HELD OR TALKED TO EXCEPT WHEN CHANGED AND FED. THEY WOULD NOT REACT WITH HUMAN EMOTION, WHEREAS THE CHILD ACROSS THE NURSERY, BORN WITH BIRTH DEFECTS BUT HAD THEIR PARENTS WITH THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AROUND THE CLOCK, WERE BEGINNING TO REACT WITH HUMAN EMOTION. THAT AFTERNOON, THE DOCTORS TAUGHT ME THAT 50% OF ALL LEARNED HUMAN RESPONSE IS LEARNED IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE, THAT THE CONCEPT OF 29 REWARD AND PUNISHMENT AND CONSCIENCE IS DEVELOPED IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF LIFE. I DROVE HOME THAT AFTERNOON SAYING WHAT GOOD ARE THE PRISONS GOING TO BE 20 YEARS FROM NOW IF THAT CHILD DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE CON SEVENTH REWARD AND PUNISHMENT AND HAS NO CONSCIENCE. WHAT GOOD ARE THE SCHOOLS GOING TO BE 15 YEARS FROM NOW IF THAT CHILD DOES NOT HAVE THE FOUNDATIONAL LEARNING? THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST INSTRUMENTAL EFFORTS OF EDUCATING I'VE EVER SEEN BECAUSE IT'S HELD ME IN GOOD STEAD BEFORE CONGRESS, BEFORE THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICIANS. ANYWHERE I HAVE GONE, LAYING OUT THIS THEORY OF WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE AN SOMEWHERE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD, HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE ALONG THE WAY, WHEN YOU -- AND WE NEED MORE SUPPORT IN 30 THIS EFFORT. >>> FINALLY, WHAT WE HAVE GOT TO LEARN IS THAT THERE MUST BE CONSTANT VIGILANCE IN EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. IF YOU GET A PROGRAM IN PLACE AND THINK IT'S WORKING, KEEP CHECKING ON IT BECAUSE IT OFTENTIMES FALLS INTO SLOPPY HABITS UNLESS THERE IS LEADERSHIP CONSTANTLY CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FUNCTIONING AS YOU ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED BUT THAT LED ME TO FEBRUARY THE 7TH, 1993, WHEN -- THAT LED ME TO FEBRUARY THE 7TH, 19 93 WHEN I GOT A CALL AT 11 :00 AT NIGHT. TELLING ME I HAD JUST FINISH A CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND I SHOULD COME TO WASHINGTON D.C. THE NEXT DAY TO TALK TO THE PRESIDENT ABOUT BEING ATTORNEY GENERAL. I HAD NEVER DREAMED IN MY LIFE I WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE 31 ATTORNEY GENERAL. I ARRIVED MONDAY NIGHT, PROCEEDED TO GO DOWN TO A LAW OFFICE TO BE VETTED THEY ASKED ME EVERY QUESTION YOU CAN THINK OF, WENT OVER MY MEDICAL RECORDS, ASKED ME WHAT I HAD DONE WRONG, WHAT I HAD DONE RIGHT, GIVE ME A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT YOU THINK WILL SAY NICE THINGS ABOUT YOU AND PEOPLE THAT WILL SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT YOU. YOU HAD THE FEELING ALL OF YOUR LIFE WAS PASSING BEFORE YOU I HAD BEEN TOLD I COULD GO HOME ABOUT 2:45 THAT AFTERNOON. 2:45 WAS COMING AND I SAID I THINK I BETTER GO TO THE AIRPORT. THEY SAID, YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. EXCEPT MAYBE TO VISIT THE PRESIDENT TONIGHT, TO TALK WITH HIM ABOUT IT. I FOUND MYSELF IN THE OVAL OFFICE TALKING TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 32 IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE THAT I SHALL NEVER FORGET. HE OBVIOUSLY HAD A TROWS COMMAND OF GOVERNMENT. HE UNDERSTOOD THE ISSUES. I COULD SPEAK TO HIM ON ALMOST ANY SUBJECT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND HE UNDERSTOOD IT. HE WAS A REMARKABLE MAN. TWO, THREE DAYS LATER, I WAS STANDING IN THE ROSE GARDEN AS HE NOMINATED ME TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL. ON MARCH 12TH, I FOUND MYSELF WALKING INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT WAS AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE. AND I BEGAN THE EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH SO MANY DEDICATED PEOPLE. THERE IS ONE THING I TELL YOU, THERE ARE SO MANY INCREDIBLY DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN WORKING WITH US AND FOR US IN THIS COUNTRY IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 33 WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF IT. WHEN PEOPLE USE THE WORD "BUREAUCRAT" WITH A HIS AND SNARL, I SAY, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THOSE BUREAUCRATS. THEY'RE HARD WORKING, THEY WORK LONG HOURS. THEY CARE SO MUCH, THEY'RE SO EXCELLENT IN THEIR WORK. AND THE CAREER PEOPLE AT GOVERNMENT, WE OWE THEM A GREAT DEBT OF GRATITUDE. BUT I ALMOST IMMEDIATELY FACED EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES. WACO HAD OCCURRED. FOUR AGENTS HAD BEEN KILLED AND 16 WOUNDED TRYING TO SERVE A LAWFUL WARRANT AGAINST DAVID KORESH AND HIS FOLLOWERS AT THE COMPOUND IN WACO, TEXAS. THE FBI TOOK OVER THE MATTER. DEVELOPED THE PERIMETER TO CONTAIN THE INDIVIDUALS AND TRIED TO WAIT THEM OUT. THEY THEN CAME TO ME AND SAID THAT 34 THE AGENTS WERE GOING TO HAVE TO BE MOVED BACK TO PROPERLY GIVE THEM BRIEFING AND PREPARE THEM, TO GIVE THEM SOME RESPITE FROM THE TENSIONS THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE SO MANY DAYS. THEY CAME PROPOSING A GAGS OF THE COMPOUND TO FORCE THE PEOPLE OUT. I REJECTED IT. THEY CAME BACK WITH MORE. I ASKED QUESTIONS. I MADE SURE THAT WE DID -- HAD DONE EVERYTHING WE COULD TO NEGOTIATE THIS SITUATION. I LOOKED AT WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO BY LIMITING FOOD AND WATER SUPPLIES BUT THEY HAD MORE THAN ADEQUATE SUPPLIES. AND I MADE THE DECISION TO APPROVE THE EFFORT AT WACO. I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT EXPERIENCE FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE. AND IT IS ONE THAT I AM ACCOUNTABLE FOR. I WENT BEFORE THE PRESS AND MADE A 35 STATEMENT THAT THE BUCKEYE STOPS WITH ME. AND PEOPLE SAY, WHY DO YOU SAY THAT? NOBODY SAYS THAT IN THESE DAYS. IT IS IMPORTANT IN ANY LEADER, ANYBODY IN PUBLIC SERVICE IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DO. AND THAT THEY ANSWER QUESTIONS AND RESPOND AS BEST THEY CAN TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE EFFORT. WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO WAS. THE JURY ULTIMATELY FOUND DAVID KORESH HAD LIT THOSE FIRES, HE AND HIS FOLLOWERS, THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. JOHN DAVENFORTH WROTE ME AFTER I LEFT OFFICE AND SAID I THINK YOU DID EXACTLY THE RIGHT THING. YOU CAN'T WALK AWAY FROM FOUR AGENTS KILLED AND 16 WOUNDED AND CAN'T STAY THERE FOREVER. DAVID KORESH WAS OUT TO CREATE HIS 36 OWN ARM ARMAGEDDON. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER WAS BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME WE WORK THROUGH THESE ISSUES AND TRY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PEACEFULLY RESOLVE MATTERS AND AVOID THE TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRED AT WACO. THE NEXT CHALLENGE I HAD ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WAS THE FIRST WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING. THE BOMBING OF THE GARAGE. IN THE COURSE OF INVESTIGATING THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO UNCOVER A PLOT THAT INVOLVED BOMBING THE UNION BUILDING AND SOME ALONG THE RIVER OF NEW YORK CITY. FOLLOWING THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING, FOLLOWING THAT CAME THE MILLENNIUM EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAD ON OUR SHORES. WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IN ANY OF THOSE OCCASIONS, ON MANY OF THOSE OCCASIONS, WAS THAT THE LEADERS OF THE VARIOUS AGENCIES GET 37 TOGETHER, SPEND TIME TOGETHER, GO OVER ALL THE DETAILS AVAILABLE, EXCHANGE IDEAS TOGETHER, RATHER THAN JUST PROCESSING BITS OF INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION WITHOUT REAL COORDINATION, WITHOUT REAL EFFORT. WE SPENT HOURS AND DAYS ON THAT EFFORT. AND IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT UNDERSTAND TAKINGS GOVERNMENT CAN PURSUE, BUT IT REQUIRES THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THEY'RE COMMITTED TO WORKING TOGETHER REGARDLESS OF RANK OR POSITION. TO GET THE JOB DONE. THE NEXT ISSUE WAS NOT SO DAUNTING BUT IT WAS THE EFFORT WITH RESPECT TO INDEPENDENT COUNSEL. THE ACT WENT INTO EFFECT TO CALL FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT COUNSEL IF THERE WAS SPECIFIC CREDIBLE EVIDENCE THAT A PERSON MAY HAVE COMMITTED THE CRIME. 38 I WAS DAMNED IF I DID AND DAMNED IF I DIDN'T. THE REPUBLICANS WOULD GET MAD AT ME IF I DIDN'T TRIGGER THE APPLICATION OF THE STATUTE AND THE DEMOCRATS WOULD GET MAD AT ME IF I DID BUT I DECIDED AGAIN THAT I WAS GOING TO TRY TO CALL IT LIKE I SAW IT BASED ON THE FACTS AND THE LAW. EXCEPT FOR POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF DOING IT, BECAUSE I WAS COMMITTED TO TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING UNDER THE ACT. ONE OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE DEALT WITH WHILE I WAS THERE WAS THE ISSUE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. THERE WAS PRESSURE ON THE PART OF SOME TO END AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. BUT WHAT WE TRIED TO DO IS TO AMEND IT AND CREATE IN A FORUM THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE AND UNDERSTOOD, THAT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS A FORCE IN ALMOST ANYTHING THAT WE DO. SO MANY PEOPLE ARE BENEFICIARIES OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, BROUGHT ON 39 BECAUSE THEIR FATHER WAS A GRADUATE OF A CERTAIN SCHOOL OR SOMEBODY ELSE HAD SOME CONTACT THAT COULD HELP THEM. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN THAT CONTEXT, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS MEANT TO GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY AND PULL THEMSELVES UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS. WE WERE ABLE TO DO A GREAT DEAL OF CIVIL RIGHTS ELIMINATING -- THROUGH DISCRIMINATION. WE FOUND PATTERNS OF DISCRIMINATION THAT KEPT PEOPLE FROM THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN THEIR OWN HOME AND ENGAGE IN OTHER ECONOMIC ENDEAVORS SO IMPORTANT. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES WE HAD TO SIDE WAS THE ISSUE OF ELAN GONZALEZ. THE CUBAN COMMUNITY HAD BEEN WONDERFUL TO ME WHEN I SERVED AS STATE ATTORNEY. I OFTEN WENT TO CUBAN RADIO 40 STATIONS, MET THEM AT THEIR GROUP MEETINGS. AND I SAW THE INTENSITY WITH WHICH SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY FELT ABOUT WHAT THEY FELT ABOUT RETURNING THIS BOY TO CUBA. BUT I MADE A DECISION, BASED ON ALL THE FACTS AVAILABLE TO US IN TALKING WITH THE BOY'S TWO GRANDMOTHERS THAT THE BEST THING FOR THE BOY WAS TO RETURN HIM TO HIS FATHER, WHO HAD HAD AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN RAISING HIM. I MADE THAT DECISION. WE TRIED TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE WE DID EVERYTHING TO RESOLVE IT PEACEFULLY. EACH TIME WE REACHED SOME UNDERSTANDING, THEY'D BRING IN A NEW SET OF LAWYERS AND WE'D START OVER AGAIN. WE GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT. THE STATE COURT RULED WE DID NOT HAVE JURISDICTION. 41 THE FEDERAL COURT RULED I MADE A CORRECT DECISION. THE APPELLATE COURTS AFFIRMED THAT DECISION. THE SUPREME COURT DECIDED NOT HEAR THE CASE AND THEN WE MOVED TO TAKE HIM INTO CUSTODY SO WE CAN RETURN HIM TO HIS FATHER. PEOPLE TO WHOM I AM DEVOTED AND LOVE VERY MUCH IN THE CUBAN COMMUNITY WERE BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED AND TERRIBLY ANGRY AT ME. I KNEW THAT. I MADE A DECISION I HAD TO DO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS RIGHT REGARDLESS OF PERSONAL CONSEQUENCES. THE THING SO REWARDING TO ME AS TIME PASSES PEOPLE HAVE COME UP TO ME SAYING, I UNDERSTAND BETTER NOW WHY YOU DID IT AND I'M NOT SURE I AGREE WITH YOU BUT I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH AND WHAT YOU UNDERSTOOD. THERE ARE GOING TO BE TIMES, WHEN 42 YOU AS LEADERS, OF SO MANY DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS IN FLORIDA IN THIS COUNTRY CO BE CALLED ON TO MAKE DECISIONS MAT MAY BED A ANNIVERSARY YOUR OWN BEST INTERESTS. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO DO IT AND TO UNDERSTAND THE FEELINGS OF PEOPLE AND COPE WITH THEM AND TRY TO EXPLAIN AND TO WORK THROUGH THESE FEELINGS WITH OTHERS. ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS THEREFORE PEOPLE ASKED ME IS HOW DO YOU STAND THE PRESSURE? ONE OF THE THINGS DID WAS GET AN APARTMENT NEAR THE JUSTICE BUILDING WHICH IS NEAR THE MALL SO AT 6 :00 IN THE MORNING, THE FBI WOULD BE AT MY DOOR AND I WOULD WALK DOWN TO THE CAPITOL, AROUND THE CAPITOL, AROUND THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT, DOWN TO THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL. WASHINGTON AT DAWN, WHEN SO FEW PEOPLE WERE OUT WAS JUST A WONDERFUL PLACE TO EXPERIENCE THE 43 BEAUTY OF THE CITY. I THEN DISCOVERED KAYAKING ON THE POTOMAC. THERE IS GOOD WATER ON IT. I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT. THE FBI LOST ME ON THE POTOMAC, HOWEVER. I THOUGHT THEY HAD GONE BEHIND THE ISLAND. THEY COULDN'T GET THROUGH SO THEY HAD GONE BACK UP. AND WHEN I FINALLY SAW THEM, I SAID I'M SO GLAD. I WAS WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO TELL WHAT I HAD DONE WITH THE AGENTS. ONE OF THEM SAID, YOU'RE NOT HALF AS AFRAID AS WE WERE. NEXT TIME, YOU WILL TAKE THE BLANK BLANK RADIO. -- YOU WERE NOT HALF AS WORRIED AS WE WERE. >> IT WAS THOSE EFFORTS THAT GAVE 44 ME A MOMENT TO FORGET ABOUT PRESSURES THAT MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE. THE TIME YOU'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, YOU'RE THINKING, HOW DO I GET OUT OF THE KAYAK. BUT I CAME HOME. PEOPLE SAID, ARE YOU GOING HOME TO MIAMI? YOU'RE GOING HOME TO FLORIDA? YES, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A PLACE I WOULD RATHER LIVE THAN THIS STATE AND THIS, THE CITY I LOVE, WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED. BUT I AM STILL COMMITTED. I DON'T INTEND TO RUN AGAIN BUT I AM STILL COMMITTED TO BEING INVOLVED WITH THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME, AND THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO THE STATE AND NATION. I RAN FOR THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL I COULD STAND BY AND WATCH THINGS HAPPEN THAT I THOUGHT 45 WERE WRONG FOR THIS STATE. [ APPLAUSE ] I THINK THE ISSUES -- YOU ARE GOING TO BE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW. I THINK THE ISSUES ARE CLEAR. THE ISSUES THAT WE WILL ALL HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH IF WE'RE GOING TO SUCCEED. THERE IS THE ISSUE OF JOBS AND THE ECONOMY, HOW WE PROVIDE JOBS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED. HOW WE MAINTAIN A STRONG ECONOMY IN THE FACE OF COMPETITION FROM CHINA AND OTHER FORCES AROUND THE WORLD. AND I THINK THE MOST ESSENTIAL ANSWER OF ALL IS WE HAVE GOT TO DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO DELIVER AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION TO ALL OUR CHILDREN, NOT JUST SOME OF OUR CHILDREN. AND DO IT IN AN ORGANIZED WAY [ APPLAUSE ] AS LEADERS, THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE 46 THAT YOU BE RESOURCEFUL, YOU FIGURE OUT HOW YOU CAN DO MORE WITH LESS MONEY AND IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE THAT YOU NOT FORGET THAT TECHNOLOGY CANNOT SUBSTITUTE FOR THE WORK OF THAT EXCELLENT TEACHER. THE EXCELLENT TEACHER IS JUST AS RARE AS A RARE GEM. WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE THEM LESS RARE AND MORE WILLING TO COME INTO THE SYSTEM. I THINK WE CAN DO IT IF WE START WITH THE CONCEPT OF ZERO AND THREE AND MAKE SURE ALL OUR CHILDREN HAVE PROPER PREVENTATIVE MEDICAL CARE, THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN HAVE PROPER CHILDCARE, THAT DOES MORE THAN SAY, DON'T STICK YOUR FINGER IN THE SOCKET, THAT PROVIDES FOR SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS HOW TO TALK WITH CHILDREN, HOW TO TEACH THEM TO SAY, NO. HOW TO TEACH THEM TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS WITHOUT KNIVES AND GUNS AND FIRSTS. 47 I THINK WE HAVE GOT TO ENFORCE THE PEOPLE'S WILL AND SAY THAT AT LEAST, K THROUGH THIRD GRADE THERE WILL BE CLASSES SMALL ENOUGH TO HAVE TEACHERS TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS WITH KIDS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT UP FRONT BEFORE WE PAY FOR COSTLY RE MEDIAL PROGRAMS AGAIN AND AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD, EVEN INTO COLLEGES WHERE WE'RE SPENDING MONEY FOR RE MEDIAL PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE USED TO PROVIDE THE EXCELLENCE THAT IS SO BADLY NEEDED THROUGHOUT OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. WE NEED THAT TEACHER WHO HAS THE CAPACITY TO LOOK AT THAT 9TH GRADER, WHO'S FALLING ASLEEP IN CLASS, HE'S BORED. HE HASN'T HEARD ANYTHING THAT INTERESTS HIM, BUT THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT CAN UNLOCK THE DOOR AND UNDERSTAND HIS APTITUDE AND INTEREST AND GET HIM INTERESTED IN A SUBJECT MATTER THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR HIM. 48 UNLESS WE DO THAT, UNLESS WE BRING ALL OUR PEOPLE UP TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A WORK FORCE WITH THE ABILITY TO DEAL WITH TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES AND HIGH-TECH ISSUES SO IMPORTANT TO THIS NATION. WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR SERVICE WORKERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ESSENTIAL. NONE OF THAT IS GOING TO WORK UNLESS WE HAVE HEALTHCARE THAT CAN MATCH IT. WE ARE THE GREATEST, RICHEST NATION IN THE WORLD. IF WE CAN GO TO IRAQ AND DO WHAT WE HAVE DONE, WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE AT LEAST FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN. [ APPLAUSE ] I HOPE IT WILL BE YOUR GENERATION THAT FINALLY HAS THE STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP ABILITY TO LEAD US TO 49 UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE. IT WILL BE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE A GENERATION DIVIDE THAT CAN CAUSE GREAT TROUBLE FOR THIS NATION UNLESS WE ADDRESS IT NOW. IN 20 YEARS, THERE WILL BE A FAR GREATER PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE 65 AND OVER THAN THERE IS TODAY, LIVING MUCH LONGER LIFE THAN OURS. THERE IS GOING TO BE A SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND MIDDLE-AGED PEOPLE SUPPORTING, AND YOU ARE GOING TO BARE THE BURDEN. THE PRESENT GENERATION IS NOT DOING RIGHT BY YOU AND IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU SHOW THROUGH ELECTION AND OTHERWISE MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, DEVELOP HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN SERVE IN REASONABLE WAYS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I THINK IT'S ALSO ESSENTIAL WE LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. VOTING IS SOMETHING THAT FOR TOO 50 LONG WE TOOK FOR GRANTED. IN 2002, I WENT TO THE POLLS TO VOTE IN MY OWN ELECTION. I WAS TOLD THE COMPUTERS WERE DOWN. THEY HADN'T BEEN BOOTED UP THAT MORNING AND THE POLLS WEREN'T OPEN. WHEN YOU'RE TOLD YOU CANNOT VOTE ON A MORNING THAT THE POLLS ARE OPEN AND THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN OPEN, IT REMINDS YOU HOW MUCH WE HAVE TO REVIEW OUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECT YOUR VOTE AND CHERISH YOUR VOTE AND KEEP THAT EFFORT IS MAKING SURE WE HAVE VOTING CENTERS PROPERLY STAFFED WITH TECHNICAL PEOPLE WHO BOTH UNDERSTAND THE TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS THE POLITICAL ISSUES WITH RESPECT TO VOTING. WE CAN MAKE SOME PROGRESS IN FLORIDA. WE WEREN'T THE CENTER OF ATTENTION THIS LAST TIME AROUND BUT IT SHOWS UNFORTUNATELY, STATES SUCH AS OHIO HAVE TO LEARN BY BITTER EXPERIENCE. I AM HOPEFUL THIS NATION WILL COME 51 TOGETHER AND THROUGH STAFFING AND TECHNOLOGICAL KNOW HOW WILL GIVE US CONFIDENCE IN THE VOTING PROCESS FOR THE FUTURE. THE DISTRICT OF CONGRESS AND LEGISLATURE ARE ESSENTIAL ISSUES. TO AVOID JERRYMANDERING, IT IGNORES COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST AND PROVIDES FOR THE PARTY IN POWER, TO MAKE POLITICAL DECISIONS, TO LIMIT COMPETITION FOR THE ELECTIVE GOALS. BUT THERE IS ONE PARTICULAR ISSUE THAT I THINK ALL FLORIDIANS MUST FOCUS UPON. I REMEMBER GOING DOWN THE ICHNATUCKEE BEFORE IT BECAME A STATE PARK. WE HAVE TO BE VIGILANT. I SEE THAT IT HAS CHANGED BEFORE MY EYES IN MY LIFETIME, IN DANGER IS OF BEING DESTROYED. I SEE FLORIDA BEING DUMPED UP, THE REEFS SILTED OVER, I SEE THE FLORIDA I LOVE CHANGING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS RIGHT BEFORE MY 52 EYES. I CAMPED OUT ON MARCO ISLAND WHEN THERE WAS NOT ONE BUILDING ON THE ENTIRE ISLAND. YOU COULD SIT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SAND AND LOOK TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT AND SEE A GREAT ARCKING BEACH. I SAW THE MARINE FLASH IN THE GULF OF MEXICO THE WEST AS THE SUNSET, THERE'S A PHENOMENONAL OF THAT SHIPS CAPTAIN SELDOM SEAS OF A REFRACTION THAT IS A MOMENT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET. I HAVE DIVED ON THE REEFS. UNLESS WE MAKE A COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THIS LAND THAT WE LOVE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LESSER STATE, A STATE THAT WILL NOT ATTRACT THE PEOPLE IN INTERPRETATION THAT ATTRACT TOURISTS. IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT WORLD. WE HAVE A COMMITMENT, IT SEEMS TO ME, TO SAVE THIS LAND FOR OUR 53 CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN. [ APPLAUSE ] SOMEBODY ONCE REMARKED THAT WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT PEACE, THEY THINK THAT THE PERSON TALKING ABOUT PEACE IS A GOODY TWO SHOES. AS IF PEACE IS NOT ACHIEVABLE. BUT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE LESSON I LEARNED STILL HAS TO BE LEARNED, WE LIVE IN A WORLD WITH TOO MANY RISKS THAT WE CANNOT DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE PEACE AND TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO PEACE THROUGH COORDINATED EFFORTS, THROUGH PROPER STRENGTHS, THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS, THROUGH DEVELOPING THE ABILITY TO WORK OUT OUR ISSUES WITHOUT WAR, WITHOUT TRIALS, WITHOUT COMBAT, BUT IN REASONABLE WAYS. I THINK WE'RE CAPABLE OF DOING A BETTER JOB THAN WE HAVE DONE. BUT, FINALLY, TO YOU, THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW, I TELL YOU THE MOST 54 IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO BE THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE AND THE FAMILIES WHO BROUGHT YOU INTO THIS WORLD. I REMEMBER MY AFTERNOONS AFTER SCHOOL IN THE EVENINGS, WHEN MOTHER WORKED ON THE HOUSE, SHE'D COME ACROSS THE FIELD AND SHE WOULD TEACH US TO PLAY BASEBALL, APPRECIATE BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIES. THE TAUGHT US WITH ALL HER HEART AND SOUL. THERE IS NO PERSON IN THE WORLD WHO WILL EVER BE THE SUBSTITUTE FOR WHAT THAT LADY WAS IN OUR LIFE. SOMEHOW WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE TO DEVELOP WORKPLACES IN NORTH AMERICA THAT ENABLE BOTH PARENTS, NOT JUST ONE, BUT BOTH PARENTS TO PUT THEIR CHILDREN FIRST, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, MEETING PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER JOB RESPONSIBILITIES. IT CAN MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE. 55 [ APPLAUSE ] I WAS -- BECAME LEGAL GUARDIAN OF 15-YEAR-OLD TWINS WAS BOY AND GIRL. THE GIRL WAS A LOVE. I LEARNED AN AWFUL LOT ABOUT RAISING CHILDREN SINCE THEN. IT TAKES HARD WORK, LOVE AND INTELLIGENCE AND AN AWFUL LOT OF LUCK BUT IT IS THE MOST REWARDING THING YOU CAN DO, BECAUSE WHEN I-THE YOUNG LADY ON THE PLANE TO COLLEGE, AND WHEN I WENT TO SEE HER GRADUATE CUM LAUDE IN THREE YEARS, ON BOTH OCCASIONS, SHE THREW HER ARMS AROUND MY NECK AND SAID, THANK YOU, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU THOSE ARE AMONG THE MOST REWARDING EFFORTS I HAVE EVER UNDERSTAND TAKEN. BUT THE MOST REWARDING THING WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME, WHAT ARE YOU PROUDEST OF? I DID MY DUTY BY MY MOTHER, BY THE PEOPLE I LOVE. 56 SHE WAS TERMINALLY ILL FROM LUNG CANCER. SHE EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT SHE WASN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO SEE THE WORLD AS SHE PLANNED I SAID, YES, YOU CAN, WE ALL GO ACROSS CANADA BY TRAIN AND TAKE A CRUISE TO THE CARIBBEAN AND GO UP THE ST.JOHN'S RIVER BY HOUSEBOAT AND TAKE A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE TO VISIT YOUR FAMILY WE DID ALL THAT AND HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. SHE DIED AT HOME IN MY ARMS, AT PEACE WITH THE WORLD IN HER OWN BED. AND THAT MOMENT FELT LIKE I HAD DONE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I COULD DO, NEVER FORGET THOSE THAT LOVE YOU IF IT ALL SOMETIMES SEEMS SO OVERWHELM, AS IF YOU CAN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND NOTHING YOU CAN DO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, REMEMBER THAT LADY WHO BUILT THE HOUSE, 57 BLOCK BY BLOCK, PUTTING IT TOGETHER, SO THAT IT COULD STAND IN A HURRICANE AND WITHSTAND THE FORCES OF THOSE THAT MIGHT TRY TO DO IT FOUL. TAKE CARE. I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH THE STUDENTS THAT I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO TONIGHT. I AM IMPRESSED WITH THEIR ENTHUSE YAMS, THEIR COMMITMENT, THEIR COMPETENCE. GOD AND HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME IN THIS WORLD. THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO. WE NEED YOU ALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> WHERE? >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. I WOULD LIKE TO RAISE AN ISSUE THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ON THE PUBLIC 58 AGENDA FOR VERY MANY PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, THE ISSUE OF THE IMMINENT GLOBAL PEEK AND DECLINE OF OIL PRODUCTION. >> I'M WONDERING. >> IN THE WHAT PRODUCTION? >> THERE ARE MANY, MANY GEOLOGISTS BELIEVE THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO ENTER A PERIOD WHEN THE GLOBAL PRODUCTION OF OIL IS ABOUT TO DECREASE. WE MAY BE LOOKING AT A 25% DECREASE IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS. THIS HAS SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR WAY OF LIFE. EVERYTHING WE DO DEPENDS ON OIL PRODUCTION FROM TRANSPORTATION TO FOOD. I'M WONDERING WHAT YOU MIGHT SAY ABOUT THE NEED FOR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE? >> I WOULD SAY THAT IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT WILL REQUIRE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO CONTINUE MY EFFORTS IN THAT REGARD. 59 >> OKAY THANK YOU. >> THEY GAVE ME 45 MINUTES TO TALK, SO I DIDN'T WANT TO GO ON TOO LONG. >> BY THE WAY, [ INAUDIBLE ] I WAS IN THE CLASS OF '53. AT CORAL GABLES? WHICH ONE? >> '56. >> I'M A FIRM BELIEVER TECHNOLOGY DOESN'T HOLD ALL THE ANSWERS, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, IT TAKES A MAN AND WOMAN TO MAKE A BABY. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LET MACHINES DO THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER NOT TO BE SOLVED BY TECHNICAL MEANS. I'M ALSO A FIRM BELIEVER WE SHOULD HAVE MULTI-NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE MULTI-NATIONAL [ INAUDIBLE ] THAT MEANS ALL THE NATIONS, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, ESPECIALLY THE UNITED STATES REDUCING PEACE TIME 60 SITES, LIKE THE COAST GUARD, MAKE A DEAL WITH SOME CRAZY SWAP. BUT THERE WOULD WOULDN'T BE IN THE BUSINESS OF INVADING COUNTRIES. THE QUESTION IS, WE INVADED VIETNAM AND LOOK WHAT WE DID THERE. WE INVADED IRAQ NOW AND IT'S GOING SIMILARLY. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING KILLED, BASICALLY, A HUGE NUMBER. WHAT IN THE UNITED STATES LAW IS THERE IN COURTS TO PROSECUTE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GIVING THE ORDERS OF CARRYING OUT THESE INVASIONS SO THAT IT CAN -- THERE CAN BE JUSTICE LIKE IN THE CASE OF NUREMBERG AFTER WORLD WAR II, WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE TO THESE PEOPLE GIVING THESE KIND OF ORDERS, CARRYING OUT THESE KIND OF WAR CRIMES? >> IF YOU BELIEVE -- I DON'T -- FIRST OF ALL, LET ME GO TO THE FIRST . THAT YOU MADE. THAT WE PLACE TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON TECHNOLOGY. 61 THAT'S THE VERY . I MADE AT THE OUTSET OF MY REMARKS, THAT THE REMARKABLE LEADERS NEED SOMEBODY WHO BELIEVES IN PEOPLE AND UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF ANY EQUATION. PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT TO HELP THEM SOLVE PROBLEMS AND HELP THEM DEVELOP NEW PROGRAMS THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SO I CONCUR. WITH RESPECT TO IF OUR LEADERS COMMIT CRIMES, WHAT WE SHOULD DINE THOSE SITUATIONS, IF YOU HAVE EVIDENCE SUFFICIENT TO PROVE A CRIME, TALK WITH THE AUTHORITIES, THE FBI, AND OTHERS AND ASK THEM TO REVIEW IT. I HAVE NOT SEEN SUCH EVIDENCE. >> THE EVIDENCE IS ON THE NEWS EVERYDAY. >> WELL, I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES IS TO TRY TO USE AS MUCH AS I CAN OF MY TIME AND EFFORT TO 62 ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY, IN PROPER DISCUSSION THAT UNDERSTANDS THE ISSUES, UNDERSTANDS WHY THEY DID IT, OR WHY THEY DIDN'T DO IT, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO BRING ABOUT AN EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION OF THE EFFORT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE CONSISTENTLY IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR TROOPS IN IRAQ. >> MINE I'M [ INAUDIBLE ] VICE-PRESIDENT HERE THANK YOU FOR THE WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL. WITH YOUR WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND A LOT OF THE EXPERIENCES YOU'VE HAD, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU KNOW NOW YOU WISH YOU'D KNOWN WHEN YOU STARTED OUT YOUNGER IN YOUR CAREER? >> I WISH I HADN'T BEEN SO BOSSY AND TEMPERED. MY FIFTH GRADE TEACHER WROTE ME ON MY REPORT CARD AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, JANET, PLEASE TRY NOT TO BE SO BOSSY. 63 I TOOK A LONG TIME LEARNING THAT. I THOUGHT I KNEW A LOT. I WOULD COME INTO MEETINGS AND GO BLAH-BLAH BLAH-BLAH BLAH RATHER THAN SITTING DOWN AND FINDING OUT WHO WAS AT THE MEETINGS, WHAT THEIR INTERESTS WERE, FINDING RESOLUTIONS AND TRYING TO FIND VARIOUS MEANS OF REVOLVING CONFLICTS SO WE GOT TO AN ANSWER THAT WAS POSSIBLE AND THAT WE DID NOT TEAR DOWN AND -- THE RELATIONSHIP THAT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED THAT WAS ESSENTIAL IN HELPING US TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAMS THAT WE AGREED ON. THAT WOULD BE ONE OF MINE. >> THANK YOU. >> HELLO, MISS RENO I'M SO HAPPY TO BE TALKING TO YOU TONIGHT. I'M LISTENING TO YOUR WORDS AND THINKING, WOW, I WISH THAT MORE PEOPLE COULD HEAR THEM TONIGHT. IT SEEMS SORT OF LIKE -- THE 64 QUESTION I HAVE IS WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE PERHAPS OF ROLE MODELS IN YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIVES? YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR MOTHER AND JUST AMONG MY FRIENDS, I SEE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GOOD WELL-ADJUSTED FAMILIES AND THEIR PARENTS REALLY, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO WELL, THEY SEEM TO DO SO WELL THAN PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THAT. I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT IN YOUR SPEECH, WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE POWER OF ROLE MODELS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES? >> WHAT HAS BEEN SO TOUCHING TO ME IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME U UP TO ME SINCE I HAVE SERVED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYING, YOU MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE BECAUSE I BELIEVED I CAN DO SOME OF THESE THINGS NOW I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD DO BEFORE. THAT IS A HUMBLING RESPONSIBILITY AND I HOPE I DON'T DISAPPOINT THEM BUT IT IS THE MORE WE CAN REACH OUT 65 TO OTHERS AND GIVE THEM AND SHARE WITH THEM OUR EXPERIENCE SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THE PAINFUL MISTAKES WE MADE, THE BETTER WE CAN DEAL WITH THE ISSUE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT TROUBLED ME A LITTLE TONIGHT, I TALKED WITH SOME OF THE LEADERS HERE AT THE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WOMEN ARE DOING. I AM CONCERNED THAT MAYBE WE HAVE GOT A LOT MORE TO DO THAN I THOUGHT. AT THE SAME TIME, I REMINDED THEM THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS A WOMAN AND THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE LONGEST PERIOD OF TIME WAS THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE CRIMINAL DIVISION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION, THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF PRISONS, THE COMMISSIONER 66 OF INS. WERE ALL WOMEN SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE FIVE STEPS FORWARD AND SIX STEPS BACK BUT THERE IS PROGRESS. IT IS EXCITING TO SEE IT HAPPEN. >> I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU FEEL ABOUT WHAT DIRECTION LEADERSHIP WILL TAKE US TO THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM IMPOSED BY MANDATORY MINIMUMS AND SENTENCING GUIDELINES THAT HAVE LED TO SUCH A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF MINORITIES AND YOUTH IN PRISON. >> I THINK YOU HAVE TOUCHED ON ANOTHER CRITICAL EFFORT BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE WAYS WE FAILED IN TRYING TO GET THAT CHANGED, WE MADE A RUN ON MINIMUM MANDATORIES AND GOT A SAFETY VALVE FOR SOME OF THE SMALLER OFFENSES BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO CHANGE THE ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE MINIMUM MANDATORIES AND DRACONIAN SENTENCES THAT WERE IMPOSED. JUST KENNEDY HAS DONE A WONDERFUL 67 JOB OF DESCRIBING THE ISSUE. I THINK WITH THE RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISIONS WE HAVE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO USE THIS TIME TO MAKE IT FAR MORE REASONABLE. SO MANY PEOPLE SERVING LONG PRISON SENTENCES COULD BENEFIT FROM A JUDGE COURT. A JUDGE IN THE 8TH CIRCUIT HAS RECOMMENDED THE CREATION OF THE DRUG COURT THAT WOULD MONITOR THE CARROT AND STICK APPROACH ON THESE DRUG OFFENDERS TO HELP THIS ISSUE. WE NEED TO DEVELOP WHAT WE DEVELOPED WHEN I WAS AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS RE ENTRY PROGRAMS THAT GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE A CHANCE TO COME BACK IN THEIR COMMUNITY AS A POSITIVE WITH SUCCESS IN DRUG TRAINING AND PLACEMENT AND SUPERVISION AND OPPORTUNITY. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE BELIEVE IN PEOPLE AND BELIEVE THAT IF THEY HAVE THE TOOLS AND 68 SUPERVISION, THEY CAN BE THEIR VERY BEST. >> MY NAME IS SOPHIA. I JUST ADMIRE YOU SO MUCH. I WAS A STAY-AT-HOME MOM WITH SIX CHILDREN, FIVE DAUGHTERS. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING. BUT FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU WHAT YOU THINK, SINCE I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN, OF NATIONAL HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE INSURANCE AND SO FORTH, WHAT WOULD YOU THINK THE SOLUTION WOULD BE? >> I THINK THE SOLUTION IS TO PROVIDE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. [ APPLAUSE ] I HAVE HAD DOCTORS TELL ME AS RECENTLY AS TWO YEARS AGO, THAT IF ANYBODY HAD MENTIONED TO THEM UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE FIVE YEARS 69 AGO, THEY WOULD HAVE SAID, NO WAY BUT DOCTORS HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND IF WE'RE GOING TO RESTORE THE DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP AS WE ONCE KNEW IT, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE ABILITY OF THE DOCTOR AND PATIENT TO WORK TOGETHER. I THINK WE CAN DEVELOP PRIMARY CARE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES THROUGHOUT URBAN RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO GO A PRIMARY CARE FACILITY AND GET TREATMENT FOR A PROBLEM BEFORE IT ESCALATES INTO A LONG TREATMENT WITH LONG HOSPITAL STAYS. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PAYING FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, STATE EMPLOYEES HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. IF WE ORGANIZED OURSELVES THE RIGHT WAY WE WOULD MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. IF WE GOT A HANDLE ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, HAD COST CONTROL. IF WE HAD ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOT 70 BILLS PAID ON TIME, WE COULD MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. IT WILL REQUIRE OUR ABILITY TO BELIEVE IN OURSELVES AND OUR ABILITY TO SET IT UP AND NOT BE DETERRED BECAUSE SOMETHING SEEMED TOO COMPLICATED OR OVERWHELMING. IT WILL REQUIRE PHYSICIANS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND DESIGN A PROGRAM THAT WILL WORK. IT WILL REQUIRE AUDITORS TO CHECK AND DOUBLE-CHECK. WE CAN CERTAINLY BUILD A BETTER MOUSETRAP THAN WE HAVE BUILT IN TERMS OF HEALTHCARE AS WE KNOW IT NOW. [ APPLAUSE ] >> HI. I'M A CUBAN AMERICAN FROM MIAMI. I JUST WANTED TO SAY I AM FROM THE CLASS OF '91. I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU DID IN THE 71 ELAN GONZALEZ CASE. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. >> I JUST FINISHED READING ABOUT THE WOMEN WHO GRADUATED FROM HARVARD, EARLY IN THE MID-DISKETTES. AS A FEMALE GETTING READY TO START LAW SCHOOL THIS OPENING FALL I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PUNCHING HOLES THROUGH SOME OF THOSE CEILINGS SO THE PEOPLE COMING BEHIND YOU HAVE STRONG SHOULDERS TO STAND ON, AND I ALSO WANTED TO ASK IF YOU HAD ANY ADVICE OR ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD SUGGEST TO ME? >> DON'T BE INTIMIDATED BY LAW SCHOOL. USE IT. IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. LAW SCHOOL TAUGHT ME HOW TO THINK BETTER THAN ANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE I HAD. IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES, CAREFULLY DEFINING THEM, ANALYZING THEM AND 72 SOLUTIONS, I AM STILL ABLE TO GO TO MY PROFESSORS AND THANK THEM FOR THAT, FOR WHAT THEY DID FOR ME. I EVEN HAD THE CHANCE TO THANK ONE PROFESSOR BECAUSE WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, EXPLAINED THAT I HAD GOTTEN MY HIGHEST GRADE IN TAX LAW, AND WONDERED WHAT MY TAX PROFESSOR WAS DOING THESE DAYS, THEY SAID HE WORKS FOR YOU. I WAS ABLE TO GO DOWN AND THANK MY TAX PROFESSOR FOR MAKING SURE THAT I DIDN'T GET INTIMIDATED BY LAW SCHOOL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE WORDS. >> THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LAST QUESTION OF THE EVENING. >> MISS RENO. I THINK WOMEN OF YOUR AGE AND WATCHED THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT CHANGE ALL OUR LIVES AND ADMIRE YOUR THINKING AS A ROLE MODEL FOR DECISION MAKING AROUND ELIAN 73 GONZALEZ AND WACO >> MOST OF US DON'T HAVE LEADERSHIP ROLES, TREADING WATER, DOING OUR JOBS. HOW DO WE KEEP THAT KIND OF KEEN INTELLIGENCE AND CLEAR THINKING THAT I SO ADMIRE IN YOU, WHEN WE'RE REALLY NOT IN POSITIONS OF POWER? >> IT'S AMAZING TO ME WHAT EACH PERSON CAN DO IF THEY FIND SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS THEM. IT MAY BE IN THE SCHOOL THAT'S DOWN THE STREET FROM YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR INTERESTS ARE, BUT I JUST URGE EVERYONE TO THINK, WHAT WOULD I LIKE TO DO TO HELP MY COMMUNITY? EATS IN THE COMMUNITY, AT SCHOOL, IN A LOCAL CENTER, AT A CHURCH? WHAT COULD I DO? I RECENTLY SPOKE TO A RIT RACY COUNCIL IN MARTIN DIDN'T. I WAS AMAZED AT THE NUMBER OF WOMEN, WHO WERE THERE THAT DERIVED TROWS SATISFACTION AT TEACHING 74 PEOPLE TO READ. THAT IS A REMARKABLE GIFT THAT YOU CAN CONVEY. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT MAY BE JUST STOPPING BY THE ELDERLY COUPLE'S HOUSE DOWN THE STREET, BECAUSE THEY'VE GOTTEN VERY OLD AND THE GENTLEMAN HAS ALZHEIMER'S, AND HE'S FADING AND GOING TO HAVE TO BE HOSPITALIZED SOON, AND SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S GOING TO DO, AND THE CHILDREN ARE 1500 MILES AWAY AND DON'T GET DOWN OFTEN ENOUGH, TO STOP AND HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE WITH THEM IN THE MORNING CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD FOR THAT LADY. IF WE BELIEVE IN OUR POWERS TO HELP OTHERS, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OTHERS, WE CAN DO SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] 75