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MA
Presidential Remarks: National Medal
of arts and The Mational Humanities
medal Event, The white House,
Sep 29 97
COPY
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
10-9-97
I am delighted to be here this morning to honor the
1997 recipients of the National Medal of Arts and the
National Humanities Medal. I want to thank the First
Lady for all she does personally to celebrate and support
the arts and humanities. I also want to acknowledge the
Members of Congress who are here with us today; Bruce
Lehman [LAY-men], Acting Chair of the NEH; John
Brademas, Chairman of the President's Committee on the
Arts and Humanities; and Diane Frankel, Director of the
Institute of Museum and Library Services.
I'd like to say a word of special thanks to Jane
Alexander for her outstanding leadership and courage at
the helm of the National Endowment for the Arts.
1
I want to recognize Sheldon Hackney, who recently
served our nation so well as Chairman of the National
Endowment for the Humanities, and who has added great
depth to our national conversation on race and unity.
This morning, we honor 20 men and women and one
organization for their extraordinary achievements in the
arts and humanities. By giving these awards, we also
applaud America's achievements. We celebrate our
capacity for individual expression and common
understanding; we rejoice in our nation's thriving
diversity; and we take pride in the power of imagination
that animates our democracy.
2
Above all, by giving these awards, we declare to
ourselves and to the world: we are and always have
been a nation of creators and innovators. We are and
always will be a nation that supports our artists and
scholars. That is our heritage -- and it must be our
gift to the future.
We are fast approaching a new millennium, a time of
new opportunity and renewed responsibility to prepare
ourselves for the challenges ahead. As we go forward, we
must ask ourselves what we will take with us: how will we
honor our past, and how will we imagine our future?
3
Today, I invite each of you to be our partners in the
White House Millennium Program, and help us to make
sure the millennium is marked by a renewed commitment
to the arts and humanities in every community.
One of our most important goals for the millennium is
to give every child in America access to the universe of
knowledge and ideas, by connecting every school and
library in America to the Internet by the year 2000.
Working together with business leaders, we have made
solid progress. And as we work to connect our schools
and libraries, we must make sure that once our children
can log on to the Internet, they don't get lost there.
4
Today, I am pleased to announce that on October
27th, the NEH, in partnership with MCI and the Council
of Great City Schools, will throw the switch on a new
educational website called Ed-SITE-ment. This exciting
new tool will help teachers, students and their parents
navigate among thousands of educational websites. Most
important, it will expand our children's horizons and
instill in them an early appreciation for the culture and
values that will be with them throughout their lives.
President Kennedy once said that he looked forward
to an America that raised the standards of artistic
achievement, and enlarged cultural opportunities for all of
our citizens.
5
The men and women we are here to honor have
brought us much closer to realizing his great vision. More
than 30 years later, at the edge of a new millennium, we
must pledge ourselves anew to meet his challenge.
Now, it gives me great pleasure to present the 1997
National Medal of Arts, and National Medal of
Humanities Awards. First, the National Medal of Arts.
Like Martha Graham and Georgia O'Keefe, Louise
Bourgeois' [boor-JWAH's] name is synonymous with
innovation, and her life is proof that the creative impulse
never fades. In 1981 her retrospective at the Museum of
Modern Art -- the first to be devoted to a woman artist --
encompassed 40 years of extraordinary work.
6
Since then, she has created another lifetime of
enduring art. And I have no doubt that she has more to
JEAN LOUIS [ZHAN
teach us. Ladies and gentlemen, Louise Bourgeois, LOO-EE]
THE ARTIST'S SON, WILL ACCEPT THE
[Present award.] AWARD ON HER BEHALF.
When Betty Carter sings "Baby its Cold Outside," all
I want to do is curl up in front of a fire even in the dead
of summer. Performing with the likes of Ray Charles,
Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Lionel Hampton, she
is a goddess in the pantheon of jazz. And her greatness
comes not only from her unforgettable voice -- but from
her passionate commitment to helping young artists
develop their own careers. Ladies and gentlemen, the
incomparable Betty Carter. [Present award.]
7
We can't celebrate art today without celebrating the
people who help us to experience it. Aggie Gund has
spent a lifetime bringing art into the lives of the American
people. With "Studio in a School," she forged a new
partnership between professional artists and public
schools to introduce children to the joys of creative
expression. And as President of the Museum of Modern
Art, she is helping to usher in the 21 st Century of art.
Ladies and gentlemen, Aggie Gund. [Present award.]
Dan Kiley is one of those rare artists who join the
beauty and variety of nature with the joy and form of
design.
8
From the National Mall to the National Gallery, Dan
Kiley has helped to redefine the American landscape. In
his thought-provoking, memorable designs, building and
site come together as one, proving that great landscapes
and great buildings are part of the same vision. Ladies
and gentlemen, Daniel Kiley. [Present award.]
It's no mystery why Angela Lansbury deserves this
award
From the Royal Shakespeare Theatre to
Broadway to television, she has created vivid characters
we cannot forget. For that work, she has earned three
Academy Award nominations, four Tony Awards, and
sixteen Emmy Awards.
9
To that wall of honors, we add this one, for she is her
own unforgettable character. Ladies and gentlemen,
Angela Lansbury. [Present award.]
A hush falls in the Metropolitan Opera as the great
[LE-VINE]
chandelier rises and James Levine raises his baton. For 25
years and 1,600 performances of 70 different operas,
countless opera-goers, television watchers, and radio
listeners have shared that experience -- and shared in the
great gift of James' Levine's talent. His work has
renewed the grand tradition of opera, and infused it with
new life for the next generation of opera lovers. Ladies
and gentlemen, James Levine. [Present award.]
10
Just hearing Tito Puente's name makes you want to
get up and dance. With his finger on the pulse of Latin
American musical tradition, and his hands on the timbales
[tim-BAH-lays], he has probably gotten more people out
of their seats and onto the dance floor than any other
living artist. For fifty years, the irrepressible joy of his
irreplaceable music has won him four Grammy Awards,
countless honors, and a wide world of fans. Ladies and
gentlemen, Tito Puente. [Present award.]
If anyone has given a voice to American dramatic
arts, it is Jason Robards.
11
In the great works of our greatest playwrights --
Eugene O'Neill, Lillian Hellman, Clifford Odets, Arthur
Miller -- and in Academy Award winning performances in
great movies like "All the President's Men," he has
brought the American experience to life with characters
that animate history and illuminate the human condition.
Ladies and gentlemen, Jason Robards. [Present award.]
Edward Villella quite literally leapt onto the world
stage of ballet, and changed it forever with the stunning
grace and muscular athleticism that are his signature style.
As Principal Dancer with the New York City Ballet, he
collaborated with the men who quite literally defined 20th
Century ballet: George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins.
12
And as Artistic Director of the Miami City Ballet, he
is attracting the ballet audience of the 21st Century.
Ladies and gentlemen, Edward Villella. [Present award.]
I don't think there's a baby boomer alive who didn't
spend at least a few minutes trying to learn to pick a guitar
like Doc Watson. A guitar virtuoso whose unique style
merges many musical traditions, he started his remarkable
career at age 13, armed with a $12 guitar and a deep love
of mountain music. Five Grammy Awards and a lifetime
of achievement later, he still lives on the land his great-
great grand daddy homesteaded. And he's still making
that old time mountain music. Ladies and gentlemen, Doc
Watson. [Present Award.]
13
For our artists to create the kind of works we are here
to celebrate, they must have three things: time, space, and
inspiration. And for nearly a century, that is what more
than 4,500 artists have found at the MacDowell Colony.
On this 450-acre farm in rural New Hampshire, Thorton
Wilder wrote "Our Town;" Leonard Bernstein finished his
great "Mass." Today, a new generation of artists thrives
in the atmosphere created by composer Edward
MacDowell and his wife Marian. Ladies and gentlemen,
Robert MacNeil, Chairman of the MacDowell Colony will
accept the award. [Present Award.]
Now, I have the honor of introducing the recipients of
the National Humanities Medal.
14
These men and women keep the American memory
alive -- and infuse the future with new ideas.
First, Nina Archabal [ARCH-uh-ball]. To those who
know and work with Nina, she is a fireball who lets no
one stand in the way of her mission to preserve
Minnesota's history. To the State of Minnesota, she is a
bridge builder between native peoples and other
Minnesotans, helping them share their stories. And to
America, she exemplifies how tradition informs everyday
life and shapes history. Ladies and gentlemen, Nina
Archabal. [Present Award.]
15
David Berry and I share a goal: to strengthen our
nation's two-year community colleges so more Americans
can get the education they need to succeed in life, no
matter how old they are or where they come from. As a
Professor of History at Essex County College in Newark,
New Jersey, he has broadened the horizons and expanded
the dreams of his students. And as the Director of the
Community College Humanities Association he is helping
two-year colleges all over the country to do the same.
Ladies and gentlemen, David Berry. [Present award.]
16
As the enormously successful former Chairman and
CEO of an investment banking firm, Richard Franke
[FRANK-ee] could have rested on his achievements.
Instead, he made it his mission to advance the cause of the
humanities in everyday life. Through the Chicago
Humanities Festival he founded in 1989, he is bringing the
pleasures of art and ideas to the people of the great city of
Chicago, and his commitment to the Humanities extends
to the entire country. Ladies and gentlemen, Richard
I
Franke. [Present award.]
17
I doubt there is a more revered force in American
education than Bill Friday. As the President of the
University of North Carolina, he devoted himself to
improving education for all Americans. There is hardly
an important educational task force he hasn't sat on. He
helped to found the National Humanities Center; he sat on
the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education and the
President's Task Force on Education. And as Executive
Director of the Kenan [KEE-nen] Charitable Trust, he
continues his life of achievement. Ladies and gentlemen,
Bill Friday. [Presents award.]
18
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
10-9-97
Don Henley has already won so many awards for his
music, Hardw he doesn't need another. But today, we are
honoring him not for another hit record, but for protecting
a vital part of our nation's history: the woods that inspired
Henry David Thoreau to write his greatest work,
"Walden." And through his support of the Thoreau
Mus
Institute, Don is also keeping Thoreau's great legacy alive
for the 21 st Century. Ladies and gentlemen, Don Henley.
[Present award.]
Great writers reveal a world we've never seen but
instantly recognize as authentic. Maxine Hong Kingston
is such a writer.
19
In her groundbreaking book "The Woman Warrior:
Memoirs of Girlhood Among Ghosts," she brought the
Asian American experience to life for millions of readers,
and inspired a new generation of writers to make their
own unique voices and experiences heard. Ladies and
gentlemen, Maxine Hong Kingston. [Present award.]
The great chorus of American voices has also been
CLOO-ESS LAY- AL]
immeasurably enlarged by the work of Luis Leal. For 50
years, he has told the story of the Chicano people, here in
America and all over the Latin world. In 16 books, he has
revealed the unique voice of Latin literature.
20
In 1995, in recognition of his great contributions, the
University of California created the Luis Leal Endowed
Chair in Chicano Studies, the only one of its kind. Ladies
and gentlemen, Luis Leal [loo-EESS lay-AL]. [Presents
award.]
As we approach the millennium, many Americans are
examining their spirituality, their faith, and the role of
religion in our nation's life. No one has thought more
deeply about these questions than Martin E. Marty.
21
A renowned scholar of religious history, he is the
author of 50 books, and the Director of the Public
Religion Project at the University of Chicago, which finds
common ground in our diverse communities of faith.
Ladies and gentlemen, Martin Marty. [Presents award.]
Paul Mellon has elevated the great tradition of
American philanthropy to an art form. His gifts have
immeasurably strengthened the cultural institutions that
are at the very heart of our civil society, including the
National Gallery. With his sister, he established the
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the nation's largest
private funder of the humanities.
22
And through his exceptional generosity, he has
enriched the libraries of our nation with precious
collections of the world's great works. Ladies and
gentlemen, Robert Smith, of the National Gallery of Art,
will accept the award on behalf of Paul Mellon. [Present
award.]
Studs Terkel: No one has done more to expand the
American library of voices than Studs Terkel. He has
quite literally defined the art of the oral history, bringing
the stories of ordinary people to life in his unique style--
and letting the everyday experiences that deepen our
history speak for themselves.
23
That is why I am so pleased that he has agreed to
advise the White House Millennium Program on the best
way to collect family and community histories -- a project
we will launch with the NEH this coming Spring. Ladies
and gentlemen, Studs Terkel. [Present award.]
Please join me in another round of applause for these
outstanding Americans. And now, I invite you to enjoy
the Marine Orchestra, and I thank you all for coming.
[The event concludes.]
24
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
for Immediate Release
September 25, 1996
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT THE CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS INSTITUTE DINNER
The Washington Hilton Hotel
Washington, D.C.
9:50 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you so much. Well, I
thought I had a long day in Pennsylvania. (Laughter.) I went to
Pittsburgh and to Robert Morris College. Robert Morris was one of
the main financiers of the American Revolution, and he quit the
Continental Congress in 1778 because he thought they were printing
too much hot money. I guess he would have quit the Congress in the
12 years the other folks were making economic policy. (Laughter.)
I announced there, with Secretary Rubin, a new savings
instrument for the American people, a bond that will appreciate with
inflation -- an inflation-proof savings bond that the American people
will be able to buy from now on, so that families that are trying to
save for their children's education or for their retirement will
always know that inflation will not eat up the value of a secure
government investment. I'm very proud of that, it was a good day.
(Applause.)
I went then to Philadelphia and I went down to the south
side to eat a Philly cheesesteak, a lot of you have done that.
(Applause.) And all the people were gathering in the neighborhood
and I met a lady who had just been in our country for three months,
she had moved here from Hong Kong and she introduced me to her
children and she said, I can't believe this happens in America. I
said, well, ma'am, that's the way it works here, I work for you, not
the other way around. (Laughter.) And she was pretty happy about
that and I was glad to see it. (Applause.)
So then I went to two events there and came home just in
time to put on my uniform SO I could come and be with you.
(Laughter.) I thank you, Ed Pastor, for your leadership. I thank
all the members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for their
service to our country. Thank you, Rita Elizondo, for your
leadership for the Caucus Institute; the Institute Fellows, thank you
for your support. John Quinones, I wish I had heard you, you're
probably better at this than I am. To the members of my Cabinet who
are here and the members of our administration in every facet of it,
I thank you for your service and for being here. (Applause.)
I would like to say a special word of thanks to my
long-time friend, Congressman Kika de la Garza. I heard the last of
his remarks outside and I loved it; I wish I had heard the whole
thing. He is a wonderful man, much loved and much respected; he will
be much missed and we wish him well and thank him for his remarkable
service. (Applause.)
As Ed said, this is the fourth year you have invited me
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and the fourth year I've showed up. (Applause.) You know, by this
time of the year I'm normally pretty tired, even when it's not an
election year. I come here out of purely selfish motives. There is
more energy in this room than any other place I go all year long and
YOU get me going, you know. (Applause.) As all of you know, I have
been trying to sort of improve my Spanish as my daughter races off
into the sunset of increasing fluency, and I try to demonstrate that
every year and it was suggested that I try to do something different
this year, that maybe I should do the macarena but Al Gore has a
corner on that. (Applause.) I can't begin to move in the way he
does doing that. So how about this: Siempre es un placer estar con
ustedes. (Applause.)
Now, tomorrow I will get a grade on this from Bill
Richardson. I hope the others will be more gracious. (Laughter.)
This is the 19th anniversary of the Caucus Institute.
You have worked to do some profoundly important things. You have
worked to demonstrate what I have been working for in America
opportunity for all, responsibility from all and an American
community that truly includes all of us. For the last few weeks I've
had the extraordinary opportunity to get out and around our country
again. Hillary and Al and Tipper and I have traveled by rail, by
bus, we've gone all over America. We've asked people everywhere to
help us build the bridge to the 21st century. And, frankly, I have
been overwhelmed by the hope, the conviction, the energy, the
determination that I see in the faces of people.
We were in Seattle not very long ago, in the rain and
I know it always rains in Washington, but 35,000 people waited, some
of them up to four hours, in the rain to say they wanted to build a
bridge to the 21st century that we could all walk across -- they did
not think that we should walk away from one another, and they
believed it does take a village to raise a child and to build a
country. (Applause.)
Now, that's a far cry from where we were four years ago.
We had high unemployment, the slowest job growth since the Great
Depression, stagnant wages, rising crime, increasing cynicism among
our people and evidence of division that was truly troubling.
Washington had been caught up for too long, in my view, in asking
who's to blame and who shortly had spent too little time in asking
the question that I always ask everybody when they bring me a problem
I ask, well, what are we going to do about it. That's important
what are we going to do. (Applause.) Not who can we blame, not
how can we divide the American people for our political advantage.
But how can we come together and meet our challenges, advance our
values and give our children a better future.
Well, we've been working at that for four years now and
we've gotten some pretty good results. If you look at them, they're
hard to dispute. In the last four years we've got 10.5 million new
jobs. In the last four years we have record numbers of new small
businesses. We have record numbers of new businesses owned by all
kinds of minorities and women. We have an astonishing growth in
homeownership, it's at a 15-year high. The combined rates of home
mortgages, unemployment and inflation are at a 28-year low.
(Applause.)
Of the 10.5 million new jobs, 1.5 million of those job
holders were Hispanic American. (Applause.) Crime has gone down in
this country four years in a row. The welfare rolls are down by
nearly 2 million. Child support collections are up 40 percent, about
$3 billion. Twelve million Americans have been able to take some
time off under the Family and Medical Leave law when a baby is born
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or a parent is sick. (Applause.)
Under the increase which the Congress voted in 1993 in
the earned income tax credit, 15 million working families have been
iven a tax cut it's worth about $1,000 in lower taxes to a family
of four with an income of less than $28,000, and that's most Hispanic
families in the United States. And that's one big reason that the
welfare rolls are down, because we're making work pay. On October
1st, 10 million more Americans will get a pay raise when the minimum
wage increase goes into effect. (Applause.)
In addition to that, we have moved hard to help small
businesses where most of the new jobs are being created. Every small
business in America is now eligible for a substantial tax cut when
they spend more money to invest in their business, to become more
productive or hire new people. People who are self-employed are now
getting a bigger tax deduction on their health insurance premiums.
And we've made it a lot easier for people in small business to take
out pensions for themselves and their employees and then to take
those pensions from job to job.
The Kennedy-Kassebaum bill says to 25 million Americans
you can't be denied health insurance anymore just because you changed
jobs or because someone in your family has been sick a very
important advance. (Applause.) And I'm very pleased that at the end
of this session of Congress we finally were able to get an agreement
that new mothers and their newborns should not be thrown out of the
hospital before the doctor says that they are ready to leave.
(Applause.)
We're breathing cleaner air. Our food standards have
been improved. We've shut down more toxic waste dumps in the last
three years than the previous administration did in the last 12, the
last two. Our deficit has gone down four years in a row for the
first time since before the Civil War. (Applause.) That's the good
news. Do you want the bad news? The President who did that was John
Tyler and John Tyler did not win reelection. (Laughter.) But it was
still a good thing to do, and it's too bad it's been 150 years since
it happened. And we're better off because that means lower interest
rates. It means lower interest rates on your car payments, your
house payments, your credit card payments, lower interest rates for
business people who borrow money to invest and grow the American
economy.
Clearly, if you look at all the evidence we are moving
in the right direction and we need to keep right on going in that
direction. (Applause.)
In addition to the 1.5 million new jobs for Hispanic
Americans, more than 220,000 of those new businesses are owned by
Hispanics. The unemployment rate has gone down to single digits for
the first time in a long time for Hispanics, wages are on the rise.
We are clearly moving in the right direction.
Now, one reason I believe that we've been able to do
these things is that I have done my best to create, as Ed alluded to,
a real partnership that includes everybody in America who's willing
to work with us for the common good. I was rather surprised when I
came to Washington that I was attacked even by some people who claim
to be progressive, for making an honest effort to put together an
administration that looked like America. I said that I would never
sacrifice quality. I said I believed we could have excellence and
diversity, but I thought it was worth taking a little time to have
both because I thought we would be more effective. (Applause.)
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If you look at our judicial appointments, which include
a record number of Hispanics, a record number of women, a record
number of other minorities, those judicial appointments as a group
have the highest ratings from the American Bar Association of any
residencies since they have been doing the ratings. You can have
excellence and diversity.
It's also important that we recognize that in our
policy-making and in our politics we have people involved. You know
that this room is full of members of my administration. I mentioned
them before, but I want you to know that I'm proud of each and every
one of them. Their voices are heard, their work is legendary and
they have made a difference for you and for all the American people.
I am proud of them. (Applause.)
I'd also like to thank the Hispanic Americans who are in
our campaign Linda Chavez-Thompson, the highest ranking Hispanic
in organized labor, our honorary chair. (Applause.) Ray Martinez,
who's left the White House to go work in our reelection. And Mickey
Ebara who's serving as a senior advisor, my senior Hispanic in the
campaign. (Applause.)
I'd like to make another announcement tonight. Our
campaign, as all campaigns do, has to have certain funds accumulated
which we have to save for other purposes later. We have decided to
deposit $5 million equally among four minority-owned banks, two
Hispanic banks and two African American banks. (Applause.) One is
the largest Hispanic commercial bank in our country, the
International Bank of Commerce in Laredo. (Applause.) The other is
the Banco Popularo of Puerto Rico, which has a branch in New York.
(Applause.)
The $1.25 million going to each bank will help them to
support inner-city development, it will stimulate growth in other
investment. It means job stability and new life for their
communities. This is the first time, I was surprised to learn, that
any national campaign has made this kind of commitment to any
minority-owned bank, and I think it is a very good thing to do.
(Applause.)
Ed was saying when he introduced me that we've done a
lot of good things together, but that is in the past. I didn't like
quite the tone of it, but I don't think he meant it that way, do you?
(Laughter.) But it reminded me of a story once. When I was running
for reelection as governor of my home state in 1984, I went through a
litany of things that I had done as governor just kind of like I
just did with you. And all I said and frankly, I thought it was a
great speech I was out in the country giving this speech on a
country crossroads, and there was a man in overalls in the mountains
of North Arkansas, in the Ozarks, leaning up against a tree he'd
always supported me, listening to this speech. I mean, I thought it
was really great. I thought I was terrific.
So after it was over I went up to him and I said, well,
what do you think. He said, well, that's a pretty good speech. He
said, I heard all that about what a good job you did. But, he said,
now, after all, that is what we hired you to do and you did draw a
paycheck every two weeks. (Laughter.) He said, this election is
about what you're going to do if we give you a new contract, not what
you did before. And, in truth, that is what this election is about.
And my record and the record of all those others who are running for
office is really relevant only as an indication of what we will do in
the future and whether our general view of the direction for our
country is right or wrong.
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I believe that this is a profoundly important election
because we will decide whether to validate my view, which is that
what we ought to be doing is breaking out of the old stale debates
that paralyze politics up here too long and being really committed to
inishing the work of build that bridge, SO that every American has
the opportunity to make the most of his or her life; SO that we are
growing together, instead of coming together, we're beating the odds
in the rest of the world, consumed by ethnic and religious and tribal
and racial hatreds. We're going to say, no, in America we're going
to be together, we're going to make a virtue of our diversity and
wear it like a badge of honor and a cloak of pride. (Applause.)
But to do that we have to decide: are we going to build
a bridge to the future or try to build a bridge to the past. Is it
going to be a big, wide bridge strong enough for everybody to walk
across and strong enough to stay up SO that all of our kids and
grandkids can walk across it after us. And are we going to build it
together. Do we think it takes a village, or do we think you are
better off on your own. Is the government inherently bad and part of
the problem and totally irrelevant to this modern, high-tech
entrepreneurial world; or is the government inherently neither good
or bad, simply the servant of the people that has a role to play, but
not the only role in the partnerships that we have to create. These
are the questions we must face in this election. (Applause.)
I want to build a bridge to the 21st century that will
keep this economy growing until everybody has a chance to live up to
the fullest of their abilities. (Applause.) That means a lot of
things. It means, yes, we have to go on and balance the budget
because that will keep interest rates down and that will help you to
grow, those of you in the private sector to grow this country. But
it means we have to do it in a way that honors our obligations to our
parents and our children; to those who through no fault of their own
need our help and will do better, and SO will we, if they get a
little of our help. We have to honor our obligations to the
environment and to our future. We have to invest in education and in
research and technology.
And if we walk away from those things, we will pay a
terrible price; and no one will do as well as all of us will if we
work together. (Applause.)
Can we have tax cuts? Yes, we can, but they ought to be
targeted to the people who need them and to the places that will do
the most good to child-rearing, to paying for college education,
to helping people pay for health care, or to buy a first-time home,
or not imposing taxes on the gain people have when they sell their
homes because that's the only savings a lot of people have. We can
pay for those things and balance the budget and protect Medicare,
Medicaid, education and the environment. That's the right direction
for the future and that's the way to build a bridge we can all walk
across. (Applause.)
We also have to commit ourselves to the proposition that
in the modern world education is more important even than it was for
us and our parents; that our children will be doing jobs that have
not been invented yet, that many of them will be doing jobs that have
not been imagined yet. And SO it is unacceptable that 40 percent of
our third graders cannot read on their own. That's why I have a plan
to mobilize an army, literally an army, of reading tutors to work
with teachers and schools and with parents so that by the year 2000
every eight-year-old can pick up a book and say, I can read this all
by myself. That is terribly important. (Applause.)
We must also understand that technology, if we use it
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right, offers us an opportunity to democratize educational
opportunity and educational excellence in ways that were never before
attainable. If we achieve the goal that the Vice President and I
have set out, to hook up every classroom and every library, not only
with computers and software and trained teachers, but to the
information Superhighway, to the Internet, to the World Wide Web, to
all these interlocking networks of information, if we do that by the
year 2000, then for the first time in American history the children
in the poorest, remotest school district in the mountains of my home
state of Arkansas, the children in the poorest school districts in
south Texas, the children in the poorest inner-city neighborhood will
for the first time ever have access to the same information in the
same way, in the same time as the children in the wealthiest
districts of the United States. It will explode opportunity in the
United States if we do it. (Applause.)
And, finally, we ought to build a bridge to the 21st
century that says we're going to create education for a lifetime for
everyone beginning with the proposition that everybody who's willing
to work hard ought to be able to go to college, and we're going to
make it available to every single person in this country.
(Applause.)
We can do it pretty simply. Almost every American lives
within driving distance of a community college. I want to say if
you'll go get two years of education after high school, so that we
can make that as universal in four years as a high school education
is today, you can take the cost of a typical community college
tuition right off your tax bill, dollar for dollar, a tax credit for
two years to do that. That's paid for in our balanced budget plan.
(Applause.)
I want to say you can save in an IRA and withdraw money
from that IRA with no tax penalty at all if you're paying for a
college education. And I believe we ought to let people deduct the
cost of any education after high school for the tuition, up to
$10,000 a year for undergraduate school, graduate school, you name
it, that money will pay itself back many times over. (Applause.)
I want to build a bridge to the 21st century where
everybody has a chance to work. And I want to challenge every one of
you now to examine what your own responsibilities are under this new
welfare reform law. Let me explain to you exactly what it says, and
imagine what it means in a community where you live. The law says
that the United States will continue to guarantee to poor families
eligible for welfare health care, nutrition and if the parent goes to
work, more child care by far than ever before. But the monthly
welfare check which used to go which is part federal money, part
state money which used to go direct to the recipient may still
continue to do that, but now the states have to come up with a plan
that will be community-based to move people who are able-bodied from
the welfare check into a paycheck within two years.
Now, the only way this will work is if in every
community in the country employers and churches and nonprofit and
educational institutions, as well as people involved in social work
are actively involved in this.
I was just in Kansas City let me just give you this
example, because it's important, anybody can do this. Two years ago
our administration gave the state of Missouri a waiver to try an
experiment in Kansas city that I have been begging for years every
place in America to do. Here's what they do in Kansas city. They
say if you will hire a new employee not a replacement, but a new
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employee from the welfare rolls, we'll give you the welfare check
for up to four years as a wage supplement. And if you're a small
business person and you don't have a health care policy, we'll cover
them with Medicaid for four years.
And in that four years you have to pay them at least $6
an hour above the minimum wage, but let's say the welfare check is
worth $2.00 and hour, or $2.50 you keep that, and that's what we
pay you for helping us give those folks a new life, for training
them, for investing in them, for dealing with people who may have
never been in the workforce before and all the little problems that
may mean, but we want you to give them a new chance.
I met a man running a business with 25 employees, five
of his employees are people who came from the welfare rolls. He says
they're all doing great. And when they leave, if they leave early,
he can keep that position for up to 10 years if he'll keep bringing
people onto the welfare rolls. Folks, if we do that in every
community in the country and people like you sign up and say, what
can I do, this is now my problem, I'm tired of complaining about it,
we have a responsibility to give people a future and the ability to
support their children and I will participate, we can solve this
problem and we'll have a community-based support system for poor
families that is work-oriented and that does not isolate people.
(Applause.) But we have to do it and I am committed to helping the
states and the cities create a million new jobs to solve that problem
in the next four years and I want to ask you to help. (Applause.)
Let me say there's a lot more things that I could
talk about. There are things we have to do in crime, things we have
to do in the environment. We have health care challenges still to
go. Our balanced budget plan helps people keep their health
insurance when they're between jobs for six months 5 million
people a year change jobs and are without health insurance for some
time just because they're changing jobs and they're unemployed for
several months. We have a lot more to do.
But the main thing I want to say to you is we have to
decide whether we believe we have an obligation to work toward this
future together. This is not about big government. We have the
smallest government in Washington we've had since President Kennedy
was here. And as a percentage of our workforce, it's the smallest
it's been since Franklin Roosevelt took the oath of office in 1933.
That is a red herring. (Applause.) But we do need we do need --a
government that can bring us together and help us to go forward
together.
There are some things we cannot do on our own. We're
building a Supercomputer with IBM, and IBM is no tiny company, they
needed us to help. It's a research project that will give us a
Supercomputer that listen to this will do more calculations in
one second than you can go home and do on your hand-held calculator
in 30,000 years. Now, I don't know about you, but I think it's worth
it, I want America to have the first one of those. (Applause.) And
it means more jobs and more discoveries.
Every time we send a mission into space we learn
something else about how the human body works and we learn something
else about the earth's environment that will help our children and
our grandchildren create opportunity and live in a better world. The
investments we have made in the last few years have reaped untold
benefits. The average life expectancy of people with AIDS and HIV
has more than doubled in the last four years alone because of medical
research and moving drugs to market faster. (Applause.)
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A lot of you were very moved, as I was, I'm sure, by
Christopher Reeve's wonderful speech at the Democratic Convention.
At about the time he made that speech, just a few days before, for
the first time in history laboratory animals whose spines had been
evered had movement in their lower limbs because of nerve
ransplants. That's what research brings you.
So it is simply not true that we do not need to invest
in our common future whether it's education, the environment,
health care, research or technology. We do. It does take a village
and we do have to build a bridge and that is the decision before the
American people that I know you, the most family-oriented group in
the United States, will help to make the right decision. (Applause.)
Let me also say a strong word of thanks to every member
of Congress here today that helped us to get that Gallegly provision
out of the immigration bill. It was a great victory. (Applause.)
For the life of me, I could never understand why the
leaders of the other party wanted to put that provision in and try to
turn teachers into people who would be putting kids on the street
--when every law enforcement agency, every education agency in the
world said SO. So we got it out of there. Oh, if it comes to my
desk, it's history. But I don't think the Gallegly amendment will
even pass now. I don't believe the Senate will vote for it.
(Applause.) I believe when it's put up there, I doubt very seriously
that the Senate will do that.
But, anyway, for those of you that helped to get it out,
I thank you.
Let me also say that I do believe we should have a
tough, strong defense against people who violate our immigration laws
because it's unfair to people who wait in line to be legal
immigrants. But I'm proud of the fact that this year, by the end of
1996, more than one million people will have become citizens by
naturalization in one year. That is more than twice as many as last
year. (Applause.) And I think one of the things that's happened
here in this very ill-advised assault on legal immigrants, the people
who have carried it on have made a lot more people interested in
becoming citizens and exercising their right to vote and being heard
and saying we don't appreciate people who try to divide the American
people. And that is a very positive thing. (Applause.)
Let me just close with this thought: There's no country
in the world better positioned for the 21st century than we are, in
no small measure because of you. Our neighbors to the south, all the
way to the tip of South America, are the second fastest growing
region in the world. They're our trading partners, our friends, all
but one of their countries is a democracy. If you think about how
well America is positioned, what we have to do is to create the
conditions in which we have opportunity and responsibility SO we're
making progress on our challenges here at home; and then we have to
beat this terrible thing that has bedeviled the rest of the world,
this curse of the human spirit which makes whole groups of people
believe that the only way they can exist and feel important is if
they have some other group of people to look down on, to hate, to
fight, to shoot.
Look at Bosnia, a small country where biologically the
Croats, the Serbs and the Muslims are indistinguishable. There is no
true ethnic difference. They are in different groups because of
accidents of political history. They lived together in peace and
harmony for decades, and in no time at all they were killing each
other's children. Now we've had peace for several months, nearly a
year; now we've had elections. It's going to be a long road back for
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people that had, among other things, one of the most beautiful cities
in the world in Sarajevo, and were willing to throw it all away just
so they could feel superior to somebody else.
Look at Northern Ireland, where they had a cease-fire
or 15 months and Hillary and I went over there and the Catholics and
the Protestants lined the streets together and cheered. And people
who did not have the patience for peace broke the cease-fire. Then
others did things that were foolish. Now they're back to arguing
about battles that occurred 600 years ago, that have nothing to do
with the future of any Catholic or Protestant child in Northern
Ireland.
Look at the Middle East, where every day we see both the
exhilaration and the heartbreak that comes from the progress of peace
and the shattering of hopes because they cannot lay down the things
which have driven stakes in too many hearts. Some people I overreact
when a church is burned or a synagogue is defaced or an Islamic
center is destroyed in this country. But what makes this country
work is you don't have to be in any ethnic or racial or religious
group; all you have to do is say I believe in the Declaration of
Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, show up tomorrow,
do the right thing, raise your kids, and you're part of our country.
That is what is special about America. (Applause.)
And, folks, I understand there are difficult issues and
I understand when people are having a hard time economically they get
frustrated. But that's why I fought to mend affirmative action
instead of destroy it. That's why I stood against Proposition 187 in
California and the CPRI -- (applause) - - because I think we have to
prove that America is different. And we're going to be given a
chance to prove it.
Think how tragic it would be if having won the Cold War
for freedom, seeing the nuclear threat recede -- I was SO proud that
America was the first country to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test
Ban Treaty yesterday at the United Nations, banning all nuclear
testing forever - - (applause) -- think how tragic it would be if we
did all that and then we saw the world consumed by terrorism, by
weapons of mass destruction like biological and chemical weapons, by
organized crime and drug gangs and all that, but all of it rooted in
nations consumed by tribal, racial, ethnic and religious hatred.
It does not have to be that way. We know better. We
know better.
So all of us, but especially you, who have succeeded,
who are articulate, who can pierce people's heart and get people's
reasoning going, you've got to say one of the things that we have to
say to ourselves and to the world in this season of democratic
choosing is this is one country, we like our diversity, we are proud
of it and we are going to take it into the next century. All of us
are going across that bridge because we know if we do that our best
days are still ahead.
Thank you and God bless you all. (Applause.)
END
10:25 P.M. EDT
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
or Immediate Release
September 16, 1997
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO THE CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS
Washington Hilton Hotel
Washington, D.C.
8:15 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you for the
wonderful welcome you have given to the Vice President and me. Thank
you, Javier. Thank you, Carmen, Carolina. To the members of
Congress who are here, members of the Hispanic Caucus Institute,
members of our administration all those who were introduced by the
Vice President. I'd also like to acknowledge the presence here of
the general chairman of our political party, the Democratic Party,
Governor Roy Romer of Colorado. Welcome, Governor Romer.
(Applause.)
Javier pointed out that I have been here all five years
I have been President. I come because I have a good time.
(Laughter.) I like it. (Applause.) I know that here I will see the
future of America, the vitality, the energy, the commitment, the
bassion necessary to make this country what it ought to be.
(Applause.) But I have been here five times. (Laughter.) I mean,
those of us who are linguistically challenged - - (laughter) - - always
learn a few phrases - - you know, su voto es sus votos; mi casa es su
casa. (Laughter.) Now I can say, su caucus es mi caucus.
(Applause.)
I come here because when I leave here I feel more alive,
I feel more committed, I feel new energy, and I like what I see. I
thank the members of Congress for their service. I thank the
Hispanics who have served in our administration more than in any
other in the past; the members of the Cabinet who are here
Secretary Pena, Ambassador Richardson, Aida Alvarez. To all those in
the White House -- Maria Eschevesta, Mickey Ibarra, Janet Murguia,
and others. To my speechwriter, Carolyn Curiel, who I will soon
nominate to be Ambassador to Belize. (Applause.) Gloria Tristani,
who I have just elected to serve as the newest member of the Federal
Communications Commission. (Applause.)
There is also another person who I want to acknowledge
who will have a lot to do with seeing that the face of the federal
government and the policies of the federal government reflect the
face and the heart of America. And here with me tonight is my
nominee for Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Bill Lee.
And I'd like to ask him to be recognized. (Applause.)
He grew up a Chinese American in New York, has spent a
lot of is life working for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He has
worked to defend and protect the civil rights of the most vulnerable
among us. And I thank you for your continued support for his
nomination.
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I'd also like to mention two people who aren't here
tonight. We all miss Frank Tejeda whose career ended far too soon,
as did his remarkable life. But I want to say again how much I
enjoyed working with him and how much I miss him. (Applause.) And
''d also like to say a very special word of appreciation and good
wishes to the first Hispanic American elected to the United States
Congress, Henry B. Gonzalez. (Applause.) He has been an
irrepressible force for progress. He is an irreplaceable legislator.
It has been my great honor to know him for 25 years, long before I
ever dreamed I'd be here, and I'm quite sure long before he ever
dreamed I would be here. (Laughter.) But we wish him well, and
we'll miss him.
Together, we have begun to prepare our beloved country
for the 21st century. Tonight, I want to take just a few moments of
your time to talk about the work ahead and the responsibility we have
to support each other in that work. It's been nearly six years
now since I announced my candidacy for President. Many of you
started with me, almost all of you finished with me, and we have
begun a journey - - to restore the American Dream to everyone willing
to work for it, to make America the world's greatest force for peace
and freedom well into the next century and to go forward into that
new century in spite of all of our diversity as one America.
We began with a bold, new economic course which reduced
our deficit 80 percent before the recent budget passed (applause)
for all of you who voted for that, I hope that you're out there
clapping to yourselves, because you deserve it. We expanded our
exports with over 200 trade agreements. We invested in our people
and their future. We took on the tough social problems at home and
the tough foreign policy problems around the world.
Today, the American people are reaping the results of
these last years of effort. Unemployment below 5 percent, Hispanic
unemployment dropping from over 11 percent to about 7 percent, a drop
of over 35 percent. (Applause.) Record rates of small business
growth with Hispanic American businesses growing at three times the
rate of overall business growth, and hundreds of thousands of new
Latino homes in this country. (Applause.)
Violent crime has dropped five years in a row. We've
had the largest drop in welfare rolls in history. All this signals
progress. We should be optimistic, we should be hopeful, we should
be confident. But we all know we have more to do before every one of
our people, every one of your people and every one of the American
people will be prepared to do well in the 21st century.
The first thing we have to do is to continue to expand
and improve educational opportunity. I am proud that the budget I
just signed represents the largest single increased investment in
education since 1965. (Applause.) I fought hard to ensure that it
included a 36 percent increase in funding for bilingual and immigrant
education. (Applause.) To see that it expands Head Start, it funds
our America Reads program to mobilize up to 1 million volunteer
tutors to make sure our children can read well at an early age. It
will help us to develop voluntary tests in reading and math, to help
children learn the basic skills they need to succeed. Not to put
them down, but to lift them up.
It also opens the doors of college to all Americans for
the first time in history with the biggest increase in support for
people going to college since the G.I. Bill passed 50 years ago.
(Applause.) There's the largest increase in Pell Grants in more than
two decades, a $1,500 HOPE Scholarship tax credit to open the doors
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of the first two years of college to all Americans, and further tax
credits for all higher education for people of all ages, because we
know we have to have a system of lifetime learning in America, and we
should support that for people of all ages. (Applause.)
Despite a strong work ethic and falling unemployment, however,
despite exploding numbers of new Hispanic-owned businesses, Hispanic
family income is not yet rising. And one of the biggest reasons for
this disparity in income is that too many young Latinos continue to
drop out of school. The dropout rate for Hispanic American remains far
above the rates for whites or African Americans. Many of these young
people leave school for responsible reasons to begin to help their
families by working. But, increasingly, in a global economy, we must
teach our children that responsibility means staying in school and
going the whole route. (Applause.)
We have organized an intense effort in the White House to
address the dropout problem of Hispanic American students. I
instructed Gene Sperling, the head of the National Economic Council,
Maria Echaveste, who heads our Office of Public Liaison, Mickey
Ibarra, who heads our Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and
our Education Secretary, Dick Riley, to evaluate all of our current
programs and identify what more we can do right now to help young
Latinos reach their potential.
I am pleased that Senator Bingaman and Representative Hinojosa
will soon introduce the National Dropout Prevention Act of 1997 to
establish a coordinated national strategy for lower dropout rates for
Hispanics and others who should have their dropout rates lower. I want
to ask you to help us with this. We need your support. (Applause.)
Let me also say, in the context of education, that
balanced budget agreement just set a framework for the next two
years. Every single year we have to make sure that the congressional
appropriations are faithful to the agreement. And I ask your support
in helping us and helping the members of Congress make sure that
those investments are there.
And in that connection, let me tell you, I at least, and
I think most of you, are quite concerned by the recent, very narrow
decision in the Senate to support the Gorton amendment that would
block-grant virtually all federal education funds to the states.
That's a step in the wrong direction, because whatever its intent,
the effect of the amendment is to shift funds away from the schools
that serve our neediest children. And unless we can persuade them
to change, I will not hesitate to use my veto power to prevent that
hasty decision from becoming the law of the land. (Applause.)
Let me also say that that budget did one more thing that
I want to emphasize -- it did a lot of good things, including
providing health insurance for up to 5 million American children,
many of whom will be Hispanic children and the children of
hard-working people who work all day every day, but can't get health
insurance at work. (Applause.) It also kept a promise I made last
year to restore benefits to legal immigrants who come to this country
legally, work hard, and contribute to our society. (Applause.) And
I thank the members of Congress who are here who made that possible.
(Applause.)
The second thing we have to do is to sell more of our
goods and services around the world. We have 4 percent of the
world's population, 20 percent of the world's income, 96 percent of
the world's consumers live somewhere else. The growing developing
economies are growing at three times the rate of our European and
other traditional trading partners. We have no choice but to compete
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for those new markets.
Indeed, 70 percent of our export growth this year comes
from our neighbors -- Canada to the north, and all the other
eighbors are to our south; Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean,
South America -- 70 percent of our growth is there. Now, the
legislation I sent to Congress today to renew the President's
traditional authority to negotiate trade agreements, to open markets
to our products and create good jobs, contains important provisions
that will enable me to negotiate to protect both worker rights and
the environment. And it will involve Congress every step of the way.
But I say again, it is in our interest to open these
markets. Week after week, I read of these European leaders going to
South America, saying, America doesn't care about Latin America;
Europe cares about Latin America. America is sitting up there
sitting on its gain. We want you to be allied with Europe.
I say, they are our friends; I have worked hard to
establish a good relationship, and I think we should go forward with
fair, balanced trading agreements that will help our economy and help
our relations. (Applause.)
I want to say a special word of thanks to Congressman
Becerra and his allies in the Hispanic Caucus for the contributions
that they made when I last went to Latin America several months ago,
when I went to Mexico and Central America and to the Caribbean.
Congressman Becerra and Congressman Reyes went with me Congressman
Romero-Barcelo joined us in the Caribbean.
In a few weeks, I'll be going for a week's visit in
Brazil and Argentina and Venezuela, and I'm looking forward to
working with you, Congressman Becerra and with the Caucus to make
this productive for America, as well. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
Let me make one other comment now about the last thing
that I think we have to do. Our journey into tomorrow is about more
than economics. It's about the kind of people we are and how we
relate to each other. It's about whether we can really learn to not
only tolerate each other, not even just to respect each other, but to
celebrate the fact that people who are SO different share this land
together and want to share its future together and deserve to share
its future together because we are bound together by common values
--by faith and family and work and community and service to country.
Now, in order to do that, we have to face some facts.
The first fact is that we still have some unfinished business in this
country, some discrimination that we have not resolved it still
exists. The second fact is that all those people that want to get
rid of affirmative action carry a heavier burden than they have yet
borne to show about what they were going to do to replace it, to
guarantee everybody has an equal opportunity. (Applause.)
The third thing we have to do is to treat each other
respectfully and honestly in all of our dealings, particularly in
putting together our political system. So in that connection, let me
just make one comment more about the census coming up in 2000 and the
whole issue of sampling. My sole goal is to have the most accurate
count of Americans. I have no other political agenda. I have never
been involved in this in any way, shape or form. Every expert who
has reviewed the census process, including a recent report from the
National Science Foundation, said that the sampling method the Census
Bureau proposes to use in the year 2000 is designed to count
hard-to-find Americans, including the homeless and some minorities,
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not to leave them out. We are not interested in counting people who
do not live here and do not exist, but we want to make sure, finally,
that everybody who is here is counted in the census of the American
people in the year 2000. (Applause.)
If we're going to be one America, we have to make sure
our immigration laws are fair and humane to all. (Applause.) To
that effort, we have undertaken two initiatives I want to mention
briefly. First, we're seeking to extend the legal authority that
permits people to obtain permanent immigration status without having
to leave our country, often leaving their families and their jobs
behind. (Applause.) And, second, we're working to enable some
Central Americans and others who have already made lives for
themselves here in the United States to be considered for permanent
status under less stringent rules in place prior to the passage of
the recent immigration bill. (Applause.)
But the most important thing we can do is to really make
up our minds that we're going to share the future together. The
reason that I organized this national conversation on race for the
next year and had an advisory board constituted, including Linda
Chavez-Thompson, who is well-known to many of you, is that it bothers
me that SO few Americans have really thought about what this country
is going to be like in 20 or 30 or 40 years.
Within five years, our largest state, California, will
have no majority race. Hawaii already has no majority race.
(Applause.) Hispanic Americans are the fastest-growing American
minority, but within a matter of decades, we'll all be members of
some racial or ethnic minority.
Now, people have said for years - - maybe for over 200
years, maybe going all the way back to the beginning -- that America
is not a place, a nation that is about a particular religious creed
or a particular race or even a particular place; America is just a
set of ideas. We are about to find out. (Applause.) We are about
to find out.
And SO I say to all of you, when I come here and I feel
your energy, your spirit, your patriotism, your dreams, your
affection for each other and for your country, that is what I want
every American to feel. And that's what I want you to be able to
feel about every other American. And we have a heavy responsibility
here. No other great democracy like ours has ever been so diverse,
and yet people living together so closely. No one has ever tried to
do this. We are trying to do this against the backdrop of reading in
the last several years about all of the problems, from the Middle
East to Bosnia, to Northern Ireland, to Africa, to you name it.
We say to the bottom of our soul, we don't believe in
any of that. We don't seek, any of us, to lift ourselves up by
putting someone else down. We are simply trying to create a country
where everybody's responsible, has opportunity, where we're drawn
together more closely every day, and where we're still trying to
promote what we believe in around the world.
You, as the fastest growing group of America, have a
special responsibility to make sure that message pierces the mind and
heart of every one of your fellow citizens, because if it does, we'll
take care of the economics, we'll take care of the other work we have
to do. If we can get our hearts right and our heads straight about
how we're going to do this together, we will get to the next century
with this country still the greatest nation in human history.
Thank you and God bless you.
5 of ()
9/18/2000 8:53 AM
http://www.pub.whitchousc.gov/uri-res/I2.:pdi://oma.cop.gov.us/1997/9/17/9.tcxt.
END
8:33 P.M. EDT
6 of 6
9/18/2000 8:53 AM
Draft 09/19/00 4:30pm
Josh Gottheimer
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS FOR NATIONAL HISPANIC ARTS FOUNDATION
WASHINGTON, DC
September 19, 2000
Ack: Maria Echaveste, my Deputy Chief of Staff. Brian Barretto (Office of Public Liaison). I
want to thank Jimmy Smits and the entire membership of the National Hispanic Arts Foundation
for your uncommon leadership in expanding opportunity in the arts. From the silver screen to
the Broadway Stage, your efforts have opened doors for scores of talented Hispanics.
Your work, and the support of the Hispanic community, have been instrumental to the
success of our administration. For that, Vice President Gore and I owe you a debt of
gratitude that cannot be repaid in words alone.
So that's why I'm here this evening: to say thank you for all you do for the arts and for the
Hispanic community - and to take a moment to recount just how far we've come since 1993.
We now have the lowest Hispanic unemployment rate in history; the lowest
Hispanic poverty rate in a generation, and a million new Hispanic homeowners since
1994.
We doubled the Earned Income Tax Credit, so that it now lifts 1.2 million
Hispanics out of poverty.
We raised the minimum wage - directly benefiting 1.6 million Hispanic workers -
and it's time we raised it again.
We nearly doubled our investment in education and training. We also enacted
the Hispanic Education Action Plan to encourage Hispanic youth to stay in school and go to
college.
We appointed more Hispanics to the federal bench than any administration in
history. But too many of our minority nominees are still waiting for Senate confirmation.
Under the VP's leadership, we have reduced the naturalization backlog at INS, by
streamlining the naturalization process to make it easier for immigrants, who play by the
rules, to become full partners in America.
We increased the number of Small Business Administration loans to Hispanic
entrepreneurs by 250 percent.
The more diverse our nation becomes, the richer we are in talent, energy and ideas.
The public these days can't seem to get enough of the vitality and sheer joy of Hispanic art
and culture - from the CDs of Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez to the books of Susan
Cisneros and Oscar Hijuelos [e-WELL-os].
But as you know, while we've come a long way, too many Latinos are still being shut
from the world of art and entertainment. Studies show that Latino characters account for
only 3 percent of the total prime time television population. And only two-thirds of all
Latino characters on TV are male.
We all need to remember that in this increasingly interconnected world, our diversity is
our greatest strength. As long as we honor our common values and common humanity, we
can build the One America of our dreams.
Thank you and God Bless you.
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a tabbed divider. Given our
digitization capabilities, we are sometimes unable to adequately
scan such dividers. The title from the original document is
indicated below.
POTUS Remarks
Divider Title:
5.
Education
6.
China/PNTR
7.
Guns - we must pass common sense gun legislation.
1992 Roadmap. Today we have Results. opportunity, responsibility, community
Longest economic expansion in history. 22M new jobs. $290B def=$167B surp. Debt
Elimin 2013 (1835/ Jackson). Lwst unempl 30 yrs (7.3%=4.1%). Lwst poverty 20 yrs. Lwst
Af-Am/Hisp unempl on record. 1st Back to back bud supr 42 yr.
Revival American spirit: 25 yr crime, 30-Welf (cut in 1/2); Adoptions up 30%, highest immun.
Big Challenges -- Take Long Look Ahead:
Strengthen Families
Child care; PBOR; FMLA -- extend to 12M; Equal Pay. Fatherhood (child suppt). CHIP (2 M)
Now parents. Medicare buy-in (55-65). LTC ($1K-$3K). Census.
21st Century Economy
New Markets--invest. Rural, inner-city, Nat-Am. EITC. Digital divide. Expand Trade -- freer &
fairer trade.
21st Century Schools
Double Head Start. 100K new tchrs. School modern (6K). Summer school & after school. Turn
around failing schools; trained teachers. College opp: HOPE, Pell, work-study. $30B college
oppt tax cut. Computers in Classrooms. Gear-Up. Charter schools.
Safest Big Country in World.
100K cops. 50K more. Guns: Brady. Gun licensing. Enforcement. Drug testing
prisoners/parolees. Voluntary Ratings.
Protect Envrio. Lands Legacy endowment; Livability (open spaces, advanced transit system).
Global Warming.
Science and Technology. Genome. Internet (50=5B websites) $3B incr. 21st C. Research
Fund. Medical & financial privacy.
Globalization. WTO/China: Protect enviro/child labor. Peace Mid East, Ireland.
One America- AmeriCorps. Hate Crimes/ENDA. 99% same.
Message Sent To:
Karen Tramontano/WHO/EOP@EOP
Carolyn T. Wu/WHO/EOP@EOP
Mary L. Smith/WHO/EOP@EOP
Loretta M. Ucelli/WHO/EOP@EOP
Christine M. Glunz/WHO/EOP@EOP
Patrick M. Dorton/OPD/EOP@EOP
Jason Furman/OPD/EOP@EOP
Maria Echaveste/WHO/EOP@EOP
Irene Bueno/WHO/EOP@EOP
Thomas L. Freedman/OPD/EOP@EOP
Michele Ballantyne/WHO/EOP@EOP
Fern Mechlowitz/WHO/EOP@EOP
Rachael F. Goldfarb/WHO/EOP@EOP
Melissa G. Green/OPD/EOP@EOP
Bruce N. Reed/OPD/EOP@EOP
Cathy R. Mays/OPD/EOP@EOP
Sarah Wilson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Cynthia M. Jasso-Rotunno/WHO/EOP@EOP
Minyon Moore/WHO/EOP@EOP
Mickey Ibarra/WHO/EOP@EOP
[email protected]@ inet
Steve Ricchetti/WHO/EOP@EOP
Jennifer L. Dewitt/WHO/EOP@EOP
John Podesta/WHO/EOP@EOP
Joseph P. Lockhart/WHO/EOP@EOP
Jennifer M. Palmieri/WHO/EOP@EOP
Richard L. Siewert/WHO/EOP@EOP
Jenni R. Engebretsen/WHO/EOP@EOP
Elliott H. Baer/OPD/EOP@EOP
Joseph N. Crisci/OPD/EOP@EOP
Mary L. Smith/WHO/EOP@EOP
Stephanie A. Cutter/WHO/EOP@EOP
Eric S. Angel/WHO/EOP@EOP
[email protected] @ inet
Joel Johnson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Terry Edmonds/WHO/EOP@EOP
Jeffrey A. Shesol/WHO/EOP@EOP
Elizabeth J. Potter/WHO/EOP@EOP
Alison N. Cantu/WHO/EOP@EOP
Draft 09/19/00 4:30pm
Josh Gottheimer
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS FOR NATIONAL HISPANIC ARTS FOUNDATION
WASHINGTON, DC
September 19, 2000
Ack: Maria Echaveste, my Deputy Chief of Staff. Brian Barretto (Office of Public Liaison). I
want to thank Jimmy Smits and the entire membership of the National Hispanic Arts Foundation
for your uncommon leadership in expanding opportunity in the arts. From the silver screen to
the Broadway Stage, your efforts have opened doors for scores of talented Hispanics.
Your work, and the support of the Hispanic community, have been instrumental to the
success of our administration. For that, Vice President Gore and I owe you a debt of
gratitude that cannot be repaid in words alone.
So that's why I'm here this evening: to say thank you for all you do for the arts and for the
Hispanic community - and to take a moment to recount just how far we've come since 1993.
We now have the lowest Hispanic unemployment rate in history; the lowest
Hispanic poverty rate in a generation, and a million new Hispanic homeowners since
1994.
We doubled the Earned Income Tax Credit, so that it now lifts 1.2 million
Hispanics out of poverty.
We raised the minimum wage - directly benefiting 1.6 million Hispanic workers - -
and it's time we raised it again.
We nearly doubled our investment in education and training. We also enacted
the Hispanic Education Action Plan to encourage Hispanic youth to stay in school and go to
college.
We appointed more Hispanics to the federal bench than any administration in
history. But too many of our minority nominees are still waiting for Senate confirmation.
Under the VP's leadership, we have reduced the naturalization backlog at INS, by
streamlining the naturalization process to make it easier for immigrants, who play by the
rules, to become full partners in America.
We increased the number of Small Business Administration loans to Hispanic
entrepreneurs by 250 percent.
The more diverse our nation becomes, the richer we are in talent, energy and ideas.
The public these days can't seem to get enough of the vitality and sheer joy of Hispanic art
and culture - from the CDs of Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez to the books of Susan
Cisneros and Oscar Hijuelos [e-WELL-os].
But as you know, while we've come a long way, too many Latinos are still being shut
from the world of art and entertainment. Studies show that Latino characters account for
only 3 percent of the total prime time television population. And only two-thirds of all
Latino characters on TV are male.
We all need to remember that in this increasingly interconnected world, our diversity is
our greatest strength. As long as we honor our common values and common humanity, we
can build the One America of our dreams.
Thank you and God Bless you.
Final 09/19/00 4:30pm
Josh Gottheimer
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
wicky
REMARKS FOR NATIONAL HISPANIC ARTS FOUNDATION
WASHINGTON, DC
Duana
honove
September 19, 2000
Ack: Maria Echaveste, my Deputy Chief of Staff. Brian Barretto (Office of Public Liaison) N'd
like to congratulate Sara Martinez Tucker and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund for tonight's honor
and for twenty-five years of service to the Hispanic Community.
I
want to thank Jimmy Smits, Felix Sanchez (President of the Foundation), and the entire
membership of the National Hispanic Arts Foundation for your uncommon leadership in
expanding opportunity in the arts. From the silver screen to the Broadway Stage, your efforts
have opened doors for scores of talented Hispanics.
Your work, and the support of the Hispanic community, have been instrumental to the
success of our administration. For that, Vice President Gore and I owe you a debt of
gratitude that cannot be repaid in words alone.
So that's why I'm here this evening: to say thank you for all you do for the arts and for the
Hispanic community - and to take a moment to recount just how far we've come since 1993.
We now have the lowest Hispanic unemployment rate in history; the lowest
Hispanic poverty rate in a generation, and a million new Hispanic homeowners since
1994.
We doubled the Earned Income Tax Credit, so that it now lifts 1.2 million
Hispanics out of poverty.
We raised the minimum wage - directly benefiting 1.6 million Hispanic workers -
and it's time we raised it again.
We nearly doubled our investment in education and training. We also created the
Hispanic Education Action Plan to encourage Hispanic youth to stay in school and go to
college.
We appointed more Hispanics to the federal bench than any administration in
history. But too many of our minority nominees are still waiting for Senate confirmation.
Under the VP's leadership, we have reduced the naturalization backlog at INS, by
streamlining the naturalization process to make it easier for immigrants, who play by the
rules, to become full partners in America.
We increased the number of Small Business Administration loans to Hispanic
entrepreneurs by 250 percent.
But we need to keep working in our other pressing priorities - pass a strong and
enforceable patients bill of rights, modernize Medicare with a prescription drug benefit,
improve education, pass hate crimes legislation, and raise the minimum wage.
The more diverse our nation becomes, the richer we are in talent, energy and ideas.
The public these days can't seem to get enough of the vitality and sheer joy of Hispanic art
and culture - from the CDs of Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez to the books of Susan
Cisneros and Oscar Hijuelos [e-WELL-os].
But as you know, while we' ve come a long way, too many Latinos are still being shut
from the world of art and entertainment. Studies show that Latino characters account for
only 3 percent of the total prime time television population. And only two-thirds of all
Latino characters on TV are male.
We all need to remember that in this increasingly interconnected world, our diversity is
our greatest strength. As long as we honor our common values and common humanity, we
can build the One America of our dreams.
Thank you and God Bless you.
September 19, 2000
MEMORANDUM FOR TERRY EDMONDS
FROM:
MARA SILVER
RE:
MORNING SCHEDULE
1.
Good morning.
2.
Schedule Today: 7:45 am - Communications mtg; 8:00 am - Senior Staff mtg;
9:00 am - Van for HBCU Event (W. Basement)
3.
POTUS Today: 10:15 am - Briefing: Long-Term Care (Oval); 10:40 am - Long-Term
Care (Rose Garden); 11:55 am - Fundraiser; 1:00 - 4:00 pm - Phone and Office; 7:45 pm
- Speak Truth to Power
4.
Phone and Office Time Today: 1:00 - 4:00 pm
5.
Speech Calendar: See Attached
Joshua S. Gottheimer
09/18/2000 12:20:09 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: updated SW sked
WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF SPEECHWRITING
SPEECH ASSIGNMENTS
September 19 - September 26, 2000
Tues 9/19
Fundraisers
Josh
Tues 9/19
T: PNTR Bill Signing
Heather
Tues 9/19
Message Event (LTC)
John
Wed 9/20
COGIC
Sam
Wed 9/20
Fundraiser
Josh
Wed 9/20
CHC
Paul
Thru 9/21
Dep Stmt - Lands Legacy
Terry
Thur 9/21
Digital Divide
Josh
Fri 9/22
Fundraiser
Josh
Fri 9/22
Webcast (first.gov)
Paul
Fri 9/22
Radio Address
John
Fri 9/22
State Dept Dedication
Heather/ NSC
Sat 9/23
Fundraisers
Josh
Sun 9/24
Fundraisers
Josh
Sun 9/24
LCV
Jeff
Mon 9/25
Fundraisers
Josh
Tues 9/26
Georgetown Law Event
TBD
Tuesday, September 19, 2000
SCHEDULE OF THE PRESIDENT
FOR
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2000
Final Schedule
9:00
am-
HOLD (NH)
10:00
am
10:00
am-
MEETING
10:15
am
OVAL OFFICE
Staff Contact: John Podesta
10:15
am-
BRIEFING
10:25
am
OVAL OFFICE
Staff Contact: Charles Brain, Chris Jennings
Note:
In case of inclement weather, the President will proceed to
Presidential Hall, Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office
Building at 10:20 A.M.
10:25
am-
MEET AND GREET
10:35
am
OVAL OFFICE (RAIN SITE: HALLWAY)
Staff Contact: Charles Brain, Chris Jennings
Event Coordinator: Laura Schwartz
CLOSED PRESS
Note: There will be approximately 14 guests in attendance.
10:40
am-
LONG-TERM CARE SECURITY ACT SIGNING CEREMONY
11:20
am
ROSE GARDEN (RAIN SITE: PRESIDENTIAL HALL)
Remarks: John Pollack
Staff Contact: Charles Brain, Chris Jennings
Event Coordinator: Laura Schwartz
OPEN PRESS
Note: There will be approximately 130 guests in attendance.
--
Off-stage announcement of the President, accompanied by Janice
LaChance and Joan Madaras.
:
Janice LaChance, Director, OPM makes brief remarks and introduces Joan
Madaras.
--
Joan Madaras makes brief remarks and introduces the President.
--
The President makes remarks and departs.
September 18, 2000 (7:44 PM)
Tuesday, September 19, 2000
11:25
am
THE PRESIDENT departs The White House via motorcade en route St. Regis
Hotel
[drive time: 5 minutes]
11:30
am
THE PRESIDENT arrives St. Regis Hotel
Greeters:
State Attorney General Heitkamp
Senator Kent Conrad
Senator Byron Dorgan (T)
Representative Earl Pomeroy (T)
11:35 am-
PHOTO RECEIVING LINE
11:50
am
STATE SALON
St. Regis Hotel
Staff Contact: Minyon Moore
Event Coordinator: Sarah Rozensky
CLOSED PRESS
Note: There will be approximately 30-35 guests in attendance.
11:55
am-
HEITKAMP LUNCH
12:50
pm
CRYSTAL BALLROOM
St. Regis Hotel
Remarks: Josh Gottheimer
Staff Contact: Minyon Moore
Event Coordinator: Sarah Rozensky
POOL PRESS
Note: There will be approximately 100 guests in attendance.
--
The President proceeds to his seat.
--
Lunch is served
12:10 pm --
Senator Kent Conrad makes brief remarks and introduces State
Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp.
--
State Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp makes brief remarks and
introduces the President.
:
The President makes remarks, works a ropeline and departs.
12:55 pm
THE PRESIDENT departs St. Regis Hotel via motorcade en route The White
House
[drive time: 5 minutes]
1:00
pm
THE PRESIDENT arrives The White House
September 18, 2000 (7:44 PM)
Tuesday, September 19, 2000
1:00
pm-
PHONE AND OFFICE TIME
3:00
pm
OVAL OFFICE
3:00
pm-
HOLD
4:00
pm
4:00
pm-
CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS MEETING
5:00
pm
CABINET ROOM
Staff Contact: Charles Brain
WHITE HOUSE PHOTO ONLY
5:15
pm-
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB YOUTH OF THE YEAR PHOTO
5:25
pm
OPPORTUNITY
OVAL OFFICE
Staff Contact: Mary Beth Cahill
WHITE HOUSE PHOTO ONLY
Note: There will be approximately 13 guests in attendance.
5:30
pm-
MEETING
6:30
pm
OVAL OFFICE
Staff Contact: John Podesta, Samuel Berger
6:30
pm-
DOWN TIME
7:05
pm
RESIDENCE
7:05
pm
THE PRESIDENT departs The White House via motorcade en route Kennedy
Center
[drive time: 5 minutes]
7:10
pm
THE PRESIDENT arrives Kennedy Center
Greeters:
Secretary Andrew Cuomo
Karry Kennedy Cuomo, Event Host
7:15
pm-
PHOTO RECEIVING LINE
7:40
pm
GREEN ROOM
Kennedy Center
Staff Contact: Mary Beth Cahill
Event Coordinator: Stephen Lamb
WETA CAMERA AND WHITE HOUSE PHOTO ONLY (AT THE TOP)
Note: There will be approximately 80 guests in attendance.
September 18, 2000 (7:44 PM)
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Tuesday, September 19, 2000
7:45
pm-
REMARKS AT KENNEDY CENTER "SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER"
8:10
pm
PERFORMANCE
EISENHOWER THEATER
Kennedy Center
Staff Contact: Mary Beth Cahill
Event Coordinator: Stephen Lamb
POOL PRESS
Note: There will be approximately 900 guests in attendance.
--
Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez, Nobel Laureate introduces Karry Kennedy
Cuomo
onto stage.
--
Karry Kennedy Cuomo makes brief remarks and introduces the
President onto stage.
--
The President makes remarks and departs.
Note:
After the President departs, the performance will begin.
8:15
pm
THE PRESIDENT departs Kennedy Center via motorcade en route The White
House
[drive time: 5 minutes]
8:20
pm
THE PRESIDENT arrives The White House
BC RON
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, D.C.
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September 18, 2000 (7:44 PM)
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Draft 09/19/00 4pm
Josh Gottheimer
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS FOR NATIONAL HISPANIC ARTS FOUNDATION
WASHINGTON, DC
September 19, 2000
Ack: Maria Echaveste, my Deputy Chief of Staff. Brian Barretto (Office of Public Liaison). I
want to thank Jimmy Smits and the entire membership of the National Hispanic Arts Foundation
for your uncommon leadership in expanding opportunity in the arts. From the silver screen to
the Broadway Stage, your work has opened doors for scores of talented Hispanics.
Your work, and the support of the Hispanic community, have been instrumental to the
success of our administration. For that, Vice President Gore and I owe you a debt of
gratitude that cannot be repaid in words alone.
So that's why I'm here this evening: to say thank you for all you do for the arts and for the
Hispanic community - and to take a moment to recount just how far we' ve come since 1993.
We now have the lowest Hispanic unemployment rate in history; the lowest
Hispanic poverty rate in a generation, and a million new Hispanic homeowners since
1994.
We doubled the Earned Income Tax Credit, so that it now lifts 1.2 million
Hispanics out of poverty.
We raised the minimum wage - directly benefiting 1.6 million Hispanic workers -
and it's time we raised it again.
We nearly doubled our investment in education and training. We also enacted
the Hispanic Education Action Plan to encourage Hispanic youth to stay in school and go to
college.
We appointed more Hispanics to the federal bench than any administration in
history. But too many of our minority nominees are still waiting for Senate confirmation.
Under the VP's leadership, we have reduced the naturalization backlog at INS by
streamlining the naturalization process to make it easier for immigrants who play by the rules
to become full partners in America.
We increased the number of Small Business Administration loans to Hispanic
entrepreneurs by 250 percent.
The more diverse our nation becomes, the richer we are in talent, energy and ideas.
The public these days can't seem to get enough of the vitality and sheer joy of Hispanic art
and culture - from the CDs of Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez to the books of Susan
Cisneros and Oscar Hijuelos [e-WELL-os].
But as you know, while we've come a long way, too many Latinos are still being shut
from the world of art and entertainment. Studies show that Latino characters account for
only 3 percent of the total prime time television population. And only two-thirds of all
Latino characters on TV are male.
We all need to remember that in this increasingly interconnected world, our diversity is
our greatest strength. As long as we honor our common values and common humanity, we
can build the One America of our dreams.
Thank you and God Bless you.
"The arts cannot thrive except where men are free to be themselves and to be in charge of the
discipline of their own energies and ardors. The conditions for democracy and art are one.
-
FDR, dedication of the Museum of Modern Art, NYC
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a tabbed divider. Given our
digitization capabilities, we are sometimes unable to adequately
scan such dividers. The title from the original document is
indicated below.
Policy
Divider Title:
National
Hispanic Foundation
for the Arts
Mission Statement
"Creating Opportunities, Rewarding Excellence"
The National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts was created in 1997 to advance the
presence of Latinos in the media telecommunications and entertainment industries.. The,
Foundation has concentrated in increasing access for Hispanic artists and professionals
while fostering the emergence of new Hispanic talent.
The Hispanic community--which makes up 12 percent of the U.S. population and will
soon become the nation's largest ethnic minority group--increasingly is recognized for
its potentially enormous consumer and political power. Yet the entertainment industry
has failed to acknowledge the size and impact of an audience that is 34 million strong.
Paradoxically, while the entertainment industry and its advertisers tap into the Hispanic
community's resources, its programming ignores or distorts Hispanic culture and offers
children limited, stereotypical and generally negative role models. This omission
deprives an entire community of a source of cultural pride and reality and the country-
at-large of a true picture of the American mosaic, thus deepening the racial and ethnic
rifts that divide us.
The Foundation's mission has two principal goals:
to offer graduate scholarships at prominent colleges and universities; and
to expand career opportunities for existing talent in all aspects of entertainment
and the performing arts.
The Foundation is the initiative of actors Jimmy Smits, Sonia Braga, Esai Morales and
Washington, D.C. attorney, Felix Sanchez. NHFA embraces a big tent philosophy and
works closely with the White House, the U.S. Congress, the Congressional Hispanic
Caucus and the Federal Communications Commission.
Noche de Gala
6:30 O'Clock
VIP Reception
Generación ñ Celebrities
Paulo Benedeti
Dahlia Victoria
Alexis Cruz
Nicholas Gonzales
Richard Lima
Diego Serrano
Kamar de Los Reyes
Jose Solano
Carmen More
Marcio Rosario
Constance Marie
Santiago Douglas
Honored Guests
Michael DeLorenzo
Honorable Robert Menendez
Vice Chair, Democratic Caucus
7:30 O'Clock
Dinner Seating / Welcome
Felix R. Sanchez
NHFA President and Co-Founder
The Honorable Alexis M. Herman
U.S. Secretary of Labor
8:30 O'Clock
Program
Speakers
Merel Julia
Jon Seda
Sonia Braga
Oscar de la Hoya
Jimmy Smits
Scholarship Recipient Address
Alexis Cruz
Yvonne Rodriguez-Green
CBS/Showtime
UCLA
2000 Raul Julia Award for Excellence
Accepting for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Sara Martinez Tucker
adelting too
President & CEO
dla flat
Special Guest
The Honorable Norman Mineta
U.S. Secretary of Commerce
commy) rund's
Entertainment
Carlos Ponce
Cristina Vidal
2000-2001 Scholarship Recipients
Columbia University
Yale University
Elesha M. Miranda
Jeanine Serralles
Joshua G. Sanchez
Adriana Gaviria
Amalia Zarranz
Juan Carlos Salinas
Victorino F. Cervantes
Roberto F. Aguirre-Sacasa
Alvaro Celaya-Fernandez
Ramon J. Wodkowski
James Canon
Luisa G. Dantas
University of California
Janis Astor
At Los Angeles
Miguel Rivera
Irma Noemi Martinez Cress
Adelina Anthony
Russell N. Contreras
Yvonne Rodriguez-Green
Maria E. Munoz
Alberto Barboza
New York University
Victor Trevino
Alexandra K. Kondracke
David R. Ruiz
Juan Castilo
Victoria M. Irigoyen
Eric J. Loo
Steven A. D'Ambrose
Jesus J. Villarreal
Yolanda Cruz
Yvette Marie Pita
Jaime Pelayo
Rafael Del Toro
Milsa F. Watson
Robert L. James
Judy L. Bernardino
Aurora M. Agüero
Guillermo A. Arcila
Martin T. Lopez
Luis I. Marquez
Marisa N. Cheerio
Alegre N. Ramos
Carlos A. Dorian
Roxanne Haddam
University of Southern California
Frances K. Mejia
University of Texas at Austin
Fernando Alessandri
Henry R. Puente
Carlos Noriega
Bianca N. Ambriz
2000 Advisory Council
Ricardo Montalban
Luis Avalos
Esai Morales
Ruben Blades
Fiona Niven
Rita Braver & Robert Barnett
Rosie O'Donnell
Sonia Braga
Edward James Olmos
Benjamin Bratt
General Colin L. Powell, U.S.A. Ret.
William and Buffy Cafritz
Paul Rodriguez
Gery Chico
Arturo Sandoval
Henry & Mary Alice Cisneros
Jon Secada
Esther Coopersmith
Jon Seda
Bill Cosby
Charlie Sheen
Wanda De Jesus
Martin Sheen
Michael DeLorenzo
Hector Elizondo
Jimmy Smits
Gloria Estefan
George Stephanopolous
Giselle Fernandez
John J. Sweeney
Liz Torres
Nely Galan
Andy Garcia
Solomon Trujillo
Luis Valdez
Salma Hayek
Jack Valenti
Ann Jordan
Elizabeth Vargas
Ethel Kennedy
Jose Villarreal
Sharon Lawrence
Wendy Wasserstein
Jennifer Lopez
And
Honorable Aida Alvarez
Honorable Ed Pastor
Honorable Xavier Becerra
Honorable Bill Richardson
Honorable Barbara Boxer
Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard
Honorable Tom Daschle
Honorable Donna B. Shalala
Honorable Richard A. Gephardt
Honorable Rodney E. Slater
Honorable Alexis M. Herman
Honorable Esteban Torres
Honorable Trent Lott
Honorable Nydia Velazquez
Honorable John McCain
Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa
Honorable Solomon Ortiz
Honorable Christine Todd Whitman
LATINOWOOD AND TV:
PRIME TIME FOR A REALITY CHECK
TOK
Children Now
National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts
September 2000
National
Hispanic Foundation
for the Arts
NEWS RELEASE
EMBARGOED UNTIL 12:01 A.M., SEPT. 13, 2000
Contact: Felix Sanchez or Sarah Ahern
Phone: 202 293-8330
Fax: 202 965-5252
Study Finds Only 3% of Prime Time Characters are Latino;
Calls for "Reality Check" in Network Programming
September 13, 2000, Washington, DC. Latino characters are still significantly under
represented, and misrepresented, in prime time television programming, according to a
new report released today by Children Now and the National Hispanic Foundation for the
Arts (NHFA). The study, "Latinowood and TV: Prime Time for a Reality Check," is
intended to provide a "baseline on Latino representation in front of the camera" by which
to measure future progress toward a more balanced, realistic depiction of the Latino
community in network programming.
"We are presenting the networks with an independent analysis so that we can work
together to assess legitimate progress, illustrate best practices and strategize on how to
overcome obstacles that prevent us from reaching our diversity goals," said Felix
Sanchez, president and co-founder of NHFA.
The analysis looked at 1,477 television characters in the 1999-2000 season. Of these,
only 41, or 3%, were Latino. The disparity is especially apparent in the casts of shows
set in major cities, and among youth and women. Further, Latino roles are often "filled
with sometimes subtle and sometimes blatant stereotypes Latino characters are more
likely to play a maid or janitor than boss or police officer."
Such lack of diversity has far-reaching consequences, says the study. "Never before in
the history of American entertainment has so much Latino talent been waiting in the
wings - a virtual 'Latinowood,' as more and more young Latinos pursue careers in film
and television." Yet, this "wealth of existing and emerging Latino talent is being
overlooked, a significant percentage of the population does not see itself reflected in the
mass entertainment culture, and all of us are deprived of the benefits."
Nor does the reality network programming match the reality of demographic trends, said
Sanchez. Latinos are the fastest-growing minority group in the United States and
represent an increasing share of the television audience. According to the report, the
number of Latinos in TV households increased 27% from 1993 to 1999 - from 22.2
--more--
PRIME TIME AND LATINOS
2-2-2
million to 28.3 million, and Latino households watch on average 4 hours more television
per week than non-Latino households do.
Despite the report's findings, Sanchez says that NHFA is optimistic about the future of
television programming, as Latino, Native, Asian and African American organizations
continue to work in strong coordination with the networks to develop greater diversity,
"both in front of and behind the camera."
Children Now, founded in 1988, is a nonpartisan, independent voice for children,
working to translate the nation's commitment to children and families into action. The
group is nationally recognized for its policy experts and up-to-date information on the
status of children. Children Now uses communications strategies to reach parents,
lawmakers, citizens and community leaders, creating attention and generating positive
change on behalf of children.
The National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts was created in 1997 to advance the
presence of Latinos in the media, telecommunications and entertainment industries.
Since then, NHFA has focused on increasing access for Hispanic artists and professionals
while fostering the emergence of new Hispanic talent. Its mission is to provide graduate
school students with scholarships while creating additional opportunities for existing
talent. NHFA works with the White House, the U.S. Congress, the Congressional
Hispanic Caucus, the Federal Communications Commission, and a variety of other public
and private organizations to meet its goals.
--30--
From the Diplomatic Corp:
First Lady of Ecuador, Maria Isabel De Noboa
Amb. Yvonne A-Baki, Ecuador
Amb. Luis Moreno, Columbia
Amb. Jaime Darenblum, Costa Rica
Amb. Ariel Rivera, Guatemela
Amb. Jesus Reyes-Heroles, Mexico
Amb. Javier Ruperz, Spain
Amb. Alfredo Toro Hardy, Venezuela
From the Administration:
Honorable Alexis Herman, Secretary of Labor
Honorable Norman Mineta, Secretary of Commerce
Honorable Aida Alvarez, SBA Administrator
Honorable George Muñoz, President Overseas Private Investment
Corporation
Honorable Louis Caldera, Secretary of the Navy
Honorable Bob Mallet, Deputy Secretary of Commerce
Honorable Maria Echaveste, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President
Honorable Mickey Ibarra, Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental
Affairs
Honorable Ida Castro, Chair EEOC
Honorable Francisco Sanchez, DOT
Honorable Gil Coronado, Selective Service
Honorable Norma Cantu, HHS
Ms. Carmen Lomelin, OAS
Mr. Courtland Cox, Director MBDA
From the Presidential Campaigns:
Ana Garmonal, Bush Campaign
Janet Murgia, Gore Campaign
Jose Villarreal, Gore Campaign
From the Congress:
Sen. Jeff Bingaman
Sen. Mary Landrieu
Sen. Harry Reid
Rep. Mary Bono
Rep. Bob Menendez
Rep. Ed Pastor
Rep. Xavier Becerra
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa
Rep. Solomon Ortiz
Rep. Loretta Sanchez
Rep. Silvestre Reyes
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
Del. Bob Underwood
Del. Carlos Romero Barcelo
From the Community:
Raul Yzaguire, President of NCLR
Guarione Diaz, President of Cuban American National Council
Former President of LULAC, Belen Robles
Former Surgeon General Antonia Novello
Clinton Presidential Records
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This marker identifies the place of a tabbed divider. Given our
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indicated below.
Nat. Hispanic
Arts Foundation
Divider Title:
National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts
http://www.hispanicarts.org/mission.html
National Hispanic Foundation
for the Arts
Mission Statement
"Creating Opportunities, Rewarding Excellence"
The National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (NHFA) was created in 1997 to promote Hispanic
talent in the performing arts. The Foundation's mission is to increase access for Hispanic artists and
professionals while fostering the emergence of new Hispanic talent.
The Hispanic community--which makes up 10 percent of the U.S. population and will soon become
the nation's largest ethnic minority group--increasingly is recognized for it's potentially enormous
consumer and political power. Yet the entertainment industry has failed to acknowledge the size
and impact of an audience that is 30 million strong.
Paradoxically, while the entertainment industry and it's advertisers tap into the Hispanic
community's resources, its programming ignores or distorts Hispanic culture and offers children
limited, stereotypical and generally negative role models. This omission deprives an entire
community of a source of cultural pride and reality and the country-at-large of a true picture of the
American mosaic, thus deepening the racial and ethnic rifts that divide us.
The Foundation's mission has two principal goals:
to offer graduate scholarships and cash grants at prominent colleges and universities; and
to expand career opportunities for existing talent in all aspects of entertainment and the
performing arts.
The Foundation is the brainchild of actors Jimmy Smits, Esai Morales and Sonia Braga and
Washington attorney Felix Sanchez. The NHFA embraces a big tent philosophy and works closely
with the White House, the President's Initiative on Race, the U.S. Congress, the Congressional
Hispanic Caucus and the Federal Communications Commission.
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National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts
http://www.hispanicarts.org/noche.html
National Hispanic Foundation
for the Arts
1999" Noche de Gala" Dinner
Washington D.C. August 1,1999--Vice -- President & Mrs. Al Gore will be the featured guests
together with Jimmy Smits, Sonia Braga, Esai Morales, Elizabeth Vargas and Giselle Fernandez
and a bipartisan group of Capitol Hill lawmakers at the Third Annual "Noche de Gala" benefit
dinner. NHFA was created in 1997 to promote Hispanic talent in the performing arts. The
Foundation's mission has two principal goals:
to offer graduate students scholarships and cash grants at
prominent colleges and universities; and
to expand career opportunities for existing talent in all aspects of
entertainment.
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National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts
http://www.hispanicarts.org/nochc.html
WHO:
Vice President & Mrs. Albert Gore
Jimmy Smits, Sonia Braga, Esai Morales, Elizabeth Vargas
and Giselle Fernandez
Honorable William Kennard
Chair, Federal Communications Commission
Honorable Bob Menendez
Vice Chair, Democratic Caucus
Mr. Massey Villareal
Chair, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts
WHAT:
Black Tie Reception and "Noche de Gala" Dinner
WHEN:
Monday, September 13, 1999
Reception-6:30 p.m. to 7:30p.m.
Dinner-7:30p.m.
WHERE:
The Renaissance Mayflower Hotel
Grand Ballroom
1127 Connecticut Avenue
Washington D.C.
For Corporate Sponsor information or tickets, please contact the foundation's
office at (202)293-8330.
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National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts
http://www.hispanicarts.org/founders.html
National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts
Founders
Sonia Braga
Esai Morales
Jimmy Smits
Co-Founder & President
Felix Sanchez
Advisory Council
Honorable Aida Alvarez
Esai Morales
Honorable Xavier Becerra
Fiona Niven
Ruben Blades
Rosie O'Donnell
Honorable Barbara Boxer
Edward James Olmos
Rita Braver & Robert Barnett
Honorable Solomon Ortiz
Sonia Braga
Honorable Ed Pastor
Benjamin Bratt
General Colin L. Powell
William & Buffy Cafritz
Honorable Bill Richardson
Gery Chico
Paul Rodriguez
Henry & Mary Alice Cisneros
Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard
Esther Coopersmith
Arturo Sandoval
Bill Cosby
Jon Secada
Honorable Tom Daschle
Jon Seda
Wanda De Jesus
Honorable Donna E. Shalala
Michael DeLorenzo
Charlie Sheen
Hector Elizondo
Martin Sheen
Gloria Estefan
Honorable Rodney E. Slater
Giselle Fernandez
Jimmy Smits
Nely Galan
George Stephanopolous
Andy Garcia
John J. Sweeney
Honorable Richard A. Gephardt
Honorable Esteban Torres
Jackie Guerra
Liz Torres
Salma Hayek
Solomon Trujillo
Honorable Richard A. Herman
Luis Valdez
Ann Jordan
Jack Valenti
Ethel Kennedy
Elizabeth Vargas
Sharon Lawrence
Honorable Nydia Velázquez
Jennifer Lopez
Jose Villarreal
Honorable Trent Lott
Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa
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National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts
http://www.hispanicarts.org/founders.html
Dario Marquez
Wendy Wasserstein
Honorable John McCain
Honorable Christine Todd Whitman
Richard Montalban
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Untitled Document
http://www.hispanicarts.org/page1.html
National
Hispanic Foundation
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
NHFA Celebrates Its Second Year!
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA); newly
elected Caucus Chair Rep. Lucille
Roybal-Allard (D-CA); Rep.
Solomon Ortiz (D-TX); and Rep. Ed
Pastor (D-AZ). White House
Administration officials included:
Deputy Chief of Staff to the
President Maria Echaveste;
Assistant to the President and
Director of Intergovernmental
Affairs Mickey Ibarra; Deputy
Assistant to the President for
Legislative Affairs Janet Murguia;
Equal Employment Opportunity
Chair Ida Castro; and Director
Wattonal
General of the U.S. Foreign and
Commercial Service Awilda
Marquez. Other luminaries in
attendance were Elizabeth Vargas,
Antonio Mora and Carole Simpson
of ABC News; actor and activist
Edward James Olmos, US West
Chairman Sol Trujillo; Chicago's
Gery Chico, partner at Althemer &
First Lady and
joined NHFA founders
Gray Law Offices and Chair of the
Other Notables
Jimmy Smits, Esai Morales
Chicago Reform School Board; and
and Felix Sanchez and a
Attend Gala Event
NHFA Advisory Council member
crowd of Clinton
Esther Coopersmith. The event's
Administration officials,
principle sponsors enjoyed a salon
Capitol Hill lawmakers, and
dinner at the home of Esther
entertainment industry
Coopersmith the evening prior to
It was a night of excitement
representatives to celebrate
the Gala. La Gran Desvelada, an
and enthusiasm as the
another year of progress in
after-party at Cities Sponsored by
National Hispanic
fostering young Latino
Budweiser, followed the Mayflower
Foundation for the Arts
talent. Guests included
event. In remarks at the Gala the
held its 2nd Annual Noche
Small Business
First Lady and others praised
de Gala benefit September
Administration head Aida
NHFA's progress over the past year
22, 1998 at the Mayflower
Alvarez; Deputy Secretary of
in offering scholarshins for I atino
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Untitled Document
http://www.hispanicarts.org/pagel.html
Hotel in Washington DC.
Commerce Robert Mallett;
students and expanding career
First Lady Hillary Rodham
Federal Communications
opportunities for existing
Clinton, featured speaker
Commissioner Gloria
entertainment industry talent. Guests
for the second year in a
Tristani; House Minority
also were treated to a performance
row,
Leader Richard Gephardt
by musical guest Arturo Sandoval,
(MO-D); outgoing Chair of
one of the world's great jazz trumpet
the
and flugelhorn players and a
renowned classical artist.
next
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Untitled Document
http://www.hispanicarts.org/pagc2.html
National Hispanic Foundation
for the Arts
Thanks to
Noche de Gala
Sponsors
We would like to express our
gratitude to the following
organizations for making the
1998 Noche de Gala possible
Telemundo's President Nely Galan and CEO
Jimmy Smits and Film Director Moctesuma
and for helping NHFA continue
Peter Tortorici
Eparza.
to make progress in helping
talented young Hispanics.
PLATINUM SPONSORS
American Airlines, Inc.
Anheuser-Busch Companies
The Coca-Cola Company
The Limited Corporation
Time Warner Inc.
Jimmy Smits and "generacion n" members: NHFA Scholarship Recipient and Walt Disney
Jacqueline Torres, Dahlia Victoria and Kamar / ABC summer intern Elisa Montoya and
United Airlines
de los Reyes.
Jimmy Smits.
EBD
GOLD SPONSORS
ABC, Inc.
Allstate Insurance Company
Discovery Networks, US
Kraft Foods
The Walt Disney Company
1999 Raul Julia Award Recipient Dick
Kamar de los Reyes, Alexis Cruz, Edward
U.S. West Company
Parsons and Eddie Olmos, Esai Morales,
James Olmos, Elizabeth Vargas and Gloria
Merel Julia and Jimmy Smits.
Tritani (I-r).
SILVER SPONSORS
Citibank
Continental Airlines
Phillip Morris Companies, Inc.
Sears Roebuck & Company
Univision Television Group
Ford Motor Company
NHFA President Felix Sanchez with ABC
Fox Network star Diego Serrano and NHFA
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Untitled Document
http://www.hispanicarts.org/page2.html
News Elizabeth varyas and Antonio Mora.
co-rounder ESdl Morales.
warner MUSIC Group
FRIENDS
Acknowledgements
Bell South Corporation
Corporation for Public
NHFA thanks Time Warner Inc. for providing transportation
Broadcasting
and accommodations for our scholarship program recipients;
HBO, Inc.
People en Español for hosting an event honoring NHFA in Los
Latina Magazine
Angeles on May 18,1998; and Davel Limousine Service,
Embassy Row Hotel, and The Crown Plaza Hotel for their
MTV Networks
in-kind contributions.
Nabisco, Inc.
Showtime Networks
VIP RECEPTION SPONSOR
Telemundo
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Untitled Document
http://www.hispanicarts.org/page3.html
NHFA in the Media
---
NHFA continues to attract significant media attention, including:
Dateline NBC interviewed Jimmy Smits on his work
with NHFA for more Latino talent and themes in the media
industries. The interview included highlights of Jimmy
Smits' career, including his final scene on ABC's NYPD
Blue. Also depicted is NHFA Advisory Council Member
Wanda de Jesus.
Access Holywood reported on the 1998 Noche de
Gala with special guests Hillary Rodham Clinton and NHFA
Advisory Council Member U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-MO);
and on the humanitarian mission to Puerto Rico led by
NHFA co-founders Esai Morales, Jimmy Smits, Felix
Sanchez and NHFA Advisory Council Members Jennifer
Lopez, Jon Secada, and Carlos Ponce.
Hard Copy interviewed NHFA co-founder Esai Morales,
ABC News correspondent Elizabeth Vargas and featured
NHFA Advisory Council Member Salma Hayek. The report
also focused on the poignant words of support offered by
Jimmy Smits to First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on behalf
of the Latino Community.
Extra provided an in-depth profile on the teamwork of
Jimmy Smits and Felix Sanchez to create a
political/celebrity access to promote Latinos in the
entertainment industry and on the testimony provided by
Esai Morales, Sonia Braga and Jimmy Smits before the U.S.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus on the status of
"Latinowood." Also featured are NHFA Advisory Council
Members U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Jose Villareal.
America Online broadcast a world-wide online chat by
Jimmy Smits on the rationale for the Foundation and the
need to expand Latino images in the media mirror, in
conjunction with an e-bay online auction of a 1999
Century by Buick-the proceeds from which benefited the
Foundation.
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Untitled Document
http://www.hispanicarts.org/page4.html
National Hispanic Foundation
for the Arts
Young Latino Benefit
from NHFA
Scholarships
Premier Club-
Box Office Movement
The NHFA Entertainment Arts
nad Industry Scholarship
Program enjoyed a sensational
Announced at Advertising
first year, awarding 23 students
a total of $80,500-$23,00 of
1998-99
CEO Roundtable
which was donated by NHFA
co-founder Jimmy Smits- for the
NHFA Scholarship Recipients
Hollywood is still missing the boat when it
1998-99 academic year. The
Columbia University
comes to Latino films. The movie capital only
scholarship went to Latino
makes an average of one Latino film a year -
graduate students studying at
Jorge Gonzalez-Diaz
despite overwhelming evidence of a huge
New York University, Columbia
Ashley Ruth Mendoza
Latino moviegoing market and the potential
University, Yale University, the
of high profits, especially from films with
University of California at Los
Joel Sanchez
well-rounded, complex Latino characters.
Angeles, and the University of
Southern California.
New York University
In February, NHFA and the American
Aurora Maria Aguero
Advertising Federation co-sponsored a CEO
The program is designed to help
Advetising Roundtable to promote diversity in
talented young Latinos take the
Angie Cruz
broadcanst employment and media buys.
crucial first step on the career
The roundtable was led by FCC Chairman Bill
ladder and obtain the training
Maria Cristina Fuste
Kennard. At the meeting, NHFA announced
and credentials they need to
their plans to develop the "Premier Weekend
break into the industry. One
Regina Maria Garcia
Club," with LA- based Latin Heat Magazine
NHFA scholarship recipient
and Grindstone Pictures. The club wil enlist
wrote:"I remember Jimmy Smits
Mariajsoe D. Garza
over one million Latinos to show their
saying that the Foundation
support for Latino-themed movies by going
wasn't just about scholarship
Alexandra Kennedy Kondracke
to see the films on the first weekend they are
money, but about creating a
released.
network for young filmmakers.
Felicia Rose Lewin
That really affected me. As a
"We will ask the Latino community to 'vote
director and cinematographer,
Osvaldo Plaencia
their pocketbooks' to impress their economic
being a Cuban woman is often
clout upon media industries," said Jimmy
an isolating reality." The student,
George Reyes
Smits. "Instead of threatening studios and
Aurora M. Aguero, recently won
production companies, we are rewarding
the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Rafael Del Toro
them for doing the right thing." That means
grant for one of her screenplays
distributing a positive Latino film that meets
entitled Winnemucca Jones.
Ana Mirem Villamil
the Premier Club's standard: A competently
made film that presents a more balanced,
Graduate students in the
University of Souther California
complicated and updated portrayal of
following fields, among others,
Latinos.
are eligible to compete for the
Elisa Diana Montoya
scholarships: Drama/Theatre;
Iana Velez
Music; Set Design; Film;
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Broadcast Communications;
University of California at Los
Entertainment Law; and Business
Angeles
Adminitration (with an emphasis
on entertainment management).
Alberto Barboza
NHFA works with the Hispanic
College Fund to administer the
Richard Castaniero
scholarships. For more
information, please contact the
Joe William Romero
Fund directly at 202-296-5400.
Mark Your Calendar
NHFA is also working with
Ruth C.Sosa
ABC, Discovery Networks, Time
Warner, The Walt Disney
Yale University
The 3rd Annual
Company and others to provide
internships for scholarship
Adriana Gaviria
Noche de Gala Dinner
recipients. Time Warner's
president, Dick Parsons, the
1998 recipient of the Raul Julia
is scheduled for
Award for Excellence, is offering
10 internships to qualified
Monday
candidates.
September 13, 1999
Raul Julia Award
Mayflower Hotel
dinner in 1997, is given to individuals
Goes to Time- Warner's
of organizations whose work
epitomizes the Foundation's ideals.
Washington D.C.
Dick Parsons
the 1998 award, presented by Merel
Julia, reorganized Time Warner's
participation and those of its
This year, NHFA presented its 1998
subsidaries: People en Español, HBO
Raul Julia Award for Excellence to
and Warner Music. In accepting the
Dick Parsons, President of Time
award, Dick Parsons challenged other
Warner Inc., for his commitment to
media companies to match Time
providing opportunities for young
Warner's commitment to provide 10
Latinos aspiring to careers in the
summer internships to NHFA
entertainment field. The award,
scholarship recipients.
unveiled at NHFA's first Noche de
Gala
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National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts
http://www.hispanicarts.org/application.html
National Hispanie Foundation for the
Aus
Scholarship Application Criteria
To be eligible for consideration for a NHFA Entertainment Industry Scholarship,
students must meet the following criteria:
1. Must have been accepted or be enrolled as a full-time graduate student at one on the
following universities: New York University, Columbia University, Yale University,
University of California at Los Angeles, and the University of Southern University.
The scholarship program seeks applicants who are pursuing disciplines leading to careers in
the entertainment arts and industry. These disciplines incude, but are not limited to: Acting;
Theater; Radio & Television, Film; Music; Set Design; Costume Design; Lighting Design;
Motion Picture Production; and Playwriting.
The following students are encouraged to apply:
a. Students pursuing graduate degrees in law and/or business who are seeking either joint
degrees, certificates, or concentrations in entertainment-related fields, or
b. Students pursuing graduate degrees in law and/or business who already possess
undergraduate degrees in the disciplinary fields listed above and who plan to pursue careers
in the entertainment arts and industry.
2. Must be in good academic standing with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or
better on a 4.0 scale.
3. Must provide evidence of financial need. (To qualify, students must come from families with
incomes at or below 60% of the area's median family income, based on family size.)
Certification by a college or university's office of student financial aid is required.
4. At the time of application, applicant must be a U.S. citizen of Hispanic origin residing in any
of the 50 states or the territories of the United States of America.
5. Close consideration will be given to students who can demonstrate special talent in the
above areas. Students may submit portfolios and/or video/audio tapes of their work.
For an application package please contact:
[email protected]
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Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a tabbed divider. Given our
digitization capabilities, we are sometimes unable to adequately
scan such dividers. The title from the original document is
indicated below.
Quotes
Divider Title: