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Rose Garden Crime Bill Event 10/16/91 [OA 8330]
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1
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
October 15, 1991
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
THROUGH:
DAVID DEMAREST
TONY SNOW T3
FROM:
MARY KATE GRANT MKg
SUBJECT:
VANPAC AWARDS FOR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
I. SUMMARY
On Wednesday, October 16, at 11:45 a.m. in the Rose
Garden, you will make remarks and present awards to the
investigators and prosecutors (called VANPAC) who solved the
mail bombing murder of Alabama Federal Judge Robert Vance.
In addition to the VANPAC team members, the audience will be
150 local prosecutors brought to Washington by the Justice
Department to lobby the House of Representatives for the
crime bill.
II. DISCUSSION
The remarks (9 minutes, on cards) pay tribute to those
who put Vance's killer behind bars and calls on those
present to urge Congress to pass the crime bill.
Grant/Simon
A:Vance / Draft three
October 15, 1991
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AWARDS CEREMONY FOR VANPAC TASK FORCE
THE ROSE GARDEN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1991
11:45 A.M.
Welcome, everyone, to the White House ... and a special
hello to our very able acting Attorney General, Bill Barr.
It's an honor to have with us today the true experts on
crime and justice in this country: our state and local law
enforcement officials. Each of you is here today because you
have made a solemn pledge -- and have made great personal
sacrifices -- to protect and defend society against the threat of
violent crime and drugs. Every American agrees that we have a
crime problem in this country. And every American deserves a
tough crime bill that strengthens our criminal justice system.
Let me share a story with you. Two years ago, a series of
Bob
gruesome crimes shocked America. The terror began one peaceful
Buchman
DOJ
morning when, along with the rest of the day's mail, a parcel
616-2033
arrived at the home of Federal Appeals Court Judge Robert Vance
in Mountainbrook, Alabama.
When Judge Vance sat down to open the package, a pipe bomb
inside blasted him across the room. Judge Vance was killed, and
his wife was severely injured.
The nightmare didn't stop there. Two days later, Alderman
Robert Robinson, a prominent official of the N.A.A.C.P., returned
to his law office in Savannah, Georgia, after spending the day in
court. Along with other papers, a package awaited him in his
office. The pipe bomb inside exploded, and Robert Robinson died
2
too -- a senseless and violent tragedy brought about by an
anonymous terrorist.
That same day, packages containing bombs also arrived at a
federal courthouse in Atlanta and an N.A.A.C.P. office in
Jacksonville. Thank God those bombs were found before more
innocent persons were murdered
in fact, one investigator said
it was nothing short of a miracle.
A torrent of threatening letters followed, targeting federal
judges, prominent blacks, and civil rights leaders.
With the first bombings, federal authorities began a massive
investigation, spearheaded by a task force named VANPAC, after
its first victim, Judge Vance. VANPAC was directed by Department
of Justice officials, including at the F.B.I. and the U.S.
Marshals Service, but other agencies joined in: the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the Postal Inspection Service; and
the Internal Revenue Service.
Because of the hard work of the Task Force, they soon zeroed
in on a suspect -- got an indictment -- and a conviction in the
bombings and related crimes -- and brought a sentence of seven
life terms without parole and 400 years imprisonment. The VANPAC
case was a great success in the annals of law enforcement and a
very important achievement in defense of civil rights.
My congratulations to the two selfless public servants who
[FREE ]
led the Task Force to its amazing achievements: Louis Freeh, the
Bob
chief prosecutor and Assistant U.S. Attorney; now a Federal
Buchman
District Judge in Manhattan. And Larry Potts, the chief
3
investigator and a Deputy Assistant Director of the F.B.I. To
both of them and to their VANPAC colleagues, we owe a debt of
gratitude for a job well done. //
Each murder in this country is a tragedy. But the murders
of Judge Vance and Robert Robinson took on added meaning: they
were part of one man's terrorist war against our courts, our rule
of law, our civil rights, and upon our very system of government.
We will not tolerate assaults on these ideals. No American
should live in fear of random, senseless violence. No one will
be allowed to terrorize our people. //
We are constantly struggling to fight crime of all types.
The VANPAC investigation is an excellent example of law
enforcement's swift, professional response to violent crime in
this country. Despite the many obstacles they faced in the
criminal justice system, the VANPAC Task Force leapt into action
from the moment of the first bombing.
Yet when it comes to removing those obstacles before
prosecutors and investigators -- on this and many other cases --
time and again, Congress slumps into inaction.
I firmly believe that lawmakers must do everything in their
power to support our law enforcement officials on the front
lines. This means sufficient resources -- particularly for
prisons -- tough penalties, and reforms to the criminal justice
system. It means being on the cutting edge of law enforcement -
- creating a 21st century law enforcement system to deal with
21st century criminals. Most importantly, it means holding the
4
rights of victims higher than the rights of criminals. Our crime
bill -- and only our crime bill -- supports our men and women on
the front lines.
The VANPAC case illustrates well where federal law is
Paul McMally
lacking. Under current federal law, no death penalty exists for
OPD
the mail-bombing murder of innocent Americans. We've proposed
00J
it. We've also proposed a death penalty for murdering federal
514-2061
judges and for killing someone in the course of a civil rights
crime. Perpetrators of these heinous crimes should be prepared
to pay with their lives. We need a workable federal death
penalty -- and we need it now.
We need a crime bill that will stop the endless abuse of
habeas corpus. We need a bill that guarantees that criminals who
use serious weapons face serious charges -- and do serious time.
Bob
We need a bill that prevents evidence gathered in good faith from
Buckman
being thrown out on a technicality that opens the cell door and
lets bad people walk scot free.
Each of you knows the difference -- between a tough crime
bill that gives you what you need to win this fight -- and the
anti-law enforcement proposals the House Democrats call a crime
bill. This week, the House votes on a bill that marks a retreat
from current law. It's time we tipped the scales of justice back
-- toward the side of dedicated men and women like you.
I need your help in turning the House crime bill around.
Your presence here today sends a powerful warning to the Congress
5
-- that the American people will not accept a crime bill that is
tougher on law enforcement than it is on the criminals. //
two years
The time has come. After over a thousand days of foot-
dragging, the House is finally considering the crime bill. If
you agree with what I've said here, act today. Let your
Representatives know that the House Democrats' bill, as it stands
Leg.
now, is simply unacceptable. Tell them to support the Gekas
affairs
death penalty amendment. Tell them to vote for the Hyde habeas
corpus reforms and the Sensenbrenner amendment on the
exclusionary rule. And finally, tell we need the McCollum equal
justice act, so that we can have a death penalty that works.
Tell them our police, prosecutors and people stand behind
these key provisions -- they stand behind a strong crime bill.
Tell them it's time for a criminal justice system that
allows us to see the truth come out, the guilty punished, the law
upheld, and justice done. That's what our crime bill stands for,
and that's what we stand for, and that's what our Representatives
should stand for -- when the final vote is taken this week.
Again, my congratulations and thanks to the VANPAC team for
a job well done. As our men and women on the front lines, you
have shown what we can achieve when we stand united against
criminals. We are lucky to have men and women like you defending
us on the streets -- now we just need your powerful message to
reach the halls of Congress.
God bless you all and thank you.
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
washington
Cam
SCHEDULE PROPOSAL
OCTOBER 4, 1991
TO:
KATHY SUPER
DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR
APPOINTMENTS AND SCHEDULING
FROM:
EDE HOLIDAY
ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND
SECRETARY OF THE CABINET
REQUEST:
To recognize those Department of Justice personnel
involved in the apprehension and prosecution of
the murderer of federal judge Robert Vance and
NAACP official Robert Robinson, and to express
support for the President's crime bill, soon to
come to the House floor for consideration.
BACKGROUND:
In December, 1989, Walter Leroy Moody, Jr.
murdered Federal Circuit Judge Robert Vance and
NAACP official and Alderman Robert E. Robinson by
the use of mail bombs. The VANPAC Task Force,
comprised of federal prosecutors and agents from
the FBI, BATF, USPS, the U.S. Marshall's Service,
and the IRS, was created to deal with this attack
against the courts and the civil rights community.
The Task Force succeeded in finding Moody,
convicting him, and sentencing him to seven life
terms and 400 years' imprisonment.
This event also will provide an appropriate forum
to discuss the importance of Congressional passage
of the President's Crime Bill. State and local
prosecutors also will be invited to the event,
which will be used as a kick-off for their
lobbying campaign for House passage of the
legislation.
DATE AND
TIME:
Week of October 14
LOCATION:
Rose Garden/East Room
PARTICIPANTS: The President
Acting Attorney General William Barr
FBI Director William Sessions
Others TBD
150 invited guests, including the VANPAC Task
Force members and their families, and state and
local prosecutors.
AWARDS CEREMONY FOR VANPAC TASK FORCE \ ROSE GARDEN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1991 \ 11:45 A.M.
WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO THE WHITE HOUSE
...
AND A
SPECIAL HELLO TO OUR VERY ABLE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL,
BILL BARR. WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE HERE BILL SESSIONS,
THE FBI DIRECTOR, STEPHEN HIGGINS, DIRECTOR OF ATF, AND
MIKE MOORE, DIRECTOR OF THE MARSHALS SERVICE. AND I
WANT TO WELCOME JUDGE GERALD TJOFLAT
[JO-FLAT], WHO CAME ALL THE WAY FROM ALABAMA TO BE HERE
TODAY.
III
- 2 -
IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE WITH US TODAY THE TRUE
EXPERTS ON CRIME AND JUSTICE IN THIS COUNTRY: OUR STATE
AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS. EACH OF YOU IS
HERE TODAY BECAUSE YOU HAVE MADE A SOLEMN PLEDGE -- AND
HAVE MADE GREAT PERSONAL SACRIFICES -- TO PROTECT AND
DEFEND SOCIETY AGAINST THE THREAT OF VIOLENT CRIME AND
DRUGS. EVERY AMERICAN AGREES THAT WE HAVE A CRIME
PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY. AND EVERY AMERICAN DESERVES A
TOUGH CRIME BILL THAT STRENGTHENS OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
- 3 -
LET ME SHARE A STORY WITH YOU. Two YEARS AGO, A
SERIES OF GRUESOME CRIMES SHOCKED AMERICA. THE TERROR
BEGAN ONE PEACEFUL MORNING WHEN, ALONG WITH THE REST OF
THE DAY'S MAIL, A PARCEL ARRIVED AT THE HOME OF FEDERAL
APPEALS COURT JUDGE ROBERT VANCE IN MOUNTAINBROOK,
ALABAMA.
WHEN JUDGE VANCE SAT DOWN TO OPEN THE PACKAGE, A
PIPE BOMB INSIDE BLASTED HIM ACROSS THE ROOM. JUDGE
VANCE WAS KILLED, AND HIS WIFE WAS SEVERELY INJURED.
IT
- 4 -
THE NIGHTMARE DIDN'T STOP THERE. Two DAYS LATER,
ALDERMAN ROBERT ROBINSON, A PROMINENT OFFICIAL OF THE
N.A.A.C.P., RETURNED TO HIS LAW OFFICE IN SAVANNAH,
GEORGIA, AFTER SPENDING THE DAY IN COURT. ALONG WITH
OTHER PAPERS, A PACKAGE AWAITED HIM IN HIS OFFICE. THE
PIPE BOMB INSIDE EXPLODED, AND ROBERT ROBINSON DIED TOO
-- A SENSELESS AND VIOLENT TRAGEDY BROUGHT ABOUT BY AN
ANONYMOUS TERRORIST.
- 5 -
THAT SAME DAY, PACKAGES CONTAINING BOMBS ALSO
ARRIVED AT A FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN ATLANTA AND AN
N.A.A.C.P. OFFICE IN JACKSONVILLE. THANK GOD THOSE
BOMBS WERE FOUND BEFORE MORE INNOCENT PERSONS WERE
MURDERED ... IN FACT, ONE INVESTIGATOR SAID IT WAS
NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE.
A TORRENT OF THREATENING LETTERS FOLLOWED,
TARGETING FEDERAL JUDGES, PROMINENT BLACKS, AND CIVIL
RIGHTS LEADERS.
- 6 -
WITH THE FIRST BOMBINGS, FEDERAL AUTHORITIES BEGAN
A MASSIVE INVESTIGATION, SPEARHEADED BY A TASK FORCE
NAMED VANPAC, AFTER ITS FIRST VICTIM, JUDGE VANCE.
VANPAC WAS DIRECTED BY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICIALS,
INCLUDING AT THE F.B.I. AND THE U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE,
BUT OTHER AGENCIES JOINED IN: THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL,
TOBACCO AND FIREARMS; THE POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE;
AND THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
- 7 -
BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK OF THE TASK FORCE, THEY
SOON ZEROED IN ON A SUSPECT -- GOT AN INDICTMENT -- AND
A CONVICTION IN THE BOMBINGS AND RELATED CRIMES -- AND
BROUGHT A SENTENCE OF SEVEN LIFE TERMS WITHOUT PAROLE
AND 400 YEARS IMPRISONMENT. THE VANPAC CASE WAS A
GREAT SUCCESS IN THE ANNALS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND A
VERY IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENT IN DEFENSE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
- 8 -
MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TWO SELFLESS PUBLIC
SERVANTS WHO LED THE TASK FORCE To ITS AMAZING
ACHIEVEMENTS: LOUIS FREEH [FREE], THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR
AND ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY; NOW A FEDERAL DISTRICT
JUDGE IN MANHATTAN. AND LARRY POTTS, THE CHIEF
INVESTIGATOR AND A DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE
F.B.I. To BOTH OF THEM AND TO THEIR VANPAC COLLEAGUES,
WE OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR A JOB WELL DONE. //
- 9 -
EACH MURDER IN THIS COUNTRY IS A TRAGEDY. BUT THE
MURDERS OF JUDGE VANCE AND ROBERT ROBINSON TOOK ON
ADDED MEANING: THEY WERE PART OF ONE MAN'S TERRORIST
WAR AGAINST OUR COURTS, OUR RULE OF LAW, OUR CIVIL
RIGHTS, AND UPON OUR VERY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.
WE
WILL NOT TOLERATE ASSAULTS ON THESE IDEALS. No
AMERICAN SHOULD LIVE IN FEAR OF RANDOM, SENSELESS
VIOLENCE. No ONE WILL BE ALLOWED TO TERRORIZE OUR
PEOPLE. //
"II
- 10 -
WE ARE CONSTANTLY STRUGGLING TO FIGHT CRIME OF ALL
TYPES. THE VANPAC INVESTIGATION IS AN EXCELLENT
EXAMPLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT'S SWIFT, PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSE To VIOLENT CRIME IN THIS COUNTRY. DESPITE THE
MANY OBSTACLES THEY FACED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM, THE VANPAC TASK FORCE LEAPT INTO ACTION FROM
THE MOMENT OF THE FIRST BOMBING.
- 11 -
YET WHEN IT COMES TO REMOVING THOSE OBSTACLES
BEFORE PROSECUTORS AND INVESTIGATORS -- ON THIS AND
MANY OTHER CASES --TIME AND AGAIN, CONGRESS SLUMPS INTO
INACTION.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT LAWMAKERS MUST DO EVERYTHING
IN THEIR POWER TO SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
ON THE FRONT LINES. THIS MEANS SUFFICIENT RESOURCES
-- PARTICULARLY FOR PRISONS -- TOUGH PENALTIES, AND
REFORMS TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
TI
- 12 -
IT MEANS BEING ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
-- CREATING A 21st CENTURY LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM TO
DEAL WITH 21st CENTURY CRIMINALS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT
MEANS HOLDING THE RIGHTS OF VICTIMS HIGHER THAN THE
RIGHTS OF CRIMINALS. OUR CRIME BILL -- AND ONLY OUR
CRIME BILL -- SUPPORTS OUR MEN AND WOMEN ON THE FRONT
LINES.
THE VANPAC CASE ILLUSTRATES WELL WHERE FEDERAL LAW
IS LACKING.
- 13 -
UNDER CURRENT FEDERAL LAW, NO DEATH PENALTY EXISTS FOR
THE MAIL-BOMBING MURDER OF INNOCENT AMERICANS. WE'VE
PROPOSED IT. WE'VE ALSO PROPOSED A DEATH PENALTY FOR
MURDERING FEDERAL JUDGES AND FOR KILLING SOMEONE IN THE
COURSE OF A CIVIL RIGHTS CRIME. PERPETRATORS OF THESE
HEINOUS CRIMES SHOULD BE PREPARED TO PAY WITH THEIR
LIVES. WE NEED A WORKABLE FEDERAL DEATH PENALTY -- AND
WE NEED IT NOW.
TT
- 14 -
WE NEED A CRIME BILL THAT WILL STOP THE ENDLESS
ABUSE OF HABEAS CORPUS. WE NEED A BILL THAT GUARANTEES
THAT CRIMINALS WHO USE SERIOUS WEAPONS FACE SERIOUS
CHARGES -- AND DO SERIOUS TIME. WE NEED A BILL THAT
PREVENTS EVIDENCE GATHERED IN GOOD FAITH FROM BEING
THROWN OUT ON A TECHNICALITY THAT OPENS THE CELL DOOR
AND LETS BAD PEOPLE WALK SCOT FREE.
- 15 -
EACH OF YOU KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE -- BETWEEN A TOUGH
CRIME BILL THAT GIVES YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO WIN THIS
FIGHT -- AND THE ANTI-LAW ENFORCEMENT PROPOSALS THE
HOUSE DEMOCRATS CALL A CRIME BILL. THIS WEEK, THE
HOUSE VOTES ON A BILL THAT MARKS A RETREAT FROM CURRENT
LAW. It's TIME WE TIPPED THE SCALES OF JUSTICE BACK
-- TOWARD THE SIDE OF DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN LIKE YOU.
I NEED YOUR HELP IN TURNING THE HOUSE CRIME BILL
AROUND.
"IT
- 16 -
YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY SENDS A POWERFUL WARNING To
THE CONGRESS -- THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NOT
ACCEPT A CRIME BILL THAT IS TOUGHER ON LAW ENFORCEMENT
THAN IT IS ON THE CRIMINALS. //
THE TIME HAS COME. AFTER TWO YEARS OF FOOT-
DRAGGING, THE HOUSE IS FINALLY CONSIDERING THE CRIME
BILL. IF YOU AGREE WITH WHAT I'VE SAID HERE, ACT
TODAY. LET YOUR REPRESENTATIVES KNOW THAT THE HOUSE
DEMOCRATS' BILL, AS IT STANDS NOW, IS SIMPLY
UNACCEPTABLE.
- 17 -
TELL THEM TO SUPPORT THE GEKAS DEATH PENALTY AMENDMENT.
TELL THEM TO VOTE FOR THE HYDE HABEAS CORPUS REFORMS
AND THE SENSENBRENNER AMENDMENT ON THE EXCLUSIONARY
RULE. AND FINALLY, TELL WE NEED THE MCCOLLUM EQUAL
JUSTICE ACT, so THAT WE CAN HAVE A DEATH PENALTY THAT
WORKS.
TELL THEM OUR POLICE, PROSECUTORS AND PEOPLE STAND
BEHIND THESE KEY PROVISIONS -- THEY STAND BEHIND A
STRONG CRIME BILL.
TT
- 18 -
TELL THEM IT'S TIME FOR A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
THAT ALLOWS US TO SEE THE TRUTH COME OUT, THE GUILTY
PUNISHED, THE LAW UPHELD, AND JUSTICE DONE. THAT'S
WHAT OUR CRIME BILL STANDS FOR, AND THAT'S WHAT WE
STAND FOR, AND THAT'S WHAT OUR REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD
STAND FOR -- WHEN THE FINAL VOTE IS TAKEN THIS WEEK.
AGAIN, MY CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS TO THE VANPAC
TEAM FOR A JOB WELL DONE. As OUR MEN AND WOMEN ON THE
FRONT LINES, YOU HAVE SHOWN WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE WHEN WE
STAND UNITED AGAINST CRIMINALS.
- 19 -
WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE MEN AND WOMEN LIKE YOU DEFENDING
US ON THE STREETS -- NOW WE JUST NEED YOUR POWERFUL
MESSAGE TO REACH THE HALLS OF CONGRESS.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND THANK YOU.
###
Grant/Simon
A:Vance
October 15, 1991
Draft two
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AWARDS CEREMONY FOR VANPAC TASK FORCE
THE ROSE GARDEN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1991
11:45 A.M.
Welcome, everyone, to the White House
...
and a special
hello to our very able acting Attorney General, Bill Barr.
[other acknowledgements]
Two years ago, a series of gruesome crimes shocked America.
The terror began one peaceful morning when, along with the rest
of the day's mail, a package arrived at the home of Federal
Appeals Judge Robert Vance in Mountainbrook, Alabama.
The package was marked as if it had been sent by a fellow
judge, but when Judge Vance sat down to open it, a pipe bomb
inside blasted him across the room. Judge Vance died a horrible
death, right in front of his wife, who was herself severely
injured.
The nightmare didn't stop there. Two days later, Alderman
Robert Robinson, an official of the N.A.A.C.P., returned to his
law office in Savannah, Georgia, after spending the day in court.
Along with other papers, a package awaited him in his office. He
opened it, and the pipe bomb inside blew his office to bits.
Robert Robinson died a grisly death, a senseless and violent
tragedy brought about by an anonymous terrorist.
That same day, packages containing bombs also arrived at a
federal courthouse in Atlanta and an NAACP office in
2
Jacksonville. Thank God those bombs were found before dozens
more innocent persons were murdered
in fact, one investigator
said it was nothing short of a miracle.
A torrent of threatening letters followed, vowing to spread
death and destruction across the nation. The letters targeted
federal judges, prominent blacks, and leaders in the civil rights
movement.
With the first bombings, federal authorities began a massive
investigation, spearheaded by a task force named VANPAC, after
its first victim, Judge Vance. VANPAC was directed by officials
at the Department of Justice and the F.B.I., but other agencies
joined in: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the
Postal Inspection Service; the U.S. Marshals Service and the
Internal Revenue Service.
Despite skeptics and naysayers, the Task Force Members
forged ahead
fighting against this brutal attack and
defending our most cherished principles of Constitutional law and
civil rights. They soon zeroed in on a suspect named Walter
Leroy Moody, Jr. Because of the hard work of the Task Force,
Moody was convicted of the bombings and related crimes --and
sentenced to seven life terms and 400 years imprisonment.
The VANPAC case was one of the greatest successes in the
annals of law enforcement. It also will be remembered as one of
our most monumental achievements in defense of civil rights in
this century. And most importantly, its successful conclusion
put a terrifying episode in American life behind us.
3
My congratulations to the two selfless public servants who
guided the Task Force to its amazing achievements: Louis Freeh,
the chief prosecutor and Assistant U.S. Attorney; now a Federal
District Judge in Manhattan. And Larry Potts, the chief
investigator and a Deputy Assistant Director of the F.B.I. To
both of them and to their VANPAC colleagues, we owe a debt of
gratitude for a job well done. //
Each murder in this country is a tragedy. But the random
murders of Judge Vance and Robert Robinson took on added meaning:
they were part of Moody's terrorist war against our courts, our
rule of law, our civil rights, and upon our very system of
government.
We will not tolerate assaults on these ideals. No American
should live in fear of random, senseless violence. No one will
be allowed to terrorize our people. //
We are constantly struggling to fight crime of all types.
The VANPAC investigation is an excellent example of law
enforcement's swift, professional response to violent crime in
this country. Despite the many obstacles they faced in the
criminal justice system, the VANPAC Task Force leapt into action
from the moment of the first bombing.
Yet when it comes to removing those obstacles before
prosecutors and investigators -- on this and many other cases --
time and again, Congress slumps into inaction.
I firmly believe that lawmakers must do everything in their
power to support our enforcement officials on the front lines.
4
This means sufficient resources -- particularly for prisons --
tough penalties, and reforms to the criminal justice system.
Most importantly, it means holding the rights of victims higher
than the rights of criminals. Our crime bill -- and only our
crime bill -- supports our men and women on the front lines.
The VANPAC case illustrates well where federal law is
lacking. Under current federal law, no death penalty exists for
mail bombing innocent Americans. We've proposed it. We've also
proposed a death penalty for murdering federal judges and for
killing someone in the course of a civil rights crime.
Perpetrators of these heinous crimes should be prepared to pay
with their lives. We need a workable federal death penalty --
and we need it now.
We need a crime bill that will stop the endless abuse of
habeas corpus. We need a bill that guarantees that criminals who
use serious weapons face serious charges -- and do serious time.
We need a bill that prevents evidence gathered in good faith from
becoming a technicality that throws open the cell door and lets
bad people walk scot free.
Each of you knows the difference -- between a tough crime
bill that gives you what you need to win this fight -- and the
anti-law enforcement proposals that the House Democrats call a
crime bill. This week, the House will vote on a bill that marks
a retreat from current law. It's time we tipped the scales of
justice back -- toward the side of dedicated men and women like
you.
5
I need your help in turning the House crime bill around.
Your presence here today sends a powerful warning to the Congress
-- that the American people will not accept a crime bill that is
tougher on law enforcement than it is on the criminals. //
The time has come. After three years of foot-dragging,
Congress is finally considering the crime bill. But I need you
to let your representatives know which crime bill we support.
Tell them our police, our prosecutors and our people stand behind
only one bill -- and that one is the Administration's crime bill.
Tell them it's time for a criminal justice system that
allows us to see the truth come out, the guilty punished, the law
upheld, and justice done. That's what our crime bill stands for,
and that's what we stand for, and that's what our Representatives
should stand for -- when the final vote is taken this week.
Again, my congratulations and thanks for a job well done in
bringing Walter Moody to justice. You have shown what we can
achieve when we stand united against criminals. We are lucky to
have men and women like you defending us on the streets -- now we
just need your powerful message to reach the halls of Congress.
God bless you all and thank you.
# # #
@JOUZ
DRAFT
In 1989, a series of grave crimes shocked the nation.
Each offense was horrible in itself.
Together, they were an attack on our most cherished
principles of the Constitutional rule of law and civil rights.
The terrorism began when a package was delivered to Federal
Judge Robert Vance of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals at
his home in Mountainbrook, Alabama.
When Judge Vance opened the package, a pipe bomb inside
exploded with incredible force. Judge Vance was thrown across
the room and died of terrible wounds to his abdomen.
His severely injured wife later described the scene to
investigators in these words: "I heard Bob make a couple of
noises like if someone hits you in the stomach and knocks the
breath out of you, the sound of breath going out and that was the
only sound I ever heard him make."
Two days later, the terrorism spread.
Alderman Robert Robinson, an official of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People, returned to
his law office in Savannah, Georgia, and opened a package that
had been delivered while he was in court.
That package also contained a pipe bomb that exploded.
The occupant of an adjoining office, Emerson Brown, rushed
to Robinson's aid. He described the scene to investigators in
these words:
" his right arm had been blown off just below the
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Un
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DRAFT
shoulder
by the time I put my arm around him, I noticed that on
the right side his abdomen had been blown out. "
Robinson died three hours later.
On that same day, packages containing bombs also were
delivered to a federal courthouse in Atlanta and an NAACP office
in Jacksonville, Florida.
Both bombs were detected and disarmed, and one investigator
said it was miraculous that dozens of other innocent persons had
not been killed.
A torrent of threatening letters followed, vowing to spread
death and destruction across the nation. They were threats
against the federal courts, against blacks, against civil rights.
The federal government reacted swiftly to the violence and
the threats. A massive investigation began at once, with a task
force directed by officials of the Department of Justice and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Other agencies taking part included the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms; the Postal Inspection Service; the U.S.
Marshals Service; and the Internal Revenue Service.
The investigation went on month after month without anyone
being charged with the bombings. There even came a point when
some skeptics said the murders would never be solved.
It was one of the most intricate, difficult cases that
veteran federal agents had ever faced.
But the devotion of the Task Force members to the law and to
the people of this country never wavered. And it eventually
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004
DRAFT
resulted in the arrest of the bomber.
The most solid of cases was developed against Walter Leroy
Moody, Jr., who was convicted of the bombings and related crimes.
Evidence introduced at his trial clearly showed his racist
motives for the bombings.
In August, Moody was sentenced to seven life terms in
federal prison--with no possibility of parole.
The Task Force of prosecutors, investigators, and other
specialists displayed enormous energy and amazing self-sacrifice.
It is one of the greatest successes in the annals of law
enforcement.
It is one of the most magnificent achievements of this
century in civil rights enforcement.
More than 50 persons are being honored today for their work
in what was known as the VANPAC Task Force. Each made a notable
contribution.
I want to give special recognition to the two selfless
public servants who headed the Task Force and guided it to its
amazing achievements.
One is Louis J. Freeh, the chief prosecutor and an Assistant
United States Attorney, who is now a Federal District Judge in
Manhattan.
The other is Larry A. Potts, the chief investigator and a
Deputy Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Everyone who cherishes the law and our democracy owes them
and their colleagues a great debt of gratitude.
3
UUD
DRAFT
Each murder in this country is a tragedy. The murders of
Judge Vance and NAACP official Robinson took on an added
dimension because they were part of defendant Moody's terrorist
war against everything that law-abiding Americans cherish.
It was a war against our courts and rule of law. It was a
war against a minority group. It was a terrorist attack on our
very system of government.
There are things sacred about the concepts and processes of
self-government in our nation.
One of them is the rule of law, which helps preserve our
democracy and all of our freedoms.
Another is the concept of civil rights--that every ethnic,
racial, and religious group is guaranteed the full blessings of
equality.
We will not tolerate assaults on these principles. No one
will be allowed to destroy with violence our democratic way of
life. No one will be allowed to terrorize our people or torment
them endlessly with fear.
We simply will not allow it--no matter what the cost of
defending and preserving domestic freedom.
The nation is also faced today with many other kinds of
crime that exact a terrible toll.
This continuing struggle against crime of all types requires
staying power, determination, and a high level of resources. And
it also requires new legal tools for federal law enforcement
agencies.
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DRAFT
One thing that must be done now is for Congress to pass an
anti-crime bill that will help the government be even more
successful against a wide range of violent crimes and drug
offenses.
Observers have noted that Moody fully deserved to be
executed because of the heinous nature of his crimes against a
judge, a civil rights leader, and others. But the same observers
also point out that in the federal legal system there is no
workable death penalty--not even for the very worst of crimes.
[PLEASE NOTE: Add material on crime legislation.]
#####
5
OUTLINE OF
EVENTS:
TBD
REMARKS:
To be provided by speechwriters.
MEDIA
COVERAGE:
Open
PROJECT
OFFICER:
Jim Fitzhenry (x2800)
1940FOB
Leigh Ann:
What do you think of the following proposed sequence of events
for the VANPAC event?
POTUS walks to the dais, where Attorney General Barr is
standing.
A color guard walks up the center aisle, presents the
colors, and Bill Barr leads the audience in the Pledge of
Allegiance. The color guard then departs. (Specifically
requested by DOJ).
Bill Barr will give preliminary remarks and will introduce
POTUS.
POTUS delivers his remarks about the VANPAC task force and
the Crime Bill.
At the conclusion of his remarks, both POTUS and Bill Barr
stand by the award table while Assistant A.G. Robert Mueller
walks to the podium and calls off the names of the seven
award winners.
Each award recipient walks to the dais, receives the award,
poses for a photo, and sits back down.
As the last recipient sits back down, Mr. Mueller thanks
everyone for coming and concludes the event.
If possible, call me tonight and tell me what you think. I'm at
x2800.
Jim
1/111
47.1 007
DRAFT
Script for Award Presentations
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to present the
seven major awards being made today to members of the VANPAC Task
Force.
The other VANPAC task force members being honored for
special achievements will receive their awards within the next
few days.
The first category today is the Exceptional Leadership Award
for the two persons who supervised the successful investigation
and prosecution of this historic civil rights case.
If I could ask Louis J. Freeh to come forward. As an
Assistant U.S. Attorney, he was the Task Force's chief
prosecutor. And we are very pleased that he is now a Federal
District Judge in Manhattan. Let me extend my sincere thanks for
your splendid achievement.
[President gives award to Freeh.]
The other Exceptional Leadership Award goes to Larry A.
Potts, who was the chief investigator for VANPAC and is a Deputy
Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Congratulations on an excellent job.
[President gives award to Potts.]
We next honor the five recipients of the Dedicated Service
Award--one prosecutor and four case agents who made major
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V 008
DRAFT
contributions to the successful conclusion one of the most
important civil rights cases in the nation's history.
First, the award to Howard M. Shapiro, an Assistant United
States Attorney who was a prosecutor for the Task Force.
Congratulations.
[President gives award.]
The next award is to John D. Behnke of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, a VANPAC case agent. Congratulations.
[President gives award.]
We also are recognizing the achievements of Tracey A. North
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a case agent.
Congratulations.
[President gives award.]
Our next recipient is Brian M. Hoback of the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, a case agent. congratulations.
[President gives award.]
And finally, the Dedicated Service Award for John W. Farrell
of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, another case agent.
In conclusion, I want to thank each and every one of the
more than 50 Task Force members who are here today for their
historic achievements.
You have my gratitude for a crucially-important job
faithfully performed at the highest standards.
#####
2
VANPAC and the crime Bill: A White House Event
There is a natural connection between a presidential
recognition of the VANPAC Task Force, the investigative team in the
prosecution of Walter Leroy Moody, Jr., for the mail bombings
killing Judge Robert Vance and NAACP leader Robert Robinson, and
a meeting with state and local prosecutors concerned about this
year's crime bill. The connection can be summarized in four
points:
1. The President's Crime Bill is concerned with violent crime,
particularly the heinous version displayed in the Moody bombings.
2. The VANPAC investigation is an excellent demonstration of the
professionalism and commitment of law enforcement in response to
violent crime. Despite significant problems with the criminal
justice system, we repeatedly see that law enforcement officers are
willing to make significant personal sacrifices as a normal manner
of service.
3. Lawmakers must do everything in their power to support those
in law enforcement. This means sufficient resources (particularly
for prisons), adequate penalties, and reforms to the criminal
justice system. The President's Crime Bill was specifically
crafted to address this lack of support.
3.
The VANPAC case illustrates well where the federal law is
lacking. Under current federal law, there is no possibility to
impose the death penalty against Moody. There is no death penalty
for mailing explosive materials. The President's bill proposes
such a penalty, as well as one for murdering federal judges and for
killing someone in the course of a civil rights violation.
Furthermore, if Alabama seeks the death penalty against Moody, the
House Judiciary Committee's version of the crime bill would have
the effect of blocking the possible imposition of that penalty.
so van Pac
150 local prosectory
Moody should have got
death penalty
Bob Buchmen
616-2033
-
Services of Mead Data Central, Inc.
PAGE
4
20TH STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
The Associated Press
The materials in the AP file were compiled by The Associated Press. These
materials may not be republished without the express written consent of The
Associated Press.
June 28, 1991, Friday, AM cycle
SECTION: Domestic News
LENGTH: 741 words
HEADLINE: Jury Convicts Moody on All Charges in Mail-Bombing Deaths
BYLINE: By TONY KENNEDY, Associated Press Writer
DATELINE: ST. PAUL, Minn.
KEYWORD: Mail Bombing Trial
BODY:
A jury Friday convicted Walter Leroy Moody Jr. of all charges in the
mail-bomb deaths of a federal judge and a civil rights lawyer in the Southeast.
The conviction came 18 months after what Attorney General Dick Thornburgh
called one of the most intensive investigations ever by the Justice Department.
Moody, 57, of Rex, Ga., showed no emotion and said nothing when the verdicts
were read.
"He anticipated, in my opinion, the verdict," said Edward Tolley, one of
Moody's lawyers. "We all anticipated what the verdict would be. We fought a good
fight but we knew it would be an uphill battle."
Tolley said he expects to appeal.
Moody, who blamed the Ku Klux Klan for the slayings, was convicted on all 71
counts by the jury on its second day of deliberations.
The charges included first-degree murder in the death of Judge Robert
Vance. Moody also was convicted of causing the death of Savannah, Ga.,
Alderman Robert E. Robinson and transporting explosive materials with intent to
kill him.
Two of the four counts relating to Vance's death carry mandatory life
sentences without parole and two carry a possible life sentence without parole.
Moody's attorney has said he expects Alabama and Georgia to file state
murder charges. The attorney said possible death sentences in those states
could supersede any federal sentence.
The judge's widow, Helen Vance, who was wounded in the bombing, said she
was happy with the verdicts, and didn't care whether Alabama authorities would
seek the death penalty.
LEXIS'NEXIS'LEXIS'NEXIS
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PAGE
5
The Associated Press, June 28, 1991
"I want him off the street," she said, "but I don't care anything about the
death penalty."
U.S. District Judge Edward Devitt did not immediately schedule sentencing.
Moody was being held at Oak Park Heights state prison.
The jurors met for about seven hours Thursday. When they resumed
deliberations Friday, they asked for a definition of interstate commerce.
One of the counts accused Moody of "transporting explosive materials in
interstate commerce" in the mail-bomb killing of Vance, an 11th U.S. Circuit
judge.
The jury was told that anything sent through the mail is considered
interstate commerce, even if it doesn't leave the state, said defense attorney
Don Samuel. The bomb that killed Vance was mailed from Georgia.
The trial, which began June 4, was moved to Minnesota partly because of
pretrial publicity in the Southeast.
The December 1989 bombings killed Vance at his home in Mountain Brook, Ala.,
and Robinson at his Savannah office.
Bombs sent to the federal court in Atlanta and to the Jacksonville office of
the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People were intercepted;
a tear-gas bomb exploded in the Atlanta office of the NAACP caused no
fatalities.
In Washington, Thornburgh said the conviction "represents the successful
culmination of one of the most intensive investigations and manhunts ever
carried out by the Justice Department."
He said a special interagency task force conducted an 18-month investigation
using agents from seven federal, state and local police agencies. The FBI alone
devoted more than 140,000 man hours and 11 months to the case, Thornburgh said.
Other charges against Moody included sending threatening letters to 17 judges
and television stations across the country.
Moody was the only defense witness, taking the stand against the advice of
his court-appointed attorneys. Over four days, he gave rambling, sometimes
bizarre testimony during which he interspersed details of his sex life.
Moody blamed the Klan for the bombings and said he was unwittingly used by
his former attorney, Michael C. Ford, to get parts for the bombs.
Moody's lawyers urged the jury not to concern itself with his allegations.
They said there was no direct evidence that Moody mailed the bombs and that a
conviction based on the prosecution's largely circumstantial evidence would be
unfair.
Prosecutors said Moody had a vendetta against the court system for his 1972
pipe-bomb possession conviction.
LEXIS'NEXIS'LEXIS'NEXIS
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PAGE
6
The Associated Press, June 28, 1991
They said Moody sometimes masqueraded as a lawyer and hated blacks partly
because he thought they received preferential treatment by the courts. But the
prosecution said he killed Robinson and targeted the NAACP chiefly to make
investigators think the crimes were racially motivated.
The prosecution said Vance was a perfect target because he had ruled in favor
of black plaintiffs in a school desegregation case, saying their 20-year-old
claim was not outdated.
GRAPHIC: LaserPhoto MP6
LEXIS NEXIS'LEXIS'NEXIS
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
October 16, 1991
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN AWARD CEREMONY HONORING THE VANPAC TASK FORCE
The Rose Garden
11:45 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Everyone, welcome to the Rose Garden --
devoid of roses, but -- (laughter.) We are very pleased to see all
of you here. A special hello, of course, to the man standing at my
left, a man so well-known to those interested in law enforcement,
Bill Barr. We're honored to have Bill Sessions with us, the FBI
Director; Steve Higgins, the Director of ATF; Mike Moore, Director of
the Marshals Service. And I want to welcome Judge Tjoflat, who came
all the way from Alabama -- where is the Judge? I might get him to
just stand since we're going to be talking about Alabama here in a
minute. Welcome, sir. (Applause.)
It is an honor to have with us today the true experts on
crime and justice in this country: our state and local law
enforcement officials. Each of you is here today because you've made
a solemn pledge, and have made great personal sacrifices, to protect
and defend society against the threat of violent crime and drugs.
Every American agrees that we have a crime problem in this country;
that is the understatement of the year. And every American deserves
a tough crime bill that strengthens our criminal justice system.
Let me just share a story with you. Most of you know
it. Two years ago, a series of gruesome crimes shocked America. The
terror began one peaceful morning when, along with the rest of the
day's mail, a parcel arrived at the home of Federal Appeals Court
Judge Robert Vance in Mountainbrook, Alabama.
And when Judge Vance sat down to open the package, a
pipe bomb inside blasted him across the room. Judge Vance was
killed, and his wife severely injured.
The nightmare didn't stop there. Two days later,
Alderman Robert Robinson, a prominent official of the NAACP, returned
to his law office in Savannah after spending the day in court. Along
with other papers, a package awaited him in his office. The pipe
bomb inside exploded, and Robert Robinson died, too -- a senseless
and violent tragedy brought about by an anonymous terrorist.
That same day, packages containing bombs also arrived at
a federal courthouse in Atlanta and an NAACP office in Jacksonville.
Thank God those bombs were found before more innocent persons were
murdered. In fact, one investigator, a real pro, said it was nothing
short of a miracle. A torrent of threatening letters followed,
targeting federal judges, prominent blacks, civil rights leaders.
With the first bombings, federal authorities began a
massive investigation, spearheaded by a task force named VANPAC,
named after its first victim, Judge Vance. And VANPAC was directed
by Department of Justice officials, including at the F.B.I. and the
U.S. Marshals Service. But other agencies all pitched in: ATF, the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the Postal Inspection
Service; the Internal Revenue Service.
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2
Because of the hard work of the task force, they soon
zeroed in on a suspect -- got an indictment and a conviction in the
bombings and related crimes, and brought a sentence of seven life
terms without parole and 400 years of imprisonment. The VANPAC case
was a great success in the annals of law enforcement and a very
important achievement in defense of civil rights.
My congratulations to the two selfless public servants
who led the task force to its amazing achievements: Louis Freeh, the
chief prosecutor and Assistant U.S. Attorney, now a Federal District
Judge in Manhattan; and Larry Potts, the chief investigator and a
Deputy Assistant Director of the F.B.I. To both of them and their
VANPAC colleagues, we owe a debt of gratitude for a job so well done.
Each murder in this country is a tragedy. But the
murders of Judge Vance and Robert Robinson took on added meaning:
They were part of one man's terrorist war against our courts, our
rule of law, our civil rights, and upon our very system of
government. We will not tolerate assaults on these ideals. No
American should live in fear of random, senseless violence. No one
will be allowed to terrorize our people,
We are constantly struggling to fight crime of all
types. The VANPAC investigation is an excellent example of law
enforcement's swift, professional response to violent crime in this
country. Despite the many obstacles they faced in the criminal
justice system, the VANPAC Task Force leapt into action from the
moment of that very first bombing.
And yet, when it comes to removing those obstacles
before prosecutors and investigators -- on this and many other cases
--time and again, Congress slumps into inaction.
I firmly believe that lawmakers must do everything in
their power to support our law enforcement officials on the front
lines. This means sufficient resources -- particularly for prisons
-- tough penalties, and reforms to the criminal justice system. It
means being on the cutting edge of law enforcement -- creating a 21st
century law enforcement system to deal with 21st century criminals.
Most importantly, it means holding the rights of victims higher than
the rights of criminals. Our crime bill -- and only the crime bill
that we have up on the Hill -- supports our men and women on the
front line.
I'll diverse a minute to mention yesterday's lovely
ceremony at the new memorial in honor of the fallen law enforcement
officers. I'm sure some of you were there. But I can tell you on a
very personal basis that Barbara and I were deeply moved at that
memorial, at the service itself, particularly when we met the two
surviving young children of a fallen officer. And I wish every
single American involved in this concept of legislation to do
something about crime could have been there at that moving memorial.
I believe it would have a made a tremendous difference. We must
support those who are on the front lines of law enforcement.
The VANPAC case illustrates well where federal law is
lacking. Under current federal law, no death penalty exists for the
mail-bombing murder of innocent Americans. We've proposed it. And
we've also proposed a death penalty for murdering federal judges and
for killing someone in the course of a civil rights crime.
Perpetrators of these heinous crimes should be prepared to pay with
their lives. And we need a workable federal death penalty, and we
need it now.
We need a crime bill that will stop the endless abuse of
habeas corpus. We need a bill that guarantees that criminals who use
serious weapons face serious charges and do serious time. And we
need a bill that prevents evidence gathered in good faith from being
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thrown out on a technicality that then opens the cell door and lets
bad people just walk out of there scot-free.
Each of you knows the difference between a tough crime
bill that gives you what you need to win this fight and the anti-law
enforcement proposals that some of the House Democrats call a crime
bill. They call what they've got a crime bill, and it goes just the
wrong way in many categories. This week, the House votes on a bill
that marks a retreat from current law -- a retreat. And it's time we
tipped the scales of justice back toward the side of dedicated men
and women involved in law enforcement in one way or another -- people
like yourselves.
So I need your help in turning the House crime bill
around. Your presence here today sends a powerful warning to the
Congress that the American people will not accept a crime bill that
is tougher on law enforcement than it is on criminals.
And the time really has come. After two years of foot-
dragging, the House is finally considering the crime bill. And if
you agree with what I've said, please act today. Let your
representatives know that that House bill, the House Democrats' bill,
as it stands now, is simply unacceptable. Tell them to support the
Gekas death penalty amendment. Tell them to vote for the Hyde habeas
corpus reform and the Sensenbrenner amendment on the exclusionary
rule that I've mentioned. And finally, tell them we need the
McCollum equal justice act so that we can have a death penalty that
works.
And tell them our police, prosecutors and people stand
behind these key provisions -- they stand behind a strong crime bill.
I really believe that this issue transcends party politics. It gets
right to the heart of what the American people want. And I think
it's about time that we in the White House, working with the
Congress, delivered. Tell them also that it's time for a criminal
justice system that allows us to see the truth come out, the guilty
punished, the law upheld, and justice done. And that's what I
believe our crime bill stands for, and that's what we stand for, and
that's what I'd like to see these representatives stand for when the
final vote is taken this week.
And again, my sincere congratulations. My thanks to the.
VANPAC team for this inspirational work, a job so well done. As our
men and women on the front lines, you have shown what we can achieve
when we stand united against criminals. And we're lucky to have men
and women like you defending us on the streets. And now we just need
your powerful message to reach the halls of Congress.
And speaking of messages, I have another message now
that I want to reach the halls of Congress; and, indeed, I will see
that it does reach the United States Senate very, very soon. It's an
important message about a man that I respect enormously. And today I
am announcing my choice for the Attorney General to lead our
Department of Justice. And I have chosen an individual who is a
thorough professional, a defender of individual rights, and a person
absolutely committed to this fight against crime. And he's also been
tested by fire, working with several of you as evidenced in the
recent events at the Talladega prison. And I was proud of him then,
and I am proud today to send Bill Barr's name to the Senate as the
next Attorney General of the United States. (Applause.)
ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Thank you. Thank you,
Mr. President. It's been a privilege to serve you these past three
years at the Department of Justice, and I'm honored that you have
selected me to serve in the position of Attorney General.
What makes it a particular honor is the opportunity to
serve a President who is such a strong supporter of law enforcement.
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(Applause.) And it's also a great honor to be nominated to succeed a
great Attorney General like Dick Thornburgh. (Applause.) Now, as
this ceremony clearly shows today, we have thousands of dedicated men
and women at the Department of Justice who do an exceptional job, day
in and day out, upholding the law, enforcing the law in an evenhanded
way and with integrity. And I'm proud to be associated with each and
every one of them, and if confirmed, proud to lead them.
Thanks again, Mr. President. (Applause.)
I'd like to ask Bob Mueller, the Assistant Attorney
General for the Criminal Division, to come forward and assist in the
presentation of the awards.
(The awards are presented.)
END
12:03 P.M. EDT