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America 2000--Norristown, Pennsylvania 9/9/92 [OA 7580]
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323154228
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America 2000--Norristown, Pennsylvania 9/9/92 [OA 7580]
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Speech Backup Chronological Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S; 1998-0002-F
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Backup Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13831
Folder ID Number:
13831-002
Folder Title:
America 2000--Norristown, Pennsylvania 9/9/92 [OA 7580]
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26
22
7
7
BUSH
CBA
QUAYLE
92
LOCAL PRESS COVERAGE OF
PRESIDENTIAL VISITS TO:
NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
MIDDLETOWN, NEW JERSEY
WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 9, 1992
CONTACT:
KEVIN HERGLOTZ
PRESS OFFICE
336-7291
1030 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005
Paid for by Bush-Quayle '92 General Committee, Inc.
Printed on Recycled Paper
BUSH
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Thursday, Sept 10, 1992
QUAYLE
92
In Pa. and N.J. visits, Bush seeks
voters' trust on economy, taxes
By Ellen Warren
His blunt characterizations of the
INQUIRER WASHINGTON BUREAU
Bush insisted, returning to his re-
economy came on the eve of a speech
frain that the "liberals" in the Demo-
President Bush yesterday asked
scheduled today in Detroit where
Pennsylvania voters to trust him to
cratic-controlled Congress have
campaign aides say he will offer a
squelched his plans for economic re-
rescue the nation from "economic
"comprehensive" assessment of the
covery.
hell," then told a New Jersey rally
economy but announce no new ma-
that although he raised taxes once,
With only eight weeks to go before
jor initiatives.
"I'm not going to do it again - ever,
the election, Bush clearly has aban-
"We've been through economic
ever."
doned any hope of a robust economy
hell in this country,' Bush said dur-
In remarks to workers at a manu-
to buoy his election chances.
ing a question-and-answer forum at
facturing plant in suburban Trappe,
Instead, Bush's strategy is to ac-
Uniform Tubes, a cable and tube
Bush conceded that the economy is
knowledge the economic problems,
manufacturer here. "We're poised in
"anemic," "sick" and "lousy," but
blame them on Congress, predict
my view for a decent and strong
said he still was optimistic about the
that a recovery looms - and then
recovery."
country.
exploit voters' fear of the untried in
"I haven't just been sitting there,'
See BUSH on A7
BUSH
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Thursday, Sept 10, 1992
QUAYLE
92
BUSH from A1
"Listening to George Bush say he
Democratic challenger Gov. Bill
is the education president
just
Clinton, political analysts say.
doesn't fit," said campaign aide Bob
Bush went to the Montgomery
Boorstin. "Bill Clinton has fought for
County tube company after a stop at
education reform for 12 years. He is
Norristown Area High School, where
recognized as a national leader in
some students were delighted to dis-
education."
rupt their first day of classes to hear
Some students were upset when
the President discuss education re-
Bush closed by criticizing Clinton by
forms.
name.
The President then traveled to
Sophomore Brian Greko asserted
New Jersey, where he attended a
he "didn't like him bringing Clinton
rally in the parking lot of the VFW
in at the end. I thought he should
hall in Middletown Township. Sev-
have stayed away from politics."
eral thousand people had waited in
The economy dominated the day as
sweltering temperatures to see him.
Bush discussed jobs - the unem-
He attacked Clinton's proposal to
ployment rate is 8.2 percent in Penn-
raise taxes on the wealthy and came
sylvania and 9.4 percent in New Jer-
close to resurrecting his "Read my
sey - and the economy.
lips, no new taxes" pledge of 1988 -
"It is lousy," Bush said, "We know
which he broke in 1990
that. We been trying to stimulate.
"I found out the hard
it. We're in a global re-
way. I went along with
The President
cession. It's not just the
one Democratic tax in-
U.S."
crease and I'm not go-
criticized his
Nonetheless Bush
ing to do it again -
ever, ever!' said the
opponent's
said, "I am optimistic
about this country
President.
record on
We aren't on the de-
The, visit to Norris-
education as
cline. We are on the
town was tied to the
rise and I've got to take
school district's adop-
Arkansas
that sense of optimism
tion of the Bush's
and get enough back-
America 2000 program,
governor.
ing to get done the
which establishes six
kinds of programs I've
goals for improving education and
been advocating," he told about 350
literacy in America. Included are 90
employees at the successful manufac-
percent graduation rate for high
turing plant.
school students, periodic perform-
Voters seem to be more skeptical.
ance testing, and literacy for all
Polls show that they are discouraged
adult Americans.
about the economy and are unhappy
"Gov. Clinton is in with the crowd
about the way Bush has handled it.
who says 'no' to break-the-mold
With the huge electoral-vote states
schools, 'no' to higher standards, 'no'
of Texas, California and Florida now
to less regulation and 'no' to my GI
in doubt for Bush, Pennsylvania and
bill for kids," Bush said.
New Jersey have become critical bat-
Bush sought to deflate Clinton's
tlegrounds, along with Michigan, Illi-
contentions that he has made big
nois and Ohio.
improvements in education in his 12
Yesterday, in two of those key
years as governor of Arkansas.
states, the President met with mixed
He credited Clinton with taking a
reactions.
constructive role in shaping the
"Four more years, four more
national education goals that are
years, some in the New Jersey
the center of Bush's education pro-
crowd yelled.
posals. However, Bush said, "The
But a small group of protesters at
facts tell the story about his own
the Norristown high school had a
record."
different idea.
In 1980, he said, Arkansas ranked
"Four more months," they hol-
47th in percentage of adults with
lered.
college degrees. "Today," he added,
"they're dead last."
Inquirer correspondents Ken Dilanian,
Clinton supporters fired back, de-
Wendy Greenberg and Diane Struzzi
fending Clinton's record and saying
contributed to this article. It also
Bush has not lived up to his promise
contains information from the
to be the "education president."
Associated Press.
4322
N
560
The Philadelphia Inquirer / AKIRA SUWA
Workers at Uniform Tubes found a more personable President Bush. His support has not mirrored the 2-1 county GOP advantage.
Bush wins over many at Montco firm
By Peter Landry
Before 350 employees of Uniform
plan for educational reform.
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
with the way he spoke with feeling,"
Tubes, the personal approach
"Everyone here, from the chair-
said Charlotte Jay, administrative as-
On Main Street near the plant that
seemed an effective antidote to the
man of the board on down, took a
sistant to Uniform Tubes co-owner A.
would host a president, the marquee
more formal, often stiff, appearance
two-hour test of eighth-grade math
Bruce Mainwaring.
on the Trappe tavern gave a down-
he sometimes gives on television.
and reading," said Carol Christobek,
Charles Evans, a bearded supervi-
home howdy:
The way he spoke, the employees
who set up the company's program.
sor in a T-shirt for the Shy Beaver
"Welcome to The Trappe, Mr. Presi-
said, was as important as what he
"Fifteen percent of 350 workers are
fishing shop, liked that, too. He said
dent. Four more beers!"
said.
now going through brush-up skills in
he was a Democrat but would be
26
President Bush didn't stop for beer
"He surprised me, said Kate Shi-
math and 5 percent for reading."
voting for Bush.
when he visited Trappe's Uniform
poski. "I was for Ross Perot and I
Yesterday, ringed by planks of the
BUSH
"It could be a hell of a lot worse
Tubes company yesterday, but he
wanted to get a feel for George Bush.
medical and aerospace tubing the
than it is," he said.
used the occasion to show a side of
The warmness he showed appealed
company manufactures, Bush
himself he hopes will win back sup-
Machine operator Steve Quinty,
very much. He seemed very sincere
praised the program, but he also
port in a Republican county he can
in his responses.'
however, was going the other way.
talked politics and jobs and acknowl-
ill afford to lose.
Donald Waltimyer, whose aisle
"This was purely political," Quinty
edged the distance he must cover if
said. "Nothing I hadn't heard before.
At an "Ask George Bush" forum
seat gave him a chance to joke with
his campaign is to succeed.
I'm a registered Republican and I
with company employees, the Presi-
Bush as the President left, gave an-
"I see a T-shirt there: 'I'll do it
think I'm going to vote Libertarian."
dent was the picture of practiced
other thumbs up to the President's
tomorrow, I'd rather be fishing,'
ease - winking with workers in the
performance.
Alexis Bunt, 7, daughter of Repub-
Bush noted at the top of his remarks.
first few rows, smiling his crinkly
"I liked it," said Waltimyer. "He's
lican State Rep. Raymond Bunt Jr.,
"He's on to something, but for 55 days
aw-shucks smile, joking in a manner
the type of guy you can joke and
said it. "was great to see him in per-
they won't let me do anything like
that suggested he would be comfort-
son," but her father said she was a
gesture to. I told him he had a hell of
that. I've got to get to work here.
tad disappointed.
able in the taproom as well as the
an arm."
With employees as close as six feet
boardroom.
She had only one question for the
Uniform Tubes, a nonunion shop in
away, and stacked in bleachers bor-
Thursday, Sept 10, 1992
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Republicans have controlled Mont-
President," he said. "She wanted to
a sprawling plant on 35 groomed
rowed at the last minute from the
gomery County since the 19th cen-
know if she could have a kiss."
acres, was chosen for Bush's question-
local Little League, everyone got up
tury, but Bush's support this year has
and-answer forum because it has an
close and personal with the Presi-
Inquirer correspondents Mac Daniel
not matched the party's 2-to-1 advan-
education and literacy program that
dent.
and Jeff McGaw contributed to this
tage in registration.
mirrors the President's America 2000
"I was very favorably impressed
article,
The Philadelphia Inquirer
BUSH
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
QUAYLE
92
Campaign '92
Bush speech to offer
new economic plan
Help for small firms is
for making the United States an "eco-
nomic and exporting superpower,"
expected. It is unlikely to
said campaign spokeswoman Torie
boost the economy
Clarke.
Bush's address today will repre-
before the election.
sent the first major weighing in of
James A. Baker 3d - former secre-
By Tom Raum
tary of state turned chief of staff and
ASSOCIATED PRESS
political Mr. Fix-it - on a critical
policy issue.
WASHINGTON - President Bush
will present his strategy for stimulat-
Still, the speech represents just the
latest in a string of Bush addresses
ing the economy beyond Election Day
that have been billed in advance as
in a speech in Detroit today and in
five-minute campaign ads to be broad-
presenting prescriptions to cure an
cast nationally tonight, White House
ailing economy.
and Bush campaign officials said.
Bush was supposed to use his ac-
ceptance speech at the Republican
Administration sources said yester-
National Convention last month to
day that Bush's presentation may in-
do just that.
clude modest new tax breaks for
small businesses but no major
Instead, he delivered vague con-
budget or tax initiatives.
vention promises of an across-the-
board tax cut in a second term and
Bush's speech to Detroit business
proposed a tax check- off plan to help
leaders will reflect his advisers' con-
fight the deficit - ideas that many
clusion that economic statistics are
analysts say have failed to generate
unlikely to show a rebound in time
much enthusiasm or voter confi-
to be of much political help, adminis-
dence. Bush has not explained how
tration and campaign aides said
he would pay for the tax cut.
Instead, the speech will focus on
Baker and his top aide on the eco-
the long term and seek to portray
nomic address, deputy chief of staff
Bush as better qualified than Demo-
Robert B. Zoellick, were closely
cratic challenger Bill Clinton to lead
guarding details of Bush's address to
the nation into a recovery.
the Detroit Economic Club.
The Bush campaign bought televi-
But the possible proposals are ex-
sion time tonight on NBC, CBS, ABC
pected to focus on ways in which
and CNN for a five-minute taped ad-
small companies can write off invest-
dress by the President on his eco-
ment costs, sources said.
nomic proposals.
Bush has been emphasizing small
The ads will spell out Bush's plan
business in his economic proposals.
BUSH
The Times
Burlington, NJ.
QUAYLE
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1992
1 of 2
Bush making 3rd pitch
for N.J. vote
By JIM GOODMAN
Staff Writer
TRENTON - President Bush will
be in New Jersey today - his third
visit here since winning the GOP
nomination - as he fights to win
back some of the voters who have
supported Republicans in past presi-
dential elections but are believed to
be leaning toward Democrat Bill
Clinton this time around.
Bush will appear at the Middle-
town Township VFW Post 2179 in
Monmouth County where he is ex-
pected to attack Clinton for his al-
leged efforts to avoid the draft dur-
ing the Vietnam War: The 1 p.m.
event is open to the public.
The Bush visit comes at a time
when the Clinton campaign is begin-
ning to poll New Jersey voters to
President Bush
determine whether the state, which
Bush's trip to New Jersey is his ernors Association conference here.
has voted Republican in every presi-
third in recent weeks compared
Clinton is not scheduled to make
dential election since Lyndon John-
with Clinton's hurriedly arranged
son's 1964 Democratic landslide, can
post-convention stop in Camden and
be won by Clinton.
an appearance at the National Gov-
see BUSH, A6
The Times
BUSH
Burlington, NJ.
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1992
QUAYLE
Page 2 of 2
92
Bush
The Bush visit comes at a time when the Clinton
campaign is beginning to poll New Jersey voters to
continued from A1
determine whether the state, which has voted
another appearance in New Jersey
Republican in every presidential election since Lyndon
until Sept. 30 when he is expected to
Johnson's 1964 landslide, can be won by Clinton.
attend a major campaign fund-rais-
ing event.
The Democratic candidate's low-
ly in that election as Bush started
Steve Salmore, who concentrates on
profile campaign in New Jersey has
building momentum for his land-
local and congressional elections,
raised speculation that Clinton
slide victory.
say the varying answers that Clinton
wants to avoid appearing with Dem-
Clinton will not hesitate to cam-
has given to charges that he actively
ocratic Gov. Jim Florio, who has
paign with Florio, and Al Gore, the
worked to avoid the Vietnam draft
been stuck on the low end of voter
vice presidential candidate, also will
go to the theme that Bush wants to
polls for more than two years since
be active in the state, Constantinou
exploit: whether the country can
his controversial tax plans were en-
said.
trust someone to be president who
acted.
Even David Norcross, the Republi-
has ducked his military duty.
can national committeeman for New
The New Jersey Clinton campaign
OFFICIALS IN the Democratic
Jersey, said he doubts the Clinton
yesterday distributed a letter from a
Party and the Clinton campaign said
campaign will abandon New Jersey.
Vietnam veterans organization that
yesterday they are "encouraged"
"It's too important for him and it's
argued that veterans are more inter-
and "even delighted" by the strong
too important for us," Norcross said.
ested in the candidates' views and
showing Clinton has been register-
"If Clinton wants to give up New
records on veterans' issues than
ing in private and public voter polls.
Jersey, that's fine. We'll take it."
what they did 25 or more years ago.
But the decision on whether to
Roger Bodman, a Republican po-
Bush is a decorated Navy fighter
commit major resources to the cam-
litical consultant, said New Jersey
pilot who was shot down in action in
paign in New Jersey still depends on
may have only 15 electoral votes but
the Pacific. Clinton does not deny he
what the Clinton pollsters find as
it's a "battleground state" that has
opposed the war in Vietnam but said
they canvass New Jersey this week.
an impact on voting in neighboring
he did not take any improper action
"Both parties have only so many
states like New York, Pennsylvania
to avoid being drafted before he en-
resources (money and manpower)
and Connecticut.
rolled at Oxford University in En-
from their national campaigns and
gland as a Rhodes scholar.
the decision of how much they can
THE IMPORTANCE of New Jer-
take from those resources for a state
sey was underlined in a poll released
AN OFFICIAL of the American
that has such a long history of going
by Time magazine this week that
Legion in New Jersey said yesterday
for the Republican candidate has to
surveyed voters in five major subur-
the legion does not endorse candi-
be based on hard polling results,"
ban counties in as many states.
dates but that he "has no doubt what
said one official from the Democrat-
Middlesex County in New Jersey,
choice veterans will make between a
ic National Committee in Washing-
one of the key counties, showed
candidate who flew 58 missions and
ton.
Clinton leading Bush 49 percent to
was shot down and was decorated
But Clay Constantinou, a major
36 percent.
and a candidate who was offered the
fund-raiser for Clinton in New Jer-
The county is critical to both cam-
chance to serve his country in the
sey and the nation, said he is confi-
paigns because Middlesex, once a
military and turned it down."
dent the Clinton campaign will be
bastion of Democratic strength, has
Gary Hall, president of the New
stepped up in New Jersey once its
voted Republican in three consecu-
Jersey State Council, Vietnam Veter-
intense concentration on the Mid-
tive presidential elections. Last year,
ans of America, said there is "no
western states is completed.
Republicans won control of Middle-
doubt that Clinton, like thousands of
sex County government for the first
other Americans, took advantage of
CONSTANTINOU, who said he
time in 60 years.
a loophole in the law to avoid the
conferred last week with Clinton in
The magazine quoted Bill Pala-
draft.
Little Rock, dismissed speculation
tucci, executive director of the Bush
"But Bush and the Republicans
that the candidate is avoiding New
campaign, as saying, "We've got to
are just doing what the Democrats
Jersey because of Florio and the
play the Democrats to a draw (in
did last time when they accused Dan
anti-tax climate of the state.
Middlesex) or we're dead statewide."
Quayle of avoiding the draft by join-
"Bill Clinton is very pleased with
The Bush campaign is stepping up
ing the National Guard."
what we have been seeing in New
its effort to attack Clinton's credibil-
The council has been highly criti-
Jersey," said Constantinou, one of
ity on the Vietnam draft issue by
cal of the Bush administration's poli-
the main supporters of Democrat Mi-
staging its program today at a VFW
cies on veterans programs, including
chaël Dukakis in the 1988 election.
hall.
accounting for those missing in ac-
Dukakis abandoned New Jersey ear-
GOP strategists like Bodman and
tion in Vietnam.
BUSH
The Times
Burlington, NJ.
QUAYLE
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1992
92
Visit puts All-Stars in league of their own
ing politician, action for the 12-
dent Bush's visit to Middletown
By MARY ANN TARR
year-old ballplayers continues
this afternoon.
Staff Writer
today with Nottingham respond-
The itinerary for the New Jer-
ing to invitations not only from
sey State Little League champions
Yesterday was anything but a
the governor of New Jersey but
also includes a ceremony this eve-
normal day for Brandon Kivler.
also from the president of the
ning at Drumthwacket, the gover-
Today will be nothing short of
United States - who just happens
nor's mansion in Princeton Town-
extraordinary for Kivler and his
to be campaigning.
ship. Gov Jim Florio and his wife,
teammates on the Nottingham Lit-
Nottingham, the team from
Lucinda, will host an outdoor re-
tle League All-Star baseball team.
Hamilton Square that participated
With an agenda that would chal-
in the Little League World Series,
lenge the stamina of a campaign-
see ALL-STARS, A6
has been asked to attend Presi-
All-Stars
Nottingham, the team from Hamilton Square that
continued from A1
participated in the Little League World Series, has been
asked to attend President Bush's visit to Middletown
this afternoon.
ception for the nation's No. 2 Little
League team.
"This is great," said Nottingham
12, Section 4, N.J. state and the East
coach Matt Wolski. "Good stuff" for
vised by ESPN.
Region all leading up to the World
the kids on the team that fought all
"Not only was our community fol-
Series round of competition.
the way to the national champion-
lowing them, but whatever town
"When we moved (from Hamilton
ship game before falling, 1-0, to
they were in would start following
Long Beach, Calif., in the exciting
to Hopewell) four years ago, the first
them," said Carol Kivler. Notting-
U.S. title game at the 46th annual
question out of my son's mouth was,
ham's support grew in Morristown,
Little League World Series last
'Can I still play Little League at Not-
site of the New Jersey Final Four
tingham?'
month in Williamsport, Pa.
tourney; in Bristol, Conn., home of
Brandon Kivler started in Notting-
the Eastern Regional; and in Wil-
FOR KIVLER, yesterday was
ham's T-Ball program as a 6-year-old.
liamsport.
probably the most unusual of all of
As an all-star this year, he batted
"It's wonderful, exciting," said
.382 with five doubles and 15 runs
his "first day" of school experiences.
batted in, making him a valuable
Carol Kivler. "It's overwhelming,
"We had a little bet going," said
and it's non-ending. Every day this
Carol Kivler, Brandon's mother. "He
member of Nottingham's history-
week there's something."
making squad of 12-year-olds.
was not to wear anything with refer-
ences to Nottingham Little League
Also lined up for tomorrow is a
"WIN OR LOSE, those kids were
on it. He thought nobody would
pizza party for the team at Fred &
know because he goes to school in
coming back heros," said Carol
Pete's Delicatessen in Mercerville.
Hopewell."
Kivler, referring to that heart-tug-
On Friday, the team will be featured
Carol Kivler won her bet. Bran-
ging loss on a just-barely-fair homer
for the U.S. title.
on a local radio show. Saturday is a
don, who was able to play in Notting-
ham Little League because of the
"The first thing Brandon said to
double-header: a parade honoring
the team, and ceremonies during in-
"grandfather rule," received a
me was 'Mom, I didn't want to disap-
termission at the Greater Trenton
standing ovation from students and
point you.' Disappointed? I said to
staff.
him, 'You don't understand what
Symphony Orchestra concert during
Septemberfest in Hamilton's Veter-
"He was absolutely amazed," his
you achieved.' To them it was just
ans Park.
mom explained.
another baseball game, no different
Obviously, it's not easy, to dodge
than a game we played at districts."
The beat goes on Monday when
Their progression in the world of
Nottingham will be honored by the
the fame resulting from Notting-
ham's phenomenal summer which
Little League grabbed the attention
State Assembly at 4 p.m.
The team banquet next month
included championships in District
of the nation. The U.S. final game
drew a crowd of 21,000 and was tele-
should provide a fitting end to the
hoopla.
The Times
BUSH
Burlington, NJ.
QUAYLE
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1992
92
Too many columnists attacking Bush
I am appalled at the pro-Clinton
Bush.
ings in your editorials, but surely
bias of your paper day after day.
I have always been of the belief
there still should be some room for
The editorial cartoonists featured
that newspapers should report and
fair and balanced commentary
in The Times, namely MacNelly,
comment on the news in an even-
among your columnists and political
Toles, Borgman, Oliphant and Auth
handed fashion. On the editorial
cartoonists.
consistently ridicule President Bush,
page you are perfectly within your
James J. Egan Jr.
but never criticize Gov. Clinton.
rights to espouse your liberal lean-
Yardley, Pa.
I find it hard to believe that every-
thing Clinton says or does is com-
pletely right and above criticism.
The same applies to your editorial
page columnists, namely Mary
McGrory, Ellen Goodman, William
Raspberry, Richard Cohen, Otis Pike
and, of course, your local columnists
including Harry Sayen and Jim
Goodman.
The only objective columnist ap-
pearing in your paper is James Kil-
patrick; George Will at one time was
considered to be a conservative, but
he apparently has developed a per-
sonal vendetta against President
Bush: No tax hike, Ever, ever'
BUSH
The Times
Princeton, NJ.
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
N.J. crowd
92
Page 1 of 2
lukewarm
By JIM GOODMAN
Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN - George Bush
pulled out all the stops yesterday,
promising to never sign another tax
increase law and blaming Gov. Jim'
Florio for ruining New Jersey's
economy. But the sun-weary, heavily
Republican crowd here displayed lit-
tle enthusiasm, for the GOP presi-
dential candidate.
The crowd, dominated by area res-
idents invited by Republican Party
officials, waited for four hours on
the asphalt parking lot of the Mid-
dletown VFW Hall here to cheer
Bush as he attempted to revive his
lagging campaign in New Jersey, a
state GOP officials say he almost has
to carry in order to win re-election.
Although several groups of veter-
ans were on hand and distributed
pamphlets attacking Democratic
candidate Bill Clinton as a draft
dodger, Bush made no mention of
his opponent's alleged efforts to
avoid being drafted during the Viet-
nam War.
Instead, Bush reiterated his admis-
sion that he signed what he called a
"Democratic tax increase," and add-
ed, apparently for the first time, a
Staff photo by Marc Bellagamba
pledge that if re-elected he would
never go along with any Democratic
President Bush makes a point while speaking in Middletown yesterday.
congressional plan to raise taxes for
the next four years.
"We do not need to raise taxes in
this country," Bush declared. "I
Bush taunted the Democrats by
The Times
found out that the hard way. I went
reminding them of the slogan of the
Republicans under former Gov. Tom
BUSH
along with one Democratic tax in-
Princeton, NJ.
crease and I'm not going to do it
Kean - "New Jersey and You, Per-
again. Ever, ever."
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
fect Together."
He rewrote that to read, "A rub-
92
Page 2 of 2
ALTHOUGH BUSH has impiied
in recent weeks that he would op-
ber stamp legislature and a rubber
pose new taxes, the statement
stamp executive are not perfect to-
gether."
seemed to be a pledge he would ban
any new tax increases in a second
Florio issued a statement at the
term.
State House in Trenton saying he
At a campaign appearance in
was flattered when the president
Trappe, Pa., earlier in the day, Bush
mentioned his name, but added, "if
conceded that the U.S. economy is
he's come here to take shots at me,
"sick and anemic." Bush added,
he's going to have to stand in line
"We've' been through economic hell
behind the NRA, the insurance com-
in this country," but insisted, "we're
panies and the special interests who
poised for a decent and strong re-
favor the inadequate health care sta-
tus quo.
covery."
"We're in this transition period.
BUSH SAID that instead of rais-
We've been caught in a tough eco-
ing. taxes like the "tax and spend
nomic time
a global recession."
Democrats," he wants to create tax
At Middletown, Bush made New
credits that spurn investments. He
Jersey's Democratic governor his
said that approach and the proposed
target. "I wish I could bring every
free trade agreement would create
American voter to New Jersey to see
300,000 jobs "and that's just in the
first hand what a liberal governor
short run."
and a liberal. legislature can do to
wreck an economy," Bush said.
"Gov. Florio and the Democratic
New Jersey, Bush said, already is
Random interviews with people in
legislature acted like every day was
heavily involved in firms that are
affected by foreign investments and
the crowd as they left the Bush rally
VFW post, said "the only people who
April 15 (the deadline for filing in-
indicated that many were impressed
are concerned about the draft are
come tax returns)."
foreign trade.
with the president's talk. When
the younger men who didn't want to
Bush touted his record as presi-
asked what they thought was most
be called up if a draft was needed
dent on the environment, telling the
important among the things Bush
for the (Persian) Gulf war.
crowd of about 3,000 that he cam-
said, the most frequent response was
"I don't think it means much,"
paigned in Monmouth County four
his promise not to raise taxes again
said the Word War II Army Air
years ago with a pledge to end ocean
and his pledge not to cut Social Se-
Force veteran who asked that his
dumping off the coast of New Jersey
curity benefits to lower the federal
name not be used. "We had a meet-
and made good on that promise last
deficit.
ing at the (VFW) post the other night
year.
Bill Palatucci, executive director
and I can't recall anyone even men-
"When tourists look out over the
of the Bush campaign in New Jer-
tioning it."
shore, they won't see sludge barges.
They'll see sailboats," Bush said.
sey, said the Bush campaign was
very pleased with the event here.
The president said he will act to
"We're trying to reinforce the
force New York state to build sew-
troops," Palatucci said. "Monmouth
age treatment plants that will end
that state's practice of dumping sew-
County is very strongly Republican,
and it's very important to us."
age into the ocean "that winds up on
Palatucci said it was not a com-
your shore."
plete surprise that Bush did not crit-
icize Clinton's draft record. "That's
BUSH CONTRASTED his envi-
an issue without saying it," he said.
ronmental efforts with those of Clin-
ton as governor of Arkansas. He said
Even Republicans who said they
didn't like Clinton questioned the
Clinton placed dead last in indepen-
importance of the draft issue in this
dent rankings of states for environ-
election.
mental initiatives.
One veteran, a life member of the
The Times
BUSH
Princeton, NJ.
***
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
1992 the eague
Staff photo by Marc Bellagamba
Nottingham Little Leaguers Matt Wolski, left, and Brad Cannon, center, meet Presi-
dent Bush during his New Jersey visit yesterday. Ex-Gov. Thomas Kean is at right.
The Times
BUSH
Princeton, NJ.
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
Page 1 of 2
All-Stars earn ovations
from Bush, Florio
team photo and an autographed
and thanking a long list of people,
By MARY ANN TARR
baseball to the man who had invited
Bush made the wait worthwhile for
Staff Writer
them to be a part of the program
Nottingham's players and parents
held at New Jersey's Middletown
when he acknowledged the efforts
The Nottingham Little League All-
Township VFW Post 2179.
made by the Hamilton Township
Star baseball team didn't make it to
It is traditional for the No. 1 team
team that won N.J. State and East
the White House in 1992, but did
in the nation to make a trip to Wash-
Region championships by declaring,
manage to touch President Bush.
ington, D.C. Nottingham, as the No.
"Nottingham Little League - what
Minutes after Bush's speech at a
2 team for 1992, managed a brief
a job they did."
campaign stop yesterday, Notting
visit with Bush on a long and hot
The crowd then gave a cheer for
ham players Matt Wolski and Brad
afternoon in Monmouth County, N.J.
the team that didn't falter until the
Cannon presented a team T-shirt, a
After apologizing for being late
U.S. championship game at the Lit-
tle League World Series. That game
of the president's speech.
was a 1-0 loss to Long Beach, Calif.
"One of the Secret Service guys
"No one really liked waiting in the
said 'follow us,' Cannon remem-
heat," said Cannon, referring to the
bered.
fact that Bush was scheduled to
Among the top memories for Can-
make his remarks at 1:50 p.m., but
non, a substitute pitcher/outfielder
didn't address the crowd until ap
for the team that went 18-3, will be
proximately 3 p.m. 'But for me and
shaking hands with the president of
Wolski, it was worth it
the United States and convincing
CANNON AND WOLSKI re
ceived instructions at the conclusion
see ALL-STARS, A10
The Times
BUSH
Princeton, NJ.
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
Page 2 of 2
All-Stars
continued from A1
Bush to autograph a baseball for
him.
While the president donned the
powder blue T-shirt that proclaimed
Nottingham's domination at the
Eastern Regionals in Bristol,
Conn.- - and was customized to read
"President Bush" on the back - an-
other man dressed in powder blue
was anticipating the team's arrival.
Scheduled to be at the governor's
mansion at 5 p.m., the Nottingham
contingent left Middletown and
headed for Princeton Township.
Gov. Jim Florio was wearing Not-
tingham's colors - an outfit that in-
cluded a red shirt and powder blue
jacket - when he welcomed the
players and parents for an outdoor
reception at Drumthwacket.
"Little did we know that we'd be
upstaged by the president of the
United States," said Florio, who
along with his wife, Lucinda, pre-
sented proclamations to the players,
coaches and league President Dan
DeRose. The presentations were
made in alphabetical order, with the
players first on the list. From Mi-
chael Braender to Wolski, each play-
er was called forward to receive the
official document and have his pic-
ture taken with the Florios.
When the name "Jerry Conti" was
announced, the parents applauded
the manager who took the Hamilton
Township team to new heights.
THE GOVERNOR ALSO re-
ceived some Nottingham memora-
bilia and he promised to keep it in
some good company.
"There's a little room upstairs,"
said Florio, who was interrupted by
questions such as "There's a little
room in there?" which was followed
by much laughter. Florio, who as-
sured them the room exists and con-
tains autographed pictures of Willie
Mays and Muhammad Ali, said that
was where the Nottingham team
photo and baseball would be kept.
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
*
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
'Norristown is in
the lead,' Bush says
President Bush waves to the audience yesterday at Norristown Area High School.
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
QUAYLE
92
Page 1 of 2
Economic
concerns
greet Bush
By Steve Talbot
Times Herald Staff
As with most of the country,
economic issues were at the fore-
When asked for a guarantee that
he could be more effective in
front for employees of Uniform
Tubes Inc. who met yesterday af-
working with Congress, Bush said,
"The assurance comes from the
ternoon with President George
fact that there will be 100 to 150
Bush in a question-and-answer
new members."
session.
During the 45-minute meeting in
He said then and repeated later
Trappe, the president fielded more
that he would meet with the new
than 10 questions from the 350
members from both parties in an
employees and guests, ranging in
attempt to pass legislation amen-
topic from jobs to health care to
able to all.
family values.
While his delivery was polished
But most of the questions foc-
and skillful, Bush minced few
used on the economy. Bush said
words in characterizing the econ-
several times that Congress failed
omy. But he said there is hope in
the future.
to act -legislation he had pro-
posed that would have fueled the
"Let me say this about the
economy.
economy - it is lousy. We know
"I have been critical of Congress
that. We're in a global recession,"
as the gridlocked Congress," he
the president told the tube com-
said. "The one institution that has
pany workers.
not changed in 38 years is Con-
"With interest rates down and
gress, which can't run a two-bit
inflation down, we should be able
bank or a two-bit post office."
to recover and recover well.
Trappe Mayor Richard Bateman
"This is a weird political year,"
asked the president what he fore-
he said later in the session. "I am
sees for the building trades and
optimistic about this country.
industry.
Compared to other economies and
Bush responded that during his
other countries, we're on the rise."
State of the Union address in
A question asking whether he
January he proposed the in-
See BUSH On Page 6
vestment tax allowance and tax
credits for first-time home buyers.
"It's still sitting there in Con-
gress," he added. "In my view, that
would have stimulated the building
trades. We've been trying to get it
done."
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
Page 2 of 2
Bush
Family vàlues are not solely the
realm of government, the president
said. He noted that the country
Continued from Page 1
seems to have gotten away from
fundamentals.
would focus more on domestic is-
Bush said the issue of family
sues than on spending money and
values is not demagoguery or say-
time abroad drew applause from
ing his family is better than Bill
the audience, but the president
Clinton's or against single mothers.
defended his stand on free trade.
"It isn't to criticize. It's trying to
"The answer is not to turn in-
identify with what the strength of
ward," Bush said.
our country is," he said.
The North American Free Trade
"The liberals hate it.
It
is
Agreement will not cause U.S.
right to try to find ways to help the
workers to lose their jobs, accord-
family, whether through financial
ing to the president. He said it will
or moral backing," the president
increase jobs "because we have
said, drawing applause.
the most productive workers."
The president also was asked
"The freer trade we have, the
about racism and the drug situa-
more jobs there are in America,"
tion in America.
Bush continued.
"Racism and anti-Semitism have
To address domestic issues, the
no place in this country," he said.
president said, this country has to
"A president must continue to
rely on the same energy it used to
speak out.'
defeat Saddam Hussein and bring
Bush said cocaine use has
freedom and democracy to Eastern
dropped 60 percent, although those
Europe.
addicted to the drug have been
The new freedom across the
unable to shake the habit.
world has led to cutbacks in the
The answer, he said, is in both
defense industry, and Bush said
prevention and treatment as well
job retraining programs plus ed-
as interdiction.
ucation will help those left without
"We're using the military much
jobs find new ones.
more than we did to interdict,"
In working with the new Con-
said Bush, who also pushed for
gress, Bush said he wants to see a
passage of his crime bill to support
balanced budget amendment and a
law enforcement officials.
line-item veto.
Lucy Ivins, executive director of
"Let me try to cut the excess,"
the Perkiomen Valley Chamber of
he told the crowd. "I think we're
Commerce, wanted to know about
spending too much."
Bush's health-care plan.
Another Uniform Tubes em-
The president said his plan
ployee asked what role the gov-
would provide insurance for all
ernment can play in assisting and
through tax credits, a pool of in-
encouraging family values.
surance and more use of managed
"The opposition wants me to get
care. A cap must be placed on
off talking family values," said
"frivolous malpractice suits," he
Bush, adding that the largest con-
added.
cerns of the country's mayors stem
The president asked the Uniform
from the decline of the American
Tubes employees to support him in
family.
the upcoming election.
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
QUAYLE
Page 1 of 2
92
Some campaigning
slips into president's
education speech
Democrats cry foul
Township. "I, as president, will
While politics was kept to a min-
continue to tell them what America
imum in the auditorium, with only
but Republicans
needs to hear."
a few discreet Bush-Quayle buttons
At least one of the invited guests
didn't mind a bit
showing, politics was all that was
did not believe that the school
on the minds of a group of Clinton
auditorium, which held more than
supporters gathered outside.
By Margaret Gibbons
2,700 students and guests, was the
John Meyerson of Philadelphia
Times Herald Staff
proper place for Bush's political
roused the Clinton contingent with
President Bush's visit yesterday
digression.
chants through a bullhorn.
to Norristown Area High School
"It was totally an inappropriate
Meyerson, who works for the
was billed as an "official" govern-
forum," said Democratic county
United Food and Commercial
ment visit to support educational
commissioner Joseph M. Hoeffel
Workers Union Local 1776 in
reforms under way in the school
III. "I think it really detracted from
Plymouth Township, said he
district.
his speech. It fell flat and should
viewed the presidential visit as "an
But politics crept into the final
have been made more properly in
opportunity to express displeasure
minute of his 15-minute speech
a campaign setting."
with the last four years."
when Bush took a swipe at the
Hoeffel, who is the chairman of
"I think he picked Montgomery
educational policies of his Demo-
the Clinton-Gore campaign in
County because he thought it was
cratic opponent, Arkansas Gov. Bill
Montgomery County, defended
safe," Meyerson said. 'His eco-
Clinton.
Clinton's education record. He
nomic policies have made it so no
Bush said Clinton has aligned
claimed that many reforms now
place is safe."
himself with the "education estab-
being supported by Bush were first
Debbie Molnar of East Norriton
lishment," such as the teachers'
proposed by Clinton.
Township had another issue on her
unions, and that the education es-
"I think it was great that the
mind.
tablishment "fears change."
president came to Norristown but I
Molnar, an unemployed cashier,
"He has told the education es-
don't think he should have used his
said she has carpal tunnel
tablishment what they want to
speech - even though it was only
syndrome, a repetitive strain injury
hear," Bush told the crowd at the
a minor part - to attack Bill Clin-
in the wrists. Her health benefits
high school in West Norriton
ton," he said.
have run out, she said.
County controller Richard S.
"I wanted to know what hap-
Buckman said, "It would have gone
pened (with) health care," said
the other way if Clinton was the
Molnar, who held up a sign with
speaker, so I think it was fair."
two bandaged arms. "You're left
Buckman is a Republican like
out in the cold."
most of the invited guests in a
(Times Herald staff wr iter
county where Republicans out-
Dana Smith contributed to this
number Democrats by more than a
report.)
2-1 ratio.
"I think the speech was very
appropriate," said Republican
county clerk of courts Jane B.
Markley.
County commissioners chairman
Mario Mele said the references to
Clinton were "part of the educa-
tional process to make the stu-
dents aware that there is a critical
election in 55 days, an election that
will determine who runs this
country for the next four years."
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
Page 2 of 2
Students and guests In the packed gymnasium watch and listen to Bush during his speech.
OF
Students at Norristown Area High School ham it up for a photographer while walting to be seated In the
gymnasium. Almost no student misbehavior was evident during the president's visit.
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
QUAYLE
92
WORK
QUALITY
TOGETHER
ALWAYS WITHIN
OUR GRASP
Helena I. Sheldon/The Times Herald
2000
Hailing the chief
DRRISTOWN ARIA HIGH SCHOOL
e
President Bush (above) discusses the economy and other Issues
with employees at Uniform Tubes Inc. In Trappe yesterday. At
right, the president speaks on his education proposals earlier In
the day at Norristown Area High School. After his address there,
Bush (below) shakes hands with students seated behind the
podium.
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
Norriton Township residents (from left) Vince, Joe and Kathy
bocinski show their support for President Bush yesterday.
Paul Bronson, a junior at Norristown Area High School, runs the
school's video camera during President Bush's address.
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
"I have come to Nor-
ristown because you
have accepted my chal-
lenge to re-invent Amer-
ican schools. Norristown
is in the lead but you are
not alone."
''I think every parent
has the right to choose
the school that's right for
their children."
"The world has
changed and so must our
schools."
"Our schools were basi-
cally designed for an-
other age."
Kamara Shaw, a fifth-grader at the Paul V. Fly
President Bush gestures during
Elementary School, reads one of the six goals of
President George Bush
his talk on education at Nor-
the America 2000 education program.
At Norristown Area High School
ristown Area High School.
CREDENTIALS
Norristown Area High School seniors (from left) Robin Leibowitz, Andrea Allmayer and Sarah Toas hand
out press credentials before the president's visit yesterday at the school in West Norriton Township.
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
"If they had any concerns about
whether to get involved with 2000,
"People have always had a right
Educators
to make choices and have their
that surely ought to take care of
children educated where they
it," he said.
inspired,
School leaders outside of Nor-
want, and they have done that,"
Warner said.
ristown, however, were skeptical of
Norristown High students also
some of Bush's ideas for the future
of education.
didn't let the honor of having a
skeptical
president in their midst cloud their
Laird P. Warner, superintendent
of the Methacton School District,
opinions about his job perform-
ance.
By Dana Smith
said it will be "virtually impossible'
"I figured (Bush) had four years
Times Herald Staff
for urban schools to meet the goals
to shape up the country and he
due to a lack of funding.
Norristown school and busi-
didn't do it," said senior Nathan
"I'd love to see that," said
ness officials said President
Tarr, 17.
Warner, who attended the program
Bush's local appearance yes-
"I personally thought Bush was
with four school board members.
terday will provide a healthy
doing a good job," said Tricia
"But the resources aren't there to
boost to their long-range educa-
Runkle, an 18-year-old senior.
make that happen."
tion plan.
Warner said he supports Bush's
"This is my first year for voting
"It was an exciting day," Nor-
and I initially (filed) Democratic,
proposals of setting up pilot
ristown area school superin-
but if I did vote, I would vote for
schools and districts and providing
tendent James N. Holton said
(Bush)."
year-round education, which the
late yesterday afternoon. "I
For their part, the students won
think this gives us even more of
district is looking into. But the
the praise of many for their pati-
president has said he will not raise
an impetus to work together to
ence during a two-hour wait in the
taxes.
achieve the educational goals of
gymnasium before Bush's arrival.
"Those dollars have to come
our country."
"That was really impressive,"
from somewhere," Warner said.
During his 25-minute address
Warner commented.
to some 2,700 students and in-
"And that probably means public
"I just choke up when I think
education."
vited guests, Bush commended
about how wonderful those kids
the district's Greater Norristown
Colonial School District Superin-
were," said Holton. "I've never
2000 program. The local pro-
tendent Stanley J. Durtan agreed,
been prouder in my entire life of a
gram is based on Bush's Amer-
saying funding toward education is
school district."
ica 2000, which was designed to
already on the decline.
implement educational reform
We're having trouble maintain-
by the end of the century.
ing the basic programs that run
America 2000 centers on six
our school district,' Durtan said.
educational goals, including in-
Durtan attended yesterday's
creasing graduation rates, mak-
program along with two Colonial
school board members.
ing students first in the world in
science and math, eliminating
Colonial is facing a $1.6 million
budget deficit, which officials have
adult illiteracy and providing
drug- and violence-free schools.
attributed to delinquent taxes, fall-
"We are totally committed to the
ing interest rates and a reduction
America 2000 concept and its six
in state funding.
goals, Holton said. "We are or-
Furthermore, Durtan and
ganized now to achieve all six of
Warner said they disagree with the
the national goals and we're well
inclusion of parochial and private
schools in a bill touted by Bush
on our way to accomplishing that.'
'We' ve definitely been com-
that would provide $1,000 vouchers
for students to attend the school of
mitted to it from the business as-
their choice
pect," added Clarence L. Rader
board chairman of the Central
"I certainly have no problem
Montgomery County Chamber of
with choice at the public school
Commerce. "We're absolutely in
level, but I'm bothered by the
favor of the goals because of what
president's assertion that it will
they purport to do."
solve our problems," Durtan said.
Rader said the presidential en-
Warner questioned the idea of
dorsement should entice more
giving scarce education dollars to
businesses into joining the local
parents who would have sent their
2000 project.
children to parochial or private
schools anyway.
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
Employees give mixed review on Bush
By Steve Talbot
Times Herald Staff
"Personally, a; couple of cam-
Carla Learn said Bush had cov- oveseas. We're spending too much
paign stops do not make up for
ered many of the topics on the money overseas, said Lessig.
As President Bush's arrival
four years of his presidency,' Gil-
employees' minds, especially in
Jenkins said he thought neither
neared, all eyes in the warehouse
lespie said. "I wasn't happy being a
addressing job retraining at
a
Bush nor Democratic candidate
at. Uniform Tubes Inc. (UTI) in
part of a campaign stop.
small company like UTI.
Bill Clinton would be able to
Trappe focused on the door he
Royersford resident Fred Dol-
She also was hopeful about
change the economy and how poli-
would enter
linger called Bush's answers to the
Bush's re-election chances
tics work overnight.
Once he was inside the crowd
employees' questions "more polit-
"I think he has a good stepping
erupted into loud, sustained app-
ical rhetoric."
stone to become president again,'
At this time, I don't like what
lause, with a few employees wav-
Dollinger said he was interested
Learn said. If he could get Con-
we have, but I'm afraid of what
ing American flags and hooting
in hearing what the president had
gress to help back some of his
might be," said Jenkins. I'm old
much like the audience for the
to say about foreign policy spend-
plans, it could help pull us out of
enough to see what the Democrats
Arsenio Hall Show.
ing. He wondered how the presi-
the recession.
have done: They want to give away
More cheers erupted when Bush
dent could approve spending and
too much
was introduced before his 45-
loan agreements in other countries
Trappe Borough Council Presi-
Whether they agreed or dis-
minute question-and-answer ses-
when Bush delayed in his response
dent Richard L. Franks agreed
agreed with Bush, many workers
sion with the Uniform Tubes
to Hurricane Andrew in Florida
with Bush's comments that Con-
saw yesterday's visit as a banner
workers.
"It was very smooth," said Dol-
gress should shoulder some of the
day for both UTI and Trappe.
"I think it was quite an honor
linger, calling Bush's answers to
responsibility for the economy.
that President Bush chose Uniform
questions on domestic versus for-
I think he's getting a bad rap on
I was surprised he would come
Tubes, said employee Joan
eign issues "predictable."
the economy. I like to blame it on
to a small company," said Jenkins.
Schmitt of Trappe. 'He presented
Congress, too, said Franks,
a
"It's good for the company. They're
himself very well."
Others, though, found that Bush
Republican and Bush supporter.
striving to get better recognition."
Not everyone, however, shared
had answered the questions to
"My feeling is it's coming around
Franks noted that the last pres-
in the enthusiasm
their satisfaction.
and it's picking up."
ident to visit Trappe was George
Annemarie Gillespie of Willow
Schmitt said she had hoped the
Washington, who stayed in the
Grove joked afterward that per-
president would discuss the econ-
Before the session, UTI main-
borough before he became the na-
haps she should have clapped
omy and jobs during his visit, and
tenance employees Richard Jen-
tion's first chief executive.
more during the question-and-
she was "pleased" by what she
kins of Skippack and Bob Lessig of
'It's a thrilling thing for Trappe,"
answer session. While most were
heard.
Birdsboro wanted to hear Bush
he said. "It's of some significance
excited to see the president, she
"I was impressed," she said.
talk about the economy.
that the president would come to a
was not.
Limerick. Township resident
"I'd like to see less money going
small company in a small town."
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
AP Photo
President Bush shakes hands with Norristown High football
players Howard Preston (64) and Jake Corropolese (21).
Pigskin preview
Bush gives fans an early prediction;
says Norristown will 'do great' Friday
The Times Herald Peerless Pigskin Preview highlighting all of
the area weekend scholastic football games returns for another
season tomorrow.
The new-and-improved preview gives fans an outlook at each
game involving area high school teams. As usual, a panel of eight
experts from The Times Herald also offers predictions on which
teams will win.
During yesterday's visit to Norristown Area High School, Presi-
dent Bush jumped the gun and gave an early prediction on
tomorrow's game between Norristown and North Penn.
"I'm here to put your fears at rest," Bush said. "I know you guys
will do great against North Penn Friday night."
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
QUAYLE
92
Uniform Tubes pushes
employee education
By Steve Talbot
Mainwaring said the company
Times Herald Staff
has had 15 graduates since the
He took their questions and de-
program began.
livered praise.
"This is all a part of UTI's goal
During his stop yesterday at
to seek continued improvement in
Uniform Tubes Inc. (UTI) in
all the activities of the company,"
Trappe, President Bush lauded the
he said.
company for its education efforts.
Uniform Tubes manufactures
"I salute you," Bush told the 350
precision miniature, high-
employees. "I'm pleased to be at
technology parts; tubular fabri-
this company taking the lead.
cations in over 100 alloys; intricate
"We can't go back to the same
and miniature metal parts; and
old ways.
microcoaxial cable.
In March of this year, Uniform
Tubes, in affiliation with Mont-
Another educational program at
gomery County Community Col-
UTI is Total Quality Management
lege, initiated UTI 2000 in response
Control, which allows each em-
to Bush's America 2000 education
ployee to participate in in-
goals established for U.S. busi-
troductory and reinforcement ed-
nesses.
ucation on basic and advanced
Uniform Tubes' program aims to
statistical concepts.
upgrade employee skills by offering
programs in reading com-
Employees use their acquired
prehension and mathematics to the
skills to monitor service, process
eighth-grade level.
and product quality.
UTI chairman A. Bruce Main-
Bush said as the country is
waring said the company's pro-
"poised for a decent and strong
gram and America 2000 work "to
recovery," education remains an
ensure that all Americans are lit-
important ingredient.
erate, can compete in the future
"No one is too old to learn," the
and function as responsible citi-
president advised the workers.
zens."
After Bush's visit, Perkiomen
Each employee at Uniform
Valley Chamber of Commerce ex-
Tubes has taken a placement test,
ecutive director Lucy Ivins said
according to Mainwaring, and
UTI deserves the recognition it
classes have been offered to im-
received.
prove skills.
"UTI is a leader in education
Instructors from the community
goals. At the chamber, we admire
college. visit for two-hour sessions
that," Ivins said. 'I was impressed
twice a week on company time.
that they selected UTI. This com-
Classes are limited to six partici-
pany is where the whole country
pants; all work is individualized.
should be."
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
QUAYLE
92
For just a few fleeting seconds,
By Traci Canning
Times Herald Staff
they glimpsed the man of the hour
More than 100 people lined the low shoulder of
"I'm out of work and it's not his
Collegeville Road and braved a sweltering midday
fault," said Scenna, who rode her
sun just to get a look at him.
bicycle to catch a peek at Bush.
The Kennedys - John and Janice, that is - were
"He spent four years getting our
in the group standing at the Perkiomen Valley
foreign affairs in order. Now the
Airport in Skippack Township to bid farewell to
voters should let him do the same
President George Bush, who was in Montgomery
with our domestic affairs."
County yesterday on a pair of official visits to West
Bob Krimmel of Lower Fred-
Norriton Township and Trappe.
erick Township took a long lunch
"This is very exciting for a small town," said John
to get his brush with Bush and he
Kennedy, clutching a Sears camera. "I guess it's just
agreed that the president should
the excitement of seeing the president."
tend to the home fires should he
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime situation - getting to see
be elected to a second term.
the president," said Kathy Brown of Collegeville.
"In general, I do like the man,"
"That is, if he slows down."
Krimmel said. "He did an excellent
Police posted orange cones at the intersection of
job on our foreign affairs. I wish he
Collegeville and Mill roads yesterday afternoon to
would do the same with the do-
warn motorists that no one would be getting near the
mestic side."
airport - at least not by car. However, friendly
President Bush's departure from
the Perkiomen Valley Airport
unnamed police officers noted that they couldn't stop
caused some concern at the State
anyone from walking the eighth of a mile for a view
Correctional Institution when
of the helicopters parked in an open field.
about 50 corrections officers were
It was along this route that the presidential mot-
delayed in reporting for their sec-
orcade was set to pass, shuttling Bush from a
ond shift by roadblocks, according
question-and-answer session at Uniform Tubes Inc.
to prison spokesman Alan J
in Trappe to an engagement in
LeFebvre.
Middletown, N.J.
"They started trickling in after 2.
"What we need is some broc-
By 3 p.m., we were back up to
coli," said Brown "Maybe then
speed with a complete com-
he'll stop."
plement," said LeFebvre. He
In the group of Bush supporters
added that no unusual occurrances
were children, veterans, bicyclists
took place inside the prison, but
and business people.
"from a security standpoint we
Donna Miller of Schwenksville
have to be concerned about man-
said she came out because "this is
power."
probably the closest I'll ever get to
On a lighter note, Krimmel said
seeing a president."
he had seen former presidents
And how could she afford to
John F. Kennedy and Jimmy Car-
spend the afternoon on the trail of
ter and conceded that it was about
the president?
time he added a Republican head
"I'm unemployed, SO I have the
of state to his list of celebrity
time," said Miller, a former long-
sightings.
term substitute teacher in the
He did, albeit briefly.
Spring-Ford Area School District.
The crowd leaned forward in a
"School went back and I didn't.
sort of rumbling lurch which coin-
Ironically, Bush spent the early
cided with the passing of the sec-
part of his trip to the county at
ond black limousine in the line of
Norristown Area High School,
cars.
where he touted the district's work
From the back waved a smiling
in education reform.
George Bush, who leaned forward
Regardless of her employment
in his seat and nearly up against
status, Miller declared herself a
the window to greet the well-
Bush fan, if only "sort of.'
wishers.
Lisa Scenna of Creamery had
And just that quickly he was was
cumbent. stronger feelings for the in-
gone - a well-dressed fleck in a
rural field.
"He saw us," gushed an elated
Walt Kunda of King of Prussia.
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
QUAYLE
92
Page 1 of 2
In Our View
Vote of approval
from George Bush
You can't buy the kind of publicity Norristown Area School
District got yesterday when the President of the United
States came to town to pat it on the back.
To President Bush, it may have been only one stop that
will get lost in the blur of campaign appearances between
now and November. But to Norristown Area School District
- a district that strives to prove its urban-suburban mix of
students and challenges should improve, not lessen, its
standing among its more affluent, homogenous peers - the
president's visit was a boost, especially at the start of a
school year in which local budget cuts weighed heavy on staff
and students.
Bush commended the district for taking up his America
2000 challenge to "reinvent schools." One of the education
themes he focused on is the idea that schools were designed
for another age and are not suited to prepare students for
today's careers.
And that is an idea driving Norristown's America 2000 plan,
dubbed Project HOLOS. The proposal, prepared by district
staff, is ambitious. It proposes things like eliminating
conventional grade levels and putting students of different
ages together; extending the school day and school year;
increasing the use of technology, not only for traditional
students but for community use; giving district "certification"
to child-care facilities that meet certain standards; and
creating teams of teachers who will follow a student's
progress like a team of surgeons would follow a patient.
Of course, implementing such a plan costs money.
President Bush made the point that it is ideas, not money,
that will revolutionize schools. "If you think money alone will
reinvent our schools, think again," he said.
True enough. But the flip side is that a lack of money sure
isn't going to make change any easier.
To launch HOLOS, Norristown Area School District was
hoping to get $2 million from the New American Schools
Development Corp., a private group formed at the president's
request to fund model schools. Unfortunately, Norristown's
proposal, one of nearly 700 competing, was not among the 11
awarded funding in July.
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
Page 2 of 2
Considering that the Norristown Area school board had
just laid off 70 employees, significantly cut programs and still
had to raise taxes 27.5 mills, finding another $2 million for
HOLOS was not in the cards.
But the district, as promised, is pushing on with HOLOS. It
does not have the $500,000 to make the technology purchases
the plan envisioned. And it did not provide the $1 million
needed to pull 25 teachers from the classrooms this year to
train them. Instead, training will be done as part of regular
in-service programs. And other parts of the plan, such as
team teaching and multi-age classrooms, are in use in some
buildings and will be expanded.
With President Bush's visit, however, the school board
should be emboldened to make the dramatic changes
necessary to fully implement HOLOS. The president, after all,
was praising the potential of the plan: If his visit is going to
be remembered as more than a campaign pit stop, the
district must make sure that HOLOS lives up to its
presidential billing of revolutionizing schools.
A spark for students
President Bush joked with the gymnasium full of students
that they appreciated his visit because it was an excuse to
get out of classes.
For some, maybe. But others were eager to strike up
conversations with reporters and have their views heard.
They initially dismissed the president's visit as just an
attempt to get votes, but this led to talk of what changes
should be made to improve schools. And if it takes a
presidential visit to get teen-agers to think and talk about
such things, it's worth the trip.
BUSH
The Times Herald
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
Environmental group blasts
Bush's choice of tour stops
By Steve Talbot
toxin known to cause birth defects,
Times Herald Staff
into the air in 1990.
An environmental coalition blas-
Released more than 10,000
ted President George Bush's visit
pounds of neurotoxins, known to
yesterday to Uniform Tubes Inc.,
cause brain damage, in 1989
saying it showed his lack of con-
cern for the environment.
Released 17,727 pounds of
(President Bush) picked a
carcinogens into the air in 1989.
company that has a particularly
Transferred 33,430 pounds of
harsh impact on the environment,'
toxic chemicals off site in 1989.
said Joe Minott of the Clean Air
Council and a member of the
UTI president Gordon Hattersley
coalition Citizens for the En-
said the company is undertaking a
vironment
number of steps to reduce the
"If his message had been, this
amount of emissions from its plant.
was a company that, could create
"We are doing everything possi-
jobs
and be environmentally
ble to phase out trichloroethane by
sound, that would have made some
Dec. 31, 1933,' Hattersley said.
sense, Minott added
He added that UTI has also
In a release, the coalition cited
joined a voluntary EPA program
statistics filed by the Trappe com-
called 33-50, which calls for the
pany with the U.S. Environmental
company to reduce emissions by 33
Protection Agency (EPA)
percent and than by 50 percent by
Minott pointed out that the emi-
certain dates.
ssions are legal and the coalition
UTI has also engaged a consult-
was not suggesting UTI was viol-
ant and is working in house to
study the lubricants it uses and
ating the law.
come up with alternatives, accord-
"This shows the very problem
with environmental laws under the
ing to Hattersley.
In April of this year, Hattersley
Bush administration," Minott said:
said UTI signed a corrective
"A company can legally emit that
measures study with EPA for the
amount of carcinogen into the
cleanup of contaminated ground-
community."
water at its 40-acre site in Trappe.
Those figures show that Uniform
Tubes:
The cleanup, which will cost
about $3 million, involves pumping
Released 689,569 pounds of
toxic chemicals into the air in 1989.
out contaminated groundwater and
removing contaminants with air
Released 906,047 pounds of
strippers
trichloroethane, a developmental
Trichloroethylne (TCE) con-
tamination was found in the
groundwater in 1977; its source
was three underground storage
tanks under one of the production
plants. The tanks were pumped
dry and filled with concrete
The Citizens for the Environ-
ment is an informal coalition com-
prised of representatives from or-
ganizations like the Clean Air
Council, Clean Water Action, the
Sierra Club, Philadelphians for
Recycling, the Philadelphia Earth
Island Institute, Jobs With Peace
and Environmentalists for Sus-
tainable Transit.
BUSH
The Times Herald
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
92
Vote often
7
President mixes humor with comments
during discussion with Trappe workers
George Bush as talk-show the audience, Bush spotted a
host?
man wearing a T-shirt that said
Even the president couldn't
"I'd rather be fishing."
help making the comparison
yesterday while seated on a
"I'd rather be, too," said the
swivel chair at Uniform Tubes
president, an avid fisherman.
Inc.
The discussion had focused on
"Welcome to the Phil Don-
issues such as the economy,
ahue show," Bush told more
jobs, Congress and family values
than 350 employees and invited
before Trappe Mayor Richard
guests surrounding him during
Bateman asked Bush what could
a question-and-answer session
be done to help the president
at the Trappe tube company.
achieve his goals.
"I feel like that sitting out
"Vote often," Bush quipped,
here," he admitted.
drawing hearty laughter from
the audience.
Before taking questions from
- Steve Talbot
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
QUAYLE
92
A pro-family move for president: Family Leave Act
To The Editor:
newborns, adopted children and seriously ill family
American families have changed dramatically over
members, without the risk of losing their jobs or
the last 20 years, but neither workplace policies nor
health insurance. It provides the same assurance for
President Bush have kept up. Less than 8 percent of
workers who are seriously ill.
all families with children have a parent who stays
The Family and Medical Leave Act was passed by
home to care for the young children or grand-
Congress in both 1990 and 1991 with strong, bi-
parents or family members of any age who are
partisan majorities. President Bush, who campaigns
seriously ill.
on pro-family rhetoric, vetoed it in 1990 and has
The Family and Medical Leave Act provides a
promised to do SO again.
minimum level of protection for those least able to
negotiate fair treatment at a time of family emer-
Wendy L. Troester
gency. It supports families that need to care for
Plymouth Meeting
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
Wednesday, Sept 9, 1992
QUAYLE
92
A Norristown Area High School student (middle) : stands next to
President Bush after receiving his autograph. At right Is high school
principal Barry Spencer. 0221 #) STAR clims the
and itm Ballow and
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1992
92
Page 1 of 2
President sees
district in the lead
in education reform
By Tracl Canning
Times Herald Staff
"I have come to Nor-
President George Bush opened
the school year in the Norristown
ristown because you have
Area High School auditorium this
accepted my challenge to
morning, offering his support of
re-invent American
educational reforms in the district
schools.
and providing a report card on his
President Bush
accomplishments as America's
"education president."
More than 2,700 students and
ucators as agents of that change.
invited guests filed through metal
Bush lauded the school district
detectors and waited nearly two
for its work in the Greater Nor-
hours for the president to offer a
ristown 2000 program, a local off-
25-minute address outlining his
shoot of the national America 2000
thoughts on the changing needs in
program initiated by the president
American education.
last year to reform education bef-
He said now that the threat of
ore the millenium.
nuclear war is over, America needs
I have come to Norristown be-
to turn its attention to its children.
cause you have accepted my chal- -
"The world has changed and SO
lenge to re-invent American
must our schools," said Bush.
schools," said Bush. "Norristown is
"America is responding to this
in the lead but you're not alone."
charge."
Bush said nearly 700 schools
And he hailed Norristown ed-
across the country have signed on
to his "revolution in American ed-
ucation.
To our readers
He went on to say that the new
Publication of today's edition
challenge in learning is to seek
was delayed SO that we could
creativity and innovation as well as
offer our readers comprehensive
increased federal and state fund-
coverage of President Bush's
ing
10
visit to Norristown Area High
'If you think money alone will
School.
re-invent our schools, think again,"
See BUSH On Page 8
The Times Herald
Bush
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1992
Continued from Page 1
92
Page 2 of 2
Bush explained, adding that the
president's educational system is
based on outmoded principals.
"Our schools were basically de-
symptom of a larger problem. He
signed for another age."
belives those problems could be
The Norristown program forged
solved through restructuring such
a joint venture betweeen the dis-
as outlined in HOLOS.
trict and the business community
"It is symptomatic of having to
called the Business Industry
refinance the old system," Gould
School Partnership Program
said. "These cutbacks will continue
(BISPP), which is designed to
until we restructure. The old
implement educational goals out-
model doesn't work."
lined by the president.
After his address to Norristown
Bush said Norristown's efforts
Area School District students, the
are in line with his ambitious na-
Bush entourage was scheduled to
tional goals for the year 2000.
make a stop at the Uniform Tube
Those goals include being able
Inc in Trappe for a question-and-
to slam-dunk the rest of the world
answer session with workers.
in math and science.
In addition to holding the blue
Other goals are a 90 percent
high school graduation rate; en-
collar quiz session, Bush was ex-
suring that children will be free to
pected to commend the company
study in drug- and violence free
on its work in continuing education
schools and striving for 100 per-
and training for its employees.
cent adult literacy.
Today's visit marks the first time
Bush has visited Central Mont-
The aspirations of the Greater
Norristown 2000 program provide
gomery County as president; how-
the flip side for a district wrought
ever, he has made visits to Nor-
with fiscal woes.
ristown in his former capacity of
Bush reiterated his support of
vice president, most notably for a
the school choice voucher pro-
spaghetti dinner at the home of
gram, calling it a G.I. bill for
supporters Bob and Teresa
America's young
DeAngelis in the East End of Nor-
The president said nearly two-
ristown.
thirds of Norristown district stu-
After, his remarks at the Trappe
dents would be eligible for $1,000
factory, Bush was scheduled to fly
scholarships under his program
to Middleton, N.J.
and the district itself would be
Bush yesterday announced that
entitled to another $6 million in
he wanted Congress to appropriate
federal funding with no strings at-
$7.6 billion for cleanup and reb-
tached.
uilding in Florida and Louisiana in
"I think every parent has the
the aftermath and Hurricane And-
right to choose the school that's
rew as well as for Guam, which
right for their children," said Bush.
suffered typhoon damage last
"Most parents would choose public
week.
schools.
And during an appearance in
I trust parents, not government,
Washington, D.C., Bush reversed
to do the right thing (when it
his earlier position on loan guar-
comes to their children's educa-
antees- to Israel, telling the B'Nai
tion)
B'rith he planned to formally ask
The 1992-93 Norristown budget
Congress for more than $10 billion
season saw the school board ap-
to house immigrants
prove a $52 million spending plan
Israel needs the guarantees to
which nonetheless eliminated more
obtain bank loans for housing and
than 70 district positions from the
helping settle nearly 500,000 Jews
payroll and hacked extracurricular
who have come to Israel since the
activities from the district roster.
gates of the former Soviet Union
Additional austerity measures
were opened to emigration.
included the implementation of a
He opposed the plan for months,
$10 student activity fee and a rec-
but yesterday said, "Don't let any
ommendation that varsity football
member of Congress tell you we
players next year foot the bill for
can't afford this."
their own insurance.
Bush also acknowledged that
But John Gould, assistant su-
"consideration has been given" to
perintendent of curriculum, sees
a sale of 72 F-15 fighters to Saudi
the budgetary problems as, a
Arabia.
BUSH
The Times Herald
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Wednesday, Sept 9, 1992
92
GOP faithful embrace
their standard bearer
By Margaret Gibbons
Times Herald Staff
"This visit by a sitting
The chairman of the Bill Clinton-
president creates the
Al Gore campaign in Montgomery
enthusiasm we need.
County today found himself in an
Jane B. Markley
unusual position - as a guest in-
(FLA)
County clerk of courts
vited to witness President Bush's
visit to Norristown Area High
School.
kids," Hoeffel is not about to ab-
"I know it's ironic, but I can
Mele's strong support for Dush
andon his political loyalty.
placed him at odds last month with
appreciate the visit of the presi-
In a county where Republicans
county GOP chairman Charles F.
dent of the United States to our
outnumber Democrats two-to-one,
Nahill Jr., when Mele blasted
county, and I accepted the in
Hoeffel says he believes the presi-
vitation as a county commis-
dential race will be very close in
Nahill for his alleged lack of en-
sioner," said Democratic commis-
Montgomery County, unlike four
thusiasm for the president.
sioner Joseph M. Hoeffel III.
years ago, when Bush thumped
Nahill said last month that, given
Hoeffel was recently named
Dukakis by a margin of 170,294-
the economy and Bush's position
chairman of the Clinton-Gore
109,834.
in the polls, he was not as en-
campaign in Montgomery County,
"(Clinton's) moderate vision of
thusiastic about the presidential
and was a Clinton delegate at the
government services and his pro-
campaign as he he once was In-
July Democratic National Conven-
gram for economic recovery and
stead, he said, he would concen-
tion in New York.
job training is a message that plays
trate his efforts on local and state
While calling Bush's visit "a
strongly with the suburban swing
Republican candidates.
great experience for the school
votes,' Hoeffel said.
"President Bush definitely will
But Hoeffel's comments were in
do well," said county controller
the minority today as most of the
Richard Buckman, whose wife,
other invited guests at the West
Gail, is a Montgomery County
Norriton high school were Rep-
Bush-Quayle campaign coor-
ublicans.
dinator.
County clerk of courts Jane B
Markley said she believes today's
"People here will be working a
visit by Bush will give county
lot harder than they did for Dick
Republicans that "added boost"
Thornburgh," he said.
needed for the fall campaign.
"This visit by a sitting president
creates the enthusiasm we need,
said Markley.
Markley predicted that Bush will
"take" the county in November
"but we (Republicans) will all have
to work hard to insure that vic-
tory.
Going one step further and pre-
dicting that Bush will win the state
was self-proclaimed "Bush cheer-
leader" county commissioners
chairman Mario Mele.
"I am that much of a believer in
our president and his policies to
predict he will do superbly in this
state," Mele said.
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1992
92
Page 1 of 2
days ago," Spencer said on his way
to the forum, an open area be-
For many,
tween the academic building and
the gymnasium.
Despite the frenetic pace
a special
member of the Eagle News school
throughout the school, the antici-
communications center. "I'm not
pation mounted as the hour drew
near for Bush's arrival.
used to this happening at Nor-
"The decision of President Bush
first day
ristown High School. This is great
for the school."
to come to Norristown Area High
School is a tribute to all of the
Another Eagle News member,
students, teachers, administrators
By Regina Panetta
senior Sarah Toas, 17, of Nor-
and parents who have worked so
Times Herald Staff
ristown, described Bush's visit as
hard to be innovative and in-
both an honor and a disruption to
Students arriving at Norristown
dustrious," high school vice presi-
the first day of classes.
Area High School today had a lot
dent Irena Sandler said.
Toas wanted to know where
more to talk about than summer
By 8 a.m. today, Secret Service
Bush's education dollars were go-
vacation.
agents and West Norriton police
ing.
Aside from teachers, support
had flanked one of two entrances
"I heard federal monies were
staff and high school adminis-
increased for education but it
to the high school gymnasium.
trators, students were greeted by
At least six television news vans
seems we've had a lot of cuts in
police with guard dogs, metal
were stationed in the parking lot
our school," Toas said. "We lost a
detectors and sharply dressed Se-
by the forum, along with police and
lot of teachers this year and stu-
cret Service agents.
firefighting vehicles.
dents may suffer because of the
What a way to start the first day
cuts."
Part of the parking lot near the
of school.
gymnasium was sealed off with
Other students waiting to get to
Then again, it's not every day
their homeroom classes at 7:30
police tape for the anticipated 150
that the President of the United
a.m. gave Bush mixed reviews.
to 300 invited guests
States drops in to say hello.
"I heard (the president was
The remaining spectators would
"The eyes of the entire world
coming) on the news and I almost
comprise the entire high school
will be on us today," high school
flipped out," said senior Tricia
student body and eighth graders
Runkle, 18, of Norristown My
from district middle schools.
principal Barry Spencer said over
the school's public address system.
homeroom teacher called me last
Inside the school, talk of Bush's
night to verify it."
visit could be heard in the halls
"I ask you to do everything in your
power to make Norristown High
"Yeah, it's surprising (that the
from the cafeteria to the principal's
office
proud.
president's visiting) but I think he's
Outside the high school
looking for votes because there are
Data entry clerk Rose Clark
gymnasium, where the president
a lot of people who are 18 in high
began fielding telephone calls the
was expected to address 2,700
school,' added 16-year-old junior
minute the front switchboard
spectators on his America 2000
Karen Strauss of Norristown.
opened at 7:15 a.m.
education reforms, students
Special education teacher Max
They've been crazy," said Clark
checking press credentials dis-
Geisler of Trappe thought Bush's
of East Norriton Township. "I'd say
cussed Bush's visit.
visit reflected the district's educa-
nine (calls) for the president and
"It will be interesting to hear
tion efforts.
one for the first day of school.'
what the president has to say,"
"I think the district should be
A line of emergency telephone
said 17-year-old Robin Leibowitz, a
honored by his presence," Geisler
cables snaked its way from the
senior from East Norriton and a
said. "I think it shows respect for
forum area inside the brightly lit
the efforts this district has been
gymnasium, where a row of tele-
making to re-evaluate itself and
vision cameras and seats for the
prepare our students for the 21st
White House press corps lined the
century."
rear of the building.
Geisler was not as enthusiastic,
Both sets of bleachers were ex-
however, about Bush's stance on
tended and there were over 600
education.
folding chairs set up on the
"I don't think his policies are
gymnasium floor.
supportive of public schools," he
said.
Set up behind the podium where
Left with precious little time to
the president was to speak was a
plan for President Bush's arrival,
mural depicting an outdoor school
high school staff members were
scene with the high school in the
out in force by 7 a.m. today.
background and books and school
Many carried portable radios
supplies moving toward it as
and scurried through the halls
through space.
trying to coordinate the first-day
The mural was created by Valley
rush of students with the antici-
Forge Convention Plaza complex
pated influx of invited guests.
art director Christine Kerrick of
"We' only known about it three
West Chester, who was hired by
days. We started working on it two
the Bush/Quayle advance team.
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
***
QUAYLE
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1992
92
Page 2 of 2
or
Bill Landis Photos/The Times Herald
Bush and schools superintendent Dr. James N. Holton share a laugh before the president's speech.
BUSH
The Times Herald
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1992
92
Page 1 of 2
Cloak of security
encircles this VIP
By Dana Smith
Times Herald Staff
45 minutes - went off with only a
few minor incidents.
The yellow school buses were
Planning began on Labor Day,
strategically placed by a side en-
when White House staff and Secret
trance.
Service agents met with township
Uniformed police officers
police at the high school. While
manned every door, while men in
local officers knew the basics about
suits continually checked the buil-
the visit, they weren't filled in on
ding inside and out.
many details.
"The secret service is very de-
Providing security for a presi-
finitively vague,' Boccella said
dential visit is no simple task.
early today outside the high school
"The logistics of the whole thing
"Right up to the last second, noth-
- it's just. overwhelming to deal
ing was very definitive. We had to
with," said West Norriton Town-
plan for everything."
ship Police Lt. Joseph Boccella
The game plan once the presi-
"This is the first time for some-
dent arrived was not a complex
thing of this magnitude."
one - local police would handle
George Bush's appearance at
duties outside the building, while
Norristown Area High School today
federal agents took care of any up-
meant a collaboration of huge
close work.
proportions among law enforce-
But working toward the 11:43
ment from the federal, state and
a.m. arrival of the motorcade
local levels:
started some six hours earlier,
The visit - which totalled about
See SECURE On Page 9
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1992
92
Page 2 of 2
Secure
lems, was escorted from the build-
Boccella said.
ing and left the area without a
Two police cars led the line of
problem.
vehicles, with one black limousine
Continued from Page 1
Before anyone entered the
driving ahead of the car containing
gymnasium, they were shuffled
Bush He was quickly ushered into
when West Norriton police met at
through one of four metal dete-
a side door of the gymnasium,
the department's mobile command
ctors. Handbags were searched
where he began speaking about 15
post set up in the parking lot.
and passes for invited guests were
minutes later.
checked.
Five yellow school buses were
Shortly after the president ar-
set up parallel to a building en-
The first alert of the day OC
rived, a man who said he was a
trance nearest Burnside Avenue
curred when a woman who did not
veteran charged toward the mo-
They weren't there for show the
have a pass tried to get inside. She
torcade He was quickly app-
buses blocked the line of vision of
was immediately turned away, but
rehended by several police officers.
the president from some homes
allowed to stay on the premises.
Boccella said the man would be
across the field.
Louise Lantonio of Allentown
detained until the president left,
Inside, Secret Service agents
said she told the agents she just
and would probably be released
closed the gymnasium at 8:15 while
wanted to catch a glimpse of a
without being charged.
a bomb-sniffing dog searched for
politician she's supported for
From Norristown, the president
any explosives Their "sweep" of
years.
and his motorcade traveled to
rooms throughout the high school
Shortly after 10 a.m., a couple
Uniform Tube Inc. in Collegeville,
continued until the president's ar
hundred supporters of Democratic
where Bush was scheduled to ad-
rival, with each room sealed off
presidential candidate Bill Clinton
dress employees and company of-
after it was inspected.
arrived and staked out a large
ficials
Around 9:05 a.m., the district's
portion of the spectator area.
Then it was off to Perkiomen
middle school students began ar-
"The police asked us to cooper-
Valley Airport, where a helicopter
ate with them and the secret serv-
riving. Less than a half hour later,
was to take him to another ap-
ice and stand behind police lines,"
some of the nearly 300 invited
pearance in New Jersey in the
guests began lining up at a table
said John Meyerson, who works
early afternoon.
for the United Food and Com-
where their name was checked off
Airport owner Lane Jubb said
mercial Workers Union Local 1776
"The idea is in some way to
the president's staff contacted him
restrict it so that just anybody
in Plymouth Township. usually
a few days ago and asked per-
doesn't walk in, said Payson W
do have a problem with that since
mission to use the facility off Col-
Burt, president of the Central
it's public property.'
legeville Road in Skippack Town-
Montgomery County Chamber of
Once the motorcade `arrived,
ship,
Commerce.
police coverage tightened. Police
Although Jubb figured he
The system wasn't totally fool-
from Plymouth and East Norriton
wouldn't meet Bush personally, he
proof, as an East Norriton resident
escorted the caravan through their
was happy for the recognition his
communities once it left the
apparently grabbed a pass when
small airport will receive.
Pennsylvania Turnpike at the
no one was looking and entered
"I don't think we ever had a
Norristown exit.
the building. The man, who police
president up here," Jubb said. "It
said has a history of mental prob-
"They want every single street
might put us on the map a little
shut down for the whole route,"
bit.
BUSH
The Times Herald
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Wednesday, Sept 9, 1992
92
Both Bush and Clinton stressing
their past domestic achievements
The Associated Press
President Bush is struggling to
Republicans spent the day yes-
terday demanding that Clinton
his supporters to stop.
persuade voters he is as devoted
to domestic issues as to inter-
come clean' on his Vietnam-era
"Academic freedom," he said
national affairs, while warning that
draft status, suggesting he wasn't
with a grin. "Even iat Yale you
his foreign policy gains will be
decisive enough to lead during an
have the right to be wrong.'
Clinton's running mate, Al Gore,
wasted if Bill Clinton becomes
international crisis and ridiculing
At Pennsylvania's Norristown
High School, Bush was to discuss
toured Texas' Rio Grande Valley,
commander-in-chief.
him for incorrectly describing Pa-
where he pleaded with largely
Bush was trying today to reclaim
triot missiles.
his America 2000 plan for improv-
Hispanic crowds to help sway
the mantle of the "education pres-
An ABC News-Washington Post
ing the nation's education system
Bush's adopted home state to the
ident," traveling to Pennsylvania to
poll released last night showed
by the turn of the century. The
Democratic ticket.
sell his America 2000 schools pro-
Bush gaining ground but with
plan seeks to make American
Before B'nai B'rith, Clinton
gram and praise a manufacturing
Clinton still 12 points ahead. Clin-
pupils the world's best in math and
would likely take the defense, after
company's adult education classes.
ton had 53 percent support com-
science and reduce the dropout
Bush told the Jewish service or-
Bush's recent adherence to a
pared with Bush's 41 percent in a
rate to 10 percent while giving
ganization that Israel would not
daily theme is part of new cam-
poll of 621 likely voters. The Sept.
parents wider choice in choosing
have been as safe in the Persian
paign overseer James A. Baker
2-6 telephone survey had a margin
public or private schools
Gulf war if Clinton had been pres-
III's attempts to focus the presi-
of error of 4.5 percentage points. A
Aides said the president also
ident.
dent's message.
week ago, the same poll showed
would highlight other education
"Ask yourself where we would be
Clinton and Bush at 56-36
initiatives his administration has
if we had someone in the Oval
Clinton also was focusing on
pushed, such as the Lifelong
Office who would have waffled, who
domestic issues today his cam
Learning Act legislation he sub-
would have wavered and wanted to
paign strength after speaking
mitted to Congress last March.
have it both ways," said Bush.
via satellite to the B'nai B'rith
That proposal would widen access
The Bush campaign, intent on its
convention that Bush addressed
for adult workers to, grants for
theme that Americans cannot trust
yesterday.
continuing education
a small-state governor to lead the
The Democratic nominee) left
Later, in Collegeville, Pa., Bush
nation's foreign policy, seized on
Connecticut and New York, to tour
was visiting Uniform Tubes Inc a
Clinton's comment yesterday that
his native South today, where he
manufacturer and exporter of pre-
the Patriot missiles used in the
would discuss welfare reform in
cision tubing used in industry. He
Persian Gulf War "go through
Jonesboro, Ga., and address the
planned to conduct an Ask
doors or down chimneys."
Southern Baptist Convention and a
George Bush" session, taking
Clinton- apparently was thinking
town hall meeting in Jacksonville,
questions from employees and
of warplane camera footage show-
Fla.
their families.
ing laser-guided bombs entering
Clinton made a nostalgic visit
Not coincidentally, Uniform
ventilation shafts in Baghdad and
yesterday to Yale Law School,
Tubes has adopted a program it
reports that some bombs struck
drawing rousing applause from
calls UTI 2000, which Bush aides
aircraft hangar doorways. Patriot
students at his alma mater One
say is the company's response to
missiles are used to shoot down
student who held up a Bush-
the president's America 2000 in-
other missiles.
Quayle sign was roundly booed,
itiative. UTI's in-house program
"He's shown his complete ig-
but the Arkansas governor urged
provides employees with super-
norance about even the most fun-
visory and basic educational train-
damental defense system," said
ing to help them advance in the
Bush campaign spokeswoman
company.
Torie Clarke.
The Times Herald
BUSH
Norristown, PA.
QUAYLE
Wednesday, Sept 9, 1992
92
MOBILE COMMAND
West Norriton police Lt. Joseph Boccella (in white shirt) gives Instructions to the township's police officers
Gene Walsh/The Times Herald
early today In the high school parking lot.
THE WHITE HOUSE
office of the Press Secretary
(Collegeville, Pennsylvania)
For Immediate Release
September 9, 1992
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN
ADDRESS TO THE NORRISTOWN AREA HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Norristown High School
Norristown, Pennsylvania
12:00 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Thank you, Dr.
Holton. And may I congratulate our superintendent for his leadership
on America 2000 and on the job he's doing for the whole school system
in this area. Good morning to everybody; it's great to be back in
Pennsylvania on this first day of school. Any excuse to get out of
class -- I know. And here you all are. Thanks for greeting me.
And may I salute the man you heard from a minute ago -- Secretary
Alexander, Lamar Alexander. He's come to washington after great
experience in education and in government, and leading us all with
this marvelous America 2000 program. We owe him a great vote of
thanks, and I'm very pleased to have him with us. (Applause.)
And another old friend is with us today, the Congressman
from this district, Larry Coughlin, who is leaving the Congress after
marvelous service. But he came in with us.
Larry, do you want to stand up there? (Applause.)
And may I thank all involved with this; particularly
Principal Barry Spencer, who has done a great job on all the
arrangements and are making these facilities available. Josh Lippy,
the President of the Student Council --- I salute him as a student
leader. And I should add, welcome back to school. I hope you had a
great summer. And out here in the audience are not just students,
but members of the Chamber of Commerce, Payson Burt and others that
are taking a leadership role. The Class of 2000 -- I salute them --
all of you, these participants who got up and read those education
goals. I thought they did a first-class job. Not a nervous one in
the bunch. (Applause.) And I salute all the volunteers -- the
volunteers that make it happen as we try to reform education. I'll
get to the teachers in a minute.
I'm told that many you were nervous this week. Tensions
rising about the big event. Wondering how you'll handle all the
attention. Well, I'm here to put your fears at rest. I know you'll
do great against North Penn Friday night. (Applause.)
You know, I want to just give a serious talk this
morning. You know, our world has been through a lot of change in the
past few years. when my kids were the age of the kids in this room
today, they used to practice nuclear disaster drills. The alarms
would go off, and they would all crawl under the desks and wait.
This happened all across the country, all across many countries.
That doesn't happen anymore. As a parent and as a
grandparent, I am glad that American kids can grow up in the sunshine
of peace. And we ought to be grateful for that as a nation.
(Applause.)
But now that the Cold War is over, the challenge before
our nation is to win the peace. To guarantee that America in the
MORE
- 2 -
21st century will be not just a military superpower, but also an
export superpower, an economic superpower.
That's just a fancy way of saying that when you grow up,
deserve the chance to have a good job, and live a better life
you than your parents and grandparents. And you should live the American
Dream.
That's why I'm here this morning, to talk about how we
can build what you need and deserve -- the very best schools in the
entire world.
Now, I admit, education is not usually found on the
front page of the newspaper, or at the top of the evening news -- but
it is the solution for most of what you do see there. As a President
and as a grandparent, my loyalty lies with young people. Kids like
these fifth graders -- who did such a fantastic job laying out these
national education goals this morning.
In the year 2000, these fifth graders will graduate from
high school. And they will have changed so much, we will barely be
able to recognize them. I want the schools from which they graduate
to have changed so much, that we won't be able to recognize them,
either.
Four years ago, I said I wanted to lead a revolution in
American education. And today, I come before you to report -- the
revolution is underway.
As President, my job is to set the agenda, and mobilize
the nation. And I'm proud that the goals the students read this
morning are the very first education goals in our nation's history.
They were created by all the governors -- Republicans and Democrats
alike -- and are being embraced by parents, by teachers, by business
and community leaders -- in town after town, city after city, all
across America. Politics is being laid aside, a revolution in
education is taking place. And if he were here today, I'd shake his
hand and salute the Governor of this state, who is holding out his
hand to all who want to see America 2000 succeed. He's been a real
leader, and we are grateful to him for that -- Governor Casey.
(Applause.)
I have come to Norristown because you accepted my
challenge to reinvent American schools. And again, I salute the
Principal and the superintendent. Norristown is in the lead -- but
you're not alone. Today, 1,700 communities -- in every single state
-- have adopted the vision of what we call "America 2000." Seventeen
hundred communities have drawn lines in the sand of the future that
reads -- "Our children must be number one."
The federal government should do more than offer
congratulations, and we are matching our words with action -- as we
promised.
You've heard about our first goal -- making sure every
student arrives at school ready to learn. For the first time, every
one. We have asked for record increases in investment for math and
eligible four-year-old who wants a Head start on kindergarten can get
science education -- to help train teachers. That is consistent with
And I bet you were proud to watch the Olympics, and see Jordan and
goal number four that was read here -- math and science excellence.
Ewing and Malone slam dunk the opposition. By the year 2000, I want
you -- our young people -- to be able to slam dunk the rest of the
world in math and science. And we can do it. (Applause.)
Goal number five is to guarantee a skilled, literate
work force. MY opponent accuses me of cutting education spending.
That's just flat wrong. I have proposed record increases in
education funding -- and during my four years, federal investments in
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- 3 -
education have increased at a more rapid rate than state and local
funding.
But if you think that money alone will reinvent our
schools -- think again. AS a nation, only switzerland -- only
Switzerland spends more per student on elementary and secondary
education. This doesn't mean we should not make new investments, it
means we cannot spend our money on the old way of doing things.
Our schools were basically designed for another age -- a
hundred years ago. A world of Model T cars, in which toasters and
flashlights were a big deal. A world in which most clothes were made
at home -- imagine -- a world without the King of Prussia Mall!
(Laughter.) Hard to believe.
But today, if you apply for a summer job in a car
factory, they'll ask you if you can handle mathematics, estimation
and spatial relations, things your mom and dad just didn't have to
know. And other things have changed. It's tougher being a parent,
tougher being a teacher, and my grandkids tell me -- it's pretty
tough being a kid these days.
The world has changed, and so must our schools.
You don't have to look far for new ideas. Teachers,
school board members, parents, business leaders -- all are fountains
of innovation. They represent the true genius of America -- and we
must encourage them. Right now, as we gather today, America is
responding to this charge. Really, four revolutions are underway.
First, we are in the process of creating hundreds of
what we call "Break-The-Mold" schools -- schools that reject the
status quo. For example, a school where students attend all year
round. Now, I challenged America to come up with ideas for these
schools, and Norristown was one of 700 communities that responded. I
applaud you for your energy. I applaud you for your creativity.
Revolution number two has to do with what we teach in
our schools. We must demand more of you, so that you can compete in
the world economy. Your math teachers are already relying on new,
world-class standards, and you are learning more than your older
brothers and sisters. BY the time today's fifth graders enter high
school, we will have new standards in science, history, English,
geography, civics and the arts.
And to support these standards, we will have a national
examination system -- and I call it the American achievement tests,
so that parents can know how our kids and our schools are doing.
The third revolution involves a very important person --
your teacher. If I can ask a favor, since this is the first day of
school, I assume none of you have received any tests back yet. so
let's take advantage of the good feeling, and say thanks to all the
teachers in this room. They are making a difference in your life --
and we should applaud them. And I'd like to ask them to stand up --
all the teachers here. (Applause.) Thank you all very much.
When your teachers -- let me make this point to the
students -- when your teachers chose their career, they did it
because they love learning, and they love helping you to live up to
your potential. They certainly didn't do it for self-gain; they did
it to help someone else.
Not long ago, as part of my America 2000 effort, I met
with some teachers up in Lehigh Valley, and I asked them what was
their biggest problem. I thought they might talk about a lack of
money, or discipline, or the drug problem. But they instead talked
about all the paperwork and regulations -- about getting state
government off their back.
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- 4 -
I cannot do much about Harrisburg, but this week
Congress will consider my legislation to give teachers more
flexibility in using federal funds, as long as they achieve results.
Congress wants to give flexibility to just 300 schools, I want to
give it to all 110,000 schools. We've got to relieve these teachers
of federally-mandated paperwork requirements. (Applause.) I trust
the teachers, not the government, to do what's right for our
students.
There's one final revolution underway -- I think every
parent should have the right to choose the school they want for their
children.
Not long ago, I was talking with a Milwaukee parent --
she and her kid came to the Roosevelt Room right outside of the Oval
Office in the white House. Her name -- Janette williams. She told
me her son Javon went to a crowded school, teachers couldn't pay
attention to him. He was so bored, he'd just go home halfway through
the day. And then Milwaukee gave some parents the right to choose
new schools for their kids. And today, this kid Javon is doing his
homework, attending all his classes, even helping clean up around the
classroom.
I want to hear more stories like that. My G.I. Bill For
kids would give $1,000 scholarships to children of middle-and
low-income families that they can use to spend on any school of their
choice. Most parents would choose public schools, but every parent
should be able to choose any school -- public, private, or religious.
(Applause.)
Right here in Norristown, almost 6,000 kids -- about
two-thirds of the school population -- would be eligible for this
$1,000 scholarship. Norristown would receive another $6 million in
new federal funds -- not controlled by bureaucrats, but parents and
teachers. And when it comes to choosing schools -- I trust parents
-- not the government -- to do the right thing. (Applause.)
so these are the four revolutions in American education.
"Break-The Mold" schools. New standards. Getting government off the
teacher's backs. And giving parents real choice.
Together, these revolutions will change our schools.
When these fifth graders come back to visit Miss Ritter and Mrs.
Bieler in eight years, they will marvel at how small the desks are,
and how they have to stoop way over to use the water fountain. But
as they look and listen to the school around them, they will say --
everything else has changed.
Now, as some of you may have heard, there's an election
in about 55 days. so, before I leave you this morning, I want to
take just a moment, and contrast my education vision with the
opponent's. I want to be fair. When I convened the national
education summit -- I mentioned it earlier in this speech about
-- with the governors present, most of the governors attended.
Governor Clinton's role was constructive; he helped to set these
national education goals. And I commend him for that.
However, the facts tell the story about his own record.
In 1980, Arkansas ranked 47th in the percentage of adults with high
school diplomas, now 48th. Today, they're dead last -- in the
percentage of adults with college degrees.
But that's not the real issue -- the real issue is what
kind of education president would my opponent be.
And in this campaign -- Governor Clinton has spent a lot
of time courting the education establishment, teachers unions
leaders, and the liberal Congress. These people fear change. Look
at the education before Congress today. They really don't want to
- 5 -
spend more money on education, they want to spend it on the same old
system. I wish fixing our schools was that easy, it is not.
A President's job is to set a path -- and insist that
the nation sticks to it. But Governor Clinton is in with the crowd
who say "no" to break-the-mold schools, "no" to higher standards,
"no" to less regulation, and "no" to my G.I. Bill for Kids. Here's
the difference between me and my opponent. He has told the
education establishment what they want to hear -- and I will continue
to tell them -- what America needs to hear. (Applause.)
You hear a lot of talk about change in this election.
But ultimately, change isn't what you say, it is what you do. With
your help and the help of millions of other Americans, we have set
the forces in motion, to literally revolutionize the way we prepare
our young people. And I hope you will give me the opportunity to
finish the revolution.
To the parents, teachers, community leaders, and
students participating in Norristown 2000, I say "thank you." You
are writing a better chapter in the history of America's next
generation.
Thanks for listening. And may God Bless each and every
one of you, the State of Pennsylvania and The United states of
America. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
END
12:20 P.M. EDT
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Collegeville, Pennsylvania)
September 9, 1992
For Immediate Release
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN "ASK GEORGE BUSH" QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION
WITH EMPLOYEES OF UNIFORM TUBES, INC.
Uniform Tubes, Inc.
Collegeville, Pennsylvania
12:55 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Listen, it's a pleasure to be here.
Thank you all very much. Welcome to the Phil Donahue show.
(Laughter.) I feel like that, sitting out here. But let me just
thank Bruce, all that greeted us, all of you involved in this
wonderful company, and all who, particularly, have participated
in this education approach. AS I look at the country and look at
the problems facing us, we're in a transition period. We've been
through economic hell in this country. We're poised, in my view,
for a decent and strong recovery. But always at the bottom of
this is education for the future.
One of the reasons we are so strongly in support of
America 2000 is, it trains people for the future. They have this
thing -- no one is too old to learn. Well, so to demonstrate
that, Lamar Alexander, our Secretary of Education, who is with me
suggested about a year ago that I learn to run a computer. I'm
trying to kill him for that, but nevertheless I use it all the
time, and it does -- I think it does help demonstrate that
nobody's too darn old to learn.
Similarly, we're in a mobile economy, and our whole
health care reform proposal talks about people being able to
move, take their health care with them if they move into another
challenging area.
so I just wanted to salute you. I'm pleased to be
at this company that's taken the lead in education. It offers
everything for the future. We've got to do new ways. We can't
go back to the same old ways that the schools have been run
forever. And I'm going to keep pushing for the America 2000
education program, meeting these six educational goals. They're
not Democrat or Republican. The Governor of this state has been
terribly supportive of this program, and it's one that I don't
have to go to Congress for a lot of it -- I've got to go to
Congress for some of it -- but a lot can be done right at the
company level or the school level.
so I'm glad to be here for that reason and many
others. And I see this guy's teeshirt. I'll do it tomorrow --
"I'd rather be fishing." He's right. He's onto something.
(Laughter.) But for 55 days they won't let me do anything like
that. No more fishing. I've got to get to work here. And I'm
looking forward to the next few days to take this kind of message
to the country.
Now, I don't know how we proceed, but fire away on
questions. Shoot.
&
Good morning, Mr. President. What assurances
can you give the American people that you'll be more effective
working with Congress in your next term?
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- 2 -
THE PRESIDENT: Good question. I have been
criticizing Congress as the gridlocked Congress. People on the
other side are talking about change. The one institution that
hasn't changed in 38 years is this Congress that can't run a two-
bit bank or a two-bit post office. So I've had my battles with
them. We've gotten some things done.
We've got a good program on the child care, for
example, on the ADA, which is bringing the disabled into the
mainstream. But the assurance -- and it's a very important
question -- people don't want gridlock. And the assurance comes
from the fact there are going to be at least 100 -- maybe as many
as 150 -- new members of Congress that have to do what I have to
do -- go out into the neighborhoods, go out into companies like
this, take your case to the people, and listen to the people.
And I think the kind of changes that people want are the kind
that I stand for.
And so what I've said I'll do is take these new
members when they get here -- heck with the party -- bring them
into the White House and say, let's get these things done:
health care reform, Education 2000, whatever the priorities are
that come out of this election -- and education and health care.
I also happen to think -- I see these police
officers on the line -- I'm fighting for a stronger anticrime
bill. And it's been -- literally -- now, this is not making
excuses -- it's been bottled up in Congress ever since I've
become President. And my case now is, take it to the people,
then if the people support my approach to tougher law enforcement
for the neighborhoods, remind the members of Congress when they
come there, and say, look, this is what the people want. That's
the good thing about a four-year election cycle. so, sit with
the new members, try to get it done. And I think we can.
Come on, you guys. Here we are. Sir?
&
Being a -- to and a proponent of the American
worker, what steps has your administration taken to not -- the
overseas Private Investment Corporation -- OPIC?
THE PRESIDENT: We're taking steps to fund it.
Because I think when you create more export market, OPIC -- and
that's exactly what it does -- you create more jobs in this
country. In this sick and anemic economy, which, incidentally,
has grown for the last five -- hey, just a minute, I haven't
finished yet -- (laughter) -- but, no, really, what it does, OPIC
secures American -- that are selling abroad. And that is what we
need. It creates more domestic jobs. So I'm strongly for OPIC.
It's done a very good job. And more and more American products
are being sold because of investments like that.
&
Mr. President, my question is: What personal
message would you like to deliver to the former employees of
companies like Allied Tank and Anchor Glass -- local people who
have lost their jobs due to plant closings during your tenure in
office?
THE PRESIDENT: I'd say we've been caught in a very
tough economic time. And we've got to move forward now with
incentives to stimulate the economy. If we had had this
investment tax allowance, I believe a lot of companies that
aren't in business would be in business. I believe it would have
stimulated investment.
I happen to believe that the credit for first-time
homebuyers that's hung up in this gridlocked Congress would have
helped the housing industry. I don't know whether any of these
companies sell to that. And some of them are talking about
change. We're actually in an outmoded process is being replaced
by something new. There, you've got to do what this company is
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doing, and what I'm proposing on better education. so it's a
combination of all three of these areas.
But let me say this on the economy: It is lousy.
We know that. We've been trying to stimulate it. And we're in a
global recession. It's not just the United states. Take a look
at canada. Take a look at England and France and Germany. It
has been too long.
I do think, with interest rates down, with inflation
down, with a Misery Index which reached 21.9 percent under the
last time we had a Democrat president and a Democrat House --
Congress, down now to around 10 percent, we should be able to
recover and recover well. But you've got to do these things
we're talking about.
Yes, sir, in the back.
to Education & secretary Alexander, and I'm glad he's here. He
My question, Mr. President, is also referencing
refers to the many educational entrepreneurships as "sort of
defense contractors of the school industry." If there are
successes with these programs, what incentives will our
communities have to accept them?
THE PRESIDENT: I'm not sure -- where's Lamar? I'm
not sure I've heard him --
DO you want to comment on what you've said and then
let me try to fill in on the rest of it? Because I'm not sure
I've heard him use that expression --
SECRETARY ALEXANDER: He asks about the -- I made a
reference to the design teams for the New American Schools
Development Corporation that you created which are -- there were
700 applications for that, and 11 were selected. They're going
into the business of helping communities create very different
schools. The question was: What are the incentives for them?
The incentives for them are the same incentives,
Mr. President, that the defense contractors have. What we spend
on elementary and secondary education is about exactly the same
amount of money in America that we spend on national defense.
And defense is going down and education is going up. so those
businesses have the opportunity if they wish to be for-profit --
most of them are not, but if they wish to be -- of helping school
districts in states improve the management of their schools.
NOW, that would be --
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.
What we're talking about here, for those not
familiar, is this whole concept of literally revolutionizing the
schools. Lots has changed in this country. Employees -- work on
the floor has changed. A lot of things has changed. Defense has
changed. But the schools -- elementary and secondary -- schools
literally have not had fundamental change. So when we talk about
the New American schools, we're talking about letting the
communities come together -- private end of it, teachers and all
-- and reinvent the schools. Some are going to want year-round
schools, some are going to want to have smaller classes, some
larger, some different plant and equipment. And we're just
challenging the whole system to radically think anew about
education.
We spend more on education per capita than any
country except switzerland. And I don't believe a single parent
can say that they're happy with the total results. We're
grateful to the teachers, but we're not happy with the total
results coming out of these schools. And so we've got to do what
we're talking about in this whole concept of New American
Schools. Some -- we need some support from Congress.
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Fortunately, much of it can be done as Pennsylvania 2000 is
doing. Again, I cite your Governor, I cite the Chamber of
Commerce, I thank companies like this who are literally saying,
well, we're going to get the job done. So they go out and invent
and innovate, and from that we're going to -- other places will
learn.
importance of & family values, which I agree with. My question is,
Mr. President, in your campaign you talk of the
what role, if any, the government is planning to take in
assisting and/or encouraging the country to get back to these
values that we've lost sight of?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, the opposition wants me to
get off talking about family values. We had the mayors of the
largest cities in the country -- you know, Mayor Bradley of Los
Angeles -- and some of the smallest -- mayors of the League of
Cities. They came in, they said the largest concern we have for
the cities, the problems of the cities, stems from the decline of
the American family.
What we're trying to do is change the welfare
system, for example, so people have to work if they're going to
get a welfare check -- or, as in Wisconsin, have to learn -- try
to get learning and work involved in that. What we're trying to
do is give choice in child care or in education so people can
choose where their children want to go to school.
But when we talk about family values, it isn't all
what the federal government can do. A lot of it is things like
Barbara tries to do when she holds a little kid and teaches --
shows compassion, or when she works for the volunteer reading
program to show that parents ought to read to their kids.
I think we've gotten away from some of these
fundamentals. I think discipline is one. I think respect for
the police officers that are out there risking their lives for us
every single day is a family value. (Applause.) And so, you
know -- and that leads to the kind of crime legislation we're
supporting.
so it is not demagoguery, it is not suggesting -- I
was on a thing with Tom Brokaw the other night. Bill Clinton was
on there before me. He said, are you trying to say you think you
and Barbara's family is better than the Clinton family? I said,
absolutely not. That's not what we're talking about at all.
We're talking about the fabric of our society. We're talking
about something that we've taken for granted for years. And that
is that it's the family around which everything good happens in
the community.
We're not criticizing single mothers. As I told him
on that same show, my daughter was one until she got married.
She's now married again, very happy. But it isn't trying to be
critical of someone else, it's simply trying to identify with
what the strength of our country is, and then instead of tearing
it down, build it up and find ways to improve it.
so we're going to stay on it. The liberals hate it.
They are all over me in these editorials, and I'm going to keep
right on it. Because it is right to try to find ways to help the
family -- whether it's financial help or whether it's just the
moral backing of the President of the United states. (Applause.)
Q
I'd like to know what your point of view is on
if you're planning to focus more on domestic issues and keep more
of our money at home so you support this? (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: The answer is -- you don't want us
to give you a long speech on it. But when you -- about -- I
don't know how long ago you were in grade school, but maybe you
had to, as everybody else did -- my kids did -- go under, climb
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- 5 ⑉
under the desks to worry about some drill against nuclear war.
That has dramatically changed. Because we kicked saddam Hussein,
the United states is the sole leader around the world. We are
now a military superpower; we've got to stay one. We're an
economic superpower, in spite of the lousiness of our economy.
And we've got to be an export superpower.
So as I see it now, with freedom and democracy on
the march -- and I would like to get some credit for that, give
plenty of credit to predecessor, I might add -- with Germany
reunited, democracy moving in south America, Eastern Europe,
these great ethnic areas free -- Poland, Lithuania, Latvia,
Estonia -- that's done. so we can do what I mentioned back here,
sell more abroad, but now we've got to use this same energy to
change things at home. And I believe we can get the job done
because of what I answered this, on the new Congress.
But the answer is not to turn inward. I may have a
difference with you on this. I believe the freer trade we've
got, the more jobs that means for America. You take -- some are
opposing me on the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying it
will cost auto jobs. Not so. It will increase the amount of
auto jobs we have because we have the most productive workers in
the world. Interest rates go into a decision as to whether you
put plants abroad or have them here. They are at a all-time low.
So I really don't want to see us turn in. But I do
want to see us solve these domestic problems of education, of
jobs, of crime and whatever it is. so that's the philosophy that
I'm bringing to it and that I'll be talking about out in Detroit
tomorrow in a rather long and, but I hope, comprehensive speech.
Yes, sir.
α
Good afternoon, Mr. President. I would like to
ask you -- is there anymore that you could do about the moral
issues that's messing with our country? I'm talking about racism
as in the Rodney King incident. And I'm talking about abortion,
and as you see that that's getting out of hand. And I'm talking
about the drug situation -- the war. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Very good question. In the first
place -- first place, racism, anti-Semitism have no place in this
country. And I think a president must continue to speak out on
it. (Applause.) And I've done that and I'm going to continue to
do it. (Applause.)
Secondly, the answer I gave on the family is very
important to the second part of your question.
And thirdly -- the third one is on crime? What was
the third part you mentioned?
Я Drugs.
THE PRESIDENT: On the drugs. Yes, drugs. We have
a strong antidrug strategy. The good news is that use of cocaine
has gone down by 60 percent in the last three years. The bad
news is that it's still pouring in here -- these drugs are --
mainly from South America, and that the addictive group, the
group from about 35 years old, the hard users, have gotten a
little worse. It hasn't moved in the right direction. so the
answer lies, prevention and treatment. And we're spending a lot
more money than any administration, and I'm not suggesting that
alone can get the job done. And then redoubling our efforts on
interdiction.
And we have some good people that are working with
us in Latin America. Gaviria in Colombia has done a good job on
it. We're trying to work with Peru and Bolivia on this. But
that's a major part of it. And we're using the military much
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- 6 -
more than we did to try to interdict the flow of narcotics coming
into this country.
But, once again, here's an area where we really do
have to back up those that are out on the streets. And that
argues, then -- our people out on the streets helping, DEA and
FBI and local police -- and that argues for a strong crime bill.
I mean, you've got to put away these hardened criminals. And
we've got to be tougher on the criminal and a little more
sensitivity for the victims of crime. And that's what our crime
bill will do.
And so those are the ways that we're trying to
approach that problem.
Yes, in the back, sir.
I wonder what you have envisioned, once you.
become elected & for the next four years, with the building trade
industry? And also, back to basics where we're sort of pulling
ourself up by the bootstraps and make a good country such as our
forefathers have started. And also, the monetary situation --
how do you think the dollar will fare -- like, strong dollar or
whatever?
THE PRESIDENT: Let me answer the last part first.
one thing a president shouldn't do is say what the level of the
dollar is. with the dollar at these levels, most people would
agree, we're going to sell a hell of a lot more abroad. And
that's good, you can export a lot more. But I don't want my
answer to be interpreted as suggesting at what level the dollar
should be. That should be set by markets and not by the United
states. We can't set our currency like that. It has to respond
to international markets.
In terms of the values, I've tried to respond to
that one. And in terms of the building trades, that gets to the
heart of what we're going to be talking about here and trying to
do and that is jobs. I mean, building -- I have a proposal
in -- again, my opponent will jump on me for saying I'm blaming
Congress.
On January 20th, we had a state of the Union message
and in it I suggested an investment tax allowance and that first-
time homebuyer's credit. And it is still sitting there in the
United States Congress. And I have to take that case to the
people. Because, in my view, that would have stimulated the
building trades and stimulated this kind of employment around the
country. And I just have to insist on that and try to make the
people understand that I haven't just been sitting there. We've
been trying to get it done.
And Clinton says we're blaming the Congress. Well,
as a matter of fact, I am because they're not getting the job
done. And I will keep -- as I said, I'll work with a new
Congress. I've help my hand out to them. But now I've got to
define the differences. I want to see a balanced budget
amendment. I want to see less taxes and less spending. And I've
got to contrast that in terms of a vigorous economy with my
opponent. And we'll have a debate, and that will all be out
there for people to see. I want a balanced budget amendment. I
want a line-item veto. If the Congress can't cut spending, give
me what 43 governors have and let me try to cut the excess and
save more money for the private sector or for the families that
are working. I don't think you're taxed too little; I think
we're spending too much.
And so I've got to get that philosophy out there and
back it up with specifics enough so people will see that we're
very serious about this. And I believe that will help building
trades and everything else. I don't know about city government.
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- 7 -
Q
what can we do to help you fulfill your goals?
THE PRESIDENT: Vote often. (Laughter and
applause.) No, but seriously, I've never seen a political year
like matter what party you're on, whether you agree with weird some
this. I think most people looking at the political process of
no the things I've said here or not, think that this is a
political year, strange kind of time.
But I have -- you see, I am optimistic about this
country. And I do look around the world. And I see compared to
other economy or any other country, we're not in decline,
we're any on the rise. And I've got to take that sense of optimism
and get enough backing to get done the kinds of programs that
I've been advocating and will continue to advocate.
And then the final analysis, and I'll put it this
way: I hope -- I hope I have earned the trust of the American
people in terms of the way I've tried to conduct myself as
President. I know there's a big difference. I know there's a
lot of differences on issue.
But in the final analysis, I'm going to say to the
American people, here's my position on the issue, here it is on
job training, here it is on skills, here it is on education, here
it is on accomplishments in foreign policy, here's the things we
haven't done, here's the mistakes I've made. But now I ask for
your vote because I think I've been the kind of president in whom
you can place your trust. And I'll do that and I think it will
resonate. (Applause.)
middle- and the 2 older-aged people that have been displaced in the
My question to you is, what can you offer the
job market?
THE PRESIDENT: The program that I talked about in
New Jersey the other day of skills training -- retraining. We've
got a tremendous problem in the defense industry. One of the
penalties, you might say, of success is that because we've been
successful in reducing the threat to the United states abroad,
we've been able to reduce our defense. But as you do that,
people are thrown out of work. so that argues for the job
retraining programs, some of which we have in effect, others of
which I have proposed. And so I think that is the major
answer -- that, plus education -- to those who are older and
still able to be in the workplace.
And the other thing is that when we go for our
health care program, which is going to keep it in the private
sector, provide insurance to those poorest of the poor, that
those health benefits will go with the person. In other words,
if they leave Company X, they don't lose those benefits. And I
think that, then, gives a certain mobility to the kind of people
you're talking about, that those that want to move over next door
to a new job and still be able to get it.
But the fundamental thing is, get the economy
stimulated so young and old will be able to have jobs in the
private sector.
Yes, ma'am. Excuse me. Am I out of here?
(Laughter.)
X
I'd like to know what your proposed plan is for
-- especially for the people who do not qualify for Medicaid and
are unable to --
THE PRESIDENT: The plan I favor provides, through
tax credits and through pooling of insurance and through more
managed care, insurance for all.
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- 8 -
People come tearing down into our country from
Canada and other places because of the quality of U.S. medicine.
do not want to see the quality diminished. People come down to
I get bypasses in Cleveland because they've got to wait six months
to get a coronary bypass next door, where they have a
nationalized program.
I think it would be a big mistake to nationalize it,
and our program calls for what I've said -- pooling insurance,
more use of managed care, and it also calls for something
else -- and here's one where I have a clear difference from my
opponent: It calls for the revision of these mal -- getting rid
of some of these frivolous malpractice suits. You cannot coach
the Little League without some guy that doesn't like the -- three
and two and doesn't like the call -- trying to sue you these
days.
And neighbor is suing neighbor and we're suing each
other too much. And we've got to put some caps on the outrageous
limits. Doctors sometimes don't practice delivering babies
because they're afraid they're going to be sued. And we've got
to get away from that. And that is over $25 billion -- different
figures -- $20 billion to $50 billion a year in terms of your
added health costs. I don't know how many have been in the
hospital recently, but hospitals are scared; so they say, give
the guy three tests instead of one. Make him have Test A because
we're not sure that we won't be sued if we only give him Test B.
And, so, along with pooling the insurance and making
that transportable so people can take it with them wherever they
go, we've got to have this concept of malpractice reform which,
incidentally, helps pay for the thing without raising people's
taxes.
so I really think we've got the best idea on health
care reform. Congress is all over me. It was raised by the
senate race here last year.
Take a look at the guy. What's happened? They
control the Senate. Where's their education bill? Mine's
sitting up there languishing. so, again, blaming the Congress.
Well, in this instance, they control both Houses of the Congress.
You want health care reform? where is one? In three and a half
years none have come my way.
We've got a good program. And, again, one of the
good things about this election year is you say to the American
people: Here's what I stand for. Let him say what he's for;
here's what I want to get done, regardless of whether you're
Democrat or Republican, try to get -- make your voice loud enough
so that when we first come in, sit down with those members of
Congress and get this done for the American people. so there we
are, and that's the approach I take.
Listen, thank you all very, very much. I appreciate
it. (Applause.)
END
1:24 P.M. EDT
TOTAL P.09
September 8, 1992
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
STEVEN PROVOST
SUBJECT:
REMARKS AT NORRISTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
On Wednesday morning, September 9, you will address
approximately 2000 attendees, most of whom are high school
students, in the gymnasium of Norristown High School. Your
remarks (16 minutes, teleprompter) discuss your vision of
education for the future and commend Norristown for adopting the
ideals of America 2000.
NOTE: The mention of Luke Perry on the top of page eight refers
to the teenage heart-throb of the popular prime-time
television show, "Beverly Hills 90210". Luke Perry
plays tough-guy Dylan McKay.
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
(George Bush Library)
Document No.
Subject/Title of Document
Date
Restriction
Class.
and Type
01. Background
Re: POTUS America 2000 speech; contains personal
n.d.
P-6, (b)(6)
Paper
information. (1 pp.)
Collection:
Record Group:
Bush Presidential Records
Office:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File, Backup
Subseries:
WHORM Cat.:
File Location:
America 2000, Norristown PA 9/9/92
Date Closed:
12/4/2004
OA/ID Number:
07580
FOIA/SYS Case #:
Re-review Case #:
2004-2265-S
P-2/P-5 Review Case #:
MR Case #:
Appeal Case #:
MR Disposition:
Appeal Disposition:
Disposition Date:
Disposition Date:
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P-1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
(b)(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P-2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
(b)(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an
P-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
(b)(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
(b)(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P-5 Release would disclose confidential advise between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
(b)(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
(b)(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of
(b)(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
(b)(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
ACKNDULEDGEMENTS:
Lamar Alexander
Members of Congress - -Ed will have
Bany Spencer Principal
upon an.
Josh Cippy, Pres. of Student Council
Dr. Holton (superintendant)
rivals
North Penn Knights
(215)368-9800
afterschool
lots of extracurriculas activities
weekends
King of Prussia
>
Plymouth Meeting
shopping
malls
pool hall
Marklay Billiards
Friendly's
after games/concerts/stc.
football game on friday against NorthPenn
longs speeches
principal gives really loooong speeches.
what would you talk to him about?
-how does he feel re: SNC ?
Norristown Eagles - blue/white
music
rap club music
Top 40
havymstal/hard core
popular music
seems that school spirit morale
have dropped
Eagle News Jeam (school tvstation)
live Zanchorpeople morning program
all done by students
famous graduates
what to shows do kids watch? 90210?
Josh Lippy
46 N. Highland Ave
Norristown, PA 19403
SNLAR
90210
Howard Stern tv show
MTV
Ren and Stimpy (cat) "you stuprd bloated
of Ren protoplasm"
(chitauahua)
SteveBoro; football for the 49ers
famous grad Cat least 10yrs. ago)
Jerry Spinelli, a writer
grad in 1954
make brocolli joke
diss
break out
most grads tend to stay in PA, on east coast
after school restaurants jobs, most at the mall
Principal
famous grado
A
at least #6 mil in new fed. funds
at least $6mil in new fed funds
work in
addition to 1.8 mil DoEd funds
you receive now.
"Power should not be concentrated in the hands of sofew,
andpricerlessness in the hands of 50 many."
Maggie kuhn
Ms. Magazine
June, 1975
"Reform must come from within, notfrom without."
James Cardinal Gibbons
Spechin Balto, MID
9/13/09
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDE
08-SEP-1992 04:16PM
TO:
(SEE BELOW)
FROM:
CLAIRE F. TURNEY
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
SUBJECT: STAFFED SPEECH - NORRISTOWN, PA
PROVOST/AARHUS
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS
NORRISTOWN, PA
SEPTEMBER 9, 1992
DRAFT: 3:00 P.M.
Dr. Holton
THANK YOU ( ^ ), AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, IT'S GREAT TO Hobson
BE BACK IN PENNSYLVANIA.
I WANTED TO START THIS MORNING BY SAYING WELCOME BACK -- BUT
I KNOW THAT THE START OF SCHOOL CAN PROVOKE MIXED EMOTIONS.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAD A LOT OF FUN THIS SUMMER. Now YOU
HAVE TO GET USED TO NEW TEACHERS AND NEW CLASSES, NEW ROUTINES.
BUT IF THIS EVER GETS YOU DOWN, JUST REMEMBER, YOU COULD BE
child
chilse?
GETTING BEAT OVER THE HEAD EVERY DAY, YOU COULD BE HAVING YOUR
CHARACTER ASSASSINATED ON TELEVISION, -- YOU COULD BE RUNNING
FOR PRESIDENT. //
OUR WORLD HAS BEEN THROUGH ENORMOUS CHANGE THE PAST FEW
YEARS. TODAY, I CAN STAND BEFORE YOU AND SAY SOMETHING NO
PRESIDENT COULD EVER SAY BEFORE. (THE THE COLD WAR IS OVER -- FREEDOM
FINISHED FIRST.
))
Now, THE CHALLENGE BEFORE OUR NATION -- IS TO WIN THE PEACE.
To GUARANTEE THAT AMERICA IN THE 21ST CENTURY IS NOT JUST A
MILITARY SUPERPOWER, BUT ALSO AN EXPORT SUPERPOWER, AND AN
ECONOMIC SUPERPOWER. "
THAT'S THE CENTRAL QUESTION -- AT THIS TIME OF WRENCHING
GLOBAL CHANGE
I HAVE MADE ONE PROMISE TO AMERICA -- NOT TO
SCARE PEOPLE IN THIS CAMPAIGN, BUT TO TALK ABOUT REAL ISSUES --
and giveREAL REAL ANSWERS -- TO THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS BEFORE OUR NATION.
THAT'S WHY I AM HERE THIS MORNING, TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN
what this Nation's kids
BUILD FOR OUR CHILDREN WHAT THEY NEED AND DESERVE -- THE VERY
BEST SCHOOLS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. //
Now I ADMIT, EDUCATION IS NOT USUALLY FOUND ON THE FRONT
PAGE OF THE NEWSPAPER, OR AT THE TOP OF THE EVENING NEWS -- BUT
IT IS THE SOLUTION FOR MOST OF WHAT YOU DO SEE THERE.
As PRESIDENT AND AS A PARENT A LIES WITH THE YOUNG
and grandparent and
PEOPLE. #K KIDS LIKE THE FIFTH GRADERS -- WHO DID SUCH A FANTASTIC
Hobson
JOB LAYING OUT OUR NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS THIS MORNING.
IN THE YEAR 2 000, THESE FIFTH GRADERS WILL GRADUATE FROM
Their cars will look much different thanthe
HIGH SCHOOL. THEY WILL LOOK MUCH DIFFERENT. ^ THE SCHOOLS FROM ones you
WILL
drive to day.
WHICH THEY GRADUATE BE MUCH DIFFERENT AS WELL.
FOUR YEARS AGO, I SAID I WANTED TO LEAD A REVOLUTION IN
AMERICAN EDUCATION. TODAY, I COME BEFORE YOU TO REPORT -- THE
well
REVOLUTION UNDERWAY.
THE CREDIT IS CERTAINLY NOT MINE ALONE. THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS MERELY BEEN A CATALYST -- AS IT SHOULD BE. THE
Education goals the students recited, and that the video talked about
GOALS THOSE STUDENTS READ ARE THE FIRST EDUCATION GOALS IN OUR
NATION'S HISTORY. THEY ARE BEING EMBRACED BY GOVERNORS -- created and
And the great part about those goals, is that they were
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT ALIKE, BY PARENTS, BY TEACHERS, BY
written by
students
BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND MOST IMPORTANT, BY YOUNG
and cities
PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN TOWN AFTER TOWN, CITY AFTER CITY, ALL
ACROSS AMERICA.
I HAVE COME TO NORRISTOWN -- BECAUSE YOU ARE IN THE LEAD --
and
Lisa
BUT YOU ARE NOT ALONE. TODAY 1,700 COMMUNITIES -- IN 44 STATES - Barnes
- HAVE ADOPTED THE VISION OF WHAT WE CALL "AMERICA 2000. "
401-3000
students
SEVENTEEN HUNDRED COMMUNITIES -- REPRESENTING (
)
YOUNG PEOPLE
HAVE AGREED TO THE FIRST NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS IN AMERICAN
are pursuing(?)
HISTORY. SEVENTEEN HUNDRED COMMUNITIES AGREED TO LINES IN THE
SAND OF THE FUTURE THAT READ -- "OUR CHILDREN MUST BE NUMBER
ONE. "))
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD OFFER MORE THAN OFFER JUST
so
CONGRATULATIONS FOR THESE EFFORTS, AND WE ARE MATCHING OUR WORDS
WITH ACTION.
You HEARD ABOUT OUR FIRST GOAL -- MAKING SURE EVERY STUDENT
ARRIVES AT SCHOOL READY TO LEARN. TODAY -- FOR THE FIRST TIME -
EVERY ELIGIBLE FOUR-YEAR-OLD WHO WANTS A HEAD START ON
Goals
KINDERGARTEN -- CAN GET ONE. //
2,3,6? 6?
WE HAVE REORGANIZED FEDERAL SPENDING FOR MATH AND SCIENCE --
}
GIVING SPECIAL EMPHASIS TO TEACHER TRAINING. THAT IS CONSISTENT
WITH GOAL NUMBER FOUR -- MATH AND SCIENCE EXCELLENCE. I WAS enjoyed
PROUD TO WATCH THE LYMPICS, AND WATCH CHARLES BARKELY SLAM DUNK
watching the Olympics and seeing
Kinda
THE ENTIRE ANGOLAN BASKETBALL TEAM. BY THE YEAR 2,000, I WANT
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE SLAM DUNKING THE REST OF THE WORLD IN MATH
AND SCIENCE.
GOAL NUMBER FIVE IS TO GUARANTEE A SKILLED, LITERATE WORK
FORCE.
AND I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT IN OUR COLLEGES TODAY --ONE
OUT OF EVERY TWO STUDENTS HAS A FEDERAL GRANT OR LOAN THAT'S A
HIGHER RATIO THAN EVER BEFORE IN OUR HISTORY.
Bill Moran
708-8391
can't be proven
Study has only
what doesthis have to do
beendon
w/ Goal File really?
EDUCATION IS MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, AND MY BUDGETS HAVE
REFLECTED IT. DURING MY FOUR YEARS, FEDERAL INVESTMENTS IN
Rae Nelson
of Education
X7777
EDUCATION HAVE INCREASED AT A MORE RAPID RATE THAN STATE AND
educations
LOCAL FUNDING.
BUT IF YOU THINK THAT MONEY ALONE WILL REINVENT OUR SCHOOLS
-- THINK AGAIN. As A NATION, ONLY SWITZERLAND SPENDS MORE PER
STUDENT ON ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. THIS DOESN'T MEAN
continueto
WE SHOULD NOT MAKE NEW INVESTMENTS, IT MEANS WE CANNOT SPEND OUR
MONEY ON THE OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS.
OUR SCHOOLS WERE INVENTED FOR THE AGE OF THE MODEL T. (YOUNG
HUMOR)
record player VS. compact disc player/walkman
filmstrip projector VS. VCR
Orson welles radio shows vs. Beverly Hills 90210
WE DON'T DRIVE MODEL T's ANYMORE, WE DON'T LIVE IN LOG
CABINS, so WHY ARE OUR SCHOOLS THE SAME?
AFTER ALL, AMERICA HAS CHANGED. TODAY, THE GUY ON THE
ASSEMBLY LINE IN A CAR PLANT MUST KNOW FAR MORE ABOUT MATH THAN
HIS FATHER EVER DID. OUR FAMILIES LOOK DIFFERENT IN MOST
FAMILIES, BOTH PARENTS WORK; AND IN MANY FAMILIES, ONLY MOM OR
need to catch up to meet the
DAD COMES HOME AT NIGHT. OUR SCHOOLS HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH THE
demands of the
NEW WORLD AROUND THEM.
TALK TO TEACHERS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, PARENTS -- AND
should
THEY'LL GIVE YOU THOUSANDS OF IDEAS OF WHAT NEW SCHOOLS MIGHT
cornerstone
LOOK LIKE. THAT IS THE POINT OF OUR EDUCATION REVOLUTION. NOT
TO DEVISE ONE SOLUTION IN WASHINGTON AND FORCE IT ON YOU -- BUT
TO ENCOURAGE THE TRUE GENIUS OF AMERICA -- GRASSROOTS CREATIVITY
AND PROBLEM SOLVING.
businesseand communities
parents and kids
teachers and students
all working together to
determine what needs
to bedone.
RIGHT NOW, AS WE GATHER TODAY, AMERICA IS RESPONDING TO THIS
CHARGE REALLY, FOUR REVOLUTIONS ARE UNDERWAY
This is Lamarterm.
we shouldn Fuse,
FIRST, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING HUNDREDS OF WHAT WE confusing
CALL "BREAK-THE-MOLD" SCHOOLS. THESE MIGHT BE SCHOOLS WHERE
to another give
this what
now don +boo
setof
TUDENTS ATTEND ALL YEAR ROUND. OR WHERE ONE SCHOOL CONCENTRATES
ON ONE SUBJECT AREA LIKE ARTS OR ENGLISH. THESE BREAK-THE-
MOLD SCHOOLS MAY COME IN EVERY SIZE AND SUBSTANCE -- BUT ALL
SHARE ONE CHARACTERISTIC - THEY REJECT THE STATUS QUO.))
REVOLUTION NUMBER TWO HAS TO DO WITH WHAT WE TEACH IN OUR
SCHOOLS. MUST DEMAND HIGHER STANDARDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE. MATH
WE for students.
TEACHERS ARE SETTING HIGHER STANDARDS TODAY, AND WE NEED THE SAME
FOR SCIENCE, HISTORY, ENGLISH, GEOGRAPHY, CIVICS AND THE ARTS.
AND I SUPPORT THE IDEA OF A NATIONAL EXAMINATION SYSTEM -- I
CALL IT AN AMERICAN ACHIEVEMENT TEST An TO LET PARENTS AND
COMMUNITIES KNOW WHAT OUR CHILDREN KNOW. ARE LEARNING.
SOMETHING ELSE I'M SUPPORTING, ATHAT'S TO HELP ing SOMEONE VERY
There's something else t support ,and
SPECIAL, SOMEONE VERY IMPORTANT TO YOUR FUTURE YOUR TEACHERS.
(By THE WAY, SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, I ASSUME
THAT NONE OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED ANY TESTS BACK YET. So LETS TAKE
moveto
ADVANTAGE OF THIS GOOD FEELING, TO SAY THANKS TO ALL THE TEACHERS
You may not realize itnow, but
Speech.
IN THE ROOM. 1 THEY ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE, AND WE
it can
SHOULD SALUTE THEM.)
(Now WHEN YOU GO HOME TONIGHT, YOU CAN TELL YOUR PARENTS YOU
SAW TWO THINGS THAT WERE OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THE PRESIDENT, AND
've never seenbefoe see).
A CROWD OF KIDS APPLAUDING THEIR TEACHERS.)
to become
WHEN THE PROFESSIONALS IN THIS AUDIENCE DECIDED ON THE
teachers, they didn doit because
NOBLE PROFESSION OF TEACHING, THEY DID IT BECAUSE THEY LOVE
LEARNING, AND HELPING YOU LIVE UP TO YOUR POTENTIAL.
My GUESS IS NONE OF OUR TEACHERS -- CHOSE THEIR JOB BECAUSE
THEY HAVE A SECRET PASSION FOR PAPERWORK,
OR
AN
INCURABLE
ROMANCE WITH THE COPYING MACHINE.
BUT THAT'S WHAT TOO MANY OF OUR TEACHERS SPEND THEIR TIME
Calio
DOING,
AND
I
WANT
THE
GOVERNMENT
TO
GET
OFF
TEACHER'S
BACKS
)
needless
X
don the says
I DON'T WANT OUR TEACHERS SLAVING OVER PAPERWORK, I WANT THEM TO
strong
on ther.
BE WORKING TO FREE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE 2 SLAVERY OF IGNORANCE
AND APATHY. //
THERE'S ONE FINAL REVOLUTION UNDERWAY -- VERY IMPORTANT, AND
? seen?
IT MIMICS WHAT WE'VE AROUND THE WORLD IN RECENT YEARS.
FREEDOM WORKS. FREEDOM WINS. YET IN OUR NATION, ONLY THE
PRIVILEGED) HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHERE THEIR KID S GOES TO
SCHOOL.
LET ME TELL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I MEAN.
TODAY IN CHICAGO, THERE ARE 66 PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS, AND ONLY.
only 19 out of 66)graduate morethan
19 GRADUATE MORE THAN HALF of THEIR STUDENTS AND, VERY FRANKLY, EVEN
public school
MANY OF THOSE GRADUATES CANNOT READ AND WRITE. WHERE DO TEACHERS
IN CHICAGO SEND THEIR KIDS? WELL, ALMOST HALF SEND THEM TO
PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
LISTEN TO STARR PARKER, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN CHICAGO.
She
HE SAYS WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, "THE RICH HAVE CHOICE NOW.
WHEN I WAS ON WELFARE, THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD PUT MY CHILD IN
GOOD SCHOOL. IT'S TIME WE STOP CONDEMNING THE POOR TO A MONOPOLY
EDUCATION SYSTEM."
WELL, I AGREE WITH STARR PARKER. CHOICE IN EDUCATION
SHOULDN'T BE LIMITED TO JUST THE PROSPEROUS AND THE PRIVILEGED.
EVERY PARENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THE SCHOOL THEY WANT FOR
THEIR KIDS. VAX Ad In fact, just last month, my administration
PresDocs,
proposed MY GI BILL FOR KIDS which WOULD GIVE A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO MIDDLE-
AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THAT THEY CAN USE TO SPEND ON ANY SCHOOL
OF THEIR CHOICE -- PUBLIC, PRIVATE, OR RELIGIOUS.
HERE IN NORRISTOWN, ALMOST 6,000 ,000 KIDS -- OVER HALF THE
about 2/3 of
Bruno
SCHOOL POPULATION -- WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS NEW GI BILL.
IF
At
202- 234-
Manno
TEACHERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT CHOICE MIGHT DO TO PUBLIC
4708
could
SCHOOLS, CONSIDER THIS IN THIS TOWN ALONE, YOU WOULD RECEIVE
AFLEAS
ALMOST $4 MILLION EXTRA IN FEDERAL FUNDS. BUT THIS MONEY
WOULDN'T BE CONTROLLED BY FEDERAL BUREAUCRATS, IT WOULD BE
CONTROLLED BY PARENTS, WHO COULD REWARD YOUR CREATIVITY, YOUR
INGENUITY, YOUR COMMITMENT TO RESULTS.
So THESE ARE THE FOUR AMERICAN EDUCATION REVOLUTIONS. THEIR
INFLUENCES CAN BE PROFOUND. THEY MEAN THAT WHEN THESE KIDS FIFTH
GRADERS COME BACK TO VISIT THEIR (INSERT TEACHERS NAME) CLASS IN Hobson
EIGHT YEARS, THEY WILL MARVEL AT HOW SMALL THE DESKS ARE, AT HOW
Fountain
THEY HAVE TO STOOP TO USE THE WATER COOLER. BUT AS THEY LOOK AND
LISTEN TO THE SCHOOL AROUND THEM, THEY WILL SAY -- EVERYTHING
ELSE HAS CHANGED. //
Now, AS SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, THERE IS AN ELECTION IN
ABOUT 55 DAYS. So, BEFORE I LEAVE YOU THIS MORNING, I WOULD LIKE
TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT, AND CONTRAST MY EDUCATION RECORD -- WITH
MY OPPONENTS.
To HIS CREDIT, GOVERNOR CLINTON HAS BEEN A LEADER IN THE
NATIONAL EDUCATION REFORM MOVEMENT - -- AND HE DESERVES CREDIT FOR
THAT.
BUT I WILL BE JUDGED BY MY RECORD, AND HE SHOULD BE JUDGED
THE SAME.
ARKANSAS ENJOYED AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATES IN THE 1980's -- BUT IT WAS HALF THE PERCENTAGE
INCREASE IN THE 70's -- BEFORE GOVERNOR CLINTON WAS ELECTED.
ARKANSAS SPENDING ON STUDENTS HAS ALWAYS LAGGED BELOW THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE. IN THE 70's, THAT SPENDING INCREASED, BUT IN
THE CLINTON YEARS, IT DIPPED AGAIN.
IN THE 70's, ARKANSAS TEACHERS SALARIES GREW FASTER THAN THE
REST OF THE NATION. AGAIN IN THE 80's, THAT PROCESS REVERSED
ITSELF.
THESE ARE THE FACTS. BUT IT IS NOT THE GOVERNOR'S RECORD
THAT WORRIES ME so MUCH, AS THE IMPACT OF THE LIBERAL LEADERS IN
THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS, AND THE EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT IN
WASHINGTON.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO FEAR CHANGE -- WHO WANT TO PRESERVE THE
STATUS QUO. ON SCHOOL CHOICE FOR EXAMPLE, THEY SAY "LET'S CHANGE
JUST -- JUST A LITTLE BIT." THEY WANT PARENTS TO CHOOSE THEIR
Choose only public schools.
SCHOOLS, AS LONG AS THEY ARE ALL PUBLIC. I SAY, LET'S CHANGE
or private schools
ALOT. LET PARENTS CHOOSE RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS IF THEY WANT To.
whose
THIS FALL, THE VOTERS WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHO S APPROACH
they YOU SUPPORT. BUT I BELIEVE ONE THING IS CLEAR. IN THIS
CAMPAIGN, GOVERNOR CLINTON HAS MADE A HABIT OF TELLING THE
EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT IN WASHINGTON WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR. I
WILL CONTINUE TO TELL THEM -- WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR. //
WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF TALK OF CHANGE IS in THIS ELECTION, AND
about
THAT'S APPROPRIATE, BECAUSE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IS NEVER
ENDING.
1776?
BUT THE CHANGE WE'VE SEEN AROUND THE WORLD THE PAST FEW
YEARS IS REALLY UNUSUAL, CHANGE IS USUALLY MUCH MORE INCREMENTAL,
MUCH MORE DIFFUSE.
THAT'S THE KIND OF CHANGE THAT IS UNDERWAY IN AMERICAN
EDUCATION TODAY.
VISITING SCHOOLS, TALKING TO PARENTS, MEETING WITH BUSINESS
LEADERS -- I AM REMINDED OF THE WORDS OF ROBERT KENNEDY -- SPOKEN
IN ANOTHER TIME, ON ANOTHER TOPIC.
KENNEDY SAID, "FEW WILL HAVE THE GREATNESS TO BEND HISTORY
ITSELF; BUT EACH OF US CAN WORK TO CHANGE A SMALL PORTION OF
EVENTS, AND IN THE TOTAL OF THESE ACTS WILL BE WRITTEN THE
HISTORY OF THIS GENERATION."
ROBERT KENNEDY WAS TALKING ABOUT THE BATTLE FOR RACIAL
EQUALITY. TODAY, THE STRUGGLE IS FOR A NEW EQUALITY -- TO GIVE
ALL
THESE KIDS AN EQUAL CHANCE IN THE NEW WORLD ECONOMY.
BUT WHILE THE TOPIC HAS CHANGED, BUT THE MESSAGE IS THE
students
SAME. To THE PARENTS, TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
PARTICIPATING IN NORRISTOWN 2000, I SAY -- "THANK YOU." You ARE
CHANGING A PORTION OF EVENTS, AND IN YOUR ACTION, YOU ARE WRITING
A BETTER CHAPTER X IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA'S NEXT GENERATION.
THANKS FOR LISTENING. GOD BLESS PENNSYLVANIA. Norristown GOD BLESS
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
# # #
DISTRIBUTION:
TO: DAVID F. DEMAREST, JR.
TO: SHARON M. BOTWIN
TO: KRIS M. DEE
TO: CHRISTINA M. MARTIN
TO: ANDREW FERGUSON
TO: CAROL B AARHUS
TO: JEAN M. BUNTON
TO: GARY J. GERSHOWITZ
TO: JENNIFER A. GROSSMAN
TO: SUSAN M. NIX
TO: SUSAN R. DENNISTON
TO: GREGORY H. FITCH
TO: BARBARA B. KILBERG
TO: LEIGH A. METZGER
TO: HELEN R. MOBLEY
TO: KATHRYN E. RUST
TO: C. JAMES SCHAEFER
TO: WILLIAM B. CALDWELL
Provost/Aarhus
Presidential Remarks
Norristown, PA
September 9, 1992
Draft: 3:00 p.m.
Dr. Holton
Thank you
k-1, and good morning everyone; it's great to
be back in Pennsylvania. And I should add -- welcome back to
school. I hope you had a great summer.
I'm told that many you were nervous this week. Tension's
rising about the big event. Wondering how you'll handle all the
attention. Well, I'm here to put your fears to rest. I'm sure
you'll do great against North Penn Friday night. //
You know, our world has been through alot of change the past
few years. When my kids were your age, they used to practice
nuclear disaster drills. The alarms would go off, and they would
crawl
all climb under their desks and wait.
That doesn't happen anymore. Today we're not just building
the ontyreason you
nuclear weapons, we're destroying them. And you have to get
is
under your desks to look for a pencil. I'm sure you don't spend
much time worrying about nuclear armageddon. But as a parent and
a grandparent, I'm glad that American kids can grow up in the
sunshine of peace.
Now that the cold War is over, the challenge before our
nation -- is to win the peace. To guarantee that America in the
2
21st century will be not just a military superpower, but also an
export superpower, and an economic superpower. /
That's all just a fancy way of saying that you when you
grow up, you deserve the chance to have a good job, and live a
better life than your parents can the American dream.
and grandparents. and
That's why I'm here this morning, to talk about how we can
you students(kids)
build for our children what you need and deserve -- the very best
schools in the entire world. //
Now I admit, education is not usually found on the front
page of the newspaper, or at the top of the evening news -- but
it is the solution for most of what you do see there.
As President and as a grandparent, my loyalty lies with the
young people. Kids like these fifth graders -- who did such a
fantastic job laying out our national education goals this
morning.
In the year 2 000, these fifth graders will graduate from
high school. They will have changed so much, we will barely be
able to recognize them. I want the schools from which they the
graduate to have changed so much, that we won't be able to
recognize them either.
Four years ago, I said I wanted to lead a revolution in
American education. Today, I come before you to report -- the
revolution is underway.
As President, my job is to set the agenda, and mobilize the
nation. And I'm proud that the goals those students read the
students read this morning are the very first education goals in
3
the states'
our nation's history. They were created by all governors --
#
Republican and Democrat -- and embraced by parents, by teachers,
S and cities
by business and community leaders X -- in town after town, city
after city, all across America.
I have come to Norristown -- because you accepted my
challenge to reinvent American schools. Norristown is in the
and
lead -- but you are not alone. Today 1,700 communities -- in
44
states -- have adopted the vision of what we call "America 2000. "
setof
Seventeen hundred communities have agreed to the first national
education goals in American history Seventeen hundred
communities agreed to draw lines in the sand of the future that
read -- "our children must be number one."
The federal government should offer more than offer just
so will
congratulations for these efforts, and we are matching our words
with action -- as we promised.
You heard about our first goal -- making sure every student
arrives at school ready to learn. Today -- for the first time -
every eligible four-year-old who wants a Head Start on
kindergarten -- can get one. //
We have asked for record federal increases in investment for
math and science education -- to help train teachers. That is
consistent with goal number four -- math and science excellence.
I bet you were proud to watch the Olympics, and watch Jordan and
Ewing and Magic slam dunk the opposition. By the year 28000, I
want our you -- our young people -- to be slam dunking the rest
of the world in math and science. //
4
Goal number five is to guarantee a skilled, literate work
force. Now, my opponent accusses me of cutting education
spending. But that's just flat wrong. I have proposed record
increases in education funding and during my four years
federal investments in education have increased at a more rapid
5
rate than State and local funding.
And I am proud to tell you that in our colleges today
out of every two students receives a federal grant or loan,
more than ever before (cannot be proven, according to DoEd)
But if you think that money alone will reinvent our
schools -- think again. As a nation, only Switzerland spends
more per student on elementary and secondary education. This
doesn't mean we should not make new investments, it means we
(continueto)
cannot spend our money on the old way of doing things.
Our schools were basically designed for another age -- a
a would the electrictoaser
hundred years ago. A world of Model T cars, in which electricity flashlight
was a big deal. A world in which most clothes were made at home
-- imagine -- a world without the King of Prussia Mall!//
If you apply for a summer job in a car factory, they'll ask
you if you can handle math estimation and spatial relations,
things your mom and dad just didn't have to know. And other
things have changed. Today, it's tougher being a parent, tougher
Kid
being a children, my grandkids just say it's tougher being a kid
these days.
)
???
The world has changed, so must our schools.
America
5
You don't have to look far for new ideas. Teachers, school
board members, parents, business leaders -- are all fountains of
innovation. That is the point of our education revolution. Not
to devise one solution in Washington and force it on you -- but
to encourage the true genius of America -- grassroots creativity
and problem solving.
Right now, as we gather today, America is responding to this
charge. Really, four revolutions are underway.
First, we are in the process of creating hundreds of what we
call "Break-The-Mold" schools -- schools that reject the status ordmary
quo, like, for example, a school where students attend all year
round. I challenged America to come up with ideas for these
schools -- and Morristown was one of 700 communities that
responded. I applaud you for your energy and your creativity.
Revolution number two has to do with what we teach in our
schools. We must demand more of you, so that you can compete in
the world economy. Your math teachers are already relying on
new, world-class standards, and because of them, you are learning
more than your older brothers and sisters. And by the time
today's fifth graders entire high school, we will have new
standards in science, history, English, geography, civics and the
arts.
And to support these standards, we will have a national
examination system -- I call it an American achievement test, so
that parents can know what our kids know. have learned.
(are learning
6
The third revolution involves a very important person --
your teacher.
(If I can ask a favor, since this is the first week of
school, I assume that none of you have received any tests orquizzes back
yet. So lets take advantage of the good feeling, to say thanks
to all the teachers in the room. They are making a difference in
your
life,
and
we
should
applaud
them.)
7Call
Josh
acert totive
(Now when you go home tonight, you can tell your
YOU never thought you'd see
States
saw two things that were out of the ordinary. The President and
all your friends applauding their teacher.)
to become
When the professionals in this audience decided on the
teachers
noble profession of teaching, they did it because they love
learning, and they love helping you live up to your potential.
We should trust teachers, but we don't today. Not long ago,
I met with some teachers up in Lee Lehigh High Valley Pennsylvania. I
asked them what they needed. I expected them to talk about
about
money. But instead, they talked all the paperwork and
regulations -- about getting state government off their back.
Well, I can't do much about Harrisburg, but I have
introduced legislation which would give teachers more
flexibility in using federal funds, as long as you they achieve
results. I trust teachers -- not the government -- to do what's
right for our kids.
There's one final revolution underway -- and it mimics what
we've seen in Eastern Europe in recent years. That's the power
of freedom.
7
Freedom works. Freedom wins. Yet in our nation, only the
privileged have the freedom to choose where their kids go to
school.
I think every parent should have the right to choose the
school they want for their kids.
That's what happens in Milwaukee. Not long ago, I was
talking with a Milwaukee parent -- her name was Janette Williams.
She told me her son Javon went to a crowded school, teachers
couldn't pay attention, he was so bored, he'd just go home
halfway through the day. Then Milwaukee gave some parents the
right to choose new schools for their kids. Today, Javon is
doing his homework, attending all his classes, he's even helping
clean up around the classroom. (His mother didn't indicate if
he's cleaning his room at home -- that might be a true miracle.)
I want to hear more stories like that. My GI Bill For Kids
would give a thousand dollars to middle-and low-income families
that they can use to spend on any school of their choice --
public, private, or religious.
about
Here in Norristown, almost 6,000 kids two-thirds of the
school population -- would be eligible for this thousand dollars
scholarship. If teachers are worried about what choice might do
to public schools, consider this. Norristown would receive
another $4 million in new federal funds -- not controlled by
at least another $6
bureaucrats, but parents and teachers. When it comes to choosing
schools -- I trust parents -- not the government -- to do the
right thing.
8
So these are the four revolutions in American education.
Break-The Mold Schools. New standards. Getting government off
teacher's backs. And giving parents real choice.
Together, these revolutions will change our schools. When
these kids fifth graders come back to visit in eight years, they
will marvel at how small the desks are, at how they have to stoop
to use the water fountain. But as they look and listen to the
school around them, they will say -- everything else has
changed. //
Now, as some of you may have heard, there is an election in
about 55 days. So, before I leave you this morning, I would like
to take just a moment, and contrast my education vision -- with
my opponents.
^
I
Charlottesville education summit
in 1989,
I want to be fair, when convened the national education
summit, Governor Clinton was there -- he helped set the national
education goals. He deserves no criticism for that.
But what kind of education President would Mr. Clinton be. ?
Well -- in this campaign he has been a lot of time courting
spent
the education establishment, teacher's unions, and the liberal
leadership
of
Congress. These people fear change the way (Carol?)
They want to spend more money on education, but on the same
old system. I wish fixing our schools were that easy, but it's
not.
A President's job is to set a new path -- and insist that
the nation sticks to it. But Governor Clinton is in with the
9
crowd who say no to new schools, no to higher standards, no to less
regulation, and no to my GI Bill for Kids.
I encourage you to compare our records with one comment in
mind. Governor Clinton has told the education establishment what
the want to hear -- I will continue to tell them -- what they
need to hear.
But while the topic has changed, but the message is the
same. To the parents, teachers and community leaders, and students
participating in Norristown 2000, I say -- "thank you. = You are
changing a portion of events, and in your action, you are writing
a better chapter, in the history of America's next generation.
Thanks for listening. God Bless Pennsylvania
and God Bless
The United States of America.
# # #
Twoteachers Bactara Ritter
Mrs. Bieler ((BEE-ler))
Miss Ritter
tons of extra-curricular
(215) (215)584 5151 584 5151
Jim Emery
school has badimage
812 Woodland Ave,
b/c of area it's in
Nomistown, PA 19403
King of Prussia
Change
more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and
manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance
also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which
fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their
barbarous ancestors.
THOMAS JEFFERSON, letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816.-The Writings of
Thomas Jefferson, ed. Paul L. Ford, vol. 10, pp. 42-43 (1899).
Inscription on the southeast quadrant of the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C.
The inscription omits some words without ellipses.
179
Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change
a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this
generation.
Senator ROBERT F. KENNEDY, "Day of Affirmation," address delivered at the Univer-
sity of Capetown, South Africa, June 6, 1966.-Congressional Record, June 6, 1966, vol.
112, p. 12430.
180
Change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal.
Attributed to ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER. Unverified.
181
The older order changeth, yielding place to new,
And God fulfils himself in many ways,
Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.
ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON, "Idylls of the King," line 408, The Poetic and Dramatic
Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson, p. 574 (1899).
182
Where they [the cultures of Asia and the continent of Africa] resemble each other,
however, is that in all cases, it is the Western impact which has stirred up the winds of
change and set the processes of modernization in motion. Education brought not only the
idea of equality but also another belief which we used to take for granted in the West-the
idea of progress, the idea that science and technology can be used to better human condi-
tions. In ancient society, men tended to believe themselves fortunate if tomorrow was not
worse than today and anyway, there was little they could do about it. The idea, the revolu-
tionary idea, that tomorrow might be better and that man can do something about it is
entirely Western-and all around the world it inspires what Mr. Adlai Stevenson has called
"the revolution of rising expectations." If a man has lived in a tradition which tells him that
nothing can be done about his human condition, to believe that progress is possible may
well be the greatest revolution of all.
BARBARA WARD, lecture, State University of Iowa, Iowa City, April 6, 1961.-Ward,
The Unity of the Free World, p. 12 (1961).
See No. 1618 for Stevenson's words.
183
It is the first step in sociological wisdom, to recognize that the major advances in
civilization are processes which all but wreck the societies in which they occur:-like unto
an arrow in the hand of a child. The art of free society consists first in the maintenance of
the symbolic code; and secondly in fearlessness of revision, to secure that the code serves
those purposes which satisfy an enlightened reason. Those societies which cannot combine
reverence to their symbols with freedom of revision, must ultimately decay either from
anarchy, or from the slow atrophy of a life stifled by useless shadows.
39
Change
ALFRED NORTH WHITEHEAD, Symbolism, Its Meaning and Effect, chapter 3, p. 88
(1927). This paragraph ends the book.
184 He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which
rejects progress is the cemetery.
*
Prime Minister HAROLD WILSON, speech to the Consultative Assembly of the Council
of Europe, Strasbourg, France, January 23, 1967.-Text, The New York Times, January 24,
1967, p. 12.
Character
185 Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as
that of character.
HENRY CLAY.-The Clay Code, or Text-Book of Eloquence, a Collection of Axioms,
Apothegms, Sentiments
Gathered from the Public Speeches of Henry Clay, ed. G.
Vandenhoff, p. 93 (1844).
Clay served in the House of Representatives 1811-1814, 1815-1821, and 1823-1825;
he was Speaker every year except 1821. He was a senator 1806-1807, 1810-1811, 1831-
1842, and 1849-1852.
186 Don't say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders SO that I
cannot hear what you say to the contrary.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON, "Social Aims," Letters and Social Aims (vol. 8 of The
Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson), p. 96 (1917).
Based on a lecture delivered in Boston, Massachusetts, December 4, 1864.
187 Character is what you are in the dark.
Attributed to DWIGHT L. MOODY by his son, William R. Moody, D. L. Moody, chapter
66, p. 503 (1930).
Although both The Macmillan Book of Proverbs, Maxims, and Famous Phrases,
ed. Burton Stevenson, p. 317 (1948, reprinted 1965), and The World Treasury of Religious
Quotations, ed. Ralph L. Woods, p. 108 (1966), state that this quotation came from his
sermons, Moody scholars have not found it there.
188 An aristocrat in morals as in mind.
OWEN WISTER, describing Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes.-Wister, Roosevelt: The
Story of a Friendship, p. 130 (1930).
Chesapeake Bay
189 Heaven & earth never agreed better to frame a place for man's habitation; were it
fully manured and inhabited by industrious people. Here are mountaines, hil[l]s, plaines,
valleyes, rivers, and brookes, all running most pleasantly into a faire Bay, compassed but
for the mouth, with fruitfull and delightsome land.
Captain JOHN SMITH, description of countryside around Chesapeake Bay, 1606, The
Generall Historie of Virginia, New England & The Summer Isles, vol. 2, pp. 44-45 (1907).
40
Revolutions never go backward.
-Wendell Phillips 2/17/1861
in a speech
-lincoln saidit 1st on 5/19/1856
Revdutions are the locomotives of history.
-Kruscher, speechtothe Supreme Societ,
Pravda, 5/8/1957
SEP 08 '92 11:11 AREA 215 630 5004 NAHS PEARCE
P.1/7
N
DISTRICT
Young minds are our nation's most valuable natural resources
Norristown Area School District
Norristown Area High School-
1900 Eagle Drive
Norristown, PA 19403
215-630-5090
PLEASE DELIVER THE FOLLOWING PAGE(S) TO:
NAME Carol Aarhus
COMPANY
Speech whiting
DEPARTMENT
207-456-6218
-
PLEASE FAX RESPONSE TO: (215) 630-5115
TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES, INCLUDING THIS PAGE 7
MESSAGE
For Norristown High School Speech
Sep 9, 1992
IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE ALL PAGES OR HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH RECEIVING
PLEASE CALL
AT (215) 630-5090
THANK YOU.
FROM Cliff/Hopson
SEP 08 '92 11:11 215 630 5004 NAHS PEARCE
NORRISTOWN AREA SCHOOLS INVEST IN YOUTH
THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
Throughout the country, when people talk about successful schools. they think about Norristown Area
School District and its award-winning Pre-Vocational Programs. From National First Place in Business
Advocacy to PDE Exemplary Status in Industrial Arts Technology. "NORRISTOWN" has captured the
attention of school-community planners who seek an example of educational excellence.
The Record speaks for itself:
American Industrial Arts Student Association state
National Merit Scholars choosing higher educa-
and national honors for "Outstanding Student" and
"Prepared Public Speaking."
tion concentrations in business. law. and engineer-
ing.
Business Education Curriculum designed and
Opportunittes for independent study in potential
implemented with the guidance of the business
community.
career areas through the Industrial Arts Depart-
ment.
Cooperative Education Program named one of 102
Publication of FBLA success stories in national
"Capstone" programs in Business in the state of
journais.
Pennsylvania.
istributive Education Programs and DECA shap-
uestions for members of the business and pro-
ing state and national winners in marketing achieve-
fessional community through "Career Day" classes
and American Education Week visits.
ment
Educational Access Cable Television Studio with
Role model Rotarians, Lions. Ambucs, Optimists,
broadcast links to more than 18. 000 homes in 10
BPW's, and Jaycees among district personnel
communities.
Skill development in the "basics" through voca-
Future Business Leaders of America taking FBLA
tional areas: alternative schools for alternative learn-
ing styles.
state and national conventions by storm for two
straight years with first place awards.
Testing programs in achievement. aptitude. and
Gifted Program Mentorships in local businesses
ability in Grades 3 through 12, and a computer-
assisted High School Career Center.
and community institutions through the "One-on-
One" Program.
Unique vocational training for Exceptional Stu-
High Achievement and/or Advanced Placement
dents through one of the finest Special Education
programs in America.
classes for young scholars in Economics, History.
English, Biology, Chemistry. Algebra, Geometry.
Physics. Calculus.
ocational-Technical School extensions of the high
school curriculum within a multi-district consor-
Information Processing classes with state-of-the-
Hum.
art equipment.
Written. taught, and tested curriculum in Ac-
Job placement opportunities through school-com-
counting, Data Processing, Computer Science, Eco-
munity teamwork.
nomics. Typing, Shorthand, Marketing, Law. and
Statistics.
Keyboarding applications across the curriculum.
X in the box for "Involvement in the Free Enter-
Leadership focus through participation in Foren-
prise System."
sics Competition. Student Council. the Presidential
Classroom, and Leadership Conferences.
Y outh of the Year Awards presented by the Ex-
change Clubs of America to NASD Orators.
Marketing courses which prepare students for
success in the world of work.
Zest for team teaching and team planning in a
Business Department second to none.
P.3/7
SEP 08 '92 11:12 215 630 5004 NAHS PEARCE
Professional
Development
Tactics for Teaching
If one accepts the idea that
and technology workshops in
there is a knowledge explosion
HyperCard and multimedia.
brought on by technology) then
schools need to examine how
Everyone Participates
they organize knowledge and
The entire professional staff
use technology. For this exami-
participates in Tactics. Through
nation to be successful, staff
the use of substitutes, teachers
development is essential for
form 20 member K-12 teams and
developing new images of
attend four full-day workshops.
schooling.
Between each workshop they
These are the critical issues
have a month-and-a-half to prac-
for the Norristown Area School
fice the strategies.
District (NASD). What under
Tactics helps the staff develop
lines our rethinking is the idea
a common language of thought.
that students and teachers must
Teachers explore 22 teaching
be able to function in a world
strategies that can enhance their
based on work environments
development of subject-area con-
influenced by technologies and
tent and students' thinking. For
new categories of knowledge.
example, the use of visualization
to enhance memory is a critical
Teacher as Learner
strategy in expanding a student's
NASD's staff development
concept development in lan-
promotes the idea that teachers
guage acquisition.
who actively engage in person-
it is during the training that
al and reflective learning will
teachers can see how to use tech-
carry this process over into their
nology to present information in
classroom teaching. Central to
different ways. Many of the
this idea is that the teacher
By John Gould, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum,
strategies are presented with
should become the primary
Norristown (Pa.) Area School District
HyperCard or MacroMind
developer of the curriculum. For
Director.
this to happen, the teacher must be responsible for under-
Some could say that our mandatory participation in
standing how to organize knowledge instead of primarily
Tactics training is inconsistent with the research on staff
relying on what David Elkind calls derived knowledge
development that says mandates do not work. We believe
from textbooks and other sources.
we are not telling people what and how to teach, but cre-
The activities designed to develop our curricular frame-
ating an organizational climate that helps people think
work include: districtwide training sessions in instructional
about the possibilities for their own professional growth.
strategies using Tactics for Thinking (see chart, page 30)
We are creating a structural change to allow democratic
from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum
change to take place in which teachers may make respon-
Development (ASCD); reflective study groups; workshops
sible choices for themselves, This is NASD's style: to cre-
in whole language and mathematical problem solving;
ate our future now.
Snapshot
Norristown Area School District
Location: Norristown, PA
Professional Staff: 450
theory; Robert J. Marzano's Tactics
District Budget: $54 million
for Thinking; David Perkins' perfor-
Student Body: 6200 urban and
Key Reform Themes: Student
mance understanding.
surburban students; 40% African
as Thinker, Teacher as Learner,
Measurements for Success:
American, 58% white
Principal and Superinterident as
State assessments in 3rd grade
Number of Schools :
Facilitators
reading and 6th grade writing; in
7 elementary (23 students per class)
Reform Time Line: 10 years
the process of developing outcome-
3 middle (25 per class)
Major Influences: Howard
based standards using portfolios
2 senior high (23 per class)
Gardner's multiple intelligences
and student performance.
34 ELECTRONIC LEARNING
SEPTEMBER
1992
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The Business/Industry/School Partnership Program
Investing in the Future
By the year 2000 and beyond, the world in which our present-day students
will be living will be quite different. America will be a society of predomi-
nantly high-tech, information and service industries. The job market will
dramatically change, and entry level workers, as well as other workers, must
be better trained in order for our Nation to compete in the world marketplace.
These challenges will have major implications in the way we, as educators,
are preparing our students to meet the requirements of new technologies and
labor market changes.
Recognizing the need for our students to meet the ever-changing challenges
of tomorrow's workforce, the Central Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
and the Norristown Area School District have formed the Business/Industry/School
Partnership Program better known as BISPP. The Partnership is comprised of
business and industry representatives working in concert with educators to
bridge the gap between employers' needs and the school curriculum.
The specific goals of this Partnership are, jointly, to:
Monitor and improve the development of quality educational programs to
enable students in Grades K-12 to understand society and to function as
productive members;
Plan and/or upgrade activities that will increase awareness and under-
standing of educators and business/industry people toward each other and
the work that they do;
Review and recommend to the Board of Directors such programs as "Adopt-a-
School," Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week, Economics for Young Americans,
and others;
Help coordinate exchange programs among businesses, industries and the
school district; and
Maintain the promotion of programs that raise the level of student under-
standing of the workplace and their place in it.
SEP 08 '92 11:13 215 630 5004 NAHS PEARCE
P.5
In addition to the traditional 3 R's--Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic,
each goal focuses on The Fourth R: Workforce Readiness, championed by the
National Alliance of Business, which includes thinking, reasoning, analytical,
creative, and problem-solving skills, as well as behaviors such as reliability
and responsibility.
BISPP's level of commitment to educational improvement spans all levels
and all programs, kindergarten through grade twelve. Special emphasis is also
placed on the non-college bound students in preparing them to make the successful
transition from the classroom to the workplace.
The work of BISPP is done through committees. The mission of the Curriculum
Committee is to strive for a learning environment that will enhance student's
self-esteem, personal development, employable skills, and work ethic.
The Program Committee's functions are to expose students to the diversity
of the world of work by bringing business leaders into the classrooms and arrang-
ing for students to visit the workplace, further expanding programs for student
participation outside the classroom, and providing mentorship programs at all
levels.
The acquisition of funds to carry out the mission and goals rests on the
shoulders of the Finance Committee.
The Public Relations Committee stays abreast of all committee functions
in order to convey, through all media channels, an awareness of BISPP activities
of the Partnership to the general public, the private sector, and the school
community.
Assessing the needs of the Norristown Area School District staff and developing
a database of these needs is the monumental task of the Property Committee.
Since its inception in 1987, BISPP has made many accomplishments, some
of which are:
Receiving corporate sponsorship of on-site student tours
Awarding STAR (Scholarship Trust of Abram Roebuck, administered by the
Montgomery County Foundation) Grant scholarships semi-annually to graduating
seniors and alumni students.
-2-
SEP 08 '92 11:14 215 630 5004 NAHS PEARCE
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Awarding scholarships for participation in Pennsylvania Free Enterprise
Week
Assessing needs of graduates for tomorrow's work force
Exploring careers through the Boy Scouts of America Speakers' Program
Obtaining grant funding for the implementation of Applied Academic courses
Receiving donations of furniture and student supplies
Publishing and distributing a newsletter The Informer semi annually
Joining in partnership with the Philadelphia Electric Company in support
of excellence
Supporting the exploration of the "Writing to Read" Program
Adopting schools through corporate sponsorships
We have come a long way but have only scratched the surface of the chal-
lenges set forth. If we are to effectively prepare our students to occupy
a productive place in society, our mission and goals must be on-going.
Where do we go from here? We continue to move forward and not rest upon
our past and present laurels. We recognize the importance of, and are committed
to, the quality of education that will enable our graduates to be literate,
skilled, and productive members of tommorow's workforce.
After all, BISPP is investing in America's most important resource, the
future workers and leaders of our nation, our YOUTH. The challenges are great
but well worth the return investment.
-3-
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N
orristown Area School District builds on innovative spirit, academic
excellence and a rich base of ethnic and cultural diversity to prepare
responsible citizens for "America 2000."
A
cademics, the arts, athletics and a wide range of extra-curricular
activities are woven into a comprehensive educational program for
optimum development of the individual.
S
tate-of-the art technology and an emphasis on "student as thinker" and
"teacher as learner" add new dimensions to both teacher preparation
and student competence.
D
evotion to lifelong learning is the central focus of a team effort--a team
that includes parents, students, educators, auxiliary staff, and a
vigorous business community.
Thinking 2000:
Building on Excellence
SEP 08 '92 11:15 215 630 5004 NAHS PEARCE
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CELEBRATE ITS DIVERSITY
NORRISTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
401 North Whitehall Road
630-5000
Take a bustling Pennsylvania borough, honor it as the Montgomery County Seat, unite it with townships West and North,
fill it with folks of every faith, color and creed, build schools that celebrate its diversity, and watch it grow!
The Norristown Area School District emerged in 1966 by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania order as a blend of the best
that Norristown and East and West Norriton townships had to offer. Today, a full generation later, it houses approximately
5,700 students K through 12 in eleven buildings equipped and staffed to prepare them for the 21st century. Its programs
challenge young minds through advanced placement options in literature, government, calculus, chemistry, and
computer science; exemplary coursework on communications, mathematics and technology; networked laboratories in
information processing; writing centers for young authors; and community mentorships for gifted students.
Indeed, respect for community is a guide to District planning. Not only does our Adult Evening School offer an enticing
array of course selections for residents of all ages, but an extensive recreational swim program in our olymic pool is a
four-season favorite. In addition, a full-color cable television studio located at Norristown Area High School broadcasts
relays vital messages to school families.
news and programs of general interest to more than 19,000 homes on a daily basis, while its 24-hour cable generator
Children of every grade participate in local campaigns to achieve a clean environment: they combat drug abuse through
Drug Abuse Resistance Education and Teen Fight Against Drugs;" serve as a volunteers in senior adult facilities and
hospitals; participate in "Free Enterprise Week" activities; design logos, posters, murals and project displays for
community buildings; and reflect the strengths of the Norristown Area through involvment in the Distributive Education
Clubs of America, Technology Students' Association, Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Asscolation events, District
XI and Region VI musical organizations, the Pennsylvania Governor's Schools, the Presidential Classroom, the Con-
gressional Youth Leadership Program, and host of state national competitions.
It is no wonder, then, that the area leaders in the Central Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce have joined hands
with Norristown Area School District to support its students and programs. This unique "Business and Industry School
Partnership program (BISPP),* which represents such prestigious companies as Bell of Pennsylvania, UNISYS, Smith-
Kline Bio-Science Labortories, Peoples Thrift Savings Bank, Genuardi Supermarkets and Montgomery Hospital, has
been the catalyst for computer expansion in our schools, career shadowing experiences, and a $700,000 STAR-Grant
Scholarship Fund that provides more than $50,000 anually to worthy seniors and alumni. Like our 11-year old Alumni
long-standing tradition of service, recognition and caring.
Hall of Fame/Hall of Champions which honors the deeds of outstanding gradustes, BISPP is rapidly becoming part of a
cirriculum, leading an assembly, or serving on an advisory committee. Begin with us today as we build for tomorrow.
Please accept this invitation to visit our schools. They belong to all of us, whether teaching in classrooms, writing a
WHAT IT MEANS TO GO TO NORRISTOWN AREA HIGH SCHOOL
by Wayne Kessier
Whenever I'm with a group of other students from other high schools, and 1 mention that I'm from Norristown Area High
School, a certain look passes among those other students, a look of disrespect and hidden laughter. "I've heard about
care, they have no idea what they're talking about.
that school," because they seem to be saying to one another. In a way that reaction bothers me, but then again, I don't really
The first great thing about Norristown is its diverse student body. There are students of all type, something which the
schools other kids go to lack. in fact, the kids standing around snickering about Norristown are probably all white
upper-middle class and they think Norristown isn't a good school because it is not all-white and all middle class. But
whereas when they get into the real world, they are going to be dealing with all kinds of people they haven't experienced before,
wealth I, and everybody else at Norristown, has. Encountering the different kinds of people at Norristown provides a
of experiences and relationships other high schools don't offer,
Norristown also has excellent facilities. The school is relatively new and is clean and well equipped. There is a sopisticated
course computer system in the library, and our communication equipment is very good. The school has a very wide range of
offerings, SO everybody has a chance to study something they want.
Most Norristown prepares its students well for college, with an emphasis on lab experiments in science and writing in
- they stimulate, they encourage, they don't stiffe creativity.
important of all are caring teachers. They don't just "cover" subjects, lecture and hand out grades, they really English. teach
are Most high schools are woefully similar - the students and teachers are all the same. The courses are the same. They
boring, stifling and dependent on controlled uniformity. Norristown is different - and better,
SEP-07-1992 17:41 FROM KING OF PRUSSIA STAFF OFF TO
P.01
202/456-6218
To: JEANNIE BUNTON
FROM: Es COWLING
PRESIDENTIAL ADVANCE
ATTACHED MATERIALS AS WE
DISCUSSED.
34 PAGES INC. COVER
SEP-07-1992 17:42 FROM KING OF PRUSSIA STAFF OFF TO
P.02
THE TIMES HERALD, THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1992
Push is on to rebuild
Norristown schools
By Jim Deegan
Times Herald Staff
"But we're also missing
Administrators at Norristown
whole blocks of kids and
Area School District want help in
carrying out President Bush's plan
we've got to get to them."
to shape a new generation of
James N. Holton
American schools.
Norristown schools superintendent
Led by the Business Industry
School Partnership Program
work on meeting the six national
(BISPP), the district yesterday
educational goals laid out by the
kicked off Greater Norristown 2000
president. About 50 people at-
- an ambitious but controversial
tended an organizational meeting
approach to building more ac-
yesterday at Norristown Areá High
countable schools across the na-
School.
tion.
"We have kids going into all
Greater Norristown 2000 is an
kinds of professions," said James
arm of America 2000, which the
N. Holton, superintendent of Nor-
president launched last year to re-
ristown Area schools. "But we're
design- the educational process
also missing whole blocks of kids
before the end of this century.
and we've got to get to them."
Greater Norristown 2000's first
goal: creating six task forces to
SEP-07-1992 17:45 FROM KING OF PRUSSIA STAFF OFF TO
P.01
Schools
in the fall.
Even if Norristown fails to win
Task forces will organize over
Continued from Page 1
grants, it plans to push forward
the summer. Each will be headed
with implementing its outlined re-
by a BISPP board member and
forms and promoting community
have free reign to develop its own
Businesspeople, educators, par-
involvement through Greater Nor-
strategies, Burt said. BISPP is an
ents and residents have been in-
ristown 2000, organizers said.
association of businesspeople and
vited to join.
NASDC will announce winners on
educators devoted to preparing
Last February, Norristown
July 7.
young people for the workforce.
submitted a proposal to reform
"We saw it as a way of mobiliz-
America 2000's philosophical
education in the district to a non-
ing to rethink school in general,"
basis is that local people know
profit group called the New Amer-
Gould said. "We saw this as a very
what's best for local schools, so
ican Schools Development Corpo-
good opportunity to bring it to the
they should be the architects of
ration (NASDC). NASDC will select
attention of the community."
change, according to reformers.
20 to 30 of what it considers the
Each task force will work on one
"We do have a problem and the
best proposals in the nation and
of the national education goals,
which are:
problem is our educational goals
award $500,000 to $3 million in
meeting the job opportunities we
private money to begin carrying
All children in the nation will
have," said Norristown Mayor Wil-
out targeted reforms.
start school ready to learn.
liam M. DeAngelis, who attended
About 700 schools applied across
the nation, said John M. Gould,
The high school graduation
the meeting. "We need more peo-
rate will increase to at least 90
ple who are more flexible to meet
assistant superintendent.
Critics view the America 2000
percent.
the specific job requirements that
exist. It's quite a trick, and it's
plan as unrealistic or vague, and
By grades four, eight and 12,
quite a problem.
they say its future is clouded be-
all students will have met criteria
"It's not a matter of 'Do we want
cause of the presidential election
in subjects such as English, math,
to do it?'' the mayor continued.
science and history.
"It's a matter of We must do it.
U.S. students will be first in
To show Norristown's adoption
the world in science and math
as an America 2000 program, flags
achievement.
bearing the Greater Norristown
2000 logo will be flown at the high
Every adult will be literate
school, the administration building
and able to compete in a global
and the new Whitehall Elementary
economy.
School. The flags, donated by Peò-
Every school will be drug- and
ple's Thrift Savings Bank of
violence-free.
Plymouth Township, were made by
Each task force will develop
LeBlanc Flag Sales Co. in Nor-
goals for the year 2000, show the
ristown.
current situation and come up with
Those interested in volun-
ways to meet the goals, said Pay-
teering to serve on a task force
son W. Burt, president of the Cen-
can call the chamber of commerce
tral Montgomery County Chamber
at 277-9501.
of Commerce and a leader in the
Greater Norristown 2000 move-
ment.
SEP-07-1992 17:46 FROM KING OF PRUSSIA STAFF OFF TO
P.02
GREATER
NORRISTOWN
2000
Dear Volunteer,
Welcome aboard Greater Norristown 2000. We're glad you took the
plunge to work with other volunteers to make Norristown Area School
District even greater than it already is!
We will be creating 6 task forces in the community. Each task
force will work toward the completion of one of the Six National
Educational Goals. The challenge is
By the year 2000,
[] 1. All children in America will start school ready to learn.
[] 2. The high school graduation rate will increase to at least
90 percent.
[] 3. American students will leave grades four, eight, and twelve
having demonstrated competency in challenging subject matter,
including English, mathematics, science, history and
geography; and every school in America will ensure that all
students learn to use their minds well; so they may be
prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and
productive employment in our modern economy.
[] 4. U.S. students will be the first in the world in science and
mathematics achievement.
[] 5. Every adult American will be literate and will possess the
knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy
and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
[] 6. Every school in America will be free of drugs and violence
and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to
learning.
[] 7. I will be glad to work on any goal to which I am assigned.
Please check the task force you wish to join. The coordinator of
the task force will be in contact with you over the Summer to tell
you the next step. If you are not sure which goal you want please
check the seventh box.
Please informed. fill in the information below so we can keep you fully
Name
Phone home
Address
work
Any sheet. comments or suggestions? Please add them to the back of this
Are you = parent of NASD school children?
Are you an educator?
[1 yes
[] no
[] yes
Are you a business person?
11 no
[1 yes
[] no
401 North Whitehall Road, Norristown, PA 19403 215/277-9501
FROM
6
News
THE POST
Wednesday, June 17, 1992
Schools and businesses brace to meet America 2000 volunteer goals
employment in our modern econo-
what are other communities doing
been in existence since 1988 and
By Lisa A. Lombardo
the meeting to ask for the help and
Norristown
to keep their goals alive," Burt
exists to bring education and busi-
Staff writer
support of the borough's business-
my;
U.S. students will be first in
said.
ness together to help students learn
es, professionals and non-profit
Greater Norristown 2000 is
the world in science and mathe-
Burt said the task forces will be
what they need to become suc-
The Norristown Area School
organizations to get the "Greater
a volunteer attempt to meel
matics achievement;
in contact with each other through
cessful citizens, according to Bet-
District wants help its students
Nonistown" 2000 goals on track.
national education goals,
Every adult American will be
the coordinators over the summer
tie Palombo, BISPP president and
TO
prepare to face the working world
America 2000, explained
Local business people are
literate and will possess the
months to map out strategies for
area realtor.
of the next decade and beyond by
Payson Burt, Chamber of Com-
invited to join one of six task
knowledge and skills necessary to
implementation. "We don't have
"This has been our goal right
encouraging the commercial and
merce president, is not mandated
by the federal government, but is a
forces with the ultimate goal
compete in a global economy and
texibook rules to work with, just
from the start and it makes me feel
professional community to volun-
of transforming schools.
exercise the rights and responsibil-
national guidelines. We'll have to
great we're finally getting it off
teer and make school business
volunteer effort on the part of indE-
map them out ourselves," the
the ground," Palombo said. "This
vidual communities across the
ities of citizenship; and
their business.
Every school in America will
chamber president said. "This pro-
community can do more than it
United States to get entire commu-
be free of drugs and violence and
ject has to become our business."
thinks for our students, using this
Businesspersons, professionals,
educators, administrators, patents
nilles involved in making deci-
will start school ready to learn;
will offer a disciplined environ-
Suggested contributions from
program." (See profile on Palom-
and interested community mem-
sions about school and learning
The high school graduation
area businesses and clubs include
bo in Life Style, Page 9.)
improvements.
rate will increase to at least 90 per
ment conductive to learning.
hers gathered together June 10 to
Coordinators will be chosen for
donating money or learning equip-
Over 900 communities in the
make the district and the borough
The Norristown project will
cent;
ment, such as computers and pro-
nation have committed themselves
involve the creation of six task
American students will leave
each task force, Burt said, and
a part of America 2000, a nation-
grams; starting work-study pro-
10 the "2000" goals for their seu-
wide effort to examine and
forces, one for each specific goal
grades four, eight and 12 having
community groups or individuals
can sign up to turn their energies
grams for area students; presenting
dents, Burt said, "and ] can think
of no better community or school
improve upon education goals for
of America 2000, Burt explained.
demonstrated competency in chal-
The National Education Goals
lenging subject matter. and every
10 whichever goals they chose.
them with "on the job" training,
the next decade.
"When we meet, we'll have to
or holding open houses for stu-
district that can handle challenges
for the Year 2000, as established
school in America will ensure that
The Central Montgomery
by President Bush and the nation's
all students learn 10 use their
brainstorm. Solutions won't come
dents to introduce them to the
and cooperation like this project."
County Chamber of Commerce
overnight. We have to ask ques-
business world.
To get involved, call the Cham-
and the Business/Industry/School
governors in February of 1990,
minds well, so they may be pre-
"Greater Norristown 2000" is
ber of Commerce at 277-9500 or
Partnership Program (BISPP),
pared for responsible citizenship,
tions on where we want to be by
are:
That all children in America
year 2000, where are we now and
an outgrowth of BISPP, which has
Palombo at 279-8866.
along with the school district, held
further learning and productive
TEL:
Sep 04'92 17:39 No.041 P.06
SCP bo 'SE 03:09 NONTCO REP COMM
9/15
P.1
September 4, 1992
MEMORANDUM TO: GARY FOSTER
FROM:
DOUG DUVALL
(Speedwrity)
SUBJECT:
Survey report for Norristown, PA
From RB2
Wednesday, September 9, 1992
EVENT SCENARIO
The President will participate in an America 2000 speech at
Norristown High School on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 9th.
Norristown High is located in the heart of Montgomery County,
Pennsylvania, and has a very diverse student body. The students
rapresent all income levels and ethnic backgrounds. 40% of the
student body is black.
The audience will be comprised of:
1500 Norristown High School Students - grades 9-12
150 Faculty and administrative staff
75 representatives from the business community
involved in American 2000.
9 School Board Members
Representatives of the Parent Club Council (PTA)
Norristown High School's Vocational Tech School
Political invitees
Elementary school kids
The speech sill be given in the gymnasium which has three
basketball courts. The bleachers hold 2,200, and additional
seating for a couple hundred can be put on the gym floor. The
stage will be put at one end of the center basketball court
closest to the pool. The press platform would be at a head-on
position near the public entrance to the gym. The press filing
center could be located in the home economics room which is a
short walking distance from the site.
The motorcade could arrive at the entrance clossst to the
football field and the President could proceed to the holding
room upstairs. The wrestling room is large endough for the
Presidentiand staff holding rooms and it has a secure stairwell
which dais. would lead directly to an offstage announce behind the
As a pre-program, they plan on playing an America 2000 video
which was scheduled to be shown at 3:00 in the afternoon anyway.
Also, the high school band will be ready. They are also able to
broadcast the speech live via Cablevision which reaches several
thousand homes in the area.
2 8 & 8 235 A
Wednesday is the first day of school where the student body
will be at 100%. Tuesday is a half day for registration for the
freshman class. This would be a great way for their school year
to kick off with the President of the United States.
XXX
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
(George Bush Library)
Document No.
Subject/Title of Document
Date
Restriction
Class.
and Type
02. List
Contact list for POTUS America 2000 speech; contains
09/04/92
P-6, (b)(6)
personal information. (2 pp.)
Collection:
Record Group:
Bush Presidential Records
Office:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File, Backup
Subseries:
WHORM Cat.:
File Location:
America 2000, Norristown PA 9/9/92
Date Closed:
12/4/2004
OA/ID Number:
07580
FOIA/SYS Case #:
Re-review Case #:
2004-2265-S
P-2/P-5 Review Case #:
MR Case #:
Appeal Case #:
MR Disposition:
Appeal Disposition:
Disposition Date:
Disposition Date:
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P-1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
(b)(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P-2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
(b)(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an
P-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
(b)(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
(b)(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P-5 Release would disclose confidential advise between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
(b)(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
(b)(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of
(b)(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
(b)(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
TEL:
Sep 04'92 17:38 No 041 P.05
Fax
BUSH
QUAYLE
92
1030 Fifteenth Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20005
(202) 336-7080
TO:
Bob Zoellick
OF:
GARY FOSTER
Director, Campaign Events and Scheduling
FROM:
DATE:
September 4
FAX NUMBER:
1121
PAGES TO FOLLOW:
SUBJECT:
COMMENTS:
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
The document accompanying this telecopy transmission contains information belonging to the sender which is
confidential and may be legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity
named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying,
distribution. or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this telecopied information is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this telecopy in error, please immediately notify us by telephone to arrange for
return of the original document to us.
SEP-08-1992 09:24 FROM US DEPT OF EDUCATION
TO
94566218 P.01
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
OFFICE OF POLICY AND PLANNING
OF AMOUNT
FAX COVER SHEET
TO:
Stone Provost
456-6218
FAX:
FROM: Brune Manno
NUMBER OF PAGES TO FOLLOW, INCLUDING COVER SHEET:
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION, PLEASE CALL
202-401-3078. FAX: 401-3095
MESSAGE:
I don't know whether you've seen
Dris information on Norristons 2000
man want tv read before 10: 30 am
corperence call with Sec. Alexander.
B.
SEP-08-1992 09:24 FROM US DEPT OF EDUCATION
TO
94566218 P.02
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION n. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY'S REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Memorandum
Date
September 3, 1992
From
D. Kay Wright
Secretary's Regional Representative
Subject
Suburban Philadelphia AMERICA 2000 Community
To
John crisp
Deputy Assistant Secretary, OIIA
Jack will
Director, Regional officer
Per your request, provided is information related to a successful
suburban America 2000 in the Philadelphia area.
NORRISTOWN 2000
Norristown kicked off June 10, 1992 in a ceremony held at the
Norristown High school. The superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jim
Holton and the President of the Central Montgomery Chamber of
Commerce, Payson Burt, were the catalysts and partners in the
effort.
Dr. Jim Holton - superintendent
Dr. John Could - Assistant Superintendent
Norristown School Disterict
401 North Whitehall Road
Norristown, Pa. 19403-2799
Telephone: 215-630-5010
Mr. Payson Burt
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
Lafayette Place One
Suite 101, Norristown, Pa. 19401
Telephone: 215-277-9500
There are task forces working on the national education goals.
The business-education partnership bought specially designed
NORRISTOWN 2000 PLAGS to fly in front of the schools. They are
beautifull
The Community submitted a proposal to the New American School
Development Corporation. John Gould, Asst. Supt., presented the
Design to the Penn State conference participants. They are moving
ahead with their Design with the support of the Chamber and the
business community even though they did not obtain a NASDC grant.
PO2
PHILA 300SN* PM 12:19 26 O 60
SEP-08-1992 09:25 FROM US DEPT OF EDUCATION
TO
94566218 P.03
09.03.92
:2:16 PM *USDOE:PHILA. x
P03
district is a racially diverse district with a significant
The minority population (about 40%, if I recall).
is in the 13th Congressional District - currently held of
The by District Republican Laurence coughlin who is quite supportive
President Bush.
The Times Herald
WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 9, 1992
FOUNDED 1799, 192ND YEAR, NO. 73
. 1992 NORRISTOWN HERALD INC., NORRISTOWN PA.
Montgomery County's Great Home Newspaper
HOME DELIVERY $2.10 A WEEK
BY MOTOR ROUTE $2.15 A WEEK
35
Bush greets Norristown Area High
students on their first school day
President sees
For many,
district 'in the lead'
a special
in education reform
first day
By Regina Panetta
By Tracl Canning
Times Herald Staff
Times Herald Staff
"I have come to Nor-
Students arriving at Norristown
President George Bush opened
ristown because you have
Area High School today had a lot
the school year in the Norristown
Area High School auditorium this
accepted my challenge to
more to talk about than summer
Photo Copy Preservation
morning, offering his support of
re-invent American
vacation.
Aside from teachers, support
educational reforms in the district
schools."
staff and high school adminis-
and providing a report card on his
President Bush
trators, students were greeted by
accomplishments as America's
police with guard dogs, metal
"education president."
detectors and sharply dressed Se-
More than 2,700 students and
ucators as agents of that change.
cret Service agents.
invited guests filed through metal
Bush lauded the school district
What a way to start the first day
detectors and waited nearly two
for its work in the Greater Nor-
of school.
hours for the president to offer a
ristown 2000 program, a local off-
Then again, it's not every day
25-minute address outlining his
shoot of the national America 2000
that the President of the United
thoughts on the changing needs in
program initiated by the president
States drops in to say hello.
American education.
last year to reform education bef-
He said now that the threat of
ore the millenium.
"The eyes of the entire world
nuclear war is over, America needs
a] have come to Norristown be-
will be on us today," high school
to turn its attention to its children.
cause you have accepted my chal-
principal Barry Spencer said over
"The world has changed and SO
lenge to re-invent American
the school's public address system.
must our schools," said Bush.
schools," said Bush. "Norristown is
"I ask you to do everything in your
"America" is: responding to this
in the lead but you're not alone."
power to make Norristown High
charge."
Bush said nearly 700 schools
proud."
And he hailed Norristown ed-
across the country have signed on
Outside the high school
to his "revolution in American ed-
gymnasium, where the president
ucation."
was expected to address 2,700
To our readers
He went on to say that the new
spectators on his America 2000
Publication of today's edition
challenge in learning is to seek
education reforms, students
was delayed SO that we could
creativity and innovation as well as
checking press credentials dis-
offer our readers comprehensive
increased federal and state fund-
cussed Bush's visit.
ing.
"It will be interesting to hear
coverage of President Bush's
what the president has to say,"
visit to Norristown Area High
"If you think money alone will
said 17-year-old Robin Leibowitz, a
School.
re-invent our schools, think again,"
Bill Landis Photos/The Times Herald
senior from East Norriton and a
See BUSH On Page 8
Bush and schools superintendent Dr. James N. Holton share a laugh before the president's speech.
See SCHOOL On Page 9
8
THE TIMES HERALD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1992
PRESIDENT VISITS MONTCO
Bush
GOP
Continued from Page 1
Continued from Page 1
votes," Hoeffel said.
Bush explained, adding that the
But Hoeffel's comments were in
president's educational system is
the minority today as most of the
based on outmoded principals.
other invited guests at the West
"Our schools were basically de-
Norriton high school were Rep-
signed for another age."
ublicans.
The Norristown program forged
County clerk of courts Jane B.
a joint venture between the dis-
Markley said she believes today's
trict and the business community
visit by Bush will give county
called the Business Industry
Republicans that "added boost"
School Partnership Program
needed for the fall campaign.
(BISPP), which is designed to
"This visit by a sitting president
implement educational goals out-
creates the enthusiasm we need,"
lined by the president
said Markley
Bush said Norristown's efforts
Markley predicted that Bush will
are in line with his ambitious na-
"take" the county in November
tional goals for the year 2000.
"but we (Republicans) will all have
Those goals include being able
to work hard to insure that vic-
"to slam-dunk the rest of the world
tory."
in math and science."
Other goals are a 90 percent
Going one step further and pre-
high school graduation rate; en-
dicting that Bush will win the state
suring that children will be free to
was self-proclaimed "Bush cheer-
study. in drug- and violence-free
leader" county commissioners
chairman Mario Mele.
schools; and striving for 100 per-
"I am that much of a believer in
cent adult literacy.
The aspirations of the Greater
our president and his policies to
Norristown 2000 program provide
predict he will do superbly in this
the flip side for a district wrought
state," Mele said.
with fiscal woes.
Mele's strong support for F:...h
Bush reiterated his support of
placed him at odds last month with
the school choice voucher pro-
county GOP chairman Charles F.
gram, calling it a G.I. bill for
Nahill Jr., when Mele blasted
America's young.
Nahill for his alleged lack of en-
The president said nearly two-
thusiasm for the president.
Photo Copy Preservation
thirds of Norristown district stu-
dents would be eligible for $1,000
Nahill said last month that, given
Gene Walsh/The Times Herald
scholarships under his program
the economy and Bush's position
and the district itself would be
President Bush shares a few words with students seated on the podium in the high school gymnasium.
in the polls, he was not as en-
entitled to another $6 million in
to Middleton, N.J.
to house immigrants.
thusiastic about the presidential
federal funding with no strings at-
Israel needs the guarantees to
campaign as he he once was. In-
Bush yesterday announced that
tached.
After his address to the Norristown Area
obtain bank loans for housing and
stead, he said, he would concen-
he wanted Congress to appropriate
"I think every parent has the
School District students, the Bush entourage
$7.6 billion for cleanup and reb-
helping settle nearly 500,000 Jews
trate his efforts on local and state
right to choose the school that's
who have come to Israel since the
Republican candidates.
right for their children," said Bush.
was scheduled to make a stop at the Uniform
uilding in Florida and Louisiana in
the aftermath and Hurricane And-
gates of the former Soviet Union
"President Bush definitely will
"Most parents would choose public
Tube Inc. in Trappe, where factory workers
rew as well as for Guam, which
were opened to emigration.
do well," said county controller
schools:
engage in a question and-answer session with
suffered typhoon damage last
He opposed the plan for months,
Richard Buckman, whose wife,
"I trust parents, not government,
week
but yesterday said, "Don't let any
Gail, is a Montgomery County
to do the right thing (when it
the commander in chief.
And during an appearance in
member of Congress tell you we
Bush-Quayle campaign coor-
comes to their children's educa-
Washington, D.C., Bush reversed
can't afford this.'
dinator.
tion).'
his earlier position on loan guar-
Bush also acknowledged that
The 1992-93 Norristown budget
symptom of a larger problem. He collar quiz session, Bush was ex-
antees to Israel, telling the B'Nai
"consideration has been given" to
"People here will be working a
season saw the school board ap-
belives those problems could be pected to commend the company
B'rith he planned to formally ask
a sale of 72 F-15 fighters to Saudi
lot harder than they did for Dick
prove a $52 million spending plan
solved through restructuring such
on its work in continuing education
as outlined in HOLOS.
Congress for more than $10 billion
Arabia.
Thornburgh,' he said.
which nonetheless eliminated more
and training for its employees.
than 70 district positions from the
"It is symptomatic of having to
Today's visit marks the first time
payroll and hacked extracurricular
refinance the old system," Gould
Bush has visited Central Mont-
activities from the district roster.
said. "These cutbacks will continue
gomery County as president; how-
Additional austerity measures
until we restructure. The old
ever, he has made visits to Nor-
included the implementation of a
model doesn't work."
ristown in his former capacity of
$10 student activity fee and a rec-
After his address to Norristown
vice president, most notably for a
ommendation that varsity football
Area School District students, the
spaghetti dinner at the home of
players next year foot the bill for
Bush entourage was scheduled to
supporters Bob and Teresa
their own insurance.
make a stop at the Uniform Tube
DeAngelis in the East End of Nor-
Cloak of security
GOP faithful embrace
encircles this VIP
their standard bearer
By Dana Smith
45 minutes - went off with only a
Times Herald Staff
few minor incidents.
By Margaret Glbbons
Times Herald Staff
The yellow school buses were
Planning began on Labor Day,
"This visit by a sitting
strategically placed by a side en-
when White House staff and Secret
The chairman of the Bill Clinton-
president creates the
trance.
Service agents met with township
Al Gore campaign in Montgomery
enthusiasm we need."
Uniformed police officers
police at the high school. While
County today found himself in an
Jane B. Markley
manned every door, while men in
local officers knew the basics about
unusual position - as a guest in-
County clerk of courts
suits continually checked the buil-
the visit, they weren't filled in on
vited to witness President Bush's
ding inside and out.
many details.
visit to Norristown Area High
"The secret service is very de-
School.
kids," Hoeffel is not about to ab-
Providing security for a presi-
finitively vague," Boccella said
"I know it's ironic, but I can
andon his political loyalty.
dential visit is no simple task.
early today outside the high school.
appreciate the visit of the presi-
In a county where Republicans
"The logistics of the whole thing
"Right up to the last second, noth-
dent. of the United States to our
outnumber Democrats two-to-one,
- it's just overwhelming to deal
ing was very definitive. We had to
county, and I accepted the in-
Hoeffel says he believes the presi-
with," said West Norriton Town-
plan for everything."
vitation as a county commis-
dential race will be very close in
ship Police Lt. Joseph Boccella.
The game plan once the presi-
sioner," said Democratic commis-
Montgomery County, unlike four
"This is the first time for some-
dent arrived was not a complex
sioner Joseph M. Hoeffel III.
years ago, when Bush thumped
thing of this magnitude."
one - local police would handle
Hoeffel was recently named
Dukakis by a margin of 170,294-
George Bush's appearance at
duties outside the building, while
chairman, of the Clinton-Gore
109,834.
Norristown Area High School today
federal agents took care of any up-
campaign in Montgomery County,
"(Clinton's) moderate vision of
meant a collaboration of huge
close work.
and was a Clinton delegate at the
government services and his pro-
proportions among law enforce-
But working toward the 11:43
July Democratic National Conven-
gram for economic recovery and
ment from the federal, state and
a.m. arrival of the motorcade
A Norristown Area High School student (middle) stands next to
tion in New York.
job training is a message that plays
local levels.
started some six hours earlier,
President Bush after receiving his autograph. At right is high school
While calling Bush's visit "a
strongly with the suburban swing
The visit - which totalled about
See SECURE On Page 9
principal Barry Spencer.
great experience for the school
See GOP On Page 8
Photo Copy Preservation
School
days ago,' Spencer said on his way
to the forum, an open area be
tween the academic building and
Continued from Page 1
the gymnasium
Despite the frenetic pace
member of the Eagle News school
throughout the school the antici
communications center. "I'm not
pation mounted as the hour drew
near for Bush's arrival.
used to this happening at Nor-
"The decision of President Bush
ristown High School. This is great
for the school.
to come to Norristown Area High
School is a tribute to all of the
Another Eagle News member,
students teachers, administrators
senior Sarah Toas, 17, of Nor-
and parents who have worked SO
ristown, described Bush's visit as
hard tó be innovative and in
both an honor and a disruption to
the first day of classes.
dustrious, high school vice presi-
dent Irena Sandler said
Toas wanted to know where
By 8a today, Secret Service
Bush's education dollars were
agents and West Norriton police
ing.
had flanked one of two entrances
"I heard federal monies were
increased for education but it
to the high schoollgymnasium.
seems we ve had a lot of cuts in
At least six television news vans
were stationed in the parking lot
our school, Toas said. "We lost a
lot of teachers this year and stu-
by the forum, along with police and
dents may suffer because of the
firefighting vehicles.
Part of the parking lot near the
cuts."
gymnasium was sealed off with
Other students waiting to get to
their homeroom classes at 7:30
police tape for the anticipated 150
a.m gave Bush mixed reviews. to
to 300 invited guests.
'I heard (the president was
The remaining spectators would
coming) on the news and almost
comprise sthe entire high school
flipped out, said senior Tricia
student body and eighth graders
Runkle, 18, of Norristown. "My"
from district middle schools.
homeroom teacher called me last
Inside the school, talk of Bush's
night to verify it"
visit could be heard in the halls
Yeah, it's surprising (that the
from the cafeteria to the principal's
office.
president's visiting) but I think he's
feed borrow
looking for votes because there are
Data "entry clerk Rose Clark
a lot of people who are 18 in high
began- fielding telephone calls the
school, added 16-year-old junicr
minute the *front switchboard
Karen Strauss of Norristown.
opened at 7:15 a m.
Special education teacher Max
"They've been crazy, said Clark
Geisler of Trappe thought Bush's
of East Norriton Township Id say
visit reflected the district's educa-
tion efforts
nine (calls) for the president and
one for the first day of school'
"I think the district should be
Photo Copy Preservation
A line of emergency telephone
honored by his presence,' Geisler
cables snaked its way from the
said. "I think it shows respect for
forum area inside the brightly lit
the efforts this district has been
gymnasium, where a row of tele-
making to re-evaluate itself and
vision cameras and seats for the
prepare our students for the 21st
White House press corps lined the
century.'
rear of the building.
Geisler was not as enthusiastic,
Both sets of bleachers were ex-
however, about Bush's stance on
tended and there were over 600
education.
folding chairs set up on the
"I don't think his policies are
gymnasium floor.
supportive of public schools," he
said.
Set up behind the podium where
Left with precious little time to
the president was to speak was a
plan for President Bush's arrival,
mural depicting an outdoor school
high school staff members were
scene with the high school in the
out in force by 7 a.m. today.
background and books and school
Many carried portable radios supplies moving toward it as
and scurried through the halls through space.
trying to coordinate the first day
The mural was created by Valley
rush of students with the antici-
Forge Convention Plaza complex
pated influx of invited guests
art director Christine Kerrick of
"We've only known about it three
West Chester, who was hired by
days. We started working on it two
the Bush/Quayle advance team.
THE TIMES HERALD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1992
9
PRESIDENT VISITS MONTCO
lems, was escorted from the build-
Boccella said.
Secure
ing and left the area without a
Two police cars led the line of
problem.
vehicles, with one black limousine
Continued from Page 1
Before anyone entered the
driving ahead of the car containing
gymnasium, they were shuffled
Bush. He was quickly ushered into
MOBILE COMMAND
through one of four metal dete-
a side door of the gymnasium,
when West Norriton police met at
ctors. Handbags were searched
where he began speaking about 15
the department's mobile command
and passes for invited guests were
minutes later.
post set up in the parking lot.
checked.
Shortly after the president ar-
Five yellow school buses were
The first alert of the day oc-
rived, a man who said he was a
set up parallel to a building en-
curred when a woman who did not
veteran charged toward the mo-
trance nearest Burnside Avenue.
have a pass tried to get inside. She
torcade. He was quickly app-
They weren't there for show - the
was immediately turned away, but
rehended by several police officers.
buses blocked the line of vision of
allowed to stay on the premises.
Boccella said the man would be
the president from some homes
Louise Lantonio of Allentown
detained until the president left,
across the field.
said she told the agents she just
and would probably be released
Inside, Secret Service agents
wanted to catch a glimpse of a
without being charged.
closed the gymnasium at 8:15 while
politician she's supported for
From Norristown, the president
a bomb-sniffing dog searched for
years.
and his motorcade traveled to
any explosives. Their "sweep" of
Shortly after 10 a.m., a couple
Uniform Tube Inc. in Collegeville,
rooms throughout the high school
hundred supporters of Democratic
where Bush was scheduled to ad-
continued until the president's ar-
presidential candidate Bill Clinton
dress employees and company of-
rival, with each room sealed off
arrived and staked out a large
ficials.
after it was inspected.
portion of the spectator area.
Then it was off to Perkiomen
Around 9:05 a.m., the district's
"The police asked us to cooper-
Valley Airport, where a helicopter
middle school students began ar-
ate with them and the secret serv-
was to take him to another ap-
riving. Less than a half hour later,
ice and stand behind police lines,"
pearance in New Jersey in the
some. of the nearly 300 invited
said John Meyerson, who works
early afternoon.
guests began lining up at a table
for the United Food and Com-
Airport owner Lane Jubb said
where their name was checked off.
mercial Workers Union Local 1776
the president's staff contacted him
"The idea is in some way to
in Plymouth Township. "I usually
a few days ago and asked per-
restrict it so that just anybody
do have a problem with that since
mission to use the facility off Col-
doesn't walk in," said Payson W.
it's public property.
legeville Road in Skippack Town-
Burt, president of the Central
Once the motorcade arrived,
ship.
Montgomery County Chamber of
police coverage tightened. Police
Although Jubb figured he
Commerce.
from Plymouth and East Norriton
wouldn't meet Bush personally, he
The system wasn't totally fool-
escorted the caravan through their
was happy for the recognition his
proof, as an East Norriton resident
communities once it left the
small airport will receive.
apparently grabbed a pass when
Pennsylvania Turnpike at the
"I don't think we ever had a
Gene Walsh/The Times Herald
no one was looking and entered
Norristown exit.
president up here," Jubb said. "It
the building. The man, who police
West Norriton police Lt. Joseph Boccella (In white shirt) gives Instructions to the township's police officers
"They want every single street
might put us on the map a little
said has a history of mental prob-
early today in the high school parking lot.
shut down for the whole route,"
bit."
Photo Copy Preservation
KORRISTOWN N AREA
LOOHOS OBTRICT
Young minds are our nation's most valuable natural resource!
Norristown Area School District
Administrative Office-Service Center
401 North Whitehall Road
Norristown, PA 19403
215-630-5000
James N. Holton, Ed. D.
Superintendent
September 26, 1992
Ms. Carol Aarhus
Presidential Speechwriter
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington DC
Dear Ms. Aarhus:
Thank you very much for your note regarding the President's visit to
the Norristown Area School District on September 9.
I also wanted to mention that I enjoyed our brief conversation on the
phone, and my sense of the day is that it was an overwhelmingly successful
visit.
It was a great honor for us to host President Bush, and it was obvious
to me that he has a top-flight team of speechwriters to support him in his
Presidency.
I also thought you might enjoy seeing the very positive coverage in our
local newspaper of the President's visit.
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
James n. Halter
James N. Holton
JNH:im
Enc.
article in research file