Bill Clinton: “Houston June 2, 1998 Thank you so much. First, let me join in thanking Richard and Ginni for welcoming us into their…”

“Houston June 2, 1998 Thank you so much. First, let me join in thanking Richard and Ginni for welcoming us into their magnificent home and this magnificent art gallery. [Laughter] You know, it's amazing how you use cliches year-in and year-out, and sometimes something happens that it gives whole new meaning. This lunch has given a whole new meaning to the Democratic Party as the party of the big tent. [Laughter] It's really very, very beautiful, and we're grateful to you. I want to thank all the Members of Congress who are here, all the candidates for Congress who are here; my great longtime friend Garry Mauro; and Jim Mattox and Ann Richards, who had to go. And I thank you, B.A. Bentsen, for being here, and thanks for giving us a good report on Lloyd. Ladies and gentlemen, what was just said about Martin Frost is true and then some. Right before I came up here, I was sitting down there, and Mary--[inaudible]--asked me about my dog, Buddy. I don't know if you've ever had a Labrador retriever, but they're smart, and they're loving, but, Lord, are they insistent. [Laughter] And about once a day my dog comes into the White House, to the Oval Office, and he'll go in the back room--he knows where all his toys are--and he'll sort through his toys, and he'll go get his ball, and he comes and throws the ball down at my feet. And you know, I could be talking to Boris Yeltsin on the phone--[laughter]--but he doesn't care. He just starts barking.…”