Bill Clinton: “Thank you very much, Mayor Rice. His speaking's improved now that he's getting so much practice out there on the stump.…”

“Thank you very much, Mayor Rice. His speaking's improved now that he's getting so much practice out there on the stump. [Laughter] I'm delighted to be here with you. I thank you for your great year as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. I'm looking forward to working with Mayor Daley this year. And I'm glad the Democrats are going to give him a little boost in the local economy in Chicago in a few weeks, try to get his term off to a good start. I want to say a special word of appreciation to the mayor of Chicago for the City Livability Awards that he presents every year at this conference, along with Phillip Rooney of Waste Management. I think that's a very good thing to do, and I've always been impressed with the achievements that earn the awards. I'm delighted to be here with the other mayors on the platform: Mayor White and my longtime friend Mayor Helmke, Mayor Rhea. I was glad to see Congressman Stokes this morning and Congressman Sherrod Brown. And Reverend McMickle, I got prayed over from a distance; I thank you. I heard it and needed it more than the others here. I appreciate it very much. [Laughter] I enjoyed all of the music in advance, and I want you to know that Mayor Rice and I were out there trying to sing along with Glenn Burks. I didn't make the low notes, and he did. But I appreciated it very much. I want to thank Mayor Lanier from Houston for his hosting me yesterday in Houston.…”