Bill Clinton: “Thank you very much. Charlie, wait a minute. Before Chairman Rangel sits down--you know, Dick Gephardt got up there and…”

“Thank you very much. Charlie, wait a minute. Before Chairman Rangel sits down--you know, Dick Gephardt got up there and said, ``You know, the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee is as powerful as the President.'' [Laughter] Bob Johnson said, ``That's a scary thought.'' [Laughter] And I said, ``No, no, he's more powerful than the President.'' [Laughter] You should know that among all the things we have to be grateful for tonight and to celebrate, tomorrow is Charlie Rangel's birthday. So I think we should sing ``Happy Birthday'' to him. [At this point, the participants sang ``Happy Birthday.''] Representative Charles Rangel. My only response is, save Social Security now! [Laughter]”