Bill Clinton: “Thank you. Now, the next time someone asks me--some irate, self- proclaimed expert in these matters asks me, ``Why in…”

“Thank you. Now, the next time someone asks me--some irate, self- proclaimed expert in these matters asks me, ``Why in the wide world did you ever appoint Tim Wirth at the State Department?'' I'll say, ``Well, I had to get Ted Turner up off the floor.'' [Laughter] ``Didn't have much to do with public policy; couldn't stand to see a man with all that energy prone for the rest of his life. Seemed like an incalculable waste of human potential.'' [Laughter] Thank you. Thank you, Ted, and thank you, Jane. When I was down in Atlanta the other day to do the global press conference--which is one of the most exciting experiences I have had as the President or, indeed, in my entire public life, and I loved meeting all the journalists from around the world and trying to answer their questions and communicating with them--when it was over, I got a handwritten note from Jane Fonda that said, ``Well, you did a pretty good job on that, but don't forget about population.'' [Laughter] It was more formal, more polite, but that is the distilled essence of the letter that I got. So for both of them, I thank them for being here, although I do believe being on a stream in Montana is a way of supporting sustainable development that all of us could appreciate. I want to thank, also, Dr. Bruce Alberts and the staff at the National Academy of Sciences; the Shorenstein Barone Center of the Kennedy School, and the Pew Global Stewardship Initiative for this event.…”