Bill Clinton: “My fellow Americans, I want to thank you for watching this program tonight and for your concern for those who have been…”

“My fellow Americans, I want to thank you for watching this program tonight and for your concern for those who have been victimized by this awful flood. I've been to the Midwest three times myself. I've met with the Governors of the affected States here in the White House. Our people are there every day working hard to try to help put the lives of the folks back together who have been so hurt. We have an emergency aid package moving through Congress which should be signed very shortly, and then the money will begin to flow to the Midwest. But under our system, the Federal Government can only do so much. We also need your help. The Red Cross has been magnificent. So has the Salvation Army. So have the churches and the other volunteer groups and people of all ages from all over America. But we now need to fill the gap left by Federal assistance, and left by the limits that people have in their own bankbooks, with private donations to help people put their lives back together. I hope you will help, too, so that together we can restore the people who have been so hurt and help them to rebuild their lives and our Nation.”