Bill Clinton: “Thank you, Jim. Mr. Lehrer. The President's conversation will be with eight Americans: four NewsHour regulars: essayist…”

“Thank you, Jim. Mr. Lehrer. The President's conversation will be with eight Americans: four NewsHour regulars: essayist Richard Rodriguez of the Pacific News Service, Roger Rosenblatt and Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune, and regional commentator Cynthia Tucker of the Atlanta Constitution; plus, four others: Roberto Suro of the Washington Post, author of a recent book on Hispanic-Americans; Kay James, dean of Regent University's School of Government; Elaine Chao, former head of United Way of America, now at the Heritage Foundation; and Sherman Alexie, novelist, poet, and screenwriter. Keep in mind, please, that whatever their affiliation and, most importantly, their race, each is here as an individual speaking only for him or herself. Richard Rodriguez, what do you think is the single most important thing the President could do to improve race relations in this country? [Mr. Rodriguez asserted his belief that although race issues in the country had become more complicated, the national discussion initiated under ``One America: The President's Initiative on Race'' and its Chair, John Hope Franklin, had not kept pace with that complexity.]”