Bill Clinton: “Well, let me just say this: On several occasions I've had the feeling that we had an agreement and that some of the…”

“Well, let me just say this: On several occasions I've had the feeling that we had an agreement and that some of the leaders in the Republican Party wanted to make an agreement, and then they were, in effect, undercut. And so I think that if we were allowed to working with the chairs of the appropriations committees and the other appropriate committee chairs, I think we could reach agreement. But we will never reach agreement unless there is honorable compromise. That is always found in the center. So I feel--I sympathize with their position because whenever we make an agreement, then there's an attempt by some in the Congress to pull them back to the right. But we have to find agreement in the center. I will say again, I had a good talk with Senator Lott and Speaker Hastert, and I am committed to working with them. And I told them that I understood they wanted to leave town, and I was not trying to keep them here. But I was trying to finish the job the American people sent us here to do and that I and our people would be prepared to work virtually around the clock to get an agreement that is consistent with what I pledged to the American people and what I believe that they want. World Trade Organization Talks With China”