Bill Clinton: “Prodi of Italy in Denver June 20, 1997 Proposed Tobacco Agreement Q. Mr. President, could we ask you one question…”

“Prodi of Italy in Denver June 20, 1997 Proposed Tobacco Agreement Q. Mr. President, could we ask you one question again--I'm sorry--on tobacco? Apparently, Mr. Kessler is already a little bit skeptical about the agreement, particularly as it concerns regulating nicotine levels. Could the White House be in a position of rejecting this agreement? What are your concerns over nicotine levels? President Clinton. Well, of course we could. We could be in a position of rejecting it or accepting it; I haven't seen it yet. I received a letter--I was told that I received a letter after I left to come out here, from Dr. Kessler and Dr. Koop, both of whom, as you know, have worked with me very closely on this issue, asking for a reasonable amount of time for them to evaluate this. And I think that they should evaluate it, and of course I care very deeply about what they say. I have worked with them on a whole range of issues. And we want to see what it says. The test should be, does it preserve clear and unambiguous jurisdiction for the FDA in important areas, and is the money spent in an appropriate way so that we advance the protection of public health and reduce children smoking? That's it. It's a simple test for me and I--but I can't comment on it because I haven't seen it. And I think that it's the same for them.…”