Bill Clinton: “No, I don't think you should draw any conclusion one way or the other. I like the fact that they achieved it and that…”

“No, I don't think you should draw any conclusion one way or the other. I like the fact that they achieved it and that has-- and the broad dimensions of it are quite staggering. I mean, even in Washington $368 billion is a lot of money. [Laughter] And I think that it's a real testament to all--to the work the attorneys general and the other parties did. But I would say that we have an obligation to look at it very carefully from the public health point of view. Keep in mind, whenever--in any settlement in any lawsuit, both sides think they're better off settling than not, or there wouldn't be any settlement--I mean, by definition. So what we have to make--we have to be sure that the things that made the tobacco companies believe that they did the right thing to settle don't compromise the long-term interests of the public health and especially our attempts to stop children from smoking in the first place. That's all. And we're looking at it. But I don't think--you know, even if I were to render a negative judgment on it after Secretary Shalala and Bruce Reed finish their review, I would still be immensely impressed with the work that the attorneys general and the others have done. It's quite a staggering thing. It's a long way from where we were just a couple of years ago when no one thought that any progress would ever be made on this issue.”