Bill Clinton: “Thank you. I'd also like to thank Rebecca Rimel. And I'm delighted to join The Pew Charitable Trusts and all of you for…”

“Thank you. I'd also like to thank Rebecca Rimel. And I'm delighted to join The Pew Charitable Trusts and all of you for this important discussion of Social Security. The Pew Trust has done a great service to the country for making this possible. We have to discuss how we can ensure that one of the greatest achievements of this 20th century continues to serve our people very well into the next. Before I start, let me tell you about--a little bit about my upcoming visit to Africa, because tomorrow I'm going to embark on the most extensive trip ever taken to that continent by an American President, where I hope to introduce Americans to a new Africa, a place where democracy and free markets are taking hold. I hope all of you will follow my travels closely. These are good times for America. We have 15 million new jobs, the lowest unemployment in 24 years, the lowest core inflation in 30 years, the highest homeownership in our history. Last month I was pleased to present the first balanced budget in a generation. Indeed, we can now look forward to $1 trillion of surpluses over the next decade. But I don't believe we should spend a penny of this surplus until we have saved Social Security first for the 21st century. I am very pleased with the strong support the American people have shown for this meeting and for meeting this challenge. I thank Americans Discuss Social Security for leading the way. For 60 years, Social Security has meant more than a monthly check in the mail. It reflects our deepest values, our respect for our parents, our belief that all Americans deserve to retire with dignity. We can't break this solemn compact between the generations. And if we act soon and responsibly, we can strengthen Social Security in ways that won't unfairly burden any generation. So I challenge my own generation to act now to protect our children, to ensure that Social Security will be there for them after a lifetime of hard work. And I challenge young people to do their part, as well, to get involved in our national effort to strengthen Social Security for the 21st century. In the coming months, the Vice President and I will attend a series of nonpartisan forums to help reach a national consensus on how to go forward. In December I'll convene a White House Conference on Social Security, with a view to early 1999, when I hope and believe we can craft historic, bipartisan legislation to save Social Security. In the darkest days of the Great Depression, Americans had the courage to commit to a daring plan whose impact would not be fully known for a generation. In the midst of these prosperous times, we must strengthen that commitment for generations yet to come. Your views will be vital to our work here in Washington, and I look forward to hearing your comments. Thank you very much. [At this point, the discussion began.]”