THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN PHONE CALL WITH FRANK HARKIN VIA TTY TO COMMEMORATE THE 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT The Roosevelt Room
3:09 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Hello?
AGENT 218: Yes, hello. Good afternoon. This is Agent 218 of the Federal Information Relay Service.
THE PRESIDENT: May I speak with Frank now?
AGENT 218: Yes, he's on line standing by for your conversation.
THE PRESIDENT: Frank, this is Bill Clinton. I'm really glad to be able to talk with you now that the text telephone system is in place nationwide. And I'm here with your brother, Tom, who just gave a great speech.
If it hadn't been for you, I don't think we would have had all those great speeches he made -- I just told the crowd here that he made you the most famous brother in America last year.
AGENT 218: Is that a go ahead?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
MR. HARKIN: Gee, thanks.
THE PRESIDENT: He said, gee, thanks. (Laughter.)
MR. HARKIN: Thanks for saying that.
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for saying that.
What we all want to know is whether you are wet or dry.
AGENT 218: One moment, please. Your party is still typing.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay. He's still typing.
MR. HARKIN: It is a great moment to talk to you, Mr. President.
AGENT 218: Go ahead.
THE PRESIDENT: Frank, what we all want to know here is whether you are wet or dry. I've been to Iowa twice and I know how much flooding you've had, so tell us how it is around where you live.
AGENT 218: Okay, one moment, please. I'm typing everything you say. And I missed some of that. "What we want to know here is whether you are wet or dry."
THE PRESIDENT: Yes. I've been to Iowa twice and I know how much flooding you've had.
AGENT 218: Is that a go ahead?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
"Today it is --
MR. HARKIN: Today it is humid and muggy. I did watch on TV when you were in Iowa.
AGENT 218: Go ahead.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I just had the governors of six states, including Iowa, in to see me to talk about how we could help people get over the flood damage. and I certainly hope we can do a good job of that.
AGENT 218: Is that a go ahead?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
MR. HARKIN: Hopefully you will do your best.
AGENT 218: Go ahead.
THE PRESIDENT: I want you to tell all the people here with me how you like this communications system.
MR. HARKIN: It is wonderful to have a TV crew from Des Moines in my house. (Laughter.)
AGENT 218: Go ahead.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, now I want you to say a word to your brother. You have proved that you are a person of fewer words than -- (laughter) -- than the President or your brother.
AGENT 218: Is that a go ahead?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, than the President or your brother.
AGENT 218: And that's a go ahead?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Congratulations.
SENATOR HARKIN: What did he say?
THE PRESIDENT: He's waiting for you --
SENATOR HARKIN: Oh, he's waiting for me. Well, just say, Frank --
AGENT 218: Oh, I'm sorry, your brother's typing now. One moment please.
MR. HARKIN: Heck, you and Tom are persons of highest esteem. Go ahead.
SENATOR HARKIN: And this is Tom, tell him that's the first time he's ever said that about me. (Laughter.) And just say, Frank, I'll see you this weekend. And now with this new system, he won't have to complain about my typing. I love you a lot. G.A. Actually, S.A. Well, G.A.G.A.G.A. Don't put S.A. --
MR. HARKIN: You are a better typist than me.
SENATOR HARKIN: I thought he was going to say --
AGENT 218: Go ahead.
SENATOR HARKIN: That's it. Just S.A. See you. (Applause.)
END3:19 P.M. EDT