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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release April 4, 1998

                    STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT GORE
               ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSING OF
                      DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Today, I join with all Americans in remembering one of the greatest tragedies in all of human history -- the passing of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on this very day thirty years ago.

In his short but brilliant lifetime, Dr. King fought not only for justice and equality, but also to open people's hearts. His fight was based on high faith in human nature, and on the conviction that there is a God-given conscience in the mind of every human being.

Fortunately, Dr. King did not give his life before giving us the lessons of life: Darkness can never dispel darkness, hatred can never conquer hatred, and to return love for hatred is the highest human accomplishment. If we can take even tiny steps toward this model of moral behavior, then we will make great strides toward the society of peace and justice to which we are called by our creeds, by our conscience, by our Constitution -- and by the memory of Dr. King.