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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release December 13, 1999

                        REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
          IN TELEPHONE CALL TO THE DCCC DINNER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS

                               The Residence

9:17 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm glad I got to hear the last of B.A.'s speech; and let me say to all of you, I'm jealous of you. I wish I were there tonight. I had looked forward to being there very much, but I got quite sick with the winter flu and I've got the Israelis and the Syrians coming in this week and I have to be well for them. So the doctor said I couldn't get on the airplane.

So I wanted to call and just, first of all, thank all of you for honoring Lloyd and B.A. and for raising so much money for the Democrats in Texas. I think we're going to win the House back in the next election. (Applause.) And I'm doing everything I can to do my part.

But I also want to thank you because of the career and the public service of Lloyd Bentsen, that you honor tonight, because there is a reason we're trying to win the house back -- because of the direction we want the country to take in the new century. And everything he has done in his entire career embodies that.

So, Lloyd, I miss you and I love you; and I love you, B.A. I'm sorry I couldn't be there. I'm sick I missed Ann Richards' jokes. (Laughter.) And you all owe me a rain check, just like I owe you one.

Thank you and God bless you all. (Applause.)

END 9:20 P.M. EST