Clinton Takes Plan On Road
With his public approval numbers soaring, President Clinton road-tested his State of the Union proposals for education, Social Security reform and other initiatives on Wednesday.
As he has done in the past, Mr. Clinton followed up his annual report to Congress with campaign-style appearances. This year, he made stops in Buffalo and in suburban Pennsylvania.
CBS News Senior White House Correspondet Scott Pelley, who traveled with the president, reports that Mr. Clinton found himself defending the agenda designed to rescue his place in history.
"This is not a seniors issue. This is an issue for all Americans. Now, we are going to have a big argument about this. We should, and I hope it will be a good debate," Mr. Clinton said of his Social Security plan.
Sources said the White House knew in advance that Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan planned to criticize the president's Social Security investment scheme.
Greenspan said the government should not invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the stock market. "I do not believe it is politically feasible to insulate such huge funds" from political interference, the Fed chief said.
Greenspan said, however, that he enthusiastically supports most of Clinton's plan, which would use 62 percent of government surpluses over the next 15 years to bolster Social Security's cash reserves.
Despite criticism of the Social Security plan, most Americans liked the president's State of the Union message. There were new programs for nearly every one and no tax increases, except for cigarettes.
According to senior aides, Mr. Clinton believed it was his best policy address ever. A new CBS News poll showed Mr. Clinton with a 72 percent job approval rating.
Mr. Clinton was accompanied on his two-state excursion by first lady Hillary Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper Gore.
Barnstorming by "all four principals," as the two Clintons and two Gores are known among White House staff, was unusual. Except for big-ticket party fund-raisers and personal outings, the foursome has not really traveled together and appeared as a package deal since the 1996 campaign.
More than 20,000 people buoyantly received the visitors from Washington at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo. The White House said it was the largest crowd to greet Clinton since the presidential campaign of 1996.
Clinton has made several public appearances since he was impeached on Dec. 19, but all were before smaller and more exclusive audiences.
Later in the day, the foursome attended a Norristown, Pa., high school rally. Meanwhile, members of Clinton's Cabinet were traveling on their own to highlight the president's initiatives.