Events often move faster than our ability to comprehend them.

When you're talking with a person at this level of the government, at the very highest level, I think you have to be very discreet because he, President Clinton, is very aware that anything he says publicly can have a profound impact on American politics and on world politics.

The temptations are great to simply retreat to the domain of private life and give up on our public problems.

We cannot do everything in Africa, but doing nothing is not an option.

Our democracy is not a product but a continual process. It is preserved not by monuments but deeds. Sometimes it needs refining; sometimes it needs amending; sometimes it needs defending. Always, it needs improving.

But in the end our government usually - not unfailingly - is responsive to the people; and usually - not always - will try to do what is right.

Protecting Americans from nuclear terrorism rises above politics.