For Immediate Release
Friday, June 21, 1996
AFSCME Delegates Give President Enthusiastic Welcome
Chicago, IL —Addressing the first union to endorse his bid for the presidency four years ago, President Clinton -- who was once a dues paying member of AFSCME -- told the more than 4,000 delegates and guests of the convention of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, "AFSCME stood with me early in 1992, when it was lonely and cold."
"I've always believed in the dignity of public service, the people who watch over our parents, the people who take care of the environment, and who provide other vital services to the American people. I'm glad for it, and America should know it," Clinton said.
In introducing the President to the convention, AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee said, "Four years ago, in what some then called a leap of faith, we decided to roll up our sleeves to help a young, articulate governor in his drive to win the highest office in the land. [Since then] he has faced some of the toughest challenges of any President in our lifetime, but throughout it all, he has remained loyal to the same vision of America that moved him in 1992.
Speaking of the radical Republicans in Congress, President Clinton said, "they truly believe that government is the problem, and what people want to be told is that they're on their own...The Right is criticizing us because we have the support of labor unions. Well, I plead guilty to that."
AFSCME, the nation's largest public employee and health care workers union, is one of the most politically active in the country. AFSCME is the only AFL-CIO union whose convention the President is slated to attend during his campaign.
