WHAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD SAY TONIGHT:

What should President Clinton say tonight in his State of the Union
address? Something like this . . .

My Fellow Americans:

The state of the Union is strong, but the state of the presidency is not.

The nation is enjoying a time of peace and prosperity unprecedented in this century. But, at the same time, the office of the president has been weakened.

I accept full responsibility for this condition. It is a too-common practice for politicians to blame others for their own mistakes, or to hide them in the language of deception. I admit that I have done this in the past, but I will do it no longer.

Accordingly, when I leave the Capitol tonight, I will return to the White House, where I will sign a letter to the secretary of state resigning as president of the United States, effective at noon tomorrow. I have complete confidence in the man who will succeed me, Albert Gore Jr., and I know that he will continue to lead this nation and the world on the path that we have charted together.

In recent months, there has been much discussion of my legacy, my place in history. My resignation will be my legacy. I believe this act will begin a new day of candor, ethical conduct and personal responsibility in this nation. Not just among politicians -- who, the good Lord knows, need it -- but among all Americans.

Most of all, this is my legacy to America's children, who should not have to watch adults in high office dissemble and distort -- or act in ways that abuse the trust of the voters or the young people with whom they work.

I will not dwell on the claims that have been made against me. I will only say that there is enough truth to them to sully this office, and since the office is greater than any of its occupants, I must leave in order to preserve its honor -- and, just as important, its strength.

In Federalist No. 70, Alexander Hamilton wrote, "A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution: And a government ill executed, whatever it may be in theory, must be in practice a bad government."


That is one of my fears -- a weakened presidency with new economic and military threats on the horizon. My other fear is that to stay in office will be to trivialize the importance of moral behavior in this society.

In 1791, the British philosopher and parliamentarian Edmund Burke wrote a letter to a Frenchman about the relationship between personal morality and public service. Let me quote part of it to you:

"Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites. . . . Society cannot exist unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere." I agree with that. And, in this case, the controlling power will come from myself.

I said at the beginning that the state of the Union is strong. That is true and fortunate. It is, at least at this time, strong enough to endure a transfer of power to Al Gore, the man seated behind me, who has had exceptional preparation for the job he will assume.

Our economy is growing at 3.9 percent a year, the highest rate among major industrial countries; unemployment is only 4.7 percent, inflation 1.7 percent. Our federal budget is balanced. In fact, we may run a surplus this year for the first time since 1969.

Still, it has been my concern that Americans do not trust their government. Polling research shows that trust has risen over the past two years but that it is still less than half the level of the 1960s. I recognize that the controversies surrounding my personal behavior have damaged that trust. My decision tonight should go a long way toward restoring it.

All of us -- in politics, business, education and within our families -- must accept personal responsibility for what we do. That was the principle behind our welfare reform plan and the actions we have taken that have sharply reduced the rate of crime in this country.

I can not urge personal responsibility on the rest of the nation without adhering to it myself. And so I take this step, freely and willingly. I could have chosen to fight the charges, but that would damage the nation and the office. Instead, with good cheer and serious purpose, I will leave for other endeavors.

As America's greatest poet, Walt Whitman, wrote:

I anchor my ship for a little while only. . . .

I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun.

Thank you, and God bless the United States of America.

© Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company
Tuesday, January 27, 1998; Page A17 By James K. Glassman