Remarks on concluding a whistlestop tour in Michigan City, Indiana

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents,  Sept 2, 1996  

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And let me finally say, I know that there was an accident here earlier, and I want you to keep those folks in your prayers. As far as we know, they're okay, but we haven't gotten a final report. And let me also say to all of you, I don't think you can imagine what it means to me to see you out here, to see - when you read and you hear people say, "Well, nobody believes in the political system anymore. People are cynical," and this, that and the other thing - I don't see any cynicism here. I see America and America's future and I like what I see.

And while we're talking about the future -

Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

The President. Thank you. Thank you.

Let me say one thing about the future before I go on. I appreciated what Governor Bayh said about the relationship that he and Susan have had with Hillary and me. It's way beyond politics and beyond the fact that we're in the same party, beyond the fact that we served as Governors together for years. They are our friends, and they're two of the finest people I have ever met. You have been very fortunate to be served by them.

I don't know what the future holds for them. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if someday Evan Bayh were to come back here to Michigan City as the President of the United States. And I'd like to see you out here for him.

Folks, we've had a lot of fun at our convention, but I've had just as much fun with America. A few days ago, Hillary and Chelsea and I went to Huntington, West Virginia, and then Hillary went on home to Chicago, and Chelsea and I started this train trip through West Virginia and Kentucky and Ohio, and then into Michigan, and finally, here into Indiana.

And I took that train trip for two reasons. First of all, with an enormous sense of humility, I'm on my way to Chicago to accept the nomination of my party for the Presidency for the second time. It is -

Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

The President. You know, unless I run for the school board or something some day, it will be the last race I ever make. And I wanted to take this trip through the heartland to look into the faces, the eyes, the hearts of the people that I ran for President to help, the people I have worked for and fought for for 4 years. And I have loved every mile of the track, all the people I have seen.

But I also wanted the American people to see, including all the people in all the little towns that came out to see the train come, all the school children standing by the road, all the people who put their pennies on the rails so the train would give them flat pennies - [laughter] - all the flags. Even some of the loyal opposition that came. I wanted them all to see that we were not only on the right track to Chicago, we are on the right track to the 21st century. And that's the track we're going to stay on.

You know, I told you 4 years ago if you would hire me as President I would do my best to prepare this country for the next century. It's only 4 years away now. And I want us to go into that century with the American dream alive for every single person who is willing to work for it. I want us to go into that century with this country still the world's strongest force for peace and freedom and prosperity.