The following is a timeline of the presidency of Bill Clinton from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 1997.
January January 4 – President Clinton said he would approach his second term with a continued effort to prepare individuals for the 21st century. During a radio address, he reported a 50% increase in child support collections over the last four years.The President's Radio Address (January 4, 1997) January 6 – President Clinton gave a speech at the Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast in the State Dining Room of the White House.Remarks at the Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast (January 6, 1997) January 9 – In a joint session of the United States Congress, the results for the Electoral College were counted. In his role as President of the Senate, Vice President Al Gore read the results and declared President Clinton the winner of the 1996 presidential election. January 20 – President Clinton was inaugurated for his second term. January 21 – President Clinton gave a speech at a Democratic National Committee meeting at the Washington HiltonRemarks to a Democratic National Committee Meeting (January 21, 1997) and submitted a message to Congress on the continuation of Middle East terrorism.Message to the Congress on Continuation of the Emergency With Respect to Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process (January 21, 1997) January 22 – President Clinton had a short exchange with reporters on the South Lawn over an explosion on 16th Street in Washington, D.C.,Exchange With Reporters (January 22, 1997) and delivered an address at Stanley Field Middle School in Northbrook, Illinois.Remarks at Stanley Field Middle School in Northbrook, Illinois (January 22, 1997)
February February 4 – President Clinton delivered his annual State of the Union Address before a joint session of Congress.Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union (February 4, 1997) February 19 – Clinton delivered an address on the University of Massachusetts Boston campus (arranged in part by U.S. Representative Joe Moakley from Massachusetts's 9th congressional district).
March March 3 – President Clinton submitted a message to Congress transferring the Second Supplementary Canada-United States Social Security Agreement.Message to the Congress Transmitting the Second Supplementary Canada-United States Social Security Agreement (March 3, 1997) He held his sixth meeting with President of the Palestinian National Authority Yasser Arafat in the Oval Office in the morningRemarks Prior to Discussions With Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority and an Exchange With Reporters (March 3, 1997) and attended an East Room ceremony announcing the Coalition for America's Children during the afternoon.Remarks at the Unveiling Ceremony for the Coalition for America's Children Public Service Announcement (March 3, 1997) March 4 – President Clinton announced a prohibition on federal funding for human cloning during a morning appearance in the Oval Office. He proceeded to answer questions from reporters.Remarks Announcing the Prohibition on Federal Funding for Cloning of Human Beings and an Exchange With Reporters (March 4, 1997) March 10 – President Clinton and President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak held a joint news conference in the East Room during the afternoon.The President's News Conference With President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt (March 10, 1997) President Clinton made a statement on the decision of Senator Wendell Ford not to seek reelection to the Senate.Statement on Senator Wendell H. Ford's Decision Not To Seek Reelection (March 10, 1997) March 11 – President Clinton delivered an address at the National Press Club.Remarks to the Conference on Free TV and Political Reform and an Exchange With Reporters (March 11, 1997)
April April 10 – President Clinton spoke at the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association's annual dinner.1997 Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner April 26 – President Clinton spoke at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.1997 White House Correspondents' Dinner
May
June
July July 1 – President Clinton announced the Electronic Commerce Initiative in the East Room. He said his administration intended to implement the initiative by the first day of the year 2000,Remarks Announcing the Electronic Commerce Initiative (July 1, 1997) and issued a memorandum on electronic commerce to the leaders of executive departments and agencies.Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies (July 1, 1997) He also signed a proclamation implementing the Information Technology Agreement. He released a statement the same day stating that the agreement would "cut to zero tariffs on a vast array of computers, semiconductors, and telecommunications technology by the year 2000."Statement on the Proclamation Implementing the Information Technology Agreement (July 1, 1997) He released a message online regarding the report A Framework for Global Electronic Commerce, published earlier in the day.Message to Internet Users on Electronic Commerce (July 1, 1997)
August
September September 27 – A recording was broadcast on the radio of President Clinton discussing the Senate's continued refusal to confirm his judicial nominees and calling for the cessation of this practice so "the unbroken legacy of our strong, independent judiciary can continue for generations to come".The President's Radio Address (September 27, 1997) September 27 – President Clinton attended the Hot Springs High School Ultimate Class Reunion on the front steps of Hot Springs High School in Hot Springs, Arkansas.Remarks at the Hot Springs High School Ultimate Class Reunion in Hot Springs, Arkansas (September 27, 1997) September 27 – President Clinton attended a reception for the Arkansas State Democratic Party on Ray Winder Baseball Field in Little Rock, Arkansas.Remarks at an Arkansas State Democratic Party Reception in Little Rock, Arkansas (September 27, 1997) September 27 – President Clinton attended a candlelight vigil for the Little Rock Nine on the lawn of the Administration Building at Philander Smith College.Remarks at a Candlelight Vigil Honoring the Little Rock Nine in Little Rock (September 27, 1997) September 29 – President Clinton presented the National Humanities Medals in the Rose Garden.Remarks on Presenting the National Arts and Humanities Medals (September 29, 1997) September 29 – President Clinton delivered a message on the observance of National Arts and Humanities Month.Message on the Observance of National Arts and Humanities Month, 1997 (September 29, 1997) September 29 – President Clinton delivered remarks on the Income and Poverty Report and answered questions from reporters on campaign finance reform and welfare reform in the White House Briefing Room.Remarks on the Income and Poverty Report and an Exchange With Reporters (September 29, 1997) September 29 – President Clinton attended the National Arts and Humanities Medals Dinner on the State Floor of the White House. Remarks at the National Arts and Humanities Medals Dinner (September 29, 1997) September 30 – President Clinton delivered remarks on the South Lawn in which he accused members of Congress of trying to undermine his administration's commitment to education reform and stated his intent to "veto any legislation that damages our commitment to public education and high national standards". He then answered questions from reporters about the Internal Revenue Service.Remarks on Congressional Action on Education Legislation and an Exchange With Reporters (September 30, 1997) September 30 – President Clinton attended a meeting of the President's Advisory Board on Race at the Mayflower Hotel.Remarks at a Meeting With the President's Advisory Board on Race (September 30, 1997) September 30 – President Clinton attended the retirement ceremony for General John M. Shalikashvili at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia.Remarks on the Retirement of General John M. Shalikashvili in Arlington, Virginia (September 30, 1997) September 30 – President Clinton spoke about the death of Roy Lichtenstein and the latter's contributions to the alteration of art.Statement on the Death of Roy Lichtenstein (September 30, 1997) September 30 – President Clinton issued a statement on the final report of the Commission on Immigration Reform, saying it "further contributes to our country's understanding of the role of immigration in the United States."Statement on the Report of the Commission on Immigration Reform (September 30, 1997) September 30 – President Clinton issued a statement on the observance of Rosh Hashanah.Message on the Observance of Rosh Hashana, 1997 (September 30, 1997) September 30 – President Clinton signed the 1998 Military Construction Appropriations Act into law, saying it "provides funding for military construction and family housing programs of the Department of Defense" and "funds the vast majority of my request for military construction projects, the military family housing program, other quality-of-life projects for our military personnel and their families, and the base closure and realignment program."Statement on Signing the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1998 (September 30, 1997) September 30 – In a statement, President Clinton said House Joint Resolution 94 "provides 1998 appropriations for continuing projects and activities of the Federal Government through October 23, 1997, except those funded by the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1998, which I signed into law earlier today."Statement on Signing Continuing Appropriations Legislation (September 30, 1997) September 30 – President Clinton issued a message to Congress on the continued national emergency in Iran.Message to the Congress on Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Iran (September 30, 1997)
October October 1 – President Clinton addressed television weather broadcasters in the East Room on his desire for Americans to accept the majority scientific opinion on climate change and for the United States to commit to go to the upcoming United Nations conference in Kyoto with binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.Remarks to Television Weather Forecasters (October 1, 1997) October 1 – In a statement, President Clinton expressed his satisfaction with the Senate Finance Committee reporting out legislation renewing the partnership between the President and Congress in reaching trade agreements, and called for the continued breakdown of "unfair foreign trade barriers to our goods and services."Statement on Senate Finance Committee Action on Fast-Track Trading Authority Legislation (October 1, 1997) October 2 – President Clinton announced that he would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture "to work together in close cooperation with the agricultural community to develop the first-ever specific safety standards for the growing, processing, shipping, and selling of fruits and vegetables", and answered questions from reporters in the Rose Garden on line-item vetoes, the 2000 Census, food safety, and campaign finance during the 1996 elections.Remarks Announcing a Food Safety Initiative and an Exchange With Reporters (October 2, 1997) October 3 – In a statement, President Clinton noted a positive jobs report from the Labor Department and promoted a three-part economic strategy.Statement on the National Economy (October 3, 1997) October 3 – President Clinton issued a statement on the release of the final crime statistics for 1996 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and called them "good news for all Americans", citing a continued drop in crime and benefits for law-abiding citizens.Statement on Crime Statistics (October 3, 1997)