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More about Yucca Mountain President Bill Clinton speaks Monday night during a free lecture at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center. About 6,000 people attended the event, and about 100 people attended a pre-lecture reception. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

Tuesday, April 30, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Clinton delivers Yucca pep talk

Former president tells Nevadans to keep fighting against repository

President Clinton advised Nevadans on how to turn back the Bush administration's plans for a nuclear waste repository: Focus on senators from small states.

"You ought to go to senators from every one of the small states and ask them how they'd feel if it was being done to them," Clinton told an audience of about 6,000 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Monday night. "Don't give up. Just keeping making the case."

If he were president today, he said he would fund research into an alternative to burying the spent nuclear fuel inside Yucca Mountain, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Citing his concerns about scientific doubts that remain unanswered, he said: "I just think it's a mistake. I don't think it can be justified on the merits."

Nevada's senators are lobbying their peers to sustain Gov. Kenny Guinn's veto of the Yucca Mountain Project. They need a majority -- 51 votes -- to kill the planned repository, but in a recent Review-Journal survey, only 20 of the 89 senators who responded said they would vote to keep nuclear waste out of Nevada. The Senate will vote on the override in the summer.

After hearing Clinton's prepared speech and his answers to written questions, retiree Pat Malvurg said, "I think we need to have him be our lobbyist" against the Yucca Mountain Project. She was struck by his "passionate opposition" to Yucca Mountain and his comments on the Middle East.

The two-term Democratic president said "there is no substitute for American involvement" in the Middle East, and he said the crisis "may require us to send troops there to enforce the peace."

He added, "I strongly support (Secretary of State Colin) Powell's trip and disagree with press reports calling it a failure."

Although Clinton turned down media requests for interviews and did not hold a news conference, UNLV students were able to submit written questions in advance. Environmental Studies student Renee Brown submitted the Yucca Mountain question.

Clinton's prepared speech started with a professorial tone reminiscent of his days as a law school professor in Arkansas. He spoke at length about political paradoxes and global interdependence. His theme: "While our differences are important, our common humanity matters more."

Although he didn't bash his successor, his praise was restrained. "One of the best things President Bush did after (the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks) was to go to a mosque and say the enemy is not Islam, it's terrorism."

Clinton had a number of suggestions on how to win the war on terrorism, including helping allies "finish the job in Afghanistan."

"We have to build a world with more partners and fewer terrorists," he said.

His audience was enthusiastic, leaping to their feet when he walked on stage 25 minutes late. Squeals of delight could be heard.

Demand for the free tickets to hear Clinton was such that his speech was moved from Ham Hall, which holds 1,800 people, to the 3,100-seat Cox Pavilion, to the Thomas & Mack Center, where it was set up for 6,500. Not all the seats were filled.

Several said they came to the Thomas & Mack Center simply because it was historical to see a president.

Schoolteacher Judi Rogas said she recently saw musician Paul McCartney and drew parallels between the two, calling both men "legends" who had "an impact on our world and an impact on our culture."

Clinton was in Las Vegas to speak as part of the Barbara Greenspun Lecture series, as well as spend some time Sunday on the golf course with his college friend, Las Vegas Sun Editor Brian Greenspun. His fee was not disclosed, but news accounts estimate his speaking fee starts at $100,000 and went as high as $750,000 for one speech in Saudi Arabia. He is paid an estimated $10 million to $15 million a year for speaking engagements.

One question drew laughs, although it wasn't meant to: What do you like to do for pleasure or relaxation?

He said he likes to read, see movies and dine with friends.

Right now he spends half his time "making a living" and half his time on public service. If he can earn enough in five years to guarantee the financial security of his wife and daughter, he said he'd like to spend 100 percent of his time performing public service.

Before golfing Sunday, he had breakfast with the Greenspuns at the Original Pancake House inside Green Valley Ranch. Restaurant Manager Cue Chatley said the president was cordial, shaking hands and signing autographs for people waiting in line.

As he was leaving, presidential impressionist Rich Little entered the restaurant.

"The real one goes out and the impersonator comes in," Chatley said.