Between Hope and History: Meeting America's Challenges for the 21st Century - Hardcover

Clinton, William Jefferson

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0812929136 ISBN 13: 9780812929133

Publisher: Crown, 1996

Synopsis

Between Hope and History is the President's articulation of his political philosophy - a philosophy that underpins all his policies and programs as America enters the twenty-first century.

The book is also a concise statement of the fundamental principles and values that have guided his administration since its inception in 1993. It continues, as he writes, "the conversation I have had with the American people about our destiny as a nation."

In Between Hope and History, President Clinton sees America poised on the edge of "the age of possibility." He declares that "the era of big government is over," and asserts his belief that the global economy will place a premium on education. The President also discusses the roles that individuals, families, businesses, and government must play as America prepares for the twenty-first century.

About this title

Review

President Clinton offers his vision for the country as we enter the twenty-first century. The president sees the nation poised on the edge of what he calls "the age of possibility." With eloquence and clarity, he details the broad values of opportunity, responsibility, and community that he regards as critical to helping America meet its challenges in the years ahead. He also discusses the experience of his presidency - mistakes made, lessons learned, and unprecedented successes - and his plan to lead America into the next millennium.

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Preface

This book continues the conversation I have had with the American people about our destiny as a nation, our duty to prepare for the new century, and our need for a shared vision of twenty-first century America that will enable us to grasp the extraordinary opportunities of this age of possibility.

The Proverbs teach us that "Where there is no vision, the people perish." I ran for President in 1992 because I thought that our nation lacked a unifying vision for our future and a strategy to achieve it, and that we were in danger of just drifting into the new era.

My vision for America at the dawn of a new century is of a nation in which the American Dream is a reality for all who are willing to work for it; our diverse American community is growing stronger together; and our leadership for peace, freedom, and prosperity continues to shape the world.

To achieve this vision we must pursue a three-part strategy. First, we must create opportunity for all Americans. Second, we must demand responsibility from all Americans. And third, we must forge a stronger American community.

In the three main sections of this book--Opportunity, Responsibility, and Community--I explore the most important challenges we face today, the progress we have made in the last four years and what still must be done, and what responsibilities individuals and families, businesses and labor, community leaders and government have as we move toward the next century. We know that when we stay true to our values and work together, America always wins.

I believe this is the path America must take into the twenty-first century. We have followed it for the last several years, and clearly it is beginning to work. We have 10 million new jobs; the deficit is down from $290 billion to $117 billion; our government is smaller by over 225,000 employees but is more effective; the crime rate has dropped steadily as we have put more police on the streets and taken guns away from felons, fugitives, and stalkers; our environmental and public-health standards are higher; our families are healthier and stronger. Still, there is clearly more to do. That is what much of this book is about.

But first we must make a choice: shall we live by our fears and define ourselves by what we are against, or shall we live by our hopes and define ourselves by what we are working for, by our vision of a better future. This is the choice that each of us--every individual, every family, every community, every generation--must make every day.

My balance scale tilts heavily in the direction of hope, just as America's does, and always has. We must be faithful to that tradition. If we are driven by our vision of a better future, we will achieve it.

About this edition

• Publisher: Crown
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0812929136
• ISBN 13: 9780812929133
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 178