'The heartbeat will be here'

Eager to ride the momentum of the hero's welcome he received earlier this week at the opening of his new office in Harlem, former President Bill Clinton was at the Aerospace Education Center in Little Rock Thursday to discuss the status of his presidential library.

Clinton emerged from the lower level of the museum just after 5 p.m. to the sounds of Starship's "We Built This City on Rock 'n' Roll" and rousing applause from the standing-room only crowd that included former U.S. Sen. David Pryor, actress Mary Steenburgen and Clinton's stepfather Dick Kelly.

"You can't imagine how I felt as I drove up," Clinton said as he took the podium. "I though either the aerospace center is having a really good day, or you all came to see me. I am very grateful you have all come."

Clinton began by thanking those who had contributed to the library project and to his political career in general, including Pryor and former Sen. Dale Bumpers, who he said constantly remind him of their pivotal role in the nation's economic turnaround during his first term.

"Had it not been for them I'd have been a one-termer for sure," he said.

Clinton went on to explain the different phases of the library project, including the underground archives that will be used to keep the library's documents out of direct light, the conversion of Choctaw Station to the Clinton School of Leadership and a plan to convert the railroad bridge near the site into a lighted pedestrian bridge complete with shops and restaurants.

He said that the underground archives would leave more room for exhibits that would be more interesting to the public, including many of his hand-written memos regarding the conflict in Kosovo.

"We could have temporary exhibits for 30 years and never show the same thing twice," he said. "I knew being long-winded would eventually be to my benefit."

He said he was particularly proud of the proposed school and that he hoped to give more young people an opportunity to break into politics.

"I have always believed that politics and public service were noble," he said. "What we are going to do here is educate people and give them serious academic training that will help them get into public service."

But Clinton was most excited about the plans for the bridge, which he said could be the crown jewel of the site.

"There's no place like this in America," he said. "If we do this right, we will be able to make this a signature of our state, which will then be known all around the world."

Clinton concluded by expressing his hopes for the library and thanking the people of Arkansas for giving him the opportunity to serve them.

"I think if we raise the money for (the library), people will want to come to it for 100 years," he said. "I wanted to build a lasting gift for the people of Arkansas who have been so good to me. I want this library to reflect the things I care most about. I think we can have a really positive impact over time. The heartbeat will be here."

(Staff writer Justin Petruccelli can be reached by phone at 505-1266 or e-mail at justinp@thecabin.net.)