09/03/2026 01:02

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And it would be good if they could all have trust funds, too. He had long sought greater American involvement in his beleaguered nation and was glad the hour had finally come. In early December, Lloyd Bentsen resigned as secretary of Treasury, and I appointed Bob Rubin to succeed him. I also asked for the restoration of health and disability benefits for legal immigrants, which the Republicans had cut off in 1996 to make room in the budget for their tax cuts.

As my fiscally conservative friend Senator Dale Bumpers used to say: “You let me write $200 billion a year in hot checks and I’ll show you a good time, too. With the Cold War over, I thought I had an opportunity, as well as an obligation, to improve U. After I gave my standard answer, he kept on asking. Thirty minutes later, at five-fifteen, I got another call from John saying it was over.