    RECORD TYPE: PRESIDENTIAL  (TRP NOTES MAIL)

    CREATOR: Ron Klain ( CN=Ron Klain/O=OVP [ OVP ] )

    CREATION DATE/TIME:18-JUL-1996 08:56:30.00

    SUBJECT:  Updates

    TO: Albert Gore ( CN=Albert Gore/O=OVP [ OVP ] )
    READ:UNKNOWN

    CC: Elizabeth J. Cotham ( CN=Elizabeth J. Cotham/O=OVP [ OVP ] )
    READ:UNKNOWN

    TEXT:
    Obviously, this is going to be a grim day around here:

    1.  TWA Flight 800: All that we know for sure is that we do not know

    anything for sure.  Speculation that this is a terrorist incident is

    running far ahead of the evidence, although, of course, terrorism cannot

    be ruled out.  The President will go out some time this morning and say

    that he grieves for the victims; that an aggressive investiation is

    underway; and that we should withhold judgement until we know more.

    2.  Olympics Tie-In.  The media is salivating to link this to the Olympics

    -- again, there is no evidence to support this as of yet (although it

    cannot be ruled out).  We should keep cool and not lurch to doing anything

    panicky, but I think our position should be that we work on improving

    Olympic security every single day, and so of course, we'll be looking

    today at any additional improvements that can be made.

    3.  Childrens Island.  This needs to be decided today.  I have flagged it

    in your lunch memo, and will be sure that Katie gets you materials you

    need for a discussion with POTUS.  Panetta is leaning very hard toward

    signing.

    4.  Drug Use at WH.  You can see what an escalating story this is

    becoming.  It is hard to know where it ends or how far it goes.  But our

    core position is that we have a zero tolerance policy for use at the White

    House -- one positive test and you are gone -- and an extensive drug

    testing program (with extra tests for anyone with prior use) to enforce

    that policy.  None of the 9 people in the special testing program today

    hold any of the 130 Commissioned offices in the White House.  And our

    policies on this are a hell of a lot tighter than Congress' policy.

    5.  Welfare.  This moves through the House today, with the GOP Bill

    winning and Castle-Tanner losing.  Most Dems will vote no.  We will say it

    does not address many of our remaining concerns, but we will NOT threaten

    a veto -- we will say we want to work with the Congress to get this the

    rest of the way done.

    That's about it...