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...