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American Morning

Clinton in Harlem: Former White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart Speaks Out

Aired July 30, 2001 - 11:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Bill Clinton is moving into his fancy new Harlem digs today. A little earlier this hour, we let you in on the big party that the neighborhood is throwing for the former president. The freshly-pained suite of offices offer some pretty stunning views of New York. And having a former president in the neighborhood has proved to be a pretty big coup for Harlem, which is undergoing a renaissance.

We're going to talk a little bit more about this with former Clinton spokesman Joe Lockhart -- hi, Joe.

JOE LOCKHART, FMR. CLINTON WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Hi. Good to be here.

KELLEY: Nice to have you join us. Thanks.

What is the president going to be doing from the office now?

LOCKHART: Well, he is basically going to use this as his base of operations to do work both here in Harlem, around the United States, and around the world, trying to bring economic empowerment. He's got projects like AIDS in Africa. There are limitless possibilities for all the different projects he is going to work on.

KELLEY: Have you seen a list or an agenda for him? We heard from some corners that he was having a little trouble filling his day after he left the presidency, which is so busy all the time.

LOCKHART: Well, you know, there were some reports, but I actually spent a couple of weeks with him traveling. And the former president's biggest complaint is why his schedule looks so much like his schedule when he was the president. He is complaining about not having enough time off.

KELLEY: Oh, dear. Well, I know that he traveled in office a lot -- and then traveling since, because we have seen him at some events.

What did you guys -- where did you go and what did you do?

LOCKHART: Well, I went with the president to India for eight days -- where he did a lot of work on the reconstruction project from the terrible earthquakes there -- and then all around Europe, giving speeches, meeting with leaders. So he's very busy, both when he is home and then lot of time he spends on the road.

KELLEY: You've talked to him. What does it mean to him to be moving into Harlem?

LOCKHART: This is something -- this is a day he's looked forward to now for about five months. I was just with him up in the office. It's a beautiful office, a beautiful view of New York City. But I think he really sees this as an opportunity to try to use what we've done around the country, bring that to Harlem -- economic empowerment, economic expansion. So he's very excited about this.

KELLEY: You know, a lot of the neighbors are thrilled that he is coming. And some of them aren't. You know, some are afraid that rents are going to go up and that they'll be pushed out of the neighborhood where they have been for many, many years.

LOCKHART: Well, I think that anytime you have economic development, there are some people who are displaced. I think the president is going to work with Congressman Rangel, with the local leaders here, to make sure that everyone is brought along, that no one is displaced.

And I think it's an important project. But I think he looks forward to getting down to it.

KELLEY: We also want to know what you are doing, Joe.

LOCKHART: I'm working in Washington. Washington needed another consultant or two. So they now have one -- and spending a little bit of time with the president.

KELLEY: OK. Former White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart, thanks so much for coming to talk with us -- appreciate it.

LOCKHART: Sure thing.

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