Text: Clinton Thanks Drug Czar McCaffrey For His Five Years' Service

(ONDCP director has announced resignation plans for January)  (530)

President Clinton issued a statement October 16 thanking General Barry
McCaffrey for his "extraordinary work" as director of the White House
Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). McCaffrey had earlier
announced plans to resign his position in early January.

"In the nearly five years Gen. McCaffrey has led our war on drugs, we
have made significant progress both at home and abroad," Clinton said.
"Adolescent drug use in the United States dropped 21 percent in the
past two years alone, and drug-related murders are at their lowest
level in a decade. And, working with our international partners, we
have helped to significantly reduce coca cultivation in Latin America,
and helped to build a level drug-free playing field for the world's
Olympians."

Following is the text of the president's statement:

[Note: In the text, "billion" equals "thousand million."]

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
(Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt)
For Immediate Release

October 16, 2000

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

General (Ret.) Barry McCaffrey has informed me that he will step down
in January as Director of the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank and
commend him for his extraordinary work in meeting one of our nation's
most pressing challenges. Gen. McCaffrey has brought to his post the
same professionalism, dedication, and leadership that have exemplified
his 40 years of steadfast service to our nation.

In accepting this post in 1996, Gen. McCaffrey retired from the United
States Army as its youngest and most decorated four-star general. He
had served and commanded with honor from West Point to the Dominican
Republic to Vietnam to the Persian Gulf, and, finally, as Commander in
Chief, Southern Command. He was twice awarded the Distinguished
Service Cross, our nation's second-highest military honor.

In the nearly five years Gen. McCaffrey has led our war on drugs, we
have made significant progress both at home and abroad. We have
dramatically increased our counter-drug spending, and launched a $1
billion public-private media campaign to educate young people about
the dangers of drug use. Our efforts are paying off. Adolescent drug
use in the United States dropped 21 percent in the past two years
alone, and drug-related murders are at their lowest level in a decade.
And, working with our international partners, we have helped to
significantly reduce coca cultivation in Latin America, and helped to
build a level drug-free playing field for the world's Olympians.

Our nation and my Administration have benefited greatly from Gen.
McCaffrey's outstanding dedication, enterprise, and leadership. He has
been a valued member of my Cabinet, and I am grateful for his sound
counsel. I am confident that he will continue to serve our nation with
honor and distinction in the years ahead. The First Lady and I wish
him and his wife Jill all the best in their new endeavors.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)