Erskine Bowles in My Life, by Bill Clinton

On Abortion: His kids have diabetes; he supports stem cell cure

Diabetes afflicts two children of my friend and former chief of staff Erskine Bowles, as well as millions of other Americans, with a disproportionate impact on our minority population. When I became President, I learned that diabetes and its complication account for a staggering 25% of all Medicaid costs. That's a big reason why, as President, I supported stem cell research and a diabetes self-care program that the American Diabetes Association called the most important advance in diabetes care since the development of insulin. I did it for Erskine's kids, and for Jeff [my second stepfather, a diabetic], who would have wanted more than anything to spare others his pain.

Erskine Bowles, a successful businessman, supported me for President because of my New Democrat philosophy and my support for fetal-tissue research. Diabetes ran in Erskine's family, and he believed, as I did, that the research was essential to unlocking the mysteries of diabetes and other presently incurable medical conditions.

Source: My Life, by Bill Clinton, p.223 & 453 Jun 21, 2004

On Budget & Economy: Negotiated 1998 budget: first one balanced since 1969

Economic growth in the first quarter of 1997 was reported to be 5.6%, which pushed the estimated deficit down to $75 billion, about a quarter of what it was when I took office. On May 2, I announced that, at long last, I had reached a balanced budget agreement with Speaker Gingrich and Senator Lott and the congressional negotiations for both parties. Senator Tom Daschle also announced his support for the agreement. Dick Gephardt did not, but I was hoping he would come around once he had a chance to review it.

I met the Republicans halfway on the amount of Medicare savings. The Republicans accepted a smaller tax cut, the child health insurance program, and the big education increase. We had produced the first balanced budget since 1969, and a good one to boot. Senator Lott and Speaker Gingrich had worked with us in good faith, and Erskine Bowles, with his negotiating skills and common sense, had kept things going at critical moments.

Source: My Life, by Bill Clinton, p.754-755 Jun 21, 2004

The above quotations are from My Life, by Bill Clinton. Click here for other excerpts from My Life, by Bill Clinton. Click here for other excerpts by Erskine Bowles. Click here for a profile of Erskine Bowles.
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Page last updated: Feb 19, 2019