Clinton Finally Visits Nebraska

K E A R N E Y, Neb., Dec. 8 -- President Clinton arrived — finally — inNebraska today, greeted by a line of dignitaries standing onthe runway of the Kearney Municipal Airport.

Twenty-five state and local officials — including RepublicanGov. Mike Johanns and Democratic Sen.-elect Ben Nelson — shook thepresident’s hand as he stepped off Air Force One. About 20spectators were at the airport.

Sen. Bob Kerrey, who flew with the president to Nebraska,stepped off the plane immediately after Clinton. Also arriving withthe president were national security adviser Sandy Berger andformer Omaha congressman Peter Hoagland.

Students Wait in Cold

Nebraska was the last state for Clinton to visit since takingoffice in 1993.

The president and Kerrey talked with members of the greetingline and posed for photographs at the airport for about 20 minutesbefore the motorcade left for the University of Nebraska atKearney.

Clinton planned to deliver a speech recapping his foreign policyachievements before an anticipated crowd of about 6,000 at theuniversity.

Thousands of college students were lined up at 5 a.m. outsidethe university’s Health and Sports Center. Doors didn’t open untilafter 7:30 a.m.

“Our feet are kind of frozen. I can’t feel them, but that’sOK,” said Joleen Wilson, 22, of Grand Island, who stood with twofriends in the cold with a blanket draped around them.

An estimated 3,000 students, nearly half the college’senrollment, requested tickets to Clinton’s speech.

Saving the Best for Last

Across the street, someone had put out a largered-white-and-blue sign covered with America flags and illuminatedby a flood light that said: “Thanks for saving the best for last — Nebraska.”

Clinton’s visit will mark the first time that a sittingpresident has stopped in Nebraska since George Bush made a briefappearance at a Republican Party campaign rally in Omaha in 1990.