White House Press Secretary Jake Siewert on the legacy of President Clinton

(CNN) -- Jake Siewert is the White House Press Secretary. He served as deputy press secretary under Joe Lockhart and was appointed Press Secretary when Lockhart left the position in September 2000.

CNN Moderator: Why is President Clinton keeping such an active pace this late in his presidency?

Jake Siewert: Well, he promised to work for the American people to the last day and the last hour, and as long as he's president he still has work to do, whether it is acting to protect the environment or restore peace in the Mideast. The American people only have one president at a time, and that person has a lot of work to do. Just as you don't stop working at CNN or the 7-11 until you're finished, the President is going to keep working while he is still on the payroll.

CNN Moderator: How is the president dealing with the close of his administration?

Jake Siewert: He is focused on some of the work he has left. We're reviewing efforts to protect parts of the Missouri River, the so called Missouri breaks, the Middle East peace process and monitoring the effort to provide relief to the earthquake victims in El Salvador. He also is taking some time to do some more mundane chores like packing up and getting ready to move to his new home in New York.

CNN Moderator: What is President Clinton's assessment of his administration?

Jake Siewert: The President believes that, together with the American people, America has taken some strong action to correct some of the problems that plagued it in the early 90's. As a result of our economic strategy, the federal deficit has been eliminated and the economy is the strongest it has ever been.

The world is safer today, and dramatic progress has been made on our efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland and other trouble spots around the world. Crime is dramatically down, the welfare rolls have been cut by more than half and America is generally headed in the right direction.

So, he's please with the work he has done to make government more responsive to the needs of people and to restore people's trust in government to look after their needs and problems. That's really for others to judge.

CNN Moderator: How will the scandals and impeachment affect the historical view of his administration?

Jake Siewert: That's really for others to judge. What the president has asked us to do is to focus on the work for us. The American people expect their employees in the White House to focus on the challenges of fixing the economy, putting smart policies on the economy, crime and welfare in place and not to focus on whatever else might be going on in the world. So, that's a question best left for historians.

Question from the chat room: What does President Clinton see his role as being in the international arena after Saturday?

Jake Siewert: Well, the American people have a right to expect President-elect Bush to speak for the nation after noon on January 20. He will be the voice for American interests around the world, and we can only have one voice -- should only have one voice -- to speak out on foreign affairs.

The President, after some time off, would like to play some role in the work he has begun as President, from his peace efforts around the world to his efforts to help the poorest nations in Africa rebuild and restructure their economies and to fight infectious diseases. But, he wants to do that in a way that doesn't infringe on the new President's abilities to conduct the nation's business.

MESSAGE BOARD Bill Clinton's legacy

Transcripts Clinton Legacy Chat Transcripts Gallup's Frank Newport: Public opinion on Clinton's presidency and the incoming Bush administration Skip Rutherford on the Clinton Presidential Library White House Press Secretary Jake Siewert on the legacy of President Clinton Former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta: President Clinton's legacy Wolf Blitzer: His days covering President Clinton in the White House Authors Bert Rockman and Colin Campbell: President Clinton’s effect on U.S. politics and government

IN-DEPTH SPECIALS   The Clinton Years    • The Presidency • View from London • Voices from America • Timelines

CNN Moderator: What does President Clinton see as his most important achievements and his greatest disappointments?

Jake Siewert: In the campaign in '92, the President promised to "focus like a laser beam on the economy." He has done that, and the results have been extraordinary. There are now 22 million new jobs since the President took office. Unemployment is at 4 percent and the federal deficits have been eliminated entirely. So, he leaves Americans with an economy that provides more opportunity, better jobs and more ways to build better futures. So, that has to be his greatest accomplishment.

He has said a number of times that he was disappointed he could not do more to provide uninsured Americans with health care. We have made some progress by insuring that children, the poorest children, get access to health insurance. But, there is still much work to be done. Now that we have a large budget surplus that job should be easier than it was in 1994 when the President tried to provide comprehensive health care coverage.

Question from the chat room: Does this look like the start of a new political era in any way?

Jake Siewert: There are always changes when the new administration hits town. I'm sure this time will be no exception. But, I don't know whether it is a new era, new epoch or just a new administration. I'll leave that for others to sort through. But, in many ways, the president has changed the tone in Washington and there are no longer divisive debates about welfare, crime and fiscal discipline that used to divide the parities. Today, both Democrats and Republicans recognize that the challenges of reducing the deficit, fighting crime and improving welfare can be achieved without the bitter rhetoric of the past.

Question from the chat room: Does President Clinton have any well chosen words for Mr. Bush when he greets him at the White House?

Jake Siewert: He will probably keep those thoughts private. But, he has said that he has had a good talk and conversation with the President-elect about how to handle the job, about the challenges the U.S. faces around the world, and he certainly wishes him well. There are only 43 people who have served as President, and the President recognizes the unique challenges that face someone who has just taken the office and hopes that the President-elect makes the best of it.

CNN Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts to share with us today?

Jake Siewert: Well, I think that we appreciate all the hard work the press has done in covering us over the years, and how the way the press works has changed dramatically. This conversation could not have happened when we took office because the online media did not even exist then. So, the press has new ways of communicating with the American people in real time, and that should provide insights on how the government and White House are working for the American people. Unfortunately, that makes for much busier lives here at the White House, and out in the media as well.

CNN Moderator: Thank you for joining us today, Jake Siewert

Jake Siewert: Thank you very much for joining!

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