WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Sept.23) -- First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton told a Hispanic group on Tuesday night that "we're made tremendous progress in the last five and a half years and said: "I'm so proud of my husband, what he has done."

But the first lady made no reference to the White House crisis in the 16-minute speech before the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts annual dinner in Washington.

Mrs. Clinton received a nearly two-minute standing ovation and appeared teary-eyed at the end of long applause when actor Jimmy Smits said to her, "That's a real deal," referring to the reception."

She thanked the members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and also thanked Smits, saying that he was the first person to wish her a happy birthday when she turned 50 recently.

"You know, it really helps a lot," the first lady commented."

Mrs. Clinton asked the foundation to fight for a "fair and accurate" census. Hispanic population was undercounted by nearly five percent in the last election, she said."

The crowd cheered and clapped vigorously as Smits told Mrs. Clinton that the Hispanic community will stand behind President Clinton and the first lady.

Wednesday, September 23, 1998

• Senate overwhelmingly passes bankruptcy overhaul bill
• Key features of bankruptcy bill
• Transcript: Reps. Conyers, Gephardt on Clinton inquiry
• Transcript: Speaker Newt Gingrich on Clinton inquiry
• Partisan battle heats up over impeachment inquiry
• 22.5 million viewers watched Clinton video
• Teen abortion bill stalls in Senate
• AFL-CIO ads target GOP tax-cut plan
• Clinton: Raise military budget
• Prospects good for federal budget surplus
• Congress considers AIDS compensation for transfusion victims
• First lady backs president at Hispanic gathering
• Carter denounces Clinton, reaction to scandal

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