CNN - Clinton to announce anti-gang grants

Clinton to announce grants
to help fight gang violence

Throws first pitch in Baltimore

April 2, 1996
Web posted at: 11:35 p.m. EST

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- CNN has learned that President Clinton will head to the Justice Department Wednesday to focus on the problem of gang violence. Clinton will announce COPS grants for 15 cities to help them fight gangs.

He is expected to also discuss proposed legislation that would give tougher sentences to those carrying guns when they commit drug crimes.

While at the Justice Department, Clinton will be briefed by Attorney General Janet Reno and others. Three attorneys general -- from Bridgeport, Connecticut; Chicago and Columbus, Ohio -- will make presentations on how they have made progress fighting gangs.

The White House says the cities have different strategies, but that all place strong emphasis on federal, state, and local coordination.

Related site: We're in the Forgiving Business - Barrios Unidos' spiritual movement against gang violence

Star-studded dinner to honor Italy's president

A glittering crowd was expected at Tuesday night's White House State Dinner for Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro.

The dinner was to be a tribute to Italian-American achievers of business, sports, literature, politics, and government.

The guest list included Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage and his wife, actress Patricia Arquette; past Oscar-winning actress Sophia Loren and her husband, Carlo Ponti; director Martin Scorsese; and rock singer Jon Bon Jovi and his wife.

Also on the list were two Cuomos, former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo and his son, Andrew; broadcaster and former baseball star Joe Garagiola; Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia; Richard Grasso, chairman of the New York Stock Exchange; and author Gay Talese.

Earlier Tuesday, the president welcomed Scalfaro and gave him his vote of confidence. Clinton said he isn't worried about an expected strong showing from the Communist Party in upcoming Italian elections.

Clinton did say that if a new government is installed, the United States would re-evaluate its relationships with Italy.

At a press conference earlier Tuesday, the president hailed Italy as one of America's closest allies for a half-century.

Related site: Italian embassy in Washington

President slams GOP campaign tactics

At the same conference, reporters got an early preview of the fall presidential campaign.

The president lashed out at Republicans after he was asked a question about New York federal judge Harold Baer Jr. of U.S. District Court in Manhattan, who Monday reversed his ruling in a controversial drug case.

Baer threw out evidence and a videotaped confession in a drug case and then reversed himself Monday after receiving heavy criticism from both Republicans and Clinton for his earlier ruling. (236K AIFF sound or 236K WAV sound)

"Folks on the other side are sort of embarrassed about their crime record," Clinton told reporters. "They fought the crime bill. They fought the 100,000 police. They fought the Brady Bill. They fought the assault weapons ban. They fought things that they used to say they were for. So, now they think they can sort of get well by making some outrageous claims about the judges I've appointed."

GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole had said Baer, a Clinton appointee, should be impeached for his initial ruling, while House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Baer's decision was "the perfect reason why we are losing our civilization."

Related story: New York judge reverses controversial drug case decision

Clinton throws first pitch; Buchanan looks on

The president took advantage of a beautiful day Tuesday afternoon at Oriole Park in Baltimore to toss out the first pitch of the season for the Orioles and the Kansas City Royals.

The pitch was a looping slow strike into the glove of Baltimore catcher Chris Hoiles.

Clinton accepted a souvenir baseball bat from sports broadcaster Joe Garagiola. Garagiola is national spokesman for a campaign to get baseball players to stop using smokeless tobacco -- an effort the president supports.

Sitting six rows behind the first base line was Republican presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, who watched the game with friends. When asked who he supported in Tuesday's game, Buchanan said, "The Washington Senators."

It was the first time since the baseball players union went on strike in August 1994 that the president has had the chance to throw out the first pitch.