Clinton honors Oklahoma bombing victims
Visits city as tragedy's anniversary nears
April 5, 1996
Web posted at: 6:45 a.m. ESTFrom Correspondent Tony Clark
OKLAHOMA CITY (CNN) -- President and Mrs. Clinton went to Oklahoma City Friday to meet with the victim's families and survivors of last year's bombing. On this visit, some of the victim's families and survivors have something to discuss with the president: They want their voices heard in the form of strong anti-terrorism legislation.
The bomb-shattered federal building is gone, but the pain lingers in the city. President and Mrs. Clinton will honor the victims of the bombing that killed 168 men, women and children as they did a year ago when they led the nation in mourning.
The massive bomb in a moving van parked in front of the building ripped away nine floors, including a day care center where many children had just been dropped off that morning.
The attack is still fresh for the victims' families, and they are grateful their country hasn't forgotten them.
"It makes me feel better that somebody is still thinking about what I have to deal with for the rest of my life," said Kimberly Harding, the daughter of a bombing victim.
"That's encouraging to know that it's still thought of," said Sara Williams, also the daughter of a bomb victim.
Bomb brought changes across country
Much has happened in the year between presidential visits. For one thing, security at federal buildings around the country has been increased.
"We have better technology that we can use today to help prevent these kinds of things, but I'm not sure that we're ever going to be able to completely prevent these kinds of random acts of violence," said David Barram, the acting administrator of the General Services Administration.
"I think things have truly gotten out of hand in our judicial system and defendants are able to make a mockery of it."
-- Diane Leonard,
widow of bombing victim Donald Leonard
"There isn't anything that I know of that's in this legislation that addresses prevention. And I don't know of anything in it that would have prevented what happened last year."
-- Bud Welch,
father of bombing victim Julie Welch
Another potential change is a new anti-terrorism bill. In Washington, a conference committee is trying to iron out vast differences in proposals passed by the House and Senate.
That's what Diane Leonard, wife of Secret Service agent Donald Leonard, who was killed in the bombing, wants to discuss with the president.
"I will say to him that we need his support on the anti-terrorism bill, habius corpus legislation," Leonard said.
Like many of the other relatives of bombing victims, Leonard wants to reduce the length of a time a person can appeal their criminal conviction.
"I think things have truly gotten out of hand in our judicial system and defendants are able to make a mockery of it," she said.
But Bud Welch, who lost his 23-year-old daughter Julie in the blast, said he thinks the proposed legislation is off target and goes too far.
"There isn't anything that I know of that's in this legislation that addresses prevention. And I don't know of anything in it that would have prevented what happened last year," he said.
Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols have been charged with the bombing and await trial this fall in Denver, Colorado. They could receive the death penalty if convicted.
Friday's meeting between Clinton and victims' families comes at an emotionally difficult time for both. The one-year anniversary of the bombing is near, and it is just days after Clinton friend and Commerce Secretary Ron Brown was killed in a plane crash in Croatia.
"They have their own healing to do," Welch said. "Maybe we can all be a comfort to one another."
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