Index

Albright Interview on NBC's Meet The Press

INTERVIEW OF SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT ON NBC'S MEET THE PRESS October 8, 2000 Q: Another interesting foreign policy question has arisen in our political campaigns, and let me show you how the New York Times dealt with it. This is in the Senate race in New York: "Hillary Rodham Clinton moved to fortify her standing with the Jewish voters, urging the Administration release classified documents in the case of Jonathan Pollard, the convicted spy seeking clemency. Asked if she had shared her feelings with Mr. Clinton, the First Lady, who generally declines to respond to questions about conversations with the President, responded, 'I have made my views known, yes.'" Do you believe that the President should grant clemency to Jonathan Pollard, a convicted spy? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I think the President has asked for a review of this. I believe that the President has been looking at it, he has for some time, and that there is a review process. Mrs. Clinton has her views, and the President has his responsibilities. Q: But should classified information be released in the middle of a Senate campaign? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I think that classified information is something that has to be handled very carefully. It is there for a purpose, in order for the President to be able to review this. I think that Mrs. Clinton has her views on this, and the Administration has to do its duty. Q: But you and the Director of the CIA and the Secretary of Defense have all said in recent years that you believe that the sentence Mr. Pollard was given was just, and clemency should not be granted. Is that still your view? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: We had - what happened was that the President asked for a review of this; we have made our views known; and I think that it is inappropriate to go into it any further than that. We have made our views known. I think that it is very important to keep a distinction here between what Mrs. Clinton says as a candidate in New York - I respect her views - but we also have responsibility in our positions in the Government. That is being separated in a very careful way, I can assure you. Q: In 1996, the President denied clemency, and this is how Mike McCurry, his Spokesman, said it, "After carefully reviewing the matter, the President has denied the application by Jonathan Pollard for executive clemency. The President agreed with Attorney General Reno's judgment that the enormity of Mr. Pollard's offenses, his lack of remorse, the damage done to our national security, the need for general deterrence, and the continuing threat to national security that he posed made the original life sentence imposed by the court warranted." Has anything changed regarding the enormity of the offense, the lack of remorse, the continuing threat to our national security? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I do not believe so. Q: And that is your view in -- SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: That is my view. Q: Madame Secretary, we thank you for sharing it. SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Thank you.