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.