Remarks and a question-and-answer session at a Democratic National Committee luncheon in Palm Beach, Florida

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Nov 10, 1997

Now, what we have to decide within the parameters of the law which was passed - which I signed because I support that position - what the appropriate action is in the case. And frankly, I haven't gotten a recommendation from my administration yet, and I haven't had a lot of time to even talk to them about it because we've been so preoccupied with what's going on and with our relationship with China in the last couple of weeks.

But I keep hoping that Iran will take a different course. It's a very old culture. It's a very great country. There are still a lot of people there that were educated in our country. And the people voted in the last election, obviously, at least for relaxation of their ordinary lives at home. And I would like it very much if they would take a different course. But until they do, I think we have to be quite firm, even if we're all by ourselves.

Child Care and Brain Development

Q. [Inaudible] - in terms of diverse programs. Recently it has come to our mind that at the University of Miami we conducted a study with rats and it has to do with the warehousing of our children at day care centers. And the rats that were brought up in a non-stimulating environment versus the rats that were stimulated had a profound effect, once those brains of those rats were dissected. And it's something else to know that the Life Foundation has become extremely interested in because I'm a mother of six and grandmother of nine. This is the future. And these rats that were not stimulated became violent, did not live as long; and brains, when dissected, were atrophied, versus the brains of the rats who lived in a stimulating environment, lived a longer life, were more productive in every way, and had brains with arteries that were clear to the brain and obviously were happier rats.

So, therefore, it goes to say that the children - our children that are being warehoused, this is a very big problem in America, and I really believe that it's not just the Government's obligation and responsibility to take care of these children and to help out. It's our responsibility as well.

The President. Well, let me say it's both our responsibilities. And given that the budget realities of where we are now, that's the way it has to be attacked. But very briefly, this year Hillary and I hosted two conferences at the White House. One was on early childhood and brain development and the other one, last week, was on child care.

We now know, scientists know that an enormous percentage of the brain's capacity develops in the first 3 years of life. We also know that children in supportive environments, whether it's from their parents or in a child care facility where they get not only love and affection, but I mean, actually stimulating environments, have an average of 700,000 positive interactions in their first 4 years of life. Children who are left to sit in front of a television, even by a loving parent, or at a child care center where they're not being stimulated, have an average of 150,000 positive interactions in the first 4 years of life - 700,000 to 150,000, while the infrastructure of the brain is being developed. It's not rocket science.