President Announces Stricter Airline Security Measures

NEW YORK (July 25) -- President Clinton came to New York's Kennedy airport to reassure angry families of the TWA victims that his administration is doing everything possible to find the remains and to determine the cause of the crash.

"These families have suffered enormous pain -- the loss of a parent, a child, a husband, a wife, a brother, a nephew, a niece -- they were still in a great deal of pain," said Clinton. "And I know we can all understand not only their pain but the frustration that they feel over the time it is taking to recover their loved ones and to get answers."

And as part of his broader effort to reassure a nervous American public, he announced new steps to tighten airline security, including more stringent inspection of carry-on and checked baggage.

"We do not know why TWA flight 800 crashed," said Clinton. "If it proves to be a mechanical failure, additional safety measures may be required. If it proves to be a criminal act, other security steps may be required. Whatever needs to be done, we will do it." (192K WAV sound)

For the president, it was an emotional few hours with the families as he sought to ease their anguish.

"It was not a technical speech," said Richard Penzer, who lost his brother in the crash. "It was a very kind, kind-hearted, decent speech. You could see the decency of the man, and he really felt for us, that you would have the ability to go up to him and say anything you wanted to him." (160K WAV sound)

But beyond the families, White House officials say the president has been anxious to show the American public that he's on top of the crisis. He was briefed by top investigators amid high hopes that recovery of the black boxes may help solve the mystery over why the 747 airliner exploded.

Mr. Clinton's aides say he waited a week before coming to New York so as not to disrupt the investigation and recovery operation. Joining him aboard Air Force One on the flight from Washington were both New York senators, Pat Moynihan (D) and Al D'Amato (R). And he received some unexpected praise from his long-time Republican critic.

"The president is doing the right thing," said D'Amato. "He should be commended for coming here and for giving comfort to the families and getting all the facts and coordinating and doing everything you can."

Transportation Secretary Federico Pena insists these new security measures are not directly related to the TWA crash, since no one yet knows its cause. Still, other officials concede the timing is not simply a coincidence because the president wants to show he's doing something.

This story originally appeared on CNN's "Inside Politics."

President Announces Stricter Airline Security Measures

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