President’s visit a profitable one

Jace Radke

Monday, April 3, 2000 | 11:27 a.m.

A broken-down limousine didn't keep President Clinton from raising $525,000 for the state and national Democratic Party and getting in a round of golf at Las Vegas' newest course.

After attending two fund-raisers Clinton's motorcade was headed south on Interstate 15 at about 2 p.m. when heavy smoke began pouring from the rear of his limousine.

The motorcade stopped just south of the Spring Mountain Road exit, and Secret Service agents quickly got the president out of the car and into a backup limousine.

The motorcade was stopped for about three minutes as the exchange was made, and a lone Secret Service agent was left on the side of the road with the abandoned car. As the motorcade moved by, the agent began taking down the small American and presidential flags flying on the hood of the car.

Clinton was laughing about the incident later at the Southern Highlands Golf Club, and told Sun President and Editor Brian Greenspun that the stop had him running a little late for their tee time.

"He told me he thought it was pretty funny with all the people driving by on the other side of I-15 and seeing the president's car broken down," Greenspun said.

What went wrong with the limousine was not known, but it had been smoking a little earlier in the day, a White House press representative said.

After switching cars, Clinton was joined by Greenspun, a former college classmate, Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera, Jeffrey Caspe, a private investor from Chicago and Bruce Deifik, president of a property management company in Denver, for 18 holes of golf at the new course off of Lake Mead Drive west of I-15.

The Southern Highlands course, which opened Saturday, was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Robert Trent Jones Jr.

"The president won, and I think he had a relaxing day," Greenspun said.

Clinton arrived on Air Force One at about 9:30 a.m. at McCarran International Airport and was greeted by Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., Democratic Senate hopeful Ed Bernstein and their families.

Secret Service agents using high-powered binoculars could be seen on the roof of the Delta Airlines cargo building, 5875 Spencer St., near where Air Force One taxied to meet the motorcade.

The motorcade, which was led by about 30 Metro Police motorcycle officers in a double line with lights flashing, included about 20 vehicles that carried the Secret Service, White House staff and media representatives to the first fund-raiser at Greenspun's Henderson home.

Traffic was stopped at all intersections that the motorcade passed, and all traffic was diverted from the motorcade's path until the president went by.

Crowds of people lined the roads waving and staring as the motorcade passed down Las Vegas streets. It was Clinton's eighth visit to Las Vegas since he took office.

After a brunch catered by Postrio of sea bass, arugula salad and apple and almond pie, the president spoke about nuclear waste, economic expansion and support for Vice President Al Gore to the approximately 35 people seated at two long tables in Greenspun's dining room. The event raised $375,000.

Later at the second fund-raiser at former Las Vegas mayor Jan Laverty Jones' northwest Las Vegas home Clinton again spoke about the upcoming election and its importance in whether nuclear waste comes to Yucca Mountain.

"I would hope the people of Nevada will think about this (nuclear waste) in this coming presidential race," Clinton said. "Because I'm not on the ballot and I won't be here next time. It is an absolute certainty, 100 percent certainty, that there is a difference in position between the candidates on this issue.

"When the study was originally done, there were two sites that were thought to be appropriate. One was in Nevada; the other in rural Texas. So I'll leave it to you. I know you can figure this out."

The president also credited the state's Washington delegation in the fight to keep nuclear waste out of Nevada.

"If it hadn't been for your delegation, working the Congress, explaining the issue, we would never have gotten enough votes on our side," Clinton said.

Clinton also cautioned against large tax cuts, saying that such a cut would hurt in the long run.

"All of you would be better off, but only for a little bit," Clinton told the group at the first fund-raiser. "And I think, far better to have a more modest tax cut that helps people educate their children, provide decent child care, deal with this long-term care crisis and get the country out of debt."

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., Berkley, Bernstein, former Congressman James Bilbray, former Gov. Bob Miller and Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald were among the 150 people who were at the $1,000 per person fund-raiser at Jones' home.

Bilbray also was at the first fund-raiser and was joined by Herrera, the Greenspun family and Las Vegas Harrah's executive Claudine Williams, among others at the $25,000 per couple event.

Of the money raised in Nevada, at least $75,000 will remain in state party coffers. The remainder will go to the Democratic National Committee.

The president was scheduled to leave Las Vegas at 6:30 p.m., but he didn't finish golfing until about 7 p.m. Clinton boarded Air Force One at about 8 p.m. and left soon after for Palo Alto, Calif., and a $5,000 per person fund-raising dinner today expected to net the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee $1 million.

Jace Radke is a reporter for the Las Vegas Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-2318 or by e-mail at jace@lasvegassun.com.