Clintons Try To Soothe Nation’s Anguish First Family Tells Children ‘It’s Ok To Be Frightened By Something As Bad As This’

Networks pre-empted their Saturday morning cartoons and other programming. Youngsters sat cross-legged on the royal blue carpet in the Oval Office.

And the president’s weekly radio address turned into a televised group therapy session as President Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton counseled children and their parents.

The subject: How to deal with fears arising from the bombing in Oklahoma City.

“Our family has been struggling to make sense of this tragedy and I know that families all over America have as well,” Clinton said.

“We know that what happened in Oklahoma is very frightening and we want children to know that it’s OK to be frightened by something as bad as this.”

They both spoke of the importance of hugs, and Hillary Clinton told the children to talk to their parents, their grandparents, their teachers.

“Whenever you feel scared or worried, I want you to remember that your parents, and your friends, and your family members all love you and are going to do everything they can to protect you,” she said.

The Clintons invited children of Washington-area federal workers from the 13 agencies with offices in the federal building that was bombed Wednesday.

According to information provided by the White House, some of the youngsters have special concerns about the tragedy because of their parents’ line of work.

Some, who also attend day-care centers in federal buildings, have asked their parents: “Why are there policemen at my day-care center?” The child of one Housing and Urban Development employee wanted to know why the normal building entrances were closed.

“Did they close down the other side because it was closest to the bomb?” a 4-year-old asked his mother.

And the parents were feeling for their federal coworkers in Oklahoma City. One mother was near tears during the Clintons’ remarks.

Clinton’s advice to parents: Explain what happened, reassure children about the future, encourage them to talk about their feelings, answer their questions honestly and tell them how much “you love them.”

“When we catch the people who did this we are going to make sure they never hurt another child, ever.”

Hillary Clinton’s advice to children: Remember that there are more good people than bad ones, think about the good work that police officers, doctors and rescue workers are doing, and come up with ways to help.

She suggested writing a letter, drawing a picture or sending a present to people in Oklahoma City and said they they should make a special effort to be nice to their friends.

“It was mean,” one young boy said of the bombing.

A little girl said, “When I first heard about it, I thought, ‘Who would want to do that to kids who had never done anything to them?”’

The political tone that usually marks Clinton’s weekly radio address was absent this Saturday and the GOP response, given by Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, offered only praise for Americans and for the president.

“Our president was swift to act. He sent us the resources to solve this terrible crime. And he offered the condolences and heartfelt assistance of a grieving nation. … You stood with us in our time of pain.”

The GOP response, he said was simple:

“Amen, Mr. President. And thank you.”

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Memorial today President Clinton and his wife, Hillary, will attend a 1 p.m. memorial service today in Oklahoma City, which will be led by the Rev. Billy Graham.