Clinton, Family Begin Three-Week Vacation On Martha’s Vineyard

President Clinton and his family ditched the scorching capital Sunday, flying to Martha’s Vineyard for a three-week vacation on the island off the coast of Massachusetts.

En route, they stopped on Block Island, R.I., where they were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of about 500.

The president said he was eager to see some of Block Island’s pristine natural beauty and encouraged residents to work to ensure the island remains that way.

Clinton toured a lighthouse and had dinner with Democratic Sen. Jack Reed before heading on to Massachusetts. Rumors swirled that the purpose of Clinton’s visit to Block Island was to attend the rumored wedding of singer Barbra Streisand and actor James Brolin, but White House aides denied that.

Before leaving Washington, where the afternoon temperature reached a record 105 degrees, Clinton attended to a final piece of business - urging an early settlement of the Teamsters Union strike against United Parcel Service.

This will be the third summer the Clintons have vacationed on Martha’s Vineyard.