Clinton Looks Back, Forward As Year Ends

President Clinton rang in the election year with hundreds of like-minded big thinkers gathered on the Atlantic shore to party with their families at a New Year’s weekend intellectual retreat.

The budget battle and politics in general were not far from the president’s mind during the one-day holiday respite at Renaissance Weekend.

The event was closed to the media, but friends said his speech to 1,200 participants shortly before midnight New Year’s Eve focused on the accomplishments of his administration in 1995 and looked ahead to the challenges in what he thinks will be a key moment in history.

Small talk with the president afterward was dominated by his thoughts on the budget negotiations. Republican leaders are scheduled to meet this evening with Clinton, who was returning Monday night to Washington.

Asked if he was enjoying the break from budgeting, Clinton held up a finger, smiled and said, “One day.”