Clinton says we 'owe' it to Oklahoma City bombing victims to 'do better' as a nation

Former President Bill Clinton urged Americans to "do better" successful his remarks astatine an lawsuit marking the 30th day of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. He said it’s "what we beryllium 30 years aboriginal to the radical who made the eventual sacrifice."

The bombing connected April 19, 1995, astatine the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building is the deadliest homegrown onslaught successful U.S. history. A motortruck weaponry that exploded successful beforehand of the national gathering astatine 9:02 a.m. claimed the lives of 168 people, including 19 children. Nearly 700 others were injured successful the attack.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton addresses attendees wrong First Church, connected the time of a ceremonial to people the 30th day of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building successful Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 19, 2025. ( REUTERS/Nick Oxford)

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Clinton was nearing the extremity of his archetypal word successful bureau erstwhile the onslaught occurred. At the 30th day event, helium recalled the time of the tragedy.

"Thirty years ago, I thought I was going to person a precise antithetic time erstwhile I woke up," Clinton told the attendees astatine the lawsuit connected Saturday. "I went jogging with the winners of the Boston Marathon, giving maine the illusion, and an illusion it was, that I was someway beauteous fit. And past I got backmost to the White House and the devastating news." 

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building stands acceptable for implosion successful Oklahoma City connected May 21, 1995. This presumption is from what utilized to beryllium a parking batch northbound of the building. (Reuters)

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The erstwhile president besides spoke astir the quality and value of the "Oklahoma Standard," a tone of resilience and unity that emerged successful effect to the bombing. Clinton said helium wished "every American would get a transcript of the Oklahoma Standard successful the message oregon connected their compartment telephone tomorrow. I stake you it would person a terrific impact."

He urged Oklahomans to instrumentality the tone of the "Oklahoma Standard" and dispersed it crossed the country, saying that helium was grateful for the standard’s existence.

On the greeting of April 19, 1995, erstwhile Army worker and information defender Timothy McVeigh parked a rented Ryder motortruck successful beforehand of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building earlier helium acceptable disconnected the bomb.

A visitant looks astatine the faces of immoderate of the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing astatine the Oklahoma National Memorial depository successful Oklahoma City June 12, 2001, 1 time aft the execution of Timothy McVeigh. (Getty Images)

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"The bombing successful Oklahoma City was an onslaught connected guiltless children and defenseless citizens. It was an enactment of cowardice and it was evil. The United States volition not tolerate it. And I volition not let the radical of this state to beryllium intimidated by evil cowards," Clinton said connected April 19, 1995, according to a DOJ transcript.

McVeigh and his co-conspirators were yet captured and convicted. On Aug. 14, 1997, much than 2 years aft the bombing, McVeigh was sentenced to death. He was executed connected June 11, 2001, precisely 3 months earlier America would beryllium rocked by the 9/ 11 attacks. The Oklahoma City bombing was the worst violent onslaught connected U.S. ungraded up until 9/11.