Clinton says Gore has done more than any other vice president

BALTIMORE - In a sentimental farewell appearance to the NAACP, President Clinton put Vice President Al Gore in league with vice presidents who rose to the top office - Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson - but said ''never in the history of the country'' has any vice president done as much as Gore.

Clinton broke away from the Camp David talks with the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to address the civil rights association's annual convention in his final appearance as president.

He won a loving embrace from an audience that also applauded Gore but gave his opponent, George W. Bush, a muted response.

''I'm really glad Governor Bush came - I am,'' Clinton said. ''But I thought the other fellow gave a better speech.''

Like Gore, who addressed the NAACP's annual convention here on Wednesday, Clinton coupled Scripture - Ecclesiaticus 11:25, ''In the day of prosperity, there is forgetfulness of affliction'' - with a political message. He argued that the nation's current prosperity is a result of his policies, and insinuated that the prosperity will dry up without Gore in the White House. Ecclesiaticus is a part of the Old Testament which is not included in all versions of the Bible.

Clinton called Gore the ''most influential and active vice president'' in U.S. history.

''We've had a lot of vice presidents, a lot of vice presidents made great presidents - Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson,'' Clinton said. ''But we've never had a vice president that did so much good as vice president as Al Gore - never, not ever in the history of the country.''

Members of the crowd of 3,000 shouted ''that's right,'' ''yeah'' and ''amen'' when they liked what Clinton said. They smiled and applauded and gave him standing ovations, waving small American flags and blue NAACP flags. When Clinton mentioned that his term ends in January, they sighed ''Awwww!'' in unison.

Earlier this week, Bush was met by polite applause, but his opening remarks were delayed by shouts from the convention floor from four anti-death penalty protesters. Bush greeted the skeptical crowd by stating what many in the room were thinking.

''For my party, there's no escaping the reality that the party of Lincoln has not always carried the mantle of Lincoln,'' Bush said frankly. ''I'm not castigating. I'm talking reality. That's my job, to say here's where we have fallen short and here's where we will improve.''

Gore, in his speech, scorned Bush's attempt to woo black voters.

''I know that you heard some nice-sounding words on Monday afternoon,'' Gore said, pausing with a sarcastic scowl while convention-goers hooted in approval. ''But I remembered what scripture teaches in the book of James, Chapter 2, Verse 18: 'Yea, a man may say thou has faith and I have works. Show me thy faith without thy works and I will show thee my faith by my works.''

Black voters historically have favored the Democratic presidential candidate, although one convention goer, Harley Dixon of New York City, said Gore still needs to capture the spirit Clinton exudes around black people.

''People will come out (to vote) for Gore but it's not the same,'' Dixon said. ''Clinton is the only white politician I know who can talk across the color line without effort. Maybe the vice president will learn to do that too.''

Veronica Vicki Fickling, an NAACP member from Chicago, called Gore's speech ''fantastic.'' ''It was like he really cared about people,'' she said. She described Bush's speech as ''courteous.''

During his speech, Clinton announced $5 million in funding for diabetes research, and highlighted $300 million proposed in his mid-session budget over five years for new research on diabetes treatment and prevention.

He pressed Congress to stop delaying his judicial nominees, many of whom are minorities. The next president will be called on to appoint two to four Supreme Court justices, several Court of Appeals judges and possibly more than 100 federal district court judges, Clinton said.