From a heavily guarded limousine, President Clinton waved to 27-year-old Brian Ross - a simple gesture that made the Cincinnati native's wait downtown in below-freezing weather worthwhile.
''I thought it was neat,'' said Mr. Ross. ''I moved downtown a couple of months ago and it's pretty neat to be able to come down here and see something like this.''
The tinted-glass limo, helicopters, cameras, police horses and a motorcade were the scenes downtown Tuesday as spectators watched the president's entourage enter the city.
Mr. Clinton stayed at the Regal Cincinnati Hotel before attending a Democratic National Committee dinner at the home of lawyer and Democratic Party activist Stanley Chesley in Amberley Village. Mr. Clinton received much praise from bystanders in this conservative community, the home of the Right to Life movement. There was no visible protest.
''You'd think there would be a little controversy, but there wasn't,'' said Mr. Ross.
It was only the second time Mr. Clinton has visited the Queen City as president, and Mary Gramann of downtown thought he deserved a respectful greeting.
''I like the president even though there's all that controversy,'' she said, referring to allegations of a sexual affair between Mr. Clinton and a White House intern. ''That should just be ignored. In my opinion, we all have our secrets.''
Younger people such as 13-year-old Andrew Braton of Pleasant Ridge and 11-year-old James Napier of Avondale took to the downtown skywalk to watch the motorcade. This would be the first time - except on television - for the two boys to see the president.
Temperatures dipped below 25 degrees, but Greg Azar, a 19-year-old freshman at Virginia Tech, withstood the cold outside the Regal.
''I'm excited,'' he said. ''And the weather isn't going to chase me away, because I don't know when I'll get another chance like this.'' The motorcade, which arrived during evening rush hour, backed up traffic as it traveled from the airport to downtown. Mayor Roxanne Qualls, a Democratic candidate for Congress, shared the limo with the president.
Dr. Ronn Rucker, another spectator, could be heard shouting, ''Qualls and Clinton, all the way!''
A recent Ohio Poll found Mr. Clinton's approval rating among Ohioans to be higher than it has ever been during his term in office. Although his approval rating was strongest in Cleveland, there are many in the Queen City who like what he has done
''I left my job at 5 p.m. and came right out here,'' said Dr. Rucker. ''I wanted to be here to show my support for this great president. I think that if you look at the polls, the American public supports the president.''
Visit with Chesley criticized
Clinton: Fix is in for Buddy
Main story
