If his welcome to Philadelphia is anything to go by, President Bill Clinton's high public-approval rating persists.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science warmly applauded Mr Clinton's address which promised continued strong support for science. The response came even before he had outlined his 21st century research fund, which features in his balanced budget proposals and should provide research resources into the next millennium.
The budget, "part of our gift to America in the millennium", would enjoy "the largest funding increase in history for the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health", he said.
The fund will be used in a range of areas, including studies of climate change. "Perhaps most important, the 21st century research fund will give us the means to win the war on cancer," he added.
Mr Clinton welcomed this week's US Senate vote which took a Bill designed to control human cloning experimentation off the so-called fast track, thus delaying its movement through Congress until a suitable wording and stronger bipartisan approach can be agreed. He also targeted teenage cigarette smoking.
Mr Clinton referred to a Treasury Department report, issued yesterday, which analysed the "probable effects" of a range of anti-smoking measures he wants to introduce. They include legislation to raise the price of cigarettes by as much as 50 per cent over the next decade. This would give the Food and Drug Administration powers to regulate tobacco products and further curtail tobacco company activities.
"If we act this year, by the year 2003 we can stop almost three million young people from smoking and save almost one million lives as a result," the President said.
A Bill detailing these proposals was introduced in Congress last week by Senator Kent Conrad from North Dakota, he added.
Mr Clinton concluded with a crowd-pleaser: "I believe in what you do. And I believe in the people who do it."