名人演讲稿

PRESIDENTClinton:

(Applause)Well,ladiesandgentlemen,ifmybelovedmotherwerehere,shewouldremindmethatrainisliquidsunshineandthatIshouldn''''tcomplainaboutthisbecausethegroundprobablyneedsitandsomebodyisbenefitingfromit.

Mr.PresidentandMrs.Bush,PresidentandMrs.Carter,PresidentandMrs.Bush,membersoftheEisenhower,Nixon,Johnson,KennedyandCarterfamilies;tothevastnumberofmembersofCongressandformermembersofCongresshere--Idon''''tknowwheretheyarebecauseyou''''reallinponchos--(cheers)--buttheretheyare;there''''sahugegroupfromCongress,andthepresidentsentfourplanesdownandIthankhimforthat;toalltheguestsfromothercountries;andmyfellowAmericans--welcometomyrainylibrarydedication.

(Laughter)

ThankyouSkipRutherfordandallthoseonmystaffandthevolunteersfromArkansasandacrossAmericawhoworksohardtomakethiseventjustperfect--(helaughs)--andexceptforonething,itis.

Ithankthepreviousspeakersandthosewhohavesungandentertained.

Mr.President,Ican''''tthankyouenoughforyourgenerouswordsandforcomingtotheopeningatall.Imean,afterall,youjustdelayedyourownlibraryopeningbyfouryears.(Laughter.)Icongratulateyouonyourelection,andIwishyouGodspeed,especiallyinanewandmorehopefultimeforpeaceintheMiddleEast.

IrememberthefirsttimeIeverheardGeorgeW.BushgiveaspeechinIowa,andIcalledafriendofmineandIsaid:"MyGod,thatguycanbeatus.Heisagoodpolitician."Hehasbeenverykindandgeneroustomyfamily,andIthankhimforthat.

Todaywe''''reallred,whiteandblue.

IthankformerPresidentBushandMrs.Bushforcomingandfortheirservicetoournation.PresidentBush,Ilovedallthatstuffyousaid.ButIwanttothankyouforsomethingseriously.In1989,afterIhadbeengovernorforalongtime,youwerethepresidentwhofinallycalledustogetherandaskedustodevelopnationaleducationgoalsforAmericasothatallourchildrencouldgetagoodeducation.Itwasthebeginningofaseriousreformeffort,whichItriedtocarrythroughandwhichIknowPresidentBushhastriedtopush.Sothankyoufordoingthatandforgivingmetheopportunitytoworkwithyou.

ThankyouPresidentandMrs.CarterforallyoudidintheWhiteHouseandallyou''''vedoneintheyearssincetomaketheworldmorejustandpeaceful.JohnQuincyAdamsoncesaid,"Thereisnothinginlifesopatheticasaformerpresident."Well,heturnedouttobewrongbecauseofhisownservice,andPresidentCarterhasprovedthatnothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth.

(Applause)

Hejusttoldyouwemet30yearsagowhenhewastryingtohelpme.Hedidn''''ttellyouthat,lessthanayearlaterandlessthanamilefromhere,JimmyCarteraskedHillaryandmetojoininhiscampaignforthepresidency.Wedid,andasyoucanseefromthisday,itwasthebeginningofquitearide.

IrecentlyspokewithPresidentFord,who,at91,isunabletocomeand--withhisextraordinarywife,Betty.Buttheystillarestrong.YesterdayIreceivedawonderfulletterfromNancyReagan,whoremainsinourthoughtsandprayers.IthanktheFordsandNancyandthelatePresidentReaganfortheirservicetoourcountry.

IwanttothankallthevastnumbersofCongressandformermemberswhoareherewhoservedwithme.Icouldn''''thavedonemostofthegoodthingswedidwithout''''em,andthey''''renotresponsibleforanyofthemistakesImade.

Ican''''tseethroughalltheumbrellasandalltheponchosorwhateveryoucallthoseplasticthingsthatmakeyoualllooksobeautiful--(laughter)--butI''''mprettysureSenatorKerry''''soutthere.Andifheis,IwanttothankhimandI''''mgladhe''''sbackonthejob.

(Applause)

Iwanttothankthepeopleofmybelovedhomestateforyoursupport,foryourlove,yourfriendship,thetrust,thesacrificesyousowillinglymadewhenweworkedtogetherhereandwhenyoucarriedmetotheWhiteHouse.

Ithankthefriendsofalifetimewhoalsomadeindispensablecontributions.I''''vesaidalotoftimesImaybetheonlyguythatevergotelectedpresidentbecauseofhispersonalfriends.

Ithankmypastor,RexHorne,andalltheotherministersherewhohavetaughtme,prayedwithme,andcounseledmeovertheyears.

IthankGodformyfamilyandHillary''''sfamily.Alotofthemareheretoday,andIthankyouformakingthiswholelongtrip.

LikeIsaid,Idowishmymotherwerehere.Shewouldhaveenjoyedseeingallofyou,evenintherain,andIpromiseyou--(helaughs)--youwouldhaveenjoyedseeingher.

Mostofall,IwanttothankHillaryandChelsea.NowHillary''''sasenatorandshehasallthepowerinourfamily,butshe''''sprovingwhatIalwayssaid.Shehasthebestcombinationofmindandheart,convictionandcompassionI''''veeverencountered,thoughImustsayChelseaisgivinghermotheragoodrun.Chelsea,yourlifeandourloveforyougavemeaningtoourpublicservice.Theymadethepresidencythesecond-mostimportantjobIeverhad.

Iloveyoubothsomuch.Thankyou.

Andletmelastlythankthepeoplewhohavecontributedtoandbuiltthislibrary:theSchoolofPublicServiceandthefoundation,mystaff,myformerstaff,theboard,thearchitects,theexhibitdesigners,thelandscapers,thecontractors,the1,500peoplewhoputthisbuildingup,thecityandstateofficialswhosupportedit.Ithankespeciallythearchitects,JimPolshekandRichardOlcott;RalphApplebaumforthewonderfulexhibits;andmylongtimefriend,BillClark,whosecompanybuiltthisbuilding.

IalsowanttosaythatIthankthoseofyouwhoarecontinuingtohelpintheworkofthelibraryandthefoundation.

ThislibrarytellsthestoryofAmericaattheendofthe20thcentury,ofadramaticallydifferenttimeinthewayweworkedandlived.WemovedoutoftheColdWarintoanageofinterdependencewithnewpossibilitiesandnewdangers.Wemovedoutofaninformation--Imean,anindustrialeconomyintoaninformation-ageeconomy.WemovedoutofaperiodwhenwewereobsessedwithovercomingthelegacyofslaveryanddiscriminationagainstAfrican-Americanstoapointwherewewerechallengedtodealwithanexplosionofdiversity,ofpeoplefromallracesandethnicgroupsandreligionsfromaroundtheworld,andwehadtochangetheroleofgovernmenttodealwiththat.

Thatwholestoryishere,in80milliondocuments,21millione-mails--twoofthemmine--(laughter)--2millionphotographs,and80,000artifacts.Intheinterestsofopennessandpublicaccess,weareaskingmorethan100,000ofthesedocumentstobeopenedearlybeforethelawrequires.

IthankthosewhoareworkingontheClintonSchoolofPublicService,becauseIwantmoreyoungpeopletogointopublicservice.

IthankthosewhoareworkinginHarlemandhereonmyfoundationorwhovisitusontheInternet,asHillarysaid,,whohelpustopromotereligiousandracialreconciliation,toadvancecitizenservice,topromoteeconomicempowermentforpoorpeopleinpoorcommunities,andtocontinuethefightagainstAIDS.InthreeyearsinAfrica,theCaribbean,IndiaandChina,wehavesucceededincuttingthepriceofthetestingequipmentandgenericdrugsby70percent,andwehopeby2006,andexpect,toserveover2millionpeoplewithmedicinewhowerenotgettingitonthedayIleftoffice.

Nowthislibrary,ofcourse,isprimarilyaboutmypresidency.IwanttosayaspecialwordofthankstoAlGoreandtoTipperfortheindispensablecontributionthattheymade.AndItoldAltodaythatthislibrarywonaninternationalenvironmentalaward,eventhoughit''''sgotalotofglass.Becauseofsolarpanelsandalotofotherimprovements,wecuttheenergyusagehereby34percent.SoAl,thanksfortheinspiration,andI''''mstilltryingtomeasureuptothechallengeyousetformesolongago.

Ibelievethejobofapresidentistounderstandandexplainthetimeinwhichheserves,tosetforthavisionofwhereweneedtogoandastrategyofhowtogetthere,andthentopursueitwithallhismindandheart--bendingonlyinthefaceoferrorornewcircumstancesandthecriseswhichareunforeseen,aproblemthataffectsallofus.

WhenIbecamepresidenttheworldwasanewandverydifferentplace,asIsaid.AndIthoughtabouthowweoughttoconfrontit.Americahastwogreatdominantstrandsofpoliticalthought;we''''rerepresenteduphereonthisstage:conservatism,whichatitsverybestdrawslinesthatshouldnotbecrossed;andprogressivism,whichatitsverybestbreaksdownbarriersthatarenolongerneededorshouldneverhavebeenerectedinthefirstplace.

Itseemedtomethatin1992weneededtodobothtoprepareAmericaforthe21stcentury--tobemoreconservativeinthingslikeerasingthedeficitandpayingdownthedebt,andpreventingcrimeandpunishingcriminals,andprotectingandsupportingfamilies,andenforcingthingslikechildsupportlaws,andreformingthemilitarytomeetthenewchallengesofthe21stcentury.Andweneededtobemoreprogressiveincreatinggoodjobs,reducingpoverty,increasingthequalityofpubliceducation,openingthedoorsofcollegetoall,increasingaccesstohealthcare,investingmoreinscienceandtechnology,andbuildingnewallianceswithourformeradversaries,andworkingforpeaceacrosstheworldandpeaceinAmerica,acrossallthelinesthatdivideus.

NowwhenIproposedtodoboth,wesaidthatallofthemwereconsistentwiththegreatAmericanvaluesofopportunity,responsibilityandcommunity.Welabeledtheapproach"NewDemocrat."Itthenbecameknownas"theThirdWay."Itwas--asitwasembracedbyprogressivepartiesacrosstheworld.ButIlikethesloganwehadwaybackin1992,"puttingpeoplefirst,"becauseintheend,Ialwayskeptscorebyasimplemeasure:WereordinarypeoplebetteroffwhenIstoppedthanwhenIstarted?

Igrewupinthepre-televisionage,inafamilyofuneducatedbutsmart,hard-working,caringstorytellers.Theytaughtmethateveryonehasastory.Andthatmadepoliticsintenselypersonaltome.Itwasaboutgivingpeoplebetterstories.That''''swhyIaskedthosesixpeopletotalkheretoday.WhenIthinkoftheFamilyLeaveLaw,IthinkofthatgoodmanwhobroughthisdyingdaughtertoseemeintheWhiteHouseonaSundaymorning,andwhograbbedmeasIwalkedawayandsaid,"ThetimeIgottotakeofffromworkwasthemostimportanttimeinmylife."

Ithinkofpeoplelikethatfinewomanwhoworkedherselfoutofwelfareandnowrunsherownbusiness.IrememberthefirstwomanIevertalkedtowhowentfromwelfaretowork.Isaid,"What''''sthebestthingaboutit?"Shesaid,"Whenmyboygoestoschoolandtheysay,''''Whatdoesyourmamadoforaliving,''''hecangiveananswer."Thosearethethingsthatmakepoliticsrealtome,athomeandaroundtheworld.

Therecordisallinthere--whatwedidathome,whatwedidabroad.IthankBonoforsingingaboutNorthernIrelandandPresidentBushformentioningtheBalkans.Thereweremanyotherplaceswetriedtohelp.

Buttherecordisthere.Evenwherewefellshort,wepushedforward.AndwhatIwanttosayis,ifyouthinkofthebiggestdisappointmentaroundtheworldtome,ItriedsohardforpeaceintheMiddleEast.IthankShimonPeresandthechildrenofYitzhakRabinandEhudBarakforbeingheretoday,andthecurrentforeignministerofIsraelforbeingheretoday.IdidallIcould.世界秘书网版权所有

Butwhenwehadsevenyearsofprogresstowardpeace,therewasonewholeyearwhen,forthefirsttimeinthehistoryofthestateofIsrael,notonepersondiedofaterroristattack,whenthePalestiniansbegantobelievetheycouldhaveasharedfuture.Andso,Mr.President,again,Isay:IhopeyougettocrossoverintothepromisedlandofMiddleEastpeace.Wehaveagoodopportunity,andweareallprayingforyou.

(Applause)

Finally,letmesaythis.Quiteapartfromallthedetails,thethingIwantmostisforpeoplewhocometothislibrary,whetherthey''''reRepublicansorDemocrats,liberalsorconservatives,toseethatpublicserviceisnobleandimportant,thatthechoicesanddecisionsleadersmakeaffectthelivesofmillionsofAmericansandpeopleallacrosstheworld.

IwantyoungpeopletowanttoseenotonlywhatIdidwithmylife,buttoseewhattheycoulddowiththeirlives.Becausethisismostlythestoryofwhatwe,thepeople,candowhenweworktogether.

Yes,thislibraryisthesymbolofabridge,abridgetothe21stcentury.It''''sbeencalledoneofthegreatachievementsofthenewage,andaBritishmagazinesaiditlookedlikeaglorifiedhousetrailer.AndIthought,well,that''''saboutme,youknow?I''''malittleredandalittleblue.

(Laughter)

WhatitistomeisthesymbolofnotonlywhatItriedtodobutwhatIwanttodowiththerestofmylife--buildingbridgesfromyesterdaytotomorrow,buildingbridgesacrossracialandreligiousandethnicandincomeandpoliticaldivides.

Buildingbridges.

Ibelieveourmissioninthisnewcenturyisclear.Forgoodorill,weliveinaninterdependentworld.Wecan''''tescapeeachother.Andwhilewehavetofightourenemies,wecan''''tpossiblykill,jailoroccupyallofthem.Therefore,wehavetospendourlivesbuildingaglobalcommunityandanAmericancommunityofsharedresponsibilities,sharedvalues,sharedbenefits.

Whatarethosevalues?AndIwanttosaythis.Thisisimportant.Idon''''twanttobetoopoliticalhere,butitbothersmewhenAmericagetsasdividedasitwas.Ioncesaidtoafriendofmine,aboutthreedaysbeforetheelection--Iheardalltheseterriblethings--Isaid,"Youknow,amItheonlypersonintheentireUnitedStatesofAmericawholikesbothGeorgeW.BushandJohnKerry,whobelievesthey''''rebothgoodpeople,whobelievestheybothloveourcountryandtheyjustseetheworlddifferently?"

Whatshouldoursharedvaluesbe?Everybodycounts.Everybodydeservesachance.Everybody''''sgotaresponsibilitytofulfill.Wealldobetterwhenweworktogether.Ourdifferencesdomatter,butourcommonhumanitymattersmore.

SoItellyouwecancontinuebuildingourbridgetotomorrow.ItwillrequiresomeredAmericanline-drawingandsomeblueAmericanbarrier-breaking,butwecandoittogether.

ThankyouandGodblessyou.(Applause)世界秘书网版权所有