名人演讲稿

PresidentBillClinton:

Goodafternoon.

Asanyoneclosetomeknows,formonthsIhavebeengrapplingwithhowbesttoreconcilemyselftotheAmericanpeople,toacknowledgemyownwrongdoingandstilltomaintainmyfocusontheworkofthepresidency.

Othersarepresentingmydefenseonthefacts,thelawandtheConstitution.NothingIcansaynowcanaddtothat.

WhatIwanttheAmericanpeopletoknow,whatIwanttheCongresstoknowisthatIamprofoundlysorryforallIhavedonewronginwordsanddeeds.

Inevershouldhavemisledthecountry,theCongress,myfriendsormyfamily.Quitesimply,Igaveintomyshame.Ihavebeencondemnedbymyaccuserswithharshwords.

Andwhileit''''shardtohearyourselfcalleddeceitfulandmanipulative,IrememberBenFranklin''''sadmonitionthatourcriticsareourfriends,fortheydoshowusourfaults.世界秘书网版权所有

MerewordscannotfullyexpresstheprofoundremorseIfeelforwhatourcountryisgoingthroughandforwhatmembersofbothpartiesinCongressarenowforcedtodealwith.ThesepastmonthshavebeenatorturousprocessofcomingtotermswithwhatIdid.Iunderstandthataccountabilitydemandsconsequences,andI''''mpreparedtoacceptthem.

PainfulasthecondemnationoftheCongresswouldbe,itwouldpaleincomparisontotheconsequencesofthepainIhavecausedmyfamily.Thereisnogreateragony.

Likeanyonewhohonestlyfacestheshameofwrongfulconduct,IwouldgiveanythingtogobackandundowhatIdid.

ButoneofthepainfultruthsIhavetolivewithistherealitythatthatissimplynotpossible.Anoldanddearfriendofminerecentlysentmethewisdomofapoetwhowrote,"Themovingfingerwritesandhavingwrit,moveson.Norallyourpietynorwitshalllureitbacktocancelhalfaline.Norallyourtearswashoutawordofit.''''''''

Sonothing,notpiety,nortears,norwit,nortormentcanalterwhatIhavedone.Imustmakemypeacewiththat.

ImustalsobeatpeacewiththefactthatthepublicconsequencesofmyactionsareinthehandsoftheAmericanpeopleandtheirrepresentativesintheCongress.

Shouldtheydeterminethatmyerrorsofwordanddeedrequiretheirrebukeandcensure,Iamreadytoacceptthat.

Meanwhile,IwillcontinuetodoallIcantoreclaimthetrustoftheAmericanpeopleandtoservethemwell.

Wemustallreturntothework,thevitalwork,ofstrengtheningournationforthenewcentury.Ourcountryhaswonderfulopportunitiesanddauntingchallengesahead.IintendtoseizethoseopportunitiesandmeetthosechallengeswithalltheenergyandabilityandstrengthGodhasgivenme.

ThatissimplyallIcando--theworkoftheAmericanpeople.

Thankyouverymuch.世界秘书网版权所有

PresidentBillClinton-December11,1998