    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [September 13, 1993]
    [Pages 1484-1485]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Dinner Honoring Former Presidents
    September 13, 1993

        Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please. The
    microphone's not on, so I'll just speak.
        First, let me welcome you all to the White House and thank you all
    for being part of a great and promising day for the United States and
    for the Middle East and for the entire world.
        I am so pleased that we could end this magnificent day with a
    gathering of many of the great American leaders who made this day
    possible. I want to salute all my predecessors who are here: President
    Ford, President Carter, President Bush, and especially acknowledge the
    contributions of President Carter at Camp David and President Bush in
    starting the peace talks in Madrid, President Ford for his wise
    leadership during a pivotal time in the history of the Middle East. I
    want to thank the Secretaries of State who worked tirelessly over many
    years for peace in the Middle East: Henry Kissinger, George Shultz,
    Cyrus Vance, James Baker, Larry Eagleburger, and of course, my own
    Secretary and good friend, Warren Christopher. I thank the Congress for
    the essential role that it plays in providing the guidance, the
    resources, and the bipartisan support. The Speaker is here and our
    majority leader, Dick Gephardt, the Senate and House whips, Senators
    Ford and Simpson, Congressmen Bonior and Gingrich. And I want to thank
    all the rest of you who are here who have made a contribution to the
    remarkable events that are unfolding today.
        In this room we represent both political parties and, I think it's
    fair to say, a fairly wide array of views about public events. But we do

    [[Page 1485]]

    have this in common: We agree that the United States must continue to
    exert its leadership if there is to be hope in this world of taking
    advantage of the end of the cold war, great hunger of people all over
    the world for democracy and freedom and peace and prosperity.
        In the days ahead I ask you all to be willing to provide counsel to
    our administration and bipartisan support to sustain the role that the
    United States must pursue in the world. In the face of difficulties and
    dangers and in the pursuit of a better world, we must lead.
        One of our efforts begins tomorrow when all the Presidents and
    former Secretaries of State who are here join me in the formal kickoff
    of our efforts to secure passage of the North American Free Trade
    Agreement. I know that will require great effort and bipartisanship, but
    I believe we will succeed because of the stakes for ourselves
    economically and politically in this hemisphere.
        Tonight, however, let us for the moment rest on the laurels of the
    United States of America and toast peace and progress and the prosperity
    of the American people.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:15 p.m. in the Blue Room at the White
    House.