    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [April 2, 1996]
    [Pages 540-541]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Dinner Honoring President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro of Italy
    April 2, 1996

        Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. President Scalfaro, Mariana
    Scalfaro, members of the Italian delegation, distinguished guests:
    Hillary and I are delighted to welcome President Scalfaro to the White
    House. We were so warmly received by him in both Rome and Naples in
    1994.
        President Scalfaro's long public career and his lifelong devotion to
    the people of Italy mark him as one of the great democrats of our era.
    He has always been a great friend of the United States. And during the
    tremendous changes that have affected Italy and all Western democracies
    since the end of the cold war, he has been a clear voice for civility
    and decency in public life.
        Today we had a serious talk about the issues we are working on
    together, but tonight it is fitting that we celebrate the extraordinary
    friendship between Italy and the United States and between the people of
    Italy and the people of the United States. And tonight, Mr. President,
    on behalf of all the American people, we thank Italy for the greatest of
    all its gifts to

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    us, its people. For America has been enriched beyond measure by Italian-
    Americans.
        In this century we have been treated to supreme grace on our
    sporting fields by athletes from Joe Dimaggio to Joe Montana. In the
    fine arts we've been blessed with the exuberance of Italians in music
    from Toscanini to Sinatra to Jon Bon Jovi. [Laughter] We have seen the
    pathbreaking innovation of Frank Stella in painting, and we have seen
    Italian after Italian after Italian grace the silver screen, from Frank
    Capra to this year's best actor, Nicholas Cage.
        We have, as everyone knows, benefited enormously from contributions
    to our public life from the legendary Fiorello LaGuardia to Senator John
    Pastore, Judge John Sirica, Governor Cuomo, Geraldine Ferraro, the many
    Italian-American mayors here tonight, the many Italian-Americans now
    serving in Congress, and to the Italian-Americans who serve on the
    court, beginning with the Supreme Court Justice, who has also joined us
    this evening.
        Of course, there are millions more. The Italian-Americans who built
    our businesses and our farms, who are the backbone of our communities,
    they deserve so much of the credit for America's strength and greatness.
        Many believe the remarkable story of Italians in America began with
    the immigration at the early part of this century. But in fact, the
    pattern was set long before that by an Italian named Henry de Tonti,
    born Enrico Tonti in Gaeta. A renowned soldier, sometime diplomat,
    fearless adventurer, Tonti was the most trusted deputy of the great
    French explorer La Salle. You could say he was La Salle's Leon Panetta.
    [Laughter]
        He had an incredible string of accomplishments. He was the first
    European to build a ship on our Great Lakes. He and La Salle together
    explored the Mississippi River. He brought settlers and traders to the
    great State of Illinois. And historians credit him with being the true
    father of that State. This remarkable Italian came to my attention
    because in 1686 he founded a settlement about midway between Illinois
    and the Gulf of Mexico on the Mississippi River. The town became known
    as Arkansas Post, the very first settlement in my home State.
        La Salle said that Tonti's energy and resolve made him, and I quote,
    ``equal to anything.'' In their long and rich history, Italian-Americans
    have proved themselves equal to anything. And so the extraordinary
    friendship between the United States and Italy has also proved equal to
    anything.
        The extraordinary friendship between the United States and Italy,
    rooted in our common love of liberty and democracy, our shared energy
    and resolve, will help us rise to the challenges of the 21st century and
    will ensure that we will always be the closest of allies, the best of
    friends.
        And so ladies and gentlemen, let us raise a glass to the partnership
    between our nations, to the Italian-American community, to the President
    of Italy and his daughter. Viva l'Italia, and God bless America.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:37 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House.