[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.