[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II)]
[September 21, 1998]
[Page 1633]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at a United Nations Luncheon in New York City
September 21, 1998

    Mr. Secretary-General, members of the Secretariat, President 
Opertti, fellow leaders, first let me thank the Secretary-General for 
his remarks and for his leadership and echo his remarks.
    Franklin Roosevelt coined the term ``United Nations.'' I think we 
all agree that we are more and more united with every passing year. We 
are more and more against the same things, but even more important, we 
are more and more for the same things. The United States has been a 
great beneficiary of the United Nations, and we honor the location of 
the United Nations here and the chance to be partners with all of you.
    I would like to say just one particular word about the Secretary-
General. I believe he has truly been the right leader for this time. In 
the United States we are ending the baseball season in our country, and 
here in New York there was once a great baseball figure named Leo 
Durocher whose most famous saying was ``Nice guys finish last.'' Kofi 
Annan proves that Leo Durocher was wrong. He has proceeded with great 
kindness and decency. He has proved to all of us that change is possible 
and that, in his words, one can dare to make a difference. He has stood 
for human rights and peace. He has demonstrated both strength and 
courage and humility and infinite patience.
    I thank him for embodying the best of what we all hope the world can 
become, for his leadership, for reform, for putting a good team in 
place, for lifting the morale of the people who work here on all our 
behalf. And I ask all of you to join me in a toast to the Secretary-
General and the staff of the United Nations.

Note: The President spoke at 1:50 p.m. in the North Delegates Lounge. In 
his remarks, he referred to U.N. General Assembly President Didier 
Opertti.