    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [February 8, 1999]
    [Pages 181-182]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the American Embassy Community in Amman, Jordan
    February 8, 1999

    Death of King Hussein I

        Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to begin, if I might,
    by thanking President Bush, President
    Carter, and President Ford and this congressional delegation for coming on very short
    notice all the way to Jordan to make a clear and unambiguous statement
    about our regard and respect and gratitude to King Hussein and the
    people of Jordan. I thank them very, very much.
        I want to thank Ambassador Burns and
    all of you in the Embassy community for representing us in a difficult
    and challenging part of the world, in a wonderful country. I thank all
    the Jordanian nationals who work for the United States. We are honored
    by your efforts. And when Jordanians and Americans work together in our
    Embassy here in Amman, they symbolize the partnership that we hope will
    always exist between the United States and Jordan.
        Most of what I would have said has already been said so eloquently
    by those who have spoken before. I would just like to make a couple of
    points about King Hussein and about King Abdullah.
        First of all, Hussein really did bring people together. You know, I
    was looking at the four of us--here we are, two Democrats, two
    Republicans--we've agreed on many things; we've disagreed on a thing or
    two over time. But we know that America's interest and America's heart
    were close to this King and this country.
        I looked at the Israeli delegation today; I could hardly believe my
    eyes. All the candidates for prime minister were there. [Laughter] They
    were all walking together. I don't know if they talk at home, but they
    were all talking here. [Laughter] I thought, it was as if Hussein was
    hugging them all, you know? It was really a beautiful sight. People
    coming from all around the world, countries that are at each other's
    throat, here meeting in peace and friendship and the sanctity of the
    umbrella of this great man. He worked with every American President
    since President Eisenhower--amazing thing.
        The second thing I would like to say is that he really was driven
    not by the title he had but by the responsibilities it bore. And he was
    ennobled not by the title but by the strength of his own character and
    his vision and his spirit. It was unbelievable to me, when we talked
    right before we started this last round of peace negotiations at Wye--
    and I knew how ill he was--he said, ``Well, I would be willing to come
    down there if you think it would help.'' I said, ``If I think it would
    help? This whole thing is about to come apart; of course, it would
    help.'' I said, ``If you come down, they won't have the courage

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    to walk away here without an agreement.'' And so he did.
        And he took a house, and some days he could only work 30 minutes or
    an hour. But every day we needed him in that long Wye peace accord, he
    was there. Every day he was needed, he was there--no matter how sick he
    was, no matter how bad he felt. And his son, the new King, told me tonight, he said, ``You know, the truth is it put
    some days on his life because he was doing what he believed in.'' And
    all the icy atmosphere of those tense talks would immediately disappear
    when Hussein walked in the room, because all the differences and
    animosities and grievances seemed small in the face of this very large
    presence. And it was almost as if the more frail his body became, the
    more powerful the essence of his spirit was.
        Every Jordanian citizen can be proud of that--can be proud that on
    every continent, in every country of the world, people said that is the
    sort of person we all ought to be.
        The last point I would like to make is that I would like to join the
    previous speakers in saying that I have great confidence in the young
    King of Jordan. I had a very good meeting
    with him today. He clearly understands his mission. He said in the most
    moving way--he said, ``I and all of my brothers and sisters have
    absorbed our father's teaching; we know what we are supposed to do, and
    I intend to do it.'' And he said it in a way that exuded the quiet,
    humble confidence that I saw so often in his father.
        And finally, just on a purely personal note, I was deeply honored to
    be able to bring Queen Noor's mother and
    father over on the airplane with me. They are
    in this audience tonight, because we are leaving from here. And I think
    we should let them know that our prayers and support are with them, and
    we are grateful that their daughter, a daughter of
    America, has been a magnificent Queen of Jordan and a great friend to
    the people of both countries.
        Hillary and I have had so many unbelievable experiences as a result
    of the great honor of serving in the White House. But among those I will
    treasure most every day of my life are the times we had with the King of
    Jordan. He made us all a little better, and he always will.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 7:45 p.m. in the Ballroom at the Marriott
    Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to U.S. Ambassador to Jordan William
    J. Burns; and Queen Noor's parents, Najeeb and Doris Halaby. The
    transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included
    the remarks of former Presidents Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, and
    George Bush; the First Lady; and Ambassador Burns.