[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
[February 7, 1999]
[Pages 178-179]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on the Death of King Hussein I of 
Jordan
February 7, 1999

    Today the world mourns the loss of one of its great leaders, King 
Hussein of Jordan. I mourn the loss of a partner and friend. He was a 
magnificent man. And like so many, I loved and admired him.
    King Hussein once wrote, ``I believe we must live with courage and 
will. I must do so because, regardless of any difficulties I face, when 
the time comes for me to lose my life, I would at least have done my 
best.''
    He did far better than that. A humble man and a king; a leader whose 
nobility came not from his title but his character; a man who believed 
that we are all God's children, bound to live together in mutual respect 
and tolerance--King Hussein was ennobled. Many times his life was 
threatened, but each brush with mortality ennobled him. He learned that 
God only gives us a limited number of opportunities and that we must 
make the most of them. Surely, he did.
    As he survived, Jordan survived. He grew in wisdom, and so did 
Jordan. He grew in stature, and so did Jordan. He won the respect and 
admiration of the entire world, and so did his beloved Jordan.
    We remember his voice, each word slowly said, followed by a pause, a 
moment for silent reflection, as if he were reminding us that it is wise 
to think before we speak, to speak before we act. His manner was as 
strong and calming as his message.
    We remember him piloting his plane, traveling wherever his cause 
took him; flying at night in the years when courage and stealth were 
required just to speak to one's enemies; soaring in the sunlight above 
Jerusalem when the peace he forged with Israel made that possible again.

[[Page 179]]

    He once said, ``The beauty of flying high in the skies will always, 
to me, symbolize freedom.'' King Hussein lived his life on a higher 
plane, with the aviator's gift of seeing beyond the low-flying obstacles 
of hatred and mistrust that heartbreak and loss place in all our paths. 
He spent his life fighting for the dignified aspirations of his people 
and all Arab people. He worked all his life to build friendship between 
the Jordanian and American people. He dedicated the final years of his 
life to the promise not only of coexistence but of partnership between 
the Arab world and Israel.
    Indeed, he understood what must be clear now to anyone who has flown 
above the Middle East and seen in one panorama at sunset the lights of 
Amman and Tel Aviv and Damascus shining in the sky, that in the 
relationship among peoples who share this small, sacred corner of Earth, 
one thing, and only one, is predestined: All are bound to be neighbors. 
The question is not whether they will live side by side, but how. God 
willing, soon all will see what he saw and preached: There can be no 
peace, no dignity, no security of any of Abraham's children until there 
is peace, dignity, and security for all of them.
    During the Wye summit, when the talks were not going so well, he 
came out within a few short minutes and changed the tenor of the 
meeting. Though frail with fighting for his own life, he gave life to 
the process many felt was failing. The smallest man in the room that day 
was the largest; the frailest was the strongest. The man with the least 
time remaining reminded us we are working not only for ourselves but for 
all eternity.
    To Queen Noor, I extend the heartfelt 
condolences of the American people. At times such as these, words are 
inadequate. But the friendship that joins Jordan and the United States, 
for which your marriage stood and your love still stands, that will 
never fail. You are a daughter of America and a Queen of Jordan. You 
have made two nations very proud. Hillary and I cherish the wonderful 
times we shared with you and His Majesty. And today we say to you, and 
indeed to all the King's large and loving family, our prayers are with 
you.
    We say to his son, the new King Abdullah, we wish you well. Our prayers are with you as you assume 
the mantle of your father and grandfather. And to the people of Jordan, 
again we say, we extend the hand of friendship and partnership.
    The Koran teaches: You belong to God, and you return to Him. Today 
my friend is in Paradise, and God has welcomed home a good and faithful 
servant.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 11:02 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. The related proclamation of February 7 on the death of King 
Hussein is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.