[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
[April 30, 1999]
[Pages 664-665]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Friends of Art and Preservation in Embassies Dinner
April 30, 1999

    Well, let me say to all of you, first, welcome. I want to thank Jo 
Carole Lauder, Robin Chandler Duke, Ann Gund, everyone else 
who has worked on this program.
    You know, I look forward to this every year. This is a night when I 
can appreciate what is constant about our Embassies, rather than what is 
changing in our relationships with the countries involved. [Laughter] 
And I must say that tonight is especially important. I want to welcome 
the artists, those who have made such generous gifts. Any number of 
representatives of the governments of other nations are here tonight, 
and we welcome them, as well. I want to say a special word of thank you 
to Joel Shapiro for helping to make our new 
Embassy in Ottawa a showcase of the best in American art.
    The Arts in Embassies program is quite a success all around the 
world. And as you might imagine, Hillary and I, because we have had the 
opportunity and the responsibility to travel quite a lot, have seen more 
of the fruits of your labors than almost any other Americans. I can tell 
you, having spent the night in any number of Embassies, held any number 
of receptions, one of the things that people always comment on is the 
art. And many, many people come to see the President when I'm in a given 
country who don't know anything about our Arts in Embassies program, and 
so I have become one of your better ambassadors of good will--
[laughter]--in explaining how we come to have all this magnificent art 
in our Embassies throughout the world.
    Senator Specter, I have never claimed that 
Congress spent taxpayers' money on it, but neither have I denied it. 
[Laughter]
    And as all of you know--and Hillary was talking about some of the 
art we have in the White House--one of the great pleasures of living 
here is just living around the art that is here. And to all of you who 
have contributed to the art in the White House, many over several 
decades, I am profoundly grateful for that, as well.
    Robin mentioned that this is not the easiest of moments for our 
country because of what we are trying to achieve in Kosovo. And she said 
that it was, therefore, especially appreciated that Hillary and I would 
have you here tonight. I would argue that it's especially important that 
you be here tonight. And I'd like to read you something that I hope 
makes the point.
    In the springtime of 1941, as fascism spread across Europe, 
destroying lives and liberties, President Roosevelt spoke at the 
dedication of the National Gallery here in Washington. His words seemed 
to me particularly relevant today, and I'd like to share a few of them 
with you.
    He said, ``Art is part of the present life of all the living and 
creating peoples--all who make and build. These paintings are symbols of 
the human spirit. To accept this work today is to assert that the 
freedom of the human spirit shall not be utterly destroyed.''
    All around the world, our American Embassies are helping people to 
follow the path of freedom and democracy. Our efforts and those of our 
NATO Allies are standing for that freedom and against the principle of 
ethnic cleansing, racial and religious exclusivity as a basis for 
killing and uprooting people and destroying their cultures.
    This is a particularly painful thing for any American with any sense 
of history, for the Serbs were our grand allies in World War II. They 
stood against Hitler, and they fought bravely. And they have their 
legitimate historical grievances, as do most ethnic groups in Europe, 
Asia, Africa, or any other part of the world. We hope to be reconciled 
with them.

[[Page 665]]

    But one of the things we all have to learn is to affirm our common 
humanity, even if it means setting aside our legitimate historical 
grievance. And that is what we are working for. That is what art, the 
advancement of art, the defense of the freedom of expression and 
creativity represent--our common humanity, the triumphs over all the 
differences that, when contained, make life more interesting; when 
unleashed as a weapon of war, make it unbearable.
    So I ask you to stay with this program long after Hillary and I 
leave the White House, as the best expression not only of artistic 
creativity but the universal rights of human beings to be free.
    Thank you, and God bless you.

Note: The President spoke at 7:18 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Jo Carole Lauder, chair, and Ann 
Gund, president, Friends of Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE); 
Robin Chandler Duke, cochair, FAPE Millennium Project; and sculptor Joel 
Shapiro. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary 
also included the remarks of the First Lady.