    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [November 1, 1999]
    [Pages 1946-1947]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Luncheon Hosted by King Harald V
    of Norway in Oslo
    November 1, 1999

        I must say, Your Majesty, that is a much more elegant fanfare than I
    normally get before I speak. [Laughter] Thank you for hosting me and all
    of our American company here. To both of you, we
    are honored to be in your presence. And I am deeply honored to be the
    first sitting American President to visit your wonderful country.
        The United States and Norway are allies and friends. Our friendship
    is rooted, of course, in our common shared interests and our common
    shared values; also, a remarkable textured, shared history. Vikings from
    these shores were among the first Europeans to walk the shores of North
    America. Since July 4th, 1825, when the first Norwegian ship sailed for
    the United States, millions of Norwegians seeking freedom and
    opportunity have, as His Majesty has noted, contributed immensely to our
    society.
        I think it's worth noting a few of them, for their descendants
    include many luminaries from our past and present: national leaders from
    Congressman Sabo's home State, like Walter
    Mondale and Hubert Humphrey; great jurists
    like the late Chief Justice Earl Warren; great thinkers like Thorstein
    Veblen; giants of entertainment like Jimmy Cagney; sports heroes like

    [[Page 1947]]

    Knute Rockne; and, of course, Secretary Albright's predecessor, Warren Christopher.
        Today, there are almost as many people, perhaps even more people of
    Norwegian descent in the United States than in Norway. So, most of all,
    I suppose I should be here, simply thanking you for the precious gift of
    your people.
        Our two nations have also shared the history of some of the darkest
    days of this century when the royal family, as the King has said, spent
    the years of the war living in the United States, including several
    weeks in the White House. I must say one of the most interesting
    experiences I have had as President in my entire tenure was having the
    opportunity to welcome you back to the White House, where you were as a
    small boy. I hope someday someone will welcome me back in that fashion--
    [laughter]--but I won't have quite the memories you do.
        President Roosevelt's last formal statement, just 3 days before his
    death, was a statement in praise of the people of Norway and the people
    of Denmark for their courage during the occupation. The King said that
    he remembered standing behind President Roosevelt during his fourth
    inauguration. At the time, the war was still going on. The President was
    not feeling well, and so, at the insistence of his advisers, he agreed
    to be inaugurated actually inside the White House. It is the only time
    in the entire history of our country that a President was inaugurated in
    the White House. Lucky enough for us, it enabled a young man to stand
    behind him, and to carry a memory for more than half a century.
        In President Roosevelt's fourth inaugural address, he summed up the
    lessons learned from the war. He said this: ``We have learned that we
    cannot live alone at peace; that our own well-being is dependent on the
    well-being of other nations far away. We have learned that, to be
    citizens of the world, we have learned to be members of the human
    community. We have learned the simple truth, as Emerson said, the only
    way to have a friend is to be one.''
        Those words still ring true today, in the United States, in Norway,
    in the Middle East. Let us do all we can to remind all those in
    positions of influence, within our countries and beyond our borders,
    that we share a common destiny, and the only way to have a friend is to
    be one.
        We also share an important history in the recent past, that I would
    be remiss if I did not comment upon briefly. In this decade, America and
    Norway have stood side by side as allies and friends to fight ethnic
    cleansing in the Balkans, to prevent the spread of dangerous weapons, to
    promote human rights, and of course, to build peace in the Middle East.
    That is our focus this week. And again I thank our Norwegian hosts for
    all they have done to make the talks that we will have today and
    tomorrow possible.
        Once, Franklin Roosevelt said that any nation seeking to resist
    tyranny and build democracy need only, and I quote, ``look to Norway.''
    It remains just as true today. Free people still look to Norway and will
    always do so.
        Your Majesty, I am grateful for all you have done to keep our
    friendship strong, to prepare our kindred nations for a new century and
    a new millennium, when we will have some more shared history based on
    our shared values.
        I ask all of you now to join me in a toast to King Harald, to the
    Queen, to the people of Norway, and to our
    wonderful alliance.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 1:30 p.m. in the Banquet Room
    at the Royal Palace. In his remarks, he referred to Queen Sonja of
    Norway. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary
    also included the remarks of King Harald V.