    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [June 2, 2000]
    [Pages 1068-1069]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the Sponsors of the International Charlemagne Prize in Aachen
    June 2, 2000

        Thank you very much. Mr. Mayor, Mr.
    President, the rector of the
    university, and the Charlemagne Prize
    Foundation members. I have given my speech today, so I would just like
    to make a couple of comments. First, let me say that I have wanted to
    come to this great city since I was a young man, over 35 years ago, when
    I first began to study the history of Europe. And so today was, for me,
    a personal dream come true. And I only regret that I didn't get to spend
    more time in the cathedral. [Laughter] But the mayor says I can come
    back. [Laughter]
        Let me also say how very impressed I am by the modern things about
    this city, as well, beginning with the mayor and the enlightened speech
    that he gave and the energy and friendliness of the people. I have
    enjoyed it very much.
        I would like to say just a word about the Charlemagne Prize itself.
    Fifty years ago, when this prize was created, the city fathers were true
    visionaries. They refused to give in to the despair that enveloped so
    much of Europe. Today after I gave my speech, so many people came up to
    me and said, ``You're so optimistic.'' And I thought I was being
    faithful to the founders of the prize. And I find it foolish to have any
    other attitude toward life. If you look back over the last 50 years, I
    think it is remarkable how far we have come. And yes, there are great
    challenges, but there's no reason to believe that good people can't do
    what needs to be done.

    [[Page 1069]]

        Let me say with regard to the prize, since it is really about
    European unity and, for me, transatlantic unity, I thought that the best
    thing I could do would be to donate the prize money to a student
    exchange program that would promote unity in a more immediate sense
    among people still young enough to make the most of it. And so the
    exchange program that I am going to give the prize money to joins Aachen
    and its sister city, Arlington, Virginia, which is just across the river
    from the White House. And there they are. I see them.
        So I hope that some good will come of it and that young people from
    this community and Arlington will gain a deeper insight into our
    respective nations and a greater understanding of the future that they
    will have to build.
        This has been a wonderful day for me. Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:10 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City
    Hall. In his remarks, he referred to Lord Mayor Jurgen Linden of Aachen;
    President Johannes Rau of Germany; and Rector Burkhard Rauhut, Aachen
    Technical University.