    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [February 18, 2000]
    [Pages 279-280]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message on the Observance of Presidents' Day, 2000
    February 18, 2000

        I am pleased to join all Americans in observing Presidents' Day.
        Today we salute the leadership and achievements of all those who
    have held America's highest elected office, and we celebrate with

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    special pride the rich legacies of Presidents Washington and Lincoln.
        As our first President, George Washington gave strength and
    legitimacy to our young democracy while ensuring that the newly formed
    federal government remained accountable to the American people. A leader
    of exceptional courage and vision in both war and peace, he helped shape
    the 13 colonies into a nation dedicated to the values of liberty and
    justice for all.
        More than 70 years later, Abraham Lincoln sought to reunite
    Americans behind these same fundamental values. Through the
    extraordinary hardship and sacrifice of the Civil War, he remained
    devoted to the causes of freedom and equality and to preserving our
    Union. In the waning days of that cruel conflict, he showed remarkable
    compassion and determination in his efforts to bind our nation's wounds
    and restore dignity to all our people.
        It was within view of our national monuments to these two great
    leaders that thousands of our fellow Americans recently joined Hillary
    and me to welcome the first moments of the 21st century. The era of
    unrivaled prosperity and peace in which we now live affords us a
    singular opportunity to reaffirm the values that guided Washington and
    Lincoln and that have shaped our national character and destiny for more
    than 200 years. By strengthening our democracy, embracing equal justice
    and opportunity, and celebrating our diversity, we can continue to build
    the America that they envisioned and strived so hard to achieve.
        Best wishes to all for a wonderful celebration.

                                                                Bill Clinton