[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 4 (Monday, January 27, 1997)]
[Pages 86-87]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Swearing-In of Madeleine Albright as Secretary of State 
and an Exchange With Reporters

January 23, 1997

    Welcome. Mr. Vice President, Secretary-designate Albright, members 
of your family, Senator Helms, Senator Mikulski. Is Congressman Hamilton 
here? Under Secretary Tarnoff. I'm very pleased to preside at Madeleine 
Albright's swearing-in today. I thank the Senate for its swift and 
unanimous approval of her nomination. That reflects the confidence that 
all of us have in this remarkable American. It also sends a strong 
signal of the Senate's willingness to work with us to fashion a 
constructive and bipartisan foreign policy to advance the national 
interest of America.
    This is a time of great hope and opportunity. If we are going to 
realize its promise, we must recognize that our global leadership is 
essential. In the next century, no less than this one, America must 
continue to be the world's greatest force for peace and freedom and 
prosperity. Madeleine Albright has the strength and wisdom to help 
ensure that America remains the indispensable nation.
    Arriving on our shores as a refugee from tyranny and oppression, she 
worked her way up with determination and character to attain our 
Nation's highest diplomatic office. She knows from her life's experience 
that freedom has its price and democracy its rewards.

[[Page 87]]

Her story is the best of America's story, told with courage, compassion, 
and conviction.
    As our U.N. Ambassador these last 4 years, she has stood 
unflinchingly for America's interest and values. Now as our Secretary of 
State, she will help lead the effort to build a world where America 
makes the most of its partnerships with friends and allies around the 
world, where America leads the fight for a world that is safer from 
weapons of terror and mass destruction, where America leads the fight 
for a world that is safer from organized crime, drug trafficking, and 
all terrorist activity, and where expanded trade brings growth and 
opportunity, where peace and freedom know no frontiers.
    Just as I have benefited time and again from her counsel and her 
judgment, the American people will benefit from her leadership and her 
ability to speak to them about the importance of our being strong abroad 
in order to have a strong, good life here at home.
    On their behalf, I ask now that the Vice President swear Madeleine 
Albright into her new office.

[At this point, Vice President Gore administered the oath of office and 
Secretary Albright made brief remarks.]

    Q. Madam Secretary, what is your first order of business?
    Secretary Albright. To go over to the State Department and tell them 
all that we have a very important job to do with the hard work of our 
foreign service and civil service who works in the State Department. And 
then I will plan the next steps. But my first goal is really to go and 
work with the excellent people that have provided the backbone of 
America's diplomatic service.
    Q. Madam Secretary, now that you've made history, how else do you 
intend to differ from your predecessor?
    Secretary Albright. I'm basically interested in serving the 
President of the United States and the people of the United States as 
best I can. I'm very proud to be an American. And I hope very much that 
the American people will be proud of me as I perform this service for 
the United States.
    Thank you.
    Q. Are you going to be tough on the new Secretary-General, as you 
were on his predecessor? [Laughter]
    Secretary Albright. I think we are going to meet with the new 
Secretary-General. I'm very pleased, actually, that his--the first 
official trip that--the first visit here that the President is going to 
have after his inauguration is with the United Nations Secretary-
General. My first official act will be to meet with the President and 
the new Secretary-General in a little while. And I think that is a very 
good sign of the support that the United States is going to give to the 
United Nations. And as the Vice President said last night, we are 
committed to the United Nations.
    Thank you.
    The President. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 12:18 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House.