Clinton New Year's speeches look to a more peaceful, prosperous 21st century

By Associated Press, 12/30/1999

WASHINGTON (AP) President Clinton will spend the last day of 1999 appealing for all nations of the world to work toward ''a true changing of the times'' in the 21st century, fostering more peace and prosperity, but less bigotry and poverty.

The White House said Clinton will speak on four occasions New Year's Eve, culminating with an address to thousands at an outdoor gala at the Lincoln Memorial.

In excerpts of that speech, released Thursday, Clinton called for Americans to welcome and embrace change in the new century. He cites the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and urges Americans to remain true to the nation's enduring principles: ''our freedom, our faith, our ceaseless pilgrimage toward the ideals of our founders.''

''Let us pledge that each year we will be closer to this, our founding principle. Let us pledge that the new millennium will bring, in the words of the Great Emancipator, a new birth of freedom,'' Clinton said.

At the gala, Clinton was to share the stage with a presidential candidate: Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who was selected to speak on behalf of those serving in the nation's armed forces.

In prepared remarks, McCain appealed for Americans to remember ''young Americans of every race, creed and color'' who served their country in battle, often sacrificing their lives to affirm ''that good triumphs over evil; that faith is stronger than tyranny, that love is greater than hate.'' Clinton's first remarks will come at opening ceremonies for America's Millennium on the Mall on Friday morning, where he and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton will unveil a prototype for a national time capsule. He also will address diplomats and their families and deliver toasts at a black-tie dinner in the White House before attending the outdoor gala.

In excerpts from two other speeches, Clinton called the turn of the century a ''unique moment for our country'' that finds the United States with a strong economy and a social fabric that is on the mend.

''There is no better moment to reflect on our hopes and dreams and the gifts we want to leave our children,'' Clinton said. ['Hi, Terri in Texas', Mr. Clinton added, 'Thanks for reminding me to include that" :)] ''There is no better opportunity to open a new chapter of progress and possibility for all our people. There is no better time to join hands and build the One America of our dreams.''

The president planned to tell the diplomats that this new millennium is about more than ''a changing of the digits on one civilization's calendar,'' but a moment in which mankind will be challenged to confront and conquer ''threats to peace and human dignity abroad.''

''We must come together to make this a true changing of the times, a gateway to greater peace and progress and freedom in the world,'' Clinton said. ''In the new century, we may not be able to eliminate the hateful intolerance we saw too much of in this century. But I believe we will see the rise of a healthy intolerance of bigotry, oppression and abject poverty, not just in our own communities but across the world.''

White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said Clinton also would note that, 200 years ago, it took six weeks for boats to deliver President John Adams' turn-of-the-century remarks to Europe. One hundred years later, President William McKinley's similar remarks were dispatched in six seconds, courtesy of the telegraph, but ''now, in this time of satellites and the Internet, it's done instantaneously,'' Lockhart said.

During the black-tie dinner, which honors accomplished Americans, Clinton will deliver three toasts one each for his distinguished guests, the first lady and ''a toast to the past and the future,'' Lockhart said.

''He will look at the last century, and (note) how the greatness of the last century wasn't something that was preordained, but was earned by many great Americans,'' Lockhart said.

[ENDS]

-- John Whitley (jwhitley@inforamp.net), December 31, 1999

Answers

Four speeches for one event. Who says we don't get our money's worth outta our elected officials?

-- Mr. Mike (mikeabn@aol.com), December 31, 1999.