Remarks at a National Italian American Foundation Dinner - Transcript

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Nov 6, 2000

October 28, 2000

Thank you very much. Thank you to the diehard in the back there. [Laughter] Thank you very much. I'm delighted to be here. I was told on the way in that since I came here as a Governor in 1992, I have made seven of nine possible NIAF dinners, and I am delighted to be here again for the last time as President.

I want to thank Chairman Guarini; your dinner chair, Dick Grasso. I thank the Representatives of Congress who are here, Representatives Morella and Pelosi and my good friend Geri Ferraro, Ambassador Browner, Ambassador Tufo--Administrator Browner--Ambassador Rosapepe. And the President of NIAF, Joe Cerrell.

I also want to say, as all of you know, I have had a penchant for Italian-American Chiefs of Staff; they have been over represented. [Laughter] So far, we have staved off any affinnative action suits. [Laughter] When Leon Panetta was my Chief of Staff, he used to say that it was such a hard job, he thought "Panetta" was Italian for "pinata." [Laughter]

Now, John Podesta is here. We were doing a little research the other day--this is true; this is not an after-dinner joke--and we discovered that in Renaissance Italy, the rulers of the city-states were often quite apprehensive that they wouldn't be able to maintain authority. So they from time to time hired an enforcer to come in from outside the citystate, and the enforcer was called a "podesta." [Laughter] So he is well-named. And since then, we have a disproportionate number of Italians throughout the White House. Two of them, Karen Tramontano and Loretta Ucelli, are here tonight; I thank them for their work.

I also want to congratulate Tommy Lasorda on the fabulous job he did with our baseball team at the Olympics. And congratulations to you, Mr. Berra. Your spirit was alive and well at the World Series.

I want to congratulate the honorees tonight, my good friend Muhammad All, and Angelo Dundee, Andrea Bocelli, John Paul Dejoria, Joseph Nacchio, Miuccia Prada, Dick Vermeil, and my friend of many, many years Millard Fuller. Thank you for honoring them, and thank you for all the work you do.

The legacy of Italian-Americans has been celebrated by this organization for 25 years now. This is an important milestone for you. I know that you have just begun. One of the things I particularly appreciate is your interest in one America, trying to reach across the cultural divide. Just a couple of nights ago we had a birthday party for Hillary up in New York. And Robert De Niro was hying to teach me how to "speak New York." [Laughter] And I don't know if you saw it, but I was really appreciative that he was so generous and understanding of my culturally challenged accent. [Laughter]

So he tried to teach me how to say "fuggeddaboudit." [Laughter] And I finally learned, see? [Laughter]

At the turn of the last century, an Italian American said, "I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here, I found three things: First, the streets weren't paved with gold; second, they weren't paved at all; third, I was expected to pave them." [Laughter]

In the century that has elapsed, our streets aren't paved with gold yet, but our Nation has entered a golden era, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Italian-Americans, to your intellect, your industry, your goodwill, and above all, your contagious love of life. I must say, I am especially grateful for all the opportunities that I have had these last 8 years to work with not only the Italian American community but also to work with Italy.

I thank the Italian Ambassador, whom I'm sure is here tonight, along with the other distinguished guests from Italy, for all you have done to help make the work of the United States and the world more successful. And I thank the Italians who have been with us from the beginning. An Italian discovered America; another named it. We have two busts in the Blue Room at the White House on the formal State Floor--only two--one of Christopher Columbus, one of Amerigo Vespucci, brought here in the early 1820's by President James Monroe.

Two Italians signed the Declaration of Independence; thousands fought in the Civil War; millions came ashore early in this century, fought in our wars, stood with us in the cold war, built the great American middle class, and now are leading America into the global information age.

Many Italian-Americans from the beginning excelled in athletics--no small number in boxing. I grew up watching Rocky Marciano. There was Carmen Basilio, Jake LaMotta, and so many others.

It is, therefore, altogether fitting that you would give your first One America Award to Muhammad Ali. In the ring, he captured the imagination of the world with his distinctive fighting style. Before and after the fights, he captured the imagination of the world with his distinctive speaking style. He's the first fighter ever to win the heavyweight title three times. But outside the ring and what he's done since, in my mind, are even more impressive: his work for children and feeding the hungry and dedicating his life to his faith and his fellow human beings.