president clinton, senator clinton, president carter and mrs. carter, president bush and mother governor and mrs. huckabee, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: laura and i are really pleased to be a part of this happy and historic occasion. on this day of dedication, we honor the man from hope, arkansas, who became the 42nd president of the united states. mr. president, congratulations.
this presidential library chronicles a vivid era in american history, for the benefit of future generations. it will contribute to the vitality of this fine city and to the great state of arkansas. the collections here record the dedication and hard work of thousands, who brought talent and idealism to public service. and at the center of that era, at the head of that administration, was an able and energetic american. president bill clinton led our country with optimism and a great affection for the american people, and that affection has been returned. he gave all to his job, and the nation gave him two terms.
in the early 1990s, the american people saw a young, well-spoken, relatively unknown governor rise to national prominence. yet for decades here in arkansas, the signs of destiny were clear. when young william entered a new school in the 4th grade, a classmate recalls, "he didn't mean to, but he just took the place over." when governor clinton declared his candidacy for president in this city, his close friends were not surprised in the least. they'd always known that bill clinton's moment in history would come.
arkansas is a state that knows political skill when you see it. a fellow in saline county was asked by his son why he liked governor clinton so much. he said, son, he'll look you in the eye, he'll shake your hand, he'll hold your baby, he'll pat your dog -- all at the same time.
over the years, bill clinton showed himself to be much more than a good politician. his home state elected him governor in the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s, because he was an innovator, a serious student of policy, and a man of great compassion. in the white house, the whole nation witnessed his brilliance and mastery of detail, his persuasive power, and his persistence. the president is not the kind to give up a fight. his staffers were known to say, "if clinton were the titanic, the iceberg would sink."
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