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Folder Title:
Armed Forces Appreciation
()
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Speechwriting-Rosshirt, Thomas
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Section:
Shelf:
Position:
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�-------------------.
Withdrawal/B~edaction
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
AND TYPE
001. email
Sheet
DATE
SUBJECTffiTLE
To Thomas M. Rosshirt from Brooke D. Anderson. Subject: Armed
Forces farewell speech (1 page)
01/03/2001
RESTRICTION
P5
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
National Security Council
Speechwriting (Thomas Rosshirt)
ONBox Number: 4020
FOLDER TITLE:
Armed Forces Appreciation
2008-0703-F
'm619
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act- 144 U.S.C. 2204(a)l
Freedom of Information Act -IS U.S.C. 552(b)l
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P4
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an agency l(b)(2) of the FOIAl
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b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
information l(b)(4) of the FOIAl
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy l(b)(6) of the FOIAl
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Relating to the appointment to Federal office l(a)(2) of the PRAl
Release would violate a Federal statute l(a)(3) of the PRAl
Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
financial information l(a)(4) of the PRAl
PS Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
and his advisors, or between such advisors la)(S) of the PRAl
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C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
of gift.
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
2201(3).
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
�.........
-·
Gibson/Rosshirt 01/03/00 10 pm
President William Jefferson Clinton
Armed Forces Farewell, Fort Myer
January S, 2001
Thank you, Secretary Cohen, for your outstanding leadership. You have brought to this
challenge a sharp mind, a fierce integrity and a deep love of your country and of those who wear
its uniform. Deputy Secretary Rudy De Leon, thank you for serving so ably in so many
capacities since the first days of this Administration. Service Secretaries, General Shelton,
General Myers, Service Chiefs, Members ofthe Armed Forces of the United States:
I thank you for these Distinguished Service Medals, which I am very proud to receive. I will ·
keep them in a place of honor, but they will always belong to you-- the soldiers, sailors, airmen,
Marines and Coast Guardsmen here today; the 1.4 million men and women on active duty; the
more than 850,000 serving in the Guard and Reserves. It is your distinguished service that is
responsible for the peace and the prominence America enjoys today.
In July of 1776, our first Commander-in-Chief: General Washington, ordered American troops to
assemble on Manhattan Island to hear the Declaration oflridependence read aloud, in full view
of the British forces landing on Staten Island, so that our troops understood that the survival of
our new country would depend on the success of our armed forces.
America has succeeded, because our Armed Forces have succeeded -- not just in defending our
borders, but in advancing the frontiers of freedom around the world. I have been privileged to
meet you on army bases and aircraft carriers in far-flung regions, where comforts are few and
dangers are many. I have seen the dedication and professionalism with which yoN defend
America's interests. You have given me, as Commander-in-Chief, the advantage ofknowing
that in times of crisis, America's word is backed by the greatest military force in the history of
the world. For that, I am deeply grateful.
Thanks to you the world is safer and America stands taller than ever before. Thanks to your
work, arm in arm with our South Korean allies, there is peace on the Korean Peninsula and new
hope for reconciliation across the last dividing line of the Cold War. Thanks to. you, arm in ann
with our NATO allies, ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia was ended, refugees have
returned to their homes, and freedom has a chance to flower.
Thanks to you, we are closer than ever before to building a Europe that is peaceful, undivided,
and democratic -- a Europe where it is far less likely that young Americans will have to fight and
die to defend our freedom. Thanks to your vigilance, Iraq does not have the capability to
threaten the world or its neighbors with weapons of mass destruction ..
And yet, that is not nearly all you do. On Christmas Eve, I telephoned a number of our men and
women in uniform serving far from home, doing critical work that is unknown to most of us, but
benefits all of us. I thanked Navy Petty Officer Second Class Mario Solares, who serves in
Bahrain -- making sure we have the piers, bridges, and towers our vessels need as they protect
�peace in the Gulf region. I thanked Air Force Staff Sergeant Erin McKenzie, who serves with
the 607th Air Support Operations Group at Osan Air Base, making sure members of the 7th Air
Force get a paycheck every two weeks as they guard the skies over the South Korea. I thanked
US Army Specialist Jeremy Kidder who serves on a remote Pacific island, working to destroy
our Cold War stock of chemical weapons.
I thanked Marine Staff Sergeant Robert Sheridan, who guards our Embassy in Belarus. He was
named Marine Security Guard ofthe Year in 2000. And we know how tough the competition is;
because we've been reminded how dangerous the job is. And I thanked Petty Officer Michael
Sandwith who serves in the Bering Seas on the Coast Guard cutter Midgett- and was recently
forced to give chase to a vessel illegally fishing our waters-- in the middle of a snowstorm with
gale force winds and 24-foot swells.
There are 1.4 million other Americans in uniform with missions just as compelling, serving in
places and doing jobs that Americans don't oft:en hear about. Behind my desk in the Oval
Office, I have a rack of coins from the military units and commanders I have visited these past
eighf years. Whenever I look at these coins, I remember the faces of servicemembers I've met men and women of every race, creed, and color- who trace their ancestry to every region on
earth- yet who are bound together by the common mission of defending freedom, and common
faith in the American creed: E pluribus unum. Out of many, one. It is not only inscribed on
our coins, it is the coin of America's moral authority in the world. And I can tell you after eight
years of traveling the world as your President: people marvel at it. Your ability to live and
work together in spite of your differences is, all by itself, powerful force for peace.
a
You are America's finest, and America must always give you what you need to do your job.
We can never pay you enough, but we can always pay you more. I am proud that a year ago we
put in place the biggest increase in military pay and retirement in a generation. I am proud that
we reversed a decade of decline in defense budgets and can riow point to four straight years of
sp~nding growth.
No one should think for a moment that the strength of our military is less important in times of
peace- because the strength of our military is a major reason we have peace. We live in peacein part- because your courage and your strength makes peace a wiser choice than war for any
potential adversary. History will record our triumphs in battle, but no one can ever write a full
account of the wars never fought, losses never suffered, tears never shed because the men and
women of our military risked their lives for peace. We should never, everforget that.
That doesn't mean our forces can be everywhere or should be everywhere. But it does mean that
there will continue to be times when we will need you to work with our allies to prevent war and
keep peace. Because the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war.
Last year; I visited a refugee camp in Macedonia full ofKosovar Albanians who'd been driven
from their homeland. As I walked through the camp, these young children picked up the chant:
"USA-USA-USA"-- thanking America for gjving them a chance to reclaim their land and live
their dreams. It was the same when I visited Normandy i~ 1994 for the 50th anniversary ofDDay. There, American veterans were approached by French citizens, who told them no matter
�how young they were when it happened, or how old they might one day become, they would
never forget what America did for them.
Years from now, I hope some of our veterans who served in the Balkans have a chance to go
back and see in person the fruits of their service. Years from now, I hope some of our veterans
who served in Korea or the Gulf might have a chance to return there. That some of our veterans
who served in Africa, Asia, Latin America, or Eastern Europe return to where you helped keep
the peace, relieve suffering, or set an example £e>r a fledgling democracy. And it would not
surprise me if, years from now, someone whose hair may be gray, whose face may be weathered,
comes up to an American veteran and says: "God bless you. You gave us our future."
And I hope your nation understands - whatever you have done for the rest of the world, you have
done tenfold for America. For by helping advance freedom around the world, you have helped
make freedom more secure at home. Thank.you. God bless you. And God bless America.
�~-::
:::::
~?AN. 3. 2001
,Sib~rell,
From:.
Sent:
To:
. Cc:
Subject:
4: 26PM
APNSA
N0.206
P.l
Justin H. (NSAj
/1
Rosshirt, Thomas M. (SPCHW) ·
Wednesday, Janu~ry 03, 2001 'I :14 PM
@NSA - Natl Security Advisor
··
@SPEECH • NSC Speechwriters; @DEFENSE • Defense Policy; @NSCComm
Armed Forces Farewell [UNCLASSIFIED]
Fan Myer draft Wad 1
For SRB and DLK:
Armed Forces Farewell Speech. Same additions and deletions and 400 words
shorter.
Changes to Rosshirt
1
�JAN. 3.2001
·4:25PM
APNSA
N0.205
P.2
Gibson/Rosshirt 01/03/00 1 pm
President William Jefferson Clinton
Armed Forces Farewell, Fort Myer
January 5, 2001
so ably in so many capacities since the first days·ofthis Administration. Service Secretaries
_ _ _;General Shelton; Staff General Myers, Service Chiefs ______, Members of the
Armed Forces of the United States:
I thank you for these Distinguished Service Medals, which I am very proltd to receive. I will
keep them in a place ofho11or, but they will always belong to you-· the soldiers, sailors, airmen,
Marines and Coast Guardsmen here today; the 1.4 million men and women on active duty; the
more than 850,000 serving in the Guard and Reserves ... It is your distinguished service that is
responsible for the peace and the prominence P.merica enjoys today.
In July of 1776, our first Commander~in·Chief, General Washington, ordered American troops to
assemble on Manhattan Island to hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud, in full view
of the British forces landing on Staten Island, so that our troops
~:0~ that the
survival, of our new country would d~~nd on the success of our anned forces.
.
�)AN. 3.2001.
_
..
4:26PM
RPNSA
N0.206
P.3
America has succeeded, because our Anned Fo:rces have succeeded -- not just in defending our
borders, but in advancing the frontiers of freedc1m around the world. I have been privileged to
meet you on army bases and aircraft carriers in far-flung regions, where comforts are few and
dangers are ma1.1y. I have seen the dedication and professionalism with which you defend
-tJ;:L.
America's interests. You have given me, as Commander-in-Chief, trhe l'ri-wlige an~vantage
of !mowing that in times of crisis, America's word is backed by the greatest military force in the
history of the world. For that,
.....
Y\: ~~.&.
a~
1ft
~u.
Thanks to you the world is safer and America stands taller than ever before. Thanks to your
work, arm in arm with our South Korean allies, there is peace on the Korean Peninsula * e
for reconciliation across the last dividing line of the Cold War. Thanks to you, ann in arm with
.
-~
our NATO allies, etlmic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia *)\ended, refugees have retwned to
their homes, and freedom has a chance to flower.
I
~to you, we are closer than ev~ing a Europe that is peaceful, undivided, and
democratic -- a Europe where it is far less lik,ely that yow1g Americans will have to fight and cUe
to. defend our freedom. Thanks to your vigilance, Iraq does not have the capability to threaten
the world or its neighbors with weapons of mass destruction.
And yet, that is ~ot nearly all you do.
a number of our men and
benefits all of us. I thanked Navy Petty Officer Second Class Mario Solares, who serves in
�, JAN. 3.2001
4:26PM
APNSA
N0.206
P.4
Bahrain -- making sure we have the piers, bndg1~s. and towers our vessels need as they protect
peace in the Gulf region. I thanked Air Force Staff Sergeant Erin McKenzie, who serves with
the 607th Air Support Operations Group at Osai1 Air B~e. making sure members of the 7th Air
Force get a paycheck every two weeks as they guard the sides over the South Korea. I thanked
US Army Specialist Jeremy Kidder who serves ,on a remote Pacific island, working to destroy
oti.r Cold War stock of chemical weapons.
I thanked Marine Staff Sergeant Robert Sheridan, who guards our Embassy in Belarus. He was
named Marine Security Guard of the Year 1n 2000. And we know how tough the competition is;
because we've been reminded how dangerous the job is. And I thanked Petty Officer Michael
Sandwith who serves in the Bering Seas on the Coast Guard cutter Midgett- and was recently "
forced to give chase to a vessel illegally fishing our waters -- in the middle of a snowstorm with
gale force winds and 24-foot swells.
There are 1.4 million other Americans in uniform with missions jU:st as compelling, serving in
places and doing jobs that Americans don't often hear about. Behind my desk in the Oval
Office~
I have a rack of coins from the military 11lllits and commanders I have visited these past
eight years. Whenever I look at these coins, I remember the faces of servicemembers I've met-.
men and women of every race, creed, and color - who trace their ancestry to every region on
earth- yet who are bound together by the common mission of defending freedom, and common
· faith in the American creed: E pluribus unwn. Out of many, one. It is not only inscribed on
our coins, it is the coin of America's moral authority in the world. And I can tell you after eight
�,,.
JRN.
·..
3.2001
4:26PM
RPNSA
N0.206
P.S
years of traveling the world as your President: people marvel at it. Your ability to live and
work together in spite of your differences is, all by itself, a powerfi.ll force for peace.
You are America's finest, and America must always give you what you need to do your job.
We can never pay you enough, b\.lt we can always pay yo\t more. I am proud that a year ago we
put in place the biggest increase in military pay and retirement in a generation. I am proud that
we reversed a decade of decline in defense budgets and can now point to four straight years of
spending growth.
No one shol..l.ld think fora moment that the strength of o-qr military is less important in times of
.peace- because the strength of our military is a major reason we have peace. We live in peacein part -because your courage and your strength makes peace a wiser choice than war for CID.Y
potential adversary. History will record our trhunphs in battle, but no one can ever write a full
account of the wars never fought, losses never suffered, tears never shed because the men and
women of our military risked their lives for peace .. We should 11ever, ever forget that.
r
That doesn't mean our forces can be everywhere or should be everywhere. But it does mean that
there will continue to be times when we will ne1ed you to work with our allies to prevent war and
keep peace. Because the costliest peace is cheC~.per than the cheapest war.
Last year, I visited a refugee camp in Macedonia full ofKosovar Albanians who'd been: driven
from their homeland. As I walked throtlgh the camp, these young children picked up the chant:
"USA-USA-USA"~-
thanking America for giving thep1 a chance to reclaim their la11d and live
�0
"
..JAN.
:=1.201211
4=27PM
APNSA
N0.206
P.6
their dreams. It was the same when I visited Normandy in 1994 for the 50th anniversary ofD-
Day. There, American veterans were approached by· French citizens, who told them no matter
how young they were when it happened, or how old they might one day becom~. they would
never forget what America did for them.
\
Years from now, I hope some of our ve~erans who served in the Balkans have a chance to go
back and see in person the fruits of their service. Years from now, I hop~ some of our veterans
who served in Korea or the Gulf might have a chance to return there. That some of our veterans
.
who served in Africa, Asia, Latin America, or Eastern Europe 1·eturn to where you helped keep
~;r~,..e,
t.; ·-T - -
the peace, relieve suffering, or set an example fbr a fledgling democracy. And
~. years from now, someone whose hair may be gray, whose face may be weathered, ~
S'
comiup to an American veteran and
s7
.s
"God bless you. You gave us our future."
And I hope .your nation understands - whatever you have do11e for the rest of the world, you have
done tenfold for America. For by promoting th1~ spread of freedom around the worlq., you have lltJ1 ~
.
.
~
.
turned back the most serious threat to freedom at home. Thank you. God bless America. . An~
God bless you who defend her.
~~
.
~·
. jjtji,_?
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Gibson/Rosshirt 01/03/00 1 pm
President William Jefferson Clinton
Armed Forces Jrarewell, Fort Myer
January 5, 2001
Thank you, Secretary Cohen, for your outstanding leadership. You have proved again that when
it comes to defending our country and supporting our troops, there are no Democrats and no
Republicans, there are only Americans. Deputy Secretary Rudy De Leon, thank you for serving
so ably in so many capacities since the first days of this Administration. Service Secretaries
---....,..;General Shelton; Staff General Myers, Service Chiefs
, Members ofthe
Armed Forces of the United States:
I thank you for these Distinguished Service Medals, which I am very proud to receive. I will
keep them in a place of honor, but they will always belong to you-- the soldiers, sailors, airmen,
Marines and Coast Guardsmen here today; the 1.4 million men and womeri on active duty; the
more than 850,000 serving in the Guard and Reserves. It is your distinguished service that is
responsible for the peace and the prominence America enjoys today.
In July of 1776, our first Commander-in-Chief, General Washington, ordered American troops to
assemble on Manhattan Island to hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud, in full view
of the British forces landing on Staten Island, so that our troops would understand that the
survival of our new country would depend on the success of our armed forces.
America has succeeded, because our Armed Forces have succeeded-- not just in defending our
borders, but in advancing the frontiers of freedom around the world. I have been privileged to
meet you on army bases and aircraft carriers in far-flung regions, where comforts are few and
dangers are many. I have seen the dediCationand professionalism with which you defend
America's interests. You have given me, as Commander-in-Chief, the privilege and advantage,
of knowing that in times of crisis, America's word is backed by the greatest military force in the
history of the world. For that, I can never adequately thank you.
Thanks to you the world is safer and America stands taller than ever before. Thanks to your
work, arm in arm with our South Korean allies, there is peace on the Korean Peninsula and hope
for reconciliation across the last dividing line of the Cold War. Thanks to you, arm in arm with
our NATO allies, ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia has ended, refugees have returned to
their homes, and freedom has a chance to flower.
Thanks to you, we are closer than ever to building a Europe that is peaceful, undivided, and
democratic -- a Europe where it is far less likely that young Americans will have to fight and die
to defend our freedom. _Thanks to your vigilante, Iraq does not have the capability to threaten
the world or its neighbors with weapons of mass destruction.
And yet, that is not nearly all you do.· On Christmas Eve, I telephoned a number of our men and
women in uniform serving far from home, doing critical work that is unknown to most of us, but
benefits all of us. I thanked Navy Petty Officer Second Class Mario Solares, who serves in
�------------------------------------------------------~--------------------~
Bahrain -- making sure we have the Riers, bridges, and towers our vessels need as they protect
peace in the Gulf region~ I thanked Air Force Staff Sergeant Erin McKenzie, who serves with
the 607th Air Support Operations Group at Osan Air Base, making sure members ofthe 7th Air
Force get a paycheck every two weeks as they guard the skies over the South Korea. I thaqked
US Army Specialist Jeremy Kidder who serves on a remote Pacific island, working to destroy.
our Cold War stock of chemical weapons.
I thanked Marine Staff Sergeant Robert Sheridan, who guards our Embassy in Belarus. He was
named Marine Security Guard ofthe Year in 2000. And we know how tough the competition is;
because we've been reminded how dangerous the job is. And I thanked Petty Officer Michael
Sandwith who serves in the Bering Seas on the Coast Guard cutter Midgett- and was recently
forced to give chase to a vessel illegally fishing our waters-- in the middle of a snowstorm with
gale force winds and 24-foot swells.
There are 1.4 million other Americans in uniform with missions just as compelling, serving in
places and doing jobs that Americans don't often hear about. Behind my desk in the Oval
Office, I have a rack of coins from the military units and commanders I have visited these past
. , eight years. Whenever I look at these coins, I remember the faces of servicemembers I've metmen and women of every race, creed, and color- who trace their ancestry to every region on
earth- yet who are bound together by the common mission of defending freedom, and common
faith in the American creed: E pluribus unum. Out of many, one: It is not only inscribed on
our coins, it is the coin of America's moral authority in the world. And I can tell you after eight
years of traveling the world as your President: people marvel at it. Your ability to live and
work together in spite of your differences is, all by itself, a powerful force for peace.
You are America's finest, and America must always give you what you need to do your job.
We can never pay you enough, but we can always pay you more. I am proud that a year ago we
put in place the biggest increase in military pay and retirement in a generation. I am proud that
we reversed a decade of decline in defense budgets and can now point to four straight years of
spending growth.
No one should think for a moment that the strength of our military is less important in times of
peace- because the strength of our military is a major reason we have peace. We live in peacein part- because your courage and ym:1r strength makes peace a wiser choice than war for any
potential adversary. History will record our triumphs in battle, but no one can ever write a full
account of the wars never fought, losses never suffered, tears never shed because the men and
women of our military risked their lives for peace. We should never, ever forget that.
That doesn't mean our forces can be everywhere or should be everywhere. But it does mean that
there will continue to be times when we will need you to work with our allies to prevent war and
keep peace. Because the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war.
Last year, I visited a refugee camp in Macedonia full ofKosovar Albanians who'd been driven
from their homeland. As I walked through the camp, these young children picked up the chant:
"USA-USA-USA"-- thanking America for giving them a chance to reclaim their land and live
their dreams. It was the same when I visited Normandy in 1994 for the 50th anniversary ofD-
�.--------------
-----------
----------------------------------------.
Day. There, American veterans were approached by French citizens, who told them no matter
how young they were when it happened, or how old they might one day become, they would
never forget what America did for them.
Years from now, I hope some of our veterans who served in the Balkans have a chance to go
back and see in person the fruits oftheir service. Years from now, I hope some of our veterans
who served in Korea or the Gulf might have a chance to return there. That some of our veterans
who served in Africa, Asia, Latin America, or Eastern Europe return to where you helped keep
the peace, relieve suffering, or set an example for a fledgling democracy. And I hope on that
day, years from now, someone whose hair may be gray, whose face may be weathered, might
come up to an American veteran and say: "God bless you. You gave us our future.'~
And I hope your nation understands - whatever you have done for the rest of the world, you have ·
done tenfold for America. For by promoting the spread of freedom around the world, you have
turned back the most serious threat to freedom at home. Thank you. God bless America. And
God bless you who defend her.
�Gibson 01102/00 11 pm
President William Jefferson Clinton
Armed Forces Farewell, Fort Myer
January 5, 2001
Thank you, Secretary Cohen, for your outstanding leadership over the past four years. You have
proved again that when it comes to defending our country and supporting our troops, there are no
Democrats and no Republicans, there are only Americans. General Shelton, thank you for your
service to our country, and your uncompromising commitment to those in uniform. Deputy ·
Secretary Rudy De Leon, thank you for serving so ably in so many capacities since the first days
ofthi~ Administration. Vice-Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Myers, senior service
chiefs, service secretaries, the senior enlisted advisors, Members of Congress:
I want to thank you all for these Distinguished Service Medals, which I am very proud to·
receive. I will be honored to safeguard these medals, but they will always belong to you-- the
soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen here today, the 1.4 million men and
women on active duty, the [800,000] serving in the Guard and Reserves. It is your distinguished
service tharis responsible for the peace and security America enjoys today.
I have been privileged to meet you on army bases and aircraft carriers in far-flung comers of the
world, where comforts are few and dangers are many. I have seen the dedication and
pr_ofessionalism with which you d~fend America's interests. You have given me, as
Commander-in-Chief, the honor, privilege and advantage of knowing that in times of crisis,
America's word is backed by the greatest military force in the history of the world. For that, I
can never adequately thank you.
Thanks to you the world is safer and America stands taller than ever before. Thanks to your
work, arm in arm with our South Korean allies, there is peace on the Korean Peninsula and hope
for reconciliation across the last dividing line of the Cold War. Thanks to you, arm in arm with
our NATO allies, ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia has ended, refugees have returned to
their homes, and freedom has a chance to flower.
Thanks to you, we are closer than ever to building a Europe that is peaceful, undivided, and
democratic -- a Europe where it is far less likely young Americans will fight and die for freedom.
Thanks to your constant vigilance Iraq does not have the capability to threaten the world or its
neighbors with weapons of mass destruction.
On Christmas Eve, I telephoned a number of our men. and women in uniform to thank them for
what they do - and for what you all do. I thanked Petty Officer Second Class Mario Solares,
who serves in Bahrain -- making sure we have the piers, bridges, and towers our navy vessels
need as they protect peace in the Gulf region.
I thanked Air Force Staff Sergeant Erin McKenzie, who serves with the 607th Air Support
Operations Group at Osan Air Base, making sure members of the 7th Air Force get a paycheck
every two weeks as they guard the skies over the South Korea.
�...
I thanked US Army Specialist Jeremy Kidder who serves on a re~ote Pacific island, working to
destroy our Cold War stock of chemical weapons.
I thanked Marine Staff Sergeant Robert Sheridan, who guards our Embassy in Belarus. He was
named Marine Security Guard ofthe Year in 2000. And we know how tough the competition is;
because we've been reminded tragically how tough that job is.
And I thanked Petty Officer Michael Sandwith who serves in the Bering Seas on the Coast Guard
cutter Midgett- recently forced to give chase to a vessel illegally fishing our waters-- in the
middle of a snowstorm with gale force winds and 24-foot swells.
There are 1.4. million other Americans in uniform with missions just as compelling; serving in
places and doing jobs that Americans don't often hear about. Behind my desk in the Oval
Office, I have a rack of coins from the military units and commanders I have visited these past
eight years. Whenever I look at these coins, I remember the faces of servicemembers I've metmen and women of every race, creed, and color- who trace their ancestry to every region on
earth- yet who are bound together by the common mission of defending freedom, and common
faith in: E pluribus unum. Out of many, one. It is not only inscribed on our coins, it is the coin
of America's moral authority in the world. And I can tell you after eight years of traveling the
world as your President: people marvel at it. Seeing you live and work together to defend
freedom in spite of all differences- that simple human message, for the people lucky enough to
see it, can be the world's most powerful force for peace.
You are America's finest. You not only have the toughest mission of any organization in the
world. You accomplish your mission better th,~n any organization in the world. In the years
ahead, America must always give you what you need to do your job. As Secretary Cohen and . .1·
General Shelton always remind me, Wwe can never pay you enough, but we can always pay you
more. I am proud that a year ago we put in place the biggest increase in military pay and
retirement in a generation. I am proud that we reversed a decade of decline in defense budgets
and can now point to four straight years of spending growth.
No one should think for a moment that the strength of our military is less important in times of ·
peace- because the strength of our military is a major reason we have peace. History will
record our triumphs on the battlefield, but no one can ever write a full account of the wars never
fought, losses never suffered, tears never shed because the men and women of our military were
risking their lives for peace. We should never, ever forget that.
That doesn't mean our forces can be everywhere or should be everywhere. But it does mean that
there will continue to be times when we need you to work with our allies to prevent war and
keep peace. Because the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war.
Last year, I visited a refugee camp in Macedonia full ofKosovar Albanians who'd been driven
from their homeland. As I walked through the camp, these young children picked up the chant:
"USA-USA-USA"-- thanking America for giving them a chance to reclaim their land and live
their dreams. It was the same when I visited Normandy in 1994 for the 50th anniversary ofDDay. There, American veterans were approached by French citizens, who told them no matter
�how young they were when it happened, or how old they might one day become, they would
never forget what America did for them.
Years from now, I hope veterans who served in the Balkans have a chance to go back and see the
fruits oftheir service. Years from now, I hope veterans who served in Korea or the Gulfhave a
chance to return there. That our veterans who served in Africa, Asia, Latin America, or Eastern
Europe return to where you helped keep the peace, relieve suffering, or set an example for a ·
fledgling democracy. And I hope on that day, years from now, someone whose hair may be
gray, whose face may be weathered, might come up to you and say: "God bless you. You gave
us our future." (to me this doesn't work- hoping that they can return???)
And then I hope you return to your own country and understand- whatever you have done for
the rest ofthe world, you have done tenfold for America. For by promoting the spread of
freedom around the world, you have turned back the most serious threat to freedom at home.
(???)
Thank you.
God bless America.
And God bless you who defend her ideals.
�Rosshirt, Thomas M. (SPCHW)
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Cullom, Philip H. "(DEFENSE)
Wednesday, January 03, 2001 9:28AM
Binnendijk, Johannes A. (Hans) (DEFENSE); Rosshirt, Thomas M. (SPCHW)
@DEFENSE - Defense Policy
Order of Precedence [UNCLASSIFIED]
From WHMO, the order of precedence is:
Secretary of Defense
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Service Secretaries
CJCS
VCJCS
Chief of Staffs of the Services
1
�Withdrawal/R~edaction
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
AND TYPE
001. email
Marker
DATE
SUBJECTffiTLE
To Thomas M. Rosshirt from Brooke D. Anderson. Subject: Armed
Forces farewell speech (1 page)
01/03/2001
RESTRICTION
P5
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
National Security Council
Speechwriting (Thomas Rosshirt)
ONBox Number: 4020
FOLDER TITLE:
Armed Forces Appreciation
2008-0703-F
·m619
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act- 144 U.S.C. 2204(a)l
Freedom of Information Act- IS U.S.C. 552(b)l
PI
P2
P3
P4
b(l) National security classified information l(b)(l) of the FOIAI
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
an agency l(b)(2) of the FOIAI
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute l(b)(3) of the FOIAI
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
information l(b)(4) of the FOIAI
b(6) Release would constitute. a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy l(b)(6) of the FOIAI
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purposes l(b)(7) of the FOIAI
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financial institutions l(b)(8) of the FOIAI
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concerning wells l(b)(9) of the FOIAI
National Security Classified Information l(a)(l) of the PRAI
Relating to the appointment to Federal office j(a)(2) of the PRAI
Release would violate a Federal statute l(a)(3) of the PRAI
Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
financial information l(a)(4) of the PRAI
PS Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
and his advisors, or between such advisors la)(S) of the PRAI
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy l(a)(6) of the PRAI
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
of gift.
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
2201(3).
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
�...
.I
Rosshirt, Thomas M. (SPCHW)
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Cullom, Philip H. (DEFENSE).
Wednesday, January 03, 2001 8:49AM
Rosshirt, Thomas M. (SPCHVV)
RE: Armed Forces Farewell Speech [UNCLASSIFIED]
As always, Tom, I'm swayed by reason. Whatever we do ... and you know best ... saying what comes naturally to POTUS
is always the right answer.
-----Original Message----From:
Rosshirt, Thomas M. (SPCHW)
Sent:
Wednesday, January 03, 2001 8:39AM
Cullom, Philip H. (DEFENSE)
To:
Subject:
RE: Armed Forces Farewell Speech [UNCLASSIFIED]
Phil--
thanks for the facts, and I will amend that section to make it clear we're talking about the range of what they do that is
not commonly known. On your final point, I see it a bit differently. It doesn't seem to make sense to say: "you gave
your tomorrows for our today," unless the person you're talking to is dead, and died young.
Also POTUS often talks in terms of giving someone th<eir future, or changing the future for someone.
If others find the line confusing or uninspiring, I'll take a second look. But for now, I think it works.
-----Original Message----From:
Cullom, Philip H. (DEFENSE)
Sent:
Wednesday, January 03, 2001 8:03AM
To:
Rosshirt, Thomas M. (SPCHW); @SPEECH- NSC Speechwriters; @DEFENSE- Defense Policy; @NSCComm; @MUL TILATMultilateral and Humanitarian Affairs
Subject:· RE: Armed Forces Farewell Speech [UNCLASSIFIED]
Tom,
Some data for the speech:
•
Guard and reserves- 864,600 (I would use "over 860,000")
•
Checking into placement of service secretaries (they should probably be before service chiefs)- have call in to
WHMO
•
The thanks/examples section has lost its meaning (the intent was that these are people doing jobs in remote
corners of the world that are not often connected to the service. Would change the paragraph to read:
On Christmas Eve, I telephoned a number of our men and women in uniform to thank them for what they
do -- and for what you all do -- sometimes in remote corners of the globe doing critical jobs that most
Americans don't realize are an essential part of what you do every day. I thanked Navy Petty Officer
Second Class Mario Solares, who serves in Bahrain -- making sure we have the piers, bridges, and
towers our Ra¥Y vessels need as they protect peace in the Gulf· region. I thanked Air Force Staff Seargent
•
The analogy of the weathered gray haired old man saying, "You gave us our future" may be confusing when it
is implied that it would be said in the future. Perhaps a variation of the saying we thot:Jght about using
Memorial Day of "you gave your tomorrows for our today". You may recall that SECDEF/CJCS referenced it
during the C9le memorial. Seems it is certainly timeless and would better evoke an image of sacrifice. Just a
thought.
-----Original Message----From:
Rosshirt, Thomas M. (SPCHW)
Sent:
Tuesday, January 02, 2001 11:23 PM
To: @SPEECH- NSC Speechwriters; @DEFENSE- Defense Policy; @NSCComm; @MULTILAT- Multilateral and Humanitarian
Affairs
Subject:
Armed Forces Farewell Speech [UNCLASSIFIED]
« File: Fort Myer draft Tue 11 pm.doc »
SRB expressed concern about the length of the last draft. This draft, after my cuts, is nearly 450 words
shorter. Hans and Eric: my personal view-- now that I've gone over it carefully-- is that mention of the ICC
Treaty would be out of place.
1
�---------~
--
----
----------
--------------------------------------c--------------.
Please get back to me with edits, changes, or factchecks.
\·
2
I want to run it by DK and SRB one more time.
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Speechwriting Office - Thomas Rosshirt
Creator
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National Security Council
Speechwriting Office
Thomas Rosshirt
Date
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1999-2001
Is Part Of
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<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36327" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="http://catalog.archives.gov/id/7585792" target="_blank">National Archives Collection Description</a>
Identifier
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2008-0703-F
Description
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<p>Rosshirt prepared speech remarks delivered by President William J. Clinton and National Security Advisor Samuel R. Berger between 1999 and 2001.</p>
<p>Rosshirt’s speechwriting efforts for President Clinton concerned the President’s trip to Vietnam; remarks at the Memorial Day Ceremony in Arlington, Virginia; remarks at Camp Foster Marine Base in Okinawa; remarks at the Council of the Americas 30th Washington Conference; the debt cancellation announcement for Jubilee2000; the Armed Forces Farewell at Fort Myer, Virginia; remarks to the Israeli Policy Forum; and awarding the Medal of Honor to both former President Theodore Roosevelt and to Captain Ed W. Freeman. Rosshirt’s speechwriting efforts also included National Security Advisor Berger’s remarks at Tel Aviv University and an article concerning Saddam Hussein.</p>
<p>This collection was made available through a <a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/freedom-of-information-act-requests">Freedom of Information Act</a> request.</p>
Provenance
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Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
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Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Format
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Adobe Acrobat Document
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51 folders in 5 boxes
Text
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Paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Armed Forces Appreciation
Creator
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National Security Council
Speechwriting Office
Thomas Rosshirt
Identifier
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2008-0703-F
Is Part Of
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Box 1
<a href="http://clintonlibrary.gov/assets/Documents/Finding-Aids/2008/2008-0703-F.pdf" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="http://catalog.archives.gov/id/7585792" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
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Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
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5/13/2014
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42-t-7585792-20080703f-001-005-2014
7585792