Bill Clinton

“ Blessed with an extraordinary diversity of people from every culture and nation around the globe, the United States has always drawn strength from our citizens' shared commitment to the importance of family life. The family is society's most basic unit, daily providing the acceptance, love, and reassurance that enable each of us to flourish and succeed. ”

“ I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to honor American families with appropriate ceremonies and programs; I encourage educators, community organizations, and religious leaders to celebrate the moral and spiritual strength to be drawn from family relationships; and I urge all the people of the United States to reaffirm their own familial bonds and to reach out to others in friendship and goodwill. ”

“ Families are where we first learn important lessons about responsibility and where we absorb the ideals and traditions that define our unique American character. Yet we must do more to address the variety of troubles, such as substance abuse, domestic violence, and teenage pregnancy that have placed strains on the American family and threaten the well-being of our young people. At the same time, our efforts to combat crime and poverty cannot fully succeed until we rebuild our families and renew our commitment to their progress. ”