Bill Clinton

“ Today our Nation stands on the threshold of a new millennium, an uncharted time of great challenge and opportunity. To fulfill the promise of this new era, we must be adventurous, willing to leave known shores, and eager to embrace change. To find inspiration for this momentous journey, we need only look to the example of Christopher Columbus, who helped usher in a similar Age of Discovery more than 500 years ago. ”

“ As we enter a new era, let us embrace Columbus' spirit of discovery and embrace as well the great diversity of cultures, religions, and ethnic traditions that we enjoy because so many have followed his course to this great land. ”

“ Although both a dreamer and a visionary, Columbus-a son of Italy whose enterprise was funded by the Spanish crown-could never have foreseen the multicultural, multiracial Nation 1that would ultimately emerge in the New World he helped to discover. ”