Bill Clinton: “National Association for the Advancement of Colored People February 20, 1996 Thank you very much, Myrlie Evers-Williams…”

“National Association for the Advancement of Colored People February 20, 1996 Thank you very much, Myrlie Evers-Williams, for your introduction, for your remarks, and most importantly, for your willingness to take on what appeared to be a thankless and could well have been a no-win situation in seizing the helm of the NAACP and helping to bring it to this moment of great celebration and unity. The entire Nation is in your debt, and we thank you. To the distinguished Members of Congress, the mayors who are here, the clergy, members of the administration; to the young people who have performed and the family of Congressman Mfume. Kweisi told me today before we came out that this is a celebration of rebirth and renewal. And the Vice President and I were standing there amidst his--four of his five strapping young sons; the other is in school or he would be here, showing that he still has his priorities in order. [Laughter] He said, ``This is going to be a celebration of rebirth and renewal. And so I have given this over to the young people and to Roger Wilkins.'' [Laughter] And I must say, as I heard Jaimie speak, and as I heard Jason speak for the Arkansas contingent here, and as I heard Ayinde speak--by the way, I memorized that poem, and I never spoke it half that well--and then I heard the Morgan State Choir sing, I thought this really is about rebirth and renewal and energy and youth. And I kept cutting my speech shorter and shorter.…”