Bill Clinton: “of 1993 November 23, 1993 Thank you all for joining us this afternoon. It's a great honor to have so many people in the…”

“of 1993 November 23, 1993 Thank you all for joining us this afternoon. It's a great honor to have so many people in the White House to celebrate the signing of legislation that marks the realization of a great dream, the transition of South Africa to a nonracial democracy and the end of apartheid. So many of you have contributed mightily to the realization of that dream, and I thank you all for being here. But I want to especially recognize the presence here of the family of Amy Biehl, who herself did so much to further that cause. Thank you so much for coming. For generations the people of South Africa lived under the crushing burden of an immoral system which exacted a terrible toll and ultimately could not endure. Over many years, you and many others have shown courage and determination in joining with South Africa's oppressed majority to hasten apartheid's demise. This ceremony is, in large measure, a salute to the work you have done. In 1986, after years of effort and despite a Presidential veto, Congress imposed strict economic sanctions on South Africa. Our Nation vowed those sanctions would be lifted only on the day when South Africa was irreversibly on the road to a nonracial democracy. Last week that day for which millions have worked and prayed and suffered finally arrived. Nelson Mandela, F.W. de Klerk and other leaders formally endorsed the transitional constitution, a bill of rights, and other agreements achieved during nearly 2 years of hard negotiations.…”