Bill Clinton: “Dinner May 16, 1996 Thank you, Admiral, for that wonderful introduction. And I want to thank Tamlyn Tomita and Garrett…”

“Dinner May 16, 1996 Thank you, Admiral, for that wonderful introduction. And I want to thank Tamlyn Tomita and Garrett Wang, your co-emcees, for standing up here with me. I made them come out. I said, ``I want you to stand up here with me because you make me look young and fresh and alive.'' [Laughter] So I thank them for doing that. To Gloria Caoile, your dinner chair; Francey Youngberg, your executive director; Rona Figueroa; and all the Members of Congress who are here. And a couple of former Members of Congress who are here, my good friend Norm Mineta, who is being honored tonight, and Frank Horton, who was the primary sponsor of the bill creating Asian-Pacific Heritage Month. I thank you, sir. I don't know how many Members of Congress are here. I saw Congressman Underwood, Congressman Abercrombie, Congresswoman Pelosi, and I know Congressman Matsui is here, or Doris would stop speaking to him. So however many Members of Congress who are here, I'm delighted to join you tonight. I was honored to be here last year at your inaugural dinner. I'm proud of what we have accomplished together since then. More than anything else tonight I would like to say a simple thank you. Thank you on behalf of the United States for the many contributions that the 9 million Americans who trace their roots to Asia and the islands of the Pacific make to our country every day.…”