Bill Clinton: “I just wanted to ask Mr. Stephanopoulos to come up here so I could remove all doubt about how I know what to do.…”

“I just wanted to ask Mr. Stephanopoulos to come up here so I could remove all doubt about how I know what to do. [Laughter] Please sit, ladies and gentlemen, Archbishop. I have a few remarks, but before I do, I want to formally sign this proclamation for Greek Independence Day and present it to the Archbishop. [At this point, the President signed the proclamation.] Thank you. Please be seated. I'd like to welcome all of you here to the White House and say a special word of welcome to Archbishop Iakovos, the spiritual leader of the Greek American community, with whom I have just had a wide-ranging discussion of many of the issues that I know that concern you. I'd also like to welcome the political leader of the Greek American community, my friend Senator Paul Sarbanes of Maryland, and to say how delighted I am to sign this proclamation recognizing Greek Independence Day and celebrating the democracy that we share in the United States with Greece. It is particularly timely that we celebrate democracy today at the very moment that our friends around the world who have been deprived of democracy are working hard against great odds to bring it to full flower. And I know, Archbishop, that our prayers are with the people in Russia today and throughout the world who are working hard to preserve and enhance their own democracy. Greece, the birthplace of democracy, and the United States have long had a history of friendship and cooperation.…”