Bill Nelson: “What a great privilege it is to recognize a public servant, Ambassador Pete Peterson, who served as a Member of Congress…”

“What a great privilege it is to recognize a public servant, Ambassador Pete Peterson, who served as a Member of Congress prior to being named by President Clinton as the first United States Ambassador to Vietnam. We bring forth this resolution commending Ambassador Peterson because of his extraordinary leadership in helping bring about the Vietnam Trade Act, which this Senate passed earlier today. What is so poignant about this story of Douglas Pete Peterson is the fact that when he first went to Vietnam during the Vietnam war as an Air Force pilot, he was shot down and captured and held in captivity for over 6 years. He was able to return to that country as Ambassador and has won the hearts of the people of Vietnam.”