William Helms: “at the close of business Friday, April 16, 1999, the federal debt stood at $5,640,540,994,484.49 (Five trillion, six…”

“at the close of business Friday, April 16, 1999, the federal debt stood at $5,640,540,994,484.49 (Five trillion, six hundred forty billion, five hundred forty million, nine hundred ninety-four thousand, four hundred eighty-four dollars and forty-nine cents). One year ago, April 16, 1998, the federal debt stood at $5,510,369,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred ten billion, three hundred sixty-nine million). Fifteen years ago, April 16, 1984, the federal debt stood at $1,486,333,000,000 (One trillion, four hundred eighty-six billion, three hundred thirty-three million). Twenty-five years ago, April 16, 1974, the federal debt stood at $473,584,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-three billion, five hundred eighty-four million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion--$5,166,956,994,484.49 (Five trillion, one hundred sixty-six billion, nine hundred fifty-six million, nine hundred ninety-four thousand, four hundred eighty-four dollars and forty-nine cents) during the past 25 years.”