On the recordMay 2, 1996
a great many Americans don't have the faintest idea that the Federal debt is so incredibly enormous. Quite often, I ask friends if they know how many millions of dollars are there in a trillion? Few know, but one thing they do know is that it was the U.S. Congress that ran up the enormous Federal debt that is now over $5 trillion. To be exact, as of the close of business yesterday, May 1, 1996, the total Federal debt--down to the penny--stood at $5,096,321,323,731.34. On a per capita basis, every man, woman, and child in America owes $19,249.10. So, Mr. President, there are a million million in a trillion, which means that the Federal debt is now in excess of 5 million million dollars.
Source
govinfo.gov
