Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Oct. 6 2363 and intent of this order in increasing oppor- seeking adventure, all in search of a new and tunities for 8(a)s, SDBs, and MBEs in Fed- better life. Families from , Finland, eral procurement. Such study shall be pre- , Sweden, and would make sented to the President within 90 days of the their new homes in communities like New date of this order. Sweden, Delaware; Oslo, Minnesota; and Sec. 9. Applicability. Independent agen- Denmark, Iowa, bringing with them a rev- cies are requested to comply with the provi- erence for freedom and a deep love of de- sions of this order. mocracy that stemmed from their own egali- Sec. 10. Administration, Enforcement, tarian traditions. More than 10 million Amer- and Judicial Review. icans today can trace their roots to the Nordic (a) This order shall be carried out to the countries, and their family ties, traditions, extent permitted by law and consistent with and values have strengthened the warm the Administration’s priorities and appropria- friendship our Nation has always enjoyed tions. with the people of . (b) This order is not intended and should In celebration of this friendship and our not be construed to create any right or ben- shared pride in Leif Erikson’s exploits, Amer- efit, substantive or procedural, enforceable icans have joined with the at law by a party against the United States, to commemorate this special anniversary. its agencies, its officers, or its employees. The Smithsonian Institution sponsored a William J. Clinton traveling exhibit earlier this year to highlight the Viking explorations of North America; The White House, the Library of Congress hosted an inter- October 6, 2000. national symposium on the ancient texts of [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, the Icelandic Sagas, many of which were dis- 8:45 a.m., October 11, 2000] played in the United States for the first time; and we joined Iceland in creating our first NOTE: This Executive order was published in the jointly issued coin to commemorate Leif Federal Register on October 12. This item was Erikson’s historic voyage. not received in time for publication in the appro- These cultural initiatives reflect the strong priate issue. ties and long history between the United States and the Nordic countries, and we con- Proclamation 7358—Leif Erikson tinue to cooperate on many mutual goals. Day, 2000 The Nordic countries are our full partners October 6, 2000 in the Northern Europe Initiative (NEI), which we launched in 1997 to build on the By the President of the United States dramatic progress toward a free Europe that of America occurred following the break-up of the Soviet Union. Through the NEI, we are working A Proclamation together to promote democracy, stability, This year, as we mark the beginning of a and prosperity in the Baltic nations and new millennium, we also celebrate the northwest Russia, to facilitate their fuller in- 1000th anniversary of Europe’s first contact tegration into Western institutions, and to co- with North America. At the turn of the last operate on such cross-border issues as en- millennium, the legendary explorer Leif ergy, health, law enforcement, and the envi- Erikson—son of Iceland, grandson of Nor- ronment. In addition, many of the best and way—sailed across the cold waters of the At- brightest entrepreneurs in America and the lantic from his home in Greenland to the Nordic countries are collaborating to encour- eastern coast of North America, completing age trade and the spread of innovative ideas the first documented voyage of Europeans and technologies around the world. Ameri- to the New World. cans and Nordics alike value courage, inde- In the ensuing centuries, millions of other pendence, energy, and resourcefulness; men and women followed the lead of these working together in this new millennium, we brave Vikings—some seeking riches, some are charting a new course for our people just 2364 Oct. 6 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 as exciting and full of promise as the one But I just wanted to say a couple of things Leif Erikson traveled a thousand years ago. about the environment in which this debate In honor of Leif Erikson and of our Nordic will take place. One is I will never be able American heritage, the Congress, by joint to thank you enough for the support that resolution (Public Law 88–566) approved on you’ve given to me and the Vice President, September 2, 1964, has authorized and re- Hillary, our whole crowd these last 8 years. quested the President to proclaim October It’s been a joy. 9 of each year as ‘‘Leif Erikson Day.’’ One of my objectives when I became Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President was to take away the ability of our President of the United States of America, friends in the other party to demonize us just do hereby proclaim Monday, October 9, for being what we are, for being the progres- 2000, as Leif Erikson Day. I call upon all sive party. And I was determined I would Americans to observe this day with appro- take away the budget issue; I would take priate ceremonies, activities, and programs away the crime issue; I would take away the to honor our rich Nordic American heritage. welfare issue; I would take away the foreign In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set policy issue; and I would do it in a respon- my hand this sixth day of October, in the sible, progressive way, but that we would not year of our Lord two thousand, and of the be vulnerable on these things anymore. Independence of the United States of Amer- And I was determined that, if we could ica the two hundred and twenty-fifth. turn this economy around, the Republicans William J. Clinton would never be able to make a lot of hay with their sort of knee-jerk, anti-union propa- [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, ganda. And I think it’s pretty well happened. 8:45 a.m., October 11, 2000] There are no votes in America for running against people because they organize them- NOTE: This proclamation was published in the selves into labor groups to protect the inter- Federal Register on October 12. This item was not received in time for publication in the appro- ests of their members and their families and priate issue. working people at large. There is just not any votes in that anymore. Anybody that re- sponds to that kind of stuff anymore, they Remarks at an AFL–CIO Reception weren’t ever going to be for us anyway. October 6, 2000 I hope that I have helped you not only on the specific things we fought for and the Thank you. Well, first of all, madam, I specific things we stopped from happening want to thank you for letting all these fairly but in changing the climate in America so scruffy characters come in your home. that America’s labor leaders and rank-and- [Laughter] Many of us are well-accom- file men and women in the unions can not panied, though. [Laughter] only feel proud of the organizations they’re You know, I was thinking. We had Morty a part of but feel that they’re not going to and Linda and John and I up here talking. be looked at in some prejudiced and unfair This is an introduction that looks like Amer- way by their fellow citizens. And I think we’re ica. We span these vast ethnic gaps. We had just about there. an Irish-Catholic and Irish-Protestant at the I also have to say I think your own leader- end. [Laughter] Thank you, Morty, and thank ship deserves a lot of credit for that. I think you for having us here, and thank you for you deserve a lot of credit for that, John. I being such good friends to me. think all of you have been so smart in the You know, I really believe in this issue. way you’ve taken the issues that you care John and I worked very hard together to beat about to the American people. that initiative in California a couple of years I think that if you look at how the parallel ago. And we raised money, and you all spent initiative was defeated in California 2 years it very well—[laughter]—and intelligently. I ago, basically what you made sure of was that mean that, intelligently. And you won, and everybody knew what it really did, not what I think you’ll win again. they said it did, and understood what the