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Administration of William J. Clinton, 1995 / Oct. 25 1939

I thank you for reminding all of us of that the work you have done in supporting our and of our obligations to each other in one common efforts in expanding trade, and for community. I thank you for what you’ve done that very unusual trip President Carter took to strengthen families and improve edu- to Haiti not very long ago, which has now cation, to honor traditions and celebrate cul- given them one year of freedom and democ- ture, to embody the values that make this racy. Thank you, sir, for that. country a great nation. Vice President Gore; General and Mrs. I thank you for this award. But let me say, Dawson; my good friend, Lindy Boggs; Mr. more important than anything else, I look and Mrs. Hackman; Senator and Mrs. Nunn; forward to our continued partnership as we Governor and Mrs. Carlin; Mr. Symington; struggle on behalf of peace and dignity and David and Rosalee McCullough; Congress- humanity. I leave here honored and doubly woman McCarthy; the other Members of burdened by the instruction of the prophet, Congress who are here: I always love to be Isaiah: ‘‘Cease to do evil; learn to do well. at events honoring Harry because Prepare ye the way of the Lord.’’ With God’s I come from a family that was for him when will, that is exactly what we will do together. he was alive. [Laughter] Thank you. I loved hearing the story about the—that I could tell you an interesting little aside President Ford told about the tour President here, when we were about to come out to- Truman gave of the . You know, night, the Prime Minister insisted that I President Truman oversaw the last great ren- stand on his right, even though he’s in the ovation of the White House, although many , in the American State Depart- fine things have been done within the house ment, I am his host, protocol dictates that by subsequent Presidents and their wives. he stand on my right. I told him that. [Laugh- And he gave us the , and ter] He said, tonight we reverse the order. fated almost as much heat for that as he did [Laughter] Then I looked at all of you, and some of the more famous things he did. I looked back at him, and I said, ‘‘Well, it’s Every first family since then has thanked appropriate; after all, they may be more your their lucky stars for Harry Truman’s persist- crowd than mine.’’ [Laughter] ence in hanging on to the Truman Balcony. Thank you very much. It was my great honor, along with the First Lady, who had the privilege of hosting many NOTE: The President spoke at 7:30 p.m. in the of you at the White House today, to have Benjamin Franklin Room at the State Depart- Mr. Daniel’s parents come to dinner. Mar- ment. In his remarks, he referred to Stanley M. garet Truman Daniel was uncommonly kind Chesley, cochairman, International Leadership to my wife and to my daughter during the Reunion; Dennis B. Ross, Special Middle East Coordinator; Secretary of State Warren Chris- course of the ’92 campaign and on occasion topher; King Hussein of Jordan; Chairman Yasser thereafter. And we wanted to have them for Arafat of the Palestine Liberation Organization; dinner. And as we were having dinner in the and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. upstairs, which used to be the room in which had her piano and did her practicing—it was her Remarks at the Harry S Truman room—and President and Mrs. Kennedy Library Institute Legacy of converted it into the family dining room, and Leadership Dinner for the first time in 160 years, the First Fam- October 25, 1995 ily no longer had to go downstairs to dinner at night. And I thought this was quite a great Thank you very much, Clifton, for that thing, you know, and so I thought we should very fine introduction, and I hope that what have dinner in this room with the beautiful you said is true about both of us. President revolutionary wallpaper that Mrs. Kennedy Ford, President Carter, thank you for your put up. service to our Nation and for what you said, And we got sort of into the dinner, we and for the work you have done to continue were having a wonderful conversation; I was America’s mission since you have left office; marveling at how much Margaret Truman re-

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minded me of her father. And so, as the con- after the First World War, and because of versation warmed, I said, ‘‘Tell me, Margaret, that, we had to fight another. Harry Truman how do you like this family dining room?’’ was determined that would not happen again. And she got a very stern look in her face And he had to face, almost immediately, the and she said, ‘‘Well, Mr. President, I like chilling prospect of the cold war and to make you.’’ But she said, ‘‘You know, I just don’t all of the decisions which set in motion the think people should eat on the same floor policies which enabled, ultimately, freedom they sleep.’’ [Laughter] And I thought to my- to prevail in that war. self, the Trumans are still speaking their He had to do it with a nation that was mind. [Laughter] And thank God for that. weary from war and weary from engagement, I have been asked to talk about the mean- where people were longing to just focus on ing of Harry Truman’s legacy for today and the little everyday things of life that mean tomorrow. And because of the meetings that the most to most of us. But because he did I have just had at the United Nations and it, we just celebrated 50 years of the United the work that we are doing 50 years after Nations. No more world war, no nuclear de- its beginning, I thought it might be worth vice ever dropped again, and we see the my sharing with you a few thoughts about movement for peace and freedom and de- Harry Truman’s legacy and what it means mocracy all over the world. for today and tomorrow. What are we going to do to build on his Every American President, including my achievement? What do we have to do to se- two distinguished predecessors who spoke cure a peace for the next century? Freedom’s here tonight, has followed in Harry Truman’s new gains, I believe, make it possible for us footsteps in carrying forward America’s lead- to help to build a Europe that is democratic, ership in the world. This tradition of sus- that is peaceful, and that for the first time tained American leadership and involvement since nation-states appeared on that con- has been so successful and has been so con- tinent is undivided. sistently maintained by Democratic and Re- We can build a Europe committed to free- publican Presidents alike, that some of us for- dom, democracy, and prosperity, genuinely get what a bold departure it was. secure throughout the continent and allied Just before I came here tonight I was with with other like-minded people throughout Prime Minister Rabin at another meeting the world for the first time ever. And I am talking about peace in the Middle East. committed to doing what we can to build that Harry Truman was the first world leader to kind of Europe based on three principles: recognize the state of Israel. And his commit- First, to support democracy in Europe’s ment to giving us the capacity to lead and newly free nations; second, to work to in- work for peace started a single silver thread crease economic vitality in Europe with that runs right through the terrific accom- America and other partners through open plishments of President Carter and all of the markets and expanded trade, and to help the things which have been done since. But we former communist countries complete their forget what a bold departure it was. The Tru- transition to market economies, a move that man Doctrine, the , the NATO will strengthen democracy there and help to Alliance, each was a step unlike anything be- block the advance of ultranationalism and fore. ethnic hatred; and finally, we’re building the Indeed, NATO, which President Truman transatlantic community of tomorrow by rightly considered one of his finest achieve- deepening, not withdrawing, from our secu- ments, was our very first peacetime alliance rity cooperation. ever. We never had a military alliance in Today, with the overarching threat of com- peacetime before NATO. This decisive munism gone, the faces of hatred and intoler- change grew out of the belief that was shared ance are still there with different faces: eth- by General Marshall, Senator Vandenberg, nic and religious conflicts, organized crime and Dean Acheson and so many others that and drug dealing, state-sponsored terrorism, we could never again remain apart from the the spread of weapons of mass destruction. world. We had, after all, isolated ourselves America cannot insulate itself from these

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threats any more than they could insulate purpose and, in so doing, increasing our own themselves after World War II. Indeed, we security. have less option to do so because the world That’s why we established the Partnership is becoming a global village. For Peace. In less than 2 years, we’ve By joining with our allies and embracing brought 26 nations into a program to create others who share our values, we can’t insulate confidence and friendship, former enemies ourselves from these threats, but we can sure now joining in field exercises throughout the create a better defense. NATO’s success year, building bonds together instead of bat- gives us proof of what we can do when we tle plans against one another. This has been work together. NATO binds the Western de- good for us and good for Europe. mocracies in a common purpose with shared Now those nations in the region that main- values. And I strongly believe that NATO tain their democracies and continue to pro- does not depend upon an ever-present mote economic reform and behave respon- enemy to maintain its unity or its usefulness. sibly should be able to become members of The Alliance strengthens all of its mem- NATO. That will give them the confidence bers from within and defends them from to consolidate their freedom and to build threats without. If you just compare the sta- their economies and to make us more secure. bility, the economic strength, the harmony NATO’s completed a study of how it in Western Europe today with the conditions should bring on new members. We intend that existed just a few decades ago, in Presi- to move carefully and deliberately and openly and share the conclusions of that study with dent Truman’s time, you can see that. The all of those who have joined us in the Part- Alliance has brought former foes together, nership For Peace. But we have to move to strengthened democracy, and along with the the next phase in a steady, careful way, to Marshall Plan, it sheltered fragile economies consider who the new members should be and got them going again. It gave countries and when they would be invited to join the confidence to look past their ancient hatreds. Alliance. Throughout this, I will engage with It gave them the safety to sow the prosperity the Congress and the American people and they enjoy today. seek the kind of bipartisan partnership that By establishing NATO, of course, America made Harry Truman’s important work pos- also did something even more important sible. from our point of view. We established the Let me emphasize one important point: security that we require to flourish and to Bringing new members into this Alliance will grow. Now we have to build upon President enhance, not undermine, the security of ev- Truman’s accomplishments. He said when he eryone in Europe, including Russia, Ukraine, announced the , ‘‘The the other former Soviet republics. We’ve as- world is not static. The status quo is not sa- sured Russia that NATO is as it has always cred. We have to adapt NATO, and I believe been, a defensive alliance. Extending the we should open NATO’s doors to new mem- zone of security and democracy in Europe bers.’’ The end of the cold war cannot mean can help to prevent new conflicts that have the end of NATO, and it cannot mean a been building up, in many cases, for cen- NATO frozen in the past, because there is turies. For Russia and all of her neighbors, no other cornerstone for an integrated, se- this is a better path than the alternative. cure, and stable Europe for the future. I also want you to know, as you saw from NATO’s success has involved promoting the laughing photograph with President security interests, advancing values, support- Yeltsin, we are still building a positive rela- ing democracy and economic opportunity. tionship with Russia. Those of you familiar We have literally created a community of with the history of that great country know shared values and shared interests, as well that its heroic effort to become a confident as an alliance for the common defense. Now, and stable democracy is one of the most sig- the new democracies of Central and Eastern nificant developments of our time. Europe and the former Soviet Union want One of our former colleagues, President to be a part of enlarging the circle of common Nixon, who is no longer with us, wrote me

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a letter about Russia a month to the day be- parties the reassurance they need to make fore he died, which I still have and reread peace. from time to time, emphasizing the extraor- The question I have is this: If Harry Tru- dinary historic significance of Russia’s coura- man were President, would he expect the geous reach for democracy and liberty. United States as the leader of NATO to be Russia, too, has a contribution to make in a part of the force in Bosnia? I think you the new Europe, and we have offered them know what the answer is. The answer is, yes. a strong alliance with NATO and working And so must we. through the Partnership For Peace. Let me My fellow Americans, make no mistake just tell you, that partnership is going to about this: if we’re not there, many of our deepen. Tomorrow, United States and Rus- partners will reconsider their commitments; sian armed forces will begin a peacekeeping if we’re not there, America will sacrifice its exercise together at Fort Riley, Kansas, leadership in NATO; if we’re not there, we under the auspices of the Partnership For will be making a sad mistake. I am deter- Peace. We want our relationships with them mined that we will be part of this NATO to be daily, comprehensive, routine. We want mission. to go every step of the way to build con- I am working with Congress, engaging in fidence and security and a democratic Russia. an important dialog. I met not very long ago But we don’t think NATO’s opening to the with a bipartisan group of leaders, and I want East and our relationship with Russia are to say a special word of thanks to Senator mutually exclusive choices. Nunn for his remarkable contribution to that I want to emphasize one other thing. meeting and for his remarkable contributions NATO is at work for us right now, as we to our country, which we will all miss when speak, demonstrating in Bosnia how vital it he is gone. is to securing the peace in Europe. The ef- My fellow Americans, if you want 4 years forts of our negotiators, the military changes of bloody conflict to end, you have to support on the ground, and NATO’s air strikes have the United States being involved with NATO brought these parties to the negotiating table in enforcing the peace agreement. We have and to an agreement on the basic principles not sent troops into battle. We have not taken of a settlement and a nationwide cease-fire. sides. We have not been a part of the Next week, in an historic meeting, the UNPROFOR mission on the ground. But we Presidents of Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia will must do this if you want your country and travel here to Dayton, Ohio, to resolve the NATO to be effective in our time as it was remaining issues. The political settlement in President Truman’s vision and in his time. that is taking shape will preserve Bosnia as Let me also say again, if we don’t do this, a single state and provide for a fair territorial the consequences for our country could be compromise. It will commit the parties to grave, indeed. This is the most serious con- hold free elections, establish democratic in- flict on the continent of Europe since World stitutions, and respect human rights. War II. NATO must help to end it. If we There are many people who have played fail to secure this peace, how can we achieve a role in bringing this process this far. I want an integrated, peaceful, and united Europe? to thank one of them tonight for his extraor- If we fail to secure this peace, our success dinary efforts, President Carter. Thank you around the world and much of our success so much for what you have done. at home, which has come from American I want to say to all of you, there is no guar- leadership, will be weakened. If we fail to antee of peace, but it is possible in large secure this peace, the conflict in the former measure because of NATO. And let me ask Yugoslavia could spread to other nations and you one final thing. If the peace is negotiated, involve our sons and daughters in a conflict NATO must be prepared to help implement in Europe. the agreement. There will be no peace with- Let me say in closing that just a few days out an international military presence in ago, we were fortunate to have a visit in the Bosnia, a presence that must be credible. United States from His Holiness John Paul NATO is indispensable to this to give the II. And I spent about a half an hour with

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him alone, and he started with the most un- effective and efficient expenditure of public usual conversation I’ve ever had with him or, funds and fair and expeditious resolution of in some ways, with any other world leader. protests to the award of Federal procure- He said, ‘‘I want to talk about the world, and ment contracts, it is hereby ordered as fol- I want to know what you think.’’ I said, ‘‘The lows: world?’’ He said, ‘‘Yes, the whole deal.’’ I Section 1. Heads of executive depart- said, ‘‘Well, where shall I start?’’ He said, ments and agencies (‘‘agencies’’) engaged in ‘‘Start in Bosnia.’’ So we talked about Bosnia. the procurement of supplies and services Then we went around the world. At the end shall prescribe administrative procedures for he said, ‘‘You know, I am not a young man. the resolution of protests to the award of I have lived through most of this century. their procurement contracts as an alternative The 20th century began with a war in Sara- to protests in fora outside the procuring jevo. Mr. President, you must not let the 20th agencies. Procedures prescribed pursuant to century end with a war in Sarajevo.’’ this order shall: I ask you to think of this, my fellow Ameri- (a) emphasize that whenever conduct of cans, that first war in Sarajevo, that was a procurement is contested, all parties should Harry Truman’s war. That’s the war that he use their best efforts to resolve the matter joined up in even though he was old enough with agency contracting officers; and his eyesight was bad enough for him to get out of it. That’s the war he showed people (b) to the maximum extent practicable, the kind of leadership capacity he had. And provide for inexpensive, informal, proce- our failures after that war led Franklin Roo- durally simple, and expeditious resolution of sevelt into another war, led Harry Truman protests, including, where appropriate and as to end that war with a set of difficult painful permitted by law, the use of alternative dis- decisions, including dropping the atomic pute resolution techniques, third party bomb, and led him to determine that it would neutrals, and another agency’s personnel; never happen again. That’s why he did all (c) allow actual or prospective bidders or the things we celebrate tonight. offerors whose direct economic interests If he were here he would say, ‘‘If you want would be affected by the award or failure to really honor me, prepare for the future to award the contract to request a review, as I did.’’ at a level above the contracting officer, of Thank you, and God bless you all. any decision by a contracting officer that is alleged to have violated a statute or regula- NOTE: The President spoke at 9:35 p.m. in the tion and, thereby, caused prejudice to the Main Hall at the National Building Museum. In protester; and his remarks, he referred to Clifton Truman Dan- (d) except where immediate contract iel, President Truman’s grandson; Maj. Gen. Don- ald S. Dawson, USAF (Ret.), president, Harry S award or performance is justified for urgent Truman Library Institute for National and Inter- and compelling reasons or is determined to national Affairs, and his wife, Jenny; Lindy Boggs, be in the best interest of the United States, dinner chair; Larry Hackman, Director, Harry S prohibit award or performance of the con- Truman Library, and his wife, Sandy; Senator Sam tract while a timely filed protest is pending Nunn and his wife, Colleen; Archivist of the Unit- before the agency. To allow for the withhold- ed States John Carlin, and his wife, Diana; master ing of a contract award or performance, the of ceremonies James Symington; author and histo- agency must have received notice of the pro- rian David McCullough and his wife, Rosalee. test within either 10 calendar days after the contract award or 5 calendar days after the Executive Order 12979—Agency bidder or offeror who is protesting the con- Procurement Protests tract award was given the opportunity to be October 25, 1995 debriefed by the agency, whichever date is later. By the authority vested in me as President Sec. 2. The Administrator for Federal Pro- by the Constitution and the laws of the Unit- curement Policy shall: (a) work with the ed States of America, and in order to ensure heads of executive agencies to provide policy

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