[applause] ms. Albright thank you. Good afternoon and welcome. I am truly delighted to be here with all of you and to celebrate Public Service and the legacy of harry truman. As someone who believes passionately in the importance of americas global leadership, i have a natural love and affinity for harry truman. But my affection for him is rooted in something more basic. He was my First American president. My family and i arrived in america november 11, 1948. A week after he narrowly beat dewey in 1948. All of this was some time ago. In fact, i tell my students now that i went to college about halfway between the invention of the ipad and the discovery of fire. [laughter] ms. Albright so, it was much later when i became secretary of state and the question arose as to where to hold a particular ceremony. The event was to mark natos decision to include poland, and my native hungry as nightmares hungary as new members. I wasnt able to decide everything but i was able to decide that. I can
Harry truman. As someone who believes passionately in the importance of americas global leadership, i have a natural love and affinity for harry truman. But my affection for him is rooted in something more basic. He was my First American president. My family and i arrived in america november 11, 1948. A week after he narrowly beat his opponent in 1948. That was some time ago. In fact, i tell my students now that i went to college about halfway between the invention of the ipad in the discovery of fire. [laughter] ms. Albright so, it was much later when i became secretary of state and the question arose as to where to hold a particular ceremony. The event was to mark naitos decision natos decision to include . I cannot think of a more appropriate place than the truman president ial library in independence, missouri, a place devoted to the man whose vision is responsible for nato. As i stood there, i was so excited that i cannot help to use in old czechoslovakia expression, hallelujah. [
Rooted in something more basic. He was my First American president. My family and i arrived in america november 11, 1948. A week after he narrowly beat his opponent in 1948. That was some time ago. In fact, i tell my students now that i went to college about halfway between the invention of the ipad in the discovery of fire. [laughter] ms. Albright so, it was much later when i became secretary of state and the question arose as to where to hold a particular ceremony. The event was to mark naitos s decision too include . I cannot think of a more appropriate place than the truman president ial library in independence, missouri, a place devoted to the man whose vision is responsible for nato. As i stood there, i was so excited that i cannot help to use in old czechoslovakia expression, hallelujah. [laughter] ms. Albright i was equally excited to hold a ceremony in washington to formally rename this building in honor of president truman. In 2002, i was honored to be asked to serve this fou
Ms. Albright so, it was much later when i became secretary of state and the question arose as to where to hold a particular ceremony. The event was to mark natos decision to include poland, and my native hungry as nightmares hungary as new members. I cannot think of a more appropriate place than the truman president ial library in independence, missouri, a place devoted to the man whose vision was responsible for nato. As i stood there, i was so help tothat i cannot use an old czechoslovakia expression, hallelujah. [laughter] ms. Albright i was equally excited to hold a ceremony in washington to formally rename this building in honor of president truman. In 2002, i was honored to be asked to serve this foundation. Harry truman was both a remarkable president and a remarkable man who spoke often about the importance of promoting young leaders. He wanted this foundation to be a living memorial, encouraging educated citizenship and political responsibility. For the past 40 years, thanks t