I am an American and as a citizen of the United States of America
United States of America
United States of America I feel enormous ly privileged to be an
I feel enormous ly privileged to be an
I feel enormous ly privileged to be an integral part of the greatest most
integral part of the greatest most
integral part of the greatest most prosperous and most powerful nation in
prosperous and most powerful nation in
prosperous and most powerful nation in the world but I have a story to tell
the world but I have a story to tell
the world but I have a story to tell that goes back very very far away about
that goes back very very far away about
that goes back very very far away about 5,500 miles away going back about a
5,500 miles away going back about a
5,500 miles away going back about a hundred years ago and that’s because I
hundred years ago and that’s because I
hundred years ago and that’s because I am the grandson of political refugees my
am the grandson of political refugees my
am the grandson of political refugees my grandparents lived in a small village on
grandparents lived in a small village on
grandparents lived in a small village on the Black Sea coast of what is today
the Black Sea coast of what is today
the Black Sea coast of what is today northeastern Turkey in the Pontic
northeastern Turkey in the Pontic
northeastern Turkey in the Pontic Mountains region three thousand years of
Mountains region three thousand years of
Mountains region three thousand years of Greek civilization in that part of
Greek civilization in that part of
Greek civilization in that part of Europe but in the aftermath of World War
Europe but in the aftermath of World War
Europe but in the aftermath of World War one high-stakes diplomacy led to the
one high-stakes diplomacy led to the
one high-stakes diplomacy led to the cleansing the mutual cleansing of
cleansing the mutual cleansing of
cleansing the mutual cleansing of religious minorities between Greece and
religious minorities between Greece and
religious minorities between Greece and Turkey about seven hundred and fifty
Turkey about seven hundred and fifty
Turkey about seven hundred and fifty thousand Turkish Muslims were forcibly
thousand Turkish Muslims were forcibly
thousand Turkish Muslims were forcibly removed from their homes and resettled
removed from their homes and resettled
removed from their homes and resettled in Turkey and about a million and a half
in Turkey and about a million and a half
in Turkey and about a million and a half Greek Orthodox Christians were forcibly
Greek Orthodox Christians were forcibly
Greek Orthodox Christians were forcibly removed from their homes and resettled
removed from their homes and resettled
removed from their homes and resettled in Greece my grandparents were expelled
in Greece my grandparents were expelled
in Greece my grandparents were expelled from their homes with almost nothing on
from their homes with almost nothing on
from their homes with almost nothing on their backs they resettled in a poor
their backs they resettled in a poor
their backs they resettled in a poor farming village in northern Greece and
farming village in northern Greece and
farming village in northern Greece and there they endured over the next several
there they endured over the next several
there they endured over the next several decades the Great Depression the Second
decades the Great Depression the Second
decades the Great Depression the Second World War
World War
World War Nazi occupation and the Communist civil
Nazi occupation and the Communist civil
Nazi occupation and the Communist civil war that was absolutely brutal in the
war that was absolutely brutal in the
war that was absolutely brutal in the population of the country so that by the
population of the country so that by the
population of the country so that by the end of the 1940s one out of every ten
end of the 1940s one out of every ten
end of the 1940s one out of every ten Greeks had died as a result of these
Greeks had died as a result of these
Greeks had died as a result of these tragedies
tragedies
tragedies my family did what they could to save
my family did what they could to save
my family did what they could to save whatever money was available in order to
whatever money was available in order to
whatever money was available in order to be able to buy my father a ticket on a
be able to buy my father a ticket on a
be able to buy my father a ticket on a boat and my grandfather pulled him over
boat and my grandfather pulled him over
boat and my grandfather pulled him over one day and said son go to America that
one day and said son go to America that
one day and said son go to America that is where you will find hope and
is where you will find hope and
is where you will find hope and opportunity and to be able to build a
opportunity and to be able to build a
opportunity and to be able to build a better and more beautiful life for
better and more beautiful life for
better and more beautiful life for yourself and for your family my father
yourself and for your family my father
yourself and for your family my father met my mother several years later they
met my mother several years later they
met my mother several years later they married and they settled in Jersey City
married and they settled in Jersey City
married and they settled in Jersey City back when it was still a working-class
back when it was still a working-class
back when it was still a working-class town my mother raised my brother and me
town my mother raised my brother and me
town my mother raised my brother and me in a small brownstone apartment on Grove
in a small brownstone apartment on Grove
in a small brownstone apartment on Grove and 7th Street for those of you who
and 7th Street for those of you who
and 7th Street for those of you who remember Jersey City and it’s a
remember Jersey City and it’s a
remember Jersey City and it’s a beautiful neighborhood it’s changed a
beautiful neighborhood it’s changed a
beautiful neighborhood it’s changed a bit over the last several decades but my
bit over the last several decades but my
bit over the last several decades but my parents were working parents my father
parents were working parents my father
parents were working parents my father worked at a bakery in lower Manhattan
worked at a bakery in lower Manhattan
worked at a bakery in lower Manhattan it’s still there as a matter of fact
it’s still there as a matter of fact
it’s still there as a matter of fact worked very very difficult hours those
worked very very difficult hours those
worked very very difficult hours those of you who know Baker’s hours as an
of you who know Baker’s hours as an
of you who know Baker’s hours as an immigrant he worked sometimes two or
immigrant he worked sometimes two or
immigrant he worked sometimes two or three extra jobs as he needed to in
three extra jobs as he needed to in
three extra jobs as he needed to in order to be able to one day save enough
order to be able to one day save enough
order to be able to one day save enough money and buy us a home of our own my
money and buy us a home of our own my
money and buy us a home of our own my father and my mother went through
father and my mother went through
father and my mother went through tremendous challenges in those early
tremendous challenges in those early
tremendous challenges in those early years in the United States they barely
years in the United States they barely
years in the United States they barely spoke the language my father was here
spoke the language my father was here
spoke the language my father was here with 27 dollars in his pocket they
with 27 dollars in his pocket they
with 27 dollars in his pocket they worked very very hard but they knew that
worked very very hard but they knew that
worked very very hard but they knew that they had an opportunity to build a new
they had an opportunity to build a new
they had an opportunity to build a new and better life in America that simply
and better life in America that simply
and better life in America that simply wouldn’t be available to them back in a
wouldn’t be available to them back in a
wouldn’t be available to them back in a country ravaged by war and destitution
country ravaged by war and destitution
country ravaged by war and destitution and so my father would always say to my
and so my father would always say to my
and so my father would always say to my brother and me as we were growing up
brother and me as we were growing up
brother and me as we were growing up beautiful words simple yet so wise he
beautiful words simple yet so wise he
beautiful words simple yet so wise he would say to us America great country
would say to us America great country
would say to us America great country great
great
great great country and so my mother and
great country and so my mother and
great country and so my mother and father was so proud the day that they
father was so proud the day that they
father was so proud the day that they became United States citizens an
became United States citizens an
became United States citizens an enormous achievement in their lives and
enormous achievement in their lives and
enormous achievement in their lives and I’m very proud to be able to tell not
I’m very proud to be able to tell not
I’m very proud to be able to tell not only everyone in my family as a reminder
only everyone in my family as a reminder
only everyone in my family as a reminder but friends and colleagues of mine
but friends and colleagues of mine
but friends and colleagues of mine I’m the first member of my entire family
I’m the first member of my entire family
I’m the first member of my entire family my entire bloodline for that matter to
my entire bloodline for that matter to
my entire bloodline for that matter to be born in the United States of America
be born in the United States of America
be born in the United States of America and I consider it a great personal honor
and I consider it a great personal honor
and I consider it a great personal honor and privilege so we have this great
and privilege so we have this great
and privilege so we have this great great feeling of pride and of gratitude
great feeling of pride and of gratitude
great feeling of pride and of gratitude being in America going back to the
being in America going back to the
being in America going back to the hardship of my grandparents the
hardship of my grandparents the
hardship of my grandparents the difficulties my parents faced and yet
difficulties my parents faced and yet
difficulties my parents faced and yet they were able to make a very good
they were able to make a very good
they were able to make a very good living and lead a comfortable and safe
living and lead a comfortable and safe
living and lead a comfortable and safe and wonderful life here in America so
and wonderful life here in America so
and wonderful life here in America so they would often state often take us on
they would often state often take us on
they would often state often take us on summer holidays to Greece and when we
summer holidays to Greece and when we
summer holidays to Greece and when we arrived in the village the kids would
arrived in the village the kids would
arrived in the village the kids would gather seeing us coming out of the taxi
gather seeing us coming out of the taxi
gather seeing us coming out of the taxi and point to us and say in Greek ears
and point to us and say in Greek ears
and point to us and say in Greek ears anti-american akhiya the young Americans
anti-american akhiya the young Americans
anti-american akhiya the young Americans have arrived now my brother and I
have arrived now my brother and I
have arrived now my brother and I thought that was pretty cool
thought that was pretty cool
thought that was pretty cool we were very proud of that although as
we were very proud of that although as
we were very proud of that although as I’ve come to learn the politics of the
I’ve come to learn the politics of the
I’ve come to learn the politics of the region I wonder sometimes if they didn’t
region I wonder sometimes if they didn’t
region I wonder sometimes if they didn’t really mean it in a very good way but in
really mean it in a very good way but in
really mean it in a very good way but in a personal capacity I think about that
a personal capacity I think about that
a personal capacity I think about that America that’s so inspired my parents
America that’s so inspired my parents
America that’s so inspired my parents and millions of men and women around the
and millions of men and women around the
and millions of men and women around the world to leave behind families and
world to leave behind families and
world to leave behind families and kinships and close ties to come to this
kinships and close ties to come to this
kinships and close ties to come to this distant and sometimes strange land for
distant and sometimes strange land for
distant and sometimes strange land for so many people and in the professional
so many people and in the professional
so many people and in the professional capacity I think how do we better engage
capacity I think how do we better engage
capacity I think how do we better engage citizens and organizations and
citizens and organizations and
citizens and organizations and governments around the world how do we
governments around the world how do we
governments around the world how do we signal to the world who we are as
signal to the world who we are as
signal to the world who we are as Americans and as a government and as a
Americans and as a government and as a
Americans and as a government and as a nation so how do we most effectively
nation so how do we most effectively
nation so how do we most effectively engage our fellow men and women
engage our fellow men and women
engage our fellow men and women worldwide I’m somewhat concerned that
worldwide I’m somewhat concerned that
worldwide I’m somewhat concerned that today we’re trapped in a debate between
today we’re trapped in a debate between
today we’re trapped in a debate between nativism and globalism there are those
nativism and globalism there are those
nativism and globalism there are those who feel that American culture and the
who feel that American culture and the
who feel that American culture and the American nation has lost too much in
American nation has lost too much in
American nation has lost too much in recent years in recent decades to
recent years in recent decades to
recent years in recent decades to external encroachments too many people
external encroachments too many people
external encroachments too many people here who haven’t fully assimilated
here who haven’t fully assimilated
here who haven’t fully assimilated they’re very concerned about what is
they’re very concerned about what is
they’re very concerned about what is happening to the
happening to the
happening to the country that they grew up in on the
country that they grew up in on the
country that they grew up in on the other hand you have a more cosmopolitan
other hand you have a more cosmopolitan
other hand you have a more cosmopolitan sense that all of humanity it’s
sense that all of humanity it’s
sense that all of humanity it’s essentially the same we’re all bound by
essentially the same we’re all bound by
essentially the same we’re all bound by a single common thread and there really
a single common thread and there really
a single common thread and there really are no serious distinctions politically
are no serious distinctions politically
are no serious distinctions politically culturally or otherwise I’m not so sure
culturally or otherwise I’m not so sure
culturally or otherwise I’m not so sure the lines have to be drawn either way
the lines have to be drawn either way
the lines have to be drawn either way every government around the world has an
every government around the world has an
every government around the world has an obligation to protect its citizens and
obligation to protect its citizens and
obligation to protect its citizens and to protect its territory from across its
to protect its territory from across its
to protect its territory from across its borders but every government has an
borders but every government has an
borders but every government has an equal duty to provide the environment
equal duty to provide the environment
equal duty to provide the environment for its citizens to flourish
for its citizens to flourish
for its citizens to flourish economically culturally and in other
economically culturally and in other
economically culturally and in other fulfilling and enriching ways and so
fulfilling and enriching ways and so
fulfilling and enriching ways and so it’s very important for the United
it’s very important for the United
it’s very important for the United States to be able to Telegraph that
States to be able to Telegraph that
States to be able to Telegraph that shared interest that we have with so
shared interest that we have with so
shared interest that we have with so many of our allies and partners around
many of our allies and partners around
many of our allies and partners around the world because it’s in our own
the world because it’s in our own
the world because it’s in our own national interest and for the well-being
national interest and for the well-being
national interest and for the well-being of our own citizens so take for instance
of our own citizens so take for instance
of our own citizens so take for instance the consumer lifestyle that we enjoy
the consumer lifestyle that we enjoy
the consumer lifestyle that we enjoy here in America today unimaginable 30 40
here in America today unimaginable 30 40
here in America today unimaginable 30 40 50 years ago john d rockefeller a
50 years ago john d rockefeller a
50 years ago john d rockefeller a hundred years ago didn’t live the way a
hundred years ago didn’t live the way a
hundred years ago didn’t live the way a working American does today
working American does today
working American does today but so much of that lifestyle that we
but so much of that lifestyle that we
but so much of that lifestyle that we enjoy in America depends on global
enjoy in America depends on global
enjoy in America depends on global commerce and so we need safe shipping
commerce and so we need safe shipping
commerce and so we need safe shipping lanes to be able to get goods from other
lanes to be able to get goods from other
lanes to be able to get goods from other countries here to the United States and
countries here to the United States and
countries here to the United States and to get goods that are manufactured here
to get goods that are manufactured here
to get goods that are manufactured here in the United States to other markets
in the United States to other markets
in the United States to other markets who is going to protect these shipping
who is going to protect these shipping
who is going to protect these shipping lanes from what has been the historical
lanes from what has been the historical
lanes from what has been the historical phenomenon of piracy or the more modern
phenomenon of piracy or the more modern
phenomenon of piracy or the more modern phenomenon of terrorism it’s the United
phenomenon of terrorism it’s the United
phenomenon of terrorism it’s the United States
States
States it’s our armed forces that protect
it’s our armed forces that protect
it’s our armed forces that protect shipping lanes not only to our benefit
shipping lanes not only to our benefit
shipping lanes not only to our benefit but to those of our allies and partners
but to those of our allies and partners
but to those of our allies and partners and ironically even our adversaries who
and ironically even our adversaries who
and ironically even our adversaries who get to use the same shipping lanes
get to use the same shipping lanes
get to use the same shipping lanes protected by the United States to propel
protected by the United States to propel
protected by the United States to propel their economies forward by the same
their economies forward by the same
their economies forward by the same token I would say it is incumbent upon
token I would say it is incumbent upon
token I would say it is incumbent upon government
government
government to negotiate trade agreements to
to negotiate trade agreements to
to negotiate trade agreements to facilitate that global commerce and
facilitate that global commerce and
facilitate that global commerce and sustain our economies in ways that not
sustain our economies in ways that not
sustain our economies in ways that not only advanced commercial interests but
only advanced commercial interests but
only advanced commercial interests but also the well-being of working Americans
also the well-being of working Americans
also the well-being of working Americans absolutely critical to do so we need to
absolutely critical to do so we need to
absolutely critical to do so we need to be engaged at all times it’s so many
be engaged at all times it’s so many
be engaged at all times it’s so many countries around the world
countries around the world
countries around the world allies and partners first and foremost
allies and partners first and foremost
allies and partners first and foremost and those countries that seek to come
and those countries that seek to come
and those countries that seek to come into this larger orbit of prosperity and
into this larger orbit of prosperity and
into this larger orbit of prosperity and security with America and that’s really
security with America and that’s really
security with America and that’s really been the driving force for the way we’ve
been the driving force for the way we’ve
been the driving force for the way we’ve conducted our policies around the world
conducted our policies around the world
conducted our policies around the world for the last 70 years or so but things
for the last 70 years or so but things
for the last 70 years or so but things are changing very rapidly for the last
are changing very rapidly for the last
are changing very rapidly for the last ten years and I want to take a look at
ten years and I want to take a look at
ten years and I want to take a look at just the countries involving my own
just the countries involving my own
just the countries involving my own family for a moment and then break out
family for a moment and then break out
family for a moment and then break out into some of the larger concerns that we
into some of the larger concerns that we
into some of the larger concerns that we have in Greece we had a once prosperous
have in Greece we had a once prosperous
have in Greece we had a once prosperous vibrant country in the heart of Europe
vibrant country in the heart of Europe
vibrant country in the heart of Europe that is undergone not a financial
that is undergone not a financial
that is undergone not a financial recession but a depression over the last
recession but a depression over the last
recession but a depression over the last eight years that is utterly flattened
eight years that is utterly flattened
eight years that is utterly flattened it’s middle class it’s gotten so
it’s middle class it’s gotten so
it’s middle class it’s gotten so difficult there that the white house two
difficult there that the white house two
difficult there that the white house two years ago was very much concerned that a
years ago was very much concerned that a
years ago was very much concerned that a country inside the European Union and
country inside the European Union and
country inside the European Union and the NATO alliance was on the verge of
the NATO alliance was on the verge of
the NATO alliance was on the verge of becoming a failed state and across the
becoming a failed state and across the
becoming a failed state and across the Aegean Sea we have a government in
Aegean Sea we have a government in
Aegean Sea we have a government in Turkey that is becoming increasingly
Turkey that is becoming increasingly
Turkey that is becoming increasingly authoritarian suppressing media
authoritarian suppressing media
authoritarian suppressing media criticism and any type of popular
criticism and any type of popular
criticism and any type of popular dissent becoming a less reliable ally in
dissent becoming a less reliable ally in
dissent becoming a less reliable ally in a more dangerous part of the world and
a more dangerous part of the world and
a more dangerous part of the world and that dangerous part of the world is just
that dangerous part of the world is just
that dangerous part of the world is just a few hundred miles south of these
a few hundred miles south of these
a few hundred miles south of these countries so what are we dealing with
countries so what are we dealing with
countries so what are we dealing with some of the major challenges that we
some of the major challenges that we
some of the major challenges that we read about in the papers every day in
read about in the papers every day in
read about in the papers every day in Libya we have an uncovered battleground
Libya we have an uncovered battleground
Libya we have an uncovered battleground between weak political leaders and
between weak political leaders and
between weak political leaders and determined terrorists in Egypt we have a
determined terrorists in Egypt we have a
determined terrorists in Egypt we have a country utterly torn between military
country utterly torn between military
country utterly torn between military dictatorship
dictatorship
dictatorship and religious fanaticism Islamic state
and religious fanaticism Islamic state
and religious fanaticism Islamic state is erasing political borders in Syria
is erasing political borders in Syria
is erasing political borders in Syria and Iraq and exporting terrorism to
and Iraq and exporting terrorism to
and Iraq and exporting terrorism to other Middle Eastern countries to Europe
other Middle Eastern countries to Europe
other Middle Eastern countries to Europe and unfortunately even to the United
and unfortunately even to the United
and unfortunately even to the United States Russia continues to occupy
States Russia continues to occupy
States Russia continues to occupy eastern Ukraine and Crimea and Iran Iran
eastern Ukraine and Crimea and Iran Iran
eastern Ukraine and Crimea and Iran Iran continues to be the world’s leading
continues to be the world’s leading
continues to be the world’s leading state sponsor of international terrorism
state sponsor of international terrorism
state sponsor of international terrorism it is developing a dangerous nuclear
it is developing a dangerous nuclear
it is developing a dangerous nuclear weapons program and it is helping North
weapons program and it is helping North
weapons program and it is helping North Korea develop a ballistic missile
Korea develop a ballistic missile
Korea develop a ballistic missile program that the North Korean regime
program that the North Korean regime
program that the North Korean regime would like to be able to strike the
would like to be able to strike the
would like to be able to strike the United States with in three to five
United States with in three to five
United States with in three to five years so we have very serious challenges
years so we have very serious challenges
years so we have very serious challenges around the world and we all know about
around the world and we all know about
around the world and we all know about the atrocities in Syria Syria is not a
the atrocities in Syria Syria is not a
the atrocities in Syria Syria is not a case of a civil war Syria is a matter of
case of a civil war Syria is a matter of
case of a civil war Syria is a matter of many small civil wars between so many
many small civil wars between so many
many small civil wars between so many confusing and complex factions inside
confusing and complex factions inside
confusing and complex factions inside the country but what is most terrific is
the country but what is most terrific is
the country but what is most terrific is what is happening on a human scale
what is happening on a human scale
what is happening on a human scale hundreds of thousands of people have
hundreds of thousands of people have
hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the last six years in
been killed in the last six years in
been killed in the last six years in Syria millions of Syrians have been
Syria millions of Syrians have been
Syria millions of Syrians have been displaced from their homes streaming as
displaced from their homes streaming as
displaced from their homes streaming as migrants in his refugees into Middle
migrants in his refugees into Middle
migrants in his refugees into Middle Eastern countries and into distant
Eastern countries and into distant
Eastern countries and into distant European lands in Syria we have a
European lands in Syria we have a
European lands in Syria we have a humanitarian crisis that is a shot to
humanitarian crisis that is a shot to
humanitarian crisis that is a shot to the conscience and yet the United States
the conscience and yet the United States
the conscience and yet the United States concerned as we are about security and
concerned as we are about security and
concerned as we are about security and stability cares deeply about the
stability cares deeply about the
stability cares deeply about the well-being of other people it doesn’t
well-being of other people it doesn’t
well-being of other people it doesn’t always play out very well we need to be
always play out very well we need to be
always play out very well we need to be honest about this and remember that 20
honest about this and remember that 20
honest about this and remember that 20 years ago or so the United States
years ago or so the United States
years ago or so the United States decided to not intervene to prevent the
decided to not intervene to prevent the
decided to not intervene to prevent the genocide in Rwanda but essentially we
genocide in Rwanda but essentially we
genocide in Rwanda but essentially we are a good and giving nation that seeks
are a good and giving nation that seeks
are a good and giving nation that seeks to help out wherever we’re able to do so
to help out wherever we’re able to do so
to help out wherever we’re able to do so and it’s a special gift that the United
and it’s a special gift that the United
and it’s a special gift that the United States
States
States above practically any other country in
above practically any other country in
above practically any other country in the world when there is calamity
the world when there is calamity
the world when there is calamity anywhere in the world even our most
anywhere in the world even our most
anywhere in the world even our most persistent critics know that it’s
persistent critics know that it’s
persistent critics know that it’s America that would be called upon to
America that would be called upon to
America that would be called upon to help resolve the crisis to deal with the
help resolve the crisis to deal with the
help resolve the crisis to deal with the emergency and to deliver assistance and
emergency and to deliver assistance and
emergency and to deliver assistance and relief to people in all corners of the
relief to people in all corners of the
relief to people in all corners of the globe the reason we’re able to do this
globe the reason we’re able to do this
globe the reason we’re able to do this is because we alone have the wealth to
is because we alone have the wealth to
is because we alone have the wealth to provide the resources the military
provide the resources the military
provide the resources the military capacity to deliver the resources around
capacity to deliver the resources around
capacity to deliver the resources around the world but most importantly I would
the world but most importantly I would
the world but most importantly I would say it’s that we have earned the trust
say it’s that we have earned the trust
say it’s that we have earned the trust of most countries around the world to do
of most countries around the world to do
of most countries around the world to do fundamentally good things and the way
fundamentally good things and the way
fundamentally good things and the way that we do this is through our
that we do this is through our
that we do this is through our partnerships strengthening bonds with
partnerships strengthening bonds with
partnerships strengthening bonds with allies and partners around the world
allies and partners around the world
allies and partners around the world sharing the benefits that we enjoy as
sharing the benefits that we enjoy as
sharing the benefits that we enjoy as the dominant power in the world but
the dominant power in the world but
the dominant power in the world but sharing those benefits with so many
sharing those benefits with so many
sharing those benefits with so many countries and encouraging as many other
countries and encouraging as many other
countries and encouraging as many other countries outside of that orbit to come
countries outside of that orbit to come
countries outside of that orbit to come in and join this umbrella of security
in and join this umbrella of security
in and join this umbrella of security and of prosperity ladies and gentlemen
and of prosperity ladies and gentlemen
and of prosperity ladies and gentlemen peace is not the norm in human history
peace is not the norm in human history
peace is not the norm in human history it’s one of the great tragedies of
it’s one of the great tragedies of
it’s one of the great tragedies of humanity war is the norm peace is very
humanity war is the norm peace is very
humanity war is the norm peace is very precious and it has to be protected and
precious and it has to be protected and
precious and it has to be protected and defended at all times and this was the
defended at all times and this was the
defended at all times and this was the American vision in the aftermath of
American vision in the aftermath of
American vision in the aftermath of World War two with the Truman Doctrine
World War two with the Truman Doctrine
World War two with the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan and the NATO
and the Marshall Plan and the NATO
and the Marshall Plan and the NATO alliance that protected and defended all
alliance that protected and defended all
alliance that protected and defended all of Europe most of Europe not Eastern
of Europe most of Europe not Eastern
of Europe most of Europe not Eastern Europe unfortunately but that protection
Europe unfortunately but that protection
Europe unfortunately but that protection included this small poor ravaged nation
included this small poor ravaged nation
included this small poor ravaged nation of Greece and it’s a grand vision today
of Greece and it’s a grand vision today
of Greece and it’s a grand vision today that I think is so important as we enter
that I think is so important as we enter
that I think is so important as we enter more deeply this young century is 21st
more deeply this young century is 21st
more deeply this young century is 21st century and think about who we are as
century and think about who we are as
century and think about who we are as Americans and what our nation represents
Americans and what our nation represents
Americans and what our nation represents to the world in my grand vision
to the world in my grand vision
to the world in my grand vision American policy weaves together the
American policy weaves together the
American policy weaves together the physical security of our nation stronger
physical security of our nation stronger
physical security of our nation stronger bonds with allies and partners around
bonds with allies and partners around
bonds with allies and partners around the world and with countries that aspire
the world and with countries that aspire
the world and with countries that aspire to join us and working with our allies
to join us and working with our allies
to join us and working with our allies with effective and persuasive diplomacy
with effective and persuasive diplomacy
with effective and persuasive diplomacy armed diplomacy to keep our adversaries
armed diplomacy to keep our adversaries
armed diplomacy to keep our adversaries at bay this is how we better protect
at bay this is how we better protect
at bay this is how we better protect America this is how we better maintain a
America this is how we better maintain a
America this is how we better maintain a system of order that allows us to lead
system of order that allows us to lead
system of order that allows us to lead very very privileged lives here in
very very privileged lives here in
very very privileged lives here in America and in those countries that call
America and in those countries that call
America and in those countries that call themselves our allies and partners I
wonder sometimes ladies and gentlemen if
wonder sometimes ladies and gentlemen if my grandparents forcibly expelled from
my grandparents forcibly expelled from
my grandparents forcibly expelled from their homes a hundred years ago ever
their homes a hundred years ago ever
their homes a hundred years ago ever imagined that their family would wind up
imagined that their family would wind up
imagined that their family would wind up in America I wonder sometimes if they
in America I wonder sometimes if they
in America I wonder sometimes if they ever imagined that the first American
ever imagined that the first American
ever imagined that the first American grandson in the family would be
grandson in the family would be
grandson in the family would be privileged to enjoy a career where he
privileged to enjoy a career where he
privileged to enjoy a career where he meets with US presidents and Senators
meets with US presidents and Senators
meets with US presidents and Senators and members of Congress multinational
and members of Congress multinational
and members of Congress multinational CEOs and other world leaders in the
CEOs and other world leaders in the
CEOs and other world leaders in the grandest centers of power
grandest centers of power
grandest centers of power I even wonder sometimes if they imagined
I even wonder sometimes if they imagined
I even wonder sometimes if they imagined that that first American grandson would
that that first American grandson would
that that first American grandson would stand on a stage such as this in this
stand on a stage such as this in this
stand on a stage such as this in this magnificent Paramount Theater to be able
magnificent Paramount Theater to be able
magnificent Paramount Theater to be able to publicly express my gratitude to my
to publicly express my gratitude to my
to publicly express my gratitude to my parents and to my grandparents for their
parents and to my grandparents for their
parents and to my grandparents for their enormous sacrifices on behalf of my
enormous sacrifices on behalf of my
enormous sacrifices on behalf of my brother and me and also to be able to
brother and me and also to be able to
brother and me and also to be able to express my very humble gratitude to the
express my very humble gratitude to the
express my very humble gratitude to the countless Americans who’ve made the
countless Americans who’ve made the
countless Americans who’ve made the greatest sacrifice
greatest sacrifice
greatest sacrifice most of them strangers of past and
most of them strangers of past and
most of them strangers of past and current generations so that I all of you
current generations so that I all of you
current generations so that I all of you and all of our fellow Americans can live
and all of our fellow Americans can live
and all of our fellow Americans can live a life proved
a life proved
a life proved and fortunate as American citizens and
and fortunate as American citizens and
and fortunate as American citizens and so my improbable but very American story
so my improbable but very American story
so my improbable but very American story that began a hundred years ago in the
that began a hundred years ago in the
that began a hundred years ago in the ashes of the Ottoman Empire and passed
ashes of the Ottoman Empire and passed
ashes of the Ottoman Empire and passed through their tragedies and milestones
through their tragedies and milestones
through their tragedies and milestones of the 20th century and brings me here
of the 20th century and brings me here
of the 20th century and brings me here to this beautiful city of Asbury Park
to this beautiful city of Asbury Park
to this beautiful city of Asbury Park New Jersey doesn’t give us pause for
New Jersey doesn’t give us pause for
New Jersey doesn’t give us pause for celebration for remembrance and for
celebration for remembrance and for
celebration for remembrance and for enormous and profound gratitude as
enormous and profound gratitude as
enormous and profound gratitude as Americans I hear in my ears the voice of
Americans I hear in my ears the voice of
Americans I hear in my ears the voice of my father from a place of beautiful and
my father from a place of beautiful and
my father from a place of beautiful and refreshing repose where he is now saying
refreshing repose where he is now saying
refreshing repose where he is now saying in my ear
in my ear
in my ear John this is America a great great
John this is America a great great
John this is America a great great country thank you very much
country thank you very much
country thank you very much [Applause]
”
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