Documents / Official release
This is a White House Office of the Press Secretary transcript of remarks by President Clinton and the First Lady at the lighting of the Christmas tree at Belfast City Hall, Northern Ireland, on November 30, 1995. It was forwarded by email on August 28, 1998. Most of the speech is about the Northern Ireland peace process and children's letters. Answering a letter from a 13-year-old named Ryan, the President jokes that as far as he knows no alien spacecraft crashed in Roswell in 1947.
“Cooper”1 page
.. letters were full ofh6pe and love and humor. To al,l of you who took the time ~ . . . write me, you've brightened my holiday season with your wqrds of faith and courage, and I thank you. To all of you who asked me to do what I could to ~~ , . peace take root, I pledge you America's support. We will stand with you as you , take risks for peace., (Applause.) And to all of youwho have not lost your sense of humor, ~ say thank you.> I . got a.letter from 13-year-old Ryan from Belfast. Now, Ryan, if you're out in the crowd tonight, here's the answer' to your question. No, as far as I know, an alien spacecraft did not crash in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. (Laughter.) And, Ryan, if the United States Air Force did recover alien bodies, they didn't tell me about it, either, and I want to know. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, this day that Hillary and I have had here. in Belfast and in Derry and Londonderry County will long be with us -- (applause) .-- as one of ' the most remarkable days of our lives. I leave you with these thoughts. May the Christmas spirit of peace and goodwill floutish and grow in you. May you remember the words of the Lord Mayor: "This is Christmas; We celebrate the world in a new way because of the birth of Emmanuel; God with us." And when God was with us, he said no words more important than these: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the Earth." (Applause.) Merry, Christmas, and God bless you all. (Applause.) END 7:53 P.M. (L)
Official release, from the nara collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 6 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.