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Sons of Italy Dinner 5/25/00
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Jeffrey Shesol's Files
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FOIA Number:
2006-0467-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting
Series/Staff Member:
Jeff Shesol
Subseries:
OA/ID Number:
21461
FolderID:
Folder Title:
Sons of Italy Dinner 5/25/00
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
S
91
6
10
3
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. note
Phone Number. [partial] (1 page)
5/2000
P6/b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
Speechwriting
Jeff Shesol
OA/Box Number: 21461
FOLDER TITLE:
Sons of Italy Dinner 5/25/00
2006-0467-F
vz232
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - |44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
PI National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute |(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would diselose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells |(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
Mark C. Sheppard
05/26/2000
01:04:49 PM
Record Type: Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: 2000 05/25 POTUS remarks at Sons of Italy Dinner
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
May 25, 2000
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
DURING SONS OF ITALY GALA
National Building Museum
Washington, D.C.
10:20 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you for the warm welcome. I am
delighted to be here. I'm sorry to be late. I got here in time
to see Mario Andretti's film, or at least to hear it. And I want
to begin by congratulating Mario Andretti and Connie Stevens on
their award, and congratulating you on honoring them.
I was, today -.- the reason I had to be a little late tonight
is, I've been forced to go to Rhode Island. I had to go to a
memorial service today for a friend of mine. And then when I
came back, I stopped by the Asian-Pacific American dinner
tonight. And I brought Mary Beth Cahill, my Director of Public
Liaison. Now, she's Irish, I'm Irish. We went to the
Asian-Pacific dinner, and then we came to the Sons of Italy
dinner. Is this a great country, or what? (Applause.)
I want to thank all the members of Congress who are here:
Michael Capuano, Rosa DeLauro, Peter DeFazio, Nick Lampson, Dave
Weldon. And I know John LaFalce was here, and since he's from
New York, I think I'll mention him anyway. (Laughter.)
I want to -- I see Ambassador Salleo back there. Thank you,
sir, for representing your country so well. And our U.S.
Ambassador to Hungary has come all the way back, Peter Tufo,
thank you. Thank you, Paul Polo. Thank you, Phil Piccigallo.
Thank you, Phil Boncore.
And I'd also like to recognize one of my heroes, since I'm a
baseball nut, Tommy Lasorda, and Vic Damone. And Vince Panvini,
the Sheet Metal Workers' President, thank you. (Applause.)
You know, I do a lot of these dinners. And I never come so
late, but normally by this hour, people are beginning to flag.
But you look pretty lively to me tonight. (Laughter.) And I
don't think it's me. I think the espresso, maybe. (Laughter.)
I am going to follow tonight the admonition of one of the
greatest of all Italians Cicero, who was a pretty fair
speaker. He said this: "brevity is the best recommendation of a
speech. So I agree with that except when it comes to the
State of the Union (laughter) -- and Cicero never had to give
one of those, so I forgive him.
Let me begin by saying that obviously this is the last one
of these dinners I will attend as President. Many of you have
helped me and the Vice President and our administration family
over seven and a half years, especially when it comes to
advancing the cause of education. I thank you for what you do
for the young people every year, and I hope to meet your young
honorees tonight, which you've given the scholarships to. And I
thank you very much for what you've done for us over these last
seven and a half years.
I'd also like to say how profoundly indebted I am to the
host of Italian-Americans who have served in this administration.
Today, my Chief of Staff is John Podesta, the second
Italian-American chief of staff I have had. (Applause.) My
Deputy Chief of Staff, Steve Ricchetti; the Counselor to the
Chief of Staff, Karen Tramontano; my Director of Communications,
Loretta Ucelli; my Deputy Press Secretary, Jennifer Palmieri; and
that's just the beginning. (Applause.)
I used to joke with them that someday, someone would file an
affirmative action suit against me for having too many Italians
in the administration. (Laughter.) But I'm very glad also to
have Secretary Andrew Cuomo, who's done a terrific job, and I
want to thank him. (Applause.)
I want to also thank the Italian-American community for the
contributions that SO many millions have made to the progress of
America these last seven and a half years to the economic
progress, the social progress, bringing the values of immigrants,
of hard work, faith and family, to the forefront of America, and
bringing us together.
And I want to make basically just two points, very briefly,
that I think are consistent with what the Sons of Italy have done
for 90 years, now, and more. First of all, you may have noticed
that this is an election year. It's the first time in 26 years I
haven't been on the ballot, SO I haven't paid much attention to
it (laughter) -- but I'm told that this is an election year.
Most of the time, I'm okay about not being on the ballot.
But what I want to say to you is this: I've done everything
I know to do to help our country deal with the challenges that
have faced us at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of
the 21st. We are now in a once-in-a-lifetime position in
terms of the strength of our economy, in terms of the
strengthening of our social fabric, in terms of our security
position in the world -- and I believe the great question in this
millennial year is, what are we going to do with this good
fortune?
And those of you at least in this audience who are over 30
can all remember at least one time in your lives when you made a
mistake a personal mistake, or a professional or a business
mistake; or, if you're in politics, a political mistake not
because things were going SO poorly, but because things were
going SO well, you thought there were no consequences to a lapse
in judgment, to taking the immediate path rather than the long
view.
The whole history of Italian-Americans is the history of
people who overcame obstacles, strengthened their families, made
sacrifices today for the benefit of tomorrow. And what I hope
and pray for Americans, without regard to whether they're
Democrats or Republicans or independents, is that we will take
advantage of this precious opportunity we have to ask ourselves,
what are we going to do with this good fortune to build the
future of our dreams for our children and our grandchildren? How
are we going to meet the big challenges still out there? What
about the people and places who have been left behind by this
prosperity?
A couple of days ago we had what is, to me, one of my most
moving days as President, when we had a large number of members
of Congress, including a couple who are in this room tonight,
join the Speaker of the House and me to announce that we had
reached a bipartisan agreement that I hope will pass the House
and the Senate unanimously to give investors, like some of you in
this room, the same tax incentives and other incentives to invest
in poor neighborhoods in urban and rural America and our Native
American reservations we give you to invest in poor areas
overseas and around the world. (Applause.) That's a big issue.
What are we going to do to make sure all of our children
have world-class educations, and they can all go on to college?
What are we going to do to reward work, and help people balance
work and family the most important question many people face?
How will we manage the aging of America? What's going to
happen to Social Security? What's going to happen to Medicare?
What about the families that are taking care of their parents in
long-term care? How are they going to deal with that?
The average life expectancy of anybody that lives to be 65
today in America is 82. And it will soon be a lot higher. When
we get the full decoding of the human genome sometime later this
year, it will spark the most amazing revolution in the biological
sciences we have ever seen. And I wouldn't be surprised if there
are young people in this audience today who will have children
over the next 20 years who literally will be able to look forward
to a life expectancy of about 100 years.
Now that is a high-class problem. But it means we have to
do more to prepare the way. We've got to give seniors
prescription drugs, SO they can live healthier and better as well
as longer. (Applause.) We've got to deal with this if a
family's going to take care of a loved one, an elderly or
disabled loved one, we've got to help them do that. They ought
to have some sort of tax break to do that.
I think these things are very important. But they're big
questions, and they don't have any simple partisan answers;
they're people issues.
How are we going to deal with the new security challenges,
from terrorists and rogue states and narco-traffickers? Someone
told me the Ambassador from Colombia is here tonight. The next
big national security challenge we have is getting the Congress
to pass America's share of helping to save the oldest democracy
in Latin America, in Colombia, and I hope all of you will support
that. We have got to prove that a free system of free people can
defeat narco-traffickers and civil war and terrorists. We've got
to prove that. (Applause.)
But to me, the most important thing of all is, as we become
more and more a nation of immigrants, how shall we remain one
America? How will we celebrate our diversity? I don't believe
in tolerating difference. I think it should be celebrated and
enjoyed. This is a more interesting country, don't you think?
That it's growing more diverse? (Applause.)
You know, when I was over -- at the Asian dinner tonight,
there are people from at least 25 different national groups,
speaking over 75 different native languages, from hundreds of
different ethnic groups, just in the Asian-American community
alone. Across the river here in Alexandria, there is one school
district that has children in it whose parents speak over 180
languages as their first language.
Now, in a global economy and an increasingly global society,
this is a godsend. But we don't have time anymore, or the
luxury, for people to endure some of the prejudice and
discrimination that the Italians and the Irish went through when
they came here; that the Japanese felt when they were put in the
internment camps in World War II; that we still see in the hate
crimes around this country.
So I hope you will help us to support the hate-crimes
legislation, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and even more
important, genuine efforts in every community and every school to
expose our children to all the differences that make up America
today to let them appreciate them and respect them and
celebrate them, and recognize that the only way we're ever going
to hold our ship of state together is to find that incredible
balance between loving our ethnic diversity and understanding
that our common humanity is even more important. (Applause.)
It's probably too late in the evening for such heavy stuff,
but this is my last shot, and I thought I'd take it. (Laughter.)
Again let me say, I thank you. I've had a wonderful time.
The country's in good shape. You have to decide what to do with
it.
You want to be able to tell your children and your
grandchildren that when the century turned, and when we started a
new millennium, America was not just in good shape, but you made
the most of it -- that we were a good friend and a good neighbor
to the rest of the world, and that we built a new future for all
our people. That's what you want to be able to say.
And so, whatever your political background, whatever your
predispostion, be Italian this election year. Think about
family; think about work; think about the future; think about
your grandchildren. And give it all you've got. (Applause.)
Thank you, and God bless you all. (Applause.)
END
10:37 P.M. EDT
Message Sent To:
SONS OF ITALY FOUNDATION
Order Sons of Italy in America
219 E Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002
547-2900 FAX: (202) 546-8168
February 4, 2000
snater
The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Clinton:
of Sons of Italy Foundation President Paul S. Polo and the SIF Board of Trustees, Annual National it is my
On behalf invite you and Mrs. Clinton to the Sons of Italy Foundation's 12th 2000 the National
great pleasure & Leadership to Awards (NELA) Gala, to be held the evening of May 25, at by your
Education Museum here in Washington, DC. We have been deeply honored the past two years by another
Building presence and eloquent addresses given at this event, and we would be equally delighted yet
repeat visit this year.
the annual NELA Gala is the hallmark of the SIF's philanthropic program for outstanding and commitment young
As you know, wherein we've contributed in excess of $30 million to scholarships these talented
to education, since 1968. This year, we continue our tradition of publicly honoring, not deal only back to our
people but well-known Italian Americans who have given a great Award,
students, Mario some very Andretti will be recognized with the SIF's 4th Annual Humanitarian Damone and while his a
community. corporate CEO, to be named, will receive the principal (NELA) award. Vic again emcee.
leading orchestra will be on hand for a special tribute performance- Larry King will once
NELA Gala will take place on Thursday, May 25, from approximately 6:00 will - be 11:00 able pm to
The 12th Annual the National Building Museum. 1 sincerely hope that you and Mrs. Clinton well. Should you wish
once again at special guests, and that you will consider addressing the audience as such arrangements.
to attend, attend as the our dinner and/or VIP Reception, we would be more than happy to make
have schedulers let me know at your earliest convenience, by replying from directly either to me
Please or Executive your Secretary Martha Morse at (202)547-3155. I look forward to hearing you.
Sincerely, Philp R. Pricicallo
[Pichigallo]
Philip R. Piccigallo, Ph.D.
National Executive Director
CC: Paul S. Polo, SIF president
Final 05/25/00 7:00pm
Jeff Shesol
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS AT THE SONS OF ITALY FOUNDATION
12th ANNUAL NATIONAL EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP AWARDS GALA
THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM
WASHINGTON, DC
May 25, 2000
Acknowledgments: Sec. Slater; Members of Congress; Italian Amb. to US Ferdinand
Salleo [sa-lay-o]; US Amb. to Hungary Peter Tufo; Paul Polo, SIF Pres.; Phil Piccigallo [pitch-
igallo], OSIA Nat'l Exec. Dir.; Phillip Boncore, OSIA Nat'l Pres.; Vince Panvini, Sheet Metal
Workers; Tommy Lasorda; Vic Damone; tonight's honorees Mario Andretti & Connie Stevens
I'm delighted to join you at this year's gala, even at this late hour. You know, I attend a
lot of dinners, and by this time in the evening, people tend to flag a little. But you all look pretty
lively. Is it me, or the shots of espresso?
All the same, I won't keep you much later. It was Cicero who said, "Brevity is the best
recommendation of speech." And I completely agree. Except when it comes to the State of the
Union. Cicero never had to give one of those.
As I look out at this audience and see the wide range of talent represented here, I'm
reminded of the many ways that Italian-Americans make a difference every day. This is
something that's never far from my mind - or my door. Just a few steps from the Oval Office,
I'm very lucky to have my Chief of Staff, John Podesta; my Deputy Chief of Staff, Steve
Ricchetti; the Counselor to the Chief of Staff, Karen Tramontano; my Communications Director,
Loretta Ucelli; and my Deputy Press Secretary, Jennifer Palmieri. And I think you all know how
important Secretary Cuomo has been to my administration.
I am very proud of the contributions that Italian-Americans, both within the White House
and across America, are making to these remarkable times - to the longest economic expansion
in history, the lowest unemployment in 30 years, the smallest welfare rolls in 30 years.
Every bit as important, the sons and daughters of Italy are working hard every day to
strengthen the values we all share: the love of family and the vitality of faith; the importance of
education; the pride in work; and the devotion to community and country. These values are
close to the hearts of Italian-Americans and, indeed, Americans of every background. They led
millions of immigrants to our shores and guided them, once they got here, to the highest levels of
achievement and power.
We are here tonight not just to celebrate those achievements but to honor our shared
commitment to education, the gateway to opportunity in America. As President, that's a
commitment I have worked hard to fulfill - investing more in and demanding more from our
1
public schools; expanding HeadStart; creating HOPE Scholarships, increasing Pell grants, and
opening the doors of college to all Americans.
For more than 90 years, the Sons of Italy has kept faith with these cherished values while
working to build an even better future for our children. Again, let me offer my congratulations
to tonight's honorees, who exemplify that tradition, and my thanks to all of you. For every day
that you honor your proud heritage, you enrich and strengthen our great nation. Thank you and
good night.
2
May 24, 2000
Sons of Italy Foundation's 12th Annual
National Education and Leadership Awards Gala
Date:
May 25, 2000
Time:
9:30 p.m.
Location:
National Building Museum
From:
Mary Beth Cahill
Danny O'Brien
I.
PURPOSE
To acknowledge the contributions of the Italian American community to all facets of
American society and to uphold the Administration's initiatives as they relate to
education, family values, safe communities and expanded opportunities.
II.
BACKGROUND
The Sons of Italy Foundation celebrates the twelfth anniversary of its National Education
and Leadership Awards Gala. The NELA Gala is the hallmark of the organization's
philanthropic activities in support of education. Since 1968 the Sons of Italy Foundation
has contributed in excess of $30 million to outstanding young people. You attended the
NELA Gala in 1998 and 1999.
Celebrating the spirit of community amongst Italian Americans, this year's NELA Gala
will honor Mario Andretti with the National Education and Leadership Award and
Connie Stevens with the Sons of Italy Humanitarian Award.
III.
PARTICIPANTS
Greeters and Stage Participants:
Paul Polo, President, Sons of Italy Foundation
Dr. Phil Piccigallo, National Executive Director, Order Sons of Italy in America
Phillip Boncore, National President, Order Sons of Italy in America
Vincent Panvini, Director of Government Affairs, Sheet Metal Workers' International
Association
IV.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
You will be greeted by Paul Polo, Phil Piccigallo, Phil Boncore and Vince Panvini
Off-stage introduction of you and the four greeters
You proceed to the stage where Paul Polo will introduce you (one minute)
You provide remarks
You depart the stage and work the rope line.
V.
PRESS
Open press
VI.
ATTACHMENTS
Draft 05/25/00 4:00pm
Jeff Shesol
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS AT THE SONS OF ITALY FOUNDATION
12th ANNUAL NATIONAL EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP AWARDS GALA
THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM
WASHINGTON, DC
May 25, 2000
Acknowledgments: Sec. Slater; Italian Amb. to US Ferdinand Salleo [sa-lay-o]; US
Amb. to Hungary Peter Tufo; Members of Congress; Paul Polo, SIF Pres.; Phil Piccigallo [pitch-
igallo], OSIA Nat'l Exec. Dir.; Phillip Boncore, OSIA Nat'l Pres.; Vince Panvini, Sheet Metal
Workers; Tommy Lasorda; Vic Damone; tonight's honorees Mario Andretti & Connie Stevens
I'm delighted to join you at this year's gala, even at this late hour. You know, I attend a
lot of dinners, and by this time in the evening, people tend to flag a little. But you all look pretty
lively. Is it me, or the shots of espresso?
All the same, I won't keep you much later. It was Cicero who said, "Brevity is the best
recommendation of speech." And I completely agree. Except when it comes to the State of the
Union. Cicero never had to give one of those.
As I look out at this audience and see the wide range of talent represented here, I'm
reminded of the many ways that Italian-Americans make a difference every day. This is
something that's never far from my mind - or my door. Just a few steps from the Oval Office,
I'm very lucky to have my Chief of Staff, John Podesta; my Deputy Chief of Staff, Steve
Ricchetti; the Counselor to the Chief of Staff, Karen Tramontano; and my Communications
Director, Loretta Ucelli.
I am very proud of the contributions that Italian-Americans, within the White House and
across America, are making to these remarkable times - to the longest economic expansion in
history, the lowest unemployment in 30 years, the smallest welfare rolls in 30 years.
Every bit as important, the sons and daughters of Italy are working hard every day to
strengthen the values we all share: the love of family and the vitality of faith; the importance of
education; the pride in work; and the devotion to community and country. These values are
close to the hearts of Italian-Americans and indeed, Americans of every background. They led
millions of immigrants to our shores and, once they got here, guided them to the very highest
levels of achievement and power.
We are here tonight not just to celebrate those achievements but to honor our shared
commitment to education, the gateway to opportunity in America. As President, that's a
commitment I have worked hard to fulfill - investing more in and demanding more from our
public schools; expanding HeadStart; creating HOPE Scholarships, increasing Pell grants, and
opening the doors of college to all Americans.
1
For more than 90 years, the Sons of Italy has kept faith with these cherished values while
working to build an even better future for your children. Again, let me offer my congratulations
to tonight's honorees, who exemplify that tradition, and my thanks to all of you. For every day
that you honor your proud heritage, you enrich and strengthen our great nation. Thank you and
good night.
2
0 001
GREAT CONSIGN
National Office
Order Sons of Italy in America
IMPRIC
219 E Street, N.E.
202/547-2900 202/546-8168 (FAX)
Washington, D.C. 20002
Foundai Imm ...' 100
FAX COVER SHEET
DATE:
05-25-00
SENDER:
Philip R. Piccigallo, Ph.D.
TEL:
National Executive Director
(202)547-3155
FAX: (202)547-0121
OPERATOR:
Martha Morse
ATTN:
Danny O. BRien
FAX #:
RE:
456-6218
MESSAGE:
peR OUR conversation
PAGES:
8
(Including cover sheet)
Order Sons of Italy in America is the oldest & largest organization of Italian American men & women in the United States & Canada.
002
NELA Gala Program
Revised 5/16/00
Thursday, May 25, 2000
7:00-7:45 pm
7:45
Cocktail/VIP Reception
wine Cut music/ voice-over, appetizer is pre-set, waiters help usher people in, pour white
8:00
Turn off fountain when all guests are seated
8:00-9:00
Dinner
Program begins simultaneously, as below
8:00-8:10
Greetings/Welcome from Emcee Tommy Lasorda
8:10-8:13
Invocation by Father William J. Byron
8:13-8:20
VOG Introduces Tenor Michael Amante
Amante Performs 2 Arias
8:50-9:00
OSIA/SIF Presidents Speak
Coffee and dessert served
9:00-9:26
11 Scholarships Presented (on stage)
arrival
(12 scholarships mentioned, total, but one winner not in attendance)
9:27-9:32
Lasorda Introduces NELA Co-Chairman Corrao
9:32-9:34
Corrao presents Guarascio with "Crystal Lion Recognition Award"
9:34-9:38
Guarascio speaks
9:38-9:50
Lasorda Introduces Lo Bianco
Lo Bianco Introduces Stevens' Video/Video Shown/Award Presented
9:50-9:57
Humanitarian Award Recipient Connie Stevens Speaks
9:57-10:10
Lasorda Introduces NELA Co-Chairman Giancamilli
Giancamilli Introduces Andretti Video/Video Shown/Award Presented
10:10-10:15
NELA Recipient Mario Andretti Speaks
10:15-10:17
Lasorda Introduces Vic Damone
10:17-11:07
Damone Performs
003
Attendees-VIP Reception
Last Name
Full Name(s)
Company
O'Brien Guest
O'Brien Guest
Amante
Michael Amante
Andretti
Mario Andretri
Andrenti
Rina Andretti
Antonini
Kathy Antonini
Antonini
JEA Enterprises
Joseph E. Antonini
Austin
JEA Enterprises
Deniso Austin
Bagnall
Kmart
Thomas Bagnall
Beach
Andrea K, Beach
Bell
OSLA
Alan Bell
Bologna
VF Jeanswear
Joe Bologna
Boncore
actor
Goldie Boncore
Boncore
OSIA
Philip R. Boncore
Bonelli
OSIA
Anthony Boncili
Boniello
Schering Labs
Ralph Boniello
Borsella
Schering Labs
John Borsella
Brewer
Schering Labs
Col. Jessie Brower
Bucci
William D. Bucci
Byron, S.J.
GL of PA
Father William J. Byron, S.J.
Camarata
Georgetown University
Lou Camarata
Camarata
Marion Camarata
Campbell
Arch Campbell
Capello
WRC (NBC)
Janet Cappello
Capuano
GL of CA
Hon Michael Capuano
Cicala
Congress
Melo Cicala
Connors
Carol Connors
Corrao
Robert Corrao
Corrao
Sports Impact
Margaret Corrao
Crespy
w/Corrao
Diane E. Crespy
OSIA
Thursday, May 25, 2000
Page I of 5
00 4
Last Name
Full Name(s)
Cushman
Company
Marilla Cusliman
Damone
Rena Damone
De Lauro
Hon. Rosa De Lauro
DeFazio
US Congress
The Hon. Peter DeFazio
Demasi
US House of Representatives
Anthony Demasi
DeNicola
Anthony DeNicola
DeRea
Schering Labs
Father Philip DeRea
DiLuscia
Vincent J. DiLascia
Dilascia
Schering Labs
Christopher DiLascia
DiLascia
Schering Labs
Frank J. DiLascia
Dizebba
Schering Labs
Patricia Dizebba
Dodson
Gary Dodson
Duddy
Christopher Duddy
Edelstein
Art Edclstein
Falo
Harris Marketing
Pilar Falo
Farber
Brian Farber
Fauci
Dr. Anthony Fauci
NIH
Fisher
Joely Fisher
Fisher
Tricia Leigh Fisher
Fitzpatrick
Elizabeth Fitzpatrick
Floccuzio
Luana Floccuzio
Fontana
Harris Marketing
Kevin Fontana
Fontana
Harris Marketing
Donna Fontana
Fortinberry
Harris Marketing
Christa Fortinberry
Foster
JEA Enterprises
Kent Foster
Fulvio
Jody Fulvio
GL of PA
Gajarsa
The Hon Arthur J. Gajarsa
Gajarsa
Federal Judge
Mclanie Gajarsa
Gay
Peter B. Gay
PSP
Giancamilli
Wanda Giancamilli
Kmart
Giancamilli
Andy Giancamilli
Kmart
Gilman
Andrew Gilman
Gioia
Harris Marketting
Patricia Gioia
Thursday, May 25, 2000
Page 2 of 5
Last Name
Full Name(s)
Company
Gioia
Rct. Gen. John Gioia
Grauso
Danielle M. Grauso
OSIA
Grosso
Sonny Grosso
Guarascio
Philip Guarascio
w/Corrao
Guarascio
Ruth Guarascio
w/Corrao
Hansen
Ralph Hansen
Pegasus Promotions
Haskell
Nikki Haskell
Hatch
Hon. Orrin Hatch
Hollowbush
Any Hollowbush
Ignani
Robert Ignani
PSP
Kessler
Lynn Kessler-Hiltajczuk
Kester
Terry Kester
production
Kester
Jan Kcster
production
Krauss
Christina Krauss
Kronrad
David Kronrad
Kmart
Kuske
Jerry Kuskc
Kmart
LaFalce
The Hon. John J. LaFalce
US House of Representatives
LaGrega
Angelo LaGrega
VF Jeanswear
LaMorte
William LaMortc
Schering Labs
Lampson
The Hon. Nicholas Lampson
US Congress
Lasorda
Tommy Lasorda
Dodgers
Law
Tom Law
Sterling Winters
Leicht
Lars Leicht
Banfi Vinters
Lewis
Karen Lewis
OSIA-volunteer
Licata
Father Donald B. Licata
OSIA
Lo Bianco
Tony Lo Bianco
Lotito
Chris N. Lotito
GL of CA
Luzquinos
Julio Luzquinos
Magistrati
Minister Pierandrea Magistrati
Italian Embassy
Magistrati
Elena Magistrati
Mahmet
Peter Mahmet
Mariani
James Mariani
Banfi Vinters
Mariani
Bernadctte Mariani
Banfi Vinters
Thursday, May 25, 2000
Page 3 of 5
006
Last Name
Full Name(s)
Company
Mazzarclla
Jim Mazzarella
Gov. Pataki's office
McCollum
Sue McCollum
Gillette
McCollum
Toncy McCollum
Gillette
Messa
Robert A. Messa
OSIA
Messa
Elizabeth Messa
GL of PA
Montemuro
Hon. Frank J. Montemuro, Jr.
OSIA
Montemuro
Margaret Montemuro
GL of PA
Morcna
Gabriela Morcna
Moreno
Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno
Morse
Columbia Ambassador
Martha Morse
OSIA
Neve
Maria Nove
OSIA-volunteer
Nuschese
Franco Nuschese
Café Milano
O'Brien
Damy O'Brien
White House
Ornstein
Shirley Omstein
Omstein
Erwin Omstein
Panvini
Vincent Panvini
Sheetmetal Workers
Panvini
Mary Panvini
Shectmetal Workers
Panvini
Joelle Martini-Panvini
Panvini
Sheetmetal Workers
Vincent A Panvini, Jr.
Patterson
Sheetmetal Workers
Judy Patterson
Philbin
Dan Philbin
Piccigallo
Dr. Philip R Piccigallo
OSIA
Piecigallo
Rose Piccigallo
OSIA
Polo
Michael S. Polo
PSP
Polo
Sebastian M. Polo
PSP
Polo
Daniel Polo
PSP
Polo
Michael G. Polo
PSP
Polo
Paul S. Polo
PSP
Polo
Mary D. Polo
PSP
Raullerson
Kevin Raullerson
Reibel
Nicole Reibel
Reibel
Jean Jacques Reibcl
Rhea
Willard Intercontinental
Smokey Rhea
CES Foundation
Thursday, May 25, 2000
Page 4 of 5
007
Last Name
Full Name(s)
Robinson
Company
Miles Robinson
Rogers
Sterling Winters
Elainc Rogers
Roland
Leslic Roland
Rosenblum
Kmart
Steve Rosenblum
Rosenhaus
Sterling Winters
Rex Rosenhaus
Rosini
Harris Marketing
Manuel Rosini
Rudo
Diane Rudo
Salleo
Harris Marketing
Anna Marie Salleo
Salleo
Embassy
Ambassador Ferdinand Salleo
Secchia
Embassy
Joan Secchia
Secchia
Universal Products
Hon. Peter F. Secchia
Sheets
Universal Products
Dale Sheets
Sheets
Joan Sheets
Shukle-Rosenhaus
Janice Shukle-Rosenhaus
Stanek
Harris Markoting
Christine Stanek
Stemm
IADLC
Maj. Patricia Stemm
Stevens
Connic Stevens
Surratt
Derek Surratt
Surratt
British Airways
Dara Surratt
Tatulli
British Airways
John Tatulli
Taylor
OSIA
Renee Taylor
Tedesco
actress
Pamcla Tedesco
Tedesco
GL of CA
John Todesco
Tomassctti
GL of CA
Nick R. Tomasserti
Tomasserti
Airbus
Flora Tomassetti
Torrillo
Airbus
Alison M. Torrillo
Tufo
OSIA
Kimberly Tufo
Tuto
US Embassy-Hungary
Ambassador Peter Tufo
Vought
US Embassy-Hungary
Brigadicr Gen. Wilma Vought
Wax
Women in Military Service
Dora Wax
Weldon
Café Milano
Hon. David Weldon
Williams
Congress
Cindy Williams
Sterling Winters
Thursday, May 25, 2000
Page 5 of 5
Withdrawal/Redaction Marker
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. note
Phone Number. [partial] (1 page)
5/2000
P6/b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
Speechwriting
Jeff Shesol
OA/Box Number: 21461
FOLDER TITLE:
Sons of Italy Dinner 5/25/00
2006-0467-F
vz232
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information |(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privaey [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy |(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
THE WHITE HOUSE
P6/(b)(6)
[001]
WASHINGTON
Daniel O'Brien 62952.
Illanna
Focus on family! education community, opportunity
Recipients of award
- mario Andretti - contrib. to community
- Connie Stevens - singer, now b- woman
uso/ Bol Hope
- their letter has some info
Nat'l Ed + badership Award (MA)
sons of dtaly Humanitarien Award (cs)
Acles: is John going?
LOT of lobor types, Pelosi -SO avoid trade
*
add gen
Caomo
Josh Gottheimer
CHIEF OF STAFF JOHN D. PODESTA
REMARKS TOITALO-AMERICAN ASSOCATION
POO
NEW YORK CITY
September 17, 1999
MAGNIFICAT
Thank you for your kind introduction and for this meaningful honor.
Growing up in a working-class neighborhood in Chicago, I never thought I'd be standing in
the Waldorf Astoria. We Chicagoans have an inferiority complex - and often refer to our
hometown as the second city. Of course, we all know the first city is Rome. Actually, for
my family, the TOUR first city is Genoa - but I figured that wouldn't have Actually, worked for the joke.
sull
I must admit, I was a little surprised when I heard who I'd be sharing the stage with tonight.
I'm not as funny as Joe Piscapo. I don't know the markets like Joseph Battipaglia. And I
definitely don't have a voice like Johnny Maestro. The only person I have anything in
common with is Mario Andretti. Surviving the twists and turns of the Clinton White House
is about as death-defying as driving a Formula One race car.
the chick OF staff
I've been Chief of Staff now for a year Let me tell you something Leon Panetta once
(told me. Ifyou' re going to work in the White House, it helps to be able to read Machiavelli
ein the original Italian.
But President Clinton has made a concerted effort to make his Administration 100k Mkc
America. Over the years a pattern has developed in the Clinton White House. First the
President appointed Mack MacLarty. Followed by Leon Panetta. Then Erskine Bowles. And
Honsts
now me. If you still haven' picked up on the pattern, the President H2 switches of ft between
white bread and foccacia.
and
the
Deputy
press
secrtay
As Chief of Staff, I've surround myself of Exceptional
<peoplerlikesthe Deputy Chief of Staff, SteverRicchettizane Communications Director, Loretta
Ja
Ucelli, my Chief of Staff, Karen Tramontano: You can just imagine what some of
think
meetings are like willing to contribute opinion. They don't just tell me
Plamer
what they they show me. [Demonstrate] I often have to duck
er to avoid the
fluiding
arms and hands.
All kidding aside, it's often our Italian heritage and traditions of work, family, education, and
community that guides our judgement, and allows-us-to help the President set his agenda:
These indelible values are as timely today as they were 100 years
arrived at Ellis Island. They are what drive all of us in the Administration every day:
Strengthening our families by giving our children better ds, providing a superior
education for all Americans, improving access to healthcare, creating safer neighborhoods,
and maintaining our leadership around the world.
Nurturing
simple
These values are the real story of our people and of all Americans. They're why your
organization works so hard to keep these ideas alive. And most importantly, they re what
make me proud to be by an Italian American. Thank you again and goodnight.
pote HONOR you RESTOW are UPON
CAWSO so proup OF
the vulve work k of
the lovest
the commitate
truity
to community
the devotion
to our
country
Constantino Brumidi
http://www.innocents.com/brumid.htm
CONSTANTINO BRUMIDI: BIOGRAPHY
Constantino Brumidi painted scores of frescoes in the United States Capitol. In addition to "The
Apotheosis of George
Washington" which appears in the Capitol dome in the Rotunda, Brumidi created artworks in the House of
Representatives Chamber, many committee rooms, the President's Room, the Senate Reception Room, and
throughout
the corridors of the Capitol: One cannot tour the United States Capitol without being inundated with the
work of
Brumidi. The West Corridor of the Capitol has been termed the "Brumidi Corridor." The influence of
Constantino
Brumidi's artistic sensibilities on the artwork of the nation's Capitol are undisputed, but definitive and
scholarly
treatments of Brumidi's life and work are less evident.
Constantino Brumidi was born in Italy in 1805. He grew up in Rome, and studied at the Italian Academy of
Arts. He
immigrated to America in 1852, at the age of forty-seven. For the rest of his life (some twenty-seven years),
Brumidi
devoted his time to numerous commissioned frescoes, paintings, and sculpture in the Capitol building. The
only known
quote from Brumidi has been preserved by American author Smith Fry, who asserts that upon reaching
America
Brumidi said
I have no longer any desire for fame and fortune. My one ambition and my daily prayer is that I may live
long enough to
make beautiful the Capitol of the one country on earth in which there is liberty.
This quote may be inauthentic. Mr. Fry, the author of "Thrilling Story of the Wonderful Capitol Building
and Its
MArvelous Contents" (1911) and "Fry's Patriotic Story of the Capitol" (1911), provides no documentation.
In 1860, Brumidi married an American woman named Lola Germon.
There is no information on his first (Italian) marriage, but he did keep in contact with a daughter, Elena,
who remained in
Rome.
On February 18, 1880, Constantino Brumidi died at his home in Washington, D.C. Brumidi died in relative
penury, but
Congressional records indicate that he was well-paid. Originally, his salary was pegged to the annual
salaries awarded
to United States Congressmen, but this was eventually changed to a per diem ranging from eight to ten
dollars. The
largest work commissioned, "The Apotheosis of George Washington," was contracted for a lump sum of
$40,000.
Brumidi received all but the $500 reserved for completion of the project.
1 of 2
5/25/2000 2:31 PM
Constantino Brumidi
http://www.innocents.com/brumidi.htm
Brumidi's reputation waxed and waned, both during and after his lifetime. For almost one hundred years
after his death,
his grave in Washington was unmarked and unadorned. Little notice was made of the artist of the Capitol
frescoes. The
public's limited awareness of the existence of Brumidi was expanded by a conscious resurrection of his
reputation in the
1950's by Myrtle Cheney Murdock.
The Church Of The Holy Innocents
128 West 37th Street
New York, N.Y. 10018
Phone: (212) 279-5861
Fax: (212) 714-9313
Email: [email protected]
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Public Papers of the Presidents
Public Papers of the Presidents
October 16, 1999
CITE: 35 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 2068
LENGTH: 1595 words
HEADLINE: Remarks at a National Italian American Foundation Dinner
BODY:
Thank you ladies and gentlemen. First of all, let me thank you for your warm welcome to Hillary
and me. Thank you, Frank Guarini, for being my friend for all these years. Thank you, President Joe
Cerrell. To all the distinguished guests here and the honorees, the Members of Congress, Gerry
Ferrarro, Ambassador Foglietta, Ambassador Rosapepe. To our distinguished Italian guests, Maria
Bartiromo, Ambassador Salleo and, especially, Foreign Minister Dini.
I would like to say a special word of appreciation at this point to the Prime Minister and the
Government of Italy for standing with us and working with us for the cause of our common humanity
in Kosavo and, before that, in Bosnia, We could not have done it without Italy, and I am grateful.
Justice Scalia and Cardinal Hickey and all the others here you stole my line about Opercent of my
four Chiefs of Staff being Italian The other two wish they were [Laughter] I thank you for all the
gifts from Campania, including the beautiful flowers for Hillary We visited therewhen the 1994
conference of the G - 7 nations was held in Naples And we have been very blessed by our times
there. I understand my friend Dick Grasso and the Barnes & Noble CEO, Leonard Riggio, are both
from that region of Italy. I'm about to go back to Florence, and I'm only supposed to stay a day, so if
I play hooky and stay an extra day I want 3,000 of you to write an excuse for me, just like I used to
get when I missed a day of school.
I guess I ought to say, since this is baseball season, that I'm sure of one person who would like to be
here tonight who can't be is Joe Torre. Now, I'm not taking sides in the baseball series, but the
Yankees do have two Italian-Americans on their team Joe and the catcher, Joe Girardi. And no city
in America has been better to me than Boston, but the Red Sox haven't had an Italian since their
pitcher Frank Viola retired. So I think we ought to get the Red Sox an Italian baseball player to
balance out our equal opportunity agenda through the country.
You know, from the beginning of our country, Italian-Americans have made invaluable contributions
And I want to say a special word of thanks, not for all those which I could litanize, and you know
them, but for the National Italian American Foundation's leadership for our efforts to build one
America.
I'm very grateful that this is a country in better shape than it was 7 years ago when I first came here.
am very grateful for the chance that I have had to serve. I grateful for the Italian-Americans-who
have helped to ensure the success of our administration. I m glad that we have the lowest
unemployment rate in 29 years and the lowest welfare rolls in 30 years and the lowest poverty rates
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in 20 years, the lowest crime rates in 26 years and the first back-to-back surpluses in 42 years.
But I have to tell you that the most important thing we have to do to get ready for the 21st century,
even more important than our efforts to continue to grow our economy, is to build one country out of
our diversity. If we do, if the American people really can come to have that wonderful balance which
enables us to celebrate our diversity and our unique ethnic and religious traditions which makes
America a very interesting place to live and still say our common humanity is even more
important, we'll figure out how to deal with all the other things.
Last year, one of only 2 years I've missed since I first came here 7 years ago, I was up for 9 days and
nights at the Wye Plantation trying to keep the Middle East peace process on track. If you look
around the world at how I have spent my time as your President working for peace in the Balkans,
among Muslims and Croats and Serbs, among Albanian Muslim and Serbian Orthodox Christians; for
peace in the Middle East, among Arabs and Jews, among Israelis, Palestinians, Syrians, Jordanians,
and Lebanese; for peace in Northern Ireland among Catholics and Protestants; to set up protections
against the kind of tribal slaughter we've seen in Africa among people who shared the same land, in
one case in Rwanda, for 500 years.
It is truly interesting that at the dawn of this new millennium, when we're exhilarated by all these
technological and scientific advances that are being made one man told me that when I have
grandchildren they may be born with a life expectancy of 100 years; we know that our kids are using
the Internet and talking to people all over the world and knowing things we couldn't know isn't it
interesting that in this quintessentially modern era our biggest problem is the most primitive and
ancient of human failings: the fear of the other, people who are different from us?
And what a short step it is from fearing people to hating them to dehumanizing them, which
legitimizes doing away with them. And isn't it interesting that at a time when the crime rate in
America is at a 26-year low, we still have these vicious examples of a man shooting children at a
Jewish community school, and then going out and murdering a Filipino postman; another man saying
he belonged to a church that didn't believe in God, but did believe in white supremacy, killing an
Africa-American basketball coach in Illinois and then murdering a young Korean Christian as he
walked out of his church?
And all these other examples -- the young gay man Matthew Shepard, a year ago this week being
stretched out, literally, upon a rack; James Byrd being pulled apart in Texas because he was an
African-American. Not because all Americans are like that almost all of us aren't but because in
each of us there is this fragile scale, like the scale of justice Mr. Scalia must try to balance in his
work. And in this scale we wake up every morning with some curious balance of light and dark, of
hope and fear. And when the scale gets badly enough out of whack, the easiest thing to do is to
strike out against the other.
So I say again to you, Italian-Americans have been subject to discrimination and bigotry in times
past in America. You still are subject to stereotypes that I think are unfair and unrepresentative, to
be kind about it. But it is because of the values you share with other Americans that we have a
prosperous economy and a healing society. And we just have to remember that overall. Yes, I hope a
lot of your children make hundreds of millions of dollars by starting Internet companies; yes, I hope
that my plans to take care of the aging of America and save Social Security and Medicare will prevail;
I hope our plans to elevate the quality of all of our schools will prevail; I hope I can convince both
parties in Congress to resist temptation and save enough of this surplus to get us out of debt for the
first time since 1835 over the next 15 years. I hope all of that. But remember this: The most
important thing is to build one America out of this crazy quilt of all of us who live here.
Last week Hillary and I had the eighth of her Millennial Evenings at the White House. And we had an
expert in the Internet, who helped to design the architecture of the Internet; and an expert in
genomics, who talked to us about the human genome project and the miracles it will bring. He says
one day the intersection of computers and gene studies will enable us to put digital, microscopic
digital pieces in all parts of the human body to do even the repair work on shattered nerves to the
spine. And we talked about all the miracles out there.
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And the genomics experts said, but what I want you to understand is that of all the possible
permutations among people, with all many, many parts of every gene, 99.9 percent of us is identical
to that of every other human being. And the genetic differences among groups that is, individuals
among the Italian community, for example are more significant and greater than the aggregate
average genetic differences between Italians and Irish and Africans and Latins. It's important to
remember. For people of faith, it reflects the wisdom of our Creator.
So I say again, I'm indebted to you for many things your work ethic, your family ethic, your
creativity, your energy, your passion -- it made America a much more interesting place and it fueled
this remarkable run we have had. But your commitment to see that neither Italians nor any other
human beings are subject to degradation and prejudice because of who they are, that we will learn to
honestly and openly express our differences and enjoy our differences, but reaffirm our common
humanity, make no mistake about it just pick up the paper any day; look at the perils of the
present day. We are in a conflict between modern possibility and primitive hatred. One America is the
only answer, and you're leading the way.
Thank you, and God bless you.
NOTE: The President spoke at 8:37 p.m. in the ballroom at the Washington Hilton Hotel. In his
remarks, he referred to Frank J. Guarini, chairman, Joseph R. Cerrell, president, and Geraldine
Ferrarro, board member, National Italian American Foundation; U.S. Ambassador to Italy Thomas M.
Foglietta; U.S. Ambassador to Romania James C. Rosapepe; Italian Ambassador to the U.S.
Ferdinando Salleo; Minister of Foreign Affairs Lamberto Dini and Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema of
Italy; CNBC journalist Maria Bartiromo, event emcee; James Cardinal Hickey, Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Washington, DC; Richard Grasso, chairman and chief executive officer, New York Stock
Exchange; and Joe Torre, manager, New York Yankees.
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
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35 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 967
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Public Papers of the Presidents
Public Papers of the Presidents
May 22, 1999
CITE: 35 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 967
LENGTH: 2944 words
HEADLINE: Remarks at the Sons of Italy Foundation Dinner
BODY:
Thank you very much, Larry. Larry King, there's a great Italian-American for you. [Laughter] And
congratulations on your new baby. Paul Polo yes, let's give him a hand. That's great. [Applause]
I want to thank Paul Polo and Phil Piccigallo and all of you for giving me another chance to come by
here. And I think Congresswoman Morella is in the audience, and Ambassador Salleo, who does a
wonderful job for his country and for ours.
I
want to congratulate Andy Giancamilli of Kmart and Tony Bennett for their awards tonight. We have
the president of one of our great retailers and America's greatest living pop singer; that's a pretty
good representation of the gifts that Italian-Americans have given to our Nation, and you should be
proud of them.
I'd like to say a special word of thanks to Tony Bennett for being a good friend to me and to my wife
and our family. I wanted to be here for you tonight; you've been here for our country for a long time.
God bless you, and thank you, my friend. Thank you.
You know, there have been so many years when I have spoken to you or other Italian-American
groups, and I've been almost embarrassed by the number of -Italians-in-my administration, Secretary
Cuomo was waiting for me tonight when I got here. You know, I've had two Italian-American chiefs of
staff: Panetta who introduced me in Rome, in Italian and John Podesta. And you know,
ever since Podesta took over from Erskine Bowles, we've had people like Steve Richetti, Karen
Tramontano, Loretta Ucelli Ginny Apuzzo, coming to-work for me. I don't know what's been going on
here. [Laughter] Maybe this is the new plot to take over America that we've been hearing about.
[Laughter]
I saw Phil on the way in, and I thank him, too, for giving me the opportunity that I had the last time
was with you to meet with your young scholarship recipients, because those you honor tonight for
their gifts from physics to music to political science to community service -- prove that people of
Italian descent will continue to make enormous contributions to our country in the century just
ahead.
I
thank you, too, for your emphasis on education, and I ask you to remember, tonight, that even
hough we live in a time of unprecedented prosperity, for which we should thank God and the labors
of our people that we have the longest peacetime expansion in our history and the lowest
unemployment in a generation, the highest home-ownership ever, welfare rolls cut by more than half
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in the last 6 years, crime dropping to a 30-year low we all only have to look around ourselves and
our lives to know that we have a lot more to do, especially in areas that have historically been of
enormous concern to Italian-Americans.
First, of course, in education: We have a great agenda before the Congress and I hope it will be
acted upon for higher standards, for no social promotion, for after-school and summer school
programs, for more and better prepared teachers, modern schools, and technology.
But tonight I went to talk just a moment about something else, and I particularly appreciated what
Larry said when he introduced me. I want to talk about family in the literal sense and family in the
larger sense and what it means to our future as a country.
Hillary and I, on Thursday, went to Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. We met with the
families of the children and the wonderful teacher who lost their lives. We saw other children still in
wheelchairs from their grievous wounds. We saw thousands of kids, just like any group of kids
anywhere, still full of enthusiasm/and hopes for the future. After the ceremony, we spent quite a long
time there just shaking hands with them and talking to them, listening to them, and trying to answer
their questions.
I say that to say what is self-evident to you, which is that the most important job of any society is
not the creation of wealth but the creation of richness and wholeness in the lives of the children.
There is no more important work. And in this day and age, when technology and the explosion of
global commerce and culture is bringing us closer and closer and closer together, we cannot connect
all of our children to a positive reality unless they are both connected to their literal families, and
then they see others who may differ from them they may differ in race, or ethnicity, or religion, or
politics, or sexual orientation, or just what they like to do but they have to be seen as part of our
larger family.
There are things for all of us to do to give our children safe and wholesome childhoods and to try to
support that for the children of the world. Here in Washington we actually had quite a good week,
with some of the most responsible action in the history of Congress to try to keep guns out of the
hands of children and criminals, And I particularly thank [applause] I particularly thank the Vice
President for being there to cast the tiebreaking vote on the gun show loophole issue, something I
know quite a bit about; and I am thankful for that. I hope that before the House of Representatives
goes home this week for the Memorial Day recess, they will follow suit and pass the same bill.
There are things to be done by those who have influence on our larger culture, who make our
movies, our television programs, our video games. It is true that no movie or game could ever cause
a child to take another child's life. But it is also true that in our society, the faster we move and the
busier we are, and the harder and harder parents have to work outside the home, the more kids are
left on their own, the more vulnerable children we have, and if you have a larger number of
vulnerable children, it stands to reason that more bad things will happen if it's easier for them to get
guns, especially assault weapons, and if they are subjected to a torrent of violent impulses.
You know the average 18-year-old has seen 40,000 murders already on television, in the movies,
and in video games? And there are 300 studies already which show that let me say that again: 300
serious professional studies already that show that by the time this happens to you, for 18 years, it
diminishes your sensitivity to violence and your feeling for the consequences of it.
Now, if you have more kids who are at risk than other societies, and it's easier for them to be flooded
with guns including assault weapons and they're being subject to sort of psychological stimuli
repeatedly, hours and hours and hours a day, year after year after year after year, it only stands to
reason that more of them will fall over the line.
So there's something for everyone to do. But in the end, the most important thing we can do is to try
to help families reconnect to their children and to try to help communities and schools organize
themselves so that a connection is made to every child.
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I saw a remarkable book about 3 years ago I wish I could remember the title tonight -- but it was
a portrait of children who had grown up in the most unimaginable, difficult circumstances, who had
done wonderfully well in life. Many of them had brothers and sisters who had already been killed, or
imprisoned, or whatever. These kids, they all did well, and they had one thing in common, and only
one thing: Each of them, by some miracle, had had a consistent, long-term caring relationship with
one responsible adult. And so I say to you, this is a challenge readymade for the Italian-American.
My wife told me, and we have adopted as a national crusade, that she and I and the Vice President
and Tipper Gore will help to organize a grassroots national campaign in the way that Mothers Against
Drunk Driving and Students Against Drunk Driving did to sensitize the whole country it worked
there. We had a national campaign to get employers to hire people off welfare. People told me it
would never work. They've hired hundreds of thousands of people. There's been a national grassroots
campaign to reduce teen pregnancy; it's gone down 5 years in a row. The American people can give
our children back their childhood, and I hope you will help us to get that done.
But there's something else that I want you to do, because you are so much a part of our larger
family. Our children have to be taught to be proud of themselves and what is special about
themselves without thinking people who are different are lesser than they are. One of the disturbing
elements of this incident in Columbine was the imagined and real grievances that these kids had built
up to a boiling point over people showing them disrespect, because they were supposed to be sort of
lower-class people at the school.
And they had the same reaction, I might add, that we saw I saw in the South when I was a kid.
Because they were looked down on, they not only resented the people that looked down on them;
they looked around for somebody they could look down on. And they picked out the minority kids in
this school with one devastating consequence, as I'm sure all of you know.
That is a natural psychological reaction when it is not nipped in the bud. I grew up in a State where
the per capita income was barely half the national average the year I was born, right after World War
II. I grew up among white Anglo-Saxon Protestants, or Irish, or Scottish Protestants, who were
largely uneducated and made very limited livings, and thought they were looked down on as
rednecks by other people, and they, therefore, were disproportionately likely to have racist feelings
against African-Americans. And I can tell you, that exists all over the world today.
We have to prove to our children by the way we live, and what we say, the say we conduct
ourselves that we think every decent person has a home in America and that they're all part of our
family.
No one doubts, as we conduct this very difficult operation in Kosovo, that our military is the best in
the world. That's not bragging. Others could have great militaries. We've invested a lot of money and
time, and effort. But one of the reasons it is, is because they are so diverse.
I just got back from Germany, visiting with the young people who are working in the humanitarian
operation, and the young pilots and their support crews who are flying those dangerous missions.
And there they were, from every conceivable ethnic and racial group, all here.
I never will forget when I took the Pope I didn't take him, but I escorted the Pope to Regis
College in Denver, the first time he came to America. He went out there, after I took office, and we
were going up and down the line shaking hands with the students, and there was a young man in the
Army of the United States of America who began speaking Polish to the Pope. And he proudly told
him that he was born in Poland, but he was now in our country and proud to serve in the military.
And I could give you countless examples of that.
Tonight I have been told that there are parents of one of our brave servicemen flying F-15's in
Kosovo, Joe and Dorothy Simile. Thank you. [Applause] Their son is a captain flying those missions. I
want you to know, Joe and Dorothy, I'm very proud of him and all the men and women who are
serving today.
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I'd also like to say a special word of thanks, before I forget it, to the Government and the people of
Italy, who have been indispensable to our mission in Kosovo. It is our united mission, but they have
paid a much bigger price. They have had airports closed; they have had economic hardship. Their
Prime Minister has been a rock of stability and concern for a quick but just outcome, and I am very
grateful. And Mr. Ambassador, I thank you for what your country has done to stand up for freedom
and against ethnic cleansing.
The mission of America has always been to widen the circle of opportunity and deepen the meaning
of freedom by strengthening the bonds of our community. That is the story of America You know,
the people that started our country off, with the bold declaration that all people are created equal by
God, were not fools; they were smart people. And they knew good and well we weren't living up to it.
When we got started, slaves were counted as 60 percent of white people, and only white male
property owners could vote. They knew this was not a manifestation that all people are created
equal. But they knew that the ideal had to be out there, and we had to continue to push and push
and push for it.
I think it is supremely ironic that on the verge of a new century and a new millennium, with our kids
learning how to use computers and having pen pals on every continent, with the mysteries of the
human gene about to be unlocked, with the prospect of dramatic increase in the length and quality of
life, that we are bedeviled today, in this great modern age, by the oldest demon of human society:
the fear of people who are different from us. And once you fear somebody, then you have to dislike
them. Once you dislike them, it is easy to hate them. Once you hate them, it is quite easy to treat
them as if they're not people at all and dehumanize them. And then it's a very short step to saying,
"It's too bad, but we have to kill them or run them out, or blow up their houses of worship, or
eradicate their cultural symbols, or burn all their old books, or destroy their personal property
records."
That's what this whole deal is about. We can't require people to like each other or get along. We can't
even ask them to stop fighting. But when we are able to do it, we ought to stand up and say we will
not tolerate ethnic cleansing that leads to mass murder, mass rape, mass dislocation, and the
destruction of everything we believe in.
I want to close with this story. It's not about Italian-Americans, but you will identify with it. And it
captures everything, to me, that is special about our country and everything that you have given to
America.
The other day, shortly before Hillary and I went to Colorado, I had a meeting on my schedule with 15
-- no, 19 Native American tribal chiefs from the northern high plains. The Senators from those
States, the Dakotas and Montana, had asked me to meet with them because they are the poorest of
our Indian tribes. They don't have big casinos, and there aren't a lot of people out there, so nobody's
been rushing to invest big new money there. And this wonderful economy that has taken the stock
market from 3,200 to 11,000 has largely left them untouched. And they wanted to come and see the
President about it, and the President's Cabinet.
Secretary Cuomo came, Secretary Riley and a number of our other Cabinet members Secretary
Babbitt. So they said, "First, we would like to sit in a circle, as is our custom, so that we can all see
each other." So we were in the Roosevelt Room, we got rid of the table, and we all sat in a circle.
They started their meeting, and I came in, and each one in his turn stood up and talked about, well,
here's our education needs, our health care needs, and so on.
Then at the end, the chief who was the spokesperson who, ironically, was named Tex Hall was a
very large man, and he stood up and he said, "Before we go, Mr. President, I would like to give you
this proclamation we have signed for you. And in it, we support the actions of the United States in
Kosovo." He said, "You see, we know something about ethnic cleansing. And we have come a good
way, and we think we should stand against it everywhere."
Then, across the room, another young man stood up who represented his tribe, one of the Sioux
tribes. And he stood very erect; he wasn't particularly tall, and he had a beautiful piece of silver
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Indian jewelry around his neck. And he said, "Mr. President, I have two uncles. One of them was on
the beach at Normandy. The other was the first Native American ever to be a fighter pilot for the
United States military. My great-great-grandfather was slaughtered by the 7th Army at Wounded
Knee." He said, "I am here talking to the President." He said, "I only have one son. He's the most
important thing in the world to me. But we have come a very long way from my
great-great-grandfather, to my uncles, to my being in the White House. We have learned a great
deal. We are living together. Though I love my son more than life, I would be proud for him to go and
stand against a new version of ethnic cleansing. We have to live together."
I will never forget that moment as long as I live. We in the United States have been on a long,
imperfect, and unfinished journey. You have made immeasurable contributions to it. Perhaps as
much as any group of Americans, you can help us to rebuild the bonds of family here in the United
States and to stand up at least for our common humanity around the world.
Thank you, and God bless you.
NOTE: The President spoke at 8:35 p.m. in the Great Hall at the National Building Museum. In his
remarks, he referred to Cable News Network interview show host Larry King; Paul S. Polo, Sr.,
president, and Philip R. Piccigallo, national executive director, Sons of Italy Foundation; Ambassador
Ferdinando Salleo and Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema of Italy; Andrew A. Giancamilli, president and
general merchandise manager, U.S. Kmart; singer/entertainer Tony Bennett; Joseph and Dorothy
Simile, parents of Capt. Joseph Simile, USAF; Tex Hall, chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara
Nation (the Three Affiliated Tribes); and Gregg Bousland, chairman, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
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Public Papers of the Presidents
Public Papers of the Presidents
May-21,1998
CITE: 34 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 943
LENGTH: 835 words
HEADLINE: Remarks at a Reception for the Sons of Italy Foundation
BODY:
Thank you very much. I thought they were all talking, so I made them come up here. [Laughter]
But I thank Secretary Cuomo and Paul Polo and Phil Piccigallo for making me feel so welcome. I got
here in time to hear Steve Forbes talking, and I appreciate his warming the crowd up. [Laughter]
That's the most high-class warm-up act I've had this year. [Laughter]
Ambassador Foglietta, Ambassador Salleo; Regis Philbin, thank you for welcoming me; and to my
good friend, Tony Bennett, welcome. I'd like to also congratulate tonight's honoree, Philip Guarascio,
and thank all of you for giving me a chance to come by and share a few moments of your 10th
anniversary.
For over 90 years the Sons of Italy has been community organization the truest sense For 10
years, you've given out this National Education and Leadership Award, findingrwhat think sone of
the very finest ways you could ever express your pride and your ethnic heritage and your devotion to
the next generation.
I asked before I came on the stage if I could have an opportunity to personally congratulate the
scholarship recipients here tonight, and I hope that I can do this because they, after all, represent
not only your commitment but all our futures:
The Italian American tradition of work and family, faith and community, is just as alive today as it
was when the Sons of Italy first began to meet As President, I have tried to pursue policies that
embody those values, values that led so many Italian American families to such great success in
America
We've got a lot to be thankful for tonight the lowest unemployment in 28 years; the lowest welfare
rolls in 27 years; the lowest inflation in 32 years. But we all know that we've got a lot to do and that
we can't stop until we can see the values that embody the Sons of Italy alive and well in every
neighborhood in America. I'd like to say a special word of thanks to Secretary Cuomo for his
extraordinary work in trying to make sure that we get that done.
m told that tonight everybody who is here can claim to be Italian: I see my favorite Italian with an
Irish name, Senator Leahy, out here. [Laughter] It's shameless. He's the only man I know who can
show up at every Irish and every Italian event, claim to be one of you and always be telling the truth.
It seems an unfair advantage even in America. [Laughter]
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Tonight I know you're also celebrating the life of Frank Sinatra. I had, as one of the many perks of
becoming President, the chance to get to know Frank Sinatra a little and to appreciate on a personal
level what people all over the world appreciated in his music and his movies. I think it's important
tonight, because of what you stand for, to note that while we have lost his remarkable voice, we have
also lost a generous spirit of a man who raised more than $ 1 billion for charity and left a lot as well,
and really did, as I said a couple of days ago, always manage to do it his way.
I want to thank you for everything you do, but especially, in closing, I want to say that, if you look
ahead to the 21st century, we will be living in an economy that is increasingly based on ideas, but
our ability to take advantage of it will rest more and more on the strength, the depth, and the
character of our soul, on whether we can learn to live together across all the lines that divide us to
find a home among people who aren't exactly like us, but down deep inside, have more in common
with us than what divides us.
Tomorrow, in the land of my ancestors, Ireland and Northern Ireland, the people will be voting on
whether to discard decades of war and hundreds of years of conflict to chart a new path for peace for
their children. We are working hard to preserve a peace in Bosnia among people of different religious
traditions. We see on the Indian subcontinent new tensions among people of different religious and
ethnic groups. We struggle still to make peace in the Middle East at a time when computers have
made instantaneous the transfer of money and information and ideas across the globe.
If we are to make the most of the education that you have worked SO hard to give to the children of
Italian immigrants, then we truly must work just as hard to embody the values by which you have
lived and through which you have found a true home in the United States.
Thank you, and God bless you.
NOTE: The President spoke at 8:42 p.m. in the National Building Museum. In his remarks, he referred
to Paul S. Polo, president, and Philip R. Piccigallo, national executive director, Sons of Italy
Foundation; Malcolm S. (Steve) Forbes, Jr., publisher, Forbes magazine; Thomas M. Foglietta, U.S.
Ambassador to Italy; Ferdinando Salleo, Italian Ambassador to the United States; entertainer Regis
Philbin, who introduced the President; singer Tony Bennett; and Philip Guarascio, vice president and
general manager, advertising and marketing, North American Division of General Motors Corp.
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Public Papers of the Presidents
Public Papers of the Presidents
May-6,1998
CITE: 34 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 801
LENGTH: 541 words
HEADLINE: Remarks at the Welcoming Ceremony for Prime Minister Romano Prodi-of-Italy-
BODY:
Prime Minister, Mrs. Prodi, members of the Italian delegation, welcome to the White House and
welcome to the United States. Hillary and I are delighted to see you again, and I look forward to our
talks today which will deepen our relationship. But first, let me say I was terribly saddened to hear of
the torrential rains and mudslides in southern Italy which have resulted in the loss of Italian lives.
United States forces from Aviano are now transporting Italian civilians to the scene to assist in rescue
efforts.
The history of our partnership is long and special. Every school child knows that Columbus crossed
the Atlantic in 1492, soon to be followed by other great Italian explorers, Amerigo Vespucci, John
Cabot, Giovanni da Verrazano. That was only the beginning of a relationship that has now flourished
for centuries, bringing us together in new ways generation after generation.
Today, Italians once again are expanding the world's horizons: Italy stands at the forefront of a new
Europe, leading efforts to promote peace and unity throughout the continent, from economic and
monetary union to military cooperation.
In recent months, Italy has led efforts to restore civil order in Albania and is seeking to avert a
deepening conflict in Kosovo. Italian and American troops patrol alongside one another in Bosnia.
And we will continue to work together to build stability throughout southeastern Europe and the
Mediterranean. And finally let me say, we are deeply grateful for Italy's hospitality toward United
States forces working to preserve peace in Europe.
Mr. Prime Minister, under your leadership Italy is building a better future, enterprise is thriving, the
rule of law prevails. Today's dreams are being shaped into tomorrow's reality.
Together we are exploring outer space, fighting crime and terrorism, restricting the spread of
dangerous weapons, and creating a climate where goods and ideas can be freely exchanged between
our countries and around the world. Truly, Italy is setting an example for the new Europe.
This week in Washington and next week at summits in Europe, we will forge even stronger bonds of
cooperation to equip our people to succeed in the global economy, to combat international crime and
other threats to the security of our citizens, to nurture the health of our planet. The year from now,
we look forward to meeting here again when the NATO alliance celebrates its 50th anniversary and
asks to make the alliance stronger for the next 50 years.
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The great seal of the United States contains the words, novus ordo seclorum, a new order of the
ages. Those words were written by Vergil in Italy more than 2,000 years ago. But they have fresh
meaning today, as a new generation builds a new order of peace and freedom, prosperity and
security for the 21st century. Vergil's words apply to your deeds, Mr. Prime Minister, and we are very
lad to welcome you to the United States of America.
NOTE: The President spoke at 10:07 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White House. In his remarks, he
referred to Flavia Prodi, wife of Prime Minister Prodi. The transcript made available by the Office of
the Press Secretary also included the remarks of Prime Minister Prodi.
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34 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 811
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Public Papers of the Presidents
Public Papers of the Presidents
May 6, 1998
CITE: 34 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 811
LENGTH: 778 words
HEADLINE: Remarks at a State Dinner Honoring Prime Minister Prodi
BODY:
Good evening, and welcome to the White House, Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Prodi, distinguished
members of the Italian delegation, my fellow Americans.
Mr. Prime Minister, today we accomplished a great deal. Tonight we celebrate the ties that bind us.
Those ties begin with the discoveries of Columbus and Vespucci, whose busts adorn the Blue Room
next door. When the Founders created the American Republic, they-looked to Rome for inspiration
George Washington was likened to Cincinnatus, the Roman hero who abandoned his plow to rescue
his country by popular demand. I might say, they were the last two people to head our countries only
by popular demand. [Laughter]
Poets and philosophers of the Roman Republic were read and rejuvenated as our new Republic looked
to the past to plan our future. In the writings of ancient Roman thinkers like Cicero and Cato,
America's Founders saw the promise of democratic representative government. Every aspect of our
new Republic paid tribute to the simple grandeur of Rome: from our architecture to words like
"senate" and "capitol." Indeed, after our Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked
what our Founders had produced. His simple reply was, "A Republic, sir, if you can keep it."
Towns sprang up with the names from the ancient Mediterranean world, names like Utica, Troy, or
the Vice President's hometown, Carthage. Artists portrayed America's leaders wearing togas, as the
bust of George Washington in the hall demonstrates. Thankfully, that is a tradition we have left to
the 19th century. [Laughter]
In the 19th and 20th centuries, our Republic turned into a bustling nation, thanks in no small
measure to Italian Americans. Ancient Rome was replaced by young Italy in the American
imagination. And democracy was given new by heroes Mazzini and Garibaldi.
America's growing cities attracted millions of Italians, eager to build a new life in a new world. They
worked hard. They prospered. Today American Italians, or Italian-Americans, are leaders in every
enterprise conducted in our Nation. And as we all know, it is impossible to walk more than a few
blocks in any American city without hearing the words "caffe latte." [Laughter]
The people here in this room tonight are the link between our two countries, between two cultures
hat have nourished each other since America was just an idea. From our highest courts to our finest
tables,from-our-playing-fields-to.oursilver-screen, from one side of the aisle in Congress to the
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other, Italian- Americans have graced our Nation with their intellect, their industry, their good will,
and-above_all,_a.contagious_love-of-life
Mr. Prime Minister, you have accomplished so much in your time in office. You have presided over a
tring of economic successes. And Americans especially admire your perseverance, in leading Italy
toward European monetary union. Without Italy, Europe is not Europe. And without Europe, the world
would be a poorer, less free, and much duller place.
Italy has been a force for peace and security in its region, on the continent, around the world, in
Albania, in Bosnia, and in Kosovo, where we're working hard together to bring about a peaceful
resolution. America is proud to know you as a partner and an ally, and we are grateful for your
provision of our military bases, sent to help maintain Europe's hard-won peace.
Mr. Prime Minister, we take pride in our strong friendship. We know it will continue to grow stronger
as we enter the new millennium, a word that brings us, once again, back to Rome. For just as the
Pax Romana spread far and wide through the ancient world, we hope and work for the peace of a
new millennium that will allow more people than ever before to live their dreams in security.
If we can achieve a peace of the millennium, then the ancient dream of Columbus to explore new
places can be lived by more people than ever new places in outer space, in biotechnology and
medical research, in the hearts and minds of people around the world who still look to Italy and
America for confirmation that a good society can be created from many parts.
"E pluribus unum," the motto of the United States, a principle cherished by Italians and
Americans: Out of many, one. Mr. Prime Minister, let us make it so.
Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to join me in a toast to the Prime Minister and Mrs. Prodi and the
people of Italy.
NOTE: The President spoke at 8:30 p.m. in the East Room at the White House. The transcript made
available by the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks of Prime Minister Prodi.
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
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33 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1659
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Public Papers of the Presidents
Public Papers of the Presidents
October 25, 1997
CITE: 33 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1659
LENGTH: 1103 words
HEADLINE: Remarks to the National Italian-American Foundation
BODY:
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for the warm welcome. Thank you for singing "Happy Birthday"
to Hillary. I think the reason she -- [applause] -- I think the reason she wanted to come here is she
wanted to make sure she got an Italian birthday cake, and she did. [Laughter]
Thank you, Frank Guarini, for your warm words and your friendship and for your service on behalf of
our country at the United Nations. Thank you, Frank Stella, and I'm glad to see all the Members of
Congress here. We have some members of the administration here. We have Jack Valenti here, who
lets me watch movies at the White House. [Laughter] The best perk of being President is the movie
theater, plus knowing Jack Valenti. [Laughter]
I'm also very glad that the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy, Walter Veltroni, is here, and I thank him
for his leadership. You know, I've been spoiled coming to these dinners. A couple of years ago I came
and Danny DeVito was here, and he jumped in my lap. [Laughter] I was afraid AI Pacino would jump
in my lap tonight [laughter] -- but I had other choices.
I want to thank you for the people you're honoring tonight for their service and for their
representation of the values of the National American-Italian Foundation. Especially, I want to thank
you for honoring my friend Leon Panetta. You heard Frank Guarini mention some, but I must say not
all, of the Italian-Americans who have prominent positions in our administration. I'm sad to tell you
that the complaint has been filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claiming that I
have overrepresented Italians in my administration -[laughter] -- and I plead guilty.
I can't say enough about Leon Panetta. We went to Rome together, and I spoke, and Leon translated
my speech. Most people thought he was giving the speech. [Laughter] I felt like that old joke about
the Pope, you know, everybody said, "Who is that guy up there with Leon Panetta?" [Laughter] I miss
him and Sylvia terribly, but I know they're having a good time in California. And I can tell you that if
this country had a few more citizens like him, we would have a lot fewer problems, and I'm glad
you're honoring him tonight. I would also like to congratulate and thank Congressman Tom Foglietta
for his service, about-to-be service as our new Ambassador to Italy.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is a night of joy and a night for the honorees, and I don't want to take a
Not of your time. But I would like to say that, in a very real sense, wha President
sto pursue a course that would reflect the values that are held sodeeply by Italian-American
families who have come to our shores and who have enjoyed such great success.
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When I came here, I thought that Washington was, frankly, too divided, not just politically between
Democrats and Republicans but almost intellectually divided. Everything was either/or. Should the
Government do everything, or should it do nothing? The answer is, it should do neither. It should
focus on giving people the tools to succeed and helping other people to climb the ladder that so many
of you have climbed.
With so many people having to work and having children, should they have to choose? Of course not.
Sometimes I still believe that our greatest challenge is to enable Americans to succeed at work and
at home at their most important job, raising their children. Should we be able to grow our economy
and preserve our natural heritage? I think we should. I think that is a false choice.
So I ask you all, whether you're Republicans or Democrats or wherever you are on the political
spectrum, to always, always say that the United States should pursue a course that is consistent with
our values and not be fooled into thinking that we have to sacrifice things that are fundamental to
move ahead. The truth is, when we find a way to move ahead consistent with our values, we do
better more quickly.
I'm very grateful for the success that the United States is enjoying today, and I'm grateful for the
role that Italian Americans have played in it, and I hope we can continue to do more.
Finally, let me say I'm very grateful to this organization for the support you've given to our
administration in this great national conversation we're having about our racial and ethnic diversity.
It's going to be quite a challenge, you know, sometime in the next century the United States will
have no single majority ethnic group even Americans of European origin. I know you hate being
lumped with we Irish and the Germans and all the rest of us [laughter] -- but even the Europeans
won't be a majority in America anymore.
And somehow, we have to find a way to celebrate our differences, just as you come here to celebrate
your heritage and still be bound together by fundamental values that are more important, into one
America. If we do that and I believe we will it will be in no small measure because of the
accomplishments, the achievements, the attitudes of people like you, people who are proud to have
succeeded and want other people to have the same chance.
Sometimes, I think late at night about if I could say in one sentence what it is that I want, I'd like for
every single child in this country to have that chance at the brass ring. And so many of you have
enjoyed it, so many of you have been helped by your parents to do so. I hope that when we're done
here -- it won't be much longer, just a little over 3 years virtually every child will be able to feel
that he or she has that chance. If so, we will have fulfilled the mission that so many of you have been
on.
So, once again, my congratulations to all the honorees. I thank you for giving Leon a chance to come
back to Washington. He tries to stay away from here as much as he can now. [Laughter] I thank you
for bringing all these wonderful Italian-American artists here so that I can see people I usually only
watch on the screen or listen to with my CD's. But most of all, I thank you for all you've done to
make America a much, much greater country than it would have been without you.
Thank you, and God bless you.
NOTE: The President spoke at 8:35 p.m. in the International Ballroom at the Washington Hilton
Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Frank J. Guarini, vice chairman, Frank D. Stella, chairman,
National Italian-American Foundation; Jack Valenti, president, Motion Picture Association of America;
actors Danny DeVito and AI Pacino; and former Chief of Staff to the President Leon Panetta and his
wife, Sylvia.
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
LOAD-DATE: December 02, 1997
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OSIA Heritage
http://www.osia.org/osiaheritage.html
Order Sons of Italy in
America
Honor Your Family and Your Heritage
The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum
What Does Your Italian-American Heritage Mean to You?
Each of us might answer this question differently. For some, our Italian-American heritage is expressed in
the way we prepare traditional holiday meals, celebrate religious traditions, or relate to family and friends.
Some of us speak Italian and travel to Italy regularly. Some of us were raised in traditional
Italian-American neighborhoods. Most of us share in the appreciation of Italy's countless contributions to
architecture, art, law, literature, music, painting, and science.
However we may express our pride in our heritage, as immigrants or descendants of those who left their
Italian homes for a new life in America, we are part of the enduring, strong, and colorful community--
Italian America.
COSIA was established in the Little neighborhood of New June 1905 by Vincenzo
Sellaro, M.D:, and five other owjimmigrants from Italy who-came to the United States during the great-
Italian migration. of the late 19th and early 20th During its history, OSIA has been involved in
promoting immigration legislation; assisting the assimilation process; supporting cooperation, trade, and
Ediplomatic relations between the United States and Italy; initiating social and fraternal events; encouraging
educational achievement through serving local communities through a variety of cultural
events and raising funds for local charities; and providing low-cost group financial investments and
insurance programs for the benefit of members nationwide.
Today, OSIA is the oldest, largest, and most demographically diverse association of American men and
women of Italian descent. Since the organization's beginning, men and women have shared equal status
within the organization, as do individuals of all ages and professions.
OSIA, through its 750 community-based chapters, 21 state chapters, vosubsidiaryorganizations-the-Sc
of Italy Foundation and the Commission for Social Justice--and its National Office in Washington, D.C.,
works to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Americans of Italian descent. OSIA also works with
other organizations to unite all Americans in our multicultural society so that we may live in greater
harmony and enjoy the benefits of the principles for which the United States was founded and for which
immigrants settled in America--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in a nation where all men and
women are presumed to be created equal.
Through a variety of philanthropic and social programs, OSIA represents the interests of America's 25
million Italian Americans and cooperates with U.S. and Italian officials to strengthen trade, diplomatic,
cultural, and educational opportunities.
Its objectives, as conceived by its founders, are to enroll all men and women of Italian heritage under one
banner in order to preserve and disseminate the rich cultural heritage of Italy; and to promote and advance
heir progress everywhere within the framework of American society. The OSIA continues to thrive,
meeting the initial objectives of its founders through a wide variety of community, cultural, social,
charitable, educational, patriotic, youth, and civic activities.
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SIF- Background
http://www.osia.org/sif/sifright.html
Sons of Italy Foundation
Background & Purpose
The Sons of Italy Foundation is a private operating and grant-making philanthropic institution
established to support significant programs to preserve Italian-American culture, encourage
educational excellence, and support transatlantic initiatives for diplomatic, economic, and
educational exchanges.
Established in 1959 by the Order Sons of Italy in America, the SIF's current areas of programming
include a national/scholarship program, medical research on genetic diseases, the preservation of
Italian-American culture, and special projects of recognized significance that transcend the
organization's official areas of concern. The SIF has played an important role in developing OSIA's
philanthropic activities, which have ranged from providing a total of $25-millionin-scholarships to
owning and operating the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum on Staten Island, N.Y.
In addition, the SIF has developed an international reputation for providing homes for orphans,
aiding victims of natural disasters, enriching communities through the support of local cultural and
fund-raising initiatives, strengthening the ties that bind our diverse U.S. citizenry by promoting
cultural understanding, and supporting a wide range of other nonprofit groups in important
philanthropic endeavors.
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SIF- Philanthropy
http://www.osia.org/sif/philanthropy.html
Philanthropy
During the past 37 years, the SIF has enhanced educational opportunities for high school, undergraduate,
and graduate/professional students in the United States and Italy and has supported the preservation of the
Italian-American heritage and culture. Together with OSIA, its parent organization, the SIF has forged a
rich history of philanthropy.
C
C
1946
1947-1957
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
CASSINO MEMORIAL
CATHOLIC CENTER
ORPHANAGE
$500,000
$1 MILLION
SICILIA
1960s
1966-1967
SICILIAN
ITALIAN
EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
FLOOD RELIEF
$127,000
$200,000
At its inception, the SIF began a tradition of supporting medical research for genetic diseases, providing
homes for orphans, aiding victims of natural disasters, conducting forums on international issues,
strengthening communities through law enforcement projects, and sponsoring special programs of national
and international significance.
Alzheimer's Association
American Red Cross
Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders
Cassino Memorial Orphanage
Christopher Columbus Catholic Center
Dante School for Children
Cooley's Anemia Foundation
Immigration History Research Center
Italian Flood Relief
March of Dimes
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island American Immigration Wall of Honor Foundation
Madonna Queen National Shrine
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
The Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health
Villa Taverna
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SIF- NELA Gala
http://www.osia.org/sif/sifnela.html
National Education & Leadership wards Gala
NationarEducation:and-Leadership Awards Gala
Each year since 1989, the Sons of Italy Foundation has honored outstanding Italian Americans by
establishing and awarding scholarships in their names at a gala event in Washington, D.C.
In 1997, the SIF honored Peter F. Secchia, former U.S. ambassador to Italy and Michigan businessman.
And, Tommy Lasorda, baseball Hall of Fame manager, received the SIF first ever Humanitarian Award.
In 1996, the SIF honored Northwest Airlines Co-chairman Al Checchi and Pennsylvania State University
football coach Joe Paterno for their lifelong commitment to professional excellence and education.
Past honorees include former Kmart Chairman, President, and CEO Joseph E. Antonini (1995); FBI
Director Louis J. Freeh (1994); entertainer Annette Funicello (1993); Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of
the National Institute of Allergy and Infestious Diseases (1992); Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia
(1991); the late U.S. Congressman Silvio O. Conte (1990); and former St. John's University men's
basketball coach Lou Carnesecca (1989).
Now a tradition in the nation's capital, the annual National Education and Leadership Awards Gala draws
attendance from congressional representatives, dignitaries from the Italian Embassy, corporate executives,
nonprofit officials, and leaders from the Italian-American community who support the SIF's efforts on
behalf of higher education and the betterment of society.
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Tth Annual Nela Gala
http://www.osia.org/nela/gala99.html
President Clinton, Tony Bennett, Larry King, Kmart's Andy
Giancamilli, and 12 Academic Achievers Headline 11th
Annual National Education & Leadership Awards Gala
by Anthony Mark Dalessandro
Photos by MH Photography
CNN's Larry King introduced President Bill Clinton, who spoke of the enormous
contributions of Italian-Americans, to highlight the 11th annual National Education &
Leadership Awards Gala, the most successful event in the 40-year history of the Sons of
Italy Foundation (SIF), May 22 in Washington, D.C.
Raising more than $1 million for academic scholarships and philanthropic programs, this
year's gala was a $500-a-plate formal event that brought together more than 750 people,
including luminaries of American politics, business, and the music industry as the SIF
honored entertainer Tony Bennett and Kmart President Andy Giancamilli with the most
prestigious awards in the Italian-American community.
Guests enjoyed the music of the 24 piece orchestra of Frank Sinatra, Jr., who performed
in honor of Bennett. Last year, it was Bennett who had performed in honor of his
legendary father when the SIF presented its Humanitarian Award to Frank Sinatra. Singer
Michael Amante, who has received praise recently for his performance at the Algonquin
Hotel and the restaurant Rao's, in New York, also performed two selections.
"I want to congratulate Andy Giancamilli, of Kmart, and Tony Bennett for their awards
tonight," Clinton said. "We have the president of one of our great retailers and America's
greatest living pop singer; that's pretty good representation of the gifts that Italian
Americans have given to our nation, and you should be proud of them."
President Clinton congratulates SIF President Paul S. Polo
on the Order Sons of Italy Foundation's most successful fund
raising event.
Clinton spoke extensively about violence in
American society, the need for families "to
reconnect with their children," and NATO action in
Kosovo. He praised the Sons of Italy Foundation
for the support of education.
"
The most important job of any society is not the
creation of wealth, but the creation of richness and
wholeness in-the lives of-the-children There is no
smore important work; Clinton said
The SIF awarded more than $70,000 in
scholarships during the evening to 12 of America's highest academic achievers, including
Frank Attenello III, who received the $10,000 Andy Giancamilli Scholarship. A
graduating high school senior from Rancho Palos Verde, Calif. Attenello is a Presidential
Scholar who scored a perfect 1600 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and has already
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11th Annual Nela Gala
http://www.osia.org/nela/gala99.html
co-authored scientific articles in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and
Pediatric Research.
The SIF presented Giancamelli, for whom Attenello's scholarship was named, with this
year's National Education & Leadership Award (NELA), the foundation's highest honor.
Giancamilli, 48, is president of one of the nation's largest retail chains of general
merchandise. A native of L'Aquilia, Italy, he immigrated to the United States with his
mother in 1950. They arrived on the Andrea Doria, on the final crossing before its
collision with the Swedish liner Stockholm off Nantucket Island in 1956, which killed 51
people.
Since then, Giancamilli has said that he believes that timing is everything. So far, his
timing has been impeccable. He was hired as vice president of Kmart's pharmacy
operation in 1995 by then-Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Joseph E.
Antonini, whom the SIF honored that same year with the NELA. Two years later
Giancamilli was named president and general merchandising manager. Prior to joining
Kmart, he was president of Perry Drug Stores before the company was sold to Rite Aid.
National Education & Leadership Award winner Andy
Giancamilli (center) with his parents Filippo and Norina
Giancamilli.
"Like no other organization, the Sons of Italy
uniquely celebrates our heritage, our respect for
leadership, the spirit of -family and commitment
to education-and learning,' Giancamilli said in
accepting the NELA.
"For me,thishonorspans.thegenerations.ln
Grecognizing me it salutes my ancestors, ho worked
diligently and yevery day-to do right by their
family and their country," he said. "It means everything to me that those who I love and
respect the most are here with me this evening, knowing what I achieve they too have
earned. Throughout my childhood, my parents instilled Italian values and beliefs in our
American home
"Just as I am very proud of my family, it is great to see so many accomplished young
Italian men and women being honored tonight for we believe that there is no better
legacy one can leave to encourgae learning throughout life."
Giancamilli earned a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Wayne State University in
1973, having become interested in the profession after working as a stock boy in a
cousin's pharmacy.
He and his wife, Wanda, have known each other since childhood. She also graduated
from Wayme State and later earned a law degree from Detroit College of Law. They have
been married for 26 years, and they have raised two children, Vanessa, 22, and
Andrew, 19. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and a communications
specialist at Kmart, and he will be starting his junior year as a business major at Michigan
in the fall.
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11th Annual Nela Gala
http://www.osia.org/nela/gala99.html
SIF spokesman Tony Lo Bianco (left) and 1999
Humaniatrian Award winner Tony Bennett with the Baccarat
crystal American eagle award.
The SIF honored Bennett with the third annual
Humanitarian Award, which he accepted last year
in honor of his friend the late Frank Sinatra, who
had died just a week prior to the event. Bennett, 72,
whose career has spanned six decades, continues to
sell out concerts worldwide. He recently released
his 98th album, The Playground, a children's CD
featuring duets with comedian Rosie O'Donnell
and Muppet star Kermit the Frog.
During his career, he has performed so many
benefit concerts for charitable organizations--including the American Cancer Society and
the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation--that he has come to be known by many as "Tony
Benefit."
"We are overwhelmed by the success of this event," said SIF President Paul S. Polo Sr.
"Each year the NELA Gala has grown in stature, support of scholarships, and most
important, in funds raised. Thanks to the generosity of Kmart, General Motors, United
Airlines, the Kathy Ireland Entertainment Group, and many other contributors, we have
raised well over $1 million for our scholarship program."
Additional chief sponsors of the gala include 3M, American Greetings, Buena Vista,
Canon USA Inc., The Cafaro Company, Combine International, Fort James Corporation,
Fujii Film, The Gillette Company, Harris Marketing Group, Kaleidoscope Sports &
Entertainment, and Castello Banfi, which donated premium Italian wines for the
enjoyment of the guests.
General Motors Vice President of Advertising and Corporate Marketing Phil Guarascio,
whom the SIF honored last year with the NELA, and Robert F Corrao, chairman and
chief executive officer of Sports Impact Inc., co-chaired the event.
Among the distinguished guests were Italian Ambassador Ferdinando Salleo, U.S. Rep.
Connie Morella (R-Md.), Housing & Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo,
actor and SIF spokesman Tony Lo Bianco, actress Connie Stevens, entertainer Fred
Travalena, and musincian Isaac Hayes, Tony Messina, and Julie Budd.
Anthony Mark Dalessandro is college relations director for the Eberly College of Arts &
Sciences at West Virginia University.
GO TO PICTORIAL REVIEW OF GALA
return to: NELA front page OR Italian America page
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NELA Gala Retrospective
http://www.osia.org/nela/retro.html
NELA Gala Retrospective
Tomorrow's Promise: Ten Years of Celebrating
Education, Achievement. and Youthful Aspirations
By Philip R. Piccigallo, Ph.D.
"Thoughts are the epochs of our lives," wrote Henry David Thoreau. "The
more we think and write on any given subject, the more we are capable of
thinking and writing." This intellectual notion perhaps best explains the
beginnings of what has now become a springtime tradition in our nation's
capital: the Sons of Italy Foundation's National Education & Leadership Awards
(NELA) Gala.
Recipients of the 1997 National Leadership Grants
Nearly a decade has elapsed since a group of Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF)
trustees and resource persons deliberated on how best to build upon, expand, and
inform others about the SIF's rich legacy of supporting education. Since the SIF's
establishment in 1959, and that of its parent organization, the Order Sons of Italy
in America (OSIA) in 1905, vast sums have been raised and given to educational
causes. At that time, in 1989, the figure hovered around $19 million; today it
approaches $27 million. The majority of these funds have been voluntarily
generated or contributed by OSIA members. Notwithstanding such generosity,
little was known outside of the OSIA family about its substantial support of
education.
From the beginning, what is now called the NELA Gala was conceptualized and
designed to be much more than a traditional institutional affair or dinner. At its
core were several key organizational, philosophical and, yes, financial purposes:
1_tospreadthe word aboutand:highlightthe.measurablesupportofeducation
provided by the nearly 800 local OSIA lodges throughout America and the SIF
during the previous nine decades; 2. To provide a programmatic vehicle for
young people to focus their scholarship attention, motivation and pride upon and,
simultaneously, to showcase their talents and accomplishments as products of
the Italian-American community,3.To-offer-highly-successful-talian-Americans
from various fields and professions an opportunity to give back to their
community and nation by serving as role modelsto aspiring young scholars; and
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4. To help build a multi-million dollar educational trust to perpetuate the SIF
scholarship program.
To accomplish such ambitious objectives, the SIF sought to provide a forum that
would vividly demonstrate the inextricable link between educational excellence,
professional achievement, and mentoring. To wit, SIF leaders planned to have
highly successful Italian Americans present substantial scholarships conferred in
their names to outstanding high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.
This intergenerational recognition and exchange of knowledge and talent, it was
hoped, would dramatically illustrate the self-perpetuating nexus between
learning, wisdom, and future leadership - hence the title, National Education &
Leadership Awards.
Recipients of the 1998 National Leadership Grants
To underscore the substantive philosophical underpinnings of the NELA, SIF
leaders determined that the event would have to take place in a prestigious public
setting in the nation's capital. Attending the event, and often directly
participating via scholarship presentations or speaking roles, would be national
leaders from the governmental, corporate, academic, legal, medical, diplomatic,
entertainment, sports, and, of course, Italian-American communities.
Ideally, according to the plan, all or some prior recipients of the NELA would
return annually or regularly to present scholarships in their names. This symbolic
gesture was intended to reinforce the connection between role model, mentoring,
and leadership. Perhaps no element of the program has proven more successful.
Past honorees - basketball coach Lou Carnesecca, Supreme Court Justice
Antonin Scalia , Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, businessmen Joseph Antonini and Al
Checchi, and Ambassador Peter F. Secchia - have attended numerous NELA
Galas since receiving their awards.
Essential to the entire NELA Gala concept has been the truly unique role that the
recipients of the National Leadership Grants (NLG), presented at the Gala, have
assumed. Regardless of other honorees, public speakers, celebrities, or
dignitaries, they remain the central focus of the event, the genuine heroes and
heroines. Presentation ceremonies revolve around them, and brief introductions
highlight their academic and civic achievements to the high-profile audience.
They receive substantial grants ranging from $4,000 to $10,000. And every effort
is made to include their families at the Gala. Changes and developments
notwithstanding, the NELA was designed as, and remains, a celebration of
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NELA Gala Retrospective
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youthful aspirations and achievement.
OSIA National Executive Director Philip R. Piccigallo speaks to
President Clinton about the 1998 NELA Gala.
Great care also was given to the selection of honorees, those who would serve as
national role models and receive the soon-to-be and now prestigious National
Education & Leadership Award: (1989) Lou Carnesecca, respected head
basketball coach at St. John's University; (1990) the late U.S. Rep. Silvio O.
Conte (R-Mass.), lifelong supporter of education; (1991) U.S. Supreme Court
Justice Antonin Scalia; (1992) Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health;
(1993) Annette Funicello, beloved actress and embodiment of family values;
(1994) FBI Director Louis J. Freeh; (1995) retired K-Mart President, CEO, and
Chairman Joseph E. Antonini; (1996) Al Checchi, dynamic corporate leader and
former candidate for governor of California; Pennsylvania State University
Football Coach Joe Paterno; (1997) former U.S. Ambassador to Italy and
community activist Peter F. Secchia; and (1998) visionary General Motors
Corporation vice president and general manager of advertising and marketing,
Philip Guarascio.
In addition to their palpable talent and success, NELA honorees share another
dimension: all had or have made a conscious and deliberate commitment to give
back, to making this world better than that which their grandparents, or they, had
encountered and experienced.
To paraphrase Thoreau, thought begat further thought: in 1997 the SIF instituted
its first Humanitarian Award. As the NELA Gala steadily blossomed into the
SIF's premier annual event and showcase for its philanthropy, demand for
recognition beyond merely the educational sphere grew. SIF leaders determined
that some form of tribute should be afforded a select Italian American whose
demonstrated and proven humanitarianism throughout his or her lifetime has
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indelibly elevated and improved the human condition.
Perhaps the most popular man in baseball, and certainly its most effective
goodwill ambassador, retired Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda,
received the SIF's first Humanitarian Award in 1997. Few would question the
SIF's wisdom in selecting for its 1998 Humanitarian Award the legendary Frank
Sinatra, America's greatest all around entertainer during this century. Mr.
Sinatra's understated charitable and humanitarian activities exceed the $1 billion
mark and have touched countless needy individuals throughout the world.
Another dimension was added in the mid-'90s, with the presentation of the
jointly sponsored OSIA John Cabot University (JCU) scholarship. Responding to
the all-encompassing global revolution in technology, communications,
commerce, and international affairs, the SIF boldly entered the field of
international education by co-sponsoring a full semester scholarship at JCU in
Rome. This international component expanded with the presentation of three
JCU scholarships at the 1997 NELA Gala, as well as the debut of an original
film entitled, "Global Citizens All: The Emerging Challenge."
A word about the National Leadership Grant Competition (NLGC) is in order.
As in the selection of NELA honorees, extreme care was afforded to the NLG
application and selection process. Above all else, the process was to be open,
national, independent, rigorous, and merit-based. All could apply, but only the
most outstanding would be chosen.
Professional application screeners and financial aid experts from such
institutions as American University, Catholic University of America, Johns
Hopkins University, and St. John's University initially review all applications.
Final selections are made by OSIA's National Education Committee, which is
comprised entirely of professional educators. Evaluations are predicated upon
academic performance, extra-curricular activities, and demonstrated leadership
and character.
Since 1989, this intensely competitive and independent process has produced a
group of nealry 100 of the brightest, most highly motivated, talented young men
and women in the nation. As a group, they boast a cumulative GPA of nearly 4.0
on a 4-point scale, and SAT scores in excess of 1400 out of a possible 1600.
Nearly all have been valedictorians. And they have gained acceptance at the
nation's top colleges and universities, including Harvard, Yale, MIT, the
University of California-Berkeley, and the University of Pennsylvania.
As with the NELA honorees, NLG recipients share common dimensions beyond
the obvious: all have clear and commendable career aspirations and personal
intentions of making a difference, of contributing to a cause beyond self. All
hope to improve our world and the lives of those who inhabit it. All are acutely
aware of, and profoundly proud of their heritage and the organization that
afforded them not only financial assistance but a truly memorable and
life-changing experience.
Human enterprises, as thoughts, can be and usually are evolutionary. Over the
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years, the NELA Gala inevitably grew and matured, in size, stature, and setting.
Locations changed, each time proving more impressive: from humble impromptu
beginnings at a luncheon during OSIA's 1989 national convention to the solemn
U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing Room in 1990; the Rayburn
House Banquet Rooms (1991) to the historic Russell Senate Caucus Room(1992,
1994) and Dirksen Senate Caucus Room (1993); the bustling National Press
Club (1995); the elegant Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium (1996, 1997); and this
year, to the magnificent and incomparable National Building Museum.
As the sites of the NELA Gala became loftier and the trappings more elegant, so
grew the list of impressive attendees and participants. A virtual who's who of the
U.S. Congress have annually joined other NELA Gala diehards to draw
inspiration from the awesome display of youthful brilliance and academic
achievement. So, too, did the entertainment field take notice, led by emcees Joe
Garagiola and Regis Philbin, And screen actors Tony Lo Bianco and Connie
Stevens.
The highlights are too numerous to fully account, but some of the more
remarkable command note. Among them, in 1991, the parade of no less than 10
U.S. senators (including Messers. Kennedy, Glenn, Bradley, Lautenberg, and
Thurmond) came to the podium, where they praised and touted the wisdom and
goodness of the SIF for assuring the education of American youth. In 1992,
retired Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil presented a moving tribute to his friend,
1990 NELA recipient Silvio O. Conte, for his lifetime support of education. The
sincere attestations of commendation and delight for the philosophical and
intellectual character of the NELA Gala have been expressed by House Minority
Leader Robert Michel (1993) and Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell
(1994). For nine consecutive years, a member of Congress reported glowingly on
the NELA Gala in the Congressional Record
Nor were presidential administrations absent. White House Chief of Staff Leon
Panetta, in 1995, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew
Cuomo, in 1997, movingly addressed the NELA Gala, eloquently reminding the
students, honorees and all in attendance of the unparalleled strength their Italian
heritage and upbringing provided them. And in 1996, both Vice President Al
Gore and Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Robert Dole, spoke at the
NELA Gala.
With all the marvelous memories, perhaps Silvio Conte best captured the event's
essence. As the attendees of the 1990 NELA Gala, including his esteemed
colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, Reps. Robert Michel, Jamie
Whitten, and Wilbur Natcher, dispersed, Silvio expressed his one regret. "We
should have sung God Bless America to close the affair," he said. How
perceptive his observation and so consistent with the SIF's guiding principle,
taken from Epictetus, that "Only the educated are free."
We now approach the 10th anniversary of the NELA Gala. The progress is
measured and evident. From embryonic; tenuous thoughts in minds of a few, the
imposing event scheduled for May 21, 1998, promises to embrace the supreme
levels of human achievement: the world's greatest and most famous entertainer,
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the advertising genius from the world's largest corporation; a live performance
by the greatest singer currently performing; the most impressive public banquet
space in the most important city in the world; universally renowned entertainers
and Hollywood celebrities; senior leaders from virtually every professional field
of endeavor; and, hopefully, a visit by the first citizen himself.
Above all else and true to its original purpose, of course, the NELA Gala will
feature and recognize some of the brightest young men and women in the nation.
They and their predecessors are certainly the heirs to leadership. But even more
is at stake.
The respected social psychologist, Rollo May, years ago observed that human
beings differ distinctly from other species in that only they are capable of
promising, of envisioning a future and then committing to attain it. Through
events such as the NELA Gala and the NLGC, the Sons of Italy Foundation
seeks to help fashion, foster, and fulfill "Tomorrow's Promise" of a better life in
a better world. It is the ultimate legacy for an organization founded 92 years ago
with the primary purpose of assuring newly-arrived immigrants a decent burial in
an unfamiliar and often unkind land.
Discussing the approaching milestone, people have occasionally asked, only half
in jest: "Where do we go from here? How can we top the 1998 NELA Gala?"
Taking our cue from Thoreau and May, the answer seems clear. We think further
upon the matter, aspire toward a goal, and then we promise to do it. Or, to put it
perhaps in Mr. Sinatra's parlance, we reslove that the best is yet to come."
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NIAF
THE NATIONAL
Italian American Contributions
ITALIAN AMERICAN
FOUNDATION
LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS FROM ITALIAN AMERICAN HISTORY
October is Italian American Heritage Month, celebrating the contributions of an estimated 20
million Americans of Italian descent the United States:
Two signers-of the Declaration of Independence were oflItalian:descent:eMaryland's William Paca
and Delaware's Caesar Rodney.
Four Italians were at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876: John Martini, a trumpeter and the last
man to see Custer alive; Augusto De Voto, Giovanni Casella, and Lieutenant Charles De Rudio.
All four survived the massacre.
The Planter's Peanut Company and its familiar logo, Mr. Peanut, were created by Amedeo Obici and
Mario Peruzzi in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania in 1908.
"Chattanooga Choo-choo," "Lullaby of Broadway," and "An Affair to Remember" were some of the
songs written by Harry Warren, born Salvatore Guaragna.
The ice cream cone was invented in 1896 by Italo Marcioni in New Jersey. Two generations later,
in Pittsburgh Jim Delligatti invented the Big Mac.
The only man in U.S. history to win the nation's two highest military honors -- the Navy Cross and
the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor -- was John Basilone, a U.S. Marine sergeant, who died at
the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
The suburban shopping mall was developed by William Cafaro and Edward J. DeBartolo. Cafaro
pioneered the enclosed shopping mall with his American Mall in Lima, Ohio in 1965. DeBartolo
built the first American shopping plaza in the 1940s.
Between 5,000 and 10,000 Italians fought in the Civil War for both the Union and the Confederacy.
Four were Union generals, including General Luigi Palma di Cesnola, who received the Medal of
Honor and was later the first director of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Susan Sarandon, Bruce Springsteen, and Ann Bancroft are Italian American.
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ITALIAN AMERICAN INNOVATORS
Italian Americans created many of the familiar items we enjoy every day.
The Jacuzzi hot tub and spa were invented by the Jacuzzi family. whose family of seven sons and
six daughters came to America in 1907. In 1915, they formed the Jacuzzi Brothers Incorporated,
which supplied the American military with propellers. In 1926, they developed the deep well (jet)
water pump that led to the famous whirlpool bath.
Mr. Coffee, the best-selling coffee maker in the world, was invented by Vince Marotta, who also
developed a better way extract oil from coffee beans and invented the paper coffee filter. Since 1972,
more than 50 million Mr. Coffees have been sold. An estimated 10 billion Mr. Coffee paper filters
are sold annually.
The convertible sofa was invented by Bernard Castro (1904-1991) who came from Italy and opened
an upholstery shop in New York in 1931. In 1945, he invented the famous space-saving sofa that
even a child could open.
Chef Boyardee, the man behind the nation's leading brand of spaghetti dinners, pizza mix, sauce and
pasta, was really Ettore Boiardi, an Italian immigrant from Emilia Romagna. Boiardi, who began as
a chef's apprentice at age 11, eventually opened a restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio in 1924 and began
packaging pasta and sauce for his customers to take home. In the 1930s, he began selling his pasta
and sauce in cans. A food distributor convinced him to change the spelling of his name to make it
easier for Americans to pronounce. During World War II, the company was the largest supplier of
rations for the U.S. and Allied Forces.
The Big Mac, McDonald's sandwich classic, was invented by Jim Delligatti owner of a McDonald's
franchise in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since its introduction in 1967, more than 14 billion Big Macs
have been sold, making it the most popular sandwich in the world.
Antonio Meucci invented the telephone in 1871, five years before Alexander Graham Bell, but the
impoverished inventor did not have the funds (about $25.00) to file a patent.
The popular Radio Flyer red wagon was created by Antonio Pasin, an immigrant Italian carpenter in
1917. Pasin began making the wagon he called the Liberty Coaster, after the Statue of Liberty, one of
his first sights in America. Today, his grandson, Robert Pasin is the president of the Chicago-based
Radio Flyer Inc, which he runs with his brothers, Antonio and Paul. The company's 100 employees
manufacture about 8,000 wagons a day.
The chocolate bar exists today in part thanks to Domenico Ghirardelli. In 1867, he perfected a
method to make ground chocolate. Today, Ghirardelli chocolate is sold all over the world, including
the square in San Francisco named after him, where his chocolate factory - now a shopping center -
still stands.
Mr. Peanut and the Planters Peanut Company were created by Amedeo Obici and Mario Peruzzi,
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two Italian immigrants. Obici, who came to America from Oderzo in 1889, began selling five-cent
bags of peanuts on the street. In 1897, he took Peruzzi as his partner. By 1930, the two had four huge
factories, and raked in over $12 million annually. Today the Planters Peanut Company has over
5,000 employees.
The.cough-drop.was created by Vincent R. Ciccone, who began his career in the 1930s as a janitor
at the Charms Candy Co. and retired as the company's president and chief executive officer. Ciccone
secured 20 patents, including the "Blow Pop," a lolly pop with a bubble gum center. He died at age
81 in 1997.
Charles Atlas, born Angelo Siciliano, invented the body-building technique called "Dynamic
Tension" in 1921 and was dubbed "America's Most Perfectly Developed Man" by Physical Culture
magazine. By the 1950s, the former Coney Island janitor, had over one million followers. He died
in 1972 at age 79 while jogging too soon after a heart attack.
The ice cream cone was invented by an Italian immigrant to New Jersey named Italo Marcioni in
1896.
The three-way light bulb was invented by Alessandro Dandini, who patented more than 22
inventions, including the rigid retractable automobile top and the spherical system, which
concentrates and extracts solar energy. Dandini came to the U.S. in 1945, and taught at the
University of Nevada in Reno. He held degrees in science, languages, hydraulic engineering and
classical literature. He died in 1991 at age 88.
Bernard Cousino (1902-1994) held more than 76 patents on audiovisual equipment, including the
eight-track tape player and the automobile tape deck. In 1994, just days before his death, he filed a
patent for a continuous loop video cassette that allows VCRs to play tapes repeatedly without
rewinding.
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ITALIAN AMERICANS IN GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE
Italian Americans have been part of the American political scene for more than 200 years.
The words in the Declaration of Independence, "All men are created equal" were suggested to
Thomas Jefferson by Filippo Mazzei, a Tuscan physician, business man, pamphleteer and
Jefferson's friend and neighbor. Mazzei's original words were "All men are by nature equally free
and independent."
Two of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Italian origin: William Paca
and Caesar Rodney. Paca was one of the first senators in the Maryland state legislature, governor of
Maryland (1782 to 1785) and a major general during the Revolutionary War. Rodney of Delaware,
descended from the Adelmare family in Treviso, is most remembered for his courageous ride to
Philadelphia in July 1776. Though sick with cancer, he rode through thunder and rain to arrive just in
time to vote for independence.
Onorio Razzolini was the first Italian American ever to hold public office. He was the U.S.
Armourer and Keeper of Stores in Maryland between 1732 and 1747, a duty which essentially put
him in charge of defense for the Colony of Maryland.
In 1837, John Phinizy, the son of an Italian immigrant named Ferdinando Finizzi, became the first
Italian American mayor of an American city: Augusta, Georgia. In 1880, Anthony Ghio was elected
mayor of Texarkana, Texas, where he later opened the town's first opera house.
Among the first Italian American governors were William Paca, who served Maryland from 1782 to
1785; Caesar Rodney of Delaware in 1776; and Andrew Houston Longino who was elected
governor of Mississippi in 1900. The first Republican governor of Italian descent was Christopher
Del Sesto, who was elected governor of Rhode Island in 1958.
Francis B. Spinola was the first Italian American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives
(1887-1891). A Democrat, Spinola represented New York City.
In 1950, John Orlando Pastore became the first Italian American elected to the U.S. Senate, where
he served until 1976. In over 50 years in public office, he never lost an election. A Democrat from
Rhode Island, he began his political career as a state assemblyman in 1934 and became the first
Italian American governor of his home state in 1945 after his predecessor resigned. He was reelected
in 1946 and then again in 1948 by a record 73,000 vote margin over his opponent.
Alfred E. Smith, who was born Alfred Emanuele Ferrara, was the first Italian American governor of
New York (1919), and the first Italian American presidential candidate. He was defeated by Herbert
Hoover in 1928. His paternal grandfather was born in Genoa in 1808.
Charles Joseph Bonaparte founded the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1908, built the U.S.
Navy into one of the strongest in the world and was the first Italian American appointed to a cabinet
position, serving as Secretary of the Navy and later as U.S. Attorney General during Theodore
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Roosevelt's administration.
New York City's "Little Flower," Fiorello H. LaGuardia was elected mayor in 1931 and served
until 1944. Elected on the Republican ticket, he became the first Italian American mayor of the city.
The former lawyer was a champion of labor unions and campaigned in English, Italian, Yiddish,
German and Spanish.
Michael A. Musmanno served on of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and on the bench of the
Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal, which tried the Nazi officers after World War II.
The 1950 New York City mayoral race was among three Italian Americans Edward Corsi, Vincent
Impellitteri, and Ferdinand Pecora Impellitteri won-on the Experience Party-ticket and served as
mayor-until.January-1954.
U.S. Congressman Peter Rodino, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, led the
Committee recommendation to impeach Richard M. Nixon. Elected to Congress in 1948, Rodino
also was a key congressman supporting the law that made Columbus Day a national holiday in 1973.
Anthony J. Celebrezze was the first foreign-born mayor of Cleveland, Ohio and the first non-native
to be appointed to the U.S. Cabinet as Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and
Welfare under the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations. Also a judge to the U.S. Court of Appeals,
he was born in Potenza, elected Cleveland's mayor in 1953 and re-elected four times, the last time
with nearly 75 percent of the vote. He was the only Cleveland mayor elected five times. He died in
1998 at age 88.
Gov. Ella Tambussi Grasso of Connecticut was the first American woman elected governor in her
own right and the first Italian American woman in Congress. Elected governor in 1975, she brought
the state out of debt and created an "open government" so all citizens could easily access public
records. Grasso served as governor until 1980. She served in Congress from 1970 to 1974. Ella
Grasso died of cancer in 1981.
Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman to ever run for national office in the U.S. In 1984 she ran as
Walter Mondale's vice presidential candidate. A Democrat from New York, she served in the U.S.
House of Representatives from 1979 to 1985.
Mario Cuomo, who was first elected governor of New York in 1982, won the 1986 election with
2,761,000 votes, or 64 percent, the largest margin in New York history. During his 12 years in office,
Gov. Cuomo pushed through landmark programs in criminal justice, education, the environment,
health care, human rights, housing and health care that were national firsts. See his book, The New
York Idea: An Experiment in Democracy
The first woman to be secretary of state and attorney general in Nevada was Frankie Sue Del Papa.
She was elected secretary in 1987 and attorney general in 1991.
Brooklyn's Rudolph W. Giuliani was elected mayor of New York City in 1993, and re-elected in
1997. During his first term as mayor, crime in the Big Apple dropped 41 percent, the largest
sustained decrease in the nation and the lowest rate in New York City since the 1960s. The Mayor
began his career in the U.S Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York in 1970 at age
29, later practiced law privately and worked for the Attorney General's office and the Justice
Department. He first ran for mayor in 1989 as an independent but lost to David Dinkins.
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At the close of the 20th century, about eight percent, or 82 of the mayors of the 1,056 major U.S.
cities had Italian last names. Per state, the largest percentages of mayors are in New York (35
percent), Connecticut (31 percent) and New Jersey (23 percent). Six of the Italian American mayors
are women. Italian Americans constitute about six percent of the U.S. population.
When the 20th centuryh closed, 31 men and women of Italian descent were serving in the U.S.
Congress, including five senators and four women.
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ITALIAN AMERICANS IN EDUCATION
Italian Americans have made significant contributions to American education as teachers, and pioneer
theorists.
The first graduating class of the University of Pennsylvania in 1757 included an Italian American
named James Laita. He was one of seven men chosen by Ben Franklin, the University founder, to
attend what was then called the College of Philadelphia.
Leonard Covello (1887-1982) was the first Italian American high school principal in New York
City (Benjamin Franklin High School in East Harlem 1934-56). A pioneer in bi-lingual education,
Covello believed a school should serve the interests of its neighborhood. He was also a co-founder of
the American Italian Historical Association in 1966.
Peter Sammartino was the founder, president and chancellor emeritus of Fairleigh Dickinson
University, a liberal arts institution in New Jersey which he began in 1942 with his wife, Sylvia
(Sally) Scaramelli. He also founded the International Association of University Presidents and was
the author of 30 books. The Sammartinos died in 1992.
Mother Frances Cabrini, the first American saint, founded 14 American colleges, 98 schools, 28
orphanages, eight hospitals, three training schools, and a score of other institutions with the help of
over 4,000 sisters she recruited for the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, a group she also
founded. Mother Cabrini emigrated to the US in 1889 and became a US citizen in 1909. She died in
1917 and was canonized in 1949.
Italian Americans have founded some of America's oldest colleges and universities. The University
of Santa Clara in California was founded by two Italian Jesuits: John Nobili and A. Accolti in 1851
with only $150. Gonzaga University in Washington State was founded by a Jesuit priest, Joseph
Cataldo in 1881. St. Bonaventure's College, one of the best and well-known small colleges in New
York state, was founded by Father Pamphilus in 1858.
Italian Americans served as presidents of several notable American colleges very early in their
history. Father Giovanni Grassi served as the president of Georgetown College (now Georgetown
University) in Washington, DC in 1812, only two years after emigrating to the U.S. from Bergamo.
Father Anthony Ciampi was president of Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland in 1863. Father
Lawrence B. Palladino was president of Gonzaga University, in Washington State, from
1894-1897.
In 1978, at age 38, A. Bartlett Giamatti became the youngest president of Yale University in 200
years and the first president not entirely of Anglo Saxon heritage. As the New Haven, Connecticut
university's 19th president, Giamatti served until 1986 when he resigned to become the president of
the National League of Baseball (NLB). In January 1989, he became commissioner of the NLB. He
died of a heart attack in September 1989 at age 49.
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Dr. Edmund D. Pellegrino, the former president of Catholic University, a physician and author was
founder, chairman, director, founding dean, professor, chancellor and president of medical centers in
New Jersey, Kentucky, Tennessee, Connecticut and Washington, DC; as well as the author of over
400 medical articles.
Linda Lantieri co-founded "Resolving Conflicts Creatively," an organization which teaches
students how to prevent violence in the classroom in New York City. The private agency, founded in
1985, forms partnerships with public schools to help elementary and high school students learn how
to resolve conflicts and develop friendships.
As superintendent of Baltimore County schools, Anthony Marchione has turned the nation's 25th
largest school district with 105,500 students around. Since 1995, he has paired new teachers with
experienced mentors; cut class sizes to 23 students; and hired building experts to shore up the
county's. 159 schools. In 1993, Baltimore ranked 13th out of Maryland's 24 counties. By 1998, it
ranked 8th.
Rosemarie Truglio, Ph.D., is the director of research for Public Television's award-winning
children's program, "Sesame Street.' She develops the program's interdisciplinary curriculum and
conducts research to enhance the program's educational and entertainment values. Dr. Truglio is a
nationally recognized expert on the effects of television on children and teenagers.
In 1998, the NIAF identified at least 166 college presidents of Italian descent, including John
DiBiaggio (Tufts University); Claire Gaudiani (Connecticut College); Jay Oliva (New York
University); Joseph Polisi (The Julliard School); and Neil Rudenstine (Harvard University), whose
mother was Italian American (Mae Esperito).
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FACT SHEET: ITALIANS IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
From the beginning of U.S. history, Italians have supported American independence.
Three Italian regiments, totaling some 1,500 men, fought for American independence: the Third
Piemonte, the 13th Du Perche, and the Royal Italian.
Filippo Mazzei, a Tuscan physician, fought alongside Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry during
the American Revolution. Mazzei drew up a plan to capture the British in New York by cutting off
their sea escape, and convinced France to help the American colonists financially and militarily in
their struggle against British rule. He also inspired the Jeffersonian phrase: "All men are created
equal" when he wrote "All men are by nature equally free and independent."
Italian officers in the American Revolution include: Captain Cosimo de Medici of the North
Carolina Light Dragoons; Lieutenant James Bracco, 7th Maryland Regiment, killed at the Battle of
White Plains; Captain B. Tagliaferro, second in command of the Second Virginia Regiment, a
direct subaltern of General George Washington; 2nd Lieutenant Nicola Talliaferro of the 2nd
Virginia Regiment; and Colonel Richard Talliaferro, who fell at the Battle of Guilford. Other
Italian officers, most from Massachusetts, are on regimental rolls of the Continental Army.
Major John Belli was the Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army from 1792 to 1794. The first
settler in Scioto County, Ohio, he lived there until his death in 1809.
Three of the first five warships commissioned by the Continental Congress of the new American
government, were named Christopher Columbus, John Cabot and Andrea Doria. Doria was a
16th century navy admiral from Genoa who was still fighting the Barbary pirates in his mid 80s.
Francesco Vigo (1747-1836), is believed the first Italian to become an American citizen. A
successful fur trader on the western frontier (today the mid-western states of Wisconsin, Michigan,
Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio), Vigo served as a colonel, spy, and financier during the American
Revolution. He died a pauper, but in 1876 the U.S. government gave his heirs about $50,000 to repay
them for Vigo's financial support of the Revolutionary War. Along with George Rogers Clark, he
helped settle the Northwest territory.
Prepared by:
The National Italian American Foundation
The NIAF thanks military historian Rudy A. D'Angelo for his assistance with this fact sheet.
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Statistical Data and Reports on Italian Americans
http://www.niaf.org/stats2.htm
NIAF
THE NATIONAL
Italian American Contributions
ITALIAN AMERICAN
FOUNDATION
FACT SHEET ON ITALIAN AMERICANS: A DEMOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW
There are nearly 15 million people who identified themselves as Italian American in the 1990.U.S.
census, the Population Division of the U.S. Census Bureau reports. The Census Bureau estimates,
however, that 1 out of 10 Americans has some Italian blood, bringing the total number of
Americans of Italian descent to 26 million.
Italian Americans are the fifth largest ethnic group in the United States, according to the U.S. Census
Bureau. The four larger groups are: the Germans, Irish, English and African Americans.
The average Italian American still lives in the city in which he was raised, has attended at least one
year of college and has an average family income of about $33,000 per year, according to a survey of
the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago.
Italian Americans are evenly split among the three political parties: 35 percent Republican; 32
percent, Democrat; and 33 percent Independent, according to the NORC. No matter their political
orientation, Italian Americans tend to support liberal social causes: 89 percent would vote for a
woman president; 55 percent are pro-choice; and more than 60 percent think the government should
spend more on health, education and the poor.
Italian Americans either make up 15 percent of the population or number more than 1 million in the
following states:
California
1,500,000
Connecticut
650,000
Massachusetts
845,000
New Jersey
1,500,000
New York
2,900,000
Pennsylvania
1,400,000
Rhode Island
200,000
Italian Americans are also found in significant numbers in 15 other states, including Florida
(800,000); Illinois (730,000), Ohio (640,000); Michigan (412,000); Texas (314,000) and
Maryland (253,000).
1997
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Che Cos 'e' la NIAF
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ITALIAN AMERICAN
FOUNDATION
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http://www.niaf.org/itamindc.htm
NIAF
THE NATIONAL
Italian American Contributions
ITALIAN AMERICAN
FOUNDATION
ITALIAN AMERICAN INFLUENCES IN WASHINGTON, DC
Most Americans know that the District of Columbia is named after Christopher Columbus, but few
realize how great a role other Italians and their descendants have had in building the city and its
monuments. Italians helped create Washington's classic architecture and impressive monuments, and
many of the city's schools, churches, and federal buildings.
THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL -- Neapolitan immigrant Attilio Piccirilli and his five brothers
carved the statue of Lincoln, which they began in 1911 and completed in 1922. It is 19 feet high and
made of 28 blocks of marble, carefully fitted together. The gifted sculptors, working out of their
studio/living complex in the Bronx, also carved the famous lions on the steps of the New York
Public Library, and the facade of the Brooklyn Museum among many other works in New York and
across America. See Attilio Piccirilli's biography by Joseph V. Lombardo, published in 1944.
THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL -- Using techniques handed down by stone carvers since the
Middle Ages, Italian artisans created the gargoyles and statues that decorate the facade of
Washington's most famous place of worship.
THE CAPITOL BUILDING -- A concrete symbol of American democracy, the Capitol bears the
imprint of Italian talent. Between 1855 and 1870, the Italian artist, Constantino Brumidi decorated its
interior dome, corridors, and the President's Room where Lincoln signed the Emancipation
Proclamation.
UNION STATION -- Italian construction workers helped build Washington's train station, which
was begun in 1905 and completed in 1908, considered one of the most beautiful train stations in the
United States. The six statues that decorate the station's facade were sculpted by Andrew E.
Bernasconi between 1909 and 1911.
METRO -- Washington is justifiably proud of its quiet, modern subway system, but few of the
thousands of commuters who ride it daily know that more than 60 percent of Metro's 764 subway
cars are made in Italy. The DC Transit Authority purchased 466 cars from Breda Costruzioni
Ferroviarie in Pistoia at a cost of about $1.3 million each.
Prepared by:
The National Italian American Foundation
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Italian American Links - not so famous
http://www.italian-american.com/famnot.htm
Click Here to buy BOOKS pertaining to Italian americans OR Here for MUSIC (cds, tapes...)
Italia
Americ
Web Site of
New York
not so FAMOUS ITALIANS
Italian-Americans
Facts about Italian-Americans
Italian Proverbs
Italian Festivals
Dr. Anthony Fauci - head of the Nat'l Insitutes of Health - here in Washinton Dc and a
winner of research prizes on aids. See also Bob Gallo in my today's Famous Italian's page.*
Robert Gallucci - Georgetown Univ - big scholar*
Paolo Janni - retired Italian diplomat during the Cold War*
*info courtesy of [email protected]
GIANNINI from San. Francisco, founder of BANCA D' ITALIA, which become BANCA
D' ITALIA E AMERICA and finally once world biggest bank ,BANK OF AMERICA
Italians/Italian-Americans The man who captured Billy the Kid was Angelo "Charlie"
Siringo, a famous Pinkerton detective who also pursued Butch Cassidy and the Sundance
Kid.
The man who invented the suburban shopping mall was Edward J. DeBartolo, the son of
Italian immigrants, who worked his way up from construction jobs when he was 13 years
old in 1922 to become a successful real estate developer who built the first American
shopping plazas in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.
The only man in U.S. history to win the country's two highest military honors -- the Navy
Cross and the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor -- was John Basilone, a U.S. marine who
died during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.
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Italian American Links - not so famous
http://www.italian-american.com/famnot.html
The Planter's Peanut Company and its familiar logo, Mr. Peanut, were created by the
Italian American businessmen Amedeo Obici and Mario Peruzzi in Wilkes Barre,
Pennsylvania in 1908.
Two of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Italian descend:
Maryland's William Paca and Delaware's Caesar Rodney.
During the Civil War, the 39th New York Infantry consisted of 830 Italian Americans,
known as "the Garibaldi Guard," who fought in the Union Army from Bull Run to
Appomattox. Two Italian Americans also were Union generals: Brigadier General Francis
Spinola and General Luigi Palma di Cesnola.
Two Italian Americans were with Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn: John Martini, a
trumpeter, and Lieutenant Charles C. De Rudio. Both survived the massacre.
"Chattanooga Choo-choo," "Shuffle Off to Buffalo," "Lullaby of Broadway," and "An Affair
to Remember" were written by Harry Warren, a Brooklyn-born composer whose real name
was Salvatore Guaragna.
The first American to be named a saint was the Italian American nun, Mother Frances
Cabrini, who was canonized in 1946.
"Rosie the Riveter," who became a symbol of American women who took their men's places
in factories during World War II was Rosie Bonavita.
The ice cream cone was invented in 1896 by Italo Marcioni in New Jersey.
NY Gov. George Pataki, Susan Sarandon and Bruce Springsteen are Italian American.
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Roy Campanella and Franco Harris are Italian American.
Two Italian Americans were with Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn:
John Martini, a trumpeter, and Lieutenant Charles C. De Rudio. Both survived the
massacre.
Hank Luisetti - invented the one-handed layup in basketball.
Andy Varipapa - one of the world's best bowlers and two-time winner of the all-star
individual math game championship
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Italian American Links not so famous
http://www.italian-american.com/famnot.htm
THE "AVERAGE" ITALIAN AMERICAN: FICTION AND FACT
Information Courtesy of NIAF
Movies, television, and the press persistently link Italian Americans with organized crime, perpetuating the
myth that a significant portion of Italian Americans are involved in the mafia or benefit from mob
activities.
As a result of this misinformation, the larger American public has come to believe that Italian American
culture is innately criminal and that Italian Americans have a propensity toward crime.
Government studies on organized crime, however refute this popular conception. The President's
Commission on Law Enforcement's Report on Organized Crime, the only official information on mob
activities ever offered by a federal agency, estimates tha t in 1967 5,000 people were involved in organized
crime.
The 1990 U.S. Census counted nearly 15 million people of Italian descent. Even if all 5,000 members of
organized crime identified by the President's commission were Italian American, this would amount to
0.0003 percent of the current Italian America n population or 3 people out of 100,000.
A truer portrait of Italian Americans emerged from a survey report by the National Opinion Research
Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago. The NORC study revealed that the average Italian American
has attended at least one year of college and h as an average family income of about $33,000 per year.
The NORC survey also found that Italian Americans tend to support liberal social causes: 89 percent would
vote for a woman president; 55 percent are pro-choice; and more than 60 percent think the government
should spend more on health, education and the poor.
1996
FACT SHEET: ITALIAN AMERICANS
October is Italian American Heritage Month, celebrating the contributions of an estimated 26 million
Americans of Italian descent the fifth largest ethnic group in the United States. Here are some
little-known facts about Italian Americans.
Most Italian Americans are descended from the nearly 5 million Italians who came to the United
States between 1880 and 1924. They brought with them many Italian traditions, including a wealth
ClickHere
of folk wisdom found in ancient proverbs. Here is a sampling.
for more interesting
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Mara A. Silver
05/24/2000 07:28:53 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
Brian E. Nelson/WHO/EOP@EOP
CC:
Subject: italian quotes
You may have the universe if I may have Italy.
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Italian composer
No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.
Saint Ambrose (340-397) Italian religious leader
609. Cuomo, Mario. Simpson's Contemporary Quotations. 1988
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CONTENTS . BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations, compiled by James B. Simpson. 1988.
NUMBER: 609
AUTHOR: Mario Cuomo, Governor of NY
QUOTATION: We must get the American public to look past the glitter, beyond the
showmanship, to the reality, the hard substance of things. And we'll do it
not so much with speeches that will bring people to their feet as with
speeches that bring people to their senses.
ATTRIBUTION: Keynote address to Democratic National Convention in San Francisco 16
Jul 84
SUBJECTS: The World: Politics & Government: Politicians & Critics
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations, compiled by James B. Simpson. Copyright © 1988 by James B. Simpson. Published by the Houghton
Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
CONTENTS BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
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Proverbs Around the World
http://www.tiac.net/users/write/proverb/proverb.hml
Belgian Proverb
Beauty and chastity are always quarreling.
Spanish Proverb
The beginning and the end
reach out their hands to each other.
Chinese Proverb
He who is outside the door has already a good part of his journey
behind him.
Dutch Proverb
For a web begun God sends thread.
Italian Proverb
If you are bitter at heart,
sugar in the mouth will not help you.
Yiddish Proverb
Boasting is not courage.
African Proverb
A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.
Chinese Proverb
Many complain of their looks, but none of their brains.
Yiddish Proverb
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San Francisco Mayor Angelo Rossi's 1939 Labor Day Speech
http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/rossi.html
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Home Index By Subject By Year Biographies The Gift Shop
ADDRESS OF MAYOR ANGELO J. ROSSI
Delivered before the American Federation of Labor celebration of Labor Day
held in Festival Hall, Treasure Island,
Monday, September 4, 1939
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Public Officials, Officers and
Members of the American Federation of Labor:
At the outset may I express my deep appreciation to you and your
committee for the unhesitating and spontaneous manner in which
you saw fit to invite me to be present here today.
I thank you not only as Angelo Rossi, the man, but more
important than that, as Chief Executive of a truly great American
city.
The greatest asset of any nation is the spirit of its people.
Mayor Angelo Rossi
The greatest danger that menaces the security of any nation is the
breakdown of that spirit.
There are those in our country who are fearful of the future.
They hear marching feet, rumbling guns and droning planes in other lands.
They hear the voices of discontent, spreading vicious doctrines which assail the
fundamental principles upon which our nation is founded.
They hear great masses of our people crying for assistance and the opportunity to earn
an honest dollar.
They hear all these things and they are fearful.
Their spirit is breaking.
Yet, on the other hand, I am privileged today to speak to a group of people whose
presence here gives us cause for great confidence.
Here we have no evidence of a broken spirit.
Here we have a group of people who are imbued with the spirit which prompted our
pioneer forefathers whose energies built this great Western Commonwealth.
Rather on this Labor Day we rejoice and are most hopeful for the future.
When tremendous groups of people meet for the purpose of doing honor to the high
purpose or splendid achievements of some outstanding organization, they must be
motivated by a great cause and imbued with a noble spirit.
The great outpouring of the citizenry, not only of the glorious city of San Francisco, but
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