Rodney [Slater], I'm still looking for the other 19% too.  [Laughter]   I am a mayor, so …

It is my honor to introduce to you this morning a president will go down in history as a true advocate for the American people, a president who was not and is not afraid to lead, a president who has made the tough decisions throughout his administration, to put this country first and to lead it on an unprecedented path of business growth, job creation, education reform, and restoration of our collective social security. 

As mayors, millions of our citizens today have jobs who never dreamt of having jobs when this administration began in 1992.  In our cities today, our unemployment rates have been cut in half, businesses are expanding, crime is down, safety's up, public school reform is finally happening, and American cities are experiencing a renaissance of art, culture, and recreation all because of the leadership this president has given.  Where there was no hope, this president has given hope, to individuals, to families, and to communities who now see a future opportunity where before there was none.  This is a president who has stood by and supported the American people and American mayors.  We're proud, Mr. President, as America's Mayors to have stood by you and with you. 

It truly is a new day in America and the leader who has brought us that new day, as a friend, an international peacemaker, the leader of the largest economic expansion in history, a reformer, an American advocate for its people.  For many of our mayors, they may not know, because, Mr. President, we have many new mayors here today.  The regular meetings of mayors in this special place, did not take place until William Jefferson Clinton became President of the United States.  [Applause]  We're very proud to be here.  Not only did this president allow us in, he allowed us to participate, to help work with him in the writing of the crime bill, working with him on empowerment zones and welfare reform, we've been part of the process.  He also hired a staff who were told to work with us and include us, not just to tolerate us as was done in previous administrations.  And the staff he hired also has reflected America, no north, no south, no east, no west.  Just America -- one nation -- black and white, brown and yellow, Jew and Gentile, Protestant, Catholic, straight and gay; you made it our country too.

You invited so many of us to the White House, some even to spend the night here, that it is no longer even now fashionable to take every item with the White House emblem on it, [laughter] that we can liberate and take home with us. 

Mr. President, you gave substance to the American dream for a generation.  In the 1940's a young man from Mexico came to this country to pick fruit in our fields.  His son is now Director of Intergovernmental Relations for the President of the United States.  For a couple from Denver, who moved to Denver, one by way of Chicago (and most people in Chicago are by way of Mississippi).  The other from Denver, by way of Texas, had an opportunity to stay in the Lincoln bedroom, the bedroom where a President worked on a desk and drafted some of the words to save this nation's fate, to determine his own fate, and to determine the fate of a race of people. 

Mr. President, you have included us in a very special way that have made us all feel proud to be Americans.  You have been one of the finest presidents this country has ever had, [applause] we respect you, and when history is written, they'll say this was a special president, it's one that only comes along very few times. 

And you stood there with us on the right issues when we came and talked about the problems we were having with gun violence, as controversial as it was, you stood up with us, and yesterday, Mr. President, we unveiled what we called the Wall of Death, that showed since Columbine more that 3000 people between, 3000 deaths have occurred in this country since Columbine. 

And you have been there with us, and so we just want to come because this is our meeting with you that we've had on an annual basis; we know next year this time you will not be president, and so for us, this is a special time, for a special place, and we want you to know you are a special person and a special friend and a great president.  We love you and respect you and admire you and we appreciate the opportunity you have given us to serve the American people.