Clinton Administration Cabinet Members Views on International Education

Frequent IHEC Blog readers know of my interest in the history of international exchanges and recently I posted quotes about international exchanges and the Fulbright Program from the past twelve Presidents of the United States. Following are two quotes by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Secretary of Education Richard Riley from the year 2000 that I have pulled from my research notes.

During a 2000 U.S. State Department dinner honoring international education where Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke to the importance of international education and stated:

“Today, Fulbright alumni are building a democratic Bosnia, bridging the digital
divide in West Africa, keeping Americans informed about developments in southern
Europe, and fighting HIV/AIDS in Guatemala. Our Humphrey alumni are doing
equally impressive things from managing immigration in Macedonia to advocating
the rights of Filipino migrant workers, to serving on the Supreme Court of
Brazil.”

Earlier in the same year, during a speech given at the La Maison Française in Washington, D.C., Secretary of Education Richard Riley, who is a staunch supporter of international educational exchange, discussed his Department’s efforts in promoting democracy through education and emphasized:

“I strongly believe that the growth of democracy, economic prosperity and
economic stability throughout the world is linked to the advance of
education. This is one of the strongest reasons why the United States
should have an active and strong international education agenda. Education
and democracy go hand in hand…All throughout the world there are thousands of
leaders in other nations-political, economic and social leaders-who got a taste
of democracy in all of its complexity when they came to study here in the United
States.”

Secretary Riley delivered these remarks on the same day that President Clinton signed his executive memorandum for the heads of executive departments and agencies implementing a national international education policy. President Clinton’s memorandum implementing an international education policy for the United States was the first of its kind. Never before in the history of the United States had international education been highlighted and celebrated in such a manner. President Clinton proclaimed that “we are fortunate to count among our staunchest friends abroad those who have experienced our country and our values through in-depth exposure as students and scholars” (2000). This same message has been repeated in some manner by the President and Secretaries of Education and State each November since the inaugural International Education Week held November 13-17, 2000.

To see more statements on the value and importance of international education and exchange from internationally recognized dignitaries, heads of nations, statesmen and women and businessmen and women please visit the Study Abroad Now More Than Ever website hosted by The Center for Global Education at Loyola Marymount University here.

References

Albright, M.K. (2000, November 30). U.S. global education programs “incredible investments.” Remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright a dinner honoring international education, Washington, D.C. URL retrieved November 4, 2004 from the World Wide Web: http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/p/tp-c234.html.

Clinton, W.J. (2000, April 19). International education policy. Memorandum from U.S. President William J. Clinton for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies. Office of the Press Secretary, The White House.

Riley, R.W. (2000, April 19). The growing importance of international education. Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley at the La Maison Française, Washington, D.C. URL retrieved August 7, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ed.gov/Speeches/04-2000/000419.htm.