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This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
Statement by USAID Administrator Andrew S. Natsios
Swearing-In Ceremony
Benjamin Franklin Room
Department of State
May 22, 2001The following speech is available in RealAudio format.
If you do not already have RealPlayer, you may download a free version here.
I would like to thank all of you, many from long distances, for attending this important ceremony--at least for our family--this morning. I see many family members, old friends and colleagues in the audience. Thank you, Father Gregory, for joining us this morning. Without the President's support, I would not be standing here today so I'd like to express my appreciation to him for naming me to this post, but also would like to thank my old friend, Andy Card, for participating with us today and for his kind remarks.
We have come a long way, Andy and I, over the past 25 years from the halls of the State House in Boston. I sometimes doubt that this is all a dream and that we're really doing what we're doing, but we appear to be here doing it.
Thank you, Secretary Powell, for your remarks and support. I look forward to working for you and with you over the next three-and-a-half years. It is a singular honor for me to serve under you at AID. I very much appreciate the presence of members of Congress and their staffs, our partners in this important work.
Most importantly, I would like to thank my wife, Elizabeth, my mother, and our children Emily, Alexander, and Philip, for putting up with my chaotic and unpredictable career. Without my wife's patience, good humor and support, I would not be here today, I can assure you.
In a personal sense, this job will be the most important of my career, just as my earlier service in AID during the first Bush administration was the job I most cherished in my career until that point. Being the Administrator of AID was the position I most aspired to in the Bush administration, in fact, it's the only real job I aspired to, so it is with particular enthusiasm that I stand here today.
I would like to recognize Brian Atwood, my friend and former Administrator. My old friend, Peter McPherson, who was AID administrator during the Reagan administration, wished he could be here today, but unfortunately had a conflict.
I deeply believe in the United States and its profoundly important role in making the world a more peaceful, decent and civilized place. I have seen firsthand the difference America can make in the world in support of freedom and democracy in countries that have only recently known either.
Even when we make mistakes in our foreign policy, and we do sometimes, they are mistakes of judgment, not of the heart, not in our essential values. We are beginning a new chapter in USAID's work in support of American foreign policy. We will now focus more resources and attention on agricultural development to end hunger, economic development to end poverty by preparing developing countries to participate more fully in the new global trading system.
We are now engaged in an effort to analyze countries that may be sliding into conflict to see if we can take developmental measures to prevent the conflict or, if it has started, in dealing with it at the grassroots level.
Our global health programs will focus even more attention on the HIV/AIDS epidemic on order of the Secretary and the President, who are deeply concerned with me about this terrible problem--a problem that is devastating the developing world, particularly Africa.
Finally, we are initiating a more intimate relationship with private voluntary organizations, private business, foundations, and universities and colleges through the Global Development Alliance that Secretary Powell announced before the Congress two weeks ago. This alliance will leverage our funds, our 75 field missions, and our technical expertise with those of our private partners to marshal our forces in the war against the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
I look forward to working with you on this great effort. Thank you for coming today.
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Last Updated on: January 02, 2009 |
