President Bill Clinton was on hand yesterday for the National Constitution Center's celebration of its groundbreaking at Sixth and Arch streets. The location is just north of Independence Hall, the famous building where delegates from the 13 original colonies drafted the Constitution in 1787. Clinton, who spoke under a display of flags representing all 50 states, had just finished with a fundraising brunch for his wife's U.S. Senate campaign at the famous City Tavern in the historic section of Philadelphia. Along with Senators Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and a host of federal, state and local officials, Clinton dedicated the museum to the citizens of this country, to the "good people who get up everyday and do their best to fulfill their dreams." Despite an air of partisan loyalty that permeated the podium from several political jabs made during speeches, the mood set by those speaking was one of unity. NCC President Joseph Torsella reminded the crowd of local dignitaries and the public of what the preamble says. "It is not us and them, but we the people," Torsella said. Both former Mayor Ed Rendell -- now general chairman of the Democratic National Committee -- and current Mayor John Street thanked Specter and Santorum for the battle they fought to attain federal funding for the museum. A sum of $60 million was appropriated over a three-year period, thanks to the work Specter began in 1988. "What a great salesman your mayor was," Santorum said of Rendell. "This facility will project [the] life of the Constitution to the four corners of this country." "Nothing I've done as mayor was more satisfying," Rendell said. Holding positions of honor at the groundbreaking were 72 immigrants from 23 countries around the globe. They became citizens yesterday, pledging their allegiance to the United States by affirming an oath delivered by Chief Justice Edward Becker of the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. "You are now citizens of the United States of America," Becker told the crowd of immigrants, whose origins ranged from Belarus to Vietnam. "It is the greatest privilege in all the world." College senior Sara Nasuti, an Urban Studies major, was present in the audience. "One of the most meaningful aspects was to see how much it meant to them," Nasuti said of the new citizens. "The audience was so happy for them." All 72 newly minted citizens were rewarded by shaking Clinton's hand at the end. One, Susan Ya, a native of South Korea, signed a beam that will become a pillar for the new museum. Clinton and others associated with the NCC also signed. The NCC, which will be home to an original copy of the Constitution, is scheduled to open in spring 2003. The signers of the Constitution "understood the enormity of what they were attempting to do," Clinton said. "Two-hundred thirteen years later we can say with thanks they succeeded." The mood was not all non-partisan, however, as political jabs were strategically placed in a number of speeches. Specter, in a speech hailing the beauty of the system of checks and balances set up in the Constitution, hurled veiled criticisms at Clinton concerning the latest developments in the Wen Ho Lee spy scandal. Lee, a Los Alamos scientist, was arrested on charges of conspiracy and served nine months in prison before being released last week. Specter spoke of the "remarkable application of the Constitution," adding "now the issue comes to the Congress for oversight." Specter also made a comment about Clinton's wearing of a button from his wife's campaign shortly before the event started, though the President had removed it before the motorcade arrived. Specter joked, "I hadn't known there were any non-political events."
Clinton on hand for new Constitution-themed museum
