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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release November 11, 1995

                      REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
                 IN TELEPHONE CALL WITH 100-YEAR-OLD
                 WORLD WAR I VETERAN, GAETANO MAGGIO
                                  
                           The Oval Office

1:21 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: -- (in progress) with a big group of family members and friends.

MR. MAGGIO: Right. That's my home in Tampa. Been in Tampa -- my home since 1903.

THE PRESIDENT: That's great. And this is your actual birthday, on this Veterans Day, is that right?

MR. MAGGIO: Actual birthday, November the 11th at 11:00 o'clock at night.

THE PRESIDENT: That's amazing. And you were among the first group of people from Tampa to volunteer for World War I, weren't you?

MR. MAGGIO: Yes, sir. I sure did.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I really appreciate you.

MR. MAGGIO: Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate you and -- do you have all your children there?

MR. MAGGIO: All here.

THE PRESIDENT: And a lot of grandchildren there?

MR. MAGGIO: I got grandchildren and a great grandchild here. It's the fifth generation.

THE PRESIDENT: That's great.

MR. MAGGIO: They come from Fort Lauderdale just to celebrate my birthday.

THE PRESIDENT: I bet you're proud of that.

MR. MAGGIO: I sure am.

THE PRESIDENT: You've been very fortunate, haven't you?

MR. MAGGIO: I've been very fortunate with my family. Got a beautiful family. And all -- all of the boys that were servicemen -- ex-servicemen -- all have been servicemen.

THE PRESIDENT: I know you're proud of them.

MR. MAGGIO: And I'm proud of them. The whole six of them.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and I wanted to tell you that I'm proud of you and I'm very grateful that our country has had someone like you --

MR. MAGGIO: Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: -- living here throughout the 20th century, seeing all the changes you've seen, and making the sacrifices you've made so that we could stay a free country and --

MR. MAGGIO: I've seen plenty.

THE PRESIDENT: You have seen a lot, haven't you.

MR. MAGGIO: Yes, good and bad.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. But we can still bring immigrants to our shores and give them a shot at a better life because of people like you. And I really thank you for it.

MR. MAGGIO: Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: And you have a wonderful day.

MR. MAGGIO: Have a beautiful day, too. Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: Tell your family I said hello.

MR. MAGGIO: Mr. President says hello to the family.

THE MAGGIO FAMILY: Hello, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: (Laughter.) They sound great!

Thank you sir, and God bless you.

MR. MAGGIO: Thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: Bye-bye.

MR. MAGGIO: Bye.

END 1:23 P.M. EST