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President William J. Clinton to Become Chairman of National Constitution Center

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Constitution Center announces that President William J. Clinton has agreed to serve as the next Chairman of the Center's Board of Trustees. President Clinton will begin his term as Chair on January 1, 2009. He will succeed President George H.W. Bush, who has served as Chairman since January 2007 and will end his second term on December 31, 2008.

"President Clinton's steadfast vision for a better and brighter future, ongoing dedication to the principles of liberty established by the Constitution and his years of public service spent in the pursuit of helping to form a more perfect union speak to the essence of the Center's mission," said Torsella. "President Clinton's agreement to serve as Chair firmly establishes the highest standard of national leadership for the Center. In just our fifth year, we have achieved a standard that will ensure that the Center continues to thrive and endure for as long as the document it honors."

"It is with pride and privilege that I will serve as the new Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Constitution Center, an institution dedicated to increasing the public's understanding of one the most important documents in American history -- the U.S. Constitution," said former President Clinton. "Thanks to the hard work of former President Bush, Joe Torsella, and everyone involved with the museum, the vision of our founding fathers -- and the safeguard of our liberty -- remains just as relevant today. I look forward to working alongside them to further advance the leadership of the Center and its role in strengthening our democracy."

"I am very pleased that President Clinton has agreed to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Constitution Center," said President George H.W. Bush. "With his worldwide popularity and his devotion to a number of important causes, President Clinton is the perfect person to lead this distinguished Center into the future."

The National Constitution Center has enjoyed an important and longstanding relationship with Clinton, dating as far back as October 1997 when Torsella and then-Mayor Edward G. Rendell had the opportunity to speak to Clinton about the plans for the Center during a presidential visit toPhiladelphia. As one of the Center's earliest and most prominent supporters, Clinton was the keynote speaker when the Center broke ground on Constitution Day, September 17, 2000. During the event, President Clinton was one of many that signed a ceremonial steel beam marking the beginning of construction.

In addition, Clinton and his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, served on the Center's National Honorary Committee, along with all living former Presidents and their wives, since the inception of that committee in 1996.

President Clinton visited the National Constitution Center once again for a book signing in conjunction with the publication of his autobiography, My Life, in 2004, and returned in March 2006 when he gave a keynote address during the National Youth Leadership Council meeting. Seven months later, on October 5, 2006, Clinton took center stage at the Center when he was awarded the 2006 Liberty Medal with President George H. W. Bush for their Tsunami and Katrina Fund efforts.

Like President Clinton, President George H.W. Bush has had a long history with the Center, and has devoted countless hours to supporting its mission. "As Board Chair, President Bush has played a crucial role in the Center's continued growth on many levels, and it's been a true privilege and honor to work with him," said Torsella. "From exhibit development and educational programming to raising public awareness about the importance of active citizenship, his tireless enthusiasm, leadership, and guidance have proven invaluable to the Center's current success and the accomplishment of its future goals. He continues to exemplify the true meaning of a life of active citizenship, and we are tremendously grateful for all that he has done."

The National Constitution Center, located at 525 Arch St. onPhiladelphia's Independence Mall, is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of the U.S. Constitution and the ideas and values it represents. The Center serves as a museum, an education center, and a forum for debate on constitutional issues. The museum dramatically tells the story of the Constitution from Revolutionary times to the present through more than 100 interactive, multimedia exhibits, film, photographs, text, sculpture and artifacts, and features a powerful, award-winning theatrical performance, "Freedom Rising". The Center also houses the Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach, which serves as the hub for national constitutional education. Also, as a nonpartisan forum for constitutional discourse, the Center presents -- without endorsement -- programs that contain diverse viewpoints on a broad range of issues. For more information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.

SOURCE National Constitution Center