It was a privilege to welcome Italian nationals and American friends to our celebration of the eightieth anniversary of the Italian Republic. Eighty years ago, Italian men — and for the very first time, Italian women — cast their ballots and chose to establish a Republic.
That choice marked Italy’s return to democracy, to the rule of law, and to the protection of fundamental human rights and human dignity. It set our Nation on the path of the extraordinary progress that would follow, within a Europe determined to turn the page on power politics, militarism, hostility, and oppression.
