Speech at 400th anniversary celebration of Jamestown, Virginia

May 13, 2007

ITEM DETAILS

Type: Speech
Physical location/Show name: 400th anniversary celebration of Jamestown, Virginia
Date is approximate: No
jamestown_400th_anniversary_celebration.jpg

Transcript

Sandra Day O'Connor

Thank you, Governor Page. Thank you. Thank you.

Sandra Day O'Connor
This is a great occasion. The volunteers, some 2000 of them, have been working for more than two years to make this weekend the incredible event that it is. And they've done a great job.

We celebrate Jamestown's 400th anniversary because that very difficult settlement gave us our start in representative democracy. It caused us to be an English-speaking nation. It brought to the shores our first venture capitalists, they came to try to make money. And I guess you could call it the start of a global economy. And most important to me, those settlers brought with them the rule of law, they brought the common law of Great Britain. That's what the charter told them to bring with them. And they did. And that has lasted. And we are so grateful. And it is such an honor for this celebration, to have a visit today from the President of the United States and Mrs. Bush. This is truly special.

When the planners started their plans, they said in our wildest dreams, we hope we will have the Queen of England return. And we hope the President and Mrs. Bush will come. And lo and behold, they're here. And it is my enormous honor to present to you, the President of the United States.