Recognizing the Bicentennial of the Monroe Doctrine

Floor Speech

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Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of America's fifth President, James Monroe, and to celebrate the Bicentennial of the Monroe Doctrine.

President James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758, to a middle-class family in what would eventually become Virginia's First District. Monroe was a fierce advocate for American independence from the very beginning. At only 18 years old, he enlisted in the Continental Army, where he fought and was wounded while serving under General George Washington.

In the earliest years of our fledgling nation, Monroe would distinguish himself as master diplomat and lay the foundations of United States foreign policy. As Minister to France, he helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase, doubling American sovereign territory. After being appointed Secretary of War, he masterfully defended the country during the War of 1812, and managed the acquisition of Florida, all while forging alliances and boosting the United States' standing on the world stage. His skill at statecraft was recognized by the public and he was elected President in 1816.

President Monroe's crowning achievement as a leader was the creation of his namesake Monroe Doctrine. On December 2, 1823, the United States took the important step of recognizing and establishing trade and defense treaties with the newly independent republics of Latin America. By vowing to aid these countries against invasions by European colonial powers, Monroe began a proud American tradition of a bold foreign policy that promotes freedom and democratic values abroad.

I am honored to represent Virginia's First District, the place Monroe once called home. I am inspired by Monroe's devotion to fundamental American values, and his committed belief that our rights and the freedoms we derive from them deserve to be shared not just by our countrymen, but by all people.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing President James Monroe and the Bicentennial of his most outstanding work of statesmanship, the Monroe Doctrine. His legacy is one of profound accomplishment and service to the American people, and I am deeply grateful to the example he sets to all who would follow in his footsteps.

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