What has not changed is the friendship between America and France. Recent history has made clear that no disagreement can diminish the deep ties between our nations. France was America’s first friend.

And over the centuries, our nations stood united in moments of testing—from the Marne, to Omaha Beach to the long vigil of the Civil War⁽¹⁾ [sic]. After September the 11^th 2001, a major French newspaper published a headline my nation will never forget: ‘Nous sommes tous Americains’. America is grateful to the people of France. We’re proud to call you friends. And our alliance will stand the test of time.

The Marshall Plan

We gather to commemorate a landmark in the moment of that alliance, and that’s the 60^th anniversary of the start of the Marshall Plan. In 1948, the United States Congress passed, President Harry Truman signed, legislation to fund this unprecedented effort. Just steps from here at the Château de la Muette—the headquarters for the organization that implemented the Marshall Plan and worked with our allies to promote open economies and strong free market policies across Europe. Through this building flowed ‘friendly aid’ that helped renew the spirit of the continent—what one magazine called ‘the D-Day for peace.’ From this building came money for fuel and vehicles and machinery that helped bring Europe’s economies back to life. And in this building were written the first chapters of European unity—a story of cooperation that eventually resulted in institutions like NATO and the European Union and the organization that carries the spirit of the Marshall Plan into a new century, the OECD.