Former US President Bill Clinton expressed his strong support for Greece during its financial crisis at a dinner in Washington, DC with long-time friends in the Greek-American community.  President Clinton, whose pro-Hellenic and pro-Greek Orthodox policies surpassed virtually all other American Presidents, indicated that he was dedicated to do whatever he can to help Greece prevail and that every country in the world should do the same.   

Clinton made this statement on June 28th at a dinner he annually co-hosts with Hellene Andy Manatos for the benefit of the Foundation of another Hellene, David Leopoulos — the 8th Annual THEA Foundation Dinner in Washington, DC with President Clinton.  

Manatos, who worked closely with Leopoulos and Clinton during his Presidency, said, “With the single exception of President Harry Truman and his Marshall Plan that helped rebuild Greece following WWII, Bill Clinton has far surpassed all other US Presidents with regard to his accomplishments for Hellenism and Greek Orthodoxy.  And his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has also helped move America on these issues as the first lady, US Senator and as Secretary of State.”  Most notably, President Clinton:

 

  • Enabled Cyprus to accede to the EU by switching the opposition of France and Germany;
  • Stepped Turkey back from the brink of war with Greece by convincing Turkish troops to withdraw from the Greek islet of Imea;
  • Became the first sitting U.S. President to visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate thus initiating America’s focus on its lack of “religious freedom;”
  • Publically apologized, in Greece, for America’s involvement in the Greek and Cypriot Junta’s of the 1960s and 1970s that precipitated Turkey’s division and occupation of Cyprus;
  • Convinced FYROM to end: threats against Greece in its constitution; utilization of White Tower of Salonika on its letterhead and currency; and threatening Greece in radio broadcasts;
  • Moved Albania to release the “Omonia Five” Greek prisoners, one of whom had been condemned to death.

 


This annual Washington dinner with Clinton, run by Manatos & Manatos, has raised over $800,000 for the THEA Foundation.  The Foundation is named after talented 17-year-old daughter of David and Linda Leopoulos who tragically lost her life in a car accident ten years ago.  The THEA Foundation is pioneering great improvements in the American educational system through the infusion of art related activities into the learning of subjects in every discipline.

Other significant Hellenic contributors to the THEA Foundation include: from Greece the Tsakos family and Agis Leopoulos; and in the US Val Halamandaris, Charis Lapas, Mike Manatos, Nikos Mouyiaris, Panicos Papanicolaou, Nicholas Bouras, Nick Chimicles, Ted Georgelas, Dennis Mehiel, Andrew Athens, Philip Christopher, Ted Pedas and Leon Andris.