The White House Millennium Council was an American organization established by Executive Order 13072 in 1998 by President Bill Clinton to commemorate the millennium. The council's theme was "Honor the Past -- Imagine the Future."

Council activities

The council was headed by then-First Lady Hillary Clinton, and during a two-year period it engaged in numerous activities surrounding the millennium; for example, a time capsule was created, which included various recordings, a state flag, a photo of Rosa Parks, a piece of the Berlin Wall, a film of Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon and other items. The capsule is designed to be opened in 2100, and is stored by the National Archives and Records Administration. Students were challenged to imagine traveling to and living on Mars by 2030. The President and the First Lady hosted Millennium Evenings, a series of lectures and cultural showcases designed to highlight contributions of Americans in arts, sciences and other areas.

White House Millennium Celebration

The White House Millennium Celebration included several events, and was televised internationally. Nathan Baxter, then-Dean of Washington National Cathedral, was selected to deliver the prayer for the nation; Terry McAuliffe, a friend of the Clintons, chaired a dinner celebration at the White House.

See also

• Save America's Treasures
• National Millennium Trail

References

1. Executive Order 13072 —- White House Millennium Council, February 2, 1998
2. CNN, December 31, 1999
3. Millennium Council website, time capsule
4. Millennium Council website, time capsule preservation
5. Millennium Council website, Mars
6. Amherst College news release, January 14, 2003
7. Statement of William J. Clinton, December 31, 1999

External links

• White House Millennium Council website