Adrian
Former President BILL CLINTON delivered poignant remarks during an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, urging Americans to strive for a better future in honor of those who sacrificed their lives. The tragic event, which unfolded on April 19, 1995, at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, remains the deadliest homegrown terrorist attack in U.S. history, claiming 168 lives, including 19 children, and injuring nearly 700 others.
CLINTON, who was nearing the end of his first term at the time of the bombing, reflected on the devastating day during Saturday’s ceremony. “Thirty years ago, I thought I was going to have a very different day when I woke up,” he shared. “I went jogging with the winners of the Boston Marathon, giving me the illusion—and an illusion it was—that I was somehow pretty fit. And then I got back to the White House and the devastating news.”
The former president praised the enduring spirit of the Oklahoma Standard, a mindset of resilience and unity that emerged in the aftermath of the tragedy. “I wish every American would get a copy of the Oklahoma Standard in the mail or on their cell phone tomorrow. I bet you it would have a terrific impact,” CLINTON remarked. He encouraged Oklahomans to share this ethos across the nation, emphasizing its significance in fostering collective strength.
The bombing was executed by former Army soldier Timothy McVeigh, who parked a rented Ryder truck in front of the federal building and detonated a massive bomb at 9:02 a.m. CLINTON condemned the attack as an act of “cowardice and evil” during his April 19, 1995, address, vowing that the United States would not tolerate such acts of terror.
McVeigh and his co-conspirators were swiftly captured, convicted, and sentenced. McVeigh was executed on June 11, 2001—three months before the 9/11 attacks—marking the end of a chapter in one of the darkest periods in U.S. history. The Oklahoma City bombing remains the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil prior to September 11, 2001.
CLINTON’s emotional tribute underscored the importance of remembering the victims and carrying forward the lessons of unity and resilience exemplified by the Oklahoma Standard.
**[Watch the full remarks here](#)**
**[Learn more about the Oklahoma Standard](#)**
**Sources:**
1. DOJ Transcript, April 19, 1995
2. Associated Press Report, April 19, 2023
3. Fox News Archive on Oklahoma City Bombing
