Hillary and I are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Hector P. Garcia. The founder of the American GI Forum, Dr. Garcia fought for half a century for the civil and educational rights of Mexican-Americans. A national hero and decorated Army veteran, Dr. Garcia became the first Hispanic-American to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian honor.
Recently, Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, his hometown, dedicated the Hector P. Garcia Plaza and established the Hector P. Garcia Scholarship Endowment. It is a fitting tribute to a man who fought for the rights of Hispanic-Americans, veterans, and all Americans throughout his life. Hillary and I extend our deepest condolences to his family and to all the Latino community.
William J. Clinton, Statement on the Death of Hector Garcia Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/223215