Statement on Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Meeting of U.S. President William Howard Taft and Mexican President Porfirio Diaz

Ciudad Juarez | October 16, 2009

Today we commemorate an historic event in U.S.-Mexican relations – the first meeting between a President of the United States, William Howard Taft, with his Mexican counterpart Porfirio Diaz in El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, on October 16, 1909.

Local press described how “the ringing of bells, blowing of whistles and yells from a hundred thousand throats” welcomed Presidents Taft and Diaz as they marked “an epoch in the history of the two great nations.”

Now, as in 1909, the United States and Mexico enjoy a vital and broad ranging bilateral relationship -- one of the closest in the world. We share common values and aspirations for freedom, prosperity, safety of our citizens, and protection of our rich natural resources.

On this important day, we reaffirm the commitment and friendship of the United States to Mexico.