Comments on the Installation of a Prototype of the Statue of Liberty at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris

Charles H. Rivkin
Ambassador to France

Paris, France

July 3, 2012

The Statue of Liberty is such an important icon for the American people. And not ever American knows, as the president of the Senate was saying, that it was a present from France. So it's fun to be able to draw a little bit of spotlight on that fact.

It's an incredible symbol of our friendship, and a symbol of our shared values. And the fact that millions of visitors are going to walk into this museum and the first thing they are going to see is that symbol of friendship, makes me very happy as the American Ambassador to France.

This is the original model that was sent to the United States to show America what this colossal statue was going to actually look like. So it is incredible that it is not only here, but here in such a prominent position, which really I think shows the friendship between our two countries.