TO: president@whitehouse.gov

SUBJECT: Visit to the "capital of freedom": Budapest

Dear Mr. President,

It was good to hear your eloquent words, calling for American leadership in the struggle for universal freedom and liberty. As a member of the American-Hungarian lobby, I am proud to say that we American-Hungarians are with you. Our nation has shed more blood for freedom and liberty than any nation on this planet. I am also proud to say that America always stood with us in our many struggles for freedom and liberty.

It was the Hungarian Hussar officer Michael Kováts, who organized the cavalry of George Washington's Continental forces and helped to defeat the British at Trenton in 1777. After the defeat of our second fight for freedom in 1848, the leader of the revolution Louis Kossuth on January 7, 1852, was ininvited by the Senate and the House of Representatives – an honor previously accorded only to the Marquis de Lafayette. Later, in his speech he said:

"..your fathers raised a home to freedom more glorious than the world has ever seen…Your principles will conquer the world by the glorious example of your freedom…it will be a noble joy to this great Republic, to feel that the moral influence of your glorious example has operated this happy development in mankind's destiny."

When the Communists crushed our fight for freedom in 1956, it was the United States that offered protection to Cardinal József Mindszenty, admitted tens of thousands of our refugees and gave scholarships to thousands of Hungarian students.

Because we stand together for freedom, I would like to respectfully ask you Mr. President that on the 50th annyversary of the Hungarian Revolution on October 23, 2006, you visit Budapest, – in the eyes of many, the "capital of freedom". When there, you might want to see the Crown of St. Stephen, which the United States protected for Hungary from the nazis and communists, the apartment of Cardinal Mindszenty at the American Embassy and the House of Terror, where you can get a sense of what it was like to live under the nazis or the communists.

The 1.5 million American-Hungarians would be grateful if you visited the capital where Communism was mortally wounded by the freedom fighters of Budapest in 1956. We would also be grateful, if during your visit you would mention that all national minorities of Europe should be given the right to freely elect their own local self government.

Respectfully yours,

AZ ÖN NEVE ÉS CIME

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