Photos: Tomas Stargardter / Jairo Cajina / Press Pool

	Breaking protocol, Clinton went down from the stage to greet the people of Posoltega personally.

Though brief, the visit by the President of the United States of America had a significance all its own. President Arnoldo Alemán was at his side most of the time, proud that it was during his term in office that a president from Nicaragua's neighbor to the north paid a visit, the first ever in the history of the country.

Former President Lyndon Baines Johnson did set down in Nicaragua back in 1968, but the visit was not official and LBJ only spent a few hours in the airport. Former President Calvin Coolidge came close to setting foot in Nicaragua during his presidency, but he never got off the boat in the harbor at Corinto back in 1928.

	President Alemán made use of every available opportunity to explain the situation of the country to President Clinton. Clinton listened with the aid of an interpreter.

President William Jefferson Clinton came and saw Nicaragua for a short spell, conquering the hearts and raising the expectations of the many near Posoltega who saw him. In this issue, NicaNews presents you, the readers, with a number of images captured during his visit here on March 8.

That's What He Said

"We're brothers, neighbors, and friends. We should help one another," declared U.S. President Bill Clinton to the crowd gathered near Posoltega, the site of a mudslide that rampaged down the slopes of the Casitas Volcano as part of the beating the country took from Hurricane Mitch last October. "A landslide can destroy homes and the work of a lifetime, but not hopes. Not long ago, your country went through a war and came out stronger. You overcame adversity, and we will work together to overcome adversity together with you everyday until the job gets done."

	Casitas Volcano and the scar left by the mudslide loom in the background.

Clinton made some pledges that were well received. "I know you need more houses and you need to speed up the removal of landmines left from the war and which the hurricane moved. We will also help with that task... I know more is needed and that it is urgent. I have asked Congress for $956 million to support reconstruction efforts (in Central America)... To help you reactivate your economy, my aid package also forgives a large part of the the debt of Nicaragua ($76.4 million) and Honduras ($146.6 million) to our government...

"The request sent to Congress also foresees the reduction of tarrif barriers... We have offered temporary migratory protection for Central Americans residing in the United States, but we are going to seek a fair solution for the pending migratory issues...In the past, there were conflicts, turbulence between us. Now democracy unites us and will lead us to a promising future, and it gives us the opportunity for our governments to work together."Spoken like a true president.

	The heat and the dust did not diminish the crowd's enthusiasm .

	It was March 8, International Women's Day, and they came from near and far to see the first U.S. president to ever visit Nicaragua. Towels provide good protection from the beating sun and the dust devils that characterize rural Chinandega.

	U.S. President Clinton laid a wreath at the plaque commemorating the many who were buried beneath the mud and debris that rushed down the slopes of the Casitas Volcano. The site has been declared a national cemetery.

	U.S. President Clinton laid a wreath at the plaque commemorating the many who were buried beneath the mud and debris that rushed down the slopes of the Casitas Volcano. The site has been declared a national cemetery.