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�THE WHITE HOUSE
.Office of the Press Secretary
' ..
(Little Rock, Arkansas)
For Immediate Release
September 25, 1997
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT RECEPTION FOR
THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY
Aerospac~
Education Cent~r
Little Rock, Arkansas
, 8 : 4 4 P .. M. CDT
.
THE PRESIDENT:
Thank you very much.· Secretary Gober,
President Bucha, Mayor Dailey, Mayor Hayes, Senatoi Beebe.
Governor McM~th, it's wonderful to see you here tonight, sir ..
I thank Secretary Gober for his introduction.
It· was
overly generoui, but ~ good illustration of Clinton's first law
of politics -- wheneve~ possible, try to have ·yourself
introduce~·by _s6me6n~ you have appointed to high offi6e.
(Laughter.)
Did you hear the story Secretary Gober said about
.he was in the Army, then,he ~as-~n.the Marine Corps, and his
wife was in the Navy and then the Air Force.
They're the only
people I ever knew who organized a 30.:..year campaign to be
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(Laughter.)
It worked.
He has done a wonderf:ul job. And thank you, Secretary Togo
West, for the job you do for the Unit~d States Arm~, sir.
I'd
also like to ·thank the United States Military Academy Cadet Glee
Club.
I thought they did a terrific job. Go ahead and give
them a hand.
(Applause.) And I think we can forgive them if
there was just a little.more zip in the Army sohg· thari the
others.
(Laughter.)
That, after· all, is befitting. ·
Ladies and gentle~en, I am ~onored to be here with.you.
I
thank you for coming to my native state.
I hope you have
enjoy~d it.
I'm especially h6nored to be in the presence of
people who are in what has been described as the most exclusive
\
\
�2
club in America, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Along with'every other American, I feel a profound admiration
for all of you -- for your acts of valor and heroism.
I am
especially gratified that several who wear themedal-and who are
in this room tonight are my fellow Arkansans,· including Nick
Bacon; Director-of Veterans Affairs here; Stooter Burke,
Clarence Kraft, and Nathan Gordon.
No one could live in this country for·very long without
being especiaily imp:J;:"essed with how genuinely ·.patr.iotic most. of
our fellow citizens are.· We. are a nation of_immigrants, proud
of our roots, proud of what is distinctive abciut us, but there's
an extraordinary amount.of love·in this country for our nation,
felt by almost every si~gle citizen ..
Indeed, there's so much love in our count~y thati as you
know, we very often have p~ople join the United States military
even before they're naiuralized as citiz~ns.
I never will
forget when we welcb~~d ~he Pope to Denv~r for .the first time
and I was· es.corting His Holiness down the line of all_ the wellwishers there at Regis University. We got to a young man in a
United States Army uniform ~nd.he broke info t~is elaborate
conversation with the Pope in Po],ish . . And I. thought to· myself,
we could have had a.·. Ha.itian American speaking to. the Pope in·
Creole;. we coul~ have ~poken to t~e Pope i~ Spariish .and ~hinese
and Japanese, in any number of languages .in the world ... This. is
the only country iri the world where you can say. that.·
. .
.
When we turned back the .dictators and restored the dulyelected leaders· in Haiti; Amer:ica was the only country in the
world where we were able to send 200 .United States citizen
soldiers to Haiti who spoke th~ n~tive language, Creole. But we
are united by this almost mystical love of our country and its
history and what it means.
Nonetheless, w~ know that in every. generation there ~ill be
few who stand out, who are call~d upon to do things· of such
selfless heroism that thei~ patriotism shines above all the
others.
a
Twice since I have been President, I have bestowed the
Medal· of Honor; first, very sadly, to Master Sergeant Gary
Gordo~ and Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart posthumously~
Two men who bravely lost their lives in Somalia trying to save
the lives of their fellow soldiers.
�3
Then, this year, because.so much time had passed, a much
happier occasion -- 50 yeari after the fact, we recogniz~d seven
African American heroes of World War II who were prepared to
sacrifice everything for our freedom, even though they didn't
have full freedom when the~ came ba~k home. That 0as. a
wonderful day. One painful, one wonderful -- I will neve~
forget either one, because both of them were 'examples of the
truly extraordinary heroism which all of you who wear this medal
have de~oristrated iri your service. ·,
When the battle was darkest, when .the fortunes of war often
favored an unforgiving enemy, somehow those of· you who won the
Medal of Honor and who earned the Medal of Honor found the
strength, the will to fight more valiantly and turn the tidei to
save the lives of your comrades, to save the day for. America.
Your preiident spoke a moment ago about the event 0e
commemorated. at Little Rock Central High School. 'Forty years
ago, something happened here that none of us who are native to
this state are especially proud of. Our former Governor,
Governor McMath, who·also was a major general ,tn the Marine
Corps, tried to stop ·it. And I' 11 always· be grateful to him.
But in the end, those children were.n'ot denied admission to our
high school because the law ·Of the 1·and said we were all created
equal. A federal cdurt issued an order to carry out the law,
and the President of the United States and the Attorney Gen~ral
of the United States and the lOlst Airborne Division of the·
United States Army did exactly that, and they stood up for the
Constitution. They were heroes· on th~t day as well.
And somehow I think it's fitting that you are here on this
day and we ~an celebrate your heroism and you can particip~te 'in
a 'moment of unique citizen heroism in the history of America.
Think what it was· like· for those nine ·kids to' show up and fac~ a
jeering mob, armed-only with their notebooks and their school
books. Think what it was like for their parents to send them
into the stor~ not knowing whethsr they would come home.
But if you look at the whole history of America, and if you .
look at the whole history of our military Services, we see an
unbroken chain in the continuing struggle to m~ke our historic
commitment to freedom and .equalitymore real in each succeeding
generation.
Every American knows about our military's vital role in
protecting our national interest and our values around the
world.' But the Armed Forces also has reflected and protected
�our yalues here at home. Our'military promotes equality by
rewarding merit.without regard to.race or gender, and sets an
example .for every American and for every American institution
where two or more people work. together ..
And as I ·said,· you can!").ot. talk to any person who was alive
and well in Little Rock 40 years ago who doesn't remember that
it was the Army paratroopers who ultimately stood as a bulwark .
of protection for those,nine lit~le children, who were there for
them because their President ordered them to stand up for the
law of the land here at home.
So I hope that you will always remember, throughout all
your 6onvention~ and all'your meetings, that you happ~ned to
come to Little Rock. on a special day for America and a special
day fOr America IS military 1. a Special example Of perSOnal
patriotism and bravery by civilians, and that all.of us -- all
of us -~.are .Profoundly grateful that you're· here; for your
valor a~d your sacrifice~. for being theie when your country
needed you the most.
Thank you for what Y9U hav~ done, and thank you, too, for
what ·you continue to do as living examples of everything we love
most about ·America. God bless. you.
(Applause.)
END
8:53 P.M. CDT·.
�PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON .
REMARKS BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
SEPTEMBER 25, 1997
Acknowledgments: Secretary Gober et al.
Thank you, Secretary Gober, for those very kind remarks.. You are obviously a
Ladies
vet~
andgentlem~t i;;;re~h~~;;-1JFH:e to address the membership of what many have
described as the most exclusive club icy America-- the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. I
(..
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G~€l~est admiratio
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or the recipients of the Medal of Honor; and I tM\ ~ ey yo"~
.
.
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of valor and heroism. It has been a privilege for me to personally know me~
Lloyd Burke, Clarence Craft, and Nathan Gordon- Arkansans ~went above and·beyond the
call of duty, for the sake of their fellow soldiers. )AA}en I :keftf'"'the stories ;r-Jhc;it deeds on th'5
.Held of battle, it is hnpossiblefl:ot to ee over ~helm~e magnitttde o~eir courage and
�~~ '"'Jw\.lb 0v~ ~ ~ I1)WYJ • w~ ~h.- bAJL
~ ~rh.-~4 -- - "vf ·
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ut in every generation,
a unique few whose selfless devotion to their
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,. country xceeds all measure, changM{g the course of events, andtimtt1:4;r the course of history
(
~1. Americans will always give thanks to you for your sacrifices and incredible acts of
heroism. I only wish there was some way for us to also thank those who received the Medal of.
Freedom posthumously. But I like to think they knew, in their final act of bravery, just how
grateful their nation would be. And we are.
Let me just add a personal note after today's events here in Little Rock. We all know about the
military's vital role in protectin&r!~ ~broad. That has been 04r goal in each of the major
conflicts this century; trying ~~rs the rights and liberties we Americans take for
granted. It was for these lofty goals that all of you demonstrated ·such courage, and for which
some of your brothers-in-arms gave their_l_iv_e_s_.---.....
'4~b.,41~~
But the armed forces also help to protect emocracy at home. Our integrated military promotes
equality by rewarding merit with no regard to race or gender. It truly reflects the best and the
bravest of our democratic people And as all of you know, here in Little Rock forty years ago,
. the Army stood as the final bulwark of freedom for nine young Americans trying to attend
Central High School. One of the proudest days of my Presidency was the day we were able to
award the Medal ofFreedom to a select group of African-American veterans of World War Two.
They too are exceptional Americans. ·
· The Congressional Medal of Honor is a symbol of the highest we can ask for in valor and
sacrifice.Jt-i'i', ia faet, mme than We can 6for, since so few p~this kind of
extffwtdiruuy courag@. But a!l ofyoR etsf)la,'ed tbi:!l
needed you mos ""W'lth no
l1es~,~u showed your true colors.
know the men. behind the Medal-+his
_
exceptio~al-crmrlity vlen your country
al,lgw~g ~8-t:o shaFe4iu¥sRi~g
I am deeply honored to
has been a big day-fel'"tB8; and I am grateful to yeu fur
mitb. yo1~ Thank you not only for what you have done in the
past, but what you continue to do as living exampl~s of everything we cherish about America.
God bless you, and God bless America:
�· DRAFT ·.
PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON·
REMARKS BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY .
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
SEPTEMBER 25, 1997
Acknowledgments: Secretary Gober, Secretary and Mrs. Slater
.
.
Thank you, Secretary Gober, for those very kind _remarks. You are obviously a veteran ... of
many speeches.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored t9 address the membership of what many have described as
the m~st exclusive club in Alnerica --the Congressional Medal of Honor Society .. I share the
admiration ·of every American for the recipients of the Medal of Honor, and foryour remarkable
.
.
.
.
acts of valor and heroism. It has been a privilege for me to personally know men who are with
us toii.ight, like Nick Bacon, Scooter _Burke, Clarence Craft, and Nathan Gordon. These
Arkansans went above and beyond the call·of duty, for the sake of their fellow soldiers. Their
courage and resolve have broug}:l.t honor to our state and country.
I have always been impressed by the special voluntary quality of American patriotism. Our
nation of immigrants is blessed with extraordinary acts ofdevotion every day. But in every
generation, a unique few whose selfless devotion to their country exceeds all measure, changes
the course of events, and even the course of history. Some .of these individuals are in this room.
When the battle was darkest, when the fortunes of war favored an unforgiving enemy, you found
. the will to fight even more valiantly and -- against all odds -- to turn t~e tide. You saved the
.
'
lives of many of your corilrades, and you saved the day for America.
Americans will always give thanks to you for your sacrifices and heroism. I only wish there was
some way for us to also thank those who received the Medal of Freedom posthumously. But I
�like to think they knew, in their final act ofbravery, just how grateful their nat~on would be. And
we are.
In this room, we can see the strength of America's diversity. When I look across this audience, I
see people of all ages, from different backgrounds of race, class and ethnicity. And let me j1,1st
add a personal note after today's events her.e in Little Rock. We all know about the military's .
vital role in protecting democracy abroad. That has been our goal in each of the major conflicts
this century; trying to defend for others the rights and liberties we Americans take for granted. It
was for these lofty goals that all of you demonstrated such courage, and for which some of your
brothers-in.:arms gave their lives.
But the aimed forces also help to protect and strengthen democracy at home. Our integrated
military promotes equality by rewarding merit with no regard to race or gender. It truly reflects
the best and the bravest of our democratic people. One of the proudest days of my Presidency
was the day last January we were able to award the Medal of Freedom to seven AfricanAll,lerican veterans
ofW~rld War Two, six ofwhoni received the award posthumously. They too
are exceptional Americans. And as all of you know, here in Little Rock forty years ago, the
Army stood as the final bulwark of freedom for nine young Americans trying to attend Central
High School.
The Congressional Medal of Honor is a symbol of the highest we can ask for in valor and
sacrifice .. When your country needed you most, you gave the most anyone could ask for -- and
. ~ore. You showed your true colors. I am deeply honored to know the men behind the Medal.
Thank you not only for what you have done in the past, but what you continue to do as living
examples of everything we cherish about America. God b.less you, and God bless America.·
�The .President's first meeting with MacArthur, a courtesy c~ll on
government, then in p~wer, was.strong and popular. The State Department man said 'that the Diem government was on the verge_ of .
the 'general" at his apartment ·in_the Waldorf Astoria shortly after the
.Bayc of Pigs disaster, \!Vas an agreeable surprise to kennedy. Like
collapse. The,P~esident said, "Were yo~-two gentlemen in the sa!Jl~
country?" · . · · . .
· . .
·
·.
·.
.
most. Navy veterans of· the Pacific war, the Pi:esident had. always.
assumed that MacArthur was a· stuffy and pompous _egocentric. InIronieally, it'was President Ke~nedy's firm and succesSful stand
against Khrushchev. during the. Cuban:. missile qisis that helped .to ·
stead, the President, told us afterward, MacArthur turned c;mt to be
brealt the allianc~ between Russia and China, increased the threat
.. one of the 11)()St hiteresting men ·he 'had ·ever tnet, politically shrewd, :.
· of a Chinese .move: against _South Vietnam, and provoked the first
intelle~tually ·sharp and a gifted conversationalist: .Later the Presi·siZa.ble buildup of. American advisqry .troops in the South Vietdent invited the general to the White Hou~e for lunch and they.
:namese · forces to strengthen · the wavering Diem· government. ·
talked for more than tw() hours, ruining my appointments schedule
Around .this time; late ·in 19.62, . when we were. acceleniting shipfor that day. I .could not drag th.em apart. The President later gave
ments of reinforcements to South Vietnam, Senator Mike Mansfield.
us a rundown of MacArthur's remarks. He was ~xtremely critical of
visited th~-Pre~ident at .Palm Beach, where. the K~nn~y family had·- i
the military advice that. the President was .getting from the Penta·.gathered for- the Christ:mas 'holidays. The Senate majqrity leader,
gon~ blami~g it on the military leadership of the pr~vious ten years
whose opinions the Presigent deeply .r~spected,, ,had just returned
whJch; he said, had advanced, the wrong/ officers~ "You were lucky
·· to have that mistake happen in a· place like"Cuba, where the stra:- ·
from a trip to Southeast Asia, which he had made at t_he President's:
tegic cost was n9t. too great," he· said about' the Bay of 'Pigs, and
·. . :· . . . . · ' .
,.
,
.
request. . .
Mansfield emphatically .advised a. curJ> on. :S~nding more military
urged the President .not· to listen· too ·carefully·· to. advisers who.
favored a military buildup in Vietnam. . .
'
.reinforcements to. South .Vietnam and· th_en
withdrawal of U.S . .
troops from that country's civil war, a_ ~uggestion (hat shocked ,· _ ·
·:The President: would ·alway~· read up on biograptlical materi~l.
tlie President. A 'continued steady ,increase. of Americans h:i South ...
about a Sf!ecild visitor before meeting' him. While he was sitting with ..
Vietnam, the. Senator argued, .wquld lead· to sending. still .more
his brother Bobby a!ld Dave Powers in his office waiting for Mac:forces. 'to'. beef up those that were- there,. and soon the· Americ~ns ·
.Arthur to ·arrive for lunch that day, he· was· reading '·aloud a citation
.·would be dominating the ~ombat in -a civil war that was not our
· for a decoration given ~o the general in World War I: "Dave, how
··
war. Taking over the. military le.adership and the _fighting .in the .
would you like this to be said about you?" the President said, and
.Vietnam ·war; Mansfield warned, would hurt American prestige in·
. quoted froin the citation: " 'On a field where courage was the rule] his courage· was the. dominant; feature.' " Bobby K,ennedy · said shyly · .
· Asiaand 'would not help· the Sout:Q Vietnamese to s~nd on thei~
own .feet,· eithe11. The PreSident was too qisturbed by the Senator's
hi hisquiet voice, "!.would love_to have that said a,bout me." · .
· .. .
. During most of Presi<:lent Ke.nriedy's time hi office, most of 1961 .
un~xpected aigu~ent t<i r~plyto· it.,He said ·me later when we .
and all of 1962, .the. situation in Southeast Asia was overshadowed,
; talked abo1-1tthe discussion, "I. got angry with Mike for disagreeing
by the more urgently dangerous threat. of ·a· nuclear war with Russia·
.. with, our policy so complet~ly, and. I got. angry with myself. because I.
· ·'round myself agr~eing with him_." · ·
·
,
·
over the· crisis in Berlin and then ~ver the missiie crisis in Cuba.
· ·Publicly ·over the next few. months the PresjdenLcontinued to
W~en the President beg~n ~o be able t~ pay more attention to Viet- ..
riam. afte.r the Soviet inissiJes were removed from. Cuba late in 1962; ·
~.tress the ·fleed for bolstering >the South Vietnamese government ·of
. he found hims.elf frustr~ted by 'the copfli~ting, reports fro.m his owh /
Diem,· as .much as he was embarrassed by Diem's terroris_t brother .
· observers in Saigon.· Qne day at ·a National Security, Council meetNhu, but we noticed that privately Kennedy complained that every- "
ing; .he listened to a Marine generl!l and a ·state Department officer
body iri the State_ Department and the Defense Department seemed. ·
· to be. forgetting ·that· our role in Vietnam should· be political rather
who had just returned from South Vietnam on the same plane. _The
Marine ·general ·said that t~e war was going 'fin~ aiJd that, the Diem
than nlil~tary. When S~retary Dean Rusk ··recommended sending
a
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THE WHITE-HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
January 13, 1997
For Immediate Release
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT THE PRESENTATION OF UNITED STATES MEDALS OF HONOR
The East Room
11:12 A.M. ESTTHE PRESIDENT:
Secretary ~~rry, Secretary-Brown, other
members of the administration, General Shalikashvili and the
members of the Joint Chiefs, General Powell, Senator Craig,
Senator Kempthorne, Congressman Miller,. the members of the
families and friends of the Medal recipients, and Mr. Vernon
Baker, I'd like to begin by thanking Shaw University,· its
President, Talbert Shaw~ and all the authors of the Shaw study on
the nomination of outstanding African American soldiers for the
Medal of Honor in ~he United St~tes Army during World War II.
I also .. want. to commend the· Department of the Army officials,
former and present, who commissioned-this study and saw it
through.
Together, your supp6rt and painstaking research ~ade
this day possible. Without it, we w9uld not be able to meet our
obligation as a people to an extraordinary group of soldiers to
whqm we o~e the greatest debt. Because of the har~ work you have
done, history has been made whole today, and our nation is
besto~ing honor on ~hose who have loqg deserved it~
Fifty two years ago on an August day, Harry Truman stood
where I stand now and awarded 28 Medals of Honor to veterans of
World War II in the largest such ceremony ever held.
President
Truman described those Medai recipients as a great cross. section
of.the United States.
These men love peace but are able to
adjust themselves to the necessity of war, he said ..
·I believe Harry Truman .was one of our greatest presidents.
He had not ·a shred-of discrimination.in his bones.
He integrated
the armed for~~s. But that day, something was missing from .hi~
cross section of America. No African American who deserved the
Medal of Honor foi his service in Woild War II received it.
Today·~e fill the gap in that picture and give a group of heroes
who also love peac~ but adapted themselves to.war the tribute
�2
that has al~ays been their ~ue. Now and forever, the truth will
be known about these African Americans who ·gave so much that the
rest of us might be free.
Today we recognize seven men as being among the bravest of
the brave.
Each of them distinguished himself with extraordinary
valor, in the famous words, "at the risk of his life,· above and
beyond the call of duty." In the greatest struggle in human
history they helped to lead fhe forces of freedom to victory.
Their deeds remind us anew of the indomitable power of the human
spirit. And they always will be- remembered by men and women who
cherish liberty.
As recipients of the Medal of Honor, their names join the
roles of America's heroes, along with Sergeant York, Eddie
Rickenbacker, Jimmy_Doolittle, Audie Murphy, General Robert Foley
(phonetic), and Senator Bob Kerrey, and only some.3,400 Americans
in the entire history.pf the United States.
For these men, heroism was a habit. Ruben Rivers of
Oklahoma was awarded ~ Silver Star while fi~hting in France in
·late 1944; A week later he wa~ terribly wo~nded when his tank
hit a mine.
Refusing an order to withdraw, Sergeant .Rivers took
command of another tank. · He radioed in, "I see him. We' 11 fight
him." Arid he kept on fight.lng until his seco~d tank was hit and
he was killed.
Edward Carter, the son of missionaries,_ was crossing an open
field in. Germany when he was wounded five times.
But St~ff
Sergeant Carter continued to advance, .and when. eight of the enemy
tried to capture him, he killed six,., took two prisoner and
brought_them back for interrogation.
In the face of overwhelming
danger, they never wavered.
As he led a task force in France, Lieutenant Charles Thomas
was wounded by intense fire.
While helping others to find cover,
he was wounded again and again and again. .But he refused
evacuation until he had made sure that 6is forces could return
fire effectively.
Wbile scouting a forward position,.Priv~te First Class Willy
James was pinned down for an ho~r.
But he made his way back to
his platoon, planned a counterat:tack and volunteered to lead the
assault, and then was killed going to the- aid of his wounded
platoon leade~.
They ~~re self~~ss:,·
.
.
When Private George Watson's shi~ was attacked by enemy
bombers, over and over and over aga.ln, he helpe.d. others to make
it to life rafts so that they might' live,.until he himse~f was so
exhausted, he was pulled down by the tciw .of the sinking·ship.
�3
When the enemy surged into a town.in Italy and drove out our
forces, Lieutenant John Fox voluriteered.to remain behind in an
_observation force post. He directed defensive artillery- fire,
and eventually he insisted that that artillery fire b~ aimed at
his own position. He said, there .are more of them than there are
of us.
The barrage he so bravely orderedkil1ed him. And when
our forces recov~red the position,. th~~ found. h~s tiddled body
among that of 100 German soldiers.
One of the~e heroes is here tbday.
In an-assault on a
mountain stronghold in Italy, .Lieut~nant Vernon Baker wiped out
three enemy machine gun nests, an observer ~ost .and.a dugout.
I
must say that Mr.. Baker has not quite abandoned doing the
impossible.
I learned before this 'ceremony that he is now 77
years.younq, but last year he ~bt th~ better of a mo~nfain li9n
.that was stalking him.
(Laughter.)
I was also very moved, as
I'm sure many of you were, by the comments quoted in today's
Washington Post,. or last weekend, about Mr. Baker's .creed ·in
life.
He was asked how:he bore up ·under the lack o( respett and
dignity and honor after all·these years. And he said, "Give
respect before you expect it·,· treat pe·ople the way you. want to be
treated, reme:ritber the mission, set the example, keep going."
Those are words for all of us.
When Verhon Baker's commanding ·officer first wrote his award
recommendation, he observed. that Lieutenant Baker, .·"desperately
wanted the men of his company to hold their ground, and w~s
willing to· sacrifice his own::1ife. in an ef.fbrt to _win our
battle." That passage was never forwarded.
Wheri Ruben Rivers
died, no award recomme.ndation wa:;; made for the deeds we remember
today.
It was felt· tha.t the Silver ·star he had. already been
he haq been given already was r~ward eno~gh for a. b~ack man.
But when victory was comp~ete in World War II, our
government made ~ pledge to correct cases in which Medals of
·Honor were deserved but not a:war.deq~ . Today, America honors· that
pledge.
On behalf of the United States. Congress, I award the.
Medal of Honor, our nation's highest military award, to Vernon
Baker; Edward Carter, Jr.; John Fox; Willy F. James, Jr.,; Ruben.
Rivers; Cha.rles Thomas; and George Watson.
·
A soldier who receives the Medal of HonO"r usually needs no
further description.
But we must remember something else here
today:
these he~oes distinguish themselves in another almost
unique way.
In the tradition of African·Americans who' have
fought for our nation as .far back as Bunker. Hill, they were
prepared to sacrifice everything for freedom even though
freedom's fullness was denied to them.
�~
,
I
We remember Edward Carter, who unsuccessfully requested
combat duty for three years, because until. 1944 .African Americans
were not allowed into action. When his request was finally
granted it was at the cost of his s~rgeant's stripes, because an
African American ·was not allowed to.command white troops. ·Now
those injustices are past.
Our military is among the most·integiated institutions in
America, a beacon to society, and among the most ·successful, for
America is ·stronger than ·~ver.
In the service of General ·Colin
'Powell, General.Benjamin Davis, General Chappie ~ames (phobetic)
and countless other outstanding African Americans, we see the
enormous strength that America's· diversity has given us.
The men
we honor here today help to make their historic progress
possible.
They were denied their nation's highest hon6r, but
their deeds.could not be denied, ~nd they ~leared the way to~
better world.
Today, America is profoundly thankful for the patriot·ism ahd
the nobility of these men, and for the example they set, which
helped us to find the way to become a more just, moie free
nation.
They helped America to become more worthy of them and
more true to its ideals.
To the families of ·the recipients who are gone, may you tak~.
comfort in the honor that has flnally been done to your loved
ones. Arid may God embrace their .souls. And God bless you,
Verrion.Baker, and God bless America.
.
Commander, post the orders.
(Th~
k
orders are posted.)
* *
THE' PRESIDENT:
I think.it might 'be an appropriate.way to
<::lose to. s·ay that wheri I gave Mr., Watson's medal to· the ·Sergeant
Major bf the Army, h~ looked at it and smiled and.he said, "This
, . is indicative of the type of soldiers we have· today,~· a group of
people in our military, m.en and .women, that· really do reflect the
vast and rich texture of our. nation.
· '·'
As we adjourn, I would like to· .PaY' ·special respect to the
other African Americans who are here who are now or have bee,n in
uniform, to the other Medal of· Honor winners who are here; and to ·
all of you who have worked so ~hat this ·day might become a.
reality. And to all of you again, I say your nation thanks you
and God bless you.
Thank you... (Applause.)
END
11:47 A.M. EST
�THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press
Secr~tary
For Immediate Release
September 9, 1996
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT WHITE HOUSE MEDAL OF FREEQOM AWARDS
CEREMONY
The East Room
11 : 16 A. M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT:
LadieS· and gentlem~n~ welcome tq ~he White
House .. It's a great .pleasure for Hillary and for me to wel.come
all of you here, but especially our ~istinguished honorees and
their families; members of Congress who are here --Senator Lugar,
Congresswoman Collins, Congressman Conyers, C6ngress~an Dell0ms;
Se~retary Christopher, Secretary Shalala and Secretary Cisneros.
·We're here to award the highest hortor our nation can bestow
on a citizen, the Pr~sidential Med~l·of Freedom.
Presid~rrt Harry
Truman est~blished these awards as ~ tribute to those who helped
to'win the fight f6r ·democracy in World War· II. P~esident.Kennedy
elevated the medals to honor contributions.by citizens to all
'
.
aspects of American l;i.fe.
·
.
.·
.
Although we confer these medals today on worthy individuals,
we recognize even ~ore than.individual achievement. We honor the
American values that unite us as a people -- opportunity arid
responsibility; a community in which all have a pa'rt;
determination, dedication and loy~lty; faith, courage and
country. We are honoring renewed faith in the freedom that has
brought this nation this far' . and th.e freedom that will sustain
us into the next century.
William Faulkner once said that we must be free· not because
we claim freedom, but becaus$ we p~~ctice it.
The 11 men and
women we honor today have raised the practice of freedom to new
heights.
I would like· to introduce each of them to you now.
�-.
As the Archbishop of Chic~go, Joseph Cardinal ·Bernadin, is
one of our natibn's most beloved men and one of Catholicism's
great leaders~ When others have pulled people apart, Cardinal
Bernadin has sought common ground.
In a time of transition in
his Church, his community, his.nation and the world, he has held
fast to his-mission to bring out the best in humanity and to
bring peopt~ together.
Throughout his career, he has fought tirelessly against
social injustice, poverty and ignorance. Without question, he is
both a remarkable man of God and a man of the people.
.
.
Fifteen years ago, James Brady was at President Reagan's
side when a would-be assassin ne~rly kill~d the~ both with a
h~ndgun.he had pbrchased at a gun shop . . But Jim Brady is living
proof that courage and determiriation w~re stronger than the
assassin's bullet.
Since that day, Jim and his wonderful wife,
Sarah, who is with us today, have waged a moral and political
battle to save lives and to keep handguns out of the hands of
criminals.. His life· is a testament to bravery and every American
_family and every American child is safer-because of it.
I don't think it's an exaggeration to say·that Millard
Fuller has literally revolutionized the concept of philanthropy.
Tweftty years ago he founded Habitat For Humanity to provide
decent homes for disadvantaged p~ople.
To fund this plan he
didn't ·ask people.for· their money; instead, he asked for the
sweat of their brows.
In r~turn he gave them something no tax
deduction ever could -- tangible proof that they had improved
someone else's life with a home.
Hillary, the Vice President, Tipper and I, like so many
Americans, have .all swung hammers for Habitat For Humanity, and I
was honored to sign_a law.passed earlier.this.year t¢ provide the
fir~t federal support for land and infrastructure for Habitat.
It's an interesting testament to Millard, to his wife, Linda, to
all the wonderful beople at Habitat that the three· people who
~~stified in fa~or of the law were Millard Fuller, Henry Cisneros
and Newt Gingrich.
They did a.good job at bringing America
together, and we are all the beneficiaries of Millard Fuller's
vision.
Physician, scientist and educator, David Hamburg ha~ devoted
his life to understanding human behavior, preventing violent
conflict and improving the health and well7being, of our children.
At Stanford he did pioneerin~ work in the ·biology of .merital
�illness, and went to Tanzania to rescue four biology students who
had been kidnapped there. He has worked to avoid all kinds of
violent conflict, from nuclear war to ethnic strife~ He has used
his presidency 6f the influential Carnegie Corporation to support
efforts for better parenting, strong families and stronger
childhoods,' focusing especially on early childhood. and
adolescence.
He is a truly 'remarkable man and a genuinely
effective hum~nitarian.
Ten years ago I had the honor of recognizing John.Johnson
for his contributions as a native of our native state, Arkansas.
John rose fro~ poverty inArkansas and Illinois to become one of
the world's greatest pioneers in media, founding the landmark
magazines.Ebony and Jet. He gave African .Americans a voice and a
face, in his words, "a new sense of somebody.-ness,n of who they
were and what they could do, at. a time . when .they ~·e.·re virtually.
invisible in mainstream American culture. A humble man, despite
becoming 'the most influential.AJrican·American publisher in
history, he continues to insptre young African Americans to
succeed against the odds and fo take adV~ntage of· their
opportunities.
Speaking of opportunity, hardly anyone has. ever done more.
personally to give people who didn't have it, opportunity, t~an
.Eugene Lang.
In 1981 he made .a simple pro~ise to pay the college
tuition of every student from his·East Harlem alma mater who
graduated ,from high school and wanted to go to college.
Since
then, his I Have A Dream Foundation has· opened the doors of
college for thousands of youn~people who seize the opportunity
he offered.
He has helped to make the most of their God-given
abilities.
We are all th~ beneficiaries of Eugene Lang's
innovative vision, .and it ·is a great tribute to him that since
1981 .other philanthropists,· many state governments and now, I
hope, our national government, have. joined him in trying to
guarantee th~ dr~a~ of. a colleg~ e~ucation to all ~eople.
He
began it and we are·all in his ~ebt.
Jan Nowak has dedicated his life to the fight for freedom.
In World War II, he.iisked everything to carry vital information
to the allies. After the Nazis' defeat, he saw his native Poland
once again in the grip of oppression and he vowed to break it.
For 25 years he was a dominant voice in Radio Free Europe, the ·
great beacon of hope that brought so many people through the dark
hours· qf communism. He continued to fight until the day he saw
freedom triumph over tyranny.
In.America, h;is commitment to the
·ideal of dempciacy continues t6 inspire bs all, and I pan.tell
you th~t his inspir~tfon is.still fel~ in his native 'Poland where
�,--------------------------------------~--------------------------------------------------------
-.
the_ people wilJ never forget what he did and what he stood for.
(Applause.)
Paz e respecto; peace arid respect.
These are the values
that define the life and work of Aritonia Pantoja. Her efforts to
create educatio~al and e~onomic opportufiiiy for .all Puerto Ricans
have made her: the most respected and beloved· figure in the Puerto
Rican community.
Through a Aspira, the educational program she
helped to found 35 years ago.
She'S still there as young Puerto
Ricans to dre~m and to work to achie~e their dreams, her
dedication· to her people and, ther.efore, her contribution to our
country is unsurpassed.
When R6sa P~rks refused to give up her seat to a white man
on an Aiabama bus 40 years ago, 'she ignited the single most
significant social movement in American history._ When she sat
down on the·bus, she stood.up for the American ideals of equality
.and justice ~nd demanded that the\~est of us do the same.
When
our descendan~s look back in time to trace the fight for freedom,
Rosa Parks will stand among our nation's greatest patriots, the·
legendary figures wh~se courage sust~ined. us and pushed us
forward.
She is, and continues to be, ~·national treasure.
· Ginetia Sagan's name is synonymous with the fight for human
rights around the world.
In Wc:irld.War II, she paid dearly for
her dedication to the cause of freedom.
For m6re than· a year,
she was imprisoned and tortured, but not broken.
Instead, she
devoted her life after the war to s~ving otheis ~rom the ordeal
she had endured.
To her tireless work with Amnesty·International
and her own Aurora Foundation, she has drawn.th'e world's
attention to the plight of prisoners bf consci~nce .and of their
families.
Amnesty International has .created a fund n·amed in her
h~nor· d~sigried to h~lp. stbp torture and ~specially to stop the
persecution of women and their childr~n.
She represents to ail
the triumph of the human spirit over tyranny.
· Morris Udall represents everything a l~wmaker should be. -dedicated to seeking common ground, co:rnriliited to improving the
political process and singularly p6ssessed as no one in my adult
lifetime has been of the one trait no member of Congress should
be without -- an. extraordi,nary sense of humor.
(Laughter.)
- Mo 0as fond of quoting Will Rogers, who once advised us that
in l.ife you ought to get. a few. laughs .arid ,do. the best you can.
He set
Well, he _got a lot of l~ughs and he did b~tter than most.
a ·standard few could match by his passionate commitment to
preserve our national resources and t6 leave our children a safer
�...
environment.
Hts life. is an inspi,ration and more:
His work is a
gift to a:ll Americans and we are especially .grateful that his son
could be with us ·today.
Now it my great honor and privilege to present to each of·
you the Presi~ential ·Medal of .Freedo~ with great respect fOr your
work, your dedication, the example you have set for all your
fellow .Americans.
I as·k now the military aid to read the citations. (The.
medals are presented.)
Ladies and .gentlemen, we're_
going in for a reception now. B~t I just -- I wanted to say one
thing.
Rosa: Parks was delayed in· Detroit- just as many. of th,ese
people were delayed trying to get here~bec~us~ of the ttaffic.
Sq: we will .. have anoth~r .time to gi 've ·her her medal.
We're sorry
she touldri't be h~re. We're delighted eve~yone ·else is h~te. ·
Please come in for the reception.
Thank you.
END
.... ..
·
(Applause. l
11:43 A.M. EDT
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DOCUMENT NO.
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001. notes
Clinton Library
DATE
.SUBJECTrfiTLE
re: Handwritten Notes- Korean War Dedication (partial) (1 page)
n.d.
RESTRICTION
P6/b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
National Security Council
Ted Widmer (Speechwriting)
ONBox Number: 2190
FOLDER TITLE:
Medal of Honor [Society]
2906-0471-F
. 1588
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and his advisors, or between such advisors )a)(S) of the PRAJ
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�'•,,
PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON
REMARKS BEFORE CONGRESSIO:N"AL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
SEPTEMBER 25, 1997
Acknowledgments: Secretary Gober
Thank you, Secretary Gober, for those very kind remarks. You are obviously a veteran
speechmaker.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor for me to address the membership of what many have
described as the most exclusive club in Americ8he Congressional Medal of Honor Society. I.
have the deepest admiration for the recipients of the Medal of Honor, and I am awed by your acts
of valor and heroisri)t has been a privilege for me to personally know men like Nick Bacon,
Lloyd Burke, Clarence Craft, and Nathan Gordon--Arkansans who went above and beyond the
call of duty, for the sake of their fellow soldiers. When I hear the stories of their deeds on the
field of battle, it is impossible not to .be overwhelmed by the magnitude of their courage and
resolve. They have brought honor to our state and our country.
But stories of honor and extraordinary courage are nothing new to the men and women in this
room. When I look across this group, I see men of all ages, from all \Yalks of life. Yet they share
one thing in common. Wheh the tide of battle was at its worst, favoring an unforgiving enemy,
they summoned the wherewithal to fight even more valiantly' and against all odds, to tum the
tide. In so doing, they saved the day for America, and they saved the lives of many oftheir
comrades.
I have always been impressed by the special voluntary quality of American patriotism. But in
'
every generation, there are a unique few whose selfless devotion to their country exceeds all
measure, changing the course of events, and ultimately the course of history as well. Americans
will always give thanks to you for your sacrifices and incredible acts of heroism. I only wish
�there was some way for us to also thank those who received the Medal of Freedom
posthumously. But I like to think they knew, in their final act of bravery, just how grateful their
nation would be. And we are.
Let me just add a personal note after today's events here in Little Rock. We all know about the
military's vital role in protecting democracy abroad. That has been our goal in each of the major
conflicts this century, trying to extend to others the rights and liberties ·that we Americans take
. for granted. It was for these lofty goals that all of you demonstrated such courage, and for which
some of your brothers-in-arms gave their lives,
But the armed forces also help to promote democracy at home. Our integrate"d military promotes
equality by rewarding merit with no regard to race or gender. It truly reflects the best and the
. bravest of our democratic people. And as all of you know, here in Little Rock forty years ago,
the Army stood as the final bulwark of freedom for nine young Americans trying to attend
Central High School. One of the proudest days of my Presidency was the day we were able to
awar~
the Medal of Freedom to a select group of African-:-American veterans of World War Two.
They too are exceptional Americans.
The Congressional Medal of Honor is a symbol of the highest we can ask for in valor and
sacrifice. It is, in fact, more than we can ask for, since so few people ·have this kind of .
.
extraordinary courage. But all of you displayed this exceptional quality when your country
needed you most. With no hesitation, you showed your true colors. I am deeply honored to
know the men behind the Medal. This has been a big qay for me, and lam grateful to you for
allowing me to share this evening with you. Thank you not only for what you have done in the
past, but what you continue to do as living examples of everything we cherish about America.
God bless you; and God bless America .
...
�DRAFT
PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON
REMARKS BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
SEPTEMBER 25, 1997
Acknowledgments: Secretary Gober et al.
. Thank you, Secretary Gober, for those very kind remarks.
'f ou are obviously a veteran
speechmaker.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is .a great honor for me to address the membership of what many have
described as the inost exclusive club in America--: th~ Congressional-Medal of Honor Society. I
have the deepest admiration for the recipi~nts of the Medal of Honor, and I' am awed by your acts
of valor and heroism. It has be.en a privilege for me to personally know men like Nick Bacon,
Lloyd Burke, Clarence Craft, and Nathan Gordon -- Arkansans who went above and beyond the
.
.
call of duty, for the sake of their fellow soldiers. When I hear the stories of their deeds on the.
field of battle, it is.impossible not to be overwhelmed by the magnitude oftheir courage and
resolve. They have brought honor to our state and country.
But stories of honor and extraordinary courage are nothing new to the men and women in this
room.
Wh~n
I look across this group, I see men of all ages, from all walks of life. Yet they share
one thing in common. When the battle was darkest, when the fortunes of war favored an
unforgiving eriemy, they summoned the wherewithal to fight even more valiantly, and against all
odds, to tum the tide. In so doing, they saved the day for America, and they saved the lives of
many of their comrades.
I have always been impressed by the special voluntary quality of American patriotism. Our
nation of immigrants is blessed with extraordinary acts of devotion every day, from all types <?f
�Americans. But in every generation, there are a unique few whose selfless devotion to their
country exceeds all measure, changing,the course of~vents, and ultimately the course ofhistory
as well. Americans will always give thanks to you for your sacrifices and incredible acts of
heroism. I only wish there was some way for us to also thank those who received the Medal of ·
Freedom posthumously. But I like to think they knew, in their final act of bravery, just.how
grateful their nation would be. And we are.
Let me just add a personal note after today' s events here in Little Rock. We all know about the
military's vital role in protecting democracy abroad. That has been our goal in each of the major
conflicts this century; trying to extend to others the rights and liberties we Americans take for
granted. It was for these lofty goals that all of you demonstrated such courage, and for which
some of your brothers-in-arms gave their lives.
But the armed forces also help to promote democracy at home. Our integrated military promotes
equality by rewarding merit with no regard to race or gender. It truly reflects the best and the
bravest of our democratic people. And as all of you know, here in Little Rock forty years ago,
the Army stood as the final bulwark offreedom for nine young Americans trying to attend·
Central High School. One of the proudest days of my Presidency was the day we were able to
award the Medal ofFreedom to a select group ofAfrican-American veterans of World War Two.
They too are exceptional Americans.
The Congressional Medal·ofHonor is a·symbol of the highest we can ask for in valor and
sacrifice. It is, in fact, more than we can ask for, since so few people have this kind of
extraordinary courage. But all of you displayed this exceptional quality when your country
needed you most. With no hesitation, you showed your true colors. I am deeply honored to
know the men behind the Medal. This has been a.big day for me, and I am grateful to you for
allowing me to share this evening with you. Thank you not only for what you have done in the
past, but what you continue to do as living examples of everything we cherish about America.
God bless you,. and God bless America.
�Gray, Wendy E.
From:
Sent:
Gray, Wendy E.
·Tuesday, September 23, 1997 5:~1 PM
@PLANNING - strat Plan & Comm
·
Congressional Meqal.of.Honoririfo from Bob Jones [UNCLASSIFIED]
To:
Subject:
~
,168 living recipients
· 1OS at the convention
)
4 living African American recipients
1 at the convention: Clarence Sasser w/ the Office of Veterans Affairs in Texas
4 Arkansas recipients
4 attending: Nick Bacon received his for Vietnam, Scooter Burke received his for Korea,
· Clarance Craft for World War II and Nathan Gordon for World War II (former Lt.
Governor of Arkansas)
··
Current president: Paul Bucha
Rodney Slater (Secretary of Transportation) and wife Cassandra
�--
--:--.
,.
.
/
.
. .
"' Jon· P. Jennings
..........
'
Record Type:
To:
Record .
Wendy E. Gray/NSC/EOP ·
cc:
Subject: Medal of Honor Dinner
•'
..
·
I was advised by' Laura Capps that I am supposE;! to·.let you know who from the Cabinet wili be in
attendance for the reception. As of riow; Herschei.Gober and Secretary and Mrs. Slater will be there. If
you have any questions, ·pleasecall. Thank~
Jon
·'
(
..
'.
•'.'
•'
�~~
Little Rock. Arkansas
Thursday. September 25. 1997
'\".'
l
7:30pm8:30 pm
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY
RECEPTION
ROOMTBD
Aerospace Education Center ·
Remarks: tbd
Staff Contact: Maria Echaveste, Bob Jones
Event Coordinator: Laura Graham
OPEN PRESS.
Note: There will be approximately 700 gues~s, including 100
Medal of Honor recipients in attendance.
Off stage announcement of the President~ Secretary Hershal
Gober and Paul Bucha, President, Congressional. Medal of ··
.Honor Society, to "Ruffles and Flourishes, and "Hail to the
Chief."
Paul Bucha makes brief remarks and introduces Secretary
Gober.
Secretary Gober makes brief remarks and introduces the
President.
The President makes remarks, works a ropeline and
departs.
8:40pm.
THE PRESIDENT departs the Aerospace Education Center via
motorcade en route the Private Residence
[drive time: 15 minutes]
.1~----------------M_o_r_o_R_c_ADE_~sr ~~
_____ __________
8:55pm
THE PRESIDENT arrives the Private Residence
DOWNFORTHEEVENING
BC AND HRC RON
PRIVATE RESIDENCE
LITTLE ROCK, A.R.
September 18, 1997 (I 2:54pm)
�09/23/97
12:52
@001
OFC OF SEGRETARY
'ft202, 273 7521
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Department of Veterans Affilirs
Washington, DC .20420
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Office. of Public Affairs
Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary.
Fax· C:over· Sheet··
. DATE:
Cf/1-3'
PHONE:
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FAX:
PHONE: . (202) '273-571 0
FAX: · .
Number
Message.
o~
. (202)
273-:5719. ·
pages including.· cover sheet: _ __
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�09/23/97
12:53
"5"202 273 7521
OFC OF SECRETARY
Suggested Remarks for President Clinton
Congressional Medal of Honor Society' Convention
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·Little Rock, Arkansas
.September 2S, 1997
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. Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great hon~r for me to address the membership_.
of what many have described as the most exclusive dub in America- the .·
Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
· I have· the deepest adiDiration for the··~en who have received the :rvJ;eda_l of·
Honor, and am awed and inspired by thei~ individual deeds of heroism. It has
been a great privilege for
.to have personally known men.' iike Nick Bacon,
. Lloyd Burke, Clarence. C~aft, and Nathan Gordon.~- Arkansans,who went above .
and beyond the call of duty, for the sake :of their fellow soldiers. · When o.n¢ ·reads
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the stories of their deeds OJ} the battlefield, it is impossible n~t tO be OVerwhelmed .
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by the magnitude of their ·courage and resolve. Yet each story is magnified a
hundredfold in this roomin the ~embership ofthe Congressional Medalof
·Honor Society.
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me
When I look across this group, isee m~n of all ages, from all across our
~ountry, and from all walks of life..Yet, they shar~ one thing in ~ammon-- when
the tide of battle was at· its worst, they sumrr{ofie.d the wherewithal and the
ini~~.ative to ·~ct to t:Jrn that tide and, in so doing,· saved not only the d'ay,.but the
liyes .of many. of their comrades: I have always ·been· impressed by the special
nature and the depthof Americ~m patriotism; and in ever genera,.tion, there are .
.tl)at few, that special few, who· reach above and beyond, and change the. course of .
events. Those deeds not only changed th~. outcome, on the pattl~field, they will
serve~~sinspiration for geilerations of. Ameiica.i1s yet to come: Americans will
always give thanks for you( and for all who received the Medal posthumou.sly~
· · . andfor.your sacrifiCes and fncredible acts of selfless courage. ·
The Congressional· Medal of Hmi.or 1s symb~lic of th~ highest form of.
bravery and sacrifice~ · r'·am deeply honored to know the men behlnd the MedaL
Thank you all for allowing me to share this evening with you ... thank you .not
only for what you have done in the past, butfor your continuing service to _
America. May God.pless you .. : and God bless America. ·
r
�09/23/97
12:53
OFC. OF.· SECRETARY
141 003
· Prepared. Rema~ks . .
The Hon. Hershel Gober . .
· . . Secll'etary.;.DesH;~nat'e · .
· Dep~rtment of Veter~ns Affairs .
Introduction of the President .
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. . before th·e ·
·· ·. · . .
. Congressional Meda~. ~f ·Honor Society. . .
. Little Rock, AR
.
September 25~ 1997
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�.09/23/97.
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12:53
141 004
OFC OF SECRETARY
ft202 273 7521.
,
President C.lintonJ
President Bucha; ··
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Distinguished mein~ers of the Congressional Medal of
·Honor ~ociety;
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Honored guests, ladies and gentlemen:
I always enjoy spending time with .111Y friends in the Society,.
but I'm particularly delighted to be with ,you today. ·
The special' pleasure I feel. is, in part, vicarious -- ·because 1· .
know the person I'm about to introduce ha~. such deep and
.special feeling for. this organization, and you .who comprise it.
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. In .introducin·g. him, 'it occurred~to me that there is, in one
a bit of an irony. here. .
·
~ense,
You see~ this is ~ man. who believes in inclusion. His life's
.. _work is. helping every citizen ·gain the opportu'l'lity that defines the
promise of America.
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Of course, that work is _going on.-areas like improving
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e~ucatio11, .and in creating even more jobs through strengthen-Ing
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·America'_s competitiv:eness· in world.··
well
as social -- progress
. · But, judging by tt)e economic .:~ as
we~ve already made, I'd say ttlis "prescription." of inclusion has
bee'n "goo~. medicine." . · ·
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· Vet I· happen to know this champion of inclusion does
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· appreciate one kind of exclusivity, and he particularly admires
.·one very exclusive org~nization. . . . .
. l'{fl.not taking. about the kind-otexclusivity born.of· ·
aristocratic titles, ..or high s·ociety; he doesn't have ·much use for
that. · ·
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And he's actively fought against exclusivity· based on race or·
. gender.·._ ·
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�09/23/97
12:54
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OFC OF SECRETARY
'6'202 273 7521
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The kind of exch.isivity I'm talking about has to do with
service and· patriotism ...
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••• th~. kind reflected in our' nation's veterans organizations,
·by virtue of the fact that all of their members have served and
sacrificed for the nation.
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Over the last four and a· half y~ars, .our Co~mander in· Chief
has shown respect and appreciation for. those exclusive qualities, ·
. in both word· and .. deed -- . . . . . . ·
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-- Through giving service organizations a ·seat at the table in
pQiicy development; and through supporting VA budgets when
other Federal programs· were being reduced.
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And yes, he greatly admires one organization that is· very
exe.lusive.
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Our Commander and Chief knows that the Congressional ·
Medal of Honor Society is truly in a cla~s by itself --' in .terms of
service and sacrifice~
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An organization hi which membership is not· a matter of
opening. a checkbook, to withdraw from the balance;
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But of opening hearts and ·minds, to· call on immeasurable
qualities of courage· and fortitude.
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And so, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to
introduce:
• A man who wants the best for all Americans;·.
• A man who has worked hard to give .the be.st to America's
veterans;
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AND_.:.
• A man who is the very best fan .of the Congressional Medal of
Honor Society - the President
the United ·states. .
·. · ·. .
of
3
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Speechwriting Office - Edward Widmer
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
National Security Council
Speechwriting Office
Edward Widmer
Description
An account of the resource
<p>Edward Widmer served as President Clinton’s chief foreign policy speechwriter from 1997-2000. As an NSC speechwriter Widmer worked on remarks for a wide variety of topics dealing with countries such as China, Korea, Argentina, Ghana, Canada, the Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Russia, and Venezuela. Widmer wrote speeches concerning the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), sanctions, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the United Nations, Islam, and the European Union.</p>
<p>This collection consists of speech drafts, memoranda, handwritten notes, newspaper articles, publications, schedules, reports, and papers. Many of the speech drafts are marked up with extensive critical comments and suggested revisions. Widmer’s handwritten notes can be found on scraps of paper, napkins, and the back of other records.</p>
<p>This collection was made available through a <a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/freedom-of-information-act-requests">Freedom of Information Act</a> request.</p>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1997-2000
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36419" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="http://catalog.archives.gov/id/7585793" target="_blank">National Archives Collection Description</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2006-0471-F
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
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Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Format
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Adobe Acrobat Document
Extent
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250 folders in 14 boxes
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
Paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Medal of Honor [Society]
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
National Security Council
Speechwriting Office
Edward (Ted) Widmer
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2006-0471-F
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Box 9
<a href="http://clintonlibrary.gov/assets/Documents/Finding-Aids/2006/2006-0471-F.pdf" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="http://catalog.archives.gov/id/7585793" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Adobe Acrobat Document
Publisher
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Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Medium
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Reproduction-Reference
Date Created
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10/16/2014
Source
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42-t-7585793-2006471f-009-011-2014
7585793