[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 171 (Tuesday, November 6, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S13985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed 
in the Record an excerpt from the remarks by President George W. Bush 
at the Presidential Medal of Freedom presentation at the White House on 
November 5, 2007, honoring Harper Lee of Monroeville, AL.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record.
  Good morning. Laura and I are thrilled to welcome you to the White 
House. We welcome the members of Congress, the members of the Cabinet, 
and other distinguished guests. It's an honor to be with the Medal of 
Freedom recipients, as well as their family members and friends. We're 
sure glad you're here.
  The Medal of Freedom is the highest civil honor that a President can 
bestow. By an executive order of John F. Kennedy, the medal is designed 
to recognize great contributions to national security, the cause of 
peace and freedom, science, the arts, literature, and many other 
fields. The eight men and women came to this distinction by very 
different paths. Each of them, by effort and by character, has earned 
the respect of the American people, and holds a unique place in the 
story of our time.
  The story of an old order, and the glimmers of humanity that would 
one day overtake it, was unforgettably told in a book by Miss Harper 
Lee. Soon after its publication a reviewer said this: ``A hundred 
pounds of sermons on tolerance, or an equal measure of invective 
deploring the lack of it, will weigh far less in the scale of 
enlightenment than a mere 18 ounces of a new fiction bearing the title 
To Kill a Mockingbird.''
  Given her legendary stature as a novelist, you may be surprised to 
learn that Harper Lee, early in her career, was an airline reservation 
clerk. Fortunately for all of us, she didn't stick to writing 
itineraries. Her beautiful book, with its grateful prose and memorable 
characters, became one of the biggest-selling novels of the 20th 
century.
  Forty-six years after winning the Pulitzer Prize, To Kill a 
Mockingbird still touches and inspires every reader. We're moved by the 
story of a man falsely accused--with old prejudice massed against him, 
and an old sense of honor that rises to his defense. We learn that 
courage can be a solitary business. As the lawyer Atticus Finch tells 
his daughter, ``before I can live with other folks I've got to live 
with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a 
person's conscience.''
  Years after To Kill a Mockingbird was put to film, the character of 
Atticus Finch was voted the greatest movie hero of all time. It won 
Gregory Peck the Oscar. He was said to believe the role ``brought him 
closest to being the kind of man he aspired to be.'' The great actor 
counted Harper Lee among his good friends, and we're so pleased that 
Gregory Peck's wife, Veronique, is with us today. Thank you for coming.
  One reason To Kill a Mockingbird succeeded is the wise and kind heart 
of the author, which comes through on every page. This daughter of 
Monroeville, Alabama had something to say about honor, and tolerance, 
and, most of all, love--and it still resonates. Last year Harper Lee 
received an honorary doctorate at Notre Dame. As the degree was 
presented, the graduating class rose as one, held up copies of her 
book, and cheered for the author they love.
  To Kill a Mockingbird has influenced the character of our country for 
the better. It's been a gift to the entire world. As a model of good 
writing and humane sensibility, this book will be read and studied 
forever. And so all of us are filled with admiration for a great 
American and a lovely lady named Harper Lee.
  Thank you all for coming. I hope you've enjoyed this ceremony as much 
as I have. May God bless you all. Thank you.

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