[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 200 (Wednesday, December 19, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7910-S7911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO JOHN J. SULLIVAN
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, earlier this month, Marcelle and I, with
Marcelle's brother, Claude Pomerleau, attended the Kennedy Center
Honors Dinner at the State Department. We were moved by Deputy
Secretary of State John J. Sullivan's remarks, which touched on his
deep admiration for foreign service and his great appreciation of
American arts and culture. I wanted to share with the Senate his
remarks, which were filled with historical references and bits of
humor.
I ask unanimous consent that Deputy Secretary of State Sullivan's
remarks be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Center Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan
Remarks at the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors
December 2, 2018, Washington, D.C.
DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: Good evening. It's an honor for
my wife, Grace Rodriguez, and me to welcome you to the
Department of State. Secretary Pompeo asked that I extend his
sincere regrets he's unable to be with us tonight because of
his travel to Buenos Aires for the G20 summit. It's a real
privilege to be asked to stand in for the Secretary of State
at a very special event like this. Deputy secretaries are
usually delegated humbler duties.
I'd like to begin by thanking Kennedy Center Chairman David
Rubenstein, Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter, Event
Chair Suzanne Niedland for their service and leadership. And
thanks to all of you in attendance tonight for coming to
honor the esteemed recipients of this year's Kennedy Center
Honor.
Gathered as we are in the Department of State, I must note
with a heavy heart the passing last night in Texas of
President George H.W. Bush, my former boss many years ago.
President Bush cherished this place and this institution. He
was, of course, the U.S. permanent representative in the
United Nations in the early 1970s, and later our first
representative to the People's Republic of China. And since
we're gathered in the Benjamin Franklin Room, I also note
that President Bush shares a distinction with Franklin: They
both served as our nation's representative to a vitally
important country but without holding the title of
ambassador. 1974, when President Bush was named the chief of
our liaison office in Beijing, the United States did not have
diplomatic relations with China. Two hundred years before,
when Franklin was sent on a commission to France and then
appointed our minister in Paris, the Court of Versailles
would not accept an ambassador from a self-declared republic
like ours. Only sovereign monarchs exchanged ambassadors
until well into the 19th century.
I've thought a lot about Franklin during my service as
deputy secretary of state. We host many special historic
events here in the Benjamin Franklin Room, including a
luncheon earlier this year for President Macron of France
during his state visit to the United States, and I'm often
asked to provide remarks. The speechwriters who prepared a
first draft appropriately note the venue, and refer to
Franklin as the first American diplomat, our minister to
France. But they also inevitably described him as, quote,
``the father of the Foreign Service.'' And that's always
struck me as a stale, patriarchal language unsuited for the
21st century, and unlikely to inspire young Foreign Service
officers. But my effort to craft an alternative that would
motivate a new generation to careers in American diplomacy--
those efforts have failed recently. I spoke to a group of
eminent retired U.S. diplomats here in this room; they were
confused and appalled when I referred to Franklin as the
original gangster of the Foreign Service. (Laughter.)
So I've shifted my thinking to alternatives to enliven the
way we convey the remarkable life of Franklin. I had the idea
of bringing Franklin's story to life on the stage, perhaps
even a musical. (Laughter.) Who would want to see that?
Imagine, a musical about one of America's founding fathers.
(Laughter.) You laugh, but in fact, there was a Broadway
musical about Franklin, Ben Franklin in Paris, staged in
1964, and it faded quickly into obscurity. (Laughter.)
But I'm serious about promoting and honoring America's
diplomats past and present, whether it's Franklin, President
Bush, or our current friends and colleagues at this
department who are working to promote and protect America's
interests, America's values, and American citizens at
hundreds of posts, embassies, consulates, and missions around
the world, many in dangerous and difficult circumstances.
Their work is made easier by the worldwide popularity--
indeed, the pervasive influence--of the best of American arts
and culture, which is what we're here to celebrate tonight.
It is through the arts that we, the American people, tell
our story. We express the richness of our culture and
artistry when we export it to the rest of the world. And the
impact cannot be overstated. Music, theater, cinema--every
medium we celebrate tonight (inaudible) United States shows
to the world who we are. The work of the American artists
gathered here in this room is a powerful form of diplomacy.
Your influence is felt around the world.
The Kennedy Center Honors program recognizes these
exceptional artists who have contributed so much to our
culture and our world. The program is in its 41st year, and
its honorees include some of the most iconic figures in the
arts. This year's honorees certainly fall squarely into that
category.
Cher, our first honoree, needs no introduction. She's
commonly referred to as the, quote, ``goddess of pop,''
unquote, and I tested that assertion with a Google search,
whose results showed that to be true. (Laughter.) But I use
the word ``commonly'' with a purpose, because that is too
common a title for such an extraordinary talent and person.
She's achieved towering success in music, on television, on
stage, and in films. The accolades included here are too many
to name. Her voice and her music--``I Got You Babe,'' ``If I
Could Turn Back Time,'' ``Believe''--I could go on, to name
just a few--those songs are loved worldwide and have made her
a global superstar and a household name.
Composer and pianist Philip Glass is our second honoree.
He's no stranger to State Department programs and proudly
represented the United States as a Fulbright Scholar in Paris
in the 1960s. Since then, Mr. Glass has only gone on to
compose more than 25 operas, 10 symphonies, as well as
concertos, film soundtracks, and countless other works. Truly
in a league of his own, he's the recipient of the U.S.
National Medal of the Arts, and next month the Los Angeles
Philharmonic will present the world premiere of his 12th
symphony.
Our third honoree is another legend, Reba McEntire. And I
am not ashamed to say as a humble bureaucrat, I can't believe
I got to shake Reba McEntire's hand. (Laughter.) I'm telling
you, it's unbelievable. Thank you, Mike Pompeo. (Laughter.)
Her songs--``Fancy,'' ``Is There Life Out There,'' ``I'm a
Survivor''--have given her worldwide fame. She's recorded 25
number-one singles and sold over 56 million albums. But she's
achieved great success in other fields, including on
television and in movies. All you have to do is say her first
name, and the world knows exactly who you're talking about.
Wayne Shorter, the famous jazz saxophonist and composer is
next. He deservedly has been called--and again, I quote--a
genius, trailblazer, a visionary, and one of the world's
greatest composers. He's played with Miles Davis, Joni
Mitchell, Steely Dan, Carlos Santana--the list goes on. He's
won 11 Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement award,
but admirably, he does not rest on his laurels. He's now
working on his first album.
Finally, we honor the co-creators of Hamilton, and I hope
they will consider my suggestion of Franklin: An American
Musical. I'm just saying, Hamilton's secretary of treasury;
versus the secretary of state. (Laughter.) Just think about
that. These individuals--Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail,
Andy Blankenbuehler, and Alex Lacamoire--together they wrote,
acted in, directed, choreographed, and arranged what has
become the best known, groundbreaking stage production of our
time. They are trailblazers who have created art that defies
categorization, breaks down barriers, and brings American
history to life.
My youngest son, Teddy, is a senior at Hamilton College and
among the show's biggest fans. He likes to wear his college
sweatshirt around Miami--excuse me, around Manhattan--and
engage the tourists who ask where do they paraphernalia like
[[Page S7911]]
that from the show. (Laughter.) He patiently explains to them
the merits of college, the musical, and being at the center
of both.
Now, I know I'm standing in the way of your dinner, so I
will conclude with an acknowledgement of a prior Kennedy
Center honoree--and I kind of slipped this before when I said
Miami instead of Manhattan--and that's because we're joined
tonight by Gloria Estefan. Welcome back. (Applause.) My wife
Grace and the Rodriguez family are delighted to see whom we
consider the first lady of Cuban Americans here tonight.
Thank you, again, on behalf of the Department of State, for
allowing us to be part of this celebration to pay tribute to
the lifetime contributions of the remarkable women and men we
honor tonight. Please enjoy your dinner. Thanks. (Applause.)
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