[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remarks, which were filled with historical references and bits of 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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