    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [June 12, 1991]
    [Pages 644-648]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 644]]

    Remarks on the Administration's Domestic Policy
    June 12, 1991

        Thank you all very much. Thank you, but don't give up your daytime
    work. [Laughter]
        Thank you all, and good evening. Members of our Cabinet here,
    Governor Campbell, and Governor Mike Castle. Honored guests: Dr.
    Benjamin Payton--and old friend--the president of Tuskegee University
    who brings a lifelong commitment to our historically black colleges and
    universities, welcome. Drew Batavia, winner of the 1988 Distinguished
    Disabled American Award, welcome to you, sir. To Robert Egger, founder
    of the D.C. Central Kitchen, and the 60 other Points of Light who are
    here tonight, your work inspires this nation. Mayor Hackett, of Memphis,
    is with us; Mayor Myric, of Charlotte; County Commissioner Klinger, good
    to see you all again. And I see Paul O'Neill over here, the chairman of
    Alcoa, a dedicated advocate for educational excellence. And to the rest
    of this extraordinary gathering--leaders of businesses and veterans
    groups, associations, volunteer organizations, education partnerships,
    those who are working for home ownership--all those who make America the
    land of opportunity, welcome to the White House.
        I might add that also with us is Anthony Henderson--I don't see
    him--there he is right there, my man. Anthony Henderson is a youngster
    from Barcroft Elementary School across the river there in Arlington. You
    may remember that when I visited his class, Anthony's the one who asked
    me to prove that I was the President of the United States. And here he
    is--[laughter]--I had to show him my driver's license and my credit
    card. [Laughter] Anthony, do you believe me now? All okay, all right.
    And welcome. I'm just delighted you're here.
        Over the past 30 months, this world has changed at a dramatic pace.
    America has been called upon to meet one challenge after another. And
    meet them we did--each and every one of them. From Eastern Europe to
    Panama to the Persian Gulf, our country stands as a strong champion of
    freedom.
        Ninety-eight days ago, I asked the Congress to tackle the urgent
    problems on the homefront with that same energy that we dedicated to
    tackling the crisis on the battlefront. I spelled out my domestic
    priorities--setting out, I'll admit, an ambitious agenda founded upon
    enhancing economic growth, investing in our future, and increasing
    opportunity for all Americans. I sent to the Congress literally hundreds
    of recommendations for legislative change. Then I specifically asked
    that Congress pass just two laws in 100 days, a comprehensive anticrime
    bill and a transportation bill.
        Now, you've heard a lot about that lately, but this kind of
    challenge is not new. Presidents as different as Johnson and Ford have a
    history of encouraging the Congress to meet a deadline. In fact, Lyndon
    Johnson, in his State of the Union Address in January of 1964,
    challenged the Congress to act on at least eight broad domestic issues,
    all within 5 months. And I thought 100 days was fairly reasonable. And I
    wasn't asking the Congress to deliver a hot pizza in less than 30
    minutes. [Laughter] That would be revolutionary for a Congress. I only
    asked for two pieces of legislation in 100 days. It's now clear that
    neither will be on my desk by Friday.
        And, look, I'm disappointed, but, frankly, I'm not surprised.
    Tonight I'd like to put this all in--try to put it in some perspective.
    I haven't asked you here to sit through a litany of programs and
    policies. We have a long list of legislative priorities already before
    the Congress, awaiting congressional action. I won't repeat that list
    here tonight. But rather, I'd like to do something different and
    describe to you how I personally see the shared strength and promise of
    America.
        It is hard for the American people to understand, frankly, why a
    bill to fight crime cannot be acted on in 100 days; or why Congress
    can't pass a highway bill in 100 days. But, look, if it can't be done,
    if 100 days isn't enough, let me just ask this rhe-

    [[Page 645]]

    torical question: How many days are?
        These are important issues, and there are many, many others. And
    most Americans believe fear of crime and violence threatens our most
    basic freedoms and denies us opportunity. They also believe that we must
    invest in our future to provide an infrastructure for those who come
    along after us. So they don't understand--the American people don't
    understand the complications and the inaction and the bickering,
    particularly when so many do understand what it takes to solve problems
    in their own neighborhoods: commitment, compassion, and courage.
        I cannot fully explain this inaction to the American people. As I
    said, I'm disappointed, but not surprised. But I can say this as partial
    consolation: America's problem-solving does not begin or end with the
    Congress, nor with the White House.
        Yes, it would help if Congress would do what people are asking of
    them. And I'll keep working with the Congress; my hand remains extended.
    But we cannot let Congress discourage or deter us from meeting our
    responsibilities.
        I believe that the people gathered here tonight, under the twilight
    shadow of our magnificent Washington's Monument, understand this better
    than most. You are extraordinary Americans, representing thousands of
    others. You bring to life the genius of the American spirit. And it is
    through you and with you that we can solve our most pressing problems.
    Together we can transform America and create whole and good communities
    everywhere. Tonight, all Americans can help lead the way.
        A great nation has the courage to be honest about itself. And we
    are--let's never forget it--we are a great nation. I believe that
    absolutely, as do you. We are indisputably the world's most powerful
    force for freedom and economic growth. Still, no one can deny that we
    have these enormous challenges. Not all Americans are living the
    American dream by a long shot. Many can't even imagine it.
        There are impoverished Americans, the poor and the homeless, the
    hungry and the hopeless, many unable to read and write. There are
    Americans gone astray, the kids dragged down by drugs, the shattered
    families, the teenage mothers struggling to cope. Then there are
    Americans uneasy, troubled and bewildered by the dizzying pace of
    change.
        For many years I've crisscrossed this country, as many here have. As
    President, part of my job--and it really is an exciting part--is going
    to the small towns and the big cities and the schools, the
    neighborhoods, and the factories. Those are the places where you
    discover what's good and right about our country--and what's going
    wrong, too.
        The state of our nation is the state of our communities. As our
    communities flourish, our nation will flourish. So we must seek a nation
    of whole communities, a nation of good communities--an America whole and
    good.
        What defines such a community? First, it is one that cares for the
    needs of its young people by building character--values and good habits
    for life. Second, it's a community that provides excellent schools,
    schools that spark a life-long interest in learning. Next, there is
    opportunity and hope, rooted in the dignity of work and reward for
    achievement. Fourth, it's where people care about their health and their
    environment and where a sense of well-being and belonging is nurtured.
    And finally, all of its neighborhoods are decent and safe.
        Because millions of Americans have chosen to lead the way, these are
    not simply dreams. Thousands of whole and good communities already
    flourish in America, communities where ordinary people have achieved the
    American dream. We should never in our anguish lose sight of that.
    America is the most productive, prosperous, enlightened nation on
    Earth--a nation that can do anything. And we can do even better.
        We should be confident as a country about what lies ahead. America
    has a track record of success--success shaped with our own hands.
    Sometimes in our impatience, yes, we've made mistakes--but when we do,
    we dust ourselves off and go at it again. Every American should take
    pride in this country's fundamental goodness--decency. Each of us must
    resolve in our own hearts that for all the good we've done, it's time to

    [[Page 646]]

    do better--much, much better.
        Conventional wisdom in our day once held that all solutions were in
    the hands of government--call in the best and the brightest, hand over
    the keys to the national treasury. Bigger government was better
    government: compassion was measured in dollars and cents, progress by
    price tag. We tried that course. As we ended the '70s, our economy
    strangling on inflation, soaring interest rates, and unemployment,
    America turned away from government as ``the answer.''
        So, conventional wisdom then turned to the genius of the free
    market. We began a decade of exceptional economic growth and created 20
    million new jobs. And yet, let's face it, many of our streets are still
    not safe, our schools have lost their edge, and millions--millions still
    trudge the path of poverty. There is more to be done, and the
    marketplace alone can't solve all our problems.
        Is the harsh lesson that there must always be those who are left
    behind? America must have but one answer, and that answer is no. There
    is a better way, one that combines our efforts--those of a government
    properly defined, the marketplace properly understood, and services to
    others properly engaged. This is the only way--all three of these--to an
    America whole and good.
        It requires all three forces of our national life. First, it
    requires the power of the free market; second, a competent,
    compassionate government; and third, the ethic of serving others,
    including what I call the Points of Light. These three powerful forces
    create the conditions for communities to be whole and free, and it's
    time that we harnessed all three of them.
        In our complex democracy, power is fragmented. And that can be
    frustrating. But on balance, it's for the good. And power tends to move
    toward those who serve the greater good: entrepreneurs like John Bryant,
    a young self-starter who has built a multimillion-dollar enterprise and
    now helps rebuild inner-city Los Angeles; caring individuals like Mack
    Stolarski, a retired carpenter who now helps his student apprentices
    repair homes for the poor and disabled.
        And because of the power of the free market, what so much of the
    world can only imagine, we take for granted: abundant food on the
    shelves of our supermarkets, quality products at our shopping centers.
    Nothing beats the free market at generating jobs and income and wealth
    and a better quality of life.
        The good news in communities is that the free market is now applying
    its resources and know-how to our social problems. Many companies,
    recognizing that tomorrow's workers are today's students, are leaders of
    a revolution in American education--partners in the exciting America
    2000 strategy. Others are crusaders for environmental protection, while
    still others are innovators from health care to child care.
        Transforming America requires not only the power of the free market,
    but also a dynamic government. To be the enlightened instrument of the
    people--the government of Jefferson and Lincoln and Roosevelt, and the
    embodiment of their vision--it must truly be a force for good.
        I believe in this kind of government--a government of compassion and
    competence. And I believe in backing it up with action. Here tonight,
    for example, is Mrs. Lauren Jackson-Floyd, one of the first Head Start
    graduates. Now she teaches preschoolers in that same marvelous program.
    Her success is why we expanded Head Start by almost three-quarters of a
    billion dollars. And last year I signed our child care bill to expand
    parents' choices in caring for their children.
        And we fought for a Clean Air Act that puts the free market in the
    service of the environment--and we won that one. And the Americans with
    Disabilities Act, the most important civil rights bill in decades, has
    brought new dignity and opportunity to our nation's disabled. Disability
    leaders like Justin Dart and Sandy Parrino and Evan Kemp were right
    here, right on this platform, when I signed it. And they're with us
    tonight.
        Jack Kemp and I stood with Ramona Younger across the river in
    Charles Houston Community Center, over there in Alexandria. And if the
    Congress enacts our HOPE Initiative--H-O-P-E--these public housing
    tenants can become America's newest
    home owners. Dewey Stokes here,

    [[Page 647]]

    President of the Fraternal Order of Police, wants to help make our
    neighborhoods safer, and that's why he supports our crime bill. And if
    we get a civil rights bill--and I want one--like the one I sent to
    Congress, we will take an important step against discrimination in the
    workplace.
        This is not big government; this is good government.
        And finally, along with the forces of the free market and the
    Government, we must add this ethic of voluntary service. We call it
    Points of Light. This is not a phrase about charity. It's about the
    light that is within us all, in our hearts, a light that brightens the
    lives of others and makes whole the lives of those who shine it. I love
    Randy Travis' new song. It says, ``a ray of hope in the darkest hour.''
        Points of Light is a call to every American to serve another in
    need. But no one of us can solve big problems like poverty or drug abuse
    all by ourselves. Only the combined light from every school, every
    business, place of worship, club, group, organization in every community
    can dissolve the darkness.
        Whether a company holds an after-hours literacy program for its
    workers, a police station counsels tough kids, or third-graders phone
    lonely homebound citizens--these senior citizens assigned to their
    rooms--Points of Light show those in need that their lives truly matter.
        Government and the market, joined with Points of Light, will
    overwhelm our social problems. And this is how we must guarantee the
    next American century. Every person, every business, every school board,
    our associations, our clubs, our places of worship--we all have the duty
    to lead.
        And only then--only then can we truly think and act anew. And now
    Congress, too, must understand the successes and the failures of the
    past and help us forge a certain future in America.
        You people gathered here tonight represent those who refuse to rest
    easy. I look out and I see so much reflected in your faces--the
    strength, the conviction, the commitment. You represent those millions
    of Americans who use power to achieve a greater good. And I know because
    you brought me into your homes and your neighborhoods and your schools
    and your churches.
        And last year, I walked through a reclaimed crack house in Kansas
    City with Al Brooks, the leader of an anticrime coalition. And I learned
    more about how we can fight crime in 2 hours than in 2 months of TV
    news.
        Another day I visited General Hospital here in DC, and held a tiny
    boarder baby in my arms, the child of cocaine addicts. And the
    remarkable dedication--I wish every one of you could have been with me--
    the remarkable dedication of the women who rescued these babies was just
    as moving. America needs to hear that story, too.
        Just a few months ago, I dropped in on a little West Virginia school
    in a town called Slanesville. The National Teacher of the Year teaches
    remedial reading there. And her name is Rae Ellen McKee, and she's here
    tonight. And visiting her gave me the opportunity to say to the Nation,
    ``Thank God for our teachers''.
        And just yesterday, Lamar Alexander--the Secretary--and I flew over,
    and I spoke before the graduating class of the James H. Groves Adult
    High School in Sussex County. And we were the guests of the Governor,
    Mike Castle. And I invited the class to join us tonight. And I went
    there with the Governor and the Secretary to honor these men and women
    who had the courage to go back to school and get their diplomas. And
    they honored us by telling America to be a nation dedicated to lifelong
    learning.
        These are the Americans who love this country for what it is and for
    what it can become. These are the Americans who make this a nation of
    boldness, filled with problem solvers, gifted with the American
    tradition of living up to our ideals. And these are the Americans who
    prove that no one in America is without a gift to give, a skill to
    share, a hand to offer.
        This is the genius of America: ordinary Americans doing
    extraordinary things.
        The Congress can refer our proposals to its committees and tie
    itself up with debate, and produce complicated and sometimes expensive
    and sometimes unworkable legislation. But in the end, we and them must
    carry forward the magic of America. We

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    must carry forward what is good and reach out and embrace what is best,
    and we must do the hard work of freedom. You see, I know you have. And I
    know you will. Through you, our country can become an America whole and
    good.
        For that, our country is grateful. And because of that, our
    country--the greatest and freest on the face of the Earth--will prevail.
        Thank you all very, very much.

                        Note: The President spoke at 8:02 p.m. on the South
                            Lawn at the White House. In his remarks, he
                            referred to Gov. Carroll Campbell of South
                            Carolina; Gov. Michael N. Castle of Delaware;
                            Richard C. Hackett, mayor of Memphis, TN; Sue
                            Myrick, mayor of Charlotte, NC; Ann Klinger,
                            county supervisor for Merced County, CA, and
                            former president of the National Association of
                            Counties; Secretary of Housing and Urban
                            Development Jack Kemp; and Secretary of
                            Education Lamar Alexander. The audience of
                            invitees, composed of elected officials, service
                            organization representatives, and Point of Light
                            award recipients, sang a chorus of ``Happy
                            Birthday'' to the President when he appeared on
                            the South Lawn. A tape was not available for
                            verification of the content of these remarks.