    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [June 27, 1991]
    [Pages 726-727]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the Unveiling of the Official Bust of the President
    June 27, 1991

        Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, distinguished leaders of both the
    House and the Senate, I'm just delighted to be here, and I want to
    especially thank Wendell Ford and Ted Stevens, who do such a wonderful
    job protecting and enhancing the history of this fantastic building in
    so many ways. It brings back to me so many happy memories of time spent
    on both ends of the Capitol--4 years in the House and 8 as the presiding
    officer, the President of the Senate.
        So, I'm delighted to be here today. I can't quite get used to all
    this. I'm not even dead yet, and here--[laughter]--here is this
    magnificent sculpture by an old and dear friend of the Bushes, Walker
    Hancock. I believe I first met him when I was about 3 years old. He's
    been a special friend of our family. He, of course, is one of the most
    prominent sculptors--most prominent in the whole country. I was proud to
    give him the National Medal of the Arts last year. I can tell you that
    he put a lot of time into this bust, having gone to Italy himself to see
    that it was finished properly, doing all the design and work himself.
    We've sat for him--he was most understanding, came up to Camp David. We
    did some work in the White House.
        Having this magnificent work, given what he had to work with--
    [laughter]--done by this outstanding American artist, makes it doubly,
    doubly special for us. I just couldn't be more pleased. And of course,
    I'm touched by the Members of the House and the Senate that have turned
    out for this.

    [[Page 727]]

        My schedule read that it was time to motorcade to the Capitol for
    this unveiling of my bust, and I started worrying about the headlines on
    that one. [Laughter] No, not what you're thinking. ``Bush Goes For
    Bust,'' maybe, or ``Bush Gets Busted.'' [Laughter]
        I am reminded of the time, though, that historians have written
    about George Washington. And they asked him why, in so many busts made
    of him, did he always have a curious smile on his face? Walker, I'm not
    sure this anecdote is true, but he explained that it all began when the
    sculptor Joseph Wright was first doing a life mask of him, oiling his
    face and applying the plaster. Just as the plaster was setting, Martha
    Washington walked into the room. Surprised to see the President this
    way, she let out a shriek. The President smiled, and the rest is
    history. [Laughter] That's a true story. And thank God Barbara Bush
    didn't walk into the room when Walker and I were working--[laughter]--or
    you could have had something less serious and perhaps not as proper for
    this austere building and this austere place.
        I am very, very proud to be here, and I must say in conclusion that
    I can't express my feelings enough about this body. We have fights from
    time to time, obviously, but the days I spent here will always be
    remembered as perhaps the happiest times in my life. The friends crossed
    all the aisles. It wasn't just the gymnasium, either, Sonny; it was far
    more than that.
        The longer I'm in my job, the more important I come to understand
    what friendship means. And that's what this day is about; and so, once
    again, I want to thank all involved in this project. I especially want
    to thank the leaders of both the House and the Senate, the Democrats and
    the Republicans who are here today. You do honor not to me as an
    individual but to the office I held. I think this is a marvelous,
    marvelous bust. And Walker, once again, my thanks and congratulations to
    you, sir.
        Thank you all very, very much.

                        Note: The President spoke at 2:44 p.m. in the
                            Rotunda at the Capitol. In his remarks, he
                            referred to Dan Quayle, Vice President of the
                            United States; Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the
                            House of Representatives; Wendell H. Ford and
                            Ted Stevens, chairman and ranking Republican
                            member of the Senate Rules and Administration
                            Committee; sculptor Walker Hancock; and
                            Representative G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery. Prior to
                            his remarks, the President attended a meeting
                            with Senate Republican leaders in Room S-230 at
                            the Capitol.