[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.