[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[March 10, 1991]
[Pages 242-243]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 242]]



Remarks at the Ford's Theatre Gala
March 10, 1991

    Thank you all very much. Please be seated. You know, when Americans 
get together to celebrate country, we sure do it right. We sure do it in 
style. What a magnificent performance here tonight.
    A lot of marvelous country songs--one I like is just a little story 
of an American family. And I know what it feels like for me and Barbara 
here tonight. The music and the words and all of these emotions remind 
us of what we truly are, each and every one, part of the proud and great 
American family.
    To Andy Andrews I would only say, now I know exactly how I will 
treat with those 14 grandchildren of mine. [Laughter]
    But tonight America's family is gathered here in America's theatre. 
And we all want to thank the people, all the people, who made this gala 
possible. Of course, Peatsy Hollings and Ann Simpson here, Mary Jane 
Wick, Frankie Hewitt. Her vision brought about this theatre's 
resurrection, and the others are saluting this theatre's reality every 
year.
    I want to congratulate Bill McSweeney for his well-deserved honor. 
And I want to thank Lod Cook of ARCO also, and salute some of the 
country's special friends who are with us tonight. We have the Vice 
President and Mrs. Quayle here tonight. We have many members of our 
Cabinet. Perhaps it would not be inappropriate at this patriotic moment 
to single out Secretary Cheney and, of course, General Powell. We might 
ask them to stand. [Applause] We have many distinguished leaders in the 
United States Congress.
    You know, for over 100 years after Lincoln's assassination this 
theatre was closed, a dark reminder of an American tragedy. But tonight 
shows how this place can come back to life as a living symbol of the 
American spirit. And I can't think of a better theme than ``A 
Celebration of Country'' because it means not just country music but 
also our country, the United States of America.
    The incredible feeling here in this theatre tonight shows really 
what I love best about country music: It hits all the right chords, like 
caring for your family, having faith in God--Ricky Skaggs' ``Somebody's 
Praying'' said it very well indeed, that part of it--songs about people 
who care for each other with the biggest hearts on Earth.
    And country songs are about real people. Randy Travis, I must say I 
love that new song about the Points of Light. And--where did he go? And 
I want to thank Don Schlitz and Tom Schuyler for doing that. Senator 
Hollings told me this song has real merit, it has a real beat. 
[Laughter] But certainly the message does. And I think Don and Tom know 
exactly how to put our feelings into words.
    I think that at this moment in our history, our family--American 
family, if you will--is closer than it's ever been. We know who made 
this exhilarating moment possible. I'm talking about the men and women 
that serve in the Armed Forces of the United States, as Morgan Freeman 
said, ``thousands of miles from here.'' What a wonderful job they've 
done for all of us.
    It is very, very exciting. And as they come home, I expect every 
family is like Barbara's and mine with the tears coming down our faces 
today and almost every day since they started back. But as they come 
home, we're going to take all the pride and the excitement that this 
country feels and give them the biggest welcome-home party that this 
country has ever seen.
    And so, thank all of you here tonight, each and every one of you, 
for reminding us that we can dream and achieve together. A good night 
and thanks to all of you. And once again, Ricky, someone was praying, 
someone was praying.
    Thank you very much.

                    Note: The President spoke at 9:49 p.m. from the 
                        stage of the theatre. In his remarks, he 
                        referred to comedian Andy Andrews, who performed 
                        at the gala; Rita ``Peatsy'' Hollings, wife of 
                        Senator Ernest Hollings, and Ann Simpson, wife 
                        of Senator Alan Simpson, general chairmen of ``A 
                        Festival at

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                        Ford's''; Mary Jane Wick, gala chairman; Frankie 
                        Hewitt and Bill McSweeney, Ford's Theatre 
                        executive producer and chairman of the board; 
                        Lodwrick M. Cook, chairman and chief executive 
                        officer of ARCO; Vice President Dan Quayle and 
                        his wife, Marilyn; Secretary of Defense Dick 
                        Cheney; Gen. Colin L. Powell, Chairman of the 
                        Joint Chiefs of Staff; country music performers 
                        Ricky Skaggs and Randy Travis; songwriters Don 
                        Schlitz and Tom Schuyler; and actor Morgan 
                        Freeman, who delivered a tribute to Abraham 
                        Lincoln.