[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[March 20, 1991]
[Pages 294-295]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Toasts at the State Dinner for President Lech Walesa of Poland
March 20, 1991

    President Bush. Mr. President and Mrs. Walesa, 2 years ago Barbara 
and I had the privilege of dining at your home in Gdansk. And today we 
are simply delighted to have you and other members of the Polish 
delegation at the White House.
    It's been said that the character of a people is embodied in its 
leaders. And that is certainly true of tonight's honored guest. Eight 
years ago you were unable to visit Norway to accept the Nobel Peace 
Prize. Tonight, America salutes you as an apostle of peace throughout 
the world.
    Some leaders reflect their time. Mr. Presi- dent, you have defined 
your time. You have been resolute in defeat and magnanimous in victory. 
You have fought to preserve liberty for all: for individuals, choice; 
for soci-

[[Page 295]]

eties, pluralism; for nations, self-determination. To a crisis of the 
spirit, you supplied an answer of the spirit--an answer forged upon 
trust in God and man.
    Over the centuries Poland suffered through a winter of adversity. 
But you and your countrymen have delivered Poland into a springtime of 
thrilling possibility. You've brought us all to the verge of a new and 
freer world. And you helped a nation and a planet, if you will, summon 
lightness against the dark.
    You've delivered the message of freedom everywhere. Go to Gdansk or 
Warsaw--they know that by rediscovering its past, Poland is uplifting 
the future. Mr. President, under you, sir, Poles have learned anew that 
the individual, not the state, is the voice of tomorrow. You've used 
that voice to unlock minds and boundaries, enlarging Poland's horizons 
and helping build a new Europe, whole and free. For that, I thank you on 
behalf of every American.
    Let me close with a story that shows the spiritual ties that bind 
our lands. It happened in 1776, when America was at a turning point in 
its history. A great Polish patriot fought with the Colonies, then 
returned to Poland with a simple three-word message. Today, 200 years 
later, you have returned General Kosciusko's message to the country of 
its birth: liberty, security, property. These words inspired the Joint 
Declaration of Principles that we signed today.
    And so, now may I invite all our guests to raise our glasses to 
Polish-American friendship; to the health of our dear, admired friend; 
and to the liberty we can and must achieve for all the children of the 
world. Mr. President, sto lat. May you live 100 years. God bless you.
    President Walesa. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I'm convinced 
that I shall be at a loss for words to express my gratitude. It is for 
the second time that I'm present in the White House. It is, to me, a 
reason for honor, and it is moving.
    It is also proof of the friendship that links the American nation 
with the Polish nation. This friendship was seen by the hundreds of 
thousands of Poles who, here, found their second motherland. They came 
from across the ocean because they were looking for freedom. America was 
freedom to them and remained a symbol of freedom.
    Today, we and the country on the Vistula River also have freedom. 
Nobody, thank God, has to leave Poland. We have achieved new prospects 
through the reduction of the Polish debt. We are deeply grateful for the 
role which you, Mr. President, played in this magnificent act. It is a 
relief for millions of Poles. We shall remember this.
    Two years ago, you were a guest in my home in Gdansk. Now, I am your 
guest in America. I am met here with undescribable sincerity. I hope 
that we shall meet on many more occasions. At the end, I would like to 
toast the most popular politician in Poland. [Laughter] Today it was 
passed on to the mass media--this politician, President George Bush. 
[Laughter] I came up third in the poll. [Laughter]
    So, to your health and that of your wife. To the health of all 
present here, all the magnificent American friends, your health.

                    Note: President Bush spoke at 8:15 p.m. in the State 
                        Dining Room at the White House. In his remarks, 
                        he referred to President Walesa's wife, Danuta. 
                        President Walesa spoke in Polish, and his 
                        remarks were translated by an interpreter.