[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[March 10, 1992]
[Pages 413-414]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the United Negro College Fund Dinner

March 10, 1992
    Well, welcome. Barbara and I are just thrilled to welcome all of you 
to the White House. And this will be short because I remember Billy 
Graham's famous story he tells at the crusade about the speaker that 
went on and on. The guy sitting next to him picked up the gavel, threw 
it at the speaker, missed, hit the woman next to him. And the woman 
said, ``Hit me again; I can still hear him.'' [Laughter] We're not here 
for all of this. Also, you'll forgive me if I'm a little nervous; it's a 
big election night out there. So, if you see these little slips of paper 
coming in, forgive me.
    Now, first let me thank Bill Gray and Andrea. And I've tried it both 
ways, of being on the opposite side from this guy when he was in the 
Congress and being on the same side with him now that he's running the 
United Negro College Fund. And I like it better this way. He was tough, 
strong, and able.
    To those of you who have benefited the United Negro College Fund and 
you don't

[[Page 414]]

know Bill Gray, you've got a wonderful leader. You've got a man of 
principle, a man of faith. And we are very fortunate to have him. I say 
``we'' because I consider myself a part of this family, and so does 
Barbara.
    I will say a word about Walter Annenberg in a minute because he has 
a very special role in all of this. I want to salute members of the 
Cabinet that are here: Dick Cheney, Lou Sullivan, Jack Kemp, and our 
newest member, the Secretary of Transportation, Andy Card. And I also 
want to thank Joe Williams, the outgoing chairman, for what he's done 
for this organization. And unless it smacks of a little too much family, 
I'd like to single out the incoming chairman, my brother John. I think 
having the United Negro College Fund to a dinner in the White House is 
perhaps long overdue. And my arm is just twisted out of the sockets, but 
now it's back and all is well.
    Let me just mention some good news for the UNCF. Together, a goal 
was set for Campaign 2000 of $250 million. And to get this campaign off 
to a fast start--and now I get to Walter Annenberg, who does so much for 
so many--the Annenberg foundation made a $50 million challenge grant. 
And since the kickoff, donations large and small have poured in. And I'm 
delighted to note this evening that we're about halfway there, $125 
million raised so far.
    I look around this room, and I see so many from corporate America, 
Points of Light all, who were asked day in and day out to support worthy 
causes, who respond overwhelmingly but have come through for the United 
Negro College Fund in a profound and wonderful way. And many of 
America's most successful corporations and business leaders are in this 
room with us tonight.
    I've known many of you for more years than many of us care to count. 
And let me say to all of you what I've said to many in private 
conversations: Barbara and I really believe in the United Negro College 
Fund, and we want to help in any way we can. And that goes for two that 
aren't with us tonight: the Secretary of Education, Lamar Alexander, and 
his able assistant, so well-known to many here, David Kearns, who is the 
Deputy at the Department of Education. They believe in this. They want 
to support it. And so, we've got a good team who believe in the work 
here.
    The guiding mission of the fund has not changed since the days when 
Barbara and I first came to the cause in '47, under the leadership then 
of a guy named Bill Trent that some of you may know, now living in 
retirement in Greenville, North Carolina, I believe. But when so many 
despair about a bleak future, this organization gives tomorrow's great 
minds room to grow. And when so many repeat the all-too-familiar litany 
of crime and drugs and violence that does concern us all, the UNCF 
answers with education and opportunity and freedom for all.
    So let me say tonight, may the noble aims of this organization guide 
this Nation always. And once again, may I thank all of you for your 
support and for joining us here this special evening. And now may I ask 
Bill Gray, the only other and the final speaker, to come up and just say 
a word in his defense.
    Thank you all very, very much.

                    Note: The President spoke at 7:30 p.m. on the State 
                        Floor at the White House. In his remarks, he 
                        referred to William H. Gray III, president and 
                        chief executive officer of the United Negro 
                        College Fund; publisher Walter H. Annenberg, 
                        president of the M.L. Annenberg Foundation; and 
                        William J. Trent, Jr., the first executive 
                        director of the fund. A tape was not available 
                        for verification of the content of these 
                        remarks.