[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[March 16, 1992]
[Pages 456-458]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 456]]

Remarks to the Polish National Alliance in Chicago, Illinois

March 16, 1992
    Well, thank you, Ed Moskal, very, very much, and all of you for this 
welcome. May I salute our great Governor, Jim Edgar, with me here today. 
I think I heard you greet him. My respects to Ed Dykla, to the bishop, 
to Father Phillips, and of course to one of your own, a great friend of 
ours who has helped so much in this administration, as he did in 
Congress; I'm talking about Secretary Ed Derwinski, known to all of you 
here. And may I pay my respects to Poland's consul general, Michal 
Grocholski, who is here behind us. Delighted to have you here, sir. And 
again, thank you for that warm Chicago welcome.
    Somebody suggested that this visit has something to do with a 
primary election. True, I'm working to win that election. But if anyone 
thinks we've got political headaches here, they're nothing compared with 
the problems that free Poland is facing today, particularly Lech Walesa 
is facing. We have two major parties here in this country. But look at 
all the parties he has to contend with, close to 20, 20 at the last 
count. Even the Polish Beer Drinkers' Party--[laughter]--true, they've 
split into two factions. Now, I know you follow Poland, but I don't know 
whether it's the light beer faction or whatever it is.
    But I salute their President. I salute him for what he's doing. And 
he stood there when things weren't free, and there he is now, leading 
that country. And I really want to pay my respects here, surrounded by 
his many friends and admirers.
    Whenever I come here, I remember other occasions that I've had to 
get together with the community. Back in 1988 at the wake for Al 
Mazewski, who was head of this marvelous alliance, I remember that well. 
At the inaugural celebration for my dear friend over here, Ed Moskal, I 
remember that one well, upbeat, enthusiastic. And then, of course, at a 
very beautiful special service, a Sunday Mass at St. Hyacinth's Church, 
which reminded me of a church that I visited outside Warsaw not so many 
months ago. But at St. Hyacinth's I had the privilege to join with many 
of you in prayers for peace and freedom and to lay a wreath at the 
memorial for the martyr of Solidarity, Father Popieluszko.
    How our prayers have been answered in those short years. It is 
unbelievable. Since '88, the whole world has been transformed. And that 
change really, if you look at your history, began in Poland. Poland 
overthrew that cruel tyranny that Stalin imposed after Yalta. Now 
imperial communism, the communism that always wanted to take over 
someone else, is dead. The Soviet Union has ceased to exist. The threat 
of nuclear war has diminished dramatically. These are the blessings that 
millions of us have worked and prayed to attain.
    For decades we faced a mortal danger. The Communists fought to 
dominate the world. The Soviet Union threatened the very existence of 
free Europe and the United States, too, with its massive armies and its 
nuclear arsenals. The Communists persecuted believers and demolished the 
houses of worship. They imprisoned the Cardinal, Cardinal Wyszynski, and 
murdered Father Popieluszko.
    But all the while, believers, believers kept on believing: Stubborn 
believers, who suffered every sort of torment in prisons and labor 
camps; patient believers, who thought they'd never live to see the 
answer to their prayers; simple believers, who grasped little of 
geopolitical facts and circumstances and theories but knew they held the 
power to change their world in their folded hands. Inspired by heroic 
leaders like Lech Walesa and Pope John Paul, good people on both sides 
of the Iron Curtain worked as though everything depended on themselves, 
and they prayed as though everything depended on God.
    And I remember how moving it was in 1987 when I, as Vice President, 
I stood with now-President Walesa on the balcony of Father Popieluszko's 
church that I'm sure many of you have visited in Warsaw, flashing the 
victory sign to thousands of supporters below; that when the Communists 
were

[[Page 457]]

still in power, I stood at his side, and we both did that. And once 
again, the church was central to the Polish people's yearning for 
freedom.
    And then when I had the privilege in 1989 as President to stand with 
Lech Walesa and thousands of those freedom-loving Poles at the Gdansk 
Shipyard, when I saw the faith and courage of those people, you just 
knew, I knew in my heart what you've known for a long time as true 
believers, that freedom would prevail.
    Even in the darkest days, we stood steadfast for Poland's right to 
be free. We kept the alliances strong. We gave humanitarian aid to 
Solidarity when it was needed the most. Today, as Ed mentioned, we 
continue to give assistance, helping Poland build a stable democracy, a 
prospering economy. In addition to the substantial financial aid, I 
understand the 1,000th cargo container of American humanitarian supplies 
was just sent on its way to Poland. And it's a wonderful thing. And I've 
just written Poland's President to offer further help in bringing more 
American investment to Poland.
    Just as important has been the voluntary help from the church, from 
organized labor, from the Polish-American community. History will honor 
the role of Polonia, the worldwide Polish community, for giving birth to 
a new age of freedom. And to symbolize this, this year we will fulfill 
the dying wish of Mr. Paderewski and send his remains for burial in the 
sacred soil of a free Poland.
    And yes, the world is safer and freer now, but we must not forget 
those who still have not won full freedom. I think especially of those 
brave people of those Republics of a disintegrating Yugoslavia who are 
seeking to establish their sovereign independence. As we told our 
European allies last week, we are giving positive consideration to the 
recognition of Slovenia and Croatia. We're also considering the most 
appropriate ways to meet the desire for peaceful transition to 
independence on the part of the other republics.
    Our leadership for freedom must continue. You know that. No one 
knows better; no one knows that better than Polish-Americans. No one 
knows better the rewards of staying strong and engaged in the world. No 
one knows better than you the tragic harm that can come from weakness 
and isolation. We are going to keep working together. We're going to 
secure the peace and win new prosperity for Poland and all the free 
world.
    So we've got to continue changing the world, and we must redouble 
our efforts to change America for the better. We've got to get this 
economy moving and create good jobs and strengthen our families and put 
limits on big Government. When I think of family values, I think of the 
times that I've been in the Polish-American community. And it's family 
that gives the communities their strength. And we must hope that that 
can be extended all across the United States of America. In essence, we 
are going to keep working together. We're going to secure the peace and 
win new prosperity. And we're going to keep on doing everything we can 
to create good jobs, to strengthen the families, as I say, and put 
limits on the big Government.
    Let me close with a fable about liberal social planners that reminds 
me of Lech Walesa's down-to-earth humor. It's a story Russians used to 
tell during the last days of communism. A farmer's chickens were dying. 
So for help he went to the Communist Party hack who was the local 
agricultural commissar. And the commissar said, ``Give them aspirin.'' 
And over the next few days, 50 chickens dropped dead. The commissar then 
said, ``Give them penicillin.'' And in a few days, 100 more chickens 
died. So the commissar advised castor oil. After the castor oil therapy, 
the farmer went to the commissar and announced that all the remaining 
chickens had died. ``What a pity. What a pity,'' the commissar said. ``I 
had so many other ideas I wanted to try.'' [Laughter]
    Well let me tell you this: As long as I am President, American 
families will not be guinea pigs for social planners. And we are going 
to keep family, dignity, work, and responsibility first, and we are 
going to make this country better. And this country was built on family, 
faith, and freedom, and we must renew those sources of our strength.
    As Barbara and I count our many blessings, and we have a lot to be 
grateful for,

[[Page 458]]

we know that we can count on Polish-Americans to move this country 
forward to new glories.
    And let me say this: When the economy is tough, and it has been, 
some suggest we turn inward. Some suggest that we forget what's going on 
across the oceans. As long as I am President of the United States, 
recognizing that it is only the United States of America, it's only our 
country that can lead for freedom and democracy, I will stay involved. I 
am not going to pull back into some fortress America. We are not going 
to forget our responsibilities to lead around the world.
    And Poland deserves our support, and as long as I am President, they 
will have it. And I want to end by thanking every person in this room 
because not one single person here ever gave up hope for this glorious 
time that we see: a free Poland moving to strengthen its democracy, 
strengthen its hold on freedom.
    Thank you for what you've done. You set a great example for the rest 
of the country. Many, many thanks. God bless America.

                    Note: The President spoke at 3:35 p.m. at the 
                        headquarters of the Polish National Alliance. In 
                        his remarks, he referred to Edward J. Moskal and 
                        Aloysius Mazewski, president and former 
                        president of the alliance; Edward Dykla, 
                        president of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of 
                        America; Bishop Joseph Zawistowski of the Polish 
                        National Church; Reverend Frank Phillips, pastor 
                        of St. John Cantius Church in Chicago; and 
                        Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski, former Primate of 
                        Poland.