[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[March 23, 1992]
[Pages 491-492]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Swearing-In Ceremony for Barbara H. Franklin as Secretary 
of Commerce

March 23, 1992
    May I thank Ambassador Schnabel for presiding here, but much more 
important, for the job he has done in an interim period. It's not easy. 
And he's done an outstanding job. And this gives me an opportunity also 
to thank those who work for this wonderful Department, the Department of 
Commerce. We're grateful to each and every one of you. Justice O'Connor 
and Senator Danforth, thank you for your participation in this ceremony. 
I thought Eli, Eli Barnes, the guy that gave the Pledge of Allegiance, 
did a first-class job, too. And Master Gunnery Sergeant Ryan, an old 
friend, thank you for leading us in the anthem. My respects to the 
marines here.
    Then to our various Cabinet members with us today, it's most 
appropriate that you join your fellow Cabinet member at this special 
occasion. May I salute the former Secretary of Commerce Elliot 
Richardson. I know Pete Peterson was to be here, but I don't think he 
was able to make it. But Secretary Richardson is with us. And then we 
have other Cabinet secretaries, Bill Brock and Frank Carlucci and Jim 
Lynn and Margaret Heckler, all with us today. Members of Congress too 
numerous to acknowledge, but all vitally interested in Barbara's success 
as Secretary of Commerce.
    And of course, a special salute to the one we honor today, Barbara 
Franklin, who is about to become the current Secretary of one of our 
Government's great Agencies.
    For me, today is sentimental. I remember a couple of months ago I 
was telling an aide that I had decided to nominate Barbara to this 
difficult post. And he replied, ``Don't you think she's got enough to do 
already?'', referring to Barbara Bush. [Laughter] But that brings me to 
the one, the Barbara that we are here to celebrate and to honor, the 
newest member of my Cabinet, a woman who claims a long and distinguished 
career in both public and private service.
    Barbara's been a member of the Product Safety Commission, a member 
of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy Negotiations, president and 
CEO of her own consulting firm, and also director of seven of America's 
most successful largest corporations. And always she's been a woman of 
courage, integrity, vision, and found plenty of time for service to her 
country.
    And let it never be said that someone from Yale doesn't recognize 
talent from Harvard when he sees it. Hard to do. But her talent was 
spotted a lot earlier than that. Here's what her high school yearbook in 
Lancaster--this may prove embarrassing to her, but here's what her high 
school yearbook in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, said: ``Versatile Barb is 
seen in all departments of Hempfield High School.'' But then it goes

[[Page 492]]

on: ``A-student, honor society member, tennis team captain, high school 
cheerleader, student council president.'' And now, today, she is leading 
for a growing and prosperous American economy.
    And may I salute her husband, Wally Barnes, who has been an 
outstanding success in business. When she needs consultation about free 
enterprise, she doesn't have far to go.
    And let me repeat what she said in January upon accepting the 
Commerce post. She remarked that she would be ``very proud to be an 
advocate for American business and jobs, manufacturing, service, every 
kind of business in this country. American business is the envy of the 
world.''
    Well, now that I have the benefit of her considerable talents, I am 
the envy of her former colleagues in American business. And I say that 
because she is energetic and experienced, extremely smart. And she can 
help us compete in the new world economy and create a new American 
century.
    She knows how we must write new pages in the story of business and 
jobs, the story of American excellence. And I speak of the Pittsburgh 
mechanic, the Seattle computer specialist, the Des Moines mother who 
also holds down a job. And their tale is as old as the cotton gin and as 
young as magnetic tape. Work is noble in itself. No one has a right to 
look down at any American.
    And Barbara Franklin of course, likes to lift things up. And some of 
you may know that in addition to her other talent she's an accomplished 
weight lifter. Arnold Schwarzenegger, eat your heart out. [Laughter] Now 
it's her time to lift people: people whose jobs and income depend on 
commerce and trade. And she won't help them through protectionism and 
isolationism either. Instead, she will be an evangelist for a strong 
economy, driven by competition, fueled by growth. And she will help 
protect jobs against those who would cost jobs by curtailing trade, by 
curbing trade.
    I've known Barbara now for two decades, dating back to the early 
seventies. And at that time, she was at the White House in the early 
seventies, I was up at the United Nations. And we agree the way to 
create jobs is not to build a wall around America but to persuade other 
nations to tear their walls down. And I want a world of open markets, 
open competition, open hearts, open minds. And so does Barbara Franklin. 
And her record of dedication and integrity has transformed my admiration 
into confidence and my friendship into trust.
    And at a time when competition in a global economy is changing the 
way we live, my friend takes her post to help change the way we lead. I 
know she will be able to count on a very able team of Commerce 
officials. She has big shoes to fill, coming in to take over from 
Secretary Robert Mosbacher, but she can do the job.
    And to each and every one of you, again, who serve with her and who 
have helped her from the very first day she came over here in transition 
and now as Secretary, my profound thanks to you, not just for that but 
for the way you take the message of American business across this 
country and around the world.
    In that spirit, it is with great pleasure that I turn the 
proceedings over to Justice O'Connor for the swearing-in of a woman who 
will help our economy thrive, our new Secretary of Commerce, Barbara 
Hackman Franklin. Thank you very much.

                    Note: The President spoke at 9:36 a.m. at the 
                        Department of Commerce. In his remarks, he 
                        referred to Deputy Secretary of Commerce 
                        Rockwell A. Schnabel and former Secretary of 
                        Commerce Peter G. Peterson. Supreme Court 
                        Justice Sandra Day O'Connor administered the 
                        oath of office.