[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[May 4, 1992]
[Pages 688-689]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Unveiling Ceremony for the Portrait of House Republican 
Leader Robert Michel

May 4, 1992
    Thank you all very much. This is a wonderful occasion, and we need 
more like it. And may I salute the Chaplain of the House, Jim Ford, 
thank him for the invocation. I thought he was giving a speech out 
there, but it was a fine invocation; delighted to see him.
    Of course, being with Bob Dole and Tom Foley and Dan Rostenkowski in 
this friendly, wonderful setting is very, very special. And we're here 
to honor our beloved Republican leader. I am glad to be here. Whenever 
you hear about somebody being done in oil in this town, you can't be 
sure that that means painting or boiling. [Laughter] But today it means 
honoring.
    And I will confess it took me a while to convince Bob that it's an 
honor to be framed in Washington and hung in the Capitol. [Laughter] But 
before the portrait is hung, Bob wanted to make sure it would do what 
the Speaker talked about, play in Peoria. Well, it will, in Peoria and 
the Nation. And the reason is very simple, and I think you all have 
heard it here today from his friends, all of whom I have great respect 
for. To know you, Bob Michel, is to respect you.
    And for 36 years Bob Michel has, indeed, embodied what is best in 
American politics and best about the traditions of the House of 
Representatives. And I speak of honesty and fairplay and character and 
integrity, all the qualities that Dan and Bob Dole and Tom Foley 
mentioned. A willingness to govern, to work things out, to fight his 
opponents tooth and nail during the day and yet remain a good friend, 
someone they can talk to during the evenings.
    And Bob Michel has stood up for fiscal sanity. I think he's done a 
lot to help our economy. He's helped keep our military strong. And it's 
true that he can be a fierce partisan. After all, that goes with the 
American psyche; that's the way we are. And Bob has been a true 
American. He won two Bronze Stars for his service in World War II; then 
in serving his district, our party, and most of all, the future well-
being of our country.
    I haven't seen this portrait over here, Corinne, but I'm sure it's 
going to depict what we admire in your husband: a man of conscience, a 
man whose word is good, a man who means what he says, says what he 
means, a man that one fellow Illinoisan would have loved very much. 
Remember Lincoln's words, ``The noblest work of God is an honest man.'' 
And you've been all of that, Bob, 
and more. And ask anyone who is

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your colleague, which means anyone who is your friend.
    And now it is my pleasure to introduce Corinne, Bob's lovely wife, 
for the unveiling of this official portrait. And I can tell you I'm sure 
glad to be a part of this program, this wonderful program of warmth here 
today.

                    Note: The President spoke at 5 p.m. in Statuary Hall 
                        at the Capitol.