[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[May 5, 1992]
[Pages 690-692]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at a Cinco de Mayo Celebration

May 5, 1992
    If I might be informal, Gus, thank you very much for the warm 
introduction and the warm welcome. And I just can't tell you how pleased 
I am to be in this beautiful place. There are many familiar faces out 
there, so many Members of both Chambers from Mexico. We salute you, and 
we welcome you all. I had a chance to greet the Members a second ago. 
Members of the Mexican-American business community, we're very pleased 
to have you all here. I see Senator Gramm and Representatives Kolbe and 
Gilman and Tallon, all here to salute this show of force and show of 
friendship for the delegates from south of the Rio Grande. The 
interparliamentary union, the Mexican-American interparliamentary 
relationship, is a good one. I can tell some of you older members of 
this delegation that I was a member of that interparliamentary action 
back in 1968 and 1969 and 1970. So I welcome you all once again.
    I was pleased earlier to see Jose Nino and Raul Yzaguirre, two 
American leaders who do so much for strong relations between Mexico and 
the United States. And, of course, I want to take this opportunity to 
congratulate President Carlos Salinas for preserving this remarkable 
historical landmark and for creating the institute to strengthen the 
ties of friendship between our two nations.
    Relations between the United States and Mexico are tremendously 
important to both our countries. It's exciting to note, and I would note 
and I'd say with some pride, that relations between Mexico and the 
United States have never been better than they are now. And I take great 
pride in that, as I say, but I commend especially Carlos Salinas for the 
role that he's played in strengthening this special friendship that 
benefits both our peoples. The Mexican President has done an awful lot 
to hold out his hand to us, to emphasize the importance to Mexico of the 
U.S.-Mexican relationship. And he's done a wonderful job.
    I want to thank all of you for letting me share this special day, a 
day made even more meaningful because 1992 marks 500 years of Hispanic 
heritage in this hemisphere. And this heritage is a wonderful, rich 
tapestry that our kids, Barbara, and I were lucky enough to first 
experience during our west Texas years. I remember our Cinco de Mayo 
festivities out there, exploring the ties between our countries, ties of 
family, friendship, and faith. So, my expo-

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sure to Cinco de Mayo started in the year 1949 out in west Texas, and 
it's been a part of us ever since.
    The Bushes are very lucky to be able to keep that celebration alive. 
Our daughter-in-law, as some of you know, was from Mexico, now an 
American citizen, and we take great pride in that. Three of our 
grandchildren are Hispanic-American, and they bring the wonder of this 
dual heritage into our family. I have only one complaint with them. All 
four of them, my daughter-in-law and the three grandchildren, none of 
them has been able to teach their grandfather to speak Spanish. 
[Laughter] When things calm down a little, maybe I can make a little 
more headway.
    I remember being so proud when Noelle, our granddaughter, and her 
mariachi group sang at Barbara's First Ladies luncheon during our 
inauguration. I heard the mariachi group upstairs, and I'm kind of glad 
that there wasn't a comparison between Noelle's mariachi group and this 
group of wonderful musicians that enlivened the festivities here. But I 
was delighted to hear the music today.
    We all know the facts of Cinco de Mayo, that long-ago May 5th when 
General Zaragoza and his outnumbered troops stood up to the empire of 
Napoleon III. Stirring facts, but what's most important is the spirit of 
that day, the spirit of those few poorly-armed men who turned the battle 
into a glorious symbol. Cinco de Mayo is a symbol of the struggle for 
self-determination against astounding odds, and it's the symbol of a 
brave people's unbeatable determination to fight for their own destiny. 
It's a day like the downing of the Berlin Wall, the vote against 
apartheid, the defeat of Iraq's aggression: events that transform our 
world and the way we see each other. It's also of course, a national 
holiday, a day of pride in Mexican culture, a day of pride in Mexican 
heritage.
    The Los Angeles Unified School District sponsors an annual Cinco de 
Mayo essay contest, and I just want to share with you a couple of the 
quotes. A senior high school student wrote that this day, and here's the 
quote, ``instilled within me pride and appreciation for the beauty of my 
people and the richness of my roots.'' And a middle school student 
wrote, ``The real significance of Cinco de Mayo is the pride Mexicans 
everywhere have in their heritage.''
    And that's a glorious thing to celebrate. And when I think of the 
Hispanic community in our country, the first words to come to mind are 
faith, family, and freedom. These values have been interwoven into the 
strong, bright fabric of the Hispanic tradition for generations, and 
they're also the very values that this Nation was founded on.
    Cinco de Mayo shows that we all have debts to our ancestors who took 
risks and made sacrifices for us, whether on the battlefield or out in 
the farm field. And we must honor these men and women who ached to pass 
on a richer life, a freer life, a better life, who sacrificed all they 
had in order to guarantee opportunity, freedom, and hope for their 
children and their children's children. One essay winner in this Los 
Angeles contest wrote, ``Celebrating the deeds of our ancestors helps us 
keep in touch with our history and reminds us of past suffering and 
hardship that brought about the comfort we have today.'' Cinco de Mayo, 
it does not belong solely to another land; it's a celebration of ideals 
that know no border. And today we rejoice at the men and women who came 
to this country from across the world, brought their finest strengths, 
their rich culture, their proudest tradition, and fit them into the 
vibrant mosaic that is America.
    We must also look toward the future to prepare the legacy we will 
leave our children. I believe of all the gifts that we could give them, 
the three most important are jobs, family, and peace. And the America we 
will leave to our country will be a better land and a more just land if 
we make progress here on five key areas. I'm thinking of our health care 
system, our legal system, our education system, our system of 
Government, and of course, we must expand world trade. These are the 
keys to thriving in the future.
    And so much depends upon trade. Mexico and the United States share a 
great deal. President Salinas, as I say, is a dear friend. He also is a 
bold and imaginative leader, and the deep and enduring relation-

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ship we're forging between our countries is based on cooperation, mutual 
respect, and open trade. And I will fight to tear down economic barriers 
with Mexico.
    I notice the portrait of Juarez watching us. And seeing him reminds 
me of that great fresco I saw upstairs, ``The Liberators of the American 
Continent.'' For those who haven't seen it, it's a symbol of the 
friendship and union that we share. It shows the great leaders of our 
lands and a picture of North America and Latin America shaking hands. 
This idealized portrait shows what we're going to achieve in trade 
because I am absolutely committed--put the politics aside--I am 
absolutely committed to signing a sound North American free trade 
agreement just as soon as possible. The time of opportunity is now. I've 
told our negotiators to accelerate their work. I believe we can conclude 
a sound and sensible deal before this United States election, and I will 
sign it just as soon as it's ready.
    A great lesson of our age is that trade and enterprise can build 
jobs and certainly can preserve freedom. NAFTA, the North American free 
trade agreement, will be the key to higher standards of living for the 
peoples of our continent. I hope it helps, and I'm sure it will, the 
standard of living in Mexico. I know it will do the same for the United 
States. And then I believe the benefits will flow south where it will 
open the door for other such free trade agreements. It will liberate our 
markets, and it will increase trade, investment, and jobs, yes, jobs, in 
Mexico, in Canada, and right here in the United States of America.
    I must say, as I look over here I have a little guilt complex 
because I see Bernie Aronson who is working so very hard and in such 
effectiveness to bring forth a trade agreement, and he's done a 
wonderful job in our relationship. Bernie, I should have mentioned you 
earlier, but I'm just delighted you're here.
    But as he knows and all of us, I think, know, a free trade market 
made up of these three nations, Mexico, Canada, and the United States, 
would be the stuff of dreams, one of the largest markets in the world, 
360 million consumers in a $6 trillion economy.
    Now, Mexico is among the fastest growing national markets for U.S. 
exports, and they've increased by two-thirds just over the past 3 years. 
And our exports of auto parts and telecommunications equipment have 
doubled. Imagine what will happen under a free trade agreement. It will 
create thousands more jobs on both sides of the border. And all of us 
will be winners. And in that spirit of vital cooperation, I know that we 
will grow together.
    But all communities within the United States need to pause right now 
in the wake of tragic events in Los Angeles. We must rethink and 
reaffirm the bonds that knit all nationalities together. The violence 
brought much suffering to the Los Angeles Hispanic community. And I am 
certain that many of you, as did I, shared in their pain. And even as my 
heart, too, goes out to them, I found in the midst of the devastation 
there were signs of promise, neighbor helping neighbor, regardless of 
race or cultural background. Converging in Los Angeles were three 
fundamental issues of a civilized society: justice, order, and 
tolerance. And these must remain our goals as we mend the wounds of Los 
Angeles. From New York to San Antonio to San Jose, we must redouble our 
efforts to build on our strengths, the same strengths of character that 
are at the heart of the Hispanic community here in the United States and 
in Mexico as well.
    My friends, I look forward to spending future Cinco de Mayo days 
with you. I loved the music, as I said. I can't wait to hear it again. 
And thank you very much, Gus, for including me in this wonderful day. 
And here's something my 8-year-old grandson, Jebby, did teach me: Vaya 
con Dios.
    Thank you very, very much.

                    Note: The President spoke at 2:17 p.m. at the 
                        Mexican Cultural Institute. In his remarks, he 
                        referred to Ambassador Gustavo Petricioli of 
                        Mexico; Jose Nino, president of the U.S.-
                        Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Raul Yzaguirre, 
                        president of the National Council of La Raza; 
                        and Bernard W. Aronson, Assistant Secretary of 
                        State for Inter-American Affairs.