[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[August 18, 1992]
[Pages 1372-1373]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at an Antidrug Rally in Houston
August 18, 1992

    Thank you very, very much. Speaking of goals, that's one of the 
reasons I'm back in Houston. Yesterday we got off to a pretty good 
start, I think.
    But nevertheless let me salute first my friend Chuck Norris, friend 
of long standing, commend him on being what we call a Point of Light, 
reaching out to help others. What this program is about, kicking drugs 
out of school, it should have the support of all Americans. And I salute 
him for giving of his time so generously.
    I salute these instructors. I salute these experts that we saw in 
action. I thank you all for this most wonderful presentation. May I also 
thank the school principal who is with us; our new, or not so new but 
our most distinguished superintendent of schools; and also our new 
police chief; all of them with us today. I don't know if you saw them 
when they came in. Maybe they'd stand up. Chief?
    There's a message in all of this because we support our law 
enforcement officers who are trying to keep not only the schoolyards 
clean but preserve order in this wonderful city of ours. I salute our 
school superintendent who has led the way in making Houston a Houston 
2000 educational community, not fearing to change. He's on the 
leadership edge of literally helping revolutionize education in this 
country, and I salute him for that. As for our principal, just hearing 
wonderful things about her and what she's done. May I express our 
appreciation for letting this marvelous group

[[Page 1373]]

come in here today.
    With them today is a man who is on the cutting edge of trying to 
change education. I'm not talking about just simply fine-tuning. We're 
talking about revolutionary change. And I'm talking about our Secretary 
of Education, our national Secretary, a former Governor, Lamar 
Alexander, who is really out in the lead for new American education. 
Lamar, would you stand up?
    As you may know, we've set six educational goals for this Nation; 
got all across party politics, something that's never happened before. 
We did it, but we had with us the Democrat and the Republican Governors 
of the States. One of those goals was to have a learning place where 
people could learn without fear of crime, certainly without fear of 
drugs. And that's what this program is all about. We saw a little 
example today. I'm glad I was not in the last act on the receiving end; 
that guy looked pretty tough and pretty powerful.
    But this is happening all across the country. We are beginning to 
make enormous headway on the war on drugs. And I want to finish that 
job. Sixty percent less use of cocaine among the teenagers in this 
country, that is dramatic progress in the last 3 years. Now we've got to 
keep it going. In schools like this, school superintendents like this, 
police chiefs like this, and then dedicated teachers and students like 
this, and then dedicated leaders like Chuck Norris come together to make 
this happen, not just for today and not just for Houston but for our 
country and for tomorrow as well.
    So I am very pleased to be here. I have only one regret and that is 
that Barbara Bush, who had a school named after her in Houston--and 
she's still rubbing it in. But nevertheless--[laughter]--she is not here 
because she's out kind of nervously looking at the podium in the 
Astrodome, getting ready for her command performance tomorrow night. But 
she certainly joins in. I hope you know how committed she is to helping 
these kids be literate, helping them learn to read, helping the families 
in this country stay together so they can help the kids.
    It's a great joy to be back in Houston. Yesterday was a wonderful 
day for me. These times have been a little complicated, as some of my 
friends from Washington know that are traveling with us. But you get 
here, and you feel something happening; you feel something positive. It 
wasn't just the political arena yesterday, where we got off to a great 
start, but it's programs like this. It's the grassroots of America, 
determined to make life better for these kids, that have me inspired.
    So thank you all for what you're doing. And may God bless our great 
country.

                    Note: The President spoke at 10:20 a.m. at Hamilton 
                        Middle School. In his remarks, he referred to 
                        actor Chuck Norris; Diane B. Mutlet, principal 
                        of the school; Frank R. Petruzielo, Houston 
                        superintendent of schools; and Sam Nunchia, 
                        Houston chief of police.