    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [October 5, 1995]
    [Pages 1536-1543]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Presenting the Arts and Humanities Awards
    October 5, 1995

        The President. Thank you very much. It's an eerie feeling being
    introduced by your wife. [Laughter] You never know what's going to be
    said. [Laughter] You're steeling yourself for the discipline not to show
    any adverse reaction. [Laughter] We're having a good time today, Hillary
    and I are. We love this day; we look forward to it. And we thank all of
    you for coming. We thank especially Senator Pell and Senator Simpson.
    Thank you for coming. We're glad to see you.
        We thank the members of the administration who are here. I see
    Secretary Riley and Deputy Secretary Kunin of Education; and Roger
    Johnson, the Director of the General Services Administration. There may
    be others here. I thank

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    all of you for being here. I want to say a special word of thanks for
    the service of Jane Alexander and Sheldon Hackney for the great job that
    they have done. I thank my good friend John Brademas, the Chairman of
    the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and Diane Frankel,
    the Director of the Institute for Museum Services. And I thank all the
    members of the Arts and the Humanities Councils who are here for their
    willingness to serve.
        It's a great honor for me to be able to present today the National
    Medal of Arts and the Charles Frankel Prize in the Humanities to a
    distinguished group of Americans who have lived their lives as builders,
    bringing people enlightenment, bringing people enjoyment, advancing the
    cause of human knowledge and human understanding and the joy in life.
    Before I do that, I think I ought to say, we've had a couple of pieces
    of good news this morning at the White House, which at least are not
    inconsistent with what so many of these people have given their lives
    to.
        The President of Mexico called me this morning and told me that,
    after all the difficulties his country had faced in recent months, that
    he was making an early repayment of $700 million of the money they
    borrowed from the United States to keep their economy going. And I think
    that's a good thing.
        You know, when you loan money, you never know whether it's a good
    thing or not until it's too late to do anything about it. [Laughter]
    Some of you have been in that position. But they're our friends; they're
    our allies; they're our partners for the future. They're fighting for
    their democracy, and they're fighting for the quality of their country's
    economy. They hit a rough spot in the road, and they borrowed less money
    than we authorized them to, and they're paying it back more quickly. And
    we're going to have a brighter future as a result of it and a safer,
    more secure future and a better partnership. And that's a good thing.
        And perhaps even more importantly, I learned early this morning that
    in 5 days from now, if we can just get a couple of things done, the
    parties in Bosnia have agreed to a complete cease-fire of all military
    hostilities. They have furthermore agreed to come for what are called
    ``proximity peace talks''--I'll tell you about that in a minute; that's
    a Government language word--to the United States to actually talk about
    hammering out a final peace agreement in late October. So this is a good
    day for the cause of peace and prosperity in the world and in the United
    States.
        Proximity peace talks means that they'll all come to the same
    country, to the same town, to the same place, but they'll let us talk to
    them, and they won't talk to each other until--[laughter]--but that's
    better than it's been. [Laughter] And sooner or later, we'll all find
    out we have more in common than we do dividing us. And that's the lesson
    that we hope the American people keep in mind us we go through the next
    months and years as well.
        I think it's fair to say that no President has ever enjoyed these
    award ceremonies more than I have because every year I get a chance to
    recognize the lifetime achievements of people who have been heroes to me
    in various ways, men and women who, unbeknownst to them, have been my
    teachers, my role models, my inspiration, because, as President, I am no
    different than any other American who enjoys literature or music or art
    and architecture. And I have benefited, as so many of you have, from the
    work of the people we recognize today.
        These awards call attention to the lives of 17 individuals and one
    organization who have worked to enrich the lives of millions and
    millions of Americans, millions of people around the world, and have
    made this country a stronger, better, richer place. They are genuine
    examples of the American ideal, and their work as a whole is a national
    treasure.
        The arts and humanities have energized the American dream in so many
    ways. The soul of our country has literally been shaped by the vision of
    our artists and the creativity of those whom we honor here today. And
    many others in the past have helped America to become and to remain the
    freest, most democratic nation in the world. Through the arts and
    humanities, we assert both our oneness and our diversity. And in
    celebrating this ideal, we move forward together.
        Human creativity is clearly the most powerful force on Earth. And
    these awardees have exercised that power to the fullest. They have woven
    for us a wonderful mosaic of music and dance, art and literature to
    comfort and inspire a troubled world.
        The importance of this work is more important now, perhaps, than
    ever before as our country and our world go through a period of
    unprecedented change, changes that are both

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    bringing us together and ripping up the bonds that have united us in the
    past. In a nation as diverse as ours, our arts and our humanities are
    bridges to help us reach out to one another and understand one another
    better. Projects like the NEH's national conversation are truly helping
    us to accomplish this.
        In the face of those who would divide us, we must remain steadfast
    in supporting the arts and humanities as a way of coming together while
    we celebrate our diversity. Our support for them is not the preservation
    of some extravagant cultural elite, it is the preservation of our
    cultural tradition for all Americans and especially for those who,
    unlike me and so many of us, are not part of anybody's elite, and they
    need their country to make sure they have access to the great heritage
    of America as well.
        For the last 30 years, the National Endowment for the Arts and the
    National Endowment for the Humanities have made the arts and humanities
    accessible to millions of our fellow citizens from schoolchildren to
    people in our inner cities to citizens in our most isolated rural
    communities, many of whom would never have experienced these gifts had
    they not been offered so freely by our Nation's artists and scholars and
    by their Nation's Government.
        For a very small contribution, both the NEA and the NEH have made
    vital contributions to the life of this Nation. Each of the awardees we
    recognize here today has been a pioneer. Sometimes they've made us
    laugh. Sometimes they've helped us cry. Sometimes they've challenged us
    to see the error of our ways. Sometimes they've helped us to celebrate
    the strength of our goodness. But always they have lifted us to higher
    ground.
        I am honored to confer upon this wonderful group of Americans the
    National Medal of the Arts and the Charles Frankel Prize. First, the
    Medal of the Arts winners.
        Licia Albanese: the beginning of her career came as something of a
    surprise. When the lead soprano in a Milan production of ``Madame
    Butterfly'' fell ill during the performance, this young singer was
    called upon to finish the opera. Her performance that evening brought
    the house down. And a career that spanned more than 30 years was
    launched.
        She went on to leading roles in operas all around the world, always
    creating characters memorable not only for the arias they sang but for
    their intense vitality. She had the rare ability to combine her great
    talent as a singer with equal talent as an actress. It was once said
    that Licia Albanese had the two qualities which all great artists have,
    simplicity and sincerity. Most recently, she and her late husband
    founded the Puccini Foundation, and she has worked tirelessly for the
    benefit of opera and its survival as an art form.
        Please welcome our first honoree, Licia Albanese.

    [At this point, the President and Hillary Clinton presented the medal
    and congratulated Ms. Albanese.]

        Gwendolyn Brooks began writing poetry when she was only 11. And at
    the age of 13, her first poem was published. More than 75 others
    followed, while she was still a teenager. For four decades, Gwendolyn
    Brooks has drawn on the black experience to create poetry that speaks to
    all of us in a frank and familiar way. She served as the poetry
    consultant to the Library of Congress, and today is the poet laureate of
    Illinois. In 1949, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. She
    has kept alive the culture of her roots through the cultivation of her
    words.
        Gwendolyn Brooks.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the medal and congratulated
    Ms. Brooks.]

        Each painter, performer, or thinker here today has in one way or
    another served to create a legacy in the halls of American art. Their
    contributions shall be forever remembered in their fields and beyond.
    But their work might never have seen the light of day were it not for
    generous, committed, and visionary citizens like two of those whom we
    honor, Iris and Bernie Cantor.
        They have helped literally countless young artists to succeed.
    They've introduced countless young people to the joys of art. The grants
    and gifts bestowed by the Cantor family have built and filled the
    galleries and museums across our Nation. From the Rodin sculptures given
    to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art to the grants for exhibitions
    at institutions such as our own Arkansas Art Center at home to the
    sculpture exhibit here at the White House, the Cantors' love for art has
    known no bounds. They've done much to keep the arts alive in America,
    and we owe them our thanks. Bernie could not be with us here today. But
    Hillary and I are

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    delighted that our good friend Iris Cantor is here to accept the award
    on behalf of both of them.
        Iris and Bernie Cantor.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the medal and congratulated
    Mrs. Cantor.]

        It's a special honor for me today to honor another husband and wife
    team that has shown that a commitment to the issues facing the world
    around us can be just as important a part of their lives and our lives
    as a commitment to the art one creates. Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee met in
    1946, performing in a Broadway version of ``Jeb Turner''. I want to say
    that again. They met in 1946, while performing in a Broadway version of
    ``Jeb Turner''--[laughter]--a play in which she was violating the child
    labor laws at the time. [Laughter] They were married a year later. And
    they have performed individually and together now for almost 50 years.
        While the stage and screen have kept them busy with such projects as
    ``A Raisin in the Sun,'' ``The Jackie Robinson Story,'' and ``Do The
    Right Thing,'' they have continued to fight for others' struggle for
    equality. Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee have helped groups such as the NAACP,
    the Urban League, the AIDS projects, like Housing Works. In 1986 they
    produced a PBS tribute entitled ``Martin Luther King: The Dream and the
    Drum.'' Their vision and their talent shine as brightly today as they
    did on that first day when they met on Broadway so long ago, and our
    country is very much a better place because of their life and their
    work.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the medal and congratulated
    Mr. Davis and Ms. Dee.]

        Having written no fewer than 100 pieces of music by the time he
    graduated from high school, David Diamond was well on his way to
    becoming one of America's most accomplished and disciplined composers
    very early in his youth. His dedication and commitment throughout his
    distinguished career has made him a master at the craft of creating
    music.
        He's a proud adherent to the classical tradition and has made
    outstanding contributions to the field for more than 60 years now. An
    inspiration both to those within his field as well as those who simply
    enjoy the music he creates, David Diamond truly exemplifies the spirit
    of American creativity.
        Mr. Diamond.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the medal and congratulated
    Mr. Diamond.]

        Born in Germany, James Ingo Freed came to the United States as a 9-
    year-old refugee in 1939. After earning his architectural degree in
    1953, he joined the offices of I.M. Pei and Partners. Widely published
    and respected within the world of architecture, he has been the
    recipient of many major awards, and most recently, he has been
    justifiably celebrated for his creation of the magnificent, for most of
    us, overwhelming United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, an
    extraordinary structure that houses many painful memories but ultimately
    inspires its visitors to strive for a better future. We're honoring him
    today for that monumental achievement but also for his lifelong
    dedication to his craft which continues in this city at this moment as
    the Federal Triangle building comes up and moves toward completion.
    Let's give him a warm welcome.
        James Ingo Freed.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the medal and congratulated
    Mr. Freed.]

        Our next awardee obviously needs no introduction. He was cited by
    the Guiness Book of Records as the most honored entertainer in the
    world. [Laughter] Maybe we ought not to do this. [Laughter] Bob Hope has
    more than 1,000 awards and citations for his humanitarian and
    professional success. He's been honored more than--I think, five times
    by the Motion Picture Academy, including receiving an honorary Oscar and
    the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. But I know something that some of
    you probably don't know. He would far rather go down in history as a
    great golfer. [Laughter] This morning when I saw him, Bob said, ``Well,
    how's your golf game?'' I said, ``It's pretty good, but it's too rainy
    today. We can't play.'' He said, ``That's too bad, I'll miss taking your
    money.'' [Laughter] Unfortunately, that's not as funny as you think it
    is. [Laughter] Known the world over for his wonderful wit and sense of
    humor, Bob Hope has brought laughter and pleasure and a happier outlook
    on life to generations of American citizens and especially to our troops
    in uniform all around the world.
        He began entertaining American service men and women even before
    World War II, and he's done it in every conflict since. In 1971,

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    Bob Hope took his commitment to the people of America one step further
    by applying for a visa to Laos to help negotiate the release of our
    prisoners there. When he wasn't performing across oceans, Bob Hope was
    making films and making people laugh here in America. I can honestly say
    that those films are still making all the members of my family laugh
    every time they're shown on the television here.
        But even with his busy career, Bob Hope never lost sight of the
    truly important things in life, helping people in need. He's helped
    raise more than $1 billion for hospitals, for the disabled, the Boy
    Scouts, and numerous other health and human service causes. His annual
    golf tournament every year, which he still plays in, directs, and
    manages, is an example of a man whose commitment to doing this kind of
    work truly is a lifetime endeavor.
        He is perhaps the finest example of a successful American
    entertainer whose greatest performance is in what he does off stage
    every day. I am so delighted that Bob Hope and his wonderful wife,
    Dolores, are both here today. And I'd like to ask Bob now to come up and
    receive his award.
        Mr. Bob Hope.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the medal and congratulated
    Mr. Hope.]

        Mr. Hope. I just want to say a couple of words. I appreciate this,
    Mr. President. [Laughter] But last year during our golf tournament, I
    called the President, and I said, ``Do you think you could get out here
    and play with us during our tournament?'' And he said, ``I don't know.''
    And I got a hold of Mr. Bush, George Bush, and I got a hold of President
    Ford. And the four of us played, and we raised $1,400,000 for the
    hospital out there. And I just wanted to thank him right now in person.
    That's it; that's it. [Laughter]
        The President. American art is not limited to portraits or
    landscapes or still lifes. The broad range of subjects reflects the
    diversity of American experience. Roy Lichtenstein is one of the
    pioneers who challenged convention and opened our eyes to new styles of
    expression. In the early sixties, he was one of just a small group to
    experiment with popular icons as subject material. I hope that doesn't
    make a comeback. [Laughter]
        His works are well known and have appeared in numerous exhibitions
    all around this country. In addition, Roy was one of several artists
    commissioned to work on the New York State Pavilion for the 1964 World
    Fair. I hope that the pioneering spirit exemplified by Roy Lichtenstein
    will always, always live in the artists of America. It's been a real
    honor for Hillary and for me to get to know Roy and his wife and his
    work. And we're very grateful for it and glad to honor him here today.
        Roy Lichtenstein.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the medal and congratulated
    Mr. Lichtenstein.]

        For nearly four decades, Arthur Mitchell has been a pivotal figure
    in American dance. The protege of the great George Balanchine, he was
    the first African-American dancer to become a principal artist in the
    New York City Ballet. After leaving the company in 1966, he went on to a
    career on Broadway and as an artistic director. But always, always,
    there was the call of his home, Harlem.
        Following the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1968, the next
    year Arthur Mitchell realized a dream by returning to Harlem as the
    founder of the Dance Theater of Harlem. It is now recognized as one of
    the world's premier dance troupes. His dedication to young people and to
    dance are truly legendary. We are honored by his presence here today and
    by the lifetime of creativity, achievement he has demonstrated and, most
    of all, that he found a way to go back to his roots and lift people up
    with their God-given talents.
        Mr. Arthur Mitchell.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the medal and congratulated
    Mr. Mitchell.]

        Speaking of roots, this next awardee is one from mine. Bill Monroe
    is heralded as the father of bluegrass music, a title that is a fitting
    tribute to his truly innovative and inventive style. Bluegrass is known
    for its free improvisation, and in its way, it embodies the essence of
    the American spirit. Bill's own roots stem from rural Kentucky. When he
    was just 10 years old, he began to play the guitar and the mandolin.
    Along with his two older brothers, Charlie and Birch, he made music on
    the front porch of their family home. Later, Bill Monroe and his Blue
    Grass Boys established themselves as more than just a string band by
    blending different vocal harmonies with instrumental solos. And over the

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    years, the band continued to gain recognition for its novel combination
    of instruments.
        Bill Monroe was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970
    and joined the International Bluegrass Music Association's Hall of Honor
    in 1991. For people who follow and love that music, Bill Monroe is truly
    an American legend. He's added so much through his lifetime career to
    the rich heritage of this great Nation's music.
        Mr. Bill Monroe.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the medal and congratulated
    Mr. Monroe.]

        He said, ``I'm younger than Bob Hope, but I'd still like to say a
    thing or two.'' [Laughter]
        Mr. Monroe. Bob Hope is a great man. I'm glad that he's here. But
    what I wanted to tell you folks, I have played for the last four
    Presidents of the United States, President Carter, President Reagan,
    President Bush, President Clinton here. And they all tell me that the
    music I originated belongs to America. And I'm really proud of that.
    It's a great honor. Thank you.
        The President. Thank you. God bless you.
        Now, it is a great honor for me to present the award we give every
    year to an arts organization. As the largest and most comprehensive arts
    and education program in the entire Nation, Urban Gateways has been
    cited as a model by the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1994 alone,
    Urban Gateways reached over 1 million people in over 11,000 programs
    established in Chicago area schools. Armed with the belief that exposure
    to the arts is crucial to personal development, the program helps bridge
    the gap between Chicago's vast cultural wealth and the huge number of
    children from disadvantaged communities. At a time when so many of our
    children are being lost to the horrors of drugs and violence, Urban
    Gateways has assumed responsibility for our young people's youth. The
    organization gives them guidance and an important outlet for their
    creative energies.
        Here today to accept the award is Urban Gateways' executive
    director, Sandra Furey. She has led Urban Gateways to the frontlines in
    the campaign to keep the arts alive in the minds of our children and, in
    so doing, to keep our children alive and well and strong for the future
    of this great Nation. Let's give her a big hand. [Applause]

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the medal and congratulated
    Ms. Furey.]

        And now it is my honor to introduce the winners of the 1995 Charles
    Frankel Prize. The first winner, Bill Ferris, leads the sort of life I'd
    like to lead if I had another one to live. I mean, he lives in the Deep
    South. He writes funny, wonderful books. And he's still trying to find
    out if Elvis is alive. He's probably done more than anyone else to bring
    national recognition and understanding to the field of Southern studies.
    As many of you know, he seriously was one of the organizers of the
    recent, highly successful Elvis conference at the University of
    Mississippi at Oxford. Since 1979, he has directed the Center for the
    Study of Southern Culture at Ole Miss, where he's built Southern studies
    curriculum into the most extensive in the Nation. He was a consultant to
    the movie ``The Color Purple,'' and for nearly a decade until 1994, as
    the blues doctor, he hosted ``Highway 61,'' a weekly blues music program
    that airs on Mississippi public radio. His scholarship covers the fields
    of folklore, American literature, music, and photography.
        I want to thank him for bringing the culture and music of my
    homeland to all Americans. A remarkable person.
        Mr. Bill Ferris.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the prize and congratulated
    Mr. Ferris.]

        Too often, television overlooks the lives and poignant stories of
    ordinary Americans who may not show up on the evening news, but whose
    extraordinary lives keep our country going. Charles Kuralt recognized
    this problem nearly 30 years ago. In 1967, he asked his boss to let him
    wander around the country for 3 months, and the critically acclaimed
    show ``On the Road'' was born. Through his travels, Charles Kuralt
    brought hundreds of courageous Americans into the living rooms of our
    country. And in so doing, he helped raise issues of social concern, such
    as funding for education, the problems of poverty, the plight of small
    businesses. But understanding the needs of others comes naturally to
    Charles Kuralt. His father, Wallace, was a North Carolina social worker
    who worked all his life on programs that provided day care, substance
    abuse counseling, and planned parenthood services. That spirit is alive
    and well in his son today.

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        The numerous awards and 13 Emmys Charles Kuralt holds are but a
    small reward for what he has given to all the rest of us. It's
    unfortunate that he was unable to attend today. We send him our wishes
    for a very speedy recovery from surgery that he had earlier this week,
    and we're glad that here to receive his award is his daughter, Lisa
    Kuralt White.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the prize and congratulated
    Ms. White.]

        David Macaulay has written several books detailing the insides of
    complicated machines. He can even explain ``the way things work.''
    [Laughter] We could use him around here in the next couple of weeks.
    [Laughter] He has devoted his professional life to the investigation of
    architecture and mechanics. His books have helped children and adults
    alike to understand the world's rich history of construction and
    architecture. Using detailed illustrations, his books help to unfold the
    mysteries of both man and machine. David Macaulay's works serve as a
    bridge between humankind's earliest attempts at building and the most
    modern techniques of today. His painstaking efforts have made knowledge
    and investigation more accessible to the rest of us who could never have
    understood them on our own but whose lives were richer and more
    enlightened and whose citizenship more informed as a result of his work.
        Mr. David Macaulay.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the prize and congratulated
    Mr. Macaulay.]

        All of us know that history well-written and well-learned can be a
    great teacher. It can demonstrate what we are capable of at our best and
    what we may do wrong at our worst. In his remarkable body of work, David
    McCullough has shown us the true character of many of our country's most
    heroic figures and many of its most important events and eras.
        From his wonderfully successful and enlightening biography on
    President Truman to his look at the building of the Brooklyn Bridge to
    his work as the voice of the highly regarded PBS series ``The American
    Experience,'' David McCullough has given us a window into the lives of
    outstanding Americans and important events. His work emphasizes the
    value of history and our place in it. Along with his research, he spends
    many hours working for the preservation of historic sites, of public
    libraries, and of other institutions across America which enable us to
    preserve and learn about our roots. We should never forget what David
    McCullough has asked us to remember. And we should never forget his
    incredible contribution in helping us to preserve that memory.
        Mr. David McCullough.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the prize and congratulated
    Mr. McCullough.]

        Bernice Johnson Reagon is perhaps best known as the guiding spirit
    and resonant alto voice of Sweet Honey in the Rock, the famous a
    cappella quintet she founded in 1973. Singing an eclectic blend of
    gospel, jazz, folk, and rhythm and blues, the group has carried its
    message of world peace, women's rights, and racial harmony on tour
    throughout our Nation and throughout the world. If that were all she had
    done, Professor Reagon would be worthy of this award. But her creative
    energy is truly unlimited.
        For nearly 35 years, she's helped to preserve, celebrate, and
    illuminate the rich heritage of African-American music as a civil rights
    activist, as a singer-composer, an author, an historian, a museum
    curator. Since 1993, she's been distinguished professor of history at
    American University here in Washington. Her latest contribution to
    public understanding of African-American music is the 26-part radio
    documentary ``Wade in the Water: African-American Sacred Music
    Traditions,'' which aired beginning in 1994 on National Public Radio
    stations nationwide. She is a messenger of peace, and I am deeply
    honored that she is with us today.
        ``Sweet Honey in the Rock,'' for those of you who haven't heard it,
    is a truly inspiring experience, but the work of her life is even more
    inspiring.

    [The President and Hillary Clinton presented the prize and congratulated
    Ms. Reagon.]

        Let me thank again all the honorees and congratulate them. Thank all
    of you for coming. Let me thank all the distinguished saxophonists who
    came here to be with us today for their work. [Applause] Thank you all
    for your contributions and your devotion to the American way of life.
        God bless you all. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:15 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House. In his remarks,

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    the President referred to President Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico.