    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [October 5, 1995]
    [Pages 1543-1544]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the Arts and Humanities Awards Dinner
    October 5, 1995

        The President. Ladies and gentlemen, I want to welcome all of you
    here and say again to our honorees today how very much Hillary and I
    enjoyed having all of you here and having the great honor of presenting
    your awards to you.
        Helen Hayes once said that, ``We rely upon the poets, the
    philosophers, and the playwrights to articulate what most of us can only
    feel in joy and in sorrow. They illuminate the thoughts for which we
    only grope. They give us the strength and bond we cannot find in
    ourselves, the wisdom of acceptance, the will and resilience to move
    on.''
        Those words have special meaning today as America and, indeed, our
    entire world work to find their way into a new era, an era in which
    people are dramatically changing the way they work and live and relate
    to one another.
        We must dare, as artists and poets do, to break free of the past to
    create a better future rooted in the values that never change. That is a
    great lesson our artists, our thinkers, our scholars, our supporters and
    advocates of the arts and humanities teach us. We thank you for your
    lives, your dedication. We honor all of you.
        In every period of change and upheaval, there is always great new
    opportunity and there is always a struggle between those who are best
    positioned to receive that opportunity and those who work but aren't so
    well-positioned. I want to thank tonight, especially, the National
    Endowment of the Arts and the National Endowment of the Humanities
    because, in a world where some fear we're moving to a winner-take-all
    society, you work so that all people can win in their access to the arts
    and humanities. And that is a goal worth pursuing and worth achieving.
        I thank you all for your work, and again, I say on behalf of the
    First Lady and the Vice

    [[Page 1544]]

    President and Mrs. Gore, we're honored to have our honorees here in the
    White House tonight and deeply grateful for your many contributions to
    America.
        I'd like to propose a toast to the winners of the awards today.

    [At this point, the musical entertainment continued, and then the
    President resumed speaking.]

        The President. Thank you so very much. You were both wonderful. You
    know, one of our awardees is over there in the cowboy hat there, Mr.
    Monroe, sort of the founder of bluegrass music. And I could tell by
    looking at him that I am authorized on his behalf to offer you a place
    in his next bluegrass band. [Laughter]
        We need somebody here who can play ``Blue Moon of Kentucky'' in A--
    is there a volunteer? [Laughter] Great. Bill, make sure he does it
    right.

    [Bill Monroe sang ``Blue Moon of Kentucky,'' and then dinner
    participants sang ``God Bless America.'']

        The President. Can I ask you all to give Mr. Zuckerman and our
    wonderful pianist a big hand? Weren't they terrific? Thank you. You were
    wonderful. [Applause] Let's give them a wonderful hand. They were
    terrific. Please come back. Come on up. Now, there is only one way we
    can end this magnificent evening. Come on up. You were wonderful. Thank
    you for being here. Thank you, Tuesday, for being here.
        I think we should end--I think Bob Hope should sing ``Thanks for the
    Memories.'' It's the only way you can end.

    [Bob Hope sang ``Thanks for the Memories.'']

        The President. We want you all to join us out there for dancing and
    more music, and maybe you can get the rest of them to sing, if we're
    lucky. [Laughter] Come on. Let's go out--everybody. Thanks, again, to
    everyone and especially to our wonderful musicians.
        Thank you, and good night.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:31 p.m. in the State Dining Room at the
    White House.