    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [December 17, 1997]
    [Page 1792]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1792]]

    Remarks on Presenting the Congressional Space Medal of Honor
    Posthumously to Roger B. Chaffee and Edward H. White II
    December 17, 1997

        Dr. Gibbons, Mr. Goldin, Congressman Sensenbrenner, to Edward White
    and the White family, and Martha Chaffee and the Chaffee family, and
    Mrs. Grissom, other representatives of astronauts' families that are
    here.
        A generation ago, President Kennedy challenged our Nation and asked
    God's blessing to undertake the most hazardous and dangerous and
    greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked. His challenge in 1961
    to send a man to the moon and bring him safely back to Earth by the end
    of the decade captured the imagination of millions of people around the
    world. A group of pioneering Americans recognized the limitless
    possibilities of this seemingly impossible challenge, and they would
    risk their lives to make it happen.
        Two great Americans we honor today, Lieutenant Commander Roger
    Chaffee and Lieutenant Colonel Edward White, were among them. More than
    30 years ago, these two men, along with their commander, Virgil ``Gus''
    Grissom, were selected for the very first Apollo mission. Tragedy struck
    before they could achieve their goal. On January 27, 1967, fire swept
    through the Apollo capsule during a training session, killing all three
    of them. In 1978 President Carter presented Commander Grissom with one
    of the first Congressional Space Medals of Honor.
        Today I have the privilege of presenting the same medal to his
    crewmates, Roger Chaffee and Edward White, courageous men who gave their
    lives in our Nation's effort to conquer the frontiers of space. Even
    before they joined the Apollo program, Chaffee and White had already
    served our Nation with great distinction.
        Born in Texas and a member of the United States Air Force, Colonel
    White was the first American to walk in space. At a White House ceremony
    soon afterward, President Johnson called him ``one of the Christopher
    Columbuses of our century.''
        Commander Chaffee was a Michigan native and a decorated Navy pilot.
    Though he was the rookie of the crew, he didn't lack self-confidence. He
    once said, ``Hell, I'd feel secure taking it up all by myself.''
        Today we bestow upon Roger Chaffee and Edward White the highest
    honor in America's space program, but they were honored in our hearts
    long ago. Their deaths will remind us always that exploring space is
    dangerous, life-threatening work, work that demands and deserves the
    bravest and best among us. Though they never got there, astronauts
    Chaffee, White, and Grissom's footprints are on the Moon. Their presence
    is felt on every mission of our space shuttle program. Their spirits
    live on in every successful launch and every safe return. And I'm
    certain they will be there when the international space station goes
    into orbit.
        America has become the world's leading spacefaring nation because of
    the selfless pioneering spirits of the men we honor today. I am proud to
    present these medals to the families of Roger Chaffee and Edward White.
    On behalf of a grateful Nation, I thank them for their sacrifice.
        Now I'd like to ask the military aide to read the citations.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:37 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Edward H. White, III, son of Lt.
    Col. White; Martha Chaffee, widow of Lt. Comdr. Chaffee; and Betty
    Grissom, widow of Lt. Col. Virgil I. (Gus) Grissom.