    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [November 3, 1997]
    [Pages 1491-1492]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the 10th Anniversary of National Public Radio's
    ``Performance Today''
    November 3, 1997

        Thank you very much, Martin. Ladies and gentlemen, as you can hear
    I'm still a little hoarse, but I'm delighted that you're here, and I'm
    delighted to be here. And I thank you for mentioning the biggest thrill
    I've had lately, the opportunity to conduct the National Symphony.
    Actually, I have been used to dealing with the Congress for so long now,
    I was surprised that they followed my lead. [Laughter] But we got
    through it just fine.
        Welcome. The first concert held in this magnificent house was on New
    Year's Day, 1801, when President John Adams invited the Marine Band to
    play. In nearly 200 years, there have been a lot of other concerts here.
    More than

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    a century ago, President Chester Arthur inaugurated the first concert
    right here in the East Room. And 20 years later, Theodore Roosevelt made
    showcasing the world's finest musicians in this room a standing
    tradition. Pablo Casals was among the first artists Theodore Roosevelt
    invited to perform, in 1904.
        It was more than 50 years later that the concert to which Martin
    referred at the outset of the performance tonight occurred, when Casals
    came back for another East Room performance when President and Mrs.
    Kennedy lived here. This was made even more momentous, of course, by the
    fact that his performance was enjoyed not simply by Cabinet members and
    diplomats gathered in the room but by Americans of all walks of life who
    could tune in on their radio stations and hear the concert.
        Hillary and I are very proud that we're able to continue this fine
    tradition tonight to have the finest of music, from classical to jazz to
    opera to gospel, with all Americans. We're honored to celebrate with you
    the 10th anniversary of ``Performance Today.'' It has been an
    extraordinary effort by National Public Radio. In just 10 years
    ``Performance Today'' has become an important part of the lives of so
    many of our fellow Americans--1.5 million Americans in more than 200
    communities listen to ``Performance Today'' every single week, and I
    know its audience will surely grow. If every American could hear what we
    heard tonight, there would be a fire sale on radios throughout America
    and everyone would want 10 or 20 more.
        We want to do what we can to continue to support the young musicians
    we've heard tonight--and I consider them all young. [Laughter] Even 50
    is young to me. [Laughter] As part of our White House Millennium
    Initiative, we'll host a series of cultural showcases shining a
    spotlight on the next generation's most promising musicians, celebrating
    their great American creativity. Who knows what great musicians and
    composers will enliven our concert halls and airwaves in the 21st
    century--the next Marsalis or Graves or Roberts or Galway or Perahia or
    Ngwenyama? And thank you, young lady, by the way, for sticking up for
    the National Endowment for the Arts, as well. We appreciate you very
    much.
        All of these great performers who have been here tonight have made
    us feel a little more alive, a little more human, and a little more
    noble. We thank them. And perhaps the best way we can honor their gift
    to us tonight is by resolving to celebrate the gifts of the future, both
    in the White House and on ``Performance Today,'' for many, many years to
    come.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:45 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Martin Goldsmith, host of NPR's
    ``Performance Today'' program; and musician Nokuthula Ngwenyama.