[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[October 18, 2000]
[Pages 2218-2219]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2000 President's Cup in
Lake Manassas, Virginia
October 18, 2000

    Thank you. Thank you very much, Dan. Governor, Commissioner Finchem, Captain 
Venturi, Captain Thomson, and the American and international teams, ladies and 
gentlemen, I want to begin by saying how privileged I feel to be the 
honorary chairman of this tournament and to be here on this magnificent 
fall day at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, where my friend Vernon 
Jordan and I have spent so many happy days 
playing golf.
    As a gesture of good will, I left my clubs home today. [Laughter] 
Actually, I offered to play on the American team, but when I had to 
confess I have never broken 80 on this course--even from the white 
tees--I was immediately rejected, showing how much the world has changed 
since President Johnson said, ``There's one lesson you better learn if 
you want to be in politics: Never go out on a golf course and beat the 
President.'' [Laughter] I keep passing that out, even to strangers, and 
no one takes it seriously anymore. [Laughter]
    Let me say to all of you, I love the President's Cup--the greatest 
players from around the world and here in the United States playing for 
sheer love of the game and competition, pride of nation, donating their 
winnings to their favorite charities. After this year, the four 
President's Cup competitions will have raised more than $6 million for 
100 charities to fund schools and hospitals, to fight disease, to teach 
young people not only the skills but the sportsmanship of golf. That is 
the genius of the President's Cup, and I thank all of you who are part 
of that.
    If I might, I'd also like to say a word in my capacity as Commander 
in Chief of the Armed Forces. I want to thank Captain Venturi and the American team members for wearing the black arm 
bands in honor of those who perished aboard the U.S.S. Cole. I spent the

[[Page 2219]]

morning with the families of the fallen and injured sailors and their 
larger Navy family in Norfolk.
    Like the golfers here, they come from many different ethnic and 
religious backgrounds. Like you, they stood for our common humanity and 
those who want to build a world where we bridge our differences and 
celebrate our diversity. When you play in this tournament with honor and 
by the rules, respecting the character and ability of your opponents, 
you show the world, including those rooting hard for you, the way we all 
ought to live and work. You offer another rebuke, although gentle and 
gentlemanly, to those who believe our differences are more important 
than our common humanity.
    I ask you to say a little prayer for those folks tonight. This is a 
tough day for them. Almost all those 17 sailors were very young, just 
beginning life's journey. But they were proud of what they did, and what 
they did and what their successors do today is very important. May God 
bless them and their families.
    Now, as the honorary chairman, my first order of business is to 
declare this tournament officially open. Secondly, I have been 
informed--much against my better instincts--to declare this a no-
mulligans zone. [Laughter] Now, I would like to invite the two captains up here to join me for 
a presentation and before the Cup.
    Thank you very much, and God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 4:58 p.m. at the Robert Trent Jones Golf 
Club. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. James S. Gilmore III of 
Virginia; Tim Finchem, commissioner, PGA Tour; Ken Venturi, U.S. team 
captain, and Peter Thomson, international team captain; and Vernon 
Jordan, president, Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.