[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: GEORGE W. BUSH (2001, Book I)]
[April 27, 2001]
[Pages 465-467]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



 Remarks at the Dedication of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum 
in Austin, Texas
 April 27, 2001

     Thank you, Governor; and thank you, 
Jan, very much for having Laura and me. We're 
sure glad to be home. I love my work; I really do. I love what I'm 
doing. But I've got to confess, I miss my friends in Texas, and it's 
good to see so many of my friends here today. It's also good to be here 
with members of the Bullock family and the many whose lives he touched.
    Governor Perry, I appreciate the job you're 
doing here in Texas. Some of you may recall that I had mixed feelings 
about leaving the Governor's office, but it was easier knowing that I 
was leaving the State in pretty darn good hands. And when I decided to 
leave, I joined the former Governors club. I'm your newest member. But I 
see three of the members here today, Governors Briscoe, Smith, and 
Clements, and we're honored by your 
presence.
     And representing the family of the 36th President is Lucy Baines 
Johnson. Laura and I live in your former 
home, and we look forward to the day we can welcome you and your lovely 
mom back to Washington.
     It's good to be here with the Lieutenant Governor, and I congratulate him on his promotion. And of course, 
my friend the Speaker--it's great to 
see both Nelda and Pete; we miss you both a lot. 
I see a lot of other familiar faces here as well, members of the 
legislature--some of you smiling--[laughter]--some of those same old 
familiar scowls. [Laughter] And it's good to see a lot of other folks 
from back in the days when it seemed like everybody worked for Bob 
Bullock.
     This is really a fine museum. Laura and I were honored to be able 
to tour it. It is magnificent. Everybody in Texas needs

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to come and see it. And so I want to congratulate the members of the 
preservation board; Clay Johnson and Dealey 
Herndon and John Nau, 
who took the idea from paper to reality. They deserve a lot of credit 
for their vision.
     In the years to come, visitors will take the tour we have just 
taken. They'll view the exhibits. They'll come upon the statue of the 
38th Lieutenant Governor of Texas and see it just as the way we saw it 
today. With time passing, fewer visitors will know Bob Bullock as we 
knew him, and we're the lucky ones.
     If you knew him, you were very much aware of this fact: He had a 
way of making himself clear. [Laughter] Nobody ever came out of a 
meeting with Bob Bullock thinking, ``Gee, I wonder what's on his mind.'' 
[Laughter] As a result, many of us knew that Bob didn't want his name on 
this building. Well, that's just too darn bad. We have no choice but to 
overrule him. You see, to a great building like this, telling the story 
of Texas and standing right here in the center of our State's capital, 
the only name to give it was ``Bob Bullock.''
    I can't help thinking how much he would have loved to hearing ``Hail 
to the Chief'' played here in Austin. Bob seemed to know my future 
before I did. He was among the first people who told me I was going to 
be the President, and like always, he made it sound like an order. 
[Laughter] His confidence meant a lot to me, and I've thought a lot 
about him when I've sat in the Oval Office.
    Along with his predictions, I always got some advice from Bob. One 
of the last times we talked, he had just seen a picture of me on a 
magazine. He took the oxygen mask off and summoned up some strength in 
his frail body, and he said, ``You need to smile more for the cameras.'' 
[Laughter] I seem to remember a few other occasions when Bob gave me 
advice, and I was always glad he did. Many of his words of advice can't 
be quoted here--[laughter]--really only meant for mature audiences. 
[Laughter]
     We all remember Bob's gift for a colorful image and the fragrant 
phrase. But we remember the advice, too, because there was wisdom in it. 
He spoke with experience and with conviction and authority.
    In 1994 people warned me about him before I even got to Austin. We 
were men of different backgrounds and of different political parties, 
both elected to high offices in our State. He was the one who had been 
around. I recognized that early. He had the kind of influence you don't 
get with a title. And no Governor, and certainly no new Governor, had 
anything to teach him about getting anything done.
    We know how it turned out. We know there was a record of shared 
accomplishment and a record of shared credit, as well. Yet, it all could 
have worked out differently. It could have been much different. Had he 
chosen to, Bob--and for that matter, Pete Laney--could have prevented tax reform or legal 
reform or education reform. In the Constitution, I could stop 
legislation with a veto. In the capital, Bob Bullock could stop it with 
a phone call.
    But when he exercised power, it was on principle. He was a Democrat 
and a loyal one. He was a politician and a skilled one. He was a 
competitor and a tough one. When I met Bob Bullock, he was set in his 
ways. Bob Bullock had decided on his priorities. He was an American, a 
Texan, and a Democrat, in that order. He decided things on merits. He 
took his responsibilities as seriously as his power, and that's what 
made him an essential ally, a great public servant, and a towering 
figure to all who knew him.
    In Texas, we have a tradition of straight talk and fair dealing, and 
Bob Bullock embodied that. In the last 97 days, I've done my best to 
take the values I learned here in Texas to the debates in Washington. 
And there's a way yet to go, but I think we're making some progress. The 
tone is more

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civil; the respect is more widespread. I think Bob Bullock would be 
pleased.
    Something about politics in this State--in every generation, a 
figure comes along who just seems larger than life, and I'm sure they'll 
keep coming. But he was ours, Bob Bullock, and we'll always remember 
him. He's been called the last of a breed, and it's true that politics 
has changed. Let's just hope it doesn't change too much. We'll always 
need his kind of strength and toughness and shrewd wisdom. These were 
the outward qualities of a man who had more kindness and gentleness than 
he would ever admit. And that's why we miss him so much, not just 
because he was a character but because he was a charming, loving, and 
loyal friend.
    Twenty-two months ago, we stood in the rain and said goodbye to Bob 
Bullock. Today, under a warm Texas sky, we're all here again to point 
with pride to a new building and the fine name upon it. It's a happy 
moment for us who knew him, a day to reunite, a day to offer thanks, and 
a day to smile for the cameras.
    God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 12:25 p.m. outside the museum. In his 
remarks, he referred to Gov. Rick Perry and former Governors Dolph 
Briscoe, Preston Smith, and William P. Clements, Jr., of Texas; Jan 
Bullock, widow of Bob Bullock; Lucy Baines Johnson, daughter of Lady 
Bird Johnson and President Lyndon B. Johnson; Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff of 
Texas; Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives James E. ``Pete'' 
Laney and his wife, Nelda; and Clay Johnson, Dealey Herndon, and John 
Nau, members, Museum Advisory Committee.