[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: GEORGE W. BUSH (2001, Book I)]
[February 15, 2001]
[Pages 86-88]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks to State Department Employees
February 15, 2001

    The President. Mr. Secretary, thank you 
very much. It's an honor to be here with you, and thank you all for that 
warm welcome.

[[Page 87]]

    As the Secretary mentioned, I'm focusing 
this week on America's national security. And few are more important to 
that mission than the people of the State Department, both Foreign 
Service and civil service. Our gathering here will be seen by some 
10,000 State Department personnel in the Washington area. It will be 
seen by 37,000 committed men and women, including many Foreign Service 
national employees in 250 posts all over the world.
    So to those in this room, those around the town, those across the 
world, thank you for what you do on behalf of the American people. You 
do so much to sustain America's position in the world and so much to 
foster freedom. And for that, we are grateful.
    In a few moments I'll go upstairs to witness the swearing-in of 38 
new Foreign Service officers. Our hope is that they draw strength and 
inspiration from your example, because you all are the finest diplomats 
in the world.
    The flags that surround us here represent every country with whom 
the United States has diplomatic relations. They are a powerful reminder 
that you are one department of our Government that literally never 
sleeps. America's commitments and responsibilities span the world in 
every time zone. Every day you fulfill those responsibilities with quiet 
excellence. You solve problems before they become headlines. You resolve 
crises before a shot is fired. And when tragedy or disaster strikes, you 
are often the first person on the scene.
    The other markers that surround us speak even more directly of your 
devotion to duty. They memorialize your colleagues who gave their lives 
to our country. The earliest are from the 18th century, understanding 
your long record of service and the long march to freedom. Others are 
all too recent, bitter reminders of the dangerous times we live in, like 
the ones marked Kenya. I know the example of these American heroes 
inspires you, just as seeing you all here today inspires me.
    It's sometimes said that State is the one Federal department that 
has no domestic constituency. Well, whoever said that is wrong. Let me 
assure you that between me and Secretary Powell, you do have a constituency.
    Speaking of the Secretary, I chose him 
to be our Secretary of State because he is a leader whose dignity and 
integrity will add to the strength and authority of America around the 
world. He is the absolute right man for the job.
    The Secretary and I are counting on you, 
on your help, as we pursue a clear and consistent and decisive foreign 
policy, a foreign policy that serves both our vital interests and our 
highest ideals. Our goal is to turn this time of American influence into 
generations of democratic peace. This requires America to remain engaged 
with the world and to project our strength with purpose and with 
humility.
    America will set its own priorities, so that they're not set by our 
adversaries or the crisis of the moment. We must work closely with our 
democratic friends and allies in Europe and Asia. We must engage Russia 
and China with patience and principle and consistency. We must build our 
trade relations across Africa and help nations that are adding to the 
freedom and stability of their continent.
    And closer to home, we must work with our neighbors to build a 
Western Hemisphere of freedom and prosperity, a hemisphere bound 
together by shared ideals and free trade, from the Arctic to the Andes 
to Cape Horn. Building this hemisphere of freedom will be a fundamental 
commitment of my administration. Our future cannot be separated from the 
future of our neighbors in Canada and Latin America. Our bonds of 
language and family and travel and trade are strong, and they serve us 
all well.
    Some look south and see problems. Not me; I look south and see 
opportunities and potential. When I travel to Quebec in April and meet 
with other hemispheric leaders

[[Page 88]]

at the Summit of the Americas, I look forward to doing this: I look 
forward to discussing how we can build a century of the Americas. And 
I'll carry this message with me tomorrow when the Secretary and I go to 
Mexico for my first foreign trip as the President.
    These are exciting times in Mexico, times of change and times of 
possibility. Mexico has seen a new birth of freedom, and trade is 
creating hope and economic progress. The door is open to a closer 
partnership with the United States. But nothing about this new 
relationship is inevitable. Only through hard work will we get it right.
    President Fox and I will get started at his 
ranch tomorrow. I'm looking forward to hearing his ideas on expanding 
trade throughout the hemisphere, on safe and orderly migration, on 
expanding educational opportunity for all our children, and what we can 
do together to fight drug trafficking and other types of organized 
crime.
    President Fox and I met as Governors, and I 
look forward to renewing and deepening our friendship. But I look 
forward even more to forging a deeper partnership between our two great 
nations, a partnership characterized by cooperation, creativity, and 
mutual respect.
    I want to thank you all for welcoming me here today. I'm glad the 
Secretary invited me. I'm glad I responded 
positively. [Laughter] Oftentimes, those of us who hold high offices 
don't stop and say thank you as much as we should. So, today I'm doing 
just that. On behalf of the American people, thank you for the service 
to this great country, and God bless.

 Note:  The President spoke at 1:28 p.m. in the main lobby at the Harry 
S. Truman Building. In his remarks, he referred to President Vicente Fox 
of Mexico.